Habitot

We met up with Michelle and kids last week for some play time at the Habitot in Berkeley. Michelle and I weren't overly impressed with the small area considering how much we had to pay, but the kids loved it, which is what we were aiming for. These types of situations don't provide much talking time for the adults, as we're tracking children the whole time, but Devin told me 12 times on the way home that he "had so much fun at that museum," making the four hours of driving (2h each way) and the entrance fee worth it. In fact, as soon as we said good-bye to Michelle and kids and turned to walk down the sidewalk, Devin just looked up at me and said, "Thank you so much for taking me on that adventure, Mommy. It was so much fun." What a wonderful boy he is. Landon's enjoyment was unspoken, but I know he had fun because he would not get out of the Cozy Coupe Taxi Cab and threw a fit when it was time to go.

Pictures are blurry because the kids were constant motion! Landon spent his time in the taxi cab and running back and forth pushing the shopping cart (freaking out if someone stole his corn, of course) and even braved the climbing wall. Devin tried a little bit of everything and loved it all. He finally got a turn in the taxi right near the end, which was a bit of good karma since he'd been waiting patiently the whole time for a turn. 

Landon 20 Months

Landon Boy continues to be a riot--both in hilariousness and in destructiveness.

To me, the most important thing to remember from this month is that one day he just started responding, "too!" when I would say, "Love you." So sweet. I make him say it all the time and he always enthusiastically says it to Rich during our lunchtime phone calls.

Another memory is not as sweet, and I'm sure Landon would agree. His tomato addiction is well documented. We finally had to pull the tomato plants out, which meant Landon's free-grazing days came to an end. But since he always needs food, he moved onto the jalapeno pepper plant. Rich saw him eat one and then spit it out, trying to wipe his tongue off. When he went to wipe Landon's nose and check on him, tears were just streaming down his face. Poor guy! To his credit he took the encounter stoically. I'm guessing he'll not steal my peppers anymore. 

Another pepper story happened a week before this unfortunate encounter. Landon picked almost all my bell peppers and ate them like apples; I'd managed to save one--a rather large one--by hiding it behind the leaves. I sent the boys out to play one day while I finished getting the bread dough into pans with the stern instruction to Devin to not let his brother pick the peppers (though I'm certain Devin could/would not do anything should Landon desire to pick one). I came out later and checked on my pepper. It was still there, but now it had bite marks all over it! I asked Devin why he let Landon eat it; Devin's response, "He didn't pick the pepper!" Very true. 

Every letter is "E" and he gets very excited about telling me when he sees a letter. This also gets confusing when he wants candy because he only says "eee" when saying candy. 

 

And though he was once a Mama's boy, he has been loving Daddy more and more. Church is even more interesting now since Landon only wants Daddy, and he's on the stand. Much of sacrament meeting is spent trying placate him with waves when all he really wants is, "See Daddy!"

 

I'm so lucky I get to be this boy's Mama. He always calls me "Mama," which I love, love, love. But the other day after he woke from his nap and was announcing he was ready to be rescued he was yelling, "Mommy! Mommy!" It made my heart ache for just a minute because it made him seem so grown up. So though his "Mama" has become much more emphatic lately--MA-MUH!--I'm reveling in it because I know all too soon he will be growing up on me.

Primary Program

Sunday was our ward's Primary program, which worked out great because Grandma and Grandpa Britton got to be there for Devin on the actual day and Grandma and Grandpa Millett got to watch him practice the week before. I was in such a rush to get out the door I didn't get a picture of Devin in his suit, but Grandpa Britton shared the one he got in the parking lot at church. Devin never wears his suit because he hates the long sleeves, but he promised me he'd wear his suit this day if he could take the coat off for Primary.

Devin was SO excited for the Primary program. He always wants to talk into the microphone on the stand, so this was his big chance. We started practicing about a month ago so he would be familiar with his part, and he continues to impress me with his memory. He pretty much had the whole thing memorized the first night. How would it be to have such a photographic memory!? We kept reminding him not to put his mouth directly on the microphone and to talk slowly and enunciate, and on the big day he did awesome. He was a wiggly worm the whole program, and could barely sit still during the sacrament in anticipation of going up on the stand, but he sang all the songs and did his part, so that's all I can ask for I guess. When a lady at church told Devin he did a great job in the program, his response was, "I know."

