If It's Good Enough for Harley...

We have trained Harley to go potty inside a kennel so there isn't poop all over the yard. Asher decided if it was good enough for Harley, it was good enough for him. Scott caught him going pee out in the potty kennel. He does have a lot of dog-like behavior - he licks EVERYTHING and thinks going potty outside is way easier than using the indoor facilities.

Tchaikovsky...

Oakley "Tchaikovsky" Beeson had his first official piano recital on 12 December 2009. The weeks leading up to the event were filled with tantrums and insistence that he was NOT going to participate. With a promise of a trip to Pirate Island Pizza, he did perform. He was so nervous the morning of, he said yes when Scott offered to give him a blessing. He has always been so nervous about ever doing anything in front of an audience, he's almost sick to his stomach. I was really proud of him for pushing through the fear and just getting it done.

Oakley loved being able to wear his new suit and one of Grandpa Moore's ties.

Oakley introduced the pieces he would be playing,


"Angels We Have Heard on High," and "Russian Sailor Dance."

Asher entertained himself by licking the piano bench- disgusting!

Once we stopped him from licking the bench, Asher had a huge tantrum and spent the rest of the recital outside of the room.

Thankful for Windows...

I should make a better effort at making note of the thoughtful things that Eli mentions in his prayers. Each time he prays, it's completely unique and obviously from his heart. This morning during family prayer he said, "We're thankful for windows, so that we can look out of them and see the beautiful temple."

You never know what he's going to come up with, but it's always sincere!

Hatching...

Eli's latest phrase is, "My brain just hatched an idea..."

Asher's over-used phrase, "You're on the NAUGHTY LIST!!!"

Thanksgiving with a mix of Cleopatra and African Animals...

While we were getting the Thanksgiving decorations put up around the house, Oakley found some finger puppets he made in preschool that told the story of the First Thanksgiving. As I continued to decorate, he went behind a chair and started to tell the story, with a few changes in detail. The Indian woman was named, "Cleopatra." While the Pilgrims and Indians were walking, a enormous saber-toothed tiger chased them back to their village.

The Indifference Starts Young...

Boys oblivion to girls start even younger than I realized. I took Eli to see a puppet show with the neighborhood play group. When the show was over and we were getting up to leave, Kaiya came up to Eli and said, "Eli, I'll see you at school." Eli just said, "Okay," and started to walk off. I asked Eli who that was and he said he didn't know. When I was talking to Kaiya's Mom later, she told me Kaiya just loves Eli and that she talks about him all of the time. Eli and Kaiya are in the same class at school and she told me Kaiya likes to check out the same book Eli had the week before when they go to library. So cute! So interesting that Kaiya is so interested in Eli and yet he doesn't even know her name.

When Scott took Eli to Math Night at the school, he said girls would come and tap Eli on the shoulder and want to talk to him. He said other students would seek him out to say hi, while Eli seemed pretty indifferent.

I guess I will be thankful for these days when Eli is a teenager and his feelings will change- and he will actually know the names of the girls in his class.

Kindergartener with a Crowded Calendar...

When I asked Oakley and Eli if they wanted to do swimming lessons in December, Oakley responded with an exuberant, Yes!" while Eli responded, "I've just got too much to do."

Oh the schedule and demands put upon a five-year-old...

Bye-Bye Diapers!

Is there anything cuter than a three-year-old bum in Tighty-Whities?

It has been wonderful to bid a final adieu to diapers! I have lugged my what feels like 25 pound box of diapers onto the belt at Costco. Asher did pick up the concept quite easily- it just had to be on his terms. Using the term "big boy" as often as I did, Asher then assumed since he was potty-trained, he was a big enough boy to go to school. He truly seemed heart-broken when I wouldn't let him get on the bus with Eli. He kept repeating, "I big boy! I poop in potty! I go on bus!!!" I'm not sure how big an incentive it was for him thinking he could ride the bus with Co Co if he was potty-trained- but whatever his motivation was, I'm glad it was there!

"So that's how it works..."



Asher demonstrates there is more than one way to sit on the toilet seat...

Halloween 2009...

Halloween seems to be getting to be a bigger event than Christmas! The week before Halloween, we had an activity four nights in a row- Wednesday was the Primary Party, Thursday was Pumpkinland, Friday was the school carnival (which I am still bugged about how much the tickets cost), and Saturday was the Annual Grandkids Party @ Grandpa and Grandma Fotheringham's. By the time the actual day rolled around, the costumes were well-worn!

Timeless Pumpkinland....it just never gets old.

Grandma's Anticipated-All-Year Halloween Party

A costume parade up to get Grandma Moore

Dinner always consists of jack-o-lantern pizza and witches brew.

Dad and Asher try out the witches brew.

It's a race to see who can turn Colt or Dad into a mummy first!

The mummy game always ends with a toilet paper fight.

Eli the Veterinarian is all ready for the school costume parade.

My friend Tiffany Swenson and her family were down visiting from Perry, Utah, and joined us for trick-or-treating. The neighborhood goes all-out setting up games and activities for the kids at different houses. My favorite is the Hunt's, where they have caramel apples! Eli talks about the Weaver's spook alley all year. The first year we went, he woke up that night crying-saying, "The phantom at the Wiener's house was getting me!" Last year he was so proud of himself because he went all the way through and wasn't scared. This year, he was scared to death and crying by the time we got to the end. I was even freaked out! But, no nightmares thank goodness, and he does call them the Weavers instead of the Wieners. I think it may be getting a bit competitive between the neighbors- it seems to be getting bigger and better every year! We are lucky to be the recipients of all their hard work.

Christmas should be a breeze after all the Halloween activities...

Let the Soda Flow...

For Fall Break, Eli and Oakley were going to visit Grandma Lee Ann in Idaho. Scott has recently found out that children at least five years old could fly unaccompanied as an employee dependent. We thought this would be the perfect time for Oakley and Eli to try flying solo. Although I was a bit nervous, I decided it would be okay because, 1. Scott could take them out to the plane and help them into their seats, 2. It's a short 45 minute flight, and 3. They would be together.

While we were driving in the car, I was talking to Oak and E about "the plan," Oak said he would just rather meet Grandma Lee Ann in Brigham City like we usually did. Eli then leaned over and whispered, "Oak, when that drink lady comes, we can order SODA with CAFFEINE!!!" He knew that being out of parental control would allow him access to he and Oakley's favorite contraband and he was delighted to share this knowledge with Oakley.

It did persuade Oakley to try out flying. This makes getting the boys up to Idaho a bit easier- and I am ALWAYS ready to send the boys up for a visit!