Sleep Habits

When we found out we were having another baby and knew that meant our boys were going to be sharing a room, I thought there was NO WAY Tatum (our non-cuddly boy) and Bodie (our extreme cuddly boy) would ever be able to share a bed. I thought Tatum would go crazy with Bodie trying to play with his ears and cuddle him all night. So, we bought a bunk bed. . . and all I have to say is I am glad we bought a cheap one off Craidslist because these boys ALWAYS are sleeping on the same bed or the floor. Much to my surprise, it is Tatum that wants to be with his big brother, whether that be the top bunk, the bottom or yes, we have even found him under the bed.

 We love going in to check on these rascals every night and seeing where they finally succumbed to sleep. 

Another fun, crazy and always too fast trip to utah

I am never good at picking out just a few pics to recap so here is our scrapbook (again) of birthdays, Christmas and New Year's in Utah!

After surviving the nightmare of a flight with two boys, lots of contractions and throw up (I swear I will never fly with a one year old again), we made it to the Great Salt Lake valley. It was non stop action from there, especially for this little man. Bodie LOOOOOVED playing with his cousins.

 Melted my heart to see Treavor's and my boys play in a fort like we used to do.

Bodie always had to be cuddling with Rylee, stalking Cade, asking Grandma Kat to play a superhero game with her, crying because he wanted to be a Beus kid, asking anyone and everyone to play their phone, crying because he wanted to be a Sansom kid, asking when we were going to play with Grace and Jovie, crying because he wanted to go back to Nebraska, asking Grammy to take him to Boondocks, excited because he is a Van Leeuwen, and asking where we are going next. Poor kid.

 Tatum, well, he did what he usually does, get into EVERYTHING, give hugs and kisses and than hit you. He sure was excited to see his Dad come to Utah. He wasn't as excited when he had to get his teeth cleaned by him. Either was Bodie until we told him he could play our phones. See the change in attitude?

 I was confused for a moment when we ran into our friends from Omaha at Temple Square on Christmas Eve, I couldn't remember where we were. . . it doesn't take much to confuse me these days.

 Bodie could hardly wait to put on his new superhero pajamas and cuddle with his new minky blanket.

On Christmas morning, we said good-bye to Bodie when he got his own ipod (Yes, our 3 year old now has an ipod touch. . . thank you Grandma Kat!!).

 Christmas with the Van Leeuwens. . . always amazing! Uncle Beau got Bodie a 1000 piece Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle puzzle that he was sooooo excited to put together!

 Some more highlights of our trip are:

the Dinosaur Museum at Thanksgiving Point with Grammy

much needed haircuts for the boys from aunt Tara, more cousin time,

my 28th birthday, the iphone, and a girls day out,

snowboarding (oh wait, there was no snow),

Girls craft night,

a visit with Great Grandpa Harold,

Clays' 30th birthday,

Bodie starting Sunbeams and not stop talking about it for 2 seconds to smile for the camera,

and a day of packing all our wonderful loot to go back to reality.

Thank you to all our family who were so accommodating to our loud and crazy family. As always, the time went WAY too fast and I laughed until I cried.

Gingerbread House Making gone bad

After going to the Winter Quarters trail center to look at the spectacular gingerbread houses, our boys (ok, Bodie and me) wanted to make some of our own. I should have known that if you put bowls of candy, a train and house made out of graham crackers and frosting in front of a 3 and 1 year old, you would NOT get a gingerbread house but little faces and hands covered with frosting, empty bowls and hyper little boys.

3 pieces of candy ended up on Bodie's (only because I threatened him. . .good mom, I know) and none of Tatum's. As you can tell, Bodie is less than thrilled about the whole decorating thing (bottom left) and getting a kick out of Tatum eating his house (bottom right). 

At least we tried. . . right?!?

On a side note, this is what Bodie packed when I said it was time to get ready to go to Utah. . . what else does a boy need?

Besides a good lunch that they fed themselves because mom was too busy packing.

Thanksgiving 2011

Due to illnesses, we had our own little Thanksgiving this year. We didn't know until the night before that we were going to be on our own, so there was no way I was going to make a turkey. We decided to try and recreate our seafood Thanksgiving in North Carolina a few years ago with Clay's aunt. Well, it was not as lavish but it was still FABULOUS! I soooooo enjoyed spending the day with my boys. 

Bodie writing what he is thankful for. . . His Dad, Mom, Tatum, Baby Lincoln, Baby Max, Baby Hercules, Titus and Church. Quite the roundup (still not sure about this baby Max and Hercules business he keeps talking about. . . scares me a bit)

 It was 72 degrees outside and Tatum took full advantage of the beautiful weather and played in the dirt while I cooked.

