Joy to the World

It was a very looooong day with too many events and parties going on, but we made it to the church party because Santa was going to make an appearance.

Keaton couldn't wait. When Santa walked out onto the floor and Keaton caught sight of him, he almost burst into tears, he was so excited. He had one smile from ear to ear. He was the first child to give Santa a great big hug and there was a lot of love in that hug.

Xander enjoyed Santa, but I think he enjoyed the stocking of candy he received from him a little more.

After Santa left, Keaton ran outside to look for his reindeer. He has really been into Christmas this year. Chris and I have used it a little to our advantage and have told him what he might receive if he is naughty,coal. He then tells everyone that they need to be nice so they don't get coal,even the missionaries.

Keaton and Xander are on Santa's good list this year!!!

Couldn't resist snuggly Santa. I have actually been in a bah hum bug mood this season and my family have suffered from my awful attitude. I realized that I was trying to be super woman and help everyone else out except my family and myself.

So I turned to my Saviour in prayer for a change in attitude and refocused my life on what is important and I have had a lovely week.

Pres. Monson said,"Times change; years speed by; but Christmas continues sacred."

The boys picked out a new Christmas tie for Chris, it has the whole Peanut gang on it, something Keaton is into right now. Chris puts it on for the first time and Keaton says with a lot of cheer, "That is the best tie ever! Everyone is going to love your tie!"

Reindeer Pokey--Keatons preschool class performed in the school Christmas program and it was so adorable to see all these children dressed as reindeers and singing the reindeer pokey. I had to fight back the tears when Keatons class walked through the doors.

We signed Keaton up for basketball this past season. He really wanted soccer, but we had other activities and so we were available the day they practice for bball, so I signed him up. He was nervous the first day because he thought it was going to have to shoot the basket at the height the professionals do, so when we walked into the gym his face lit up when he saw all the nets lowered.

I wish I can say it turned out to be his favorite sport, but after his last game he said,"Mom, I told you I wanted you to sign me up for soccer, next time do that, okay."

We have a bball hoop at home and he never wanted to practice outside of his bball practice, but he always had fun act practice and the games, but Keaton preferred to be more social than really play. By the end of the season he was a better dribbler and shooter.

He loves his trophy and thinks it is absolutely amazing.

In my heart I think I secretly wanted him to like it right away, he has height and he could get a good college scholarship in bball, but I am not going to be a pushy Mom. He has many strengths and lots of energy so I think I am going to try for swimming, since they don't have soccer this season.

What would I do without grandparents,the boys great grandparents? I wouldn't get nearly as much done, thats for sure. Once a week Xander got to go to Grandma and Grandpa A's while I grudgingly attended a parenting class once a week for 10 weeks for Keaton to go to free preschool.

Xander cheerfully went each week. My boys are so very blessed to get to know their great grandparents. Xander had a routine that he would do with them and he is stubborn and determined so he made sure they didn't stray from their normal routine.

Battle of the Wills--Who is more stubborn in the family, Mom or Xander?It started out as a normal laundry day and when Xander was outside I quickly ran a grabbed his big blanket (which we try to only allow him to sleep with, but he normally end up carrying it throughout the house) and put it in the wash. I thought I will get it done without him even noticing, not quite.

He brings a chair to peak in the washing machine and what does he see? His blanket.

X says " I see my blanket"

Mom "Its getting cleaned"

X "No dirty, I want blanket"

Mom "Blanket wants to get cleaned"

This goes on for a while and finally he decides that he wants to watch it clean. Well, I can't really let him do that either because everytime he opens the machine it stop and by the rate he keeps checking on his blankets he won't have it for night time. So I confiscate all the chairs, stools, and laundry baskets and he is mad. A minute or two goes by and then I hear the washing machine stop. That boy found one of grandma's laundry baskets and he was feeling pretty proud of himself.

I finally got him to turn his attention to painting and the blanket finally got cleaned!

Every Thurs. with out fail, my boys will come running from any room in the house to stand on the gate and watch the trash trucks. This last time they went running outside they didn't realize how cold it was, 36 deg. (very cold for us sunny CA) they stand on the fence, but decided not to wait for the trash truck to finish the block before they come running back inside. X says, "It's freezing, freezing" as he is shaking his hands K says," We are turning into popsicles" as he is barefoot and has short sleeves on. True dedicated boys.

