Yoda...

...is the name Faith suggested for the baby today. I think I like Jensen's suggestion of "UGGHHH" better.

Funny Faithism

Early yesterday morning I went and did some power shopping at Fred Meyer (they were having great sales until noon). When I came home, Jensen's bed was all made. I told Faith "Thank you for making Jensen's bed. What a nice thing to do." Her response, "I didn't do it." Then with a very surprised/shocked look on her face, "Mommy, daddy must have learned how to make the bed!"

Santa

No picture to go with the post, but Faith ACTUALLY sat on Santa's lap this year. In the past, she literally hits the floor screaming if she knows he's anywhere near. Joe and I were super excited that she so willing hopped up on his lap (actually we had to pry her off). That is until we heard what she told Santa she'd like...a real horse bridle. The problem....WE DON'T HAVE A HORSE. She says that's okay, she'll just use it as decoration until she get's one soon. Great. She did mention some other things she'd like that she plans to send in a letter. A real cowgirl outfit, a stage for singing and dancing on, anything horse related, and more Christmas ornaments. Jensen...he just wants tractors.

Picaso In The Making

A friend of mine from work offered her easle for us to try for a bit. I thought about getting the kids one for Christmas, so this is a perfect way for us to try it out first. Well, it's been a big hit. Especially with Jensen. He's been hard at work making art with dry erase markers all day. He only needed one reminder to ONLY color on the white board...we consider that a success! :) The picture below shows Jensen working away right before bathtime. And the one below...shows what happens when mom turns her back just long enough to change the laundry. Ahem...yes...he did also color on his "private parts."

Faith's Hair Cut

Anyone see Jensen's Dumb And Dumber hair cut last spring? You know, the one where he looked like Lloyd from the movie? The hair cut that I specifically asked the lady NOT to cut his "bangs" (do you call them that on a boy?) straight across, NOT to make it look like a bowl cut and NOT to use shavers on him? Apparently NOT was like that sarcastic "Not" people did back in the 90's, because she did them ALL.

Anyways, check out Faith's hair cut. What do you think? Does it top the Lloyd look of last spring? When I told my friend Cori to go check out Faith's hair she came back and said, "Oh my gosh...she cut her OWN hair!" Wrong. I paid for that cut. Good money, too. SEVENTEEN DOLLARS TO BE EXACT! What a disaster. Why? Why would I consider taking my daughter to some "hole in the wall" on a whim? We are strictly a Mango's family from now on. Unless I can convince Delanah to cut kids hair, too.

Poor girl. The good thing is she's oblivious and LOVES her new look. Another good thing...she has no idea that I came home and hid in the bathroom and cried.

Oh, Christmas Tree

We had a great time getting our tree this last weekend. However, it was really weird searching for our annual Charlie Brown tree without any snow. The past 6 years our search typically consists of heading up in the mountains, hitting snow really soon, and me picking out the first tree I see that actually has multiple branches for fear of going any further and either a)getting stuck or b) sliding off the hillside into some deep dark ravin where and no one ever finding us buried in all that snow in our white pick up truck. Ah...the fond memories of Christmas past.

This year it was a different story. Like years past, Joe and I were up bright and early packing up snow pants, long underwear, extra clothes, hats, mittens, scarves, sleds, hand warmers, etc. I was sneaking in overnight survival gear (blankets, flashlights, matches, food, can opener) "just in case." We headed up hopeful at finding at least a decent tree and finding some snow for the kids to sled in while we roasted hot dogs and marshmallows with the Clasen Family. We drove and drove and drove as we admired all of the great trees. Soon we were to the top with only a drift of snow in sight. The weather was absolutely beautiful and I must say... So is our tree! We don't have a Charlie Brown tree this year!!!! The branches are actually strong enough to hold ornaments further out than 2 inches from the trunk. AND we didn't have to "shape it" into a Christmas tree shape before bringing it into the house. It's a GREAT tree.

After finding our perfect tree (and we really got to be very picky this year) we met up with the Clasen's. The hot dogs, cocoa, and SMORES were delicious. Before we knew it the kids were stripping off layers down to their t-shirts. So much for Joe and I's packing efforts...and no we didn't need my survival gear either! :)

As much as I sound like I'm complaining about our trees in the past, I really wouldn't trade the experience and tradition for anything!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Twelve Good Men...

Faith, Kylie, Jensen and I had a great time making gingerbread men cookies this morning. The kids were so helpful rolling the dough and stamping the cookies out. They played so nicely waiting for the oven timer to beep letting them know it was time to decorate their gingerbread men. However, when the timer went off...there were no cookies to be found in the oven. Only 2 empty cookie sheets!!! Faith ran around scream "Bad, bad girls!" While Kylie said, "Bad, bad boys!" Jensen just ran around shreeking. Eventually all 19 gingerbread men were found and lovingly decorated. Some as boys, some as girls and some as something unrecognizable. Each of the kids ate a cookie and Joe had 4. The rest of the men were relaxing peacefully on their plate. What a fun time we had!

I had a staff meeting at school that day. Around 4 pm Joe called with some sad, sad news. The news was given with a hysterically crying Faith in the background. Apparently, Jensen had takent the lives of the remaining Twelve Good Men. Yes, our sweet, cuddly, loveable boy drowned each of the remaining men in the kitchen sink. I guess you could say that Twelve Good Men were lost at Sea that day.

