Bad Hair Day

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Today is our 12 year anniversary! Who would have thought we would make it this far (and if you know us well enough, you also know how true this statement is!) In our case it is absolutely true what they say, opposites do attract. I am so lucky to be married to Kelly. Here are 12 reasons why I am glad we have made it this far: (with help from the boys)

1. He knows how to fix everything.
2. He doesn't spend time worrying about things we cannot change.
3. He can build the best Lego creations. He is also a champion "roll the ball" player.
4. He loves his children and especially enjoys spending time with them (even running at 6am just to help the boys burn some energy before school and believe me this is a sacrifice because he is not a morning person!).
5. He is a crazy dancer and loves to embarrass mom by dancing in public!
6. He loves to go fishing, geocaching and camping (and will take the boys all by himself since mom doesn't like any of those things!)
7. He is a hard worker. He has even worked three jobs at one time to support his family!
8. He tells the funniest jokes and stories (at least Jacob thinks so!). He loves to make us laugh!
9. He is a friend to everyone he meets.
10. He honors his priesthood.
11. He will eat anything I cook for him, and always tells me I am the best cook (even when the only thing that turned out for our first meal together was the cake! Thank goodness it has only been uphill since then!).
12. He loves us and forgives us for all our faults. And, he never holds a grudge! He is patient and kind, and only wants the best for each of us!

Happy Anniversary!

Fire Station

As a requirement for Jacob's Wolf Badge we visited the Fire Station with a few friends. It was a good reminder to us mom's that we really do need to have a plan in place in case of a fire, or any emergency for that matter. When one of the Firemen asked how we would call 9-1-1 if we were awaken in the middle of the night to a fire, Jacob said he would just "pull out the cell phone from my pocket and make the call". First, Jacob does not have a cell phone, and second, if he did would he really sleep with it in his pocket (not to mention his PJs don't even have pockets!)?

The boys loved trying on the gear, "driving" the ambulance, and meeting all of the Firemen.

I think Laynie looks especially pleased with her first glimpse of "men in uniform"!

Disneyland Countdown

We are getting so excited for our trip to Disneyland! It was originally scheduled for March, but because my doctor did not want me to travel, we moved it to September. So, the boys have been anxiously awaiting this trip for quite some time! Each night at dinner, Jacob asks us to tell him a little bit more about Disneyland and since both Kelly and I have not gone since we were young the details are pretty sparse! We made a chain to help us countdown the days until we go. Today was Ryan's day to pull off a link and all day long he kept asking, "Now, you said nine more days, right?" We did not say nine days, we said twenty nine days, and no matter how many times he asks it just isn't going to change! (But, good try Ryan!)

And, for our grandmas (and Aunt Cammi), here is a picture of the kids taken before church this morning. The boys have asked to take a picture with Laynie each week before church, but since my goal is to have her asleep when we go to church it just hasn't happened. Today, she chose to be uncooperative and was awake all through church. Hopefully that means a good night sleep is ahead!

(Notice how much better Ryan's cheek looks! Thank goodness!)

Ryan Takes a Fall . . . Again!

After a gentle reprimand by our Stake President for not having attended the temple since before Laynie was born, I decided I would go early Saturday morning. I thought that if I went early enough I could return before things got going around my house. Boy was I wrong! This is what I returned home to:

Ryan fell going up the stairs (who would of thought it was possible) and hit his cheek on the windowsill. He was bleeding both outside and inside his mouth! Apparently he laid where he had fallen for quite a while before someone (his FATHER!) decided to go and see why he was upset. So, this is what the carpet now looks like (after two different carpet cleaners and much scrubbing):

Does anyone have a suggestion for getting blood out of carpet?

And, in case a picture of bloody carpet is not what you were hoping to see, here is a much nicer (and cuter) image:

She is getting so big! She is crying a lot less and smiling a lot more. I love watching the boys make her smile and laugh. She is so much fun!

Laynie's Smile

I recently read an article about a baby's smile. Turns out that seeing a baby smile can actually activates the pleasure receptors in the brain creating a natural high. Even if it is not your own baby, you can still feel it. So, go ahead, enjoy a "high" on Laynie. We are happy to share!

(I hope you can enjoy her while trying to ignore my nonstop chatter! Sorry about that!)

A Small Miracle

While Laynie is absolutely adorable, has the cutest smile and has many other redeemable qualities, she does lack in a certain area. SHE WILL NOT SLEEP! I spend most of my day, feeding her, getting her to sleep, putting her in her crib, running around for 10 minutes getting work done, calming her down from her crying fit, patting her back, putting her back in her crib, running around for 10 minutes and it goes on and on. So, when a kind friend offered her swing to me, I jumped at the chance to see if Laynie would like it. While she will not just sit in it and enjoy life when she is awake, if I have her asleep and put her in the swing, she will stay there for up to two hours! It truly is a miracle! I know she can't do this forever, but for the time being, HALLELUJAH!

Jacob, the Chef!

Jacob fixed us a delicious dinner last night! As a requirement for Jacob's Wolf Badge, he needed to help fix a meal, as well as set the table and clean up when he was done. For dinner Jacob fixed Pizza Muffins, Salad and Bananas (so that he could cover all of the Food Groups). He did an excellent job and I definitely think I should have him fix dinner more often!

The Worst Day . . .

Tragedy has struck the Stohl house! The boys were up at 6AM just to confirm that the "worst day of my entire life" was really here. Can you imagine anything worse than the "cable fairy" coming and shutting off your cable? Well apparently there is nothing worse! Bring on a tornado, tsunami or earthquake. We have now made it through the worst and are prepared for anything!

After the following conversation with Ryan I decided enough was enough and it was time to be rid of cable television once and for all:

Mom: Ryan, you are not allowed to watch real people shows. Only cartoons.
Ryan: This is a cartoon.
Mom: Ryan, that is not a cartoon. There are real people on that show.
Ryan: It is a cartoon!
Mom: Ryan, cartoons are drawn with crayons. Those are real people!
Ryan: But Mom, it is a cartoon. Those people are just drawn with real crayons!

How do you argue with logic like that!

So, much to everyone's despair (you should have seen Kelly's tears!), we are now without cable and free to enjoy one another's company, uninteruppted, 24 hours a day. Lucky us!