It's begining to look a lot like ChRIsTmAs!

All over town trees are covered with ice.
The view out our front window- These pictures really don't do it justice. The ice just sparkles on the trees. The air is still except for the sound of dripping rain. I've never seen anything like this. It's so cozy!

Can't explain much now. The boys are climbing all over me, but I wanted to post these pics of the BEAUTIFUL ice storm we've had this week. There is about a half inch of ice coating almost everything. Thankfully the roads are safe, so we can just enjoy the scenery. But... It is SOO COLD! Our highs have been in the 20s- the Highs!

Also we had our ward party this weekend (as the ice was coming down). Brody got to talk with Santa and told him he wants, "everything!" Good luck with that one, Bro.

Brody with some "just friend" girls- Sophie, Mallory & Rylee

Don't tell me what I can't do!

It seems like Tate has been really keeping us on our toes lately. This kid just doesn't stop! On Monday I was doing the normal nap time routine getting both boys down before a client came over for a cut & color. I put Tate in his crib and walked into my room to get things together. I heard a strange sound and turned. There walking through my door, blankie in hand was Tate! I did a double take- It was freaky. I knew I had just out him in his crib and I had never seen him climb out before. I'd heard of other kids doing it, but had never experienced it myself. So, put him back in bed, but this time I watched him as he climbed almost effortlessly out of the crib. He was very proud of himself and his new trick. I couldn't stop laughing at this cute little chub! I watched him do it a few more times before I got the camera.
By the time I recorded this I think he was a little tired. It was not fun juggling my escapee and my hair client. I did continue to put him in bed each time he got out. I even brought in his pack and play hoping he wouldn't be able to climb out of that- nope- He's determined. A one point I gave up and just figured he'd ware himself out and I'd just put him down when she left, but then I didn't hear him anymore. I went to check and he had climbed into his pack and play and was finally ready for a rest!

Needless to say Tate has now made the switch to the toddler bed. I don't think he likes it yet. I know he likes that he can get out on his own, but I think he felt a little more secure in the crib. I'm sure in a week he'll be adjusted and hopefully go to sleep on the first try.
How can he be so big and yet so little at the same time?

I snuk in and took this once he finally fell asleep. Sweet baby boy.

I also wanted to say HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister-in-law Tracey(the Mad Queen)! They are living in Japan for a few years so even though in the states her B-day is tomorrow, in Japan it's toady! I can't call there so I thought I'd give her special attention on the blog,(and since I have created a monster with her own blog!) Some of my favorite Tracey moments include- Curling my hair for my 8th grade promotion. Starting my love of picture taking and scrapbooking. Teaching me how to be a "movie snob"-That's from Glenn too. Helping me with all the "becoming a Mom" stuff and of course, we'll always have Columbus! Happy B-day Tracey-We love you!

Got Milk?

Don't worry- It's not blood!

Tonight as I drove in the Garage I was greeted by Brody & Greg- Welcoming me home from the grocery store. Greg had been building a speaker box for the car stereo he got for his Birthday and I guess Brody was helping him. As sweet as it was I couldn't help but notice someone was missing. "Where's Tate?" I asked. "Oh, He's in there running around somewhere." Greg replied. See Greg still thinks he can do projects and keep the boys busy at the same time. HA!I walked in the kitchen to catch Tate RED HANDED! He had climbed up a chair to get the Strawberry milk mix, spilled it everywhere and proceeded to eat it off the floor! I guess I hadn't put it far enough back on the counter, this will teach me to not put things away. As if this wasn't bad enough as I went to grab my camera to capture this moment forever, Brody decided Tate had a great idea and is now joining him in scooping the sugar off the floor! GROSS!!! Maybe I should have cleaned it up first, but I was laughing so hard I just had to take a picture.

I am starting to wonder if I feed Tate enough. This is the second time this week he has gotten into the pantry to help himself and spilling all over. Maybe that's it- He just wants to do it himself, but here he is earlier in the week eating cereal- again off the floor!
He knows he's guilty

In Greg's defense he has been Mr. Project lately. I mentioned in the last post that he was tearing out and building new stairs to our basement. Here are the during & after pictures. I am still amazed at how well and fast he did them. It only took him a day & a half, and most of that was trips back to the store! Look out Ty Pennington, you've got some competition!He's way cuter than Ty
Brody testing out the new stairs. The old ones didn't have the extended bottom two steps, there was just a big drop off on that side. It was smart thinking to make them longer and he even re-used some of the old wood, great job!


Oh and I colored my hair this weekend too. It can be dangerous to have all this hair color at my disposal!
I know this during shot is just beautiful. We always see the glamourous (thanks Fergie for teaching me how to spell it) after pictures, but never the scary process that leads to the after shot. I did this friday morning and as I cleaned during the processing time, my boys didn't know what to think. Tate just stared at me with a half smile trying to figure out what Mommy was doing. Brody was especially funny because after I washed it all out he kept asking me what happened to my eye brows. I told him I still had them- see. He said, "No, your new eye brows where did they go?"