Pictures from the Phone

Hanging out

Touring the USS Midway

Bike Ride

Park-in' it.

He matches the playground

Mission Bay

The Lukie. Not quite walking yet.

Ha ha ha

Natural History Museum

We are kind of camera-less, which leads to not so much blogging. I got a camera last year for my birthday but it broke already. I think a teeny tiny grain of sand got in the lens and now it won't open. Ugh. Seth's phone takes sort of decent pictures, but he has at work with him most of the day.

Anyway, we've still been able to document some of what we've been doing. I'm feeling uninspired to write anything, but these are current pictures of these cutie boys. I have a hard time getting pictures of Luke because he moves too much and Taft will say cheese but hardly ever looks at the camera. Oh well.

He Loves Him Some Books

I've noticed lately that Taft has some of his books memorized, or close to memorized. Tonight we read one that I didn't realize he knew the words to, so I thought I'd get it on video. It's one that I loved as a little kid.

"The Little Mouse, The Red Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear"

Yukie Tookie Turned 1!

December 31st is now double awesome because not only is it New Years Eve but also Luke's birthday!

Birthday Boy with Grandpa...pre-plunge. This is the first thing Luke does when someone holds him, puts his fingers straight in their mouth.

Sisters...post-plunge

My parents and sisters were in Northern California a few days after Christmas for my niece's baptism. They decided to head our way to celebrate Luke's birthday with us. New Year's Eve morning our ward hosted a Polar Bear Plunge that Seth, my dad, and sisters all participated in. 

Later in the day we had a small celebration at our park for Luke's birthday. Our friend Logan was turning 2 the same week so we had a combo birthday bash. Lukie wasn't too sure about his cake at first, but eventually realized that it was delicious. Taft had a hard time understanding why Luke got to have a birthday party but he didn't. We kept telling him his birthday would be soon, that it was in March. He kept telling us, "My birthday is not marching!" Poor confused little dude. Lukie got some great gifts from our families, his favorite is probably a ride on CAT construction truck from my parents. 

Note to self: add the other pictures.  (Our computer is having issues and I have a lot more pictures to add)

I can't believe Lukie is already one. He's such a sweet boy. I'm sad that he can't stay my baby forever. He's not walking on his own yet, but loves to walk while holding our hands. He loves climbing stairs, but doesn't know how to go down them yet and will go head-first without any hesitation. He likes a variety of food, but is currently protesting bananas. I don't blame him. He's had at least 1 banana every day for the past six months. He goes to bed around 7/7:30 and will talk to himself until he falls asleep. He's been better about sleeping straight until 6:30/7 but occasionally still wakes up in the night and needs help falling back asleep. He takes two 2-hr naps during the day. He loves bath time, and especially loves it when he and Taft get crazy with the splashing. He's super ticklish and has a cutesy laugh. He has two teeth, with the third just breaking through the gum this week. He has a bit of stranger anxiety but is easily soothed with iPhones, remotes, or any small handheld electronic device. Lukie loves when Taft plays with him, as long as Taft stays nice and doesn't wrestle/manhandle him too much. As can only be expected, he loves to dance to the beat, just like his dad. WE LOVE LUKE!

My brother and his brother-in-law were driving back to Texas from the baptism in NorCal, so they spent New Years Eve and New Years day too. All we were missing was Carissa and Jayda! Lanx's boyfriend (Yeah! He's cute and great!) was even here to party. New Years Eve we all went to dinner minus the boysies. Seth had to work the rest of the time my family was here, but we had a great time. I love having visitors (hint, hint to everyone I know...and like). Sunday my parents took Taft with them and everyone else to the Mormon Battalion so Luke and I could nap. Some pictures:

Grandpa and Taft panning for gold

Uncle Pete and Taft

It was a great weekend! Thanks for coming family!

Christmas 2011

We had a very lovely Christmas this year. Christmas Eve I had planned to make a fancy pants dinner, because that's the tradition I grew up with. Our friends ended up asking if we wanted to roast hot dogs on the beach instead...so we did and we had our fancy pants dinner on Christmas day.

