Merry Christmas!

The presents are wrapped and the bikes are put together! We hope you have a very Merry Christmas!!

Lions, Turtles, and Bears Oh My!!

We went to the Wildlife World Zoo yesterday and had the best time! I love that zoo...it's on the smaller side and less crowded than the Phoenix Zoo so the kids can run around like crazy people and I don't have to worry as much. The boys got to feed the ducks, goats, deer, birds, and giraffes. Hunter did everything and loved the petting zoo. Jacob only fed the ducks because they were far enough away but he was terrified of everything else. In the petting zoo and while we fed the birds I had to hold him while he clung to me...definitely not a fan of random animals around him.



We went to see the lions and the male lion was laying down by this stick (you can kinda see it in the 2nd picture) and as soon as he saw us, he charged the fence growling! It was the scariest and neatest thing I've ever seen. The kids were terrified at first. Hunter backed up 2 feet with his hands over his mouth just in shock. The fence is only 3 or 4 feet from where you stand so the lion is pretty close. He kept charging us though and once the kids realized he couldn't get us they loved it. At one point the lion faked us out by pretending to sleep but once again he charged at us.

The zoo is a very educational place. Take the turtles (or tortoises?) here...they are introducing us to sex ed! Oh was this turtle a horny little sucker. The kids thought he was trying to push the other turtle into the big holes behind them....we just went with that for them. Never mind all of the grunting he was doing! Make sure you scroll down to the video at the bottom.
We also go to feed the Lories apple pieces. You go into this big cage and the birds just fly onto your hands, arms, head, whatever! Hunter was so brave and let the birds fly on him and eat apples out of his hand. 1 bird was his limit though, after that I had to shoo the extra birds that landed on him away. No pictures of Jacob because he is super glued to my hip the whole time.

That's what little brothers are made of....

It always amazes me what a bond Hunter and Jacob have. This morning Hunter got hurt in his mouth with a toy horn...he was in pain, crying, and screaming. I was trying to get a look into his mouth and asked if he wanted a Popsicle to make his mouth feel better. Well Jacob heard this and ran off into the kitchen, opened the freezer, and got a Popsicle out for his brother. Even tho Hunter was a little stinker and basically told Jacob he didn't want it, Jacob still help out the Popsicle for Hunter trying to make him feel better. Little brothers will always be there to help take care of their big brothers.

So thankful...

*ETA: Video from the play on the bottom*

Today was Hunter's preschool Thanksgiving play and it was the cutest thing ever! I just love his preschool...they are doing so many things and Hunter is learning so much. He loves his teachers and is making some new friends too. Hunter was a turkey in the play and every time the narrator (Ms. Lou Lou) said turkey, the 4 turkeys would yell out "gobble gobble gobble." Hunter was the loudest and I was amazed at how well he was paying attention. Ryan and I were so proud of him, sitting up there with his classmates like such a big kid. After the play the kids sang a couple of song and each one stood up and said (with help from their teachers) what they were thankful for. When it was Hunter's turn he said that he was thankful for his Mommy and Daddy. Afterwards the kids sat down at a big table and ate "friendship stew" together...ok so only a few kids ate, the rest went off to play. It was a great day to start our Thanksgiving break.

His turn to say what he is thankful for

Taking a bow

Our little turkey

Almost all of us...Jacob was too busy swinging to take a picture

Happy 4th Birthday Hunter!!

Wow I cannot believe that my baby is 4!!!! Absolutely nuts. Hunter is awesome...he's pretty darn funny, a good big brother, and such a sweet boy. He had a good birthday week that started out with horseback riding with preschool, then a birthday party with his friends, and then celebrating at home with us on his real birthday.

We had cinnamon rolls with blue frosting for his birthday breakfast and we all sang to him.

After breakfast he opened his presents and let Jacob help him (see that's a good big brother if I ever saw one!). The present that Jacob picked out was a hit and Jacob was so proud that Hunter loved what he picked.

*Pictures from his party will be coming soon!*

Silly boys not wanting their picture taken.

What's life like with 2 little boys you ask?

Here's just a taste of what happens at our house regularly.

A start to a great birthday week...

Hunter got to horseback riding on Tuesday with his preschool. They are studying the letter H this week. It was a great field trip...we got to all go! We drove up to New River where one of the kid's uncle has horses. He was wonderful with the kids and they got to ride the 2 horses (Sedona and Ladybug) as much as they wanted!

Both boys were a little scared at first with the horses, but warmed up quickly. The one Jacob is looking at is Stormy...a pony who is only 1.5 years old. He was so gentle and just wanted to be pet by everyone.
All of the kids were so good and quiet while Mr. Ben was telling them about horses. Jacob fit right in with the other kids...he's completely on the other side sitting down in the midst of preschoolers.
Silly boys waiting for their turn to ride Ladybug and Sedona.
I got to be one of the lucky moms to lead the kids around on the horses. I hadn't planned on stepping on that much horse poop!! Here's Jacob riding Ladybug.

Here's Hunter riding Ladybug. He got to ride Sedona later and got to trot with him. When Hunter got off he said his bottom was sore!

A special treat

The boys got to sleep in Jacob's bed as a special treat the other night...they LOVE it and amazingly sleep really well together.

First Field Trip

Hunter had his first field trip today to Tolmachoff Farms. He was so excited to go and excited that Jacob could go with him. He had a great time showing off his brother to his preschool friends. They got to pick some cucumbers and zucchinis from the vegetable garden, ride the train, and go through the corn maze. At the end of the time he got to go through the pumpkin patch and pick out the perfect pumpkin. He took a long time and found the best one. Both boys fell asleep on the way home after a fun morning.

Happy Halloween!!

The boys had a great time trick or treating tonight! We couldn't leave fast enough and couldn't go to enough houses. They said trick or treat to maybe half of the houses and the other half they just walked up and smiled. :) Both boys did remember to say thank you after they got their candy.

Peter Pan and Dragon

Showing us the loot from the first stop.

A day at the farm

Last week we went to Tolmachoff Farms with my mom to do some pumpkin picking and seeing the animals. It's crazy how this farm is pretty much right in the city with houses all around. The boys had a great time. Hunter would have stayed with the animals the whole time if we let him! Jacob was a little wary at first and once he saw all the animals he wanted out. They got to ride a little train that was pulled by a quad..there were a bunch of school groups there so we had to wait a LONG time for that train ride! There also was a corn box that you could play in...craziest thing ever. They had a great time running up and down in the box sliding in the corn. Hunter came out with pockets full of the stuff! We tried to find a pumpkin in the actual patch area but the selection wasn't good so we found one at the front where you enter and even tho it was dirty it passed the Hunter and Jacob test. Today we will carve it with the boys' help.

Halloween Pasts

With Halloween coming up I thought it would be fun to see what the boys have been in the past. (Thanks for the idea Gina!) :)

Halloween 2004--Monkey

Halloween 2005--Race Car Driver

Pumpkin--Jacob was not a happy camper that night

Halloween 2006--Lion and a monkey

Stay tuned for Halloween 2007!

Jacob Says

Here's a short (and I mean short...lol) video of Jacob playing Simon Says

Just like Daddy

Hunter and Jacob love to be in Ryan's shop to help him work. One afternoon Ryan built them their own tool bench where they can hammer nails and screw in screws to their hearts content. They feel so grown up to have their own tools just like Daddy.