Ollie's captured smile

I finally was able to capture one of Ollie's smiles on the camera- note, I was the smile seeker and the photographer, so he isn't exactly in the middle of the frame- you do what you can when you aren't looking through the lens! anyway, here it is...
and it was immediately (no more than a second) followed by this...
It seems to be a pattern for the pout to immediately follow the smile when the camera is out. Maybe a future actor?
Indulge me one last time- here's one with his dimple...
I love the excitement of coaxing those first smiles. It is such a gratifying accomplishment when you finally get one out of him. Sadly, he doesn't seem to like to smile for Kent. He hasn't received one yet- in his 5 weeks of smiling, not one just for dad. He may just end up being our "somber little pig" as Tyse would call him.

Ode to Red

We had a sad first at our house a week ago- we said goodbye to our sweet puppy, Red. We sold him to a couple that live in Logan. I think he will be really happy there- the man trains hunting dogs for other people on the side of his real job, and they live out in the country with lots of space for him to run and roam. They are hoping to start breeding Vizsla's, so it is a great situation for him to be in. The family owns 2 other vizslas, a 3 year old male and a new female puppy, so he will have someone to play with all the time. WE are sad to watch him go, but we know it is a better choice for him right now! And although my feet get cold when I am sitting on the couch because he is no longer there to lay on them, my stress level has decreased immensely.
Top 10 things we will miss about Red:
10-knowing anytime something moves outside our house
9- visits from the animal control officer- we have become good friends and Red has been given a bad reputation!
8-my tennis ball throwing arm will most definitely become weak
7- my countertops now are littered with cookies and food that we can leave out and not have disappear
6- the realization of how often I am going to have to mop now that he is not here to clean up after meals and snacks
5- Tyse's constant playmate
4- a good reason to get outside and go on a walk
3- watching him chase shadows and reflections through the house- it was quite a sight!
2- his affection and kisses
1- taking him out into the hills and watching how excited he got when we went on an excursion

we did love him very much, but Tyse is ready to move on to what he deems an ideal pet lineup- a small dog and 2 cats. Not in the near future, sorry buddy!

Absence

Well, I have heard all the complaints- sorry I stink at posting at the moment! I am sure glad that you all are keeping up to date because it gives me something to do while I am nursing. It seems the only way I am at the computer as of late is if I am either holding Ollie or trying to restrain Emitt, so I am down at least one hand in either situation. One handed typing is not a possibility with time constraints, so I have remained silent- this three kid thing is having a different impact on me than I imagined!
We are doing well! The family is starting to get back to normal (or starting to establish a new kind of normal) and we are really enjoying it! The boys are great- after a brief round with a stomach bug and colds. Emitt is really turning into a character at the moment. He loves to show off when visitors are around, and his new favorite game is monster. I only know he calls it that because that is what Tyse told me it is. But emitt ducks his head down into his chest, puts his hands out in front of him like claws, and stalks after anyone who will give him some attention. It really is a riot!As soon as I catch him in the act with a camera, I will share the treat with you all!
I have actually started cooking again and last weekend we had our first dinner guests for probably 6 months or so. Kent's cousin and her family just moved up here from AZ so we had them over and it was such a nice change! I guess I really just enjoy having people over and feeding them.
The boys and I had the unfortunate occasion to visit colorado a couple weeks ago to attend my uncle's funeral. It was really sad that we had to have such an event to get us there, but we really enjoyed seeing family, friends, and old acquaintances that we haven't seen in a long time. Tyse and Emitt loved seeing cousins and staying up late, I loved spending time with all my siblings and staying at my sister's house, and Ollie just loved... eating and sleeping. We drove over with my mom and Ted, and the boys were really great in the car. We are lucky that Ted owns a minivan and that he was willing to risk the disaster that sometimes accompanies long car rides with small children and no father! The funeral was beautiful and it was a nice celebration of a man that was a wonderful father, grandfather, friend, and to me, uncle.
We have had some other events that I will address in other posts when I have some pictures to show, but know we are still alive!

Groceries and husbands... hmmm?

Do any of you ever send your husbands to the grocery store? Kent has been doing our shopping for the last few months and I make him this detailed list, aisle by aisle, for the closest grocery store, of what we need, and I think it is hillarious how he interprets it so much differently than I do. I am finding out how he doesn't really pay attention to what I get at the store... ever!
Here are a few of my favorite interpretations that have shown up at our house...

My List: / His purchase:

Scooby snacks for Red / Scooby Doo Fruit snacks for the boys

Plain granola / smores flavored granola bars

Plain Yogurt / Every flavor of yogurt they make-he didn't know they made plain!

Mike and Ike Jellybeans / 1 small box of regular mike and ikes

Easter candy / Movie theater size box of mike and ikes and hot tamales (whose
kids eat hot tamales?) and 1 package of lifesaver hard candies-
the bag, not the roll, but still...

He also tends to buy about the most expensive item of whatever I ask for- he doesn't notice other brands or anything- for example, we are now consuming organic bananas. I am not anti organic, but I am anti 99 cents a pound for bananas! And I have learned that there are some things he just won't buy. You women that have had babies appreciate a post partum request for tucks pads. He looked quickly, got embarrassed, wouldn't ask, and came home without them. Yet, he did actually buy the Maxi pads, so I am very impressed with that. And the funny thing about the maxi pads? He said there were 3 other husbands on the aisle buying tampons and pads, and not a single woman in sight. I don't know if he was more embarrassed because he was seen by his peers or if he was comforted by the fact he wasn't the only male alive that has to visit that aisle!
He declared yesterday that he likes doing the grocery shopping for us- he likes to see all the different food that he didn't know you can get at the store. Maybe from now on we will go together!
Does anyone watch that show "here come the newlyweds"? They did a similar challenge last week where the men went to the store and the wives were on the phone with them describing what it was they were supposed to buy without actually naming it. It was really funny, especially given our current grocery shopping circumstances!

He has done such a great job taking care of us the last few months- thanks honey, for all your hard work. I love you!

Emitt now rebels...

against Ollie's name. He thinks it is hillarious. I guess because he doesn't really pay attention to Ollie unless I am changing his diaper- which is always dirty- that he now calls Ollie "poo poo". Yup- how's that for a nick name? I thought it was a fluke and that he would quickly forget, but it has been going for 3 days now. That's a long time to remember when you are 18 months!

On the Ollie front, he rolled over last night. From his belly to his back- and I wouldn't believe he did it unassisted (by his sweet, gentle brothers) except that they were both in bed and he was on my bed by himself. One minute I lay him down on his stomach, the next he is fussing- and then stops. I look in from the bathroom and he is on his back. Probably a fluke, but Emitt did it at 3 weeks, so maybe he is just trying to catch up already?

Ollie's mini photo shoot

The other day while I was giving Ollie a bath, I asked kent to come take some pictures. Little did I know I was going to get 247 of them! I am not even exaggerating! But they turned out SO GOOD! I am so glad we got a good camera and that Kent is figuring out all the settings and things!
Here are some of my favorites....

I finally get an approval...

This morning, as we were driving Tyse to preschool, he said to me, "MOM, I have some news."
My reply- "what is it?"
Tyse-"I like Ollie's name now. His name isn't Jack-o anymore. It was a joke, mom. I should have told you that. But I like my jokes. they are funny."
I guess a miracle has occurred.