Thanksgiving

It was a great thanksgiving weekend!! This year we decided to have it at my house to hold all the people. We my parents, Jeff's family, rusty, Rachel's family and mine. It was so loud! But most of the kids had a blast!!! One of the best moments was getting ashlyn to feed my great dane a treat from her mouth, she was a trooper!! The weather was way warm and I almost broke down and turned the AC on. We hit 83 every day Jeff was here!!
My mom did not disappoint and cooked her little hiney off!!! I really appreciate all my mom does to make the holidays special!!!
Black Friday started on Thursday at 6 pm(dumb, I know) but we had a blast!! I was tired when we got home but we were able to finish both boys Christmas stuff!!! We headed down to casa grande for the rest of the weekend. We went to the movies and of course my mom spoiled the grand kids and got them their own movie kids tray!! It was great to have Jeff's family here!!!!!

Entertainment center

I apologize up front that the pictures are out of order(this app has a couple issues) we had decided to put in a built in entertainment center. Crispin started sketching it out and then picked a weekend(the weekend before Marcus's bday party). I have to say, I probably could've handled the situation better if I had not gotten sick. Half way through this project I got the flu AND strep throat(my strep was so bad that the dr gave me narcotics to take the edge off!!) not only was I on my death bed- my house was a MESS: clear upto 1 hour before Marcus's bday party.
I do have to say- I LOVE IT!!!!! It adds so much to the room. Crispin worked his butt off for 8 days straight- not only doing that but taking care of me and the boys!!! We had our friend Jason come over and help for the framing part and we will be in his debt for a long time!!!!! I am just so happy with it!!! Now I have shelves to decorate in my house :)

Halloween

This year we went trick or treating for the first time. We have always gone to trunk or treats but we missed it this year cause we were in Idaho. I must say, it's WAY easier to get candy at a trunk or treat. We walked the neighborhood for about 40 minutes and both boys filled their buckets. If that was a trunk or treat, we would've filled 5 times that, lol!! Bryce didn't really get what was going on, after a couple houses he started sitting up in the stroller and pointing to houses and grunting. Marcus was SO excited!!!! He was just walking and singing and having a good time. After about 30 minutes, he got tired and starting asking to go home cause his bucket was heavy. It was such a fun night and we got to meet a couple new neighbors!! Marcus wanted to be the Star Wars person and wore that school but then decided to wear his Spider-Man costume Halloween night. Bryce was just a pug puppy and wouldn't keep the hat part of his costume on.

Grandma Bingham

I can remember each time I saw each of my grandparents alive. I remember it like it was yesterday. My grandpa Bingham had just had surgery, he was sitting in his recliner with a purple fleece blanket over him. My grandma summers had been battling cancer and was laying in her floral couch. My grandpa summers walked us out to our car and he stood by his garage and waved.
This last time I left my grandmas, I cried- for a good 40 minutes. She, too stood by her garage and waved. I made sure to tell her I loved her. I have this fear that that is the last time I will see her. Marcus still asks regularly when we get to see great grandma again and it makes so sad!
Her health is still good but she can't live on her own anymore. My cousin posted on Facebook that she is going one last time to her house this weekend. I HATE that I live so far from her!! She is the last grandparent I have and I hate that all this is happening!! I am just so sad that I will never see her in her house anymore!! As a child, both my grandparents houses were such a happy place and where I was my happiest. It's just so hard for me to grasp that her home is moving. :( I hope she does well and I'm very excited for all of my Jerome cousins to have her so close and I hope the cherish it and don't take for granted that opportunity that they have. I would LOVE to have that chance!!!

Marcus's 5th birthday

I can't believe Marcus is 5!!! This year I really wanted to do something other than the usual family get together. I started talking about chuckee cheese or Peter piper, so I got the prices for that and was blown away how much they charge- so I found a company that rents out jump houses for super cheap! So we decided to do that. One of crispins coworkers went to school for cakes and she offered to make cupcakes at just the cost of supplies- and anyone who was here can agree that they were by far some of the best cupcakes made!!!! Not to mention she did a great job of decorating!!! The jump house was a lot of fun till the last 5 minutes when Marcus and simeon(my friend heathers son) jumped into each other- Sim's mouth got busted open and Marcus slit open his forehead... All I can say is there was blood EVERYWHERE!!!!! We decided Marcus's cut wasn't bad enough to take him in but it's got quite the scab on it and I am just hoping its not a nasty scar.

Marcus has behaved a little better this year. He still has some hard days but its usually because he is tired. We got a trampoline and he loves jumping on it. He is way into the avengers!!! He is still really helpful and is by who Evers side while something is getting worked on! The week before his party- i got the flu and strep throat, it was the most miserable couple days of my life! (Not to mention Crispin was putting in a built in entertainment center and my house was torn apart) but while I was sick- Marcus did not leave my side- he would get me ice water, put a blanket on me, read, gave me kisses, etc!! He defiantly loves his mom!! I can tell he is growing up, so I soak up all the cuddles and kisses I can get from him!!! Here are some pictures from his party and his hilarious school picture!!! I love this kid so much!!!

