This is the Car that Mommy Built... and Daddy made "Fancy"

Here are some pictures of Jacob with his new box car. He has been having a good time with it, and it wasn't that hard to make.

Can you see the shiny headlights that Daddy added? He also put on turn signals. Silly mommy, I just put tires, windows and headlights on the car!

The day we made this Jacob carried it all over the place. He even drove it up the stairs and "parked" it in the kitchen. It was pretty funny. The car has also had a couple of intentional "roll-over" accidents. Luckily it was not occupied at the time.

Here is a picture of the tail lights and custom license plate that Joe added on Sunday morning. The next plan is to give the car some fancy hub caps! Who knew you could have this much fun with a box?!

It's a Blustery Day in the Neighborhood

Here are some photos of what our neighborhood looked like this morning. I can't believe that it is March 30th and we got 3-4 inches of snow last night! Isn't that disgusting?

I looked out the window and almost went back to bed! Windy, cold, yucky!

Has anyone seen my flowers?

How about the bushes?

Today the Smiths were kind enough to invite us over to play at their house. Jacob had a great time! By the time we were heading home, most of the snow on the streets had melted away and the lawn was started to melt a bit! Too bad the forecast calls for more snow on Wednesday.

I keep hoping the forecasters will change their minds and that the snow will turn out to be an "April Fools!".

Boys in the tub

Here are some of the cute pictures I got of the boys in the tub this past week (as I mentioned in the post below). Aren't they cute?

Jacob and Ephraim don't end up in the tub together too much right now. Ephraim tends to be a bit too rowdy and active for Jacob.

Do you think Jacob will be upset with me later for putting a photo of his naked tush on my blog?!

Ephraim LOVES being in the tub. He loves to splash and play in the water. Right now we are working on getting him to remember that he cannot stand up in the tub! Silly boy.

March: In Like a Lion, Out Like a Lion!

Is it just me, or is the weather this March just wacky? We get a few nice days up in the sixties, and then we get pounded with wind, rain and snow. The temperatures plummet to the low 30s and we get to spend our days inside. What is up with this?!

This past week we haven't done anything incredibly exciting. Mostly because it has been a bit too cold to play outside. I was looking at the pictures I have taken on my camera and they were mostly of the boys in the bath tub. Exciting, huh?

Mostly we stuck to our regularly scheduled events. Here is a rundown if you are interested... if not, you can just skip it and wait for another post with cute little boy pictures in it.

On Tuesday we went to Music Makers at the church. Jacob and Ephraim both have a good time singing, marching and playing their instruments. Then on Wednesday Jacob got to go to playgroup. He spends an hour and a half at one of his friends houses and he LOVES it. He has so much fun playing with the other kids (and their toys, of course!). I get to put Ephraim down for his nap and have the entire time to myself, which is lovely. Then on Thursdays we go to the library for Wee Read. Jacob really enjoys listening to stories, and it's nice to get new books to read for the next week.

This week after Wee Read we went over to the Randall's house to play for a while. Jacob and I were both getting a little stir crazy from being stuck inside our house most of the week. Jacob is a really social little boy and enjoys playing with other kids. Plus I like hanging out with Melinda. :o) We had fun at their house and finally left when Ephraim informed us that he needed a nap asap.

Then on Friday we managed to visit the Smiths for a little while. Jacob had a fun time playing with Alyssa, and it is nice to have friends to visit with when the weather is making you feel blue. Then in the afternoon Jacob and I made a car out of a cardboard box. It turned out pretty well, and I will definitely have to take a picture of it. He has had a great time playing with it! I also made a small house out of a large box we had. Jacob has been driving his car around and going to his "house" to play. It has been pretty fun.

Friday evening the weather actually warmed up enough for Joe and I to go on bike rides. Joe let me go first, and I got in almost 7 miles. It was a bit windy, but not too bad. Then Joe put on his cold weather gear and got a ride in. Then we spend the rest of the evening together. It was nice because we hadn't really seen each other the rest of the evenings of the week. Monday night I worked, Tuesday Joe went to the temple, Wednesday night Joe had Elder's Quorum meeting and I went to a Rhodes Demo in SLC with the Relief Society. Then on Thursday night I worked again. Sheesh! Maybe it won't be such a bad thing when I don't work at the library anymore at the end of April.

Saturday was the nicest day we had this week. Joe and I both worked hard a got a lot done. Joe changed the oil in our cars, leveled up the water meter in front of the house, put grass seed down, changed the lawnmower's oil, sharpened the lawnmower blade, took apart our old wheelbarrow to fix it up, and put up a bike hook in the garage for my bike to hang on. There were probably some other things I missed too! As for me, I cleaned inside the house, made lasagna and ironed all the shirts in my HUGE pile. Then later in the afternoon Joe let me go on another bike ride. I got in 11 miles, and it felt really great!

We are gearing up for the cycling season this summer. We are already planning on a bike tour for May 2nd and look forward to others later in the summer. Now if only the weather would warm up so we could actually go riding! Joe hasn't been able to ride to work much because the weather has been so nasty this month! Hopefully next month will be better!

