Escapee Drisan

So, I usually turn on cartoons for the kids while I take a shower....making sure there's nothing for anyone to choke on, blocking ways were Drisan can escape & go upstairs, etc. So, after I showered & got dressed, I looked through the kitchen to see if everything was a-ok, which it was. I went back & blowdried my hair & then heard someone scooting one of our dining room chairs across the floor. "Oh, it's probably Andra going to get a cup, or a treat of some sort." But I came out to check anyway.
Andra was still downstairs watching cartoons & Drisan was havin' a blast with the chair! I looked downstairs to see how he got through all the "baracades", but couldn't figure it out. I asked Andra how Drisan got upstairs. She responded, "This is how he do." and that's when I got the camera:

(Coming soon: 3 birthdays & a funeral)

I don't plan to blog about this very often. But this one was hilarious!

(While eating dinner last night, Andra tooted pretty loud. Here's the conversation that followed:)

Mom: (gasp!)
Dad: (looking under the table) Was there a mouse riding a motorcycle, or did you sit on a frog?!?
Andra: That was my toot!
(apparently Andra heard a noise-- or imagined it, cuz I didn't hear anything...)
Andra: Daddy, you have a mouse in your bum!!!

Home At Last!

I was hoping I'd blog at least once a week. But our last trip to Idaho kinda threw me off. So, here's another kinda long & scattered entry. Oh well. I'll get better at this. The day before the kids & I flew to Idaho, Drisan decided to throw himself out of his crib (morning nap). It was a busy day for me & I didn't have time to lower the mattress myself, so I just set up the Pack 'n Play 'til Jeremy was home to do it. :D

Andra being Jeremy's big helper.

My little brothers, Jordan & Riley, returned from their missions the end of January (the whole purpose of us going over there for the 3rd time in 3 months.)

At the airport waiting for Jordan to arrive.

Drisan and Grandma chillin' at the airport.

The twins are FINALLY reunited!!!

We were at Grandma & Grandpa's house a week before Jeremy came over. Drisan LOVED exploring a new house, new toys, and new cousins!!!


Drisan pushing cousin Hunter in the swing (Hunter didn't enjoy it too much)

We also celebrated Grandpa's 54th & cousin Alexa's 3rd birthdays!!!

The kids & I hung out at my sister, Susan's, house for a day. Andra was excited to build snowmen, but noticed the shoveling needed done.....someone's gotta do it! ;)

We went to a cabin with the WHOLE ENTIRE family up in Island Park, ID. (Family pictures will be up soon! YAY!!!)

The last morning (while parents were packin' up), most of the girls decided they wanted to sit in the "hot tub". So we threw them in the jacuzzi tub in the master suite. Not much room for them to move around, but they all enjoyed it....at least 'til they realized they couldn't move very much.

While we were in Idaho, Drisan decided to FINALLY start crawling on his knees...not just do the "army crawl". He loves it! The other day, Andra thought it'd be funny to pull his pants off....

....and to get her back, Drisan thought it'd be funny to drop Andra's shoes down the stairs between the banister poles! :D

And here's a little video (from Friday night) that makes me happy every time I hear/watch it...

Who needs bath toys?!?
(Watch how fast Drisan's hands are moving!!! And, yes, this is actual speed!)

Everyone Needs Blessings....

Andra was saying the blessing all by herself. She said the usual "thankful for this day, thankful for mommy and daddy and andra and drisan, thankful for our friends. PLEASE BLESS JESUS. in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen." It was cute, but reminded me that no matter how good life seems to be going, or who you are, we all need blessings from our Heavenly Father and that all good comes from Him. The End.

Christmas....finally

We hope everyone had a great Christmas. I know this is late, but oh well.

Here are a few pics from Christmas (I'll try not to put up TOO many).

We had a GREAT time at our house Christmas Day & got to hang out with Uncle Mike & Aunt Sue (and their kids & families) & our good friend, Candy. Then we set out on the crazy roads the morning of the 26th. We got to Boise (after 10 hours!), and hung out with Jeremy's fam the next morning. We ate Papa John's biscuits 'n gravy (I only eat his....they're SO good!!!), and opened presents. Then we braved a big storm, and after 7 more hours on the road, made it to Rigby.

We stayed at my parents' house, along with my sis Melanie & her fam. I think EVERYONE was sick, or got sick, at some point of the "vacation". hahahahha! Oh well...we had a great time & I still would have gone if I knew beforehand.

Here are the most of the "girl cousins" layin' down for "quiet time" after.......

playin' in the snow with my sis, Susan

the girls all got dressed-up with the stuff Grandma & Grandpa gave them

We got to see some fun relatives/friends who used to live over here. (Miss you guys!) They were havin' too much fun & didn't want to sit long enough for a good pic.

Drisan was SO excited with all the toys he could put in his mouth! YUM!!!

Andra loved hanging up the stockings. Christmas morning she woke up to see they were gone! She was bummed 'til we pointed out that maybe Santa moved them downstairs!

We're starting a new tradition....we open one family gift Christmas Eve (most likely a Christmas book that we get to read that night.) This year we read "The Night Before Christmas".

(sorry the pics were "out of chronological order". i'm still learning this stuff.)

It Was Nothing

The other night I asked Andra to keep Drisan happy while I made dinner (Jeremy wasn't home yet). So, she started playing "chase" with him....her running back and forth between her bedroom & the front room. She'd also dive into a tent that we have in the front room, and Drisan would start chasing her one direction to the other...even crawling into the tent with her. It was very cute, and I was very happy they were happy entertaining each other. So at dinner, I said, "Andra, thank you for playing with Drisan & keeping him happy while I made dinner."
She responded, "It was nothing!"
I laughed, because I'd never heard her say that before....and we don't say that. It was funny. She has continued saying it when I tell her thank you for "helping" Daddy put up child-proofing gates, going potty on the toilet, etc.
Where do kids come up with these things?!?

It's a bird...It's a plane.....It's..it's...the ASTONS!!!!!!!!!!

Well, well, well....Look who's FINALLY started a blog! I guess since my little brothers are comin' home from their missions this month, I'll fill that "email-writing-to-them-time" with blogging. haha. I'm hoping you'll have as much fun reading our blog as I'm hoping I'll have keepin' up with it. Jeremy seems excited to put his 2 cents in sometimes, too! YAY!!! But for now, I'm off to explore how all this blogging works, & to find a pic or 2 to put up. Thanks for your patience as we get this put together.