growing up

This boy has gone from having his first bites of cereal. 

Which was some messy fun.

 To being sick for several days with RSV.

He went from being sick, swaddled, and snuggled for days

to sitting up all by himself.

He's gone from sitting up to drooling like crazy.

and with that drool has brought new teeth. 

Rudger's first tooth broke through (6 1/2 months) on the same day Taylor lost his first.(7 1/2 years) 

Tay was extremely pleased at that.

 Justin decided if our baby is going to keep growing up on us, then it's time he learned to sleep through the night. I just told myself for 7 months that he really missed me during the night and wanted to be with me :)

So the first night heard 2 hours of crying while mom and dad traded off patting his back every ten minutes. Luckily the 2nd night it was only 45 minutes and we're slowly getting better. 

I know growing up is just a part of living. And that's okay. It just gives me more time to love them more. 

And we all love this growing boy so much.

reading

I never really read a whole lot when I was little. I wasn't a strong reader. I didn't absolutely love it. And Justin, when he was little he really did not love to read. So it should come to no surprise to either of us that some of our kids are in the same boat.

However, Justin and I have changed over the years. I grew to love some reading (especially when Harry Potter came out). And something happened on Justin's mission where he really grew to love it. I have teased him over the years because he is always reading at least four different books at the same time. (almost always gospel related)

Now the jokes on me.

It's only natural that both he and I have a deep desire to get our kids reading and to love it at an early age. We feel they will be at so much more the advantage if they learn to love reading now.

We have done well at some things, and not so well at others. But we will keep pushing on. 

Encouraging them to read alone.

Encouraging them to read to each other.

(don't let the picture fool you, Rudger really did love it)

Keep books out and easily accessible. 

 And my favorite.

Cuddle up and read to them.

 and of course, visiting our library often. 

I hope they get it sooner then I did. 

weekend in march

Our weekend started out with an extra fun movie night with Grandma Packer, Hunter, Jaina, and Grey. We loved having them over and I enjoyed the extra long visit with my mom.

Saturday morning found us wiping down our couch, pulling off couch cushions, and washing covers in preparation to sell our couch. 

 I saw a big mess with furniture being moved around and things out of place.

This guy only saw fun. 

So out came more furniture and a little re-arranging. 

And they turned our living room into an airplane.

Taylor got even more creative because for the past day Rudger has been into blowing raspberries loud and long. 

To Taylor, Rudger made the perfect gunner for their airplane.

I guess if you can't beat them, join them.

Jumping on the trampoline after church is a must. Especially after the cold, wet week we have had.

 And Sunday night found, the boys tucked in bed, Justin and I sitting back on the couch watching bible videos in preparation of our Easter week, as well as one of my most favorite talk of all time, while Rudger quietly and excitedly played with his brother's toys :)

he really is nine

It happened last month. Our baby boy, who only nine years ago was just a tiny-quiet crying-baby cradled in my arms, has grown up right before our eyes. 

I can't believe how fast it is going. 

His day was a really good day.

He enjoyed breakfast in bed. 

Starting this year, instead of birthday presents from brothers, we decided to start a candy bar poster. They love treats and those dollar store toys broke by the end of the day anyway. It just makes sense, right?

I think Taylor was more excited to make this and give it to Corbin than anything else. 

He laughed at all the funny phrases he would come up with!

Want a closer look?

 And yet again we caved and got the same thing our boys wants every year for birthdays and Christmas. 

I wonder when this obsession will end?

We enjoyed a nice Friday night with Pizza, shakes, and a movie at home. 

 Oh, Corbin we love you so much!

We love: 

1) how well you take care of baby Rudger. You can't stand to hear him cry in his crib so as soon as he wakes up you go and get him out and bring him right where everyone is. He loves you so much.

2) how much you love to make chocolate chip cookies. Yes, I've trained you well :)

3) seeing your face light up when you get to be outside on your roller blades. I didn't realize the day would come as fast as it did when you would pass me on the blades.

4) as much as it pains me to realize that you are growing up so fast and meeting new people all the time, I love how quickly you befriend others.

5) your obsession with collecting things. cards, sea shells, anything that looks like gold

6) your laid back attitude. you are just like daddy.

7) the way you always say..."because I'm awesome"  

8) that extremely funny personality that keeps us laughing constantly.

9) this is completely selfish of me, but I love how you still are not embarrassed by me. You want me to be around and do things with you. You light up when I come to your classroom to volunteer (in a quiet, manly way). You ask me to come and jump on the trampoline with you. You want me to build legos with you (something I should do more often). I saver these moments and I really hope they never end. 

Love you Corby baby!

celebrate february

After the long month of January, I think we found any reason to celebrate.

We are not the biggest football fans, however we needed an excuse to have lots of treats and food. So we found ourselves celebrating, visiting, eating, laughing, enjoying family, and playing some card games. I still can't believe that Olivia is old enough to play games with grown ups rather than play with the kids. The boys were in heaven playing with cousins. We (or rather the men) watched a few minutes of the game. 

(I can't believe this is the only picture I took)

 We celebrated the Chinese New Years. We made paper lanterns, practiced our Chinese writings, practiced our meditating, ate yummy food, and enjoyed our fortunes. 

(Poor Rudger.) 

fyi. I've turned decorating over to the boys :) and that patch on the wall is still there after 1 1/2 years :)  just waiting to find the right color and gather the energy to paint all the walls.

We celebrated hearts, love, and each other...oh and treats.

 The boys really enjoyed waking up each morning to a heart note by their beds. 

Celebrating each one of them.

 As soon as I saw these and showed them to the boys they were extremely excited.

(thank you pinterest)

Taylor drew something on the back of each and every one. Man I love that kid and his creativity 

We even found time to celebrate a yummy bowl of cereal with delicious red strawberries.

 It was a good month.

snow day

It's never a good thing when the phone rings at 5:50 in the morning.  But luckily in this case, it was.

I couldn't wait to be the one to wake up the boys and tell them they didn't have school that day! 

I loved opening their window and showing them all the snow coming down.

I loved letting them just lay in their beds and slowly wake up while we chatted.

I loved having hot chocolate with them.

I loved making a fort for them and watching movies together.

I just loved the day. 

and I'm pretty certain the boys did too.

Ya for snow days!

Except now we have to make it up in a few weeks.

ctr

I remember when we were pregnant with Levi and trying to decide on names I really really wanted to name him Richard after my dad, but call him Ricky. Little Ricky. I loved it. Then I remember my niece Abby rooting for it because then the initials of our children would be C T R.  As much as I think he would have made an adorable Ricky...Levi is so perfect for him. 

Fast forward four years and the boys just pointed out to me that we do have C T R initials in our family. (really, it was not planned) 
I think Levi can stand for love, maybe? 

We are so grateful for good primary teachers that reiterate in their classrooms what we try to teach at home. And sometimes I think they listen better there then they do here. Levi loves the new sign language he has learned there.

My biggest hope is that you, each of you, 

will have that desire to make good choices throughout your life. 

To be the one to stand up for what you believe, 

do the right thing when so many around you are not, 

to fight for what is right.