The "Zoon"

Every time we get in the car, Nolan says "Are we going to the Zoon mommy?" (that's the zoo) I'm not sure why he started asking that, but we finally decided to take the kids to see the animals. Nolan was so ecstatic when we told him where we were going.
This was Bella's first trip to the zoon. She loved seeing all of the animals. She pointed at all of them and got so excited.
Simon had to have a map of the zoo. Every time we go, he gets another one. Then he tells us which way we have to go. "First we go past the monkeys, then the elephants, and then we get to the bears. We have to go this way...then that way...then that way." I'm not really sure if he has just been to the zoo enough times that he knows it that well...or if he's actually reading the map. Probably the first one, but he sure does love those maps! He also had to climb on every statue.
It was such a nice day. There weren't very many people there, and the animals were up, moving around. It was perfect!

Walking

Our little Bella has started walking..finally! She only takes a few steps here and there. Occasionally she will attempt walking across the room, but about half way through she gets fed up and starts to crawl. I video taped her walking...but we've lost the stuff to put video on the computer...I'll try to get Ben to figure it out...cause it's so dang cute. I just love it when they are all wobbly.
Princess Bella has also started to get quite the attitude. It's quite cute actually. (at least for now) If she doesn't get what she wants, or you take her away from something she isn't supposed to have, she yells at you "doe, doe" (no no) swinging her arms at you, as if to push you away. Or she has a little fit where she rolls around on the ground and pushes herself around on her belly...sort of like a snake, only she goes backwards. All the while, glancing up to make sure she is being watched. We just laugh at her little tantrums, she really does look so cute though. She's such a drama queen!...Such a girl.

Boys Will Be Boys

I have a feeling that we may be dealing with some broken bones sooner than I might like. Today, while at the store, the boys got some balloons. While Nolan took a nap, his balloon waited for him at the top of the room by the ceiling. When he woke up he was so sad because he couldn't reach it. Simon, the thinker, said "Nolan, I have a great idea. I know how you can get your balloon. You just climb up to the top of my bed, and just jump off and when your going down down down down, you just catch it with your hand on your way down!! Then that's how you'll have your balloon. It's easy."
What a great idea. Let's send the three year old, who isn't afraid of anything...and will do anything big brother tells him to do, to jump off the top bunk. Notice how Simon didn't say he would do it...he's the thinker. Simon is always "daring" Nolan to do things, and Nolan acts with no reservations!
I smell trouble.

Cookies

Today we made oreo cookies for a relief society activity I had. The boys were such good little helpers. I think it's fun to let them help cook and such...even if it makes a mess. Of course, the best part about making cookies with frosting...is licking the bowl. Especially when it is still full! Bella was a little mad that I wasn't letting her get in on the fun! I wasn't up for that much of a mess. Poor picked on little Bella...

First Day of Preschool

Simon had his first day of preschool yesterday. He was so excited to go back with Miss Margene. On Monday, my mom and I took Simon to buy some new school clothes. He thought it was the coolest thing that he got to have new clothes and new shoes. He loved the shopping until we stopped shopping for him...then he wanted to go home.

Simon LOVES going to preschool. I asked him what he liked best and he said that he loves Miss Margene, and he likes all of his new friends. He says that he is also excited to learn all of his shapes and letters (even though he already knows them.) Ben and I love that he loves to learn. He really is so dang smart.

Simon went to preschool last year...but this year seems kind of different. I guess it's that he will be going to kindergarten next year...but he can't be that grown up yet! My little baby is getting so big!

I took a few pictures for his first day of school. For once he was actually happy to pose for me. Nolan wanted to take a picture too, and since he was willing, I thought, why not?! Here's the picture of my sweet Nolan...

Bella's First Words

This post is quite a bit late...that seems to be how all of my posts are lately. About three weeks ago, Bella said her first words. I'm not really sure which came first, they were all said around the same time. She has always said "dadadadadada", to me...she was just making noise. Now she has started to say just "Dad" when she sees or wants Ben. She has also been saying "this" and "that". It's pretty cute, she points to things she wants and says "dat, dat" or "dis, dis." The other thing that I think she has started to say...but I'm not quite sure if she's really saying it or if it's just a coincidence yet, is "bu-ddy." The dang kid will say dad and buddy and I'm the one that fed her for the last year!! Doesn't she know that she's supposed to say MOM?! I think that maybe she already knows that she needs to get daddy wrapped around her finger now...so that she can beg him for things later. Ben just loves it when he hears her say "dad" with a huge smile on her face. She already has him hooked.

