Cars

Easton's favorite toys are his cars. He has been obsessed with them since last Christmas when he got the movie and his first few cars. Since then his collection of cars has grown. He loves every single one and knows them all by name. He sleeps with them, hauls them to stores with him, etc. He can pretty much be found with cars in his hands at any time of the day. They are worn and paint is chipping off of lots of them but that doesn't make him love them any less. He and the boys must have watched that movie for 3 - 4 months straight in the SUV anytime we would go anywhere. Dallon and Dawson got kinda sick of it after watching it for months on end but not Easton. Sometimes we turn on the soundtrack here in the house and dance around to the music. He knows the songs and sings along and it is so cute. And even as I put this post together he is playing with his cars down stairs in the living room and watching the movie.

Baby Kittens

Our boys have been dying to get a pet. Dawson has wanted a cat, and Dallon has wanted a dog... but most of all, they both just want a pet. When Aaron said they could get a kitten this summer Dallon quickly jumped on board. They got so excited about it. They would ask me everyday when we were going to get their new kitty. The day came and we jumped in the car one afternoon and went to choose a kitten. It was just me and the boys because Aaron was working. When Dallon and Dawson saw the two kittens they had to choose from they both fell in love with different ones. (I guess I didn't think this thru... never did I think about the possibility that they wouldn't love the same cat and what I would do in that situation). Dawson immediately knew that his kitten was the one for him. The man who gave it to us said that it was "adventurous and playful" and Dawson thought that sounded just like what he was looking for. The other kitten was described as "cuddly and mellow... really laid back" and Dallon was in love with that one. One was skinny, the other chubby. Both darling. I have to admit I was in love with the chubby, mellow one just like Dallon. Dallon had been watching the two kittens play together so cute and knew that they were brothers. He had said, "I don't want to take one away from his brother. They should stay together". I honestly don't think he ever dreamed we could get both... but Dallon is just a really softy that way. And there is Dawson. There was no swaying Dawson's decision. I tried, believe me. I said things like... "but he is really skinny" and Dawson said, "mom, he is a fitness cat!" He was not leaving without the one he loved. He was sure it was meant to be his. Since Dawson has been dreaming of a cat for a year now. And when asked what his dream pet was months ago, his answer was a cat. I couldn't not let him get the one he wanted right? So... me being the softy that I am we brought them both home. Thank goodness they didn't have 3 cats left to give... ha ha! On the drive home Dawson said, "I'm never gonna be bored again... now that I have a cat!"

Both the boys named their own cats before we even made it back home. Dallon named his Oreo. Dawson named his Spots. They have enjoyed them so much this week. They have taken good care of them and are doing most of the work so far. Dawson has held his almost all day everyday. Easton is still figuring out how to act around the kittens. He chases them around and squeals and giggles too. He likes to have them chase a string. I think most of the time they are really scared of him because he is wild and crazy around them. Easton has been more work than the kittens. He's been busted digging thru kitty litter with his shovel, and dumping out water and kitten chow.

After being a cat owner for just a few days Dawson said the following: "I think I was born into the wrong family. I think I should have been born to Grandma Francke. Because I am addicted to cats!"

hard work

Dawson has a very hard time saving his money. He loves to spend it. He is giving with it too. He is always buying little things out of machines for him and for his brothers when we go to stores. He carries his money around just waiting to find something to spend it on. He has been trying to save up the money for an ipod shuffle for months now. He originally had $50 and was just $5 short a few months ago. He looks at and dreams of those ipod shuffles every time we go to Walmart. Well, over the course of the last few months of saving he has managed to spend more than he saved and now only had $40. He came up with a deal he proposed to me. He said, if you will buy this today, I will give you all the money I have ($40) and then I will work for you to earn the rest of the money. I told him that if he would work 4 hours for me doing all kinds of jobs that would earn him the rest of the money he needed. I told him that I would buy it today, but hold on to it. He could not open it until he earned it. And if he didn't do the work I would keep the receipt to return it. He promised he would do the work. Dallon and I were very skeptical because Dawson usually tries to get out of work promises like this one with complaining/backing out. I warned him that it may take a week to earn it. 4 hours was alot and he may only be able to work 30 min each day. That is usually all he can stand when he works for money (which is probably normal for his age). He assured Dallon and I that he would be working all 4 hours that day. I thought to myself... we'll see how you feel after the first hour buddy. And Dallon gave me the look that meant he was thinking the same thing I was. Dawson showed us. He did work the whole 4 hours... straight. With the right incentive, Dawson has got to be one of the hardest working little 7 year olds out there. He cleaned my bathroom, top to bottom (bathtub, toilet, sink, shower, mirror). He cleaned windows. He took out several bags of trash. He pulled weeds. He matched tons and tons of socks from the laundry. And the list still goes on. I felt almost guilty having him work so long... but I never wanted him to do it in one day. He wanted the ipod so bad and was willing to put in all the hard work in one day to earn it. When he finished his 4 hours and was walking in the door from washing the last window we were all clapping and cheering his name. He was so proud and so bashful too. I am so proud of him for being a hard worker and for finding a way to earn something he wanted so bad. He was so happy with himself too. Here are a few pics from this day.

Dallon was nice enough to work the whole 4 hours with him. Dallon was earning cash, but was working so long to give Dawson support. Dallon mentioned really wanting to stop working at 3 hours but said to me that he wasn't going to quit or it would make Dawson want to. I thought that was very sweet.

