WYATT enters toddlerdom...
and he got a cake that best represents his ever growing infatuation with the man named spidey.



He was excited to get a hold of those little guys!



The second one was a bit tougher to get out...But big brother was right there to make sure the job got done!

This is Wyatt thinking, "Bro, get your hands off my cake."

A little taste of the pure sugar spidey web.

We plopped the top off for Wyatt to have his own little cake and then dug in to this bad boy.

Luckily he had help opening the presents... Or I should say, luckily he didn't mind the help. :)



This is Wyatt yelling, "Spiderman!" (I dee man)

I love how excited he got over the simplest of gifts! :) (Of course they all had to do with spiderman)

He wasn't too fond of the 'spiderwebs' Dad shot at him though....

But Brock was diggin it! And so I sent all 4 boys outside....

So my house didn't look like this... :) It was fun.

Who knew my little 4-week early 6lb squirt would get so big on me? :(

CALLING ALL PEEPS!!
(Please answer the call and participate in the poll on the sidebar)

Here is your reference picture...

THIS (holding a sweet little baby girl) made me happy today...

Bodie's b-day was pretty awesome. He said he wanted a chocolate cake w/ sprinkles...I saw he had a bakugon in his hand, so we decided to make it a chocolate cake w/ sprinkles w/ bakugons...I looked on-line and found a homemade cake that looked do-able. We had a lot of fun making it together - Bodie decorated the bakugons and was pretty proud of them.

(this is the funniest pic of him, and he looks 20yrs older than he is, but I'll take it.)

The finished product. Not too bad for a last min. decision! It's a fun one. (And totally NOT my brainchild)


The cake was from a box (2 actually), but I made the frosting and it was perty yummy. I doubled the recipe to ensure I had enough for the triple layer cake and cake balls... In case ya want to know:
Chocolate Cream Cheese Frosting
Cream together w/ the paddle:
-4 sticks of butter (I KNOW -YIKES)
-2 boxes of cream cheese
add:
-4 tsp. vanilla
-8 C. powdered sugar
-1 C. of hershey's powder (maybe more?)
-some milk...4 TBSP. ? again, not too sure - just to get it to the desired consistency.

Bodie was soooo happy and excited the whole day. For dinner he wanted pizza "from the box" :) Then we went downtown for 'winter wonderland' and the lighting of the trees in Wheeler Park. (not too exciting) and then came back home for cake and ice cream...

He FINALLY got a Ben-10 watch...he's been wanting one FOREVER, and his excitement over it didn't disappoint. Dad and Brock got him a BIG bakugon...he has a little one that he always carries in his pocket...it's pretty funny the things these kids get into and what we parents have to learn...Bodie was also so lucky to have both sets of g-parents up...He felt pretty special, and is still on cloud 9. :)
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Jess is working today. Such a bummer on Sundays. My parents came to church w/ us (that totally worked out in my favor! phew!) After they left for home, the boys and I set up the Christmas tree...It was a lot of fun. Bodie and Brock (Wyatt went down for a nap) were really into it -seeing all the ornaments and putting theirs on the tree. It feels good and festive to have it up finally. Jess set up our outside lights a couple days ago and I love that too.

(Steve made me the grapevine tree on the porch)

I half-way thought of taking the kids to the church to watch the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional, and then it clicked that I could watch it on-line. What a treat! The boys were busy doing their thing, and I was able to attentively listen. I was truly EDIFIED...and loved each one's message...To have a conscious, committed effort to bring Christ into our lives and homes this season and to give meaningful gifts, gifts that draw our hearts to the Savior, and gifts of service...to think of those in need. We have always been modest in our gift-giving to the kiddos, but I am excited to have a fresh outlook. I love this time of year. I love the music. I love the feeling in the air. I love the LIGHTS, and the smells, and the FOOD, (although I wish I didn't) and the get-togethers, and I love my Savior.

Goals this Week:
-Get gifts figured out (especially on a budget!)
-Get Christmas cards done -although we don't have many pics to choose from...hmm...
-Practice music (I'm singing in a quartet a beautiful arrangement of Silent Night. We had our first practice tonight and it WAS (mom) a lot of fun!)
-Find a b-day present for Wyatt...prob. anything spiderman... (Nana brought him this:)

And he was pretty stoked. Barely got him into his church clothes this morning!
-Get to the gym everyday
-Do 3 random acts of service

Looking forward to:
-Wyatt's b-day
-The LIGHT parade
-Primary Activity

So much to keep busy with, this time of year. Today is Bodie's birthday. I never thought I'd actually have a 5 year old. It just keeps getting better. Earlier we were out front (it's a beautiful day) and the boys were riding their bikes (but when are they not?) -and I saw 3 little BOYS. (no more babies) And more importantly I saw 3 little friends. I know they're going to have lots of fun together.

my little stink bug in daddy's hat....


