At 6 months old, you'd think Colt would have made the blog header by now!...I've got to get on that!

Dad's birthday cake. Cannon helped me "make the dirt" but the excavator didn't show up until dad said he was on his way home! Cannon was pretty much beside himself with excitement. (Trust me I know its not that great but  he's two so...) He wanted to come in the kitchen and just touch it soooo bad.  "I just need to see if it matches this one." He'd say holding up one of his excavators, and I can't remember the others but he had new reason to touch it about every 2 seconds.

It Broke!-from trying to "run" it-  no surprise, it ended up on Cannon's plate...really quickly! Also not surprising. Isaac told me it was "a really good cake" he ate 1 bite, I did send the last piece with him in his lunch Monday!
Saturday was a beautiful day so we went for a bike ride! And it was just as fun as Isaac's smile here implies!

The boys did awesome in the trailer too! Colt looks a little nervous in the picture above but I just love that it shows him holding Cannon's hand. It's what he does every time when he gets in, he's game to go but there's just something comforting holding on to brothers hand.  For me, its been a while since my rear end has sat on a bike seat. YIKES.
Sunday Isaac finished up conducting and I finished up sharing time. YAY for the last Sunday of the month! Mondays are long with Isaac having a late class, I had the sister missionaries over, that was hard because Colton is definitely in the I'm going to scream my guts out if you dare set me down stage, so cooking was an adventure, I finally went out to the car and got the little carrier thing then he tried to do back bends out of it to see what I was doing. Oh brother. Tuesdays are long with a late class too,  we did the leftover thing, that made it easier. Wednesdays I think aren't going to be as long but I forget that Isaac has church meetings so they are, (actually this week I had a primary meeting too so we played switch-a-roo on tending and it was a fun little break for me) but anyway Thursday we went to preschool and Cannon did good, I even got to sneak away for a few minutes, that's a big deal. Isaac took Cannon home teaching with him. And he even said the prayer at one of the houses. (Actually he said the dinner prayer when the missionaries were here too and one of the sisters said "Tell me you have that on video" but I haven't done it, it just seems irreverent or something. He says "Dear Heavenly Father, we thankful" pause "we thankful..." and he goes around the room and says we're thankful for every person with these cute dramatic pauses and goofy way of smacking his lips while he's thinking, of names or what else to say...) Anyway, it was super cute that he prayed at this inactive sisters home and prayer for her and her husband specifically by name! And now its Friday! What a whirlwind!
Hmmm what else? I mentioned its the cardinal sin to set Colt down, here's the evidence...

And this isn't even when he's beet red because he's too mad and screaming to hard to breathe....
So in fairness how bout a cute picture of him? Grama sent me some stuff and in the package there was a bag of tootsie rolls for Cannon, I let Colt play with them...until he opened them! Mischievous little turkey!

Its state tournament time in Utah! This has got to be the year my girls win it right??? But DesNews isn't streaming it this year, at least not yesterdays game. That was a huge bummer for me.
We were talking about Tip Dog (Ky's dog from when we were kids the other day cuz Cannon's always asking questions) I said something about how no, he's not at Grama's or Uncle Ky's because he lives with Heavenly Father now. Cannon asked "How come he lives with Heavenly Father?" I said "Because he died." Cannon asked "For his sins?" ...
It was cute and really he knows that Jesus died for our sins so we can live with Heavenly Father again. So...you can see how the almost 3 year old might try to piece that one together.
I also had occasion (actually it was unfortunate...I'll explain) to remember remember one of my favorite President Eyring talks its called In the Strength of the Lord. (link here) My favorite quote is "The test a loving God has set before us is not to see if we can endure difficulty. It is to see if we can endure it well." I really like that, cuz everyone is going to have to deal with cruddy things, everyone! But he starts the talk by telling us about counsel he once received that when we meet people we should treat them as though they are in serious trouble...and we'll be right more than half of the time. I hope I can remember that, I hope it will help move me to action, because I think of nice things I could do for people that might brighten their day or lighten their load, often, but I'm terrible about not acting on those impressions. I don't like having had someone on my mind for the past few weeks then finding out later they were struggling, I need to do better.
Until next week....