After the roasting we brought our boys home, dressed them in their Christmas jammies, left cookies out for Santa, and read a couple of Christmas stories. Seth and I spent the rest of the evening setting up the gifts and watched Christmas Vacation. A classic, but probably not the best movie to get in to the true  spirit of Christmas. Oh well.

The boys woke up bright and early as usual. We spent the rest of the day playing with toys, going to church, a walk to the beach, and ended with said dinner. It was very simple and very lovely.




p.s. sometimes Taft calls me Emily. She's a girl tank engine from Thomas and Friends.

For the record, I love these boys.

Visiting Seth at work a few Sundays ago. Taft and Luke working in the on-call room. Taft is very busy as you can see. 

Seth has been on a very busy rotation these last few weeks which have given me even more quality time with the boysies. There were two days right before New Years when I thought I might lose my mind, but for the most part the boys and I have been enjoying the extra company from one another. Seth's been working all day today, and will continue through tonight and won't be home until tomorrow afternoon. I don't know why, but when Seth is gone overnight I tend to stay up late and as I'm trying to fall asleep I start playing out "Worse Case Scenarios" in my head and get really worked up about hypothetical tragedies. It's totally crazy, but I've been doing it since I was a kid. As far back as I can remember, probably around 7 years old I would worry about my parents dying. I would be hysterical thinking that I, a 7 year old girl, was now going to have to raise my younger siblings. The Boxcar Children books terrified me. I think most kids thought it'd be cool to live with their siblings in a Boxcar, no parents-no rules, but it was my worst nightmare. In 6th grade we read a book called, "The Girl Who Owned a City" which was about a plague that killed everyone over the age of 12. I had nightmares for months.

A while back I came across this blog. I read it for over an hour one night when Seth was working and cried and cried. This family lost their baby girl a few months ago after needing a kidney transplant. The baby girl's birthday is just a few days after Lukie's so she would have just turned a year too. It's just so heartbreaking. I can only begin to imagine the mom's pain and even that is too much to bear. I checked in on the blog tonight and it got me thinking about my little boysies and how much I love them and am glad to be their mom. A few nights ago Seth checked on the boys before we went to bed and took a short video of them sleeping. It's only about 10 seconds long, but I know when we watch it, even a year from now, we'll gasp at how small they were and wish we could go back in time. I don't think Seth and I have ever gone to bed without talking about how much we love our boys and what cute things they did that day (as well as the frustrating moments). We talk about how fast the time is already going and how sad it is. It's so fun to see them grow and learn new things, but I love the stages they're in. I love that Taft thinks Seth is the absolute coolest and funniest person on the planet. I love the Lukie wants me and leans toward me whenever anyone else is holding him. I love that when I give Taft choices he puts his hand on his chin and in an exasperated voice says, "I can't choose." I love that Taft will voluntarily hug us and say, "Awww, big hug." Sometimes when I think about how much I love our boys, my heart feels so full, like it might burst.

The other day Taft and Luke were playing really well together. They made every room they went into a complete disaster, but I didn't even care because they were playing together and nobody was crying. This morning we dropped Seth off at work. As we were driving away Luke started to cry and Taft said, "It's okay Yuke. Dad will be home really soon." Sometimes Taft will pat Luke on the back really hard, several times and say "Good job Yuke! Good job buddy! Best Friends!"

I'm glad I get to stay home and see all the little things they do during the day. It can be so tiring and at times so frustrating. Taft likes to remind me to not  be "cross" when my voice starts to be less than cheerful. He learned the word "cross" from Thomas the Train. Sir Topam Hat gets cross very often. However, I wouldn't trade being home all day, every day with them for anything, EVER, in the entire universe.

Anyway, I'm just so grateful for my sweet, cute, crazy boys. I'm grateful for their personalities, for their spirits, for their health, and just that they're here and I can hold them whenever I want. Mmmm...I just love these boys.

Video Overload

Here are some videos of Taft recently:






This was a few months back and Taft is probably difficult for most of you to understand so here's what he was thankful for, in order:

Mac n cheese
Mommy in the trunk (I went to a restaurant, not a trunk)
The Zoo
The Pandas
Dragons
T-REX!
Baby t-rex
Safe Daddy (Daddy comes home safe)
Live in Coronano
Live at Grammie's house
food
Lukie
Daddy
Buzz
Food
Daddy's drink
Taft's milk
food
carrots
mac n cheese
food


Every time we leave SeaWorld, Taft stops at the last gift shop stand and says goodbye to all the stuffed animals. It's pretty cute.