Next month will definitely be different at our house. Today Joe got released from the Elder's Quorum Presidency, so I guess we will be seeing him a bit more often, which will be nice! So instead of only seeing each other two nights a week, we will see each other three nights a week and more of the day on Sunday. Then after I no longer work at the library after April we will both be home each night of the week! How strange and wonderful will that be?! We can actually have FHE on Mondays, and it will be easier for us to take turns going to the temple. So nice!

Working Weekend to Wacky Weather

Hooray for Spring Break!

Joe got Friday off work and got to spend the day at home with us. First Joe and Jacob worked on the flower bed around our aspen tree.

While I hung the laundry outside to dry. The weather was really nice and warm, so we like to take advantage of the free heat.

Teddy, just hanging out.

Then for a little while on Saturday we went over to the Randall's house to play on their new playset and have a picnic lunch outside.

Jacob was having a great time with Laura... playing on the swings and going down the slide all by himself. Ephraim was doing a little bit more of the "getting in trouble" kind of fun.

Ephraim! Yucky! Don't eat sidewalk chalk!

He is fast on those two little feet... and he sure is a cutie!

When we got home Joe was working on the cars in the garage. Jacob decided he would rather stay outside with Daddy rather than come inside with me. He was being such a big helper that I had to run and get my camera.

Here is Jacob helping Daddy grease the joints.

He even helped Daddy get the tires off the cars.

And of course if you take them off, you have to put them back on right? Doesn't Jacob look cute with those huge blue gloves on? At least he has clean hands, right?!


Joe and I were impressed that Jacob wasn't afraid of some of the air compressor tools that he has been terrified of before. I guess he is growing up!

Here he is "helping" Joe with the jack. His feet are almost off the ground, and the jack is not moving!


Jacob was such a big helper, and I think he enjoyed being in the garage with Daddy.

Later that afternoon I got to go on a bike ride. It was nice to get out again, and I had a good ride. Apparently while I was gone Jacob decided that he wanted to ride his bike too.


Of course Ephraim wanted to tag along.


Saturday morning it was Joe's turn to go on a bike ride. The Trek store was having a ride, so he went in the morning and put in about 30 miles total. After working so hard the day before, the bike ride just about did him in for the day!

The weather was nice, so the boys got to play outside. I showed Jacob how to push Ephraim on this little car. They were both having a fantastic time.

When Ephraim fell off Jacob wanted Ephraim to push him in the car... of course that didn't quite work. So I got to push Jacob around a little bit.

Then we played around in the sandbox. I figured the boys could get as dirty as they wanted, since they would both be having baths later!

Here is another funny picture from this weekend. Ephraim has figured out how to open and close the drawers in the kitchen. So now he takes things out and plays with them. He thinks my hot pads are especially interesting.


On Sunday we went to church a little early because of the Draper Temple dedication. Most of the wards in our building had only two hours of meetings, but we had ward conference, so we went to all three hours.

Joe stayed home with the boys so I could attend the dedication. It was really nice and I enjoyed all the speakers. It made me think back about when Joe and I "met up" at the Nauvoo Temple dedication. Neither Joe and I remember much about that dedication... besides being there together! So this time I got to pay closer attention, but I missed having my honey with me.

When I got home I found that Joe had made dinner for us. What a great guy, huh?!

It was getting cloudy and cold on Sunday evening. This morning when we woke up it was snowing! Yuck! The first part of this week is supposed to be icky and cold. I just hope that we don't lose all the blossoms on our apricot tree! Last year we only got a few apricots because of late spring frosts. Hopefully our trees do better this year.

Cowboy Jacob

This weekend we got out the stick horse and cowboy clothes that Jacob got for Christmas. I don't know why we haven't gotten them out sooner! Somehow we can't find the hat for his outfit, so he borrowed Daddy's hat.

He had a great time, and Joe and I took some adorable pictures of him.

Yee-haw!

Looks like this cowboy is plumb tuckered out!

Fooled you! Who are you kidding? I don't get tired!
(Joe took these last three and I love them!)

At the end of the day, the cowpoke and his pony take a siesta.

What fun! We are going to have to get more dress-up clothes for Jacob. There seem to be tons for little girls, but not as many for boys! We will also have to look around for a hat his size.

If You Build It, He Will Squish It.

This past weekend we had a great time playing outside. It was still a bit windy, but not too bad. Of course we have been playing a lot in the sand box.

Jacob loves it when I play in the sandbox with him. He always wants me to build castles. Check out this nice castle mommy made!

Of course the only reason he wants me to build these castles is so he can knock them down. Check out the look of pure glee on his face.

He does ask me if he can knock it down before he goes at it. But if I leave anything built up in the sandbox, it won't be there for long!

Doesn't he look pleased with himself?


Ephraim didn't know what to think of the sandbox at first, but I think he is starting to like it.

I am not sure if Jacob is keen on having Ephraim in the sandbox! Actually, he likes having Ephraim there, even if Ephraim doesn't quite know what to do yet.

