Just Hanging Around

February has proved to be a very long and dull month.  I hate to say that, but it's true.  Jeff and I often look at each other and say, "What should we do?"  Most of the time we just hang out and play with the boys, cuddle and make funny faces.  Well, we don't make the funny faces, the boys do. (actually we do too, it's just not documented.)

Sweet Chase

Owen

Owen making a mad face.  Don't know what the kissy lips are for!

all smiles

A true boy face.  He is making a car sound, can you tell?

Fun Times

Owen came downstairs last week in the morning and was wearing this around his head. I laughed and laughed to see him with the Boppy.  He thought he was pretty funny.

Just a normal morning at our house. The boys are in their "pots" (spots), eating omeal (oatmeal) and playing with some toys.

"Cheers!"

I'm not exactly sure what the story is behind this picture, but I think it's pretty cute. Those at those skinny little bodies.  Wish mine looked like that!

A New Interest

For the past few weeks Chase and Owen have ASKED to color!  Normally I have to ask them if they want to color and typically the answer is, "No."  I'm not sure what made them want to do this, but I'm loving it.  They love to use the markers the best, and the little markers at that.  In this picture Chase is concentrating so hard!  He's using a special marker (and an incorrect grip) to color a Lightening McQueen picture, he's coloring every tiny little inch of it. :) He worked so hard and just loved the outcome.  Owen's been doing the same thing. I'll have to post some pictures of him soon.

Grandma Charlotte

My Grandma Charlotte passed away last Thursday the 9th.  She was 87 years old.  Grandma was spunky, loving and a great cook.  I have such fond memories of Grandma and Grandpa.  Since they only lived 1 hour away we were able to visit often and they came to our 4-H events, school events, etc.  Grandma always took us shopping, which was so fun.  She helped pick out my prom dresses and even bought my jewelry for me.  Grandma was always trying to get us to eat more food. After a meal she would offer sandwiches just in case anyone was hungry.  She will be greatly missed as she was the glue that held the family together.  I was able to travel back to SD and Iowa for her visitation and funeral.  What a great time it was! I was able to see all my aunts and uncles, most cousins and their children.  The boys had a good time and were so happy to see Nana and Papa!  Even though it's sad to lose Grandma we were happy she was able to meet Jesus in heaven and were happy she did not have to suffer through a long illness.  My Grandma and Grandpa (who passed away in 1995) had 6 children.  Christmases were wild at Grandma and Grandpa's house in Sioux City.  The kids loved to play together on the 3rd floor and the adults liked to drink together. Just kidding. We would go on Christmas Eve every year and knew we would see everyone.  Some Christmases we were graced with extra pet dogs.  3 strange dogs in the house always created quite the ruckus.  Some years we all went out and looked at Christmas lights which turned into a laugh fest.  Some years the women had to call the bar for their husbands (I think this was pre-children.)  What was cool about Grandma is that she had twins too!  Her oldest daughters are Nan an Lyn, my aunts.  My Grandpa Bob, her husband, was also a twin.

 My mom, Bobette, Aunt Lynette (twin to Nan), Uncle John Held, Aunt Jill, Aunt Nanette (twin to Lyn) and Aunt Amy.  My Aunt Amy is not much older than my oldest cousin!

 Getting a large family ready can be quite the challenge!

 The entire Held family all the way down to great grandchildren.  What a treasure.  My 11 cousins are in this picture, too.  My sister and 1 cousin were not able to make it.  Actually one other cousin, his spouse and kids left before this picture was taken at the visitation.

Grandma Charlotte, myself, the boys and Mom in 2008.

Rub a Dub Dub, Two Boys in a Tub

I took these pictures back in October and downloaded them on my iPad and forgot to put them on our laptop, thus they never made it to the blog. The other night I was looking at the pictures on my iPad and found these!  I was so excited because they are just adorable.  In October the boys took a very bubbly bath in our jacuzzi.  We turned on the jets and bubbles multiplied and we had a very bubbly bath.

Owen in the foreground

Chase and Owen laughing in the bubbles.

Owen up to his neck in bubbles.

Chase is ooohing about something.

Peek a boo Mommy! says Owen, while Chase examines bubbles behind him.

I have no idea what went on in this photo!  I wonder if some bubbles got spashed onto their faces?

Chase is all bubbly!

Chasey

My two littles in the bath

Chase

Chase again in lots and lots of bubbles.

What expressions!

I love this one-classic Chase face with Owen wondering what the heck is going on!  I think Chase was trying to have a beard.

Goodbye Bobby Bob III, Hello . . .

Seikey and Cucho!

Cuddle Time

Jeff went to visit his parents last Sunday and just returned a few days ago.  Before leaving the boys wanted to cuddle (it was about 10:30 a.m.).  This is how I found them a few minutes later.  Cuddle time turned into sleepy time.

Hi Daddy!

We love you!

A Sleepover with the Cousins

Two weekends ago we had Sophie and Gavin over to our house for a sleepover. Boy oh boy did we have fun!  The kids ran around like crazy, watched a movie, went to bed relatively easy, had pancakes for breakfast, played some more and just had fun. 

Dinner time!  Chase, Gavin, Owen and Sophie.

Jeff read a book to all the kids

We had a dance party! Jeff played guitar and sang and the kids played their instruments and danced.

Sophie, Gavin and Chase cuddled on the couch with popcorn

Daddy and Owen snuggled together too.

"Why?"

We've entered the "Why" phase.  About a month ago Owen started asking, "Why".  Chase has caught on and now asks it more than Owen.  When the sun was setting earlier in the day we would be driving home from work/daycare.  The boys would comment that the sun was going down and then, "Why?" came from Owen in the backseat.  Every day I would tell them why, telling them about the rotation of the earth and the tilt, etc.  As soon as I would get done telling them this Owen would ask, "Why?" again.  So I would say, "It just does every day."  This satisfied their curiosity and they stopped asking why.  However, it was the same the next day.  It's pretty funny most of the time.  Here are some examples of what they are asking "why" about.

There's a cow.  "Why?"
Your shirt is blue.  "Why?"
Who wants cookies?  "Why?"
Let's eat dinner!  "Why?"
It's time to go to bed.  "Why?"
It's snowing out.  "Why?"
Mommy is tired.  "Why?"  (why do you think is what I want to say.)
It's time to go to church. "Why?"
Daddy washed his car.  "Why?"
Look, the kids are outside playing. "Why?"

and the list goes on.  It's so sweet and innocent and they are learning, so I cherish it. 

A Good Snow Fall

Last week we actually got snow! The week prior to this it was 54 degrees, now we have snow! Amazing. The boys were dying to play in it, so I got them bundled up and they helped Daddy shovel.

 Owen runs in the snow with Daddy

 Chase goes outside to join Owen

A Salad Spinner Art Project

 We made some fun cards last weekend.  I make this with the boys every so often and use them as thank you notes, birthday tags, etc.  They have fun making them and the mess is usually contained to a small area.  Here's how:

First, get out your salad spinner and take a piece of paper that you've cut into a square and put it in the middle.

 Use small bottles from a craft store to put paint in.  Squeeze paint onto the paper.

 Use two colors for variety

 

Put the lid on and push down quickly on the top of the salad spinner

 When done spinning reach in and pull out your art work

 Show it off begin another!