Big Boy Underpants

We have a ways to go to achieve potty training, but just over a month away from his 3rd birthday we're inching closer each day.  This particular day, M didn't want anything to do with his diaper and demanded he wear his alligator underwear.  Wish us luck as we enter the realm of hourly underpant washings!

Mormon Battalion Monument

While taking a spontaneous Sunday afternoon road trip we spotted a little sign on the side of the freeway for the "Mormon Battalion Monument".  We just had to stop by and take a look.  Tucked away at the end of a "no outlet" road in the middle of no man's land was this monument standing by itself.  For a little history on the monument go here and here.

Always time for some little love squeezes.

Apparently G had quite a lot to say about this monument.  I'm glad we stopped.  It was a bit of history I now know a little more about. 

Bugg Light Display

Last week we attended Albuquerque's Bugg Light display.  The light show was originally put on by an LDS family with the last name Bugg and it got so big they had to move the location to a near by private school.  The boys absolutely loved the wooden train set and the hot chocolate!

Graham was still not a fan of Santa the second time.

Best two Christmas gifts a mom could ask for-- my little cookie faced monsters!

There are not a lot of options for light displays in ABQ, but this small light display sufficed our little one's needs.  It was a fun evening, nonetheless.

"You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"

Miles didn't exactly ask for an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle, but he did surprise me with his calm demeanor as he sat on Santa's lap and attempted to tell him he wanted a new dinosaur.  Graham on the other hand, not so much.  I vaguely remember last year M having the break down and G sat there complacent.  I'm thinking next year will be the year both kidlets will sit there and we'll actually get a decent picture of the two of them smiling.  Until then, the screaming photographs are always a riot!

 Onto other stinkerish news-- Graham spent his first minute in time-out this past week.  This little bugger has a temper!  When he didn't get what he wanted he ran away from me and deliberate pulled on the Christmas tree and then made his way over to M and pulled his hair.  So into the time-out seat we went.  Looks like it's really bothering him, huh?

 

For the most part G is a pretty mellow kid, but phew watch out if you piss this one off...

Thanksgiving Visitors!

We celebrated Thanksgiving in NM this year and the party came to us.  Tim's parents joined us for a full week and we crammed activity after activity in.  So  fun!  Wish they could have stayed longer.

 We ate Thanksgiving dinner while the kiddos were napping so they had their own little celebration after they awoke, complete with thanksgiving place mats and crayons.

 While "punk-eye" (grandpa) and "camma" (grandma) were here we did a lot of snuggling and reading on the couch...

 ...we visited an indoor bounce house...

...we ate lots of yummy homemade baked treats...

...continued on with daily life...

side note:  Graham was diagnosed with asthma about a month ago and consequently we have to give him steroid treatments via nebulizer twice a day.  He's starting to get used to it, but at first it was an all out war everytime we brought out the machine and medicine.

 ... took down our Thanksgiving decorations and put up our tree...

...and went on a beautiful hike up at Tent Rocks National Monument.

One week wasn't long enough, but we're glad they made the drive down to spend the holiday with us.  Miss you already-- see you in a few weeks!

Lazy Saturday

What is there to do when it's cold and rainy outside and the kids have colds?  Well... we stay put, fix needed repairs and stay in our pajamas ALL DAY LONG!

 Please take note that we have to put Miles' pjs on backwards because he likes to strip down to his nakedness and shred his diaper into a million pieces.  He has yet to figure out how to unzip himself from the back.  It's only a matter of time, though.

Sure do LOVE these three boys!  Although two of them are in needed of haircuts ASAP.  Can you guess which two I'm referring to?  ;)

Cookie Monsters

These two little monsters sure do love their cookies.   So much in fact that we all have to sit, wait and watch while they bake.

 Who says a watched pot (or in this case cookies) won't boil/cook?!?

Second half of October...

Tin Foil Dinners

Before the evenings got too chilly we booked it on up into the mountains with friends to have tin foil dinners and s'mores.

Miles enjoyed roasting his 'mallow.  Eating it on the other hand-- not so much.  He's such a silly kid and won't try ANYTHING new.

Our attempt at a family picture.  Miles is always SOOO cooperative, as you can see.

Building Forts

Our newest and favoritest game to play in the front room is to deconstruct the couch cushions and build forts/tents.  We could play this game for hours, I tell ya.  Build it and destroy it, that's the name of the game.

 Poor Graham!  He just wants in on the fun and Miles deliberately destroyed the fort so Graham couldn't get inside with him.  Such a stinker.

Ward Trunk or Treat

Cutest little Indian and cowboy I've ever seen!  This Indian costume was Tim's when he was about the same age.  I'm going to dig out the photo of Tim wearing it and when I do I'll share it with ya'll.

Sure wish this kid didn't mind taking photos.  I don't blame him though, it takes away from precious play time!

Bribery with a binky and blanket to sit still long enough always works!

We suck at dressing up.  My last resort for Halloween is always the same old Skunk ears we have laying around.  Lame, I know!

Miles ate more dum dums than he handed out!

Wagner Farm Experience 

Wagner Farms doesn't compare to Thanksgiving Point in Utah, but it was perfect for our little ones.  We spent the morning finding our way through the corn maze...

... taking a hay/tractor ride...

 ...picking out pumpkins to carve...

...playing on the many stationary tractors...

...petting all of the animals...

...sliding down very bumpy tubes...

...and playing in the dried corn box.  It was a perfect morning!

Carving Pumpkins

We of course had to carve our hand selected pumpkin.

"Yummmm... raw pumpkin sure tastes good"

 "Actually, it's kind of bitter... YUCK!"

"Tada!  I did it!"  That's what I hear ALL THE TIME.  It's usually followed by him saying, "good job Miles".  Silly kid.

 Can't carve pumpkins without eating some homemade pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.

 Neighborhood Trick or Treating

The dinosaur (it's actually a dragon, but whateve) and monkey costumes were rediscovered by Miles and there was no way I was going to get him back into the cowboy suit.

 It's beyond bizarre to see Graham in this monkey costume.  Miles was just 8 months old when he wore this and now my little Ham is wearing it!

 Trick or treating was fun this year.  Miles clearly understood that people were handing out candy and he would march up to the doors with a clear purpose to get his candy.  Holidays just get more fun by the year!