His part was to give a scripture and a short talk. He helped write his talk for FHE one night and decided this is what he wanted to say: "Surely the Lord God will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets, Amos 3:7. Our living prophet, Thomas S. Monson, leads the church under the direction of Jesus Christ. When I watched general conference I felt good inside when President Monson talked. That was the Spirit telling me that he was a prophet. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."

Here's a video of him giving his part. He started before I pushed record, so I missed the first word.

Another Grandparent Weekend

Though the boys were sad to see Grandma and Grandpa Millett go, I softened the blow by announcing that Grandma and Grandpa Britton would be coming the next weekend! Again, Devin was so excited and kept asking me when they would get here. 

On Friday afternoon Rich was able to go golfing with his parents. They stopped off for a quick hello before teeing off on the 8th hole. The boys were so happy to see them and loved watching them hit their golf balls.

 

Saturday, Eric was very generous and offered to take us all out on his boat for a tour of Clear Lake. I've only been on the lake once and Rich had never been, so this was especially cool because we got to see all the different areas and enjoy the beautiful fall scenery. In all the years we've lived here, this year's leaves seem to be the best. Usually the oaks don't seem to change color or lose their leaves, but this year the mountains are beautiful. Devin and Cooper were having so much fun running around on the boat, and though Devin was nervous at first that Eric was going too fast and would tip over the boat, he calmed down and thoroughly enjoyed the adventure. He told me later that "it was his best boat ride ever!" 

 

We docked in Lakeport and had some lunch and then headed home. The best part of the boat ride for me was the fact that Landon didn't like the wind so he snuggled down into me right after we started and then fell asleep. I got to snuggle with him the whole ride, and snuggling doesn't happen very much anymore with this active boy! 

 

 Before the boat ride the kids got to play for a bit at the playground at the docking area. It was a really fun playground and I thought this picture was just too cute.

 

Grandma and Grandpa Millett

I had to add a few more pics from the fun weekend we had with Grandma and Grandpa. (Sorry I don't have any pics of you Dad!) Grandma's iPad was a hit with both boys and many books were also enjoyed. Devin was so excited when I told him Grandma and Grandpa were coming and loved the attention he got while they were here. We were all were sad to see them go on Tuesday morning!

Aquarium of the Bay

Grandma and Grandpa Millett came for a visit last weekend, and we headed to San Francisco to the Aquarium of the Bay. 

 

 

The boys loved it and were so excited about all the fish and animals they got to see. 

I was pretty impressed with the two tunnels you can go through where the fish are swimming all around you. It makes for an awful place to take pictures, especially with our sad camera, but the effect itself was almost magical. Landon couldn't get enough and was freaking out and just staring straight up, and Devin would get so excited and kept shouting out which fish were going by. 

 I don't think this was the most amazing aquarium ever--and the set up only serves to make you claustrophobic--but it had some cool stuff and the kids were loving it, so it was a success. 

 

We also got to walk along the wharf a bit and get some food. I also got my sourdough bread. Mom ate a little before she left, but other than that I'm eating it all by myself! 

It was such a fun adventure with grandparents and, luckily, it was a perfect San Francisco day. I didn't think we'd be getting home so late so I didn't bring the kids' pajamas, but they were worn out and both fell asleep on the way home--Landon in the most adorable fashion. Even in his sleep he manages to be the cutest.

Meeting the Big Boy Goal

After much trying, Devin met his goal of staying dry in the night for two weeks in a row! 

So proud of this kid. 

 

I loved seeing his happy face each morning when he announced that he'd stayed dry all night. And every morning he would run into Landon's room announcing that he'd stayed dry. Sometimes Landon cared, sometimes not so much. But this most special of mornings Landon was quite interested in the quarter I gave Devin. 