 Well, we found out that Tatum has expensive tastes- he LOVED the crab legs, salmon dip and crab cakes. It didn't take him long to figure out how to get the meat out of the legs. (He might of eaten a little crab shell)

 Bodie was not so sure about the crab legs.

I am grateful for the little men and big man in my life!!!!

Clay Juniors

Seriously, these boys couldn't be more of Clay's sons if they tried. . . love Chicago bears football, love to snuggle, dimple chins, blue eyes, lovable, can get their mom/wife to do anything for them, good looks, loud, hilarious sense of humor. . . to name a few.

Can't wait to see Clay the third.

Bodie, Tatum and more Bodisms

We have been slow on getting a mattress for the top bunk but that doesn't seem to bother Bodie much. He just gathered every blanket we own, laid them down and made a nice play (and sleep) place for him (and Tatum). A few nights we have found him just sleeping on the metal frame with no blankets under him, cannot be comfortable. 

We FINALLY found something to keep Bodie in his room at night and not lose his mind every bedtime-

None other than the stinky and hairy Titus. So far, Titus has not been allowed upstairs because I needed a dog hair free zone for my sanity but Bodie sleeping at night is definitely worth it!!!

He also needs his stuffed animal Titus, TMNT's, dinosaurs, Chicago Bears blanket, and anything else he deems necessary that night. Too much? I think so. 

  We had our first snow fall and Bodie just sat and watched it, waiting for there to be enough snow to go sledding. He was waiting for ALONG time.

Love the pictures of these boys, describes perfectly what happens on a daily basis around here:

Tatum tackles Bodie, Bodie loves it, Titus is less than thrilled and I wait for one of them to get hurt.

I have to document a few of the latest funny sayings from Bodie (I have already forgotten most of them)

Clay- "Bodie, I love you."

Bodie- "No you don't, you just love yourself."

(OUCH)

 After Bodie comes in our bed around 2 in the morning and starts kicking me, Clay tries to scoot him over, Bodie responds, "First I am going to snuggle mommy then I will snuggle you, daddy,"

Sitting next to Tatum on the floor with his arm around him, Bodie says happily in his high pitched voice,

"Mom there is room for baby Lincoln right there, baby Max right there and baby Hercules right there!"

Me - "Who are baby Max and baby Hercules?"

Bodie- "The babies that are going to be in your belly!"

Oh boy, guess it is time to start thinking about adopting a girl:)

Clay- "Don't hit me Bodie."
Bodie- "It's funny."
Clay- "No, it hurts."
Bodie- "Than it's super funny!"

Just love the funny things they start saying at this age.

Halloween

The boys made up for Clay and me not dressing up this year. They had 3+ events to attend. First one being trick or treating at their Dad's work (too bad he wasn't on service to see them) with HOAA (house officers association)

We had to switch Supheroes, the Batman costume drowned Tatum. Bodie didn't mind giving up his Captain America shield for the bat suit:)

Trunk or Treat at the church with his buddies Davis (Darth Vader) and Cash (fellow superhero, Spiderman)

And lastly, trick or treating around the neighborhood. Bodie sprinted from house to house saying, "PLEASE!!!" (didn't want to say trick or treat) and after about 6 or 7 houses, he sat down on the sidewalk, sighed and said, "I am tired." Trick or treating can be hard work. Good thing Tatum had more stamina and let him take his place in the wagon.

Omaha Lancers Hockey Game

Another fun event by HOAA. The boys were actually into it. What is not to love. . . crazy guys on ice skates with sticks hitting each other, loud music, good food, good company, and not worrying if the boys are loud.

My Superheroes

In an attempt to make comic book pictures for the boys new Superhero room, I had a little photo shoot in our backyard (with the help of my amazingly talented friend). I would have never thought to take pictures in the field like this but LOVE how they turned out. Here are a few of my favorites of each boy . . . I mean superhero.

and Wonder Woman. . . HA, just kidding!! That would be my mom and sisters but I thought I would document a little of this pregnancy. . . since we were trying to get the camera on the right settings.

Here are the final pictures and the comic book effect:

LOVE my superheroes!!!!

Grilling at Standing Bear Lake

We were hoping to build a fire, sit around it, eat and let the boys play. . . well. we could not find a fire pit, it was raining and I am not sure in what life we can just sit while the boys play. So, we had to make do with a little BBQ at Standing Bear Lake (cute little lake 5 minutes from us). After 3 trips home or to the gas station, we finally were ready to BBQ.

Bodie was less than thrilled about the rain . . . he just stood there and watched us grill from afar.

Can you see Bode standing in the pavilion, he eventually braved up and came close to the fire. 

I LOVE grilling, fires, and being in nature, we don't know why we haven't been doing this every weekend.