:: a stage in a boy's life ::

Tate is in the dinosaur stage right now. We visit our local dinosaur museum regularly and we can't pass it in the car without Tate pointing them out. We love to just go and play in the gift shop for an hour to pass some time. Tate loves to play make believe, and while he is usually a tiger, the back-up would be...you guessed it-a dinosaur! This dinosaur costume turned new favorite toy was well worth the $25.00 we purchased it for. Tate can't get enough of it! He uses "baby dinosaur" for dress-up, sleeps with him, and loves to play with him during the day.

:: A very Happy Halloween indeed! ::

We had a fabulous Halloween at Tim & Hilary house, along with Grandmama and Grandpapa this year. Delicious soup and scones were served for dinner...perfect for a cold fall evening! Tate loved his "baby dinosaur" outfit that daddy rushed to the store just hours before to buy (I had planned on recycling his cute monkey costume but could not convince him to put it on) and Levi was squeezably cute as a little bear. My favorite part of the night was handing out candy on the porch with Levi, Hilary, Kenzie, and Grandmama. We always have plenty of laughs and good conversation for those couple of hours. Andy had a blast with Tate and the rest of the gang going trick-or-treating around the neighborhood. Another perfect Holiday I am sad to be over!

:: potty time ::

Picture taken right after T's first successful "dropping off of the kids at the pool" (he is excitedly telling daddy all about it on the phone.)

Okay, so it wasn't THAT bad!

In fact...it was pretty smooth sailing teaching Tate how to use the "big boy potty." Tate and I spent the better part of the first week in the bathroom, having quality potty time together. I don't think we left the house at all for that week, let alone the bathroom. It was fun teaching Tate all about using the potty and that gas (which Tate calls "grass" while waving his hand in the air to show that it is just that) is not one of them. I love that he calls his business "yellow" or "BIG poops!" And yes, the automatic flushing toilets do cause a big scare. After two weeks of continual trips to the bathroom, positive reinforcement, little chocolate chips, and running around the house naked he is officially potty trained. =)

What a good little boy I have!!!

:: artists ::

I think Tate is quite the artist (must be the Browne side of the family)!


I've been meaning to cut their hair for months now...but look at that little face!

Lou coloring his very first picture/eating his first crayon.

kissable fingers...

& toes.

:: XoOxXOooXxxOX ::

We had the most amazing sky here in Lehi...breathtakingly beautiful!!! It had been raining off and on and the combination of the clouds, colors, lighting, and mountains made for a scene right out of the movies. On our drive to Costco for some shopping and a slice of pizza, I pointed it out to Tater. He loved it too!!! He held his toy tractor on his lap and pointed out something to me- all the other tractors by the church under construction near our home. He was very excited about the close resemblance to his toy and that they were also "orange." And then out of no where moments later Tater peeped out from the backseat something I love, and it went like this...

Tate: "I wanna talk to Jesus...Jesus in the sky"
me: "Okay, sweetie...just say a prayer and you can talk to him!"
Tate: "...and kisses too."
me: "awe."
Tate: "I give Jesus BIG hug!!!"
me: "Someday you will give Him a big hug, honey." =)
Tate: "okay."

me: "we love Jesus!"

Tate: "I love Jesus soooooooooo MUCH!"

:: you're the good things ::

...thanks to my Annie for capturing my sweeties!

:: kids do & say the funniest things ::

While hanging out with my boys on the floor I hear Tate toot.

me: "Tate did you just toot?"

Tate: "no."

me: "Tate...you tooted."

Tate: "My poops talkin' !!"

...so true, so true.

:: sweet skater boy ::

Daddy came home from work and surprised you with a brand new Spider man scooter and Diego helmet...and your little boy dreams came true!

"I wove woo Weevi Woo!" -Tate

Thoughtful Daddy capturing this momentous occasion on film.

Levi was reaching out for Tate, so he scooted his way up to him and gave him a BIG kiss!

"Yikes-a-Day!" ...as Aunt Trina would say. =)

:: Boo-ba-dee-boo-bop's first sleepover! ::

Tate and cousin, Dallin

Grandmama and the boys


...and of course, some kisses with Levi!