 

 We promised Devin a special surprise when he met this goal, so off to the toy store we went where we let him pick his own toy. We were lucky to find a toy within our price range. Who knew the local toy store could be so pricey!? Devin ended up picking a NeoTracks set and the boys--including Rich--had a fantastic time the rest of the night putting together the track and chasing the car.

Background: When we first did potty training with Devin I didn't even attempt to do nighttime with him. He was so young, and I was pregnant, and he'd never once been dry through the night, so we pushed back this hurdle till he was ready. Well, about two months ago I had the feeling he was ready, though he'd still never woken up dry. I just thought he could do it. When I announced that he got to wear his big boy underwear to bed he was so excited! But it was rough going. He was sleeping so deeply that he wouldn't even wake up in the night when he had an accident. After about a week and a half, Rich and I were ready to give up on the endeavor for awhile, and we had a family discussion with Devin about it. But he insisted he was ready and did not want to go back to Pull-Ups. This boy set a goal and he was sticking to it. So glad that he knew better than us. He slowly progressed from not waking at all, to waking when he had an accident, to waking to go to the bathroom, to not having to wake up at all! And when I say he had to work for this, I mean it. He would be so heartbroken when he'd wake up to find he'd had an accident. One middle of the night I almost cried when he desperately clung to me telling me, "I tried so hard to stay dry, but I just couldn't do it!" I know nighttime is really hard for a lot of kids, and I'm sure we'll still have nights of accidents, but I feel like we've definitely turned a corner and am hoping he can continue on.

Halloween 2013

Halloween was such a fun-filled day this year. The morning began with Devin asking me what our Halloween breakfast would be--I did not have one planned, but I recovered nicely by whipping up some pumpkin pancakes. I will clearly need to up my game next year.

Just before lunch we headed up to Rich's work for some trick-or-treating and a fun get together. All the different buildings had candy for the kids and everyone's offices were decorated so cute.

 I love this picture mainly because while Devin was walking up the hill he kept saying, "Whoa, it's hard work walking up this dangerous hill!"

 Landon kept pointing the couch above Daddy's desk, and Devin was perplexed as to why a couch would be up so high. They both agreed that being up there was fantastic. Jumping on couches is fun no matter the location of the sofa.

When Daddy got home from work we headed to our ward's Halloween party. This was an amazing party--everyone did such a great job with all the activities. Devin was in HEAVEN at this party with all the kids to play with and all the opportunities to run around. We didn't get a lot of good pictures here, but I couldn't resist posting this one, what with Landon's cheeks all squishy like that.

After all the party fun, we went off for some trick-or-treating as a family. (Those sticks are foam glow sticks--perfect for looking like a lightsaber for Yoda.)

 Landon was fast at picking up on the fact that he would get candy if he went up to the door and would quickly let go of our hands and run after Devin. Devin, himself, was a crazy man and all his manners went away when a giant bowl of candy was in front of him. He got a lot more candy than Landon because he was stealing it while the giver was handing some to Landon! Also, Landon learned say "trick-or-treat" in the most adorable way in honor of Halloween.

 When we got home to look over the loot, I told the boys they could each eat one piece of candy (I'm a mean mom) before bed. Landon immediately came toward me saying, "Sucka, Mama!" And for once in his life I let him run amok with a sucker, which only served to drive Rich's OCDness crazy, crazy due the stickiness that happened EVERYWHERE. And I mean everywhere.

 Devin, on the other hand, chose Nerds and then spread them all over the floor running back and forth to the door when trick-or-treaters knocked.

But all the messes were worth it because these boys were so happy all day. Devin kept telling me how much fun he was having, and neither child could calm down for over and hour after going to bed. Whether that was due to the sugar or the fun, I'm not sure. But as Devin tells me when I ask him why he's smiling (because I'm certain he's smiling because he's done something he shouldn't), I believe they were "smiling for joy." And yes, Devin tells me that he's "smiling for joy" or "smiling for happiness" almost daily because you know he's always giving me that stinker grin!!

Anyway, the Brittons had a wonderful Halloween, and we're now living in a world filled with so much candy that both boys can hardly stand it.