We thought we'd never get to say this...

but Ben and I are thrilled to announce that Nolan is potty trained!!! He tells us when he needs to go to the bathroom, usually goes by himself, and doesn't need to be reminded. He even comes in from playing outside! One thing that I'm a little less thrilled about (pardon the potty talk) is the fact that he has learned how to pee standing up. He thinks it's the coolest thing in the world. (Aside from peeing on a tree while we were camping) He hasn't had an accident for over three weeks! He's such a good boy!

Drummond Camp out 2008

Last week we went on the annual Drummond family camp out. We had so much fun. The kids loved being in the mountains and getting dirty. Simon's favorite thing was playing with his cousins Marshal and Keaton. They live in Wyoming, so we don't see them too often. I think Simon and Keaton played Uno pretty much the whole time. Nolan's favorite thing was being able to whip trees and dirt and rocks with his Indijones whip. He never put it down...not even for sleep. Bella LOVED to play in the dirt. She was so incredibly dirty by the end of each day...it was pretty disgusting. There was a little creek that ran through our camp, so the kids got to throw rocks in, and build dams. We painted rocks, played with playdoh, went fishing, played games, went on hikes, shot guns, saw deer and squirrels and hummingbirds and chipmunks but most importantly we made hobo dinners one night (yummy!) and made smores all the time! Smores are the greatest camping food ever. A raccoon got into a cooler, and took a whole bag of marshmallows. My brother, Armand, woke up to find marshmallows all over the place and scratch marks on the cooler. Good thing he didn't get to all of them! Another brother, Ryan, surprised my mom by showing up to camp. She was thrilled when she saw him. All of the little boys LOVED to play and wrestle with Ryan. The poor guy barely got a break from all of them! Ryan had his birthday while we were camping, so we drove down the canyon and got ice cream and milkshakes! Anyway, we had tons of fun. Unfortunately, Ben got sick and pretty much stayed in bed on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. He was a good sport to let us stay up in the mountains and let the kids continue to have a great time. He's a good daddy. All in all it was a good camping trip. Here are a few pictures...

Bella Turns ONE!

I'm a few days late...sorry! Our pretty girl just turned one on Sunday! Saturday evening, we had a little party for her. We set up the pool in the back next to the rock wall, so the kids could jump off the rocks and into the pool. They had a great time! We had a BBQ with hamburgers and hot dogs, and just had a good time visiting and celebrating Bella. The best part of the evening was when Bella got her cake. I've always bought a little cake for the birthday boys/girl. Then they can dig in and get messy. Simon was sick for his first birthday party. He didn't want anything to do with his cake, so eventually we gave each of the cousins a spoon and let them go to town. Nolan was also sick for his party, and he needed a little persuasion and a good example from his big brother before he stuck his fingers in the cake. We let Simon help Nolan. Simon probably got more on him than Nolan did! Bella, however, didn't need any help at all. She was thrilled to death to be able to get all messy and have some yummy cake! We sure do love our little Bella. She is so dang cute, and she's the sweetest little girl ever. Thanks to all of the family who came, and thanks for all the gifts. Ben and I really do have wonderful families! Here are a few pictures from the party...

A Bit of a Change

Yesterday, our ward boundaries were changed, and they split our ward. Also, Ben was made a high priest and set apart as the first councilor in the bishopric. My grandfather came to do the ordination, and gave a beautiful blessing. It will be interesting to see how everything works when a new ward is created. I know that Ben is excited about this new calling, and will do a great job. During sacrament meeting when they sustained the two new bishoprics, the stake president told the wives to say goodbye to their husbands, as they would be sitting up on the stand every week. I guess I shouldn't have joked around about being pregnant. I believe the joke is on me now, since child number four is on it's way! Church should be fun, don't you think? Ben and I really are excited. I'm a little nervous to have four kids age five and younger, but I think it will be good. Maybe we'll have a girl, and Bella can have a little sister to play with! I'm not joking this time, I'm due at the beginning of March!