Happy Birthday Isaac and half birthday Colt

6 Months! Time goes so fast (except for when they are growing inside of you)
More Valentine fun...

 

We made dad an excavator shirt to match! He was totally a sport and wore it ALL DAY Saturday too...under the hoodie shown below :) and see that bike he's working on. We named her "Plum Beauty" it was mom's valentines present. A craiglist deal ($20) that was just what we were in the market for: a cheap bike I won't have any heartache parting with when we move on.

Look at this little Momma's boy :) I love it! (no shortage of pictures of him this week)

Deep in this death grip with no hope of escaping except for one lick at a time is a Nilla Wafer! Hmmm a Cookie Monster, once again, Momma's boy :)

Truthfully Colt's had a bit of a rough week. Sunday night he got a soccer ball to the face (dad) and later a basketball to the nose (Cannon), I was so upset with him but later realized I tap things with my foot to inch them closer to Colton all of the time. Cannon was just trying to help him reach the basketball and following what I've modeled. UG. Then later in the week Cannon was running around with the baseball potty seat on his head. (Rest assured I have NOT modeled that one, why did that seem like a good hat? Anyway it was in the goodwill pile and after this I got my tail in gear getting it to the good will. Its gone!) Anyway Cannon tripped on the stool that was in the middle of the floor the seat flew off his head and got Colt right in the nose, first bloody nose. Poor little guy. Here I tried to get a picture of the red mark on his nose...as you can see there's  little red spot but he's not really any worse for wear.

And I know this next one is a terrible picture but it's the moment I was trying so hard to catch, these boys love each other and love to laugh and squeal back and forth, I love it, it melts my heart every time (until Cannon just starts screaming for fun too long too loud and so on, also pretty much every time)

Sticking with the bike theme...look what dad got for his birthday!!! We're so excited! I had been looking at those seats that go behind the bike above the tire, type things, but Isaac mentioned this...done, it doubles as a stroller, that actually folds up small enough to fit in the car :) We're pretty excited! (And say "Hello" to Craigslist for the old double stroller!)

Isaac really didn't even know what day (of the week) his birthday was, he just doesn't get excited about stuff like that-at all. So I told him me and the boys were going to celebrate... and he can just go along with it. So when Cannon asked to go to the Caterpillar dealership, he took him! Such a fun dad! And here's the excavator cake in progress...not going to make any pintrest walls boards with this baby...but the family journal? Check!

Hopefully it wont break...(again) and I'll get a picture of the real deal tonight. Don't hold your breath.
Really Isaac is very busy with school but he's spent his birthday...drum roll please...serving! Because someone needed help moving. He's such a good example, and such a good guy, and love him TONS!

Happy Valentines Day!

 

Well we had a ton of fun with Grama and Ann while they were here, I see the pictures and laugh remembering the conversations. Ann is a character, and my little echo, any tone of voice I used with Cannon or name I called him (i.e. "Son") it was a sure bet I'd later hear her use it. It was hilarious, and she's such an accurate echo that there's a chance I sound pretty annoying to Cannon...often. I however don't call him "dog" ever! But that was a fun game they played too, apparently Cannon makes a pretty good puppy.
Ann wanted to come to Mississippi for her birthday and get "lots of presents" so with the dollar store and JCPenny's $2 clearance (and Grama's money) we tried to accommodate :) she got to open a little present pretty much every day and she was so cute, "Thanks Cannon! I LOVE (wove) IT!!!" She would say EVERY TIME, it was darling.

Saturday we went down to the rodeo grounds because the Dixie National Rodeo is was in town. It might have been a little bit more cool if we'd known where we were going or what we were doing, I'm pretty sure there was a parade we missed but saw parts of later. We saw lots of cool tractors though and some horses and donkeys...good enough.
Sunday Isaac had to conduct and he was just as happy as could be, his speakers showed up, there was a special musical number etc... when he got home I said "Yeah, you were such a happy camper because you weren't fighting the battle in the benches!!" Ann plus Cann's friend Jeremy in front of us...it was a recipe for disaster. Anyway. Monday the museum is closed so we hit up Chuck E Cheese. I knew the primary kids LOVED it but I was afraid it was going to be geared too much for the older kids. Not at all, it was perfect for Ann and Cannon, they had a blast! We had gone to a carousel that's in the furniture store here first, totally unnecessary! They had one at Chuck E's, and even Colt got in on it. It was just a good time!