Thanksgiving Camping

We really enjoy camping so we headed out for Thanksgiving to the SD mountains to place called Cuyamaca Rancho. We got off to a rough start with each of us getting the flu, but we made it up the mountain late Wed. night in the rain where Amanda and Marshal were already were waiting for us.

Thankfully, our prayers were answered and the rain stopped long enough for Chris to set up 2 tents. He is soooo amazing , I had no strength and even though he didn't feel well he was out working. It rained throughout the night and into the morning, but we kept dry and warm.

By mid morning the rain stopped and it was beautiful.

We have grown to really love our dutch ovens while camping. We still did the Thanksgiving dinner, the turkey was done in the dutch oven and took a little over an hour and it was amazing. We had the rest of your traditional thanksgiving dinner.

On Fri. My parents came out with Patrick and Jacob and were able to hang out for the day.

At home we did the thankful tree and Keaton said: i am thankful when mom washes my sheets because then i can make my bed a slide .Sitting around eating our Thanksgiving dinner with Amanda and Marshall we all including Keaton and Xander said things that we are thankful for and the one that came up the most is family. I am so thankful for the fun time I had camping with Amand and Marshal and my little family and that we were able to have even more family come up and join us for the day.Nothing like having fun without the TV.

If you tell Grandpa Nowlin there is a lake, he is sure to bring the fishing poles. Keaton following in his grandpa's footsteps.

Xander was the most dedicated fisherman (besides grandpa Nowlin), he absolutely loved it.

You can't go home with out a catch, well at least for Grandpa Nowlin and he caught an amazing tasting Trout and I don't really like Trout, but it was fresh and good!

So we decided the grandparents needed some time alone with the grandkids fishing and the rest of the gang was trying to get some shut eye.

Trick or Treat

Keaton and Xander went out as Buzz Lightyear and Pooh Bear this year. Some Halloweens I feel I am all prepared and others I am not. Well, this year was the latter, but the boys were happy and they did have costumes. Thanks to Auntie Jenine who lets us borrow the Pooh Bear costume and as for Keaton he was happy just wearing white pjs, aslong as you called them his space suit they didn't need to be the buzz lightyear space suit. They are so happy to please at this age, I love it. The boys scored on the candy(so did Mommy)and we didn't even go very long. We met at a friends house who lives across the street from the Bob Hope house(i know, only in LA). Xander would stick his hand in the candy buckets, I had to refrain him and then he would want me to open up a candy right then and there. He must get that sweet tooth from his Daddy.

Harvest Time...My favorite Time of Year

I love Harvest Time, thanks to another Jewish holiday, Keaton had off of school, so we headed out with some friends to a pumpkin farm. The boys each got to choose a pumpkin, we got to go on a hay ride, cornfield maze, see the farm animals, and the boys favorite was go on the rides.

Tricycle on steroids...Keaton my negotiator scored free tickets using skills. This is how the conversation went.

K:Mom I really want to go on that ride(tricycle on steroids)

M: We are all out of tickets and you already chose the rides you wanted

K: That's okay, I will just ask that guy(a worker running the ride we were currently on) for more tickets

M: I don't think you will get any (i guess i am the pessimist)

K: He's my friend.

So Keaton walks up to the guy and says,"Can I please have some more tickets, I really want to ride those bikes" The man pulled out of his pocket a handful of tickets and Keaton and Xander each got to go on 2 more rides.

During our first ride Keaton would get off of the jumper go and talk to the worker, then get back in and jump some more and then decide and visit the worker again, and it all paid off for Keaton, he got to ride the tricycles on steroids.

Xander says," Look BIG pumkin," then as he tries to lift one because he thinks he is going to take one of these home to carve he says, " HEAVY"

Under the Sea

Thank goodness for the Jewish holidays, Keaton gets a few extra days off of school, so we headed out with some friends and went to the Long Beach Aquarium.

Xander couldn't get enough of the fish and had his face plastered to the window.

