Playgroup

At playgroup on Thursday, Trista Teeter brought her awesome camera. She took these pictures of the boys and was so sweet and emailed them to me. I love them...especially the close up of Quinn and the body shot of Mack with his sunglasses and gloves. Right before we got out of the car Mack had to put on his "snake gloves", even though it was so warm and sunny. So check out these sweet pictures of our boys.

Boys Will Be Boys!

I just had to take a picture of the boys picking their nose. Normally I might not appreciate it. Quinn put his finger in his nose and just kept saying "nose, nose". It was so hilarious and we have no clue what made him do it. Of course since Quinn was getting all the attention Mack had to join in.Some days I can't stand to let the boys destroy my house. It's to much clutter for me. But other days I feel like I need to just let them be kids. Well it was one of those day!Kids love nothing more then to sit in laundry baskets. Now why is that?

This is a typical picture of Malcolm, he loves any kind of weapon. It used to bother me...I just didn't understand it. Now I realize it's part of being a boy. We all acted like we had weapons when we were young and we all turned out alright. Right!?! It started when he was about 18 months, using hangers for a sword or gun. We figure it came from the movie Sinbad. Prior to that he had never been exposed to anything else. Typical boy! Also notice the hat...It's his favorite. He calls it his "pow,pow gun hat". But he also knows that it says his name, "Mack". He also has a Mack Truck belt his Uncle "Rhino" brought back from his mission.Malcolm's new love since right before Christmas is Batman! He has been asking me for months for a batman suit and he finally got one. He decided to put it on the same day they destroyed the house and was flying. I love how he's actually in mid-air and notice his cheesy grin. Classic fake grin he gives! Again, normally I wouldn't allow them to jump on or off the furniture, but it was one of those days. Am I the only one who has those days?

Talk About Spring Fever!

This is the joy I woke up to this morning. My alarm goes off at 6 am to get up and work out...but lately I tend to sleep a little longer. I was wondering why it seemed so dark still and I looked out the window to find this!This is what I hate about Pullman. Last year I remember it snowing on Easter. So we are teased with nice warm weather, well kinda, and then cold again. I guess we are going to have to pull out the winter coats for the time being. I wish I was in Arizona visiting Laura! I love that warm weather. (Laura, can I move in with you until Matt's done with school?) Ever since going to Arizona in November I really would rather live in a warm climate with a few months of blazin' hot, then here where there's only a few short months of warmth and the rest cold. I was planning on planting some seeds in my pots today with the kids...but I guess it going to have to wait for another warm week. Last year I planted to soon and only a few things came up.

But I am still anticipating warm weather. I painted my toes a few days ago so I can wear my flip flops. There's nothing like flip flops...you slip them on when you're heading out the door, and slip them off when you come inside the door. (We don't wear shoes in the house...it makes the carpets dirty.) So I guess despite the cold weather, I'm all geared up spring. Someday it will come!

Happy Anniversary!

(One of our engagement pictures!)

It's hard to believe that it's been 5 years today. Whenever our anniversary comes around, I always tend to think about all the things that happened during that time. It was a bitter/sweet experience for me. That's the best that I can do to describe it. I think of how excited and happy I was when Matt proposed, even though he actually never asked. I was just assuming he was proposing when he gave me the ring. So I don't even know if I ever said yes for that matter, and how did we ever end up married? Ha ha! I just remember that night and the next day feeling so lucky! He made me feel so important to him. It was really important for me that he asked for my Father's blessing. So he was sweet enough to call my Dad and tell him he proposed. Dad of course was excited and gave Matt some words of wisdom. I remember all that day just looking at my ring over and over and thinking how beautiful it was. (Matt picked out the ring all by himself, I didn't even know!) The wedding details were trivial to me. I didn't care, I just wanted to get married and know that I would spend all eternity with Matt. I guess that's why our engagement was only 2 months. I was so thankful to have Matt in my life when the night after we were engaged, Dad was killed. That was the hardest time in my life. But I couldn't have survived it without a blessing and knowing this was suppose to be the happiest time in my life. Matt was prompted to propose to me sooner then planned, and it's what got me through. Matt and I wondered if we were really suppose to get married when Grandpa Bushman died the day before our wedding. It was another bitter part of the process. (And we didn't really wondering if we weren't suppose to be married, we more just thought it was ironic!) But since Grandpa's funeral ended up being the day before our reception, I was lucky enough to have a lot of Dad's family there. It meant a lot to me since I didn't have my Dad. Not that it made up for the lose. So the process getting to our wedding day was rough, but I guess I wouldn't have changed it...it did bring us closer. Oh how I miss my Dad!
As I think back over these years, I think of all the things that have changed. The two wonderful children we have. (Some days I wonder why I ever wanted children.) ;) The way my body has changed from these pregnancies. (Will it ever be the same?) Matt's lose of hair. Ha ha! (Still just as handsome.) I think of all the trials we've overcome and how much stronger our relationship is from them. I'm amazed at how many times we have moved. Six times to date, and we are going to be moving to a bigger apartment in the next few months. (This is also counting the few months we lived with my mom while our house was being built.) I think of our first "house". It wasn't much, but it was ours, and it was new. I was sad to sell it. I was excited though when we moved our family to Pullman for Matt to finish school. (And I was also excited because I wasn't working anymore!)Five years...I can't believe it. I know maybe it's not that long in the long run...but right now it feels amazing. I love Matt more than I ever have! He is the most amazing man. (Even if he doesn't think so.) He loves me more then I know, and I know that he is totally committed to me. He is forgiving and honest. (He can't lie though...his face always tells the truth.) He is the most amazing father to our children, and they are so lucky to have him. He makes me happy on days that I am sad. And he always makes me see things in the other perspective. Matt I love you more then you know...and I'm so thankful to have you throughout eternity! Happy Anniversary!!