This last one just cracked me up. This is not posed. I caught him looking at himself in the mirror dressed like this, and listening to his ipod. He looks 7 going on 17. Here he is rocking out like a bad boy to his ipod that has 3 cd's on it. Toy Story soundtrack, The Backyardigans, and a family favorite Apples & Banana's. He changed clothes 3 times that night just working on the look he was going for.

Oh yeah... he works out!

Friday night fun with friends

A couple weekends ago Dallon and I decided it was time for him to call up some friends for a party... hang out, watch a movie, eat pizza, maybe play some wii, and he definitely wanted for there to be bowls of candy. They laughed all night and had the best time. And I thought it was so sweet that he let his little brothers hang out with them too.

4th of July

We had the Cosby family over for a bbq on the 4th of July. It was fun to get together with friends and just hang out in the backyard... playing ball, chatting, drawing with sidewalk chalk, eating and swinging. Aaron was out back doing some yard work before they came over and next thing I knew he had put up a swing for the kids that day. They loved it. Our kids have used it everyday since too. After dinner we went to see the fireworks together. They were short fireworks but we had lots of fun and the evening was over before I was ready for it to end. Dawson asked them to come sleep over at our house afterwards... he didn't want to fun to be over either.

Staying with my sister.

A month ago I jumped on a plane and went to see my sister Jenna in Idaho. Aaron held down the fort here in San Antonio and took great care of the kids for the 6 days I was gone.... and that meant the world to me. It was so fun for me to get to hang out with her and not be busy taking care of kids, cooking meals, cleaning house, etc. All the things I still have to do when she comes to visit me at my home. It was such good quality time with her. And amazing to just hang out as sisters. I enjoyed my time there so much! I got to see all around Rexburg, where she has lived the past 5 years. See her darling apartment that she has decorated so cute. We ate and shopped at some of her favorite places. It was so fun for me to see her world. We watched tons of chick flicks. She taught me how to make caramels - and I am so excited about that. She makes the best caramels. We went to the bead store and bought some fun beads to make jewelry. My sister is also talented at making jewelry and helped me make some fun beaded watch bands. We road-tripped to Yellowstone National Park for a day. There are some really neat things to see there and we had fun driving around seeing all the sites. Most of all it was just so fun to relax and hang out... just us girls! I missed Aaron and the kids so much. But I am so thankful that Aaron was willing to fill in for me so that I could have this time with my sister.

*I really don't have any pics of the two of us together. My point and shoot had broken before the trip so we took all of them with her camera. If I ever get a few I will add them to the post then.

Sea World

Landon, Mer and Owen came to stay with us and we went to Sea World together. The boys and I hadn't been in 2 years so it was so fun for us to go again. Everyone loved seeing the dolphins again and feeding them. It's Dallon and Dawson's favorite part of Sea World. I was so excited for Easton to see the dolphins. I thought he would love them. He would not get close enough to feed them, and half of the time he wouldn't even look at them. All the kids love seeing Shamu in the show, Believe.... but I have never seen a child so excited to see it as Owen was. It was so fun to watch his excitement. Dawson walked hand in hand with Uncle Landon all day long. He loves him so much and always wants to be near him. He calls him "Uncle", not Uncle Landon... just Uncle. Dawson was dressed in basketball shorts before we left, but when he saw Landon dressed in Khaki shorts he hurried and changed. The kids loved the Shamu cups and getting lots of refills. It was so hot, so we drank a ton that day. Dallon was so nice to help Easton and Owen climb across the playground to the big ship. They were so proud of themselves. It was a big climb for them. All the kids won a stuffed animals playing games - Dawson's is Al, the aligator. He won it with his own money. Dallon won two with his money and gave one to Easton. It was so sweet of him. We drove home in pouring rain... so happy that it waited until our Sea World fun was over. We ate pizza and watched a movie. It was such a fun day.

Easton

He loves to sing. He belts it out really loud. It's awesome.

He says... "Thank you, Mommy" every time I do something for him. And when he thinks I do something good he says... "Good job, Mommy." I love his sweet words. And I love the way he says Mommy. It's so cute in his voice.

He loves the movie Toy Story. His toy story toys are some of his very favorite to play with.

He has finally started going to nursery at church. He's about 9 months late (because he was unwilling until now)... but he loves it and tells us all about it each week after church is over.

He hates to have his hair washed. He cries every time.

He hates to ride in the shopping cart. He throws a fit when I put him in it. He wants to walk the store like a big boy.

He always greets Aaron with a hug after work, saying "Hi Daddy!"

He goes down for a nap or bedtime better than any kid I know. We just lay him in his crib and cover him up and that's it. He sleeps about 12 hours a night and still takes a big nap each afternoon.

He is 2 1/2 years old. He weighs 33 pounds.

His favorite shoes are his crocs and his rainboots. He hates his flip flops.

He lights up when he sees apple juice in the fridge.

He hates for his feet to be dirty. He has to have them wiped clean immediately.

He sits still for a haircut. I think that is amazing for his age.

He plays cars all day long. His favorite toys in the whole wide world are his cars.

He cheers "I did it" for himself every time he does something great. And anytime he finds something for us, or a toy for himself, he says... "I found it" in the proudest, cutest little voice you've ever heard.