Tate received his first sleepover invite from Grandmama, along with his cousin Dallin...to say that he was excited about it would be an understatement!!! Just look at his big grin in these pictures. Grandpapa and Grandmama planned a fun-filled get away for the boys and they all had a blast! Tate and Dallin got Happy Meals (in traditional Weeks' fashion) and then went over to the ward BBQ social. I was told that Tate was sooooo cute and a good boy, becoming more independent as time went on (I guess big cousin rubbed off on him. =) In the morning he ate a pancake at IHop and enjoyed that special treat, followed by a shopping spree at ShopKo (in traditional Weeks' fashion.) He loves his new car and Pelican Webkins that Grandmama bought him -which has become his new sleeping companion. Tatey came home bathed and tired from having so much fun! And I had fun at the homestead with some quality one-on-one time with Levi!

*Thanks again to mom and dad for doing that for our big boy!!!
We LOVE you.

:: good night ::

Tonight as I tucked you in bed (hair still wet from your bath with daddy) we held each other tight. Your little arm was clung around my neck so tight and mine around yours as I hummed your special lullaby. You had a permanent smile, and come to think of it so did I. I whispered in your ear, "I love you baby"...and you whispered to me, "I love you baby" (and I corrected him.) I kissed your sweet little face, trying to remember what is was again that frustrated me so much at dinner time. None of that mattered anymore. Then I said, "I love you forever, I will always love you, I will always be your mommy, and I will always be with you!" And he put his little hand on my face and said, "Hmmmm...Mommy." We "hmmmm" a lot to each other, it is a very loving gesture in our home. =)

:: cheerios and noodles can be pretty masculine ::

Lindsay came over the other day to teach Tate and I a thing or two about crafts. I don't know if it is because I am raising two boys, but we don't do too many craft projects at the Weeks' home. I thought these necklaces were so clever and simple that we had to try it out. Tate had a blast having his sweet little friend over and worked at his necklace for a long time. I finished it for him and he enjoyed wearing it for a few days. The End.

:: let me count the ways ::

{Em, Tate, and Krista}

My family made the long 24+ hour drive from Arkansas to Utah many times growing up. Even as a young child I realized there was something VERY special about Utah summers. And now that I am blessed to live in this wonderful state my love has grown.

Here are just a few reason's I adore Utah summers:

+ grass...lots of green lush grass (even though our yard is not up to par, at least we some)

+ the gorgeous evenings

+ spending many lovely evenings in the backyard chatting with family & friends while the kids play

+ more daylight...always a major plus in my book

+ tasty produce/farmer's markets/gifts from friend's gardens (hint...hint)

+ barbecue

+ my babies in diapers and shoeless

+ swimming at the pool

+ picnics

+ water Wednesdays

+ motivated to go to the gym...usually anyways

+ being cooled down by AC in a hot car or coming inside to its loveliness indoors

+ vacations...the more the merrier

+ Summer Olympic Games in Cedar City

+ running through the sprinklers

...and the list goes on!

:: rub a dub dub two boys in the tub ::

Tate had not used his old blue tub for a year or so and then recently decided he no longer wanted to take showers with me...Levi's baths were just too appealing. Usually, I shower while they are taking a bath and because Tate holds up Levi we can all three be bathed in record time!

:: how I love thee ::

image via Tampen

Today was a good day!

One of those days that passed slowly, but in a good way...it must have been the rain. =)

I slept in as I do every Sunday that I teach the lesson in Young Women's...not a good thing, just a fact. I am always too stressed out to want to start the day so I start it out on a really bad note (just something else to work on.) Once I finally got out of bed determined not to be too late for church, my day really started looking up!

Daddy had already gotten Tate and himself fed and was about to jump in the shower & Levi was just stirring ready for his second feeding of the morning.

I hurried and put on my handy dandy shower cap, grabbed a naked baby Levi to join me in the shower, slipped on my favorite denim jacket and new skirt that would match my cute pedicure, decided make up would not be happening, and skipped breakfast...all of this and we made it just in the nick of time!

