Look up!

When we went to the children's museum there was this cool exhibit where you placed a ball in one of three vacuum tubes and then it goes down a type of maze thing (kind of like arcade "pingers"). Tyson was fascinated with it. He spent nearly an hour at this exhibit with most of his time looking up to figure out how it worked. His dad was able to show him a few other cool things. I'm sure we'll be going back. 

*we'd like to thank Brooke and Blaire for their influence in helping us culture our children. If they would 

ever like assistance in teaching their

kids the art of Vegas black jack, just

let us know.

BFF

Remember when you were in 4th grade and you called your close friends your BFF's? One of my best friends that I've known since the 8th grade recently came to visit me. Jennifer Ruth Lang! I was so happy to see her. We spent one Saturday morning at the children's museum  keeping the kids entertained (Lucas and Tyson had fun too). Later that day we went shopping while Jim stayed home with the boys. It was so fun! We especially loved the guy trying to sell us hair tools (flat irons etc.), we couldn't convince him that we didn't really "do" our hair that often therefore $100 wasn't really a great deal (couldn't he tell from our lovely natural faces and hair that we're not really "high maintainence" types?). I am so lucky to have the friends I do, and am so glad she would take the time and money to come and visit us.

4 teeth!

Lucas has 4 teeth and has been constantly teething it seems for the past 4 months. When he's not hurting, it's fun to see him smiley and showing off his pearly white chompers. 

Ok, so I can't figure out how to get this picture turned around. But, if you can crank your head around, doesn't it look just like he's getting ready to throw the ball right at you? He's already got perfect throwing form (am I a little biased or what?)!

See Ty read...

Tyson loves books, loves them!!! We spend a lot of time during the day with Ty reading. I'll be in the kitchen and he'll hand me a book to read and say boo-okk! His favorite books right now are one's with single object, letters or numbers. He now knows how to count to 10...one, two, tree, pour, pie, say say, sepan, eight, nin, ten! Lucas is enthralled when Ty "reads" to him. I thought I would show what a typical morning at our house looks like after baths. Does every parent think their children are genius'? 

I'm caught!

One morning last weekend I was loading up the dishwasher at my parents house, and had to go in the other room to take care of Tyson. My dad told me to come in and bring the camera. We "caught" Luke taking his morning bath in the dishwasher. The first pic is of the expression that Luke had when my dad said his name and "caught" him, the second pic is when I got his attention. What a cutie!

Playtime out back

Tyson loves nothing more than to play outside! He loves to play with any type of ball, or on slides at the park (or in our back yard). To combine the two--FANTASTIC FUN!!!

Lucas loves to...do ANYTHING Tyson is doing. He has to be right there in the middle of the action. (He later tried to climb up the slide from both directions when one wasn't working for him, he tried the other slide).

What determination!!!!

Here's Luke's "determination look", he sticks out his lower lip and goes fore it! I can't believe he has such dark eyes when Ty's are so blue. Before Luke came along, I wasn't a big fan of dark eyes, but his are just so gorgeous, you can't help but love them!!!

Power Rake?

Jim told me the other day that he needed to rent a "power rake". What's a power rake? It sounds like a move from Billy Blanks' Tae Bo. (Brooke don't you remember that one?) Anyhow, he said that it had been two and a half years since we laid sod and it was time to power rake, over-seed and heavy fertilize. After filling 10 bags with dead grass, he headed out this morning to get the seed and fertilizer. When all of that was finished I stepped outside and took a deep breath and gagged. It smelled just like sh-manure. In fact, it was sh-manure. That's what heavy fertilizer means I guess. Genuine cow sh-manure. Gross. I have to say that I'm so lucky to have a husband that's willing and able to work so hard to provide us with a beautiful yard.

*Below are pictures of the grass right after we laid it (I was 5 months prego with Ty when we laid that sod). Also is a picture of our patio that Jim made for me, brick by freaking brick as he says(734 of them). As well as a picture of the beautiful hibiscus he planted for me after I fell in love with those flowers in Costa Rica. What a guy.

VALENTINES DAY-CUPID IS STUPID?

Last year on Valentines Day, I boycotted (is that a word?). I told Jim we weren't doing anything, Valentines Day is silly, blah blah blah. One of my friends asked me about what we did for Valentines, I told her nothing and what I thought about it, she then gave me a new perspective. What we decided to do, is to observe Valentines Day, but with out the traditional flowers, candy, cards etc. Figure out our own traditions. We decided to rotate who's "in charge" of Valentines and our anniversary each year. This year, I got Valentines and Jim will have our anniversary. So for our family tradition I choose to dip strawberries in chocolate. Tyson just wanted to eat them, Luke was asleep, and Jim was flying (we'll try that again next year). As far as my turn went for "romancing" Jim, we were lucky that he was able to get home from flying at a decent time. Some of our friends volunteered to baby sit for us, so we went out. I took Jim to an awesome new Sushi Bar called the Sea Stone. We had the best Sushi either of us had ever had. We decided that although we aren't really fans of Valentines Day, it was really good for us to have an excuse to get dressed up and hit he town sans kids. So for me, in that respect, Cupid is not stupid.