Through out the aquarium there were scuba divers, so Keaton would casually go up to an employee and tell them that his Daddy scuba dives and therefore he felt he was good enough to jump in with the scuba divers. Negotiating skills didn't work too well this time. But he has no fear thinking if he ask, he gets.

Don't fall in...that is the trick, atleast with Xander it is, or should I say Don't jump in. They give a statistic that an adult falls in every month and a child every 6 months. Well, it was almost Xander. He just thought he could swim with the sting rays. I have never been fond of the idea of a leash for your child, but sometimes I wish I kept one handy in my purse.

Shark attack... that is what Keaton worries about when Chris goes scuba diving, so in his prayers he says, "Please keep Daddy safe from the sharks" I wonder where he gets that fear from?

Moose Tracks

I married a wonderful husband who helps me in so many ways and as of lately it has been to keep my sanity. He is my Edward if you have read The Twilight Series and is a great Father. No more mushy stuff, but I am very blessed to have him in my life!!!

For his bday I actually made a cake, but since we aren't cake eaters, it was a german chocolate cake, one of the few cakes Chris actually likes. It was a winner in our house because we scarfed it down in a few days, every crumb.

Since Xander has practice from his bday he saw Chris presents and knew just what to do, no waiting to sing the bday song, he was all over Chris presents unwrapping them.

Chris got an ipod for his bday, now I have had mine for almost a year now and still don't know much about it, so being a little selfish I almost didn't want to get Chris one because I knew he would know more about it and shouldn't I already know it all by now. Noooo! I am so prideful!

He is already on top of it, but we have come in to some glitches, that is because he has only had it for about a week. So I think it is time I need some help from my niece Mercedez to help her Auntie who doesn't have the patience or knowledge to sit down and learn things about the ipod.

I need your help Mercedez and Chris might need a little.He is the smart one, or atleast has more patience with the tekky stuff.

Keatons 1st Day of Preschool

Keatons 1st day of preschool and of course there were no tears, just one very excited boy. Some friends from church are in his same class so he already knew some people, but Keaton is one who makes friends fast.

Now me being an overprepared Mom already had a backpack from last year that he had when he was 3 (i know what child at 3 needs a backpack) when I did preschool with other parents at their home. Now all I needed was a lunchbox, so of course I got him one. Well, we live in LA and they like to give everything FREE, so turns out he won't be bringing lunch to school, they provide snacks and they aren't to bring backpacks, the school made folders and they are to bring those everyday.

So much for being prepared, next time I will wait. I guess I was anxious and excited. I hope my boys don't get that from me.

Keaton rides his bike to school everyday and loves it.One day we did errands in the morning so I dropped him off after we were done and after school I picked him up and he had a sad face because we didn't ride our bikes.

So keaton rides his bike and I ride mine with Xander in the bike trailer. It works out nice.

Keaton on the 1st day of school with Grace and Kate who are also in his Sunbeams class at church.

Keaton and Xander were running up to most of the children saying HI I don't think many of them knew what to think of my boys. But I know now that since they have been in school Keaton and Xander are quite the party starters while they wait outside before class starts.

I am not quite sure what to think of it at this age.

Xander enjoying some fun and getting dirty with his friend Sara after Keaton is in class. Sometimes I feel I am always on the go, go, go and today I spent 30min. outside of Keaton school letting Xander get dirty and play with Sara and they were looking at bugs and tearing leaves. It is a rare moment in my life where I just relax a little bit and not try run off somewhere else so I can squeeze in everything that needs to get done and always feel that I never get through the list. Xander and Keaton are great at helping me to realize that sometimes I need to STOP and smell the roses and today was one of them.

Wishful Thinking

So we took the family out on the Zodiac before it starts getting cool and had a wonderful time at Lake Castaic.

Chris was talking to Keaton telling him how Mommy and Daddy both had boats growing up and K said," So did I" Chris says," No, your growing up on a raft" as Chris and I look at the $100,000 boats flying past us. But the boys were very happy and we had a wonderful day jumping in the water and swimming.

I think it was only Chris and I at one point just wishing a little that we had a bigger boat just so we could wakeboard, but another lifetime because 1st comes a house that we own.