We went to Chuck E Cheese this week for FHE. You know, for a lesson on gambling (jk). Taft fell asleep on the way there. This video is kinda sad, just because he is so tired, but it was only 6:00!

Our Christmas Season So Far...

A recap of our Christmas Season in pictures. They are mostly all phone pictures, hence the poor quality. However, I have to document this stuff because without the blog I wouldn't be able to remember hardly anything from the last 5 years of my life.

Balboa Park Christmas Festival with friends

Balboa Park has some really gorgeous buildings. If I had a nice camera and actual artistic talent then I could prove it with pictures, but this will have to do.

SeaWorld has a snow area the month of December. The kids all LOVE it. We've gone a few times just for the snow.

San Diego's version of Temple Square. 

Yes, Taft has a mohawk/strip of hair down the middle of his head. It started out as a joke but then we left it like that for over a week. Doesn't he look like he would get into all kinds of trouble? I felt like he was naughtier with this haircut.

Christmas Party with friends from our ward and neighborhood. This was the same night as Seth's work party. We were going to try to make both, but in the end we just decided to do the one. We had a great time and Taft played with our friends train table for 2 1/2 hours straight.

Ward Christmas Party. The primary did a Nativity play and it was sooooo adorable. Taft was sad he couldn't be a sheep. He'll be in nursery for a full year more, bummer! That's Taft's friend as the star. When he saw her he said "Sadie's a Starfish!!"

Taft and the second Santa Claus of the season. Obviously, he's a little unsure about Santa. I think he knows he's supposed to like Santa but isn't sure why.  He's been very consistent in telling Santa and others that he wants a helicopter for Christmas.

And Luke....well he hated Santa.

Boat Parade in San Diego Bay (sad picture I know. Doesn't look like much of  a parade does it?)

Zoo Lights at San Diego Zoo

Christmas Parade and Tree Lighting on Orange Ave. Yeah, the boys are wearing pjs. It was kinda late and cold.

Santa arrives at Ferry Landing. Taft with "Puckerman" hair cut (Glee fans?)

Christmas outfits, Sunday before Christmas. Grammie and Pop, your Christmas money bought them each a toy, but also these outfits. The first time I dressed them the exact same. I loved it!

I actually think Taft was trying to be nice here. Brothers....

Tree Lighting on Orange

More Zoo Lights

I love the small community feel of Coronado, especially for the holidays. At the beginning of December Santa rode across the bay to Coronado on a ferry. Later that night there was a light parade and Santa rode down Orange on a firetruck and lit the Christmas tree. It all had a very small, town feel and I loved it. 

I'm surprised we've fit in as much as we have because Seth's has a very busy work schedule this month. We weren't sure he was going to get Christmas off, but he does! He's been at work since yesterday around 6:30 a.m. and won't get home until about noon today, but at least he'll be home for Christmas Eve festivities and all day Christmas.  

I posted this to Facebook, but I think it's worth re-writing here. Yesterday while baking cookies: 

Taft: "What are you making Mom?"

Me: "Cookies!"

Taft: "OH! I LOVE cookies!"

Me: "I'm making some for Santa because he's coming TOMORROW night!"

Taft: "Ah man, I don't WIKE Santa Cwaus ANY. MORE."

(eats a cookie)

Taft: "I don't WIKE Santa Cwaus."

He also went on to say that he didn't like reindeer, decorations, or presents. Then, he broke a snow globe on the kitchen floor (on accident). I don't know if Taft is really advanced for his age and knows the Santa thing is just smoke and mirrors, or if he's the Grinch. 

Despite the warm-ish weather, lack of snow, and presence of palm trees, it does feel like Christmas. I'm so excited for Christmas morning. Santa told me what he's giving Taft and I think he's going to loooove it.

Also, I love that Christmas is on a Sunday. I'm really looking forward to hearing the story of the Savior's birth and singing Christmas hymns. It's such a better way to spend Christmas as opposed to staying in pajamas until 4 and eating nothing but chocolate and cinnamon rolls all day.

Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas! 