Snow in Sundance

The night before we were heading back to Las Vegas (we rented an SUV to drive back) it snowed. And it snowed, and it snowed. The storm hit about 8 hours earlier than it was forecasted. We woke up to almost 2 feet of new snow (seriously) . So instead of letting Ty go sledding we packed it up and headed out. Or at least tried to. We had borrowed my mom's car until we picked up the rental car that day. We were stuck, snowed in rather. Jim dug and dug and dug and we were still stuck. a dude came by with a little plow and cleared a path for us. He told us when we hit the gate to "go like hell" so we wouldn't get stuck again. Just after the gate we hit a huge drift and got stuck, again. Jim, started digging again. Luckily we got out, and headed down the canyon. They had closed the road to Sundance, and closed Provo canyon. (we had to get permission from the Search and Rescue truck to drive down) Just after we got out of the canyon, I said to Jim, we better check road conditions on your i-phone before we head home. It was then he realized he did not have his phone. He must have lost it digging us out. the cop wouldn't let us back up the canyon. Needless to say, when we finally got back up there later that night (we decided we didn't want to go home with out at least looking for it) and got the kids to bed, we took the newly purchased metal detector and searched and searched and searched. No phone. (we did find a coat hanger and a few other weird things 3 feet below the snow) It turns out that our "free" trip on the jet wasn't really "free" after all. Please note that yes, that is snow up to the roof line of the cabin.

Utah Wildlife

While we were in Utah, we were able to stay at the cabin of a friend of our's up Provo Canyon (just below Sundance). Jim snapped the picture of the Moose at the cabin just up from ours, and the Elk were on the mountainside above us. (I'm just wondering where Rocky J. Squirrel was)

High Flyin'

Let me tell you that if you're going to travel with two small children, do it on a private jet. As you can see, Tyson didn't mind kicking back with his chicken nuggets, and Lukey fit well in his recliner. We were able to catch a ride with Jim on a flight he had dropping off one of the jets he flys in Salt Lake City. It worked out perfectly because I had been wanting to get up to Provo to see my grandpa before he headed in to open heart surgery. I'm not sure that we'll get a chance to fly in such high style again, but it sure was nice while it lasted. The kiddies and mommy could get used to it. Check out the pic's...

The many faces of Lucas John Pettingill

Lucas is a funny kid. His personality is very different from Tyson. He is one of the most serious babies. When he sees someone he doesn't know, he really takes his time and gives them the once over. He's not one of those babies who giggles at anyone who smiles at him, he stares them down. I think it's great that he takes his time to decide what he really thinks about someone. But, if he decides he likes you, his smile is golden. (yes, his mommy did a slacker job of getting the breakfast off his face in these pictures, he's still cute even with a dirty  face) 

The letter "F"

Have you ever contemplated the letter "F"? It's a funny letter according to Tyson. He loves it. We have an alphabet book and every time we get to "F" he cracks up. He loves the sound it makes Ffffffff, and when you say it is does seem a little silly. Right now that's the only letter he knows by sight, but I'm impressed that he recognizes it and says FFFFffffffff. Also falling in the so Ffffunny it makes you laugh every time catergory is the the word Balloon. If I say it, not funny; but if Jim says it "Ba-lloon", hilarious. We should go on Sesame Street or something.   

Daddy of the MAC

Jim is on his 2nd MAC lap top. He loves them. He's never had a virus. I am just scratching the surface of how cool these computers are and the stuff you can do with them. I would seriously like to take a class (yes me, a computer class) on MAC's so I can really take advantage of this computer. I think the last time I took "full" advantage of an apple was playing Oregon Trail on one in the 1st grade. Cool then, even cooler now. (Don't even get me started on Jim's iphone!)

Lucas' Surgery

Luke had a minor surgery Friday morning and is doing great! We were pretty nervous about it because a pediatric anesthesiologist had to put him to sleep for the operation.  He had no problems except being a little drowsy after waking up. In the pictures he's chewing on his bubble gum flavored mask that they put him to sleep with. He's also got on a Tigger hospital gown and those little hospital socks.  As you can see, for 6am he's pretty happy and         alert, and mom and dad...aren't. 

