Pictures from the last week

Once Jacob turned 2, he has started this crazy thing. He likes to put things in lines. He is very precise about where things go. All day long Jacob makes lines. His plate, cup, fork & spoon all have to in a line for every meal. He will make lines across his room, down the hall and down the stair. I'm not sure if he will be very organized when he gets older, but it is fun to watch him. Here he is in our basement and then at Leslie and Melinda's house we kept him entertained giving him things to add to his line so we could play Rook.


For Andrew's birthday we went to our most favorite place, Chuck E Cheese. We only go there for birthdays, so it is a big deal. Andrew has been counting down the days until he turns 4. Everywhere we go he tells people he is 4.

Andrew got Play Doh for his birthday. We have had a lot of fun playing with it.

Andrew chose a Scooby-Doo birthday cake. It was a lot more difficult than Jacob's Elmo. I was happy with how it turned out though. I think we might start a new tradition next year. I'm not sure I can make more difficult cakes.

The other night Doug decided it would be fun to have an indoor snowball fight. He went and got all his socks and then the boys had a sock fight. Now Andrew and Jacob want to have a sock fight every night.

The other day I was downstairs running and I could hear the boys upstairs laughing. I decided to go and check on them. I found them making funny faces at each other with their glasses on. It is fun to see them play together, although they seem to get in more trouble together.

A day in the life of Jacob

Jacob’s favorite words right now are pee pee and poo poo. It’s a great vocabulary. I’m not even potty training him, but it makes Andrew laugh when he say these words, so it continues.
The other day our home teacher came over and Jacob started to say pee pee. He also says baby, which both words sound similar. I tried to play it off that he was saying baby as Jacob kept going up to his face saying pee, pee. Andrew was not helping the situation by laughing at him. Our home teacher was very nice and kept trying to give us a “spiritual thought”. Jacob wasn’t getting the reaction he wanted, so he tried again. This time he walked over to the home teacher and said, pee pee poo poo. This time there was no denying what he had been saying the whole time. I took him and put him on my lap and whispered to him that we don’t say those words. Jacob hadn’t made enough of a disturbance, so he then decided to bend over and bite Andrew who was sitting next to me. The kind home teacher finished and SOON left.
Why we have home teachers come when we have small children has become a mystery to me. I usually end up more embarrassed than what I ever get from the thought they share. I think if you have small children, home teacher shouldn’t be assigned to you. If you need something there is a special number you call. (Okay, I know I’m being a little extreme.)

Our trip to Arizona

Get ready for the LONGEST POST EVER! Make sure you have some time to waste.

We took a trip to Arizona to visit family and friends and enjoy the sunshine. (Here in Minnesota we have forgotten what it is like to have the sun on our faces.)
On Saturday Doug was able to golf with his high school friends, Brandon and Parker. I was able to visit my most wonderful neighbor and friend, Juliette. We took the kids to the park and then we were able to go out to dinner that night together. I had a great time laughing and talking with Juliette. It made me realize how much I miss her. Someday hopefully I will be able to live next door to her and have more adventures together. (Wallet in garbage--classic--love ya Juliette!!)

Andrew loved AZ. He didn't want to come home. Nixie, Malloy, Andrew & Jacob.


While we were in Phoenix we stayed with Brandon. The boys loved playing in his oasis backyard. We played silly string and with the balls. It was so nice to see the boys run and play outside. They loved every minute of it!!

We all were able to take in a Spring Training game in Tempe. We watched the A's vs. Angels. Doug was able to find tickets online that were on the second row behind home plate. Andrew went with a mitt and was ready to try and catch a ball. He was very dissappointed that one never came our way. We were too close and there was a huge net right in front of us. All three boys loved the game and I enjoyed being outside with my family. Brandon bought the boys each a hat. Andrew wears his everyday, Thanks Brandon!

We enjoyed the Phoenix zoo.

We spent half our vacation in Yuma with Leslie and Melinda. The first day we were there we all went for a walk. Andrew walked one dog. Melinda had a leash hooked to her dog Tally and Jacob also had a leash hooked to Tally. I'm not sure who walked who, if Tally walked Jacob or the other way around. Jacob loved feeling like he was so big and walking the dog.

Soaking up the sun in the pool out back. The water was a little cold, but we found a way to play with the water anyway. We all had so much fun in Yuma with the girls. Games, movies, lots of really good food, and lots of laughs are always found when we get together with Leslie and Melinda. We miss you guys sooo much. Hopefully some day we will be a little closer again!

At the park in Yuma. Dad had as much fun as the boys.

Jacob loved the dogs! He didn't want them outside, but also didn't want them inside because they would bother him. When we left he didn't want to leave the dogs. I guess when Leslie and Melinda come in July they will have to bring the dogs with them.
When I asked Andrew what his favorite thing was from the whole vacation, he said he liked to play Melinda's video games. That is what he has talked about the most! He wants us to buy the dragon game that he played in Yuma. (Thanks Melinda, I guess we know what we will be buying for Christmas next year:) )

We had a great vacation. Thanks to Brandon, Parker, Juliette, Leslie and Melinda for a great get away. Four days after we were home we got 8 inches of snow. Oh how I love a Minnesota winter:(

Happy 2nd Birthday Jacob!

It's hard to believe that Jacob is 2! At the time of Jacobs birth came many changes in our life. When his birthday comes around it always makes me reflect where we have been in the last 2 years. We have moved from Arizona to Idaho, then onto Minnesota. We are on our third house and Doug has had many changes with his job. Doug still can't believe he is still working for Albertsons (SuperValu) here in Minnesota. We hope that by Jacob's next birthday, not much will have changed in our life. It has been an exciting past 2 years, but a fun adventure as a family!

Jacob loves Elmo. We went to the store and he picked out which cake he wanted me to make. This was my first try at making a cake this way. I'm glad it turned out good, because Andrew can't wait for his birthday in March to go to the store and pick out his cake tin.

Jacob is a great kid! He brings so much fun into our family. We love you Jacob!