Preserving a Few More Memories

I forgot a few things when I posted yesterday and these are things I'd like to remember.

When Bugga gives kisses, he makes the fishy face as his pucker. I love it. And sometimes he thinks that just making the face is giving a kiss, not actually making contact with anything.

Bugga likes to use sign language for certain words even though he knows how to verbalize them. He'll say "more" and "please" with his hands. That's it. Nothing else.

Bugga pronounces thank you, "ank ya."

Bugga is always handing me things and saying, "Heee go" (here you go).

Bugga seems to think that the garbage can is a garbage truck and he pronounces garbage truck, "gabeh juck." He's always telling me to put bugs and other "ewy" things in the "gabeh juck."

Bugga says "yeah" with his whole body - head bobbing, torso bouncing. I love it. It's the greatest! He's so expressive.

Buddha likes to teach Bugga words. I'll hear him from another part of the house saying, "Bugga, can you say 'down truck' or 'cars?'" And the other morning he came bursting into my room (nice way to wake up, eh?) and announced that Bugga had said, "sorry." He was very excited. I could just imagine him in the crib with Bugga, getting pummeled and then teaching Bugga to say "sorry." Buddha is such a great big brother.

Tonight we took our walk at the high school track and we brought Buddha's bike for him to cruise around on. Near the end of our walk, The Chief encouraged me to sprint 100 yards, just for old time's sake. I told him it would probably make me puke, but agreed to try anyway. I took off down the track and flopped on the ground at the finish line. Then I hear Buddha yelling at me and I lift my head off the ground, look down the track, and see this little body hurtling toward me at top speed. He had gotten off his bike to run with Mommy. He was so proud of running with me and it was so cute to watch his little legs pumping. When he reached the number marking his lane at the end, he yelled, "SCORE!" (We had been saying this every time we strolled/walked/biked over the numbers as we walked around the track). We rounded another curve and then it was The Chief's turn to test his speed. He and Buddha stepped up to the starting line and took off when I yelled "Go!" Bugga started squirming and wanted to get out and run, too. He kept saying in this distressed little voice, "wun, wun!" So, I let him out and he took off down the track with his hoodie-covered head, his swishing sweat pants, and his bare little feet pittering and pattering their way toward the finish line (and red soles). He started out running toward The Chief, but then he veered toward Buddha. Buddha put his arms out, Bugga put his arms up, and Bugga ran into Buddha's outstretched arms where he was warmly embraced and patted on the back for his accomplishment. I wish I would have had my camera with me. That is a moment I hope I'll never forget. It was so sweet and reminded me that despite all the fights, power struggles and tantrums, my boys really do love each other and enjoy each other's company.

Incidentally, I did feel like puking for a while after my pathetic attempt at a sprint. Nothing like a slow 100 yards to remind you that you're not in your prime anymore.

Here's a video of me trying to get Bugga to say "Ewww" and "Die" over a bug. Excuse my loss of patience with Buddha at the end. It had been one of those days. Oh, and Buddha was right, it wasn't a bug, but I was trying to improvise. It didn't elicit as strong a response as normal from Bugga. He seemed skeptical, but it did the job.

Utah and San Diego Videos

Here are a few videos from our travels:

1st - Faces dancing at Dillards in the PTC.



2nd & 3rd - Sea World



P.S. Shamu had peed as he sped by the boys and Buddha yelled "FIRE!" It was hilarious.



4th - The Three Amigos (watch closely for the "Falling Amigo")

Meeeeee!

I love this.

Token Easter Post...

...FINALLY! Geez, I can't seem to stay on top of everything right now. It's probably because I've got so many good books I want to read and when I start one, I can't be bothered to put it down for anything (i.e. returning phone calls, cooking meals, folding all the clean laundry that's piling up, getting out of bed, etc.). :)

Anyway, Easter was fun. It was really low-key. We just stuck around here all day and had an Easter egg hunt and dyed Easter eggs. Because it was so warm and because we had filled the Easter eggs with chocolate candy, The Chief had to keep the boys occupied while I ran out and hid all the eggs in any shady spots I could find in our backyard. Then I darted back inside, collected the boys, and herded them quickly toward the melting treasure.

Dying Easter eggs was hilarious. There's a video record of that event. I had seen somewhere (blog, website, newspaper article....) that every Easter a couple would put their stripped-down kids into a bathtub to dye eggs. We tried it and the cleanup was so simple I think I'll do that every year! The boys had a great time.

On Wednesday we had our CTR 5 class come over for an Easter cookie decorating party. With my kids participating as well, we managed to cover all our bases this Easter, even though we only started preparing on Saturday night! Hooray for procrastinators! :)

I have thoroughly enjoyed reading all your Easter posts/updates and I'm excited to finally add my own to the mix. Now that Easter is over, we are eagerly looking forward to General Conference (hoping to keep the kids occupied enough that we can watch more than the one talk we managed last year) and our big two-week trip to Utah. I have found myself calling my Utah family more often because I'm so excited to go that my heart is already there.