Mommy and Daddy hit the town...

So, I forgot to upload these pictures earlier. Jim and I had the coolest company christmas party. The guy he fly's for, flew the Vegas employee's and their wives up to Sundance in their 2 jets for the company party. Each of us had private cabin's and attended a formal dinner. It was a very fun time and a great excuse to get dressed up!!! (we left the babies with Grandma and Grandpa here at our house in vegas, that was great and hard at the same time)

Hobo Suit/Birthday Suit

Tyson likes to put on hats. I was trying on a corduroy blazer for church to see if it fit, and he decided to put his hat on  and run around. Jim and I think he looks like a hobo. The naked baby pic was taken at my inlaws house. Ty loves to brush his teeth (parent tip: when it comes time to seriously brush, buy a cool "electric" tooth brush to make it fun. We've had the soccer ball and the fire engine, Ty's favorite) and in this picture he's not only brushing his teeth but trying to comb his hair as well. Cute baby butt huh! 

Frosty the snow men!

It snowed the day before Christmas while we were in Boise at Jim's folks house. Tyson loved having 5 acres and fields to run around on. He loved the snowmen, but didn't love being picked up long enough to take pictures. He just wanted to keep playing. My snowmen are so cute, the little snow sculptures aren't too bad either.

Pukey Lukey loves mommy!!!!

Jim caught Lucas and I playing, and Lukey giving me his token kisses (I think he really tries to use me as his teething ring). What he didn't catch was the exact thing happening the next day, play time and kisses...but the next day Luke had just had his liquid lunch and upchucked it right in my face. Literally in my mouth and nose. It was SOOOOOOOOOOOO GROSS!!!!! But I still love him, and certainly didn't mind playtime and kisses the next day.

I BELIEVE...

We took Tyson and Lucas to the Magical Christmas Forrest and had their picture taken with Santa. Lucas was enthralled with Santa Claus. He very seriously studied every thing about him, and was fascinated by his beard. I didn't post the picture of he and Tyson together (Ty was not happy, similar to his Lion picture) I didn't want to get anymore flack about torturing my kids. Funny how Ty loved Santa last year, and not so much this year.

Mr. Piano Man

One of Tyson's favorite things to do is take advantage of the rare moments that mommy gets to sit down at the piano. He likes to join me for a "duet". I've decided to let him have his own piano time each day. He loves it. We do too (wink wink)!

Leg Hair

I'm not sure what it is, but looking back on the few post's that I have made, it's obvious that I've got some hang up with hair. That being said I think I have solved the mystery as to why females have leg hair. Now, with the exception of an 8th grade English teacher whose feet were so hairy I can only assume her legs were as well, most females have much less/thinner/lighter leg hair than their male counterparts. The idea that we have it for warmth, doesn't work for me. If so, why don't we have as much as guys do. Here is the answer: (it's not short so prepare yourselves) Have you ever been in the bath tub with your baby and freshly shaved legs? If the answer is yes, you'll understand that the combination is a very slippery and adventurous feat, and you most likely will not get any personal hygiene accomplished, due to the fact that it is virtually impossible to hold your baby with those freshly shaved legs.  (8th grade English teacher not liking my run-on sentence) Back in the day when people had to bathe in streams, rivers and lakes; you can just see a mother trying to keep her baby from floating away as well as wash her hair (on top of her head). The leg hair that she had (although thinner/lighter/less than her husbands) was just what she needed to have an extra "grip" on said baby and keep it from eminent water peril. I realize that the answer is not to stop shaving your legs (although how nice would that be?) the answer is to get a baby bath seat, and while at the pool some floaties or something. The alternative of not shaving may just cause a revolt of the husbands and ensure China's one child per couple rule. Hmmmmm....

There's no place like home...

We missed our church Halloween party a few days before Halloween because EVERY SINGLE ONE of us got really sick. We were looking forward to trick-or-treating with the kids but as you can see, that didn't really go so well. So, after many hours of costume making, we made it to a sum total of 2 houses. On this Halloween night, I closed my eyes, tapped my painstakingly made ruby slippers, and said..."There's no place like home (when you have two babies), there's no place like home (when you have two babies), there's no place like home.

Jim is such a great sport, what a guy to wear the cheesy scarecrow costume I made him. Tyson, not such a good sport. Let's just say he was a cryin' lion most of the night (which didn't last long).

So after an entire evening of hot gluing each individual sequin on to my shoe, Jim had the genius suggestion of putting the glue on the shoe first, and then putting the sequins on. The next night I finished the other shoe in literally half of the time as the night before. (and it looked better) Freak.