As we were leaving they still asked to go to the museum which made me happy because it's far more educational than an arcade but it was still closed. Tuesday morning we dropped them off at the airport at 5:00 in the morning...only to hear the phone ring as we were driving away, they had canceled their flight! YAY a bonus day for us! And we did head back to the museum!

And really they got on a flight later that night but it was fun bonus day for us. Grama had to find someone to cover work for her the next day, and it was a little rough on Ann who is really not quite 4 and had been away from her parents for a long time (Cannon doesn't make it 5 minutes!) But anyway: Fun! Wednesday we hung out with Jeremy and Thursday we went to a Valentine party preschool.

Thursday our neighbor also came over to work on family history that was pretty cool. The missionaries found her. As we were visiting I mentioned something about David H. Cannon how that is who Cannon is named after and that I'd learned about him in a project I did for seminary. She said "You went to seminary?! Are you an Evangelical?" I smiled and said "Well, what is an evangelical?" She said "Someone who's completed seminary and can preach the word of God." I answered. "You're dang right I am!" I know what she meant was a little different but by that definition, I'm in. And I felt fine because "We believe in the same organization that existed in the Primitive Church, namely, apostles, prophets, pastors, teachers, evangelists, and so forth." Anyways it was really fun to help her, its hard though, a lot of the record keeping for the African Americans wasn't as good. :( Bummer.
...and now its Friday....Sigh...our cookies are in the oven, time will tell how many of the little Valentine projects I have dreamt up in my mind actually get done.
Happy Valentines Day!
Oh and a couple more things, today I was trying to reinforce some good behavior and praising Cannon with things such as "You're such a good boy, your a great helper..." and so on then he pipes up and says "I be a stinker real good." Yes bud, you do! Praise all I want, the kid knows the truth! And during a family baseball game this week (in the living room which Cannon is getting too big for) Isaac informed me that Cannon really was faster than me. NO WAY! He can just take the corners around the island (our bases) better!
Somebody just helped himself to the computer...resourceful little guy but still! 

Isaac's been dreaming up his pine wood derby car, when Cann says it it sounds like "dirty car" he's always asking "Dad, can we work on the dirty car?"

And here's little cutie Colt, he kind if got neglected in pictures this week with me trying to catch all if Ann and Cannon's fun. He's such a good fun kid and as long as he's not tired or hungry (or as long as I'm not so rude as to walk past him without picking him up...) this smile is it! He's a happy guy!

This is what happens when I find excavator shirts at target for $1.50 -of course I bought them!

I try to share my testimony-at least somewhat-here on the blog, but I'm not really into saying Hey I shared my testimony in church (in fact I'm probably better at talking myself out of that event than I should be but...) anyway this past Sunday I did, and there is a blog worthy story that goes with it, I'll get back to it...so hear me out! First though we have to back track to Friday. Friday I went back over to Heathers, I don't know what its like to have a sister (neither does Heather for that matter) but we both know what its like to have a great friend! It was such a fun extra bonus getting to catch up with her even though it had been YEARS since we'd seen each other, we didn't miss a beat! It was great. And the truth be told I don't know her husband Nate all that well, but its like I do, as though even he and I had been great friends from so long ago. ....I Guess it has been 13 years. AHHHH how does that happen, I guess this is how we get old right? Anyway. I know Heather is not crazy about pictures of her kids on the internet but I got special permission :) They are so cute! And they were ALL extra cute with Colton.

That afternoon while I was doing more catching up with old friends Grandpa Ison got to come home from the hospital! That was good but, getting comfortable was a challenge. One of the other missionaries had a chair that they were going to let him have or borrow or something and they were supposed to bring it by that afternoon. But for some reason they didn't. So Grandpa was just hanging out in his normal office chair or he would try to lay down in the bed but it wasn't working, Isaac tried propping cushions and pillows up all kinds of ways and it just wasn't working. So that night I told him, to just go buy a chair. We'd seen some for a good price at Kroger (the Kroger there is way more than a grocery store!) Anyway...so after monkeying around all evening Isaac took off at 9:30 or 10:00 at night. He bought a chair that he was happy with, pulled it apart into pieces so he could fit it into our car then came home. He set it up and was happy with it. Grandma didn't want us to buy it, which I understand because it was for them and whatever, but I was fine with it and it was our idea and I don't think we should decide how they spend their money so that was my take on it. Well Grandma snuck $$ into my diaper