January--funny faces, a mission call and a baby!

Alright, let's finish off January so I can hurry and tackle February--which is already more than half over. Where is this year going?

Unfortunately, Jude has officially discovered technology. Long gone are the days where he would sit and watch whatever Lance was doing on the computer. He now has very strong opinions about what videos to watch and what games to play.

He's figured out how to access youTube and can navigate his way around fairly well. His current obsession is Angry Birds and Cut the Rope, but mostly Angry Birds. We're trying to figure out a family rule as to how much computer/TV/tablet time the boys get because it's getting out of control. I have to admit it's easy to give in since it's keeps them happy and occupied on these cold winter days, but it's getting ridiculous. Ah, the things they never told you about parenthood.


Cole is such a ham. He has this face he makes whenever he wants to make people smile. He opens his mouth as wide as he can and raises his eyebrows. It's hilarious in real life and I have yet to get a picture that does it justice, but here's one attempt:

Think mouth bigger and eyes wider. :)


January 16th, my little brother Jason got his mission call! For those of you who might not know, young men and women in our Church submit applications to serve a 18 month (for girls) or 24 month (for guys) mission. They are called to serve in different areas of the world and they don't know where they are going or when until they open their letter that comes in the mail.

We all conferenced called with Jason while he opened his letter. He's reporting to the Brazil MTC on June 12th to serve in the Brazil Curitiba Mission! Woo Hoo! I'm so excited for him, but we're going to miss him so much. He's such a huge part of our family--I don't know what we'll do without him for two long years.


Here's another attempt at capturing Cole's funny face:

We've started watching this cute little munchkin a couple days a week while her mama works.

This is Ellie, my good friend's baby girl. She is 4 months old and as cute as can be!

Cole thinks she's pretty neat, too and loves to "love" on her.

He has started reverting since she's been with us, though. He now prefers his bottle to his sippy and gets jealous when I'm holding her. 

Don't worry, Cole. You're still my number one baby!

And while he still wants me to view him as a baby, he's not one to be left behind his big brothers. 

"Anything they can do, I can do too!"


January has been a pretty bi-polar month, one day there's snow and three days later, it's warm enough for short sleeves. We took advantage of one of those warm days and got together with our friends at "The Park".

Snack time!



I love that we live close to all these awesome families.

We were so excited to break out the bikes!

This was Jude's first time riding his bike outside our apartment.

He did a great job! I had a hard time keeping up with him.

Cole had just learned to walk a few days before this and was happy to show off his new skills.

See those little monster trucks? They never left his hands the whole time we were there and when we had to give them back to the boy who brought them, he cried and cried. I know what I'm getting him for his Birthday!

Snow!

The week after Jude's Birthday party it snowed twice! It was the first "real" snow of the season, so of course we had to play in it!

Cole was so excited he didn't realize his hands were soaking wet.

Jude remembers it snowing last year, so he was very excited to play. 

The first snow was all powder, not the best for building snow men, but good for spraying mommy.

Little boys! Lance got the day off of school, but didn't stay out very long in the snow. In fact, I don't think I even got a picture of him.

Off-roading baby!

The second time it snowed, it was more of a dusting. School was canceled again (yay!) and we again had to get in some play-time.

Cole knew what to expect this time and was so excited (and he had on better gloves, so he was much happier).

I hope we get more snow soon! What's the point of cold weather if you can't play in it?

Jude's 3rd Birthday Party!

Jude's Birthday turned out to be so fun!

Here's the cake and the table cloth I made:

We looked through pictures online of cakes and Jude picked out one like this for me to make. I love it--simple and easy!

The Birthday boy!

The "Party Ruin-inator"!

Thanks, Amy for designing the face and doing the final coat of paint.

The idea behind the party was to send the kids on a secret mission to defeat Dr. Doofenshmirtz's and put a stop to his evil scheme. When they all showed up, I had them sit on the floor of the living room and then read them this (with cooresponding pictures from the show):

"Welcome, New Recruits, to the O.W.C.A.! My name is Agent H. I'm filling in for Major Monogram who is home sick today.

Don't worry, Carl is taking good care of him.

"As a new member of our elite crime-fighting force, we have lined up our best agent to show you the ropes:

"Agent P!

"Agent P??

"Hey, where is Perry?"

We then sent the kids on a "Where's Perry" scavenger hunt outside. We had filled about 100 easter eggs with candy and one had a picture of Perry the Platypus in it. 

They each got their own bag to collect the eggs.

Lance found one way up high.

