Chicken Dinner!

On our way out of Walmart, Wesley and I stopped up front so he could sit in the plastic car that moves and shakes if you put quarters in it. Since moving and shaking scares him to death, I get to save quarters and he just sits in there for a while. But he seriously loves it so it works out well for everyone. Three minutes into a most exciting chair sit, I started getting the gambler's itch as the crane game's flashing lights worked on me. I just got done thinking to myself that a dollar per play is a complete ripoff when I realized I actually had a single dollar bill in my pocket, plus there was this stuffed Christmas bear with a funny hat saying hi to me. I had a surge of confidence I've never before felt that I'm sure most people get right before they lose money. Wesley had never seen the game played before and I thought it would be fun for me him, and as soon as I asked him he was all over the idea. A small crowd had gathered to watch as we walked through how we were going to do it--I'll line it all up, you push the red button when I say push. I lost my dollar forever, the 20 second timer started, and:

Everyone was cheering, Wesley was jumping and laughing, it was a lot of fun. Good job Wesley!

Busy Little Elves

I know we have been quiet on the blog lately

But that's just because we monkeys have been busy.

Busy getting everything ready for the Christmas season. We are excited!

First we had to go and find the perfect tree.

There were a lot to choose from!

We love it when we are all together! Paid Holidays are the best.

We hope you will forgive us for not posting sooner. Santa's workshop has been busy busy!!

Have a very happy Christmas season. We hope you are having as much fun among the mayhem as we are.

Celebrating having Daddy Back!

We went to the park today. It was freezing, but we just needed to get out of the house and celebrate the end of a long, difficult semester.

A semester that my amazing husband totally rocked by the way.

Congrats Daddy! We love you so much for all the hard work you do for our family. It is so fun to have you around more for a few weeks!

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Halloween 2011

 I realized none of you got to see how adorable my kids were on Halloween. Now that's just a shame!

First off, how cute are the matching Halloween jammies?

One nice thing about having boys close together is the hand-me-down factor. I put a ton of effort into Wesley's costume from two years ago, and I was able to use it this year for Fredrick.

He makes a pretty darn cute monkey!

Wesley was a puppy. I sewed like crazy to make his costume, and as the hours wound down to the church trunk-or-treat we were attending, I may have received a little help from the resident expert (Mom).

Wes loved making the puppy noises, and he was fascinated by his tail. It was really funny to watch him as he turned in circles trying to catch hold of it.

He got really in to trick or treating this year. Knock on people's doors and they give you candy? This is the best thing ever! 

This is one excited puppy!

I'd say it was a successful year!

Happy Halloween!

Finished Product

I borrowed my mom's hot glue gun this afternoon and attached the ornament hangers to the backs, then painted the embellishments. I think they turned out pretty cute, and I love how it makes our go tree smell like cinnamon.

Here's the recipe I used:

In a medium bowl mix together 1 cup ground cinnamon and 1/4 cup applesauce using a rubber spatula. Stir in 1/2 cup craft glue. Stir the dough until the consistency is smooth and dry. Let sit one hour. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut with cookie cutters. Let dry overnight or two hours in an oven heated to 200.

(recipe originally from MarthaStewart.com)

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Christmas Elf

I couldn't stop laughing as this little elf toddled around our place this morning. Too cute too handle!

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First haircut

Tonight, after all the food was made and enjoyed and put away (Wesley even got to help Papa with the crazy after dinner dishes, much to his delight) the rest of the family finally convinced me it was time for Fredrick's curls to go. I don't know why I have been so attached to them. Perhaps because it was a little bit of me that was passed on (Wes is such a mini Daddy, other than his smile). Mostly I think I was hesitant to see another reminder of his babyhood passing. While be will always be my baby, this little walking man is on to toddler land and a baby no more.

Grandma did the honors and did a great job. I'll have to post some "after" pictures another time because after it was all done there was no way he was holding still for a photo!

On a different note, Thanksgiving was really fun this year. On top of the familiar traditions I always look forward to at the Weatherspoon house, this year my cousin Joe and his cute wife Sarah came with their adorable kids who are just the age of our kids. Rock and Wesley had so much fun together, it was cute to see them running around giggling together! We are so glad they moved close by so we can get to know them better.

This year I am thankful for my family, immediate and they ones scattered everywhere. And for those friends far away who always feel like family to me as well.  I am thankful for my husband who works so hard at a difficult job he doesn't particularly like in order for us to be as comfortable as we are. Even tho things are tight while he finishes up school, we have amazing benefits that are such a blessing. I am grateful for my faith and testimony and my parents who taught and loved me so well. I am grateful for my good health, that in spite of tiny flare ups from time to time my auto immune stuff has been in remission for awhile. I am grateful to be living here in Salem close to my parents. I am grateful for hugs and sticky kisses and all the cute funny things my boys do every day.