But believe me, he is picking it up quickly!

If you have boys and no sand box, you really should consider getting one! My boys LOVE it.

Ephraim's 12 month check-up

The day after Ephraim's birthday we got to go to the doctor for his 12 month check-up. Since we go to the doctor's for Ephraim more than Jacob, usually I get to take both boys with me and have to assure Jacob that the doctor is not going to be looking at him, just Ephraim.

Well, this time Jacob happened to have playgroup when the appointment was scheduled, so he didn't have to go. He was relieved, and it was nice for me to only have to wrangle one boy! Ephraim was walking all over the room where we were waiting for the doctor, and I thought he was being pretty funny.




Ephraim is doing great! Doctor Arnold told me that he loved Ephraim's hair and that he sure is cute. He also told me that my boys come from a good gene pool. Who am I to argue with the good doctor?

Here are Ephraim's current stats:

Ephraim at 12 months:
height: 29.75 inches (50th percentile)
weight: 20 lbs 8 oz (20th)
head circ: 47 cm (65th)

Just for fun, here is where Jacob was when he was a year old.
Jacob at 12 months:
height: 29.5 inches (50th percentile)
weight: 21 lb 11 oz (30th)
head circ: 46.5 cm (50th)

So you can see that the boys were pretty similar sizes at this age. Ephraim is a bit further along as far as physical development goes, but he does have Jacob to chase after! Isn't he a cutie?

Luckily Ephraim only had to have one shot, and he did pretty well with it. We got finished just in time to go pick up Jacob from his playgroup. It was hilarious because when I went to get Jacob he asked me "Mommy, why did you come to get me? I don't want to go home."

Sheesh! Don't I feel loved?!

Mr. Cake Face

Happy Birthday Ephraim!

Can you believe that Ephraim is now a one year old? Yesterday was Ephraim's birthday, and we had a great day!

My parents drove down to spend the day with us and the boys were excited to see them. My parents drove down from Wyoming the evening before Ephraim's birthday and spent a little time with them while I was at work that evening.

The next morning the boys had a good time playing with Grandma and Grandpa Heiner.

After Ephraim's morning nap we drove in to Orem to have lunch with Daddy. Then we went and did a little birthday shopping. We found something for Ephraim that I think Jacob will enjoy too. Of course we had to put it together as soon as we got home.

So far they both seem to love this Little People Racin' Ramps Garage. Doesn't it look like fun? We have made sure that Jacob knows it is Ephraim's toy, but they can share it. I am not too worried about it because Jacob got spoiled too.

Grandpa just had to get Jacob this motorized bucketloader, and he LOVES it. He has been playing with it nonstop, which is nice because it has been too cold to go outside! Grandpa and Grandma also got some more wooden track for Jacob's trains, which is nice because we can make the track a bit more interesting to play with.

My parents left early in the afternoon, and I put Ephraim down for his afternoon nap. Later when Joe came home from work we had our little family gathering. We opened presents from Grandpa and Grandma Devereaux. Isn't this outfit cute?

Ephraim was pretty excited about the box with this water toy/sprinkler in it. He kept lifting it up and patting the box. I think it will be a lot of fun this summer when the weather gets a little warmer. Ephraim also got a cool swim bodysuit that will be great this summer too.

Of course after the presents we had to have cake! I made a little mini cake for Ephraim, and at first he didn't quite know what to do with it.

After we got him to taste it, he decided it was yummy and he started digging in.


Before long his hands were covered with cake. He was squeezing them open and shut and shaking them back and forth trying to figure out how to get the cake off. It was hilarious and I will have to post a video of that later.

Ephraim loved his cake. He also loved the bath he got to take after getting all messy.

Happy Birthday Ephraim! We love you tons and bunches!

March Flowers

After our warm Saturday in the sandbox, it got a bit cloudy and blustery around here. But I guess Spring weather is usually a bit on the wild side.

I have been carefully watching my flower beds for the first signs of Spring. Guess who popped out to visit?

Hello Yellow!

I am so happy that my crocuses have decided to bloom. That means that the other flowers and warmer weather are soon to follow.

Yesterday was cloudy and not too lovely, and today was looking the same when I woke up. Then this afternoon the sun finally broke through the clouds and the temperatures got around 68 degrees! It was amazing!

So of course the boys and I went outside as soon as we got the chance. Ephraim is getting better about wearing shoes outside. He still isn't sure he likes the grass though, so most of the time he was crawling and walking around on the patio. Boy was he dirty when I brought him in for naptime!

Jacob kept trying to get Ephraim to play with him, but Ephraim didn't quite understand. I'm sure in a couple more months they will be having a blast together. They still managed to have a good time for a little while this afternoon.

Ephraim decided he had to check out the taste of the wood chips. I got them away from him, but not before he had sampled them a little. I've said it before... "boys and their dirt!"

Yummy!

Jacob is always happy to be outside. He loves playing in the sandbox. We are going to have a great time this summer going to the park and playing outside.