Working and Playing with Daddy

Rich is in the process of digging out the garden beds to put down a new barrier for the moles. 

We grossly underestimated how invasive these critters are. And in case you were wondering, Rich hates himself for not designing the beds better the first time. I think he did a great job, it's just unfortunate that moles exist at all.

Devin, of course, needed to be involved. Digging in the dirt was right up this boy's alley. That is until he fell down and got his hands dirty, then there was minor freaking out. Have I mentioned that he doesn't much like his hands being dirty? After I convinced him to wipe his hands off he was able to continue "working hard."

My favorite part of the video: When he compares his daddy to an excavator. We're pretty into construction vehicles around these parts. 

This picture is great because you can see how hard he really was working.

After a lunch, a rest, and a cool down, we set up the sprinklers to ensure we got the most out of this beautifully hot Saturday.

 

What was Landon doing during all this outside fun? Being stinking adorable, naturally.

Project Time with Daddy

When Rich told Devin he could help him fix the glider chair Devin immediately ran down the hall and gathered up all his tools.

This little boy loves working with his daddy, and if tools are involved, well, that's an even better night.

  

I just love the excitement in his voice when he hears Daddy coming.

 (Hate that the angle was bad and the red eye won't come off.)

Backyard Picnic

We were all ready to get into the car to visit Daddy for lunch, but we got a call saying he had a lunch meeting come up. So, I put Landon down for a nap and Devin and I headed out back for a picnic in the sunshine. 

He kept telling me it was hot and kind of bright. Apparently it's going to be a long summer for him :) At least he kept his sunglasses on! 'Tis the curse of the blue eyes. 

 

It had been a rough morning of him not listening and pretty much getting into trouble every 5 minutes, so I think a picnic and some bonding with Mommy was much needed. Let's hope he's happier after his rest!

I'm 29

Turning 29 was not overly exciting, see: eye exam. But it was made wonderful by my boys. Rich and Devin created me this masterpiece on Devin's new easel.

And after a day of eye appointments and shopping, I opened up some fun gifts from my mom (my present from Rich was money to put toward a laminator). And no, these pictures are not awesome, but that's what you get when we don't take out the camera until the boys are in bed and I've already gotten ready for bed myself.

Rich's comment about the glass bowl my mom got me was "I never a knew a bowl could be so important." Yet this bowl is very important. 

 I cried when I broke the one I found at a thrift store. Vintage glass bowl=love!

A BIG thanks to Sue and Val for watching Devin all Saturday afternoon so Rich and I could have some quality conversation together! Though I love that Devin talks up a storm, it was nice to be able to focus on just the husband for a few hours.

These pictures aren't from my birthday, but since Devin's asked me, "Mama, it's your birthday?" every day since my actual birthday, I figured I could still include them because I love him and his obsession with singing "Happy Birthday."

Is it a bug?

Devin's loving the new turn in the weather. 

Finding roly poly bugs is a favorite outdoor past time. I enjoy watching him investigate. He normally watches for a bit, then quickly picks up the bug, comments on how it's now in a ball, and returns it "home" to the grass. That's apparently where all roly poly bugs belong.

His growing curiosity about the world around him is so fun to indulge.

Landon Boy

This little one is just such a wonderful part of our family.

 We're loving watching him grow, which is certainly something he does well. Can't believe he's already over 11 lbs! (11lb 4oz at 4 weeks)

However, I am certainly okay with him growing if that means I get more smiles. This picture was taken with my not-awesome cell phone. 

Hopefully there will be more adorable smiles soon. He was even hinting at some smiles for the doctor yesterday. Devin, on the other hand, screamed as soon as the exam room was in sight, and the appointment wasn't even for him. The doctor just laughed at the drama that is Devin.

Easter 2012

I had plans to color eggs with Devin and be all Easter-y, but that didn't happen. Perhaps next year. The Easter bunny did visit on Saturday morning, but there was no lead up to the big event. Pretty much we just told Devin after he got up that the Easter bunny had left some treats, and because candy was involved, that's all the explanation he needed. 

 

He thought it was great fun to open the eggs and discover the prize inside, and he liked drawing on the chalkboard. 

He told me this masterpiece spelled Devin. 

We headed to the Comstock's on Saturday night for some Easter egg hunt fun and an Easter dinner. 

Devin absolutely LOVED searching for eggs and also thought the pine cone he found was pretty cool. 

 

  

He tried to "find" eggs in Ally's basket a few times, but she held on to her loot. 

 

 Though he's giving me the staredown in this pic, he really did have fun.

Landon slept through all the Easter fun. He told me he doesn't feel bad that he didn't get an Easter basket this year.

Bath Time at Our House

In true Landon fashion, he loved his first tub bath.

 And Devin loves his bath time, too.

Enjoying Grandma and Grandpa Millett

Having Grandma and Grandpa Millett here for two weeks a wonderful treat for us all, but especially for Devin. 

Since Landon decided to be content in my belly past his due date, Grandma and Grandpa were here almost a whole week before he arrived. This was probably a good thing though, as it gave Devin some much needed attention during the day from someone other than his very pregnant mother. And it gave us time to do some fun things and go for many, many walks!

Devin and Grandma and Grandpa had lots of fun playing and reading and teasing together. 

Devin especially loved being Grandpa's "munchkin" under the table and "sack of potatoes," and, of course, trying to push the buttons on his computer. 

Devin also could sweet talk Grandpa into reading any and all books--I think they read Alphabet Adventure at least 50 times.

 Grandma was so great in helping Devin have a good attitude, and she brought some of her puzzles to share while she was here, which was a huge hit. Plus, she was always good for some special treats or prizes. She also taught Devin some great new songs and phrases.

How do I not have any pictures of Grandma and Devin at the house? Tragedy. But a special memory is that while we were at the playground Grandma showed Devin the blossoms on the trees and talked about how the bees were getting honey from them. This made such an impression on Devin he told me this was his favorite part of going to the playground and we thanked Heavenly Father for this experience in several prayers.

After Landon's arrival Grandma and Grandpa provided much needed help in cooking and entertaining Devin while I napped. But they still managed to find time to love on Landon, as well.

 

Having my parents here was such a blessing and so much fun. We were sad they had to leave a few days early to get to a funeral, but we certainly appreciated all the time they spent here with us!

And I know they were sad to leave because who wouldn't miss this face?

More Things Devin Says

Devin was up to the task of entertaining Grandma and Grandpa with all the silly things he says. As of late some of his favorite phrases are:

*Whenever you ask him if he's ready to do something, he always answers, "Almost. Almost ready."



*When we explain how things are going to go, he'll repeat it back to you and then say, "Okay? Sounds like a good plan."



*When he's in trouble and I've instituted the consequence, he tries to get out of it immediately by saying, "Ready to be a nice boy." Apparently, on Sunday, Rich didn't even get out the chapel doors before Devin was insisting he was ready to be a nice boy.

*Every night, when we get ready to read our scriptures, Devin asks if we're going to read about Ammon. Apparently that story is already a favorite.



*We've been taking a lot of pictures lately. After asking Devin to smile for pictures with Grandpa and Grandma he told us, "I'm a good smiler."

*A newly acquired favorite phrase is: "Wait a minute. Wait a minute." As in, interrupting a story by saying "Wait a minute, get some cars." or "Wait a minute, look at this ____."




*And my personal favorite, as I was trying to give him instructions one day, he just kept walking around in circles, ignoring me. I finally asked, "Devin, are you listening to me?" To which he responded, "No, I'm not listening." He responds like this quite frequently now.