Oh, which reminds me, WELCOME HOME UNKEY DINO!! My brother, Unkey Dino, came home from Iraq just this week. And from what I understand (though this is subject to change depending on the availability of cute girls here in the States), he's home for good. My boys are especially excited to see Unkey Dino. I can't wait!

Okay, peace out (I haven't said that in a long time...brings back memories). :)

Photo by The Chief

Photo by The Chief

The Hunt


Eating the Booty


Dying the Eggs


For a few more fun Easter images, click here.

For Heather and Jacoby

Hi guys! We hope you're having fun in Europe and we thought you might like a little peek at the boys. We're having a great time with them. Buddha loves having a "built-in" friend that's here when he wakes up every morning. He's going to be sad when you guys come back to take the boys home. :)

Rett has been kind of clingy. He's definitely missing his Mommy and Daddy. So, we opened the special books you made for the boys. Those are awesome, Heather! Rett has been carrying his around and plopping down in random places to look at it several times a day. I hear him softly saying, "Mommy, Daddy, Rett." He's so cute! We've been having fun getting to know him better. He's a riot. We think it's so hilarious and adorable that he hums his way through every meal. And every day as he plays I hear him saying, "Ee Ah Ee Ah Yo!" He says it really fast, over and over again. He's a little character, and very cuddly. We've been giving him lots of hugs and kisses, but he'll be glad when you're back, I'm sure.

Coby is a lot of fun, too. He and Buddha pal around all day like they're twins. And they often fight like they're siblings, too. :) I finally confiscated the two ride-on cars that we have in the house. They were the source of so much strife between all the boys, so they are currently residing in the back of your van. :) Coby is full of lots of fun suggestions. We've been to the park on his recommendation and we've read countless books. He amazes me with his potty skills. Buddha doesn't even dress himself yet and Coby can do everything by himself! It's made me realize I need to foster more independence in Buddha. :)

Well, like I said, we're having a great time. Our ward is having a talent show tonight that we're hauling all the boys to. I think it'll be fun. There's a little video at the bottom of this post. Enjoy! You are loved by your little men. :)

More videos...

...because lately, I'm too lazy to write. Okay, the truth is that there really isn't anything exciting to write about. Besides the fact that spring has arrived in San Diego and I've been taking full advantage. I can't even begin to tell you how amazing it is to be able to head out to my backyard wearing my bathing suit and carrying a large beach towel, feeling the warm cement under my strangled, winterized feet. When I lie down and start the timer, the sun is immediately drawn to my black bathing suit and before two minutes have passed I'm feeling the heat...and I love it. I love the blazing light of the sun as I see it through my eyelids. I love the sounds and smells of spring represented by thousands of tree blossoms and fresh grass clippings, lawn mowers and neighborhood kids playing in a distant backyard, cocky teenage boys washing the family cars, chlorine and coconut sun block permeating the warm, tropical air. I love the low, steady hum of the bees that feast at our hilly wildflower mecca. I love the quiet that is peaceful, but not silent. I love the joy I can't contain as my body reawakens with the warmth of the sun. I love spring. And, yes, I love a good tan as well. I won't lie.

Mumbo-jumbo aside...here's the really good stuff:

This is Buddha and Bugga helping Daddy read them their bedtime story.



This is Buddha and Bugga brushing their teeth. Very entertaining...seriously. :)

My 10 Seconds....

...of fame, that is. Here is my television debut in all it's glory. Blah, blah, blah. It's more comical than exciting. Whoever spliced and merged the footage got it all wrong for me. I don't actually use Snapfish...ever. If I ever print my photos (which is really once in a blue moon), I use Costco online, which just happens to be powered by Snapfish. It's a twisted world, working in television. I think I'll quit my acting career and go back to photography. :) Oh well, it was fun. And that old adage about the camera adding 10 lbs? It's not true. It added 20 lbs to my already apple-shaped face. I don't think it helped that Noe, the happy camera man, was so zoomed in on me. Well, enough of my griping. You may have to turn up your volume. I don't think I had the TV volume up loud enough. Didn't want to wake the kiddos.

Shameless

Having been caught up in my recent photography obsession, I've neglected videos. So, here's a couple of random videos of the boys taken within the last couple of weeks. Be forewarned, the last video is five minutes of shameless, blatant showing off from both Mommy and Buddha. I couldn't help it. He's my three-year-old genius child. I think it's going to be a struggle keeping him challenged and not bored as he goes throughout his life. Enjoy!

