Beard Growing contest and other milestones . . .

E's colleages all decided to have a mustache growing contest for a few weeks prior to their intraining exams. He has done this before and I think 'stache's are Nasty.
So, he grew a beard.
Here he is in his glory.
I have several blackmail photos as he shaved it down to a stache. To be used at a later date. . .



In other news, G is making milestones daily. Yesterday he started crawling up the stairs. The day before that he held his own bottle. The day before that he started cruising a bit on furniture. It is crazy to me how fast he is doing this stuff as he is not 9 months yet and a couple WEEKS (!) ago he was still just scooting on his belly and mostly backwards. Now he has lost his cuddly squishiness (although you can't tell from the pics} and he is really strong. He crawls over and wants to be held for a few seconds with a voracious grip while he twists and turns to see what's going on around him. Then he lunges out of my arms so he can get down and crawl to his next adventure.
It makes me a little sad since cuddling with babies is one of my favorites, but I guess it was bound to happen. I may also be a little reminiscent because this last month I weaned him from nursing. I just didn't expect him to get so active and lean so fast!

We all love our "Chub of Love" even if there isn't much chub about him!!!

Preschool

This is B's last year of preschool. In the fall she went for one month and then I did it with her and S from home by myself while we traveled. They love whatever school they can get.

Here B is on the bus going on the field trip to the grocery store. These are two of her best buds from preschool.




And here they are post-trip eating snack.

The smiles say it all. This has been a good year for this 5 year old and she is ready for kindergarten!

More Intake of Chocolate May Yield Lower Body Mass Index

Good news for me. ;)

And hoping to post more later this week. But we'll see how that goes as I have a baby shower to host, a sacrament meeting talk to prepare/give, some studying for a class, dinners to make for someone, and a couples party at our home all happening this week!

8 months already?!!!

As you can see he is a crawling machine and we ALL love him so much.
Happy 8 month birthday G-man!

3 is harder than 2

I mean that in the number of kids and the age in years.

Why is it that 3 year olds seem more difficult than 2 year olds to me? Maybe cause I think they will be out of the "terrible twos" and I expect more when they are 3?

Why is it that S's favorite word is still NO along with "I don't want to" and "I don't need to." Isn't she just getting more creative saying No? If I say it as a command, "I need you to get on your shoes and go outside" or "leave your brother alone." If I give a choice,"would you like to go potty or brush your teeth first?" It is all the same. NO.

I am going insane. Timeouts and yelling are abounding. Advice?