Bryce's 15 month check up

Bryce had his 15 month check up about 2 weeks ago. Here are his stats:
Height- 32'' (75%)
Weight- 22lbs 10oz (25%)

My boys are completely different- Marcus is short and heavy and Bryce is tall and skinny! Bryce is a handful....he does NOT sit still and he wants to climb onto everything and push his boundaries!!! I have always heard people talk about how hard boys are as babies and toddlers and I never understood that when Marcus was little.... But boy oh boy do I understand now!!! When we were at church on Sunday- I found myself looking at little girls and I was jealous that they just sat there with 1 little toy!! I had a big bag AND snacks and Bryce still didn't last but 2 minutes!!! He is getting so smart though!!! I was playing with him the other day and was stacking blocks- later on he was being really quiet and I was afraid of what I might find.... But he was stacking the blocks just like I was!! He also likes to build with legos!!! He doesn't really talk-he sometimes says: mama, dada and baba. But that is rare- he grunts and he stomps his foot.... That's how he communicates. He has started sitting by the fridge when he wants a bottle!! He is a lot more work than Marcus was at this age- but he is seriously so much fun. He just makes me laugh and I love his personality!!!

5 year check up

Marcus had his 5 year check up a little over a week ago. Here are his stats-
Height- 42 1/2'' 25th percentile
Weight- 43lbs- 75th percentile

He ended up getting a flu shot and also a tb test. It was sad this time with his shots because he knew what to expect. He was so sad and fighting back the tears!!!! When the nurse walked in, he lost it.... I think my ears are still ringing from his screams!!!
While the dr was listening to his heart, he noticed he had some irregular heart beats- he said not to worry but he did want Marcus to get an EKG and see a cardiologist. He had the EKG and saw the dr yesterday. The EKG did pick up the irregular beats but the dr said they are coming from his upper chamber and those are usually ones that we don't need to worry about. He said as long as Marcus doesnt complain that his heart is racing too fast(I would like to hear a 4 yr old comprehend and complain about that :)) and can keep up with kids his age, we have nothing to worry about!! Here's a picture right after they hooked him up

Labor day camping

I was so excited when my dad said he was going to be able to go camping this labor day weekend!! With family moving out of state, they have been traveling to see them on long weekends. On Friday- I sent Marcus to preschool and I came home to pack the truck. NEVER AGAIN!!! It was freaking hot and it took me a good hour to do!! When I came inside, I was covered in sweat!!
We got upto camp and the weather was amazing!! We set everything up and waited for my parents and rusty to get there. It was such a good trip!! One thing I really noticed with Marcus- he just loves to work!! He spent most of the weekend getting firewood and making sure the fire kept going. He constantly was asking my dad to chop up some more wood. Bryce- I don't think he knew what to think. He stayed cleaner than marcus( the only dirt he got on his face was from when he tripped) he LOVED being in the hot wheels and driving around!! He would kick a soccer ball around camp- but for the most part- he wanted to be held. He slept pretty good at night!! Marcus ended up going into the trailer on the second night and he reminded my parents how kids don't sleep well(: my dad was a trooper and would get him back to sleep though. It was such a great weekend!!! It was very relaxing and the kids were great!!! Rusty kept us all entertained with his firecrackers and poor kitty was about to shake out of her skin! That dog belongs in a beauty shop- not camping!!

Pre-school, year 2

Marcus started his second year of preschool. Last April I took Marcus to the school to get his speech tested. If you are not around Marcus a lot- you will struggle to understand what he says. So they tested his speech- they said that the sounds he can't make- usually don't develop till his is 7 or 8. I was a little frustrated because I can understand kids that are way younger than him!! I asked them what my options were cause I didn't want to pay for a speech therapist (my pediatrician also aggreed that he needed some help) they then said that they had an opening in their preschool for a peer student, and that a speech therapist comes into the classroom twice a week and does exercises with them. I went to the front and found out that because he would be a peer- I only had to pay a fourth of the tuition!!!!!! I was so happy!!! Not to mention that he would be in school on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for 2 hours and 45 minutes. We are on week 2 and I am loving this schedule!!! I drop Marcus off, come home and lay down Bryce and I work. Such a great schedule we are in!! Marcus wakes up and asks if we can leave for school yet, I always tell him that it's not time. So then I get to listen to him BEG me for 2 hours to just drive to the school and we can just sit in the truck and wait...... Ummm, ya that's not happening!!! I'm so glad that he is loving preschool!!!!! Here is Marcus on the first day- the first day- Bryce wanted to ride the tricycle... Did I mention the playground is packed with TONS of fun toys for them!!!