Funny stuff- mostly Brady

I know this is probably only cute to me, but Brady has been "hiding out" under his blanket. He likes us all to join him and tell stories.

Below: I got out our Christmas stockings, and Brady kept putting them on and calling them his boots.

He was trying to see how big he could make his smile. Plus, he wanted to show off his sweet bottom teeth.

Brady kept saying, "Mommy, I'm in here. Mommy, I'm in here." He had wrapped himself up. What a great gift! He has been saying "I love you ___(insert name)__" It's so cute.

Brady had a rash, and Richard was trying to get a good picture of it to show a professor. Aside from the rash part, this picture just CRACKS ME UP! What a goof ball.

We're tight

Yes, this is David Archuleta. And yes, he wears skinny jeans. Perhaps this isn't the best picture of him, but it's definitely him. I know because... I met him!

I played in his concert on Friday night (12/9) in Blackfoot, ID. I played... viola. First time I have opened the case since we moved here. Sad. Anyway, since I never play the viola, I didn't have a mute, which I needed for every single piece. Apparently, a dollar bill works just as well.

It was cool. It would have been cooler if we had gotten paid, but still cool enough. At least they paid us in pizza!

Halloween for the Heywoods 2011

For Halloween, we went trick-or-treating just around our neighborhood. Brady enjoyed it much more than last year, and Benson was carried around by us, just snuggling the whole time. Brady was dressed as a dragon, and Benson a dog. I made Benson's costume. The whole time I was sewing that puppy I was flying by the seat of my pants. I did the ears twice, and at the last minute decided to whip up some poorly fitting slippers. Oh well, he didn't need to walk in them. It turned out pretty well, except the length- I was using an outfit that was a little too short for a pattern. I thought I had cut it longer than the outfit, but I guess not. Anyway, we had a great time. Whenever given a choice, Brady always chose a sucker. So, thankfully, we ended up with very little chocolate! (because we all know who ends up eating it...)

Brothers

This was a LONG time ago, but as you know, I haven't really been faithful to my blog lately. This was one of those times when Benson had been crying for a few minutes, and Richard and I (shamefully) were pretending not to hear. When we finally decided to check, this is what we found. An emptied toy basket, over just Benson's head. A bandana spread across him like a blanket, and Brady taking a lesson from his parents, pretending not to hear the cries. Shame, shame.

I know it's blurry, but I love that Benson has Brady's feet.

Just playing

Sorry for their nakedness- but they're just so darn cute. Check out Benson's rolls. They're getting bigger daily. And Brady's are getting smaller. *sniff, sniff*

I'm told they'll be great friends someday. For now, sometimes they are, and sometimes Benson ends up with a toy bucket on his head. We'll get there.

On an important note- Brady is potty-training! We haven't been real consistent with getting him to try sitting on his potty, but lately, he's really been getting the hang of it! Today, we broke down and bought a pack of pull-ups, because his diaper is on and off so much. He ran in the kitchen today, no pants, and said, "Mommy, come see my tiny stinky diaper!" Indeed, it was a tiny, stinky... He was rewarded with a tootsie roll for that rather than the usual 2 marshmallows. (hee, hee)

Getting Dirty

Brady was throwing dirt up in the air, and when it landed on his face, he would brush it off. When we showed him the pictures, he touched his face like he couldn't believe that was what he really looked like.

Several times during the summer, Richard was digging holes for one reason or another in the backyard. Brady loved to tag along and "help."

That Famous Preston Night Rodeo (google it!)

Cute

Brady and cousin Eli. (Eli is more than 2 years older, yet they are VERY close in size...) Eli let Brady wear his hat so he could be a "real cowboy"

These are from the Rodeo Clown Round-Up. Brady got to be led around on a horse by one of the rodeo princesses. (no, not me...)

We loved the rodeo that night, and are so glad we live near Justin and Mindy so that we can make it a tradition for a few years!

Twenty-Seven {27} amazing things

Oh Richard- there are many (MANY) amazing things that I love about you. But, today I will stick to only 27...

1) You are a VERY hard worker

2) You live to serve

3) You went back to school, even though you never really wanted to

4) You are an amazing student (especially considering #3)

5) You are finally the age I was when we got married (hehehe)

6) You let me claim your age as my own...

7) You are an AMAZING father

8) You love to wrestle with Brady, and eventually with Benson

9) You are so sweet with Benson

10) You are considerate

11) You are an awesome husband

12) You feel responsible to provide for our family

13) You have a testimony

14) You are great at budgeting

15) You are handsome (well, hot, actually)

16) You love your family

17) You love my family

18) You love me

19) You treat me like you love me

20) You want, and truly believe you'll get, an orange corvette someday

21) You want to go on many humanitarian trips

22) You want a bunch of kids

23) You are outgoing

24) You like to be spontaneous

25) You get excited when you get to punch the gas

26) You love playing basketball

27) You're married to me! I'm so lucky!

