Pomegranate Jelly

My Grandma Shurtz makes the best best pomegranate jelly EVER. A year ago I went over and she helped me make a batch and Weldon decided that it was his favorite. It got eaten pretty fast so we were really excited when as part of a Christmas present Grandma gave us two more jars. We had them both eaten before February. Weldon called Grandma and told her how much we loved her jelly so she was an absolute doll and as a surprise made us more, except this time it was blueberry pomegranate and it is the most beautiful jelly and it tastes wonderful! Colton makes me laugh because when we have biscuits and jelly now all he does is lick off the jelly. It is good stuff!! Thank you Grandma!!!

Such Good Friends

I know I post all the time about how cute Colton and Kaci are and what good friends they are, but I think it is so fun and I know it probably won’t last for ever so I want to remember every moment.

Colton was playing with this toy and Kaci wanted it, so he helped her on and figured out a way that they could both ride it. Such a sweetie, I don’t think Kaci realizes how lucky she is to have such a patient and sharing big brother!

We went to visit Weldon at work the other night and when we got in the car Colton said “Mama, hands!” so I looked back and saw that they were holding hands. I didn’t think this would last to long so I took a picture with my phone real fast, but they held hands all the way there, and all the way back, and they have done that several times since as well. 

Kaci has also really figured out how to pucker her lips for kisses and her favorite person to give them to is Colton. The first night she figured it out she wanted to kiss him every five seconds, after a few minutes of this Colton said “No Kaci!” and ran away. It was funny.

Colton and his Guitar

For Christmas Weldon got a guitar and ever since then Colton has been obsessed so the other day we found one that is just his size and he loves it!

Kaci likes it too and now we don’t have to worry about the kids messing with Weldon’s.

Just like Daddy’s! Now any time Weldon gets his out Colton will run and get his so he can play too. It is really cute. He also carries it around the house and strums on it while singing “Little Sally One Shoe”, or “Doe a Deer” from Sound of Music. For Valentines day Weldon got a strap for his and Colton was feeling left out so Weldon made him a strap out of a shoelace so now Colton can stand up and play just like Daddy!! Silly boy

The Best Things About Getting Ready for Bed

I think that most parents will agree when I say that the kid’s bedtime is one of the best parts of the day. It’s not that you don’t love them and don’t enjoy having them awake and spending time with them, but it is nice to be able and have a few minutes to recharge for the next day. One of my favorite things about bedtime is that our bedtime routine includes reading stories and lots of snuggles. I really cherish these times because I know they won’t last forever.

After we bathe the kids we read some books and have prayers, and then I rock Kaci while Weldon reads a book to Colton, then I rock Colton to sleep. It is a good time for all of us to spend time together and wind down.

Weldon and Kaci and Colton reading a Dr. Seuss book before bed.

I know you can’t see them, but this is Weldon and Colton under a blanket with a flashlight reading a book. I thought it was a good idea and Colton had so much fun because he got to hold the flashlight.

This is actually during the middle of the day but it was a cute picture and I just couldn’t believe that he just climbed in the chair and went to sleep on his own, that never happens!!

This is how I rock Colton every night, with his milk, his snuggle blanket, his book, and George. (His little monkey that you can’t see because he is under the blanket)

Only in Arizona

Well one of the things that I love about living here is that some of the most beautiful days are during the “winter”. The other day it was absolutely gorgeous outside. It was 68 degrees with warm sunshine and no wind. It was too nice a day to stay indoors so we took the kids and went to feed the ducks.

Even Kaci got to feed some. The ducks and geese came right up on shore to get the bread and the kids thought this was so much fun.

The ducks and geese would literally eat right out of your hands and one of them bit Colton in the process. It didn’t hurt him, but he wanted me to kiss it any way, I wonder if there will ever be another time in my life I will be asked to kiss a duck bite.

 

Right there! It was that one who was the biter

After all the bread was gone we went and played at the little park

Colton loves to slide and is not afraid at all

Kaci had fun just leading Daddy all over the place

This is my favorite picture of the day. Kaci was trying to climb the ladder but she just couldn’t make it. Colton climbed up ahead of her and then stopped and turned around to try and help her.

Colton’s 3rd Birthday

Well it was actually a while ago, but I still can’t believe that I am old enough to have a three year old! After Colton and Kaci were in bed that night Weldon and I were sitting on the couch and I told him that I was so happy and grateful for Colton, but that the fact the he keeps having birthdays makes me feel sad because it means he is growing up on me. It was really pathetic, I almost cried! I decided that this just means I need to make the most of every day that I get to have him as my little boy because they are just going faster and faster all of the time.

Colton’s Birthday was on a Sunday this year but Weldon was able to get the day off so it was really nice to be able to go to church as a family again that day. Colton got lots of fun toys that he loved and we had his birthday cheese cake after dinner that he thought was really good too. But the best part about his birthday was that he got some big boy underwear and we started potty training him. I felt bad for a long time that I had waited so long to get him potty trained, but now I think that it was a great idea because it made potty training him a breeze. I had heard so many horror stories about it that I was terrified but because he was old enough to really understand the concept he picked it up so fast and only had one or two accidents. It was great. I am so proud of my smart, handsome, wonderful little boy.

Here are some pictures of my wonderful Colton

Colton loves to do crafts and paint

This kid could play with playdough by the hour, especially when Daddy is in on the fun

Colton has also figured out that he can take pictures, so when ever I don’t put my camera up high enough he turns in on and takes pictures. It is cute because ALL of his pictures are of Kaci.

Here he is with his birthday cheese cake. We didn’t have any birthday candles so we just stuck a huge one in the middle so he could make a wish and blow something out. He thought it was super cool because we lit it three times for him because he was three years old.

Showing off the new big boy underwear

Sexy SpongeBob underwear face

Colton was so excited about his new underwear. Look at that huge grin on his face. It is funny because out of all of his new toys, his new underwear was his favorite gift.

Here Colton is about to give Kaci kisses. He is such a great brother. I am so proud of what a good helper and great example of kindness he is to me.

Because it was his birthday we decided to drive around until the kids went to sleep rather then do the normal routine. After a little while of driving they were both out so we came home. As I was carrying him in the house he woke up a little and said “Birthday?” so I said “Yes Colton it is still your birthday” Then he snuggled up to my shoulder and smiled a little and said “Fun!” It was so sweet that I couldn’t just go lay him down as planned, I had to sit with him in the rocking chair and hold him for a while while he slept.

I am so grateful to have been blessed with this little boy. He is so loving and sweet and always willing to sit and snuggle a little while. He loves trains and sharkfish (any large fish from the ocean, especially sharks and dolphins) and loves to be read to, especially if it’s a Dr. Seuss book. He loves to play and be silly and pretend to be all sorts of animals. I think his favorite thing in this whole world is Kaci and he is such a good brother to her. He also loves his Daddy and wants to do everything he does.

Thank you Colton for letting me be your Mama!! We all love you!!!