Random Things from Utah

I really just wanted to keep these photos because I loved them. 

First is Landon being Landon in the tub whilst still dressed. He was having so much fun I let him play even though he got pretty wet.

 

Second is cousin fun. Christy and Phil were able to come down on Friday night so we could get Millett family pictures on Saturday. It was so much fun to see the Goldmans since we hadn't seen them for over a year. Devin and Landon both could not get enough of Porter, Cooper, and Zane, and Devin told me later that Paige was his best friend. 

Third is reading time with Grandpa. Landon likes to read books now, but he's still pretty picky about the books he'll sit through. Normally it comes down to re-reading the same book over and over, which I'm all for if it will get him to read. Grandpa is always so good about reading to the kids and I love hearing him do all the voices and get so animated. He's such a great grandpa.

Fourth is seeing Rich be a wonderful daddy and give Devin his undivided attention. Devin had been asking and asking to play with the car track he got from Grandma and Grandpa Britton, but I'd told him it was a "Daddy toy," mostly because I didn't know how to put it together. Rich and Devin had so much fun with this for so long.

Devin's Birthday Party

Devin's birthday party was lots of fun. He could not wait for his birthday party to start and was waiting for his cousins all day. He requested a waffle bar for dinner, mostly so he could have all the bacon and sausage he wanted. 

After dinner, it was time for presents. Devin got a haul. What a lucky boy! He was super excited about everything, but I did feel good that he showed the most excitement for the tools we got him. (I never feel like I pick exactly the right things for him.) When he got his construction hat he proudly announced that he was just like "Bob the Builder!" The tool belt and work vest that Grandma and Grandpa Britton gave him were also a huge hit. Landon tried to get in on the fun of opening presents and was very upset to learn that none of these gifts were meant for him. Because, we only share Landon's toys :)

Once present time was over, it was cake time! Devin requested a dinosaur/Cars cake. Two totally unrelated things! So, I tried my best to make his theme happen. In the end he was really happy, but he still wanted more cars. He has a hard time only putting up his four fingers to show how old he is, but he is most definitely a proud four year old, who constantly informs me that he is brave now that he is four and that he can probably do things he's not supposed to because he's four!

As soon as cake was over, he quickly donned all his work gear and tools. He was one happy birthday boy. Happy Birthday Devin!

Devin is Four Years Old

 He's a very grown-up four year old. One who says things such as, "Those folks still have their Christmas lights up," or "Daddy, I noticed that you had a circular saw too," or "My tools don't function that way." He's also still a wee boy with a low tolerance for pain who, after biting his lip during sacrament meeting and has to be taken out wailing (with Landon in tow, and Brother Redford in pursuit--not at all a distraction), tells me "I don't think I'm going to live! I'm not gonna make it!" Followed by, "How does it look? Does it look bad?" in the most pitiful voice ever (and also the cutest voice because he still can't say his "Ls"). Newsflash, he lived through the tongue biting, mostly thanks to Sue's idea to give him some ice to suck on, and was able to return to the chapel for the remainder of church.

But despite all the things he says that make me laugh and smile, mostly he just amazes me. I'm amazed by his smartness, his cuteness, his ability to freak out, his smile, his memory, his imagination, his inability to handle pain, his excitement, and the fact that he's really mine. This boy is 4! And that is completely insane. He's his own little perfect self. 

He makes me so crazy sometimes, especially because half the time I'm pretty sure his ears are broken, but when I really take the time to see him and listen to him, I am filled with overwhelming gratitude with how lucky I am to be his mom. He tells me a lot that he loves me, and that makes me feel so special. We have wonderful conversations in the car--including a very involved one about wild dogs and how they are his special friends who live underground--and we have many snuggle sessions surrounded by books. He is my little buddy who almost always says, "Hey Mama," when he wants to get my attention, and he asks inquisitive questions whose sheer volume overwhelms me at times. Oh he is awesome. And when you ask how awesome he is, he'll answer "pretty awesome." And he is. I love him to the moon and back. Happy turning 4 years old!

 

Likes: Candy, not smiling normal in pictures, playing in the dirt with his trucks, riding his bike, being outside, helping Daddy, watching "something," chasing after his brother whilst hissing and pretending to be a dinosaur, making his brother cry, trying to hurt his brother, coloring, singing, and playing in roomtime so he can use his imagination.

 

Christmas Morning

I find that Christmas morning is hard to write about. I have so many pictures that I feel like they should do the talking, but I also want to have some things documented.

Devin slept on the floor in our room (Landon was already sleeping in there) on Christmas Eve so he didn't go upstairs without us. Because he totally would. Since our room is dark and cool and quiet, he slept in till about 8:00 a.m., which was super nice. We headed upstairs with a whimpering, grumpy Landon. Devin was bouncing with excitement. When he got to his stocking, he asked, "Is this mine?" He didn't know what to make of his Santa presents at first, but he soon realized what a fun playset Santa had brought. And I think his favorite part of Christmas is dumping out the stocking. Landon, however, was having none of the Christmas spirit. He cried at his toys and the only thing that made him happy was the candy cane full of candy. So we put a pause on presents after the initial Santa gifts and had breakfast and medicated him up. He was good to go after this. (He's getting his last two top teeth.)

Devin was super excited and intense about opening his presents and always wanted to help Landon, too. Landon does not like help. From anyone. So there were some mini battles waged. But they both were excited and both got wonderful gifts from family and friends. Grandma and Grandpa Millett had to wait for the boys a lot, but we all had fun, I think.

 

 

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve together with Grandma and Grandpa Millett and Great Grandma Christensen. We had our traditional trying-to-be-fancy dinner where Landon was allowed to join on condition that he ate over a sheet. Devin looked so grown up with his fancy glass, and he felt all grown up because Grandma trusted him with it!

 

 After dinner the boys got to open their Christmas jammies, which came complete with slippers. Devin has been on a "pajamas shall not match" kick lately, but he promised he would wear matching pajamas for Christmas.

 After donning the new pajamas, Devin put out chocolate milk and Tim Tam cookies for Santa, per Daddy's specific request. Then we hung the stockings and attempted to get one very sleepy and one very excited boy into bed so the parents could finish wrapping all those presents I'd procrastinated on.