Alex turned 3

On January 3rd Alex turned tree. He is really into tunnels and trains and so for his cake this year I thought that I would try and attempt to do some sort of tunnel cake. I searched for ideas and had to come up with my own. It turned out really cute for my first attempt. We had a few close friends over to help celebrate ( Peltiers, Nelsons, and Baxters). Per Alex's request, no candles this year. He did have fun opening presents and eating cake and ice cream. He enjoyed the time that he got spend with his friends and playing with the play-doh, train round house, puzzles, train game, and Lightening McQueen toy cars. He did get a little scared of his Lightening McQueen car that races automatically when you shake it because it went off while he was unwrapping it. It has taken a few days and now he will very quickly shake it and then put it down and run away. He triumphantly says, "Yea! I did it!"

Those were the few pictures that we got. I will have to see if the Nelson family was able to get any better ones.
Happy Birthday Our Little Man!!!! You sure make life full of happiness and joy. Thanks for making us parents. We love you more than words can tell.

Christmas 2009

I know that it is a little late in recapping the Holiday season, but I need to include it for closure to the end of another fantastic year with my little family. This year Alex was getting into the Christmas season and was very enthusiastic about having a "Dismass" tree in our living room. I love celebrating the season that commemorates the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ and being able to teach it to my children made it all the more special. It was especially tender when we had family home evenings about the nativity and for him to be completely swept away with the music and spirit of the season. He would request "Dismass tree music" aka the section on Mr. Kruger's Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir singing 4-5 times a week. He loved it an was excited to point out baby Jesus where ever he could.
We spent Christmas Eve, Christmas and a few days after Christmas with my parents up in Killeen. Because we were there we even got to experience a "White Christmas" Eve. It snowed most of the day and was really windy there. It didn't sick to much until about 4 pm. I bundled up the kids and borrowed some winter gear from my parents and we went outside to see what winter fun we could create.



Christmas Eve we left cookies out for Santa, read the Christmas story and acted it out with the hand-painted nativity that my mom made when we were young. Finally the kids were tucked in bed and sound asleep. The next morning the kids got up later and then we watched Joy to the World and talked about the true meaning of Christmas and what gift we were all given at Christmas. Our Savior, Jesus Christ. After that we opened stockings and then presents. We were all spoiled by our family and friends.






It was then a relaxing day and a nice dinner later that night.

When we came home we got a "second" round at opening Christmas presents. The kids had a great time and it was fun to see them enjoy playing with all of the new toys that they got.




Thank you to everyone who helped make this Christmas magical and special. We are wishing you all the spirit of joy, peace and happiness that can be felt on the earth at Christmas time to continue through the entire New Year.

Stamps (aka Stickers)

Really what is the difference between stamps and stickers to a 2 year old little boy who loves to peel them off and stick them all over his hand?

This is the description of what I saw yesterday. I was on the phone and look up to see Alex walking out of the den with his arm covered with stamps. He found the stamps in the box of office supplies that we keep on the desk. He covered his arm with the stamps. He came over to me to show me his artwork and said a very typical "Daydoo, Mamma". I managed to salvage some of his artwork.

I asked him where he was going to mail himself to with all those stamps on his arm. Knowing Alex and understanding his love of the park, I wasn't a bit shocked when he simply replied, "I go a swings." Silly Alex. You don't have to mail yourself there, we'll go later.

The House that Eric, Erika, Alex and Sarah Built

This year we started a new tradition at our home of making a gingerbread house and then decorating it as a family. Our friend Nicole taught me how to make the gingerbread and let me borrow her pattern that she does with her family.

It was a long process, but it was so much fun to decorate as a family. It is a three day event where you make the dough the first day, roll, bake, and cut it the second day and then assemble it the third day.

Everyone got in on the decorating, well eating too. It was nice to have no plan for the design and then it just started to have a life of its own. Here are some of the pictures to show the process. Alex was all about adding sprinkles and was very good at unwrapping the mini Santa Claus candies. We almost didn't save the last Santa from being eaten. Sarah was just content to sit in her high chair and let Alex hand her candy to eat. It was a fun time to be together and to do something as a family.









But as all good things come to an end so do our kids patience as witnessed below. Sarah was ready for bed and Alex wanted to take a shower. I guess all of the creativity really drained them.

Alex Graduates

Last week Alex had his graduation from ECI (Early Childhood Intervention). They are a government service that provide help and assistance to children from birth to age three. Since Alex turns three before his next visit, he was up for his graduation.

He was first tested for a speech and language delay last year a month before Sarah was born. At 22 months he said and signed approximately 10 words. Now he is speaking in sentences and can tell us what he wants and is feeling. He has had a language explosion. With the help of ECI and his speech and language pathologist, Beverly Carroll, he has just taken off and we couldn't be more excited to now understand what some of his needs and wants are. They have come once a month for the past year and have shown us how we can incorporate ideas into normal routines or play in order to get the most of the language experience. It has truly been an amazing blessing in our life to have Beverly come to help with Alex. The knowledge that I gained by working with Alex will help for all our children and any future children that we have. Here are a few pictures from Alex's "graduation".

Tunnels and Towers

Alex loves to play with his blocks and is really excited to build two things, tunnels and towers. Ever since going to Virginia to visit my sister's family he had been so excited and fascinated with tunnels. We had to pass through one on our way to and from the airport. It made quite the impression on Alex because he loves to see trains go through tunnels and identifies them for us in books. Living in Houston there isn't much tunnel action going on in this city where flooding is somewhat a common event, but we do the best we can. Our "tunnels" are comprised of underpasses. Maybe he will get a tunnel for Christmas or his birthday. Here is a snapshot of Alex doing what he does best playing and having fun. We love our sweet little boy.

Extra Hands???

Have you ever run out of hands and still have need of extra hands to hold things? Sarah is very ingenious and had come up with a solution for her problem. If she has something that she wants to hang on to and wants the use of her hands then we often see this.





She will also crawl around the floor or up the stairs with one of Alex's cars in her mouth. It is so funny to watch because Alex never did that.

Snow in Houston

On December 4th it snowed in Houston. It was the second year in a row to snow. Last year's snow storm was more impressive in our area than this year's. Although I did hear that there was more snow in other parts of Houston than where we lived. Even though there wasn't any to play in, we took Alex outside and bundled him up so that he could experience what little snow we had. I think he was most excited about being outside and running around. See for yourself.

We have famous relatives... well, almost

Alex and Sarah have famous relatives. Well almost. Both of their Papa's have famous look-a-likes.
I am assuming that you know who Papa Jung looks like...





Papa Stewart's famous look-a-like might be a little more difficult to recognize.
But Alex had no problems recognizing Papa Stewart's "twin" while watching the Frist Presidency's Christmas Devotional. Does that give you any clue?


It was so cute to hear Alex say "That's Papa Stewart." It was the sweetest thing ever. What great shoes his two Papa's fill. We love all of our famous relatives.

A gift for Heidi