The Science Boys

We are very lucky and have a Science Center here in Pullman. The boys love it! We go usually on Fridays when they have a little Pre-K class. Today they learned about static electricity.

One of Mack's favorite things at the science center are the dinosaurs.Quinn "learning" about the color red.

They have a dinosaur bone dig. They are actually digging in lentils. We try and bury the bones and then they use paint brushes to wipe of the lentils and discover them.Malcolm "reading" about beetles. I was trying to get a picture of the boys sitting together...but Quinn was afraid of the beetles. Quinn checking himself out in the mirrors..The boys playing with there reflections and lights...it's a cool little experiment...but the boys don't play by the rules.

Game Time

Malcolm woke up and immediately dressed himself...that's a first. Well this is what he picked out. He had to carry around his basketball too. He always has to do really dramatic poses. It's not easy to get a picture of him because he is constantly moving. Plus he thought he had to act like he was actually playing basketball. This is his game face!We went to play group and I made him put on some real clothes. When we got home he immediately changed...this time he got the shirt on inside out. So what do you think Uncle Tom...does he look like a real basketball player?

Motorcycle Riding

Today Quinn decided to go for a bike ride. Notice the helmet a few sizes to big. Malcolm of course had to join in on the attention! Well actually Mack did this same thing last year, only he would get Matt's gloves on too. We have a short little video clip on it.Here Quinn is making the bike noises. I had to lift the visor for him...he was fogging it up, and I wanted a better picture of that sweet face.He is telling me bye. The boys always like to pretend they are like daddy and going to school on the bike...or just going to school period. I just love this picture...he just looks so darn cute!

Playing at the park!

Yesterday was beautiful. It was so sunny and warm...we didn't even need a jacket. We are lucky enough to have a big toy and play area in our apartment complex. We took advantage of the weather and let the boys get out and do what boys do best. Dig! They loved the change of pace!Mack throwing rocks down the slide!So this is Mack's happy face. Whenever he wants something we tell him to show us his happy face. He gives this cheesy little grin...but it's so cute!I was trying to get a more natural smile and told him to show his teeth. This is the result!

P.S. So the weather didn't stay...today we had all weather possible. This morning it was very windy, but sunny. Later it rained, then hailed, then snowed, and everything in between. But yet the sun would shine at times too. It was just a really weird weather day!

The Much Needed Vacation!

Matt and I were fortunate enough to get a much needed vacation last week to celebrate our 5th year anniversary . I surprised Matt and left the kids with the "Grandma's" and went to Coeur d' alene, Id to a Trendwest Resort. (Thanks to Tom and Brianne! They're the ones with Trendwest.) It was so nice to go to the Temple and shopping without kids!! We tried to sleep in...but couldn't sleep past 8:30 a.m., I guess that's still sleeping in. (I just imagined sleeping my day away!)It was beautiful there. It was right on the lake with lots of trees. Besides the construction it really was an awesome view. I would love to go back during the summer!!The pictures looked a little cloudy once I put them on the computer. Apparently someones little fingers touched the lens. So notice how everything looks pretty clear except the top center.

The Mack Attack

Since I pretty much had a whole post on just Quinn, I thought I should post one just of the Mack Attack. This is him on his Daddy's bike. Both the boys love it when Daddy will let them sit on it.Malcolm was doing all sorts of silly poses this day. He really loves to have me take pictures with the digital camera and then look at himself. He really likes to look at himself in the mirror, but what is really funny is he likes to throw a fit in the kitchen. He watches his reflection in the oven! I hope he's not too vain!Oh the love of a brother!Mack was a pirate for Halloween. He was so excited...until he saw his best friend as a dragon. Then that was the cool thing. Although at the Ward Halloween party he did chase his friend around with his sword.

Quinn's Trauma!

Just over a month ago Quinn decided to run into the corner of the wall. Apparently the wall didn't like it to much and decided to let Quinn have it. He had a cut clear to his skull...and lot of blood. Luckily it was a Saturday morning so Matt was home. I don't think I could have kept pressure on his head while driving to the ER myself. He didn't have stitches, they thought it would be better to glue it so he didn't have any more trauma. I didn't handle seeing my child in pain to well. I almost passed out twice, until the nurses insisted I stay in the hall on a bed with some breakfast.

Don't mind the oatmeal on his chiney, chin, chin!A week later he had a fight with the sidewalk. It tripped him until he was at it's level and then punched him in the nose and lip. His lip was about 3 times the size it should be. He was a pretty sad sight with the cut on his head and the big bloody lip.

Luckily he's healed up quite nicely. Hopefully he won't have any permanent damage!! ;)

He's just as cute as ever!