The lesson on Temple Marriage turned into a strange rambling by yours truly (I wonder if you could even call it a lesson)...I think it was because I feel so strongly about Temple Marriage that I just kept going off on weird rants about this and that, hopefully they got my jist.

After arriving home (half starved of course) I quickly caramelized some red onions and sauteed up a couple of cheese brauts for me and the hubby, coupled with a handful of Doritos...lunch was delightfully unhealthy. =)

My favorite visiting teacher, Sis. Sattler, popped by and we visited for a nice long while...I have really grown to look forward and love her more than any other visiting teacher I have ever had!

The boys went down for naps, and then alas, it was time for some much needed relaxing.

Later that afternoon we went on a nice long walk with the boys in their new double stroller, which I could tell they both loved...loved being together (so so so cute!)

While on our walk I handed Tate cute weeds and such to hold, kissed my man lots, enjoyed the gorgeous weather, and eventually Levi fell asleep.

We noticed the clouds were getting dark and headed home, but I love the rain so after getting Levi nestled in the crib we stayed out side to enjoy it!!!

We tried to teach Tate how to push the pedals on his tricycle unsuccessfully again.

We sat on the cement to watch the sky and enjoy the first few drops of rain and then when it really started to pour down I showed Tater how to catch rain on his tongue (my favorite part of the day!)

After spending the next hour or so hanging out in the back of the SUV playing with all the fun finds in the backpack Nana made for the boys for Christmas we decided to head in for dinner.

I pulled up a chair so Tate could assist me in cutting fresh pineapple & making pizza pockets (which I hadn't made in a while...I forgot how easy and good those are!)

Andy fed Levi his rice cereal, which I appreciate so much (feeding babies is one of my least favorite things.)

Tate got to talk to both set of Grandparents on the phone before bed...which he loved!

And now they sound asleep. =)

I think we are going to play a game now...a perfect activity for a rainy Sunday night.

Did I mention, I love rainy days?!!!!?

The CRAZY week before a Happy Mother's Day!

The best part of my Mother's Day was having Andy come home from Florida, where he had been for the past 7 days...working 16 hr. days at his company's convention. I missed Andy VERY much, but learned a lot in the process. I learned that accepting Ashley's invitation to come have dinner the night he flew out of town was a smart one, and even though I showed up an hour before they got home from church because the went to choir practice, it was a BEAUTIFUL day and Tate and I made a new friend with her 5 yr. old neighbor Dunkin. (I learned a lot about Dunkin too.) Thanks to some GREAT parenting advice on helping my picky eater from Ashley, I learned how to stop giving Tate empty threats and do what I say...which has really improved meal time around our house this past week! I realized just how grateful I was for Meg, who stayed with me 5 of the 7 days...and wished I could have convinced her stay the last 2 days! I don't sleep well alone, which really came back to bite me this week as I stayed up until 2 AM the last two nights....AHHHHH! I learned a lot about Meg and she learned what it is REALLY like being a stay at home mom. I think she has a new appreciation for moms and is happier being in her stage of life. I discovered how much Levi loves the pool (took him for the first time) and Tate had no fear come the second time around. Oh, and I learned that the little swimming jacket I bought for Tate is crap... I dare say he would have been better off without it on. I now know that I like detailing my own car, that it takes 4 hours to do it, and that I will flood the basement again if I keep the water going the whole time. What else? Oh, I changed my first diaper in which Tate and I were both covered in poop because he decided to throw a fit midway through...NEVER want to experience that one again! I learned that it is okay to ask for help or for people to come hang out with you and I appreciated all those that did so, especially Grandmama and Grandpapa who took Tate on a date one evening so I could get a little break. The most important realization from this past week was that I don't have to turn into a grumpy mess at 5 PM because Andy isn't home from work...I can chose to keep going because I know I can. =)

My baby's have blue eyes...just like their daddy!

It seems I spoke too soon a while back...he is definitely a two year old now! Don't get me wrong he is as sweet as this picture 97% of the time, but then there is that other 3% -YIKES!

Levi is in a new phase, as you can see...I think he does this when he is happy or tasting the fresh air outside so we are seeing a lot of his little tongue these days!

Here are my boys, just chillin'...probably watching Caillou, while I enjoy watching them. =)