Beating boredom...

When I get bored I bake. It's just what I do. It's fun, creative, and it gets you off your bum when you're feeling blah. I think I've passed this down to my two boys. We bake/cook everyday together now. They love to feel like they're helping and it beats these boring ugly days when you can't go outside and play in the fresh air! I just wish I had bigger kitchen!

Wes is my little taste tester and LOVES to ham it up for the camera! (ignore the 'catch-all' shelf in the background...we're getting ready to move!) If he even hears me in the kitchen he'll run to Ryan's desk, get his chair, and roll it into the kitchen as fast as he can to climb up and help out!

Emmet likes to pass out ingredients and oversee the project :) He especially loves to help and loves to brag to his dad afterwards how big of a helper he was to his mama.

Chopping up the veggies for the boys to decorate the pizza.

The finished pizza! They did a really great job of getting all the ingredients spread out...I was pretty impressed! Not that I would've changed anything, though!

My proud little bakers!!!

"Babies, all gone!"

Well, we finally bit the bullet and threw all the "babies" away! I am proud to say we are pacifier free and it is so nice! We bribed the boys by telling them that if they threw their pacifiers away (literally, they had to throw them away themselves!) they could pick out any truck they wanted from Toys R Us! I know it's bad to bribe, but after having had these things for this long (and they LOVE and are borderline obsessed with them) we had to make it worth their while! The first night was a little tough (hope you're catching the sarcasm)...Emmet asked for it a few times, whined, and cried at night but did way better than expected... Wes...*gasp*...good grief that boy is a diehard!!!! I was up ALOT with that one! He throws fits like I've never seen OR heard! I know our neighbors must've thought we were beating him! It was horrible!

The next day Emmet was over it! Wes would ask for his 'baby' and Emmet would tell him sympathetically: "Wes, babies all gone!" SUCH a good big brother! 

It's now been 3 weeks since we've thrown them away. Emmet is doing awesome, naps aren't an everyday thing anymore...I miss them but it's not the end of the world...he's usually pretty happy anyway!

Weston...is STILL having a tough time! He's slowly gotten better but he's taking his sweet time...

A few days ago this is how I found Weston. Fast asleep in mid-play...what a turkey! This is without a doubt the most stubborn kid I have ever seen! He fights his sleep SO bad! Ugh! So, the struggle goes on...
Cute little stinker!!!

More "feesh"

Emmet and Weston LOVE the aquarium! I honestly can't count how many times we've been there! Thank goodness for indoor places like these to beat those boring winter days!

I love the hands on tanks they have. It's so fun for the kids to be able to touch the animals!

Emmet's expressions are hilarious! He kept saying: "Check it out, Mama! Check it out!" and " Follow me!"

And of course he had to help me take pictures of all the animals he saw...and then make sure it was a good picture afterwards! Little nut!

Emmet's impersonation of a blowfish :)

Wes and dad getting a closer look at all the pretty "feesh!"

The turtles exhibit is one of our faves!

Telling us all about the turtles :)

These are the petting tanks...you're not really supposed to pick them up...haha. The workers were so nice though and just let Emmet go at them! They were laughing hysterically at Emmet's facial expressions!

We visited this spot multiple times! Couldn't get enough of those starfish!

I promise I was there! Haha! Checking out the big tanks with Weston.

Looking at the baby turtles. They were SO cute.

My handsome boys posing with the crocodile.

Emmet was telling Wes all about the sharks!

We knew it was time to go when they started playing in the photo booth! A quick trip to Mcdonald's and then it was nap time! LOVE family days!

Just some randoms...

My handsome boy is getting so big :(

Wes...such a nut. Definitely our 'free spirit.' Loves to dress himself (ok, mostly undress himself!)

Emmet is such a sweetheart and the BEST big brother. Always so organized and responsible :) Don't be fooled though...he is still a huge goof!

Right after a GREAT nap! ...and he has M&M's. Doesn't get much better than that!

We have way too many cars in our house! These babies are lined up around the whole house...

...and then they walk them...like this :) Boys!

Grandpa Ras pays a visit!

It had been WAY too long since we've seen Grandpa Rasmussen, so it was such a treat his job brought him through Tulsa! It was only for the evening but it was so great to see him and the boys loved every minute of his visit!

Let me just say our boys never, I mean NEVER sit and pose for pictures! Grandpa Ras has the touch!

See what I mean!

Of course the boys had to show off how cute they can be and hugged for praise from all of us! Haha!

So glad we could catch up, if even for a night! The boys had a blast!

Christmas '09

This year was our first Christmas, as our own little family...ever! We really missed being away from family but it was also special to spend it with just the four of us. I just have to thank our families for making it so special for us and our boys! We were beyond spoiled and had tons of gifts shipped from home to make our holiday a little more sweet :) I can't thank everyone enough! We have the most thoughtful, generous, supportive families! LOVE and MISS you all!