Thanksgiving Weekend

Lots of fun with ALL of the cousins in Vancouver at Grandma Becky's. Not many pictures to go with the post, but wanted to document that this is the first time since our wedding, almost 7 years ago exactly, that all 5 siblings from Joe's side of the family have been together. The story's were hilarious, the laughs endless, and the memories forever! We missed Michelle's husband Nick, but it was a blast seeing all 11 kids together again...soon to be 12 when we add ours! :) (In Order from oldest to youngest:) Hunter, Tanner, Caitlin, Brenna, Wade, Alyssa, Harry, Ladd, Faith, Jensen and Arden had a great time! The photo above was our adult attempt to get them all to take a photo break from clowning around in Grandma Becky's studio. As you can see we weren't very successful!

Jensen Turns Two

In honor of our "Baby" Boy...how can he already be two? It has gone by so fast. The day of his birth story started out like many other winter Saturdays in our family of then three. Joe, Faith and I had a great day together riding around in our new mini-van that we had purchased on Thursday (yes...I did hyperventilate in the parking lot before going in to look at them, but fitting another child in my Toyota Tercel just wasn't going to happen, despite the 35-40 mpg that it got). We visited the Thorp fruit stand, drove around out in the country, went for a couple of walks (there wasn't any snow yet) and then settled in for the evening to watch a movie together. We let Faith decide what we would do that evening. She chose to watch Pirate's of the Caribbean (why we let our 2 year old watch this I don't know) and do a foot soak with mom (hey...I wasn't going to argue this one).

I'd been having braxton hicks contractions for a few days and was already dilated to a 3 at this point (November 18Th). During the movie my contractions began to be quite regular and my water began to leak. After putting Faith to bed and monitoring things for a bit we decided to call my sister and head to the hospital. They admitted me, but after a hot bath my contractions were non-existent by the next morning. Our fabulous Dr. decided that since we were already there it would be best to just go ahead and induce me and not confuse Faith by coming home with no baby.

Things went really quickly and smoothly, minus the pain (later had an epidural) and Joe's stinky fish breath (I strongly suggested brushing his teeth) from eating fish and chips in the cafeteria. With little complications, Jensen Carl Rotter Boy (Faith's name for him) entered the world, in two pushes, at 3:18pm weighing 7lbs 5oz. He was so darn cute from the moment he was born. His cord was around his neck, but it didn't cause any complications...Praise the Lord!

We were so worried about how Faith would take to her new little brother, but she came bounding into the room, little pig-tails in, dolly in hand and said in the most excited voice, "It's my brother! Get up mommy. Let's play!" She's been this excited to be his brother ever since. Earlier in the day she told Auntie Sarah, "my mommy's water broke, but it's okay because Daddy can fix it."

Since Jensen is 24 months old here are 24 current things about him:

1) He's a little guy, weighing in at 23lbs fully clothed. He's in the 10th percentile for weight and 90th for height.
2)Not a big eater (hence #1), but some of his favorite foods are vanilla yogurt, avocado, noodles, bananas, and anything packaged or processed.
3) Loves his binky...only at bedtime these days.
4) Wakes up happy everyday. Every morning he comes running down the hallway, laughing with is binky, his blue blankie.
5) Loves to cuddle...especially in the morning before he revs up for the day!
6) OBSESSED with tractors. Anything big with big wheels (tractors, diggers, plows, etc.) is automatically a TRACTOR and he SCREAMS this word!
7) Very coordinated and agile. There's nothing he can't climb to the top of or master...gives his mother a heart-attack on a daily basis.
8) Can't resist tacking Faith if she is anywhere near the ground.
9) Loves to shoot bows with his daddy.
10) Enjoys building with Duplo blocks and wooden blocks.
11) Hilarious boy...he makes us laugh all the time and knows just what to do to get out of trouble.
12) Takes pride in harassing the cat...poor thing, but then again the cat isn't smart enough to run away either.
13) LOVES, LOVES, LOVES his sister and the feeling is mutual. Any time he gets a snack or special treat he has to be sure to ask for one for sissy, too.
14) Has to have something in his bed with him every night. Not always the same thing, but just something. Things have included my cell phone, one of his camo boots, tractors, doll house toys, stuffed animals, etc.
15) He's taken after his mother and is obsessed with the vacuum...sometimes he even gets it out himself.
16)Says "owie" for anything he doesn't like...like going night, night.
17) Great sleeper. Takes a 2-4 hour nap daily (unless he's with daddy...he's got his "number") and usually sleeps about 11 hours at night. PLUS he goes to bed easily.
18) LOVES Thomas the train and all things train. "Choo-Choo" movies are a BIG hit in our house these days.
19) Obsessed with his Papa's. He talks about them all the time and always wants to talk to them on the "oone."
20) Not great with words, but sure knows how to let us know what he wants.
21) Likes to tell "secrets." He pulls us in close and whispers a bunch of mumbles in our ear and then laughs hysterically!
22) Sits on the coffee table to watch TV. Usually cuddled up with his blankie.
23)Prefers to wear only boots. Good thing we have lots of pairs...three pairs of rubber boots, one pair of cowboy boots and one pair of snow boots. Also really loves his train conductor hat!
24) Has a "lip" like you wouldn't believe...watch out if he doesn't get his way. It's heartbreaking when that thing comes out!
24) The SWEETEST little boy in the world!!!!
24) Loved by everyone.

I know that was 3 24's but I could go on and on about this little guy!