Yukie is an 11 monther

Yukie is what we call him now. Not yucky, yukie. Like Lukie but with a Y. That's what Taft calls him and  now we do too. Yukie finally had too teeth cut through the gum. I was starting to worry that he didn't have any teeth in his mouth.  He's starting to cruise along furniture a bit, will take steps while holding his hands, can regular crawl, but still prefers his super speedy army crawl. He loves to climb the stairs at the playground. He's becoming more interested in things Taft is doing. It's kind of a struggle because Luke is too little to understand to not take things from others and Taft is just learning how to share. There's a lot of crying going on at our house. Although I feel like just in the past week they are starting to play more and more together and Lukie has been crying less.  Lukie no longer eats baby food and seriously likes just about everything we give him. The only things he hasn't really liked are animal crackers and these baby arrowroot cookie things...so maybe he didn't inherit my sweet tooth? He still wakes up multiple times at night but we haven't really tried anything to get him to stop. I'm hoping when we make the switch to cow's milk and a bottle later this month that we can kick this habit. He doesn't love being held by other people. I think he's more of a mama's boy, but he's showing more interest in Seth.  Lukie loves bath time and had fun splashing in the baby pool in Palm Springs. Lukie still has his moments, but he's pretty good at going with the flow. I guess he has to because Taft is still running the show around here. Lukie is babbling more and it's starting to sound more like he's talking. It's pretty cute. I'm so sad this baby year is almost over! Although, I am looking forward for my two boys to be able to start playing together more and more.

Herway Sibling Christmas Thing

Last year Seth's siblings decided that instead of doing the usual Christmas gift exchange, that we'd pool the money that would be spent on each other to help provide a better Christmas to someone in need. Seth's older brother and his family were in charge of overseeing how the money was spent last year and this year it was our turn. I'm blogging about it so the Herway's can hear/read about what we did with it this year.

Originally, I wanted to spend the money to dinners to give to the homeless. San Diego, as you've probably heard, has a crazy huge homeless population. I envisioned us making a delicious homemade meal, boxing it up in individual sized aluminum take-out containers (like Cafe Rio) and taking them downtown and passing them out. I ran this idea by a friend to see if she thought it was stupid/unsafe to walk around downtown passing out food with little kids in tow. She told me that a couple of years ago some people either got arrested or fined for giving homemade food to the homeless. Apparently it's against the law! That's one of the dumbest things I've heard in my life.

We then got in touch with the Relief Society president in our ward to see if there was a family in our ward we could help out. Maybe provide food for a Christmas meal or something. Our ward takes in a pretty poor area and there are a lot of needy families. She told us our ward just likes to donate gift cards to the families and they can get what they need.

I looked for some other ideas and eventually settled on buying gifts for families staying at the YWCA. In addition to other programs which focus efforts on eliminating racism and empowering women the YWCA provides a Women and Children's center for victims of domestic violence. They also provide housing for homeless families when available. By the time I called the center most of the women and children had received everything they had requested but the YWCA said they were still in need of items for the fathers.

I think Seth and Taft look so much alike in this picture

The boys were a huge help

Taft thought all the dads might want their own Padres pillow pet

And Spiderman mask

And Lukie stayed happy devouring a box of chocolate Teddy Grahams

Monday night for FHE we headed to the temple to see the Christmas lights and then went to Target to pick out some things for the YWCA. Their list also highly recommended gift cards...but that's boring. We picked out a few other things on the list: NFL/MLB/NBA t-shirts, socks, and hair clippers. We also bought 4 gift cards. 2 for the YWCA and 2 for us. Just kidding, the other 2 were for families from our ward.

Tuesday the little boys and I dropped off the things at the YWCA. Tonight is our ward Christmas party and we'll turn in the other gift cards then.

When I was younger my family helped provide some Christmas gifts for a family staying at the homeless shelter in Salt Lake. We got to meet the family we bought the gifts for. The family was just a mom, a young boy, and a baby girl. I remember we bought the baby girl a dress from babyGap and I thought it was the cutest. I remember walking back to the room they stayed in. I probably was only 9 or 10 at the time and I still remember it. I wish we could have met the people we were able to help this Christmas. I'm glad we've started this tradition! Jake and Mel, you're up next!