Life is good.

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Christmas Ornaments 2011

Every year since LeGrand and I were married we have picked out a new ornament for the tree. Our first year we got these cute snowman snow globe ornaments, but most years we went to Hallmark to pick one out. Well this year is a little leaner than most because LeGrand is back in school full time, meaning he can only work part time. So this afternoon Wesley helped me make some ornaments for this year! I got a recipe for cinnamon dough off Pinterest and we went to town making tiny gingerbread men, snowmen, and angels. It smells amazing! It will be fun to look back on these ornaments in "fatter" years and remember how we improvised. My parents still have some of those improvised ornaments from early years of their marriage, and they are some of my favorite. We are so blessed right now to be able to make this whole school thing work, and I'm so proud of my genious husband who is rocking his accounting classes!

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Saying Grace

This morning Wesley volunteered to say the blessing on the food at breakfast. This is roughly how it went:

Wesley, "Father Heaven, thank thee for day, please bless the waffle, please bless D.J., Guido, Luigi, Francesco, Lightning, Mater hook broken, name Jesus Christ Amen."

It took all of my willpower not to bust up laughing when he started blessing all the cars in his toy box. I thought it was kind of sweet though that he asked for help with his broken toy (as you can see in the picture poor Mater's hook has indeed broken off). Funny boy!

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I don't pick my nose

There Was a Boy Who Turned 3 in Radiator Springs . . .

 Wesley is Three. My sweet, little peanut Wesley who was so, so tiny has grown up into a big three year old boy. He talks up a storm, always wants to say the prayer by himself, goes potty in the potty chair (with the right incentives), can count almost to twenty, and finds new ways to impress his parents with his remarkable wit and intelligence every day. My recent favorite exchange; Daddy: Wesley, don't pick your nose. Why do you pick your nose? It is icky to pick your nose. Wesley: Daddy does it! (Mommy may have been laughing so hard she was crying in the background as daddy turned red and walked away).

Wesley was geared up for his birthday this year. For a few days beforehand we had been counting down to his birthday. He understood that it was a special day just for him (originally he had been willing to share the day with Baby Fwedweek until we explained it was a day just for Wes) with cake, presents, and fun. He woke up to find lots of racecar balloons Daddy had brought home the night before . . . 

 . . . and then he may have gone to the doctor for a birthday shot. Mommy felt really bad about that one. Sorry Wes! But then the fun continued with lunch at Red Robin . . .

 . . . where Fredrick was so hungry he stuffed his face with soda crackers before the food even arrived. Here he is shoveling in a mouthful:

They even sang to Wesley and brought him ice cream, much to his embarrassment. He ate a few bites, but he takes after Mommy and isn't much for ice cream. 

   Fredrick on the other hand, was quite willing to pick up the ice cream burden for his brother! (Mr. Chocolate Face)  

Then it was back home for presents! His gift from Mommy and Daddy was a Lightning McQueen blanket that Mommy made for his big boy bed. We got him a Twin bed this summer, and some Lightning McQueen sheets. So this (along with Grandma Johnson's pillow) completes the set!

Grandma Weatherspoon made him some aprons--one for our house and one for theirs. One says Papa's Helper and the other says Mama's Helper. He loves to help Papa wash the dishes and cook! (He loves to help Mommy too, when she lets him help. Sometimes it is just easier now that Fredrick is walking to do the dishes after they are in bed!)

Wesley got several new cars to add to his collection. Lucky boy!

Fredrick thought that birthdays are fun too!

Wesley's three! Ready to blow out the candles on his Cars cupcake. 

Notice little brother peeking around the chair. He knows there's cake somewhere.

I knew it! Cake!

Happy birthday, my handsome boy. We love you so much. You have such a sweet spirit about you, and bring so much love, joy, and laughter to our home. Thank you for being Mommy's helper and holding Fredrick's squirrelly hands while she changes his diaper. Thank you for giving me the best hugs when I tuck you in at night. You are such a good, patient big brother to Fredrick. You are a loved, loved boy.

A Year of Fredrick

First Moment

First Day

First Week

First Month

Second Month

Third Month

Fourth Month

Fifth Month

Sixth Month

Seventh Month

Eighth Month

Ninth Month

Tenth Month

Eleventh Month

Twelve Months!! 

Happy Birthday sweet, funny, dimpled, stubborn, adorable, chubby-legged boy!! You are a very loved boy.

And just as a spoiler, here's a more recent one of the two partners in crime . . . 

And yeah. The little one is walking :)