Fireman to the Rescue

Xander got this fire truck shirt for his bday and it lights up everytime he moves, which is all the time. He absolutely loves the shirt, anything to do with firetrucks.

Xander is such a joy to be a around. He wants to help out with everything, he hands you everything in his path and my very part is he drops his voice and octave and say, here Mommy. For some reason Xander likes to use a bass voice, it is very cute.

He isn't my baby anymore, I am shocked that I can carry on a conversation with him and realize that he understands me, no longer my little boy.

Xander is 2, Shout, HOORAY!!!

In our family we aren't cake lovers and so I didn't want to be left with a lot of cake or cupcakes with only the frosting licked off, so I opted for the best thing ice cream. My boys are ice cream lovers like their Daddy and it never gets wasted in our house. So for Xanders bday he got chocolate ice cream, he was definantely not disappointed. He finished every bite and then tried to lick the bottom of the bowl. It was the easiest (cake) I ever made.

He has quite and interesting blow, he hasn't learned to pucker his lips together, so the bottom lip pulls and eventually air makes it through the lips. He had a little assistant from Keaton to finish off the last candle.

Instead of going on 2, Xander thought he was going on 4. I guess that happens when you have an older brother around.

Amanda and Marshal were in town when we celebrated Xanders bday. It was fun to visit with them and to tell Keaton that Daddy isn't the only giant, Uncle Marshal is a TALLER giant than Daddy. Hehehe.

Great Grandma Bonding

We have lived with Grandma Z since Xander has been about 5 mo. so she has always rocked him and she loves rocking babies. Xander isn't a baby anymore,but him and grandma have a special bond and each night before he goes to bed, he takes off running to her, since by that time of night she is sitting in her rocking chair and he climbs up to be rocked for a few minutes. It is their special time together and I am glad that he is able to get to know her better.

Family Reunion

It isn't very often that you can get the whole gang together, but this one came together on a whim and I am sure glad it did.

This has been a great Summer, spending time with family and getting to know them better. We all seem to go our separate ways, but I love it when we can find time for each other, there is no greater joy.

The Roberts Debut

Chris together with his family, they are a cute bunch. I married into a great family!!

Elias is the best! He may be 5 or so years older than Keaton or Nathan, but he played great with them, we were sad he couldn't stay a few days longer. This is the 1st time Keaton has ever met Nathan, other than when they were babies and they played great together. I couldn't believe that 4yr. old boys could play that well together. Can you believe they are the same age? Keaton definantely has Chris genes in him. k says: my dad is tall, he is a GIANT

My boys love dogs and gma and gpa roberts dogs are a little to afraid at their never ending attention they give them, but Jenine dogs are quite as active as my boys, so Xander was very happy that there was a dog that would lick him on the face.

Sara was the race track as Xander was driving cars up and down her legs

Family is what LIFE is all about! Keaton loving every minute he gets to spend time and have fun with his cousins

VRoom VRoom

K says: Uncle James is sooo cool, he drove really fast on his motorcycle.

Keaton spent the night at the Bandeaux's house, which he loves because he gets spoiled by Trini, Mercedez,and Jenine. But this time Nathan also spent the night so it was James turn to have fun with the boys.

The Bandeaux's is still the FUN house!!

Breakin The Law

It is a Sunday afternoon in Palm Springs, so it is hot. I don't know how it got started, but people started accidently getting pushed in with their clothes on. That is a No, No at Grandma and grandpa's house, but they were cool with it( or they kept their cool very well).

Soon a few more people started accidently getting pushed in.

It was fun to watch. That is right I only watched. How come nobody pushed me in the pool?

Family, with a little bit of craziness

Wow, now this is a group, all at Grandma Z's house. What did we do to stay occupied...? swimming, chicken fights in the pool, how many kids can you put on a surf board in a pool, dibble dabble, rented a jumper, EAT,EAT,EAT.

Keaton, Xander and Cody doing their tricks in the jumper

Summer Vacation Fun With Family

Carolyn and her children were able to come up from Costa Rica for 2 weeks and then Heather and her family came down. So the boys and I had a wonderful time spending time with our cousins.

What a cute bunch of kids!!

Handsome boys