Where was Cole during all of this? 

His favorite place to be: Pop Pop's arms!

When all the eggs had been collected, we came back inside and the kids looked inside to see who found Perry.

Once they found Perry, they were given their Secret Agent assignment (a note was left for them from Major Monogram while they were hunting for Perry):

"Our sources tell us that Birthday invitations are being stolen all over the tri-state area!

"This has Doofenshmirtz written all over it.

"Get to the bottom of it, Agent P, and take the new recruits with you!"

Since they were official agents now, they each got their own Secret Agent hat!

They all thought the hats were great!

Now with their hats on, they were ready to take on Dr. Doofenshmirtz.

I donned my white lab coat (because Dr. D is hardly ever without his) and became Dr. Doofenshmirtz. He's always explaining his -inators and his evil schemes to Perry in the show, so I had Dr. D tell his plan to the kids:

"Ah, Perry the Platypus! What an unexpected surprise. And when I say unexpected, I mean totally expected!

"Back story time!

  "You see, Perry the Platypus, growing up my Birthday was always the saddest day of the year. I guess I should have expected that, seeing as neither of my parents even showed up for my birth.

"I was forced to throw my own parties each year and no one ever came. I never got a birthday present of my own.

"This is why I made the Party Ruin-inator!

"Look at it, Perry the Platypus. With a push of this button, my Ruin-inator will travel across the Tri-state area, stealing everyone's Birthday presents!

"Everybody will be so sad, they will not even notice when I take over the Tri-state area!

"And the best part is, not only will I rule the Tri-state area, I'll get all the Birthday gifts to myself!"

At this point, we played a game called "Fool Dr. D". (In the show, Dr. D always seems confused whenever Perry isn't wearing his hat--he thinks he's just a normal platypus instead of a secret agent.) All the kids put their hats on while I turned my back.  Amy put on Perry's theme from the show and they danced while the music was playing. As soon as she turned it off, they took off their hats as fast as they could before I could turn around. Anyone who still had their secret agent hats on when I turned around was "out". 

Jude took a turn playing Doofenshmirtz, too. It was a fun game, although it may have been better if the kids were a little older. It did go over some of the youngsters' heads.

As prizes for the game, everyone got a pair of sunglasses to go with the hat.

After they confused Dr. D, they got to run outside to destroy the Party Ruin-inator!

George manned the piñata while the kids all took turns trying to destroy it.

Birthday boy first!

Mason!

Callie and Bryce came near the end, just in time for the piñata. 

Bryce

Lance

Killian took off an arm.

Callie

Jude one last time.

Lance wanted to take a few swings at it with his bare fist.

And Mikey was the one to break it open!

Candy frenzy!

Once inside, as a reward for destroying the Party Ruin-inator, all the kids got a blow-up guitar to complete their outfit.

I wish I had thought to take a group shot of all the kids with their hats, sunglasses and guitars, but it didn't cross my busy mind until after everyone left. Sad!


The guitars were a big hit!

Time for cake!

He's actually pretty excited, although you can't tell from these pictures.

"Happy Birthday to Jude...Happy Birthday to you!"

Candles all blown out.


He made off like a bandit!

Cole was loving all the attention from the grandparents!

See this bag I'm trying to put on my shoulder? My friend Lori made it. Like sewed it, lined it, made it. It's a little side bag in UVa colors and I LOVE it!

We have such great friends here at UVa. Sad that all these ladies are graduating this May and moving away. I don't know what we're going to do when that happens. Probably be very lonely.

Om Nom! Jude LOVES the app Cut the Rope. It is pretty cute and fun to play.

Cake!

Most of our family was able to come. My mom, Laura and Tyler with Mason, Grandmom and Pop Pop, Jen, Eric, Callie, Bryce, Allen, Amy... we are so lucky to have so many family members close enough to join us on special occasions.

Uncle Eric and Pop Pop on toy-building duty.

Spending time with Grandmom playing Cut the Rope.

It was a great party! It was totally crazy and chaotic, but Jude had a good time and that's what was important.


Amy spent the night again that night.

We love having her in town. The boys think she's the best and I'd have to agree.

And what is better for breakfast than left over Birthday cake?

Yum!

Oh, and here's a better picture of the table cloth I made for the party:

Perry! Perry the Platypus!

Because I was feeling bad about not getting a picture of all the kids in their gear, I had the boys dress up one night after their bath.

The posing quickly devolved into a battle, as most things are apt to do in a household of boys.

Love it!

Happy Birthday, Jude!