Happy Birthday, Honey! I love you so much!

Brady is 2!

Here is the past year at a (very quick) glance...

At Disneyland

In his toddler bed for the first night (he's now back in the crib...)

being a sweet big brother

Wearing his "glasses"

With his beautiful Aunts Kristalyn and Morgan

Playing with his first dandelion

First haircut (I'm still sad those curls are gone...)

Batman for Halloween (now he'll sing his own theme song, although he wouldn't then)

taking delight in his toys

New big brother

playing with daddy

I can't believe this sweet boy is already 2. What a joy he brings to our lives! We are amazed every day at how fast he picks up on everything. His speech improves every day, and he is just so funny! He wakes up every morning saying "mommy-out!!!" over and over. What a sweet heart! We love you, buddy! Happy Birthday!

What I've Been Up To

I know, I know, the baby is darling. But, in this case, let me draw your attention to his shirt, which I "made" by buying a $2 onesie at Wal-Mart, and then ironing on this tie-shape, made from an awesome sheet that I bought at a yard sale. Then I zig-zagged around it (which I now need to do again, as it's not holding as well as I need it to)

This hooded towel/poncho- which I saw a similar one on a blog, and decided it was a great idea. I like the hoods that I make better, so I did modify it from what I saw online. I made it for a relief society service-swap, (which was way cool- like a white elephant gift exchange), and it was stolen 3 times, until it could be stolen no more. Made me happy, and now I want to make more!
Brady modeling (he wouldn't wear the hood) Please excuse the messy floor behind him...

This is what I did with a plain green cami, and a plain, shapeless, white, long-sleeved shirt. I bought a matching green shirt from DI, and cut it into strips, which I ruffled. I pinned them kinda haphazardly onto the shirt, and then started sewing. Once it was done, I tried it on, and it looked...wierd. Darn. Rather than hanging it up never to be worn, I started looking online for a re-fashioned cardigan. I found one! So, I took my old white shirt and cut it right up the middle front. I put it on wrong-side-out and pinned up the sides so it would look a little fitted. Then I sewed some white ruffled strips onto the sides of the opening. Lastly, I cut off the sleeves and did a big wide hem. I like it! Varies the wardrobe a little!

I have also had some fails, but who needs to post about those? I am into refashioning right now, as I always want to be creating new things, but as a student family, money is not abundant! Thank goodness for the internet and tutorials- I am not creative enough all on my own!

Skunk-tacular

So, last night, I was washing our dishes, with the cool Rexburg breeze blowing through our open windows. Suddenly, the upstairs-neighbors' dogs started flipping out, barking like crazy. (they were outside in the garage) That was when the lovely Rexburg breeze turned skunktastic, blowing straight in our windows, into my face. I quickly shut the windows, but the damage was done. That dang skunk sprayed the dog, right outside my window. And then our house smelled like skunk- all night. And the neighbors? Richard went poking around looking for the skunk, and found the neighbors busily washing their dog in tomato juice. Gross.

Does anyone else

want to party like it's 1999?

('cause Brady does)

I hope this lifted your spirits. It does that for me every single time I look at it.

Every. Single. Time.

Um, what?

So, occasionally Brady wakes up in the middle of the night crying. I truly feel that when this happens, he is Richard's responsibility. I mean, I already get up with Benson at least once a night, right?! Well, last night, after I had just settled Benson after feeding him, Brady woke up. So, as usual, I nudged Richard. Here is the breakdown of our conversation:
Amber: Honey, can you please go see about Brady?
Richard: Yeah. (he then rolls over and does nothing)
A: Uh, hun?
R: I am. (he begins feeling around the bed with his hand)
A: Richard, Brady is in his bed.
R: OK. We use...high cholesterol, right?
A: Yeah. We sure do.

What?!?!?! Needless to say, poor little Brady had to just work it out on his own. After all, he is Richard's responsibility in the middle of the night. Poor kid.

P.S. Richard allowed me to post this as long as I included the fact that he is currently taking a nutrition class, which likely contributed to his dreams of high cholesterol. Not that he dreams of someday having high cholesterol. You get the idea.

Just some pics...

I just felt the need to get a picture of me with this handsome boy!

Proof- he does smile. Actually, he now smiles very frequently and easily. First smile: April 7, 2011

We thought we'd have a nice picnic in the park between General Conference sessions. I won't say it wasn't nice exactly, because at least someone had fun. But it was VERY windy. Does that surprise anyone who's ever set foot in Rexburg?

Little Benson just weathering the storm in his little cocoon.

Don't be jealous of his Lazy Boy. Or of my awesome creative-mom skills. He loved that box for about 2 weeks, until he had kicked out both sides and he didn't have a place to prop his head or feet anymore.

Looking very dapper in his church clothes. He wore this shirt exactly once- even then it was a mid-riff shirt. It got put in a box for Benson to wear sometime in the future.