Buddha and Bugga at the driving range:



Mommy quizzing Buddha:

Our Veterans Day Surprise

Well, I finally got around to posting this. It's a miracle. There's just so much going on! On Monday, The Chief surprised us by coming home from work early. We let Bugga finish his nap and then we packed up and headed for Sea World. The Chief called it our Family Home Day. :) I, of course, brought along our new "toy" so that I could try out all the different settings. As you can see, I went a little crazy with the dang thing. :) But, I did get some great pictures, so no complaining! We had a great time visiting the shark exhibit, the penguins, and the Wild Arctic. We passed through the tide pool and the Flamingos on our way to catch the only show left that day - "Believe" (aka Shamu). Buddha loves this show because he gets to help the whales splash the audience. I love this show because I get to watch pure delight suffuse Buddha's innocent little face. Win-win. Bugga just had the best time walking all over the park, holding onto my finger. He was in heaven. There's a short video at the end of the endless pictures. I shot the video after Shamu's show was over. Buddha was still a bit distracted. :) Thanks for taking half a day off, Papa, it was great!

Penguin exhibit

Watching the penguins

Buddha and Bugga looking for Beluga Whales

Watching Beluga Whales from above

Making sure the glass is still there :)

Daddy and Buddha in the bear cave

Lazy Polar Bear

All my boys in the bear cave

Walrus

Bugga watching the Beluga Whales from under the water

I think these are such graceful creatures!

My worst fear!!!!

Gotta love the Flamingos :)

Look out, Buddha! You might be next! :)

Tide pool treasures

Daddy and Buddha watching "Believe" (aka The Shamu Show)

Captivated

"Shamu! Shamu!" Buddha helping Shamu splash the audience.

It worked!

So proud! So happy!

Surfing on Shamu! Buddha loves it when the trainers do this.
He gets excited every time! :)

Clapping along with the music and the trainers

The End

Here's the video clip:

Bugga Driving the Telephone Car

I filmed this little clip last week sometime. He's better at driving that little car now. But he much prefers to drive sitting backwards on it. :)

Bugga Being Entertained

Buddha and Cousin V are making Bugga laugh.

Buddha's 3rd Birthday Party

Well, today we partied! Here's the premiere of videos with audio for The Bagel Factory! Ta da! :) This is the party attendees singing happy birthday to Buddha. Check out his unorthodox (yet extremely entertaining) way of extinguishing the candles at the end! He's so funny! :) More birthday pictures will come tomorrow when I'm not so desperate to fall into my comfy, cozy bed.

Bugga is Walking! (Video)

Okay, here's the proof. :) Bugga has been walking all over like this since last week! He absolutely loves walking. He'll still grab for a finger if it's offered, and he still gets mad when I let go so he'll walk on his own. But the difference is that he will walk on his own now! He'll go a few steps, balance himself, walk a little more, balance again. It's so cute and so exciting! I love it when my kids walk. Again, I remind you, we have no sound with our video...so your computer is not broken. :)

Buddha and Bugga Playing on Cube (Video)

This is Buddha and Bugga playing on the Little Tikes climbing cube that I hosed off and brought inside because of the poor air quality outside. They have thoroughly enjoyed climbing all over this thing. It's been a huge relief to have this inside while we've been cooped up because of smoke and soot and ash!

Bugga's Gymnastics (Video)

Here's Bugga flipping over the "garden" wall. This is a toy that was outside in our backyard, but I cleaned it off and brought it inside because of the terrible air quality outdoors. As you can see, Bugga certainly enjoys it! :)

Buddha Disappearing (Video)

Here's Buddha playing on our Little Tikes climbing cube. He likes to "disappear" down the hole.

Bugga Climbing (Video)

This is Bugga climbing and sliding. My favorite is his unconventional dismount. :)

Bugga at the Pumpkin Patch (Video)

This is a video of Bugga hanging out with the pumpkins in the pumpkin patch we went to a week ago. He had a grand ol' time up there with his big, orange buddies.

Funny Videos!

I got this video in an email from my Aunt Danette. It's for anyone who is a mom or who has a mom. Yep, that's right, it's for everyone! :) You'll all get a kick out of it, I'm sure. I think it's hilarious and soooo appropriate. :)



Okay, here's another of my recent favorites sent by Unkey Dino (how appropriate). This is called "The Translator."



And the last one (I promise) is another hilarious video that will be totally appreciated by moms and dads. This was sent to me by my friend, Teej.



Oh, sorry, that wasn't the last one. I just love to share videos that make me smile. Here's a family video of Faces. I love this video because Ratchet is a video-making genius. Great music, great subject! Faces has a true "army crawl." He's such a cutie! And such a little chub (that's for you, Auntie). :) I love the army pants.

Bugga's Tantrums

I wish you could hear this. It's hilarious. He gets sooooo upset each time I let go of one hand. He flops down on his belly and just cries like there's no tomorrow. And the next second, when I let him hold onto my hands again, he's just as pleased as punch. What a funny little man! :)