This was such a special time. A first delivery, a first baby, a first time Mom... When we pulled into our driveway w/ our new bundle, I saw a house full of warmth and love. My in-laws had put up Christmas lights, there was a decorated tree in our living room, and family had dinner and cookies cooking. It was such a wonderful welcome home. I will always remember it. I think that is part of the reason I love this time of year so much.
Being a new parent was a trip! But yet at the same time everything came so naturally. Looking back it is hard to believe 5 years has passed so quickly and now I have this handsomely lanky, silly kid who's enthusiasm is infectious, who I can barely pick up, who loves his bike more than anything, and makes me laugh every day with the things that come out of his mouth. :) (not to mention 2 more additions!) :) So much has changed in a relatively short period of time.
I feel like I have grown LEAPS AND BOUNDS.

Her CUUUUUUTE little house...love every square inch...and we used every square inch!

Waiting for Katie to get off work

It was a fun reunion! I don't know who was more excited...the boys, or Katie...or Nana? :)

Flowers from Katie's yard...in NOVEMBER, ahhhhh.

Christmas came early for Katie..."How many Maier's does it take..."

(meanwhile Wyatt found ALL the poop in the yard and...got it everywhere...if there is poop, Wyatt will find it...and while we're on the topic he DID make a little turd IN THE POTTY)

Nana made the yummmmmmiest meal

beauty of a pie (but her pumpkin cheesecake was to DIE FOR)

Went to the beach -Papa is the bomb. The boys ended up fully drenched of course and in the water. They couldn't resist...I could. :)

Katie was 'lost' out at water (at least to us) for a bit and it SCARED me...lots!

(no, they are not twins.)

After dinner, we took a walk downtown to see the lights

Papa was Wyatt's main squeeze.

The next day we drove north to see the Elephant Seals...this is pretty much how I felt...like a big blubber of blub.

Then we ended the day w/ a bonfire and s'mores...I'd say a perfect way to end the day.

"Why are we trying to do this?"


Mom and her kiddos

And then we had to say goodbye and head back home. :(

It went by too fast! The boys did awesome in the car - and Jess and I listened to "Angels and Demons" on the way back...so it helped pass the time. And Wyatt is OFFICIALLY obsessed with Spiderman...w o w.

We had a BLAST at Auntie's and the boys are ROCKSTAR car-travelers...

*H A P P Y * T H A N K S G I V I N G*

(Brock modeling the lovely hat he made in pre-school)

While the majority of Americans are sitting down to eat their Turkey dinners, my little family will be making the 10+ hr. drive to Auntie's house...
2 adults, 3 kiddos, 2 surfboards, 1 guitar, luggage, and a DOG all in our little Subaru traveling across the State line and up some...(sounds like heaven on earth, no?) wish. us. luck! We will be 'giving thanks' on Friday a little south of these parts:


Some of the many things I am Thankful for: (in no particular order)

-A warm & cozy home
-The chance to be a Mom & a Wife
-A good nights rest
-My body and all it is capable of doing
-Hard times and good times
-Family
-Music
-Friends
-My Savior
-Employment
-Little hand prints on my back door (not always, but 2 days ago, yes)
-Yummy Food
-A good read
-The Man in my life (not always, but 2 days ago & most days, yes)
-Technology
-A living Prophet
-Hot water
-The little men in my life
-Living in the U S of A
-My blogging friends - LOVE YA ALL -I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

ALSO WHILE JESS WAS OUT OF TOWN...

Thank goodness I have little buggers to keep me occupied when Jess is gone! I was so grateful the time passed so quickly and so smoothly... (except the day I had to jump my own car due to little fingers getting in and turning lights/switches on...I was pretty proud of myself for taking control of the situation!) :)

After baths, the boys were determined to sleep in front of the cozy, warm fire...

I let them fall asleep and then took them to their beds...


Brock had LOTS of fun with the shop vac...It was out daily...since they had to clean up their messes.

So fascinating.


BODIE HAD A FIELD TRIP TO LAKE MARY...

Seriously. THIS is end of NOVEMBER?

He basically wanted to ditch what the class was doing and just hang out by the water...


AND... we even got to go to a friends house to ride horses! (sadly no pictures). That was the second time I invited myself over to someones house that week. Isn't that pretty much against all social protocols and etiquette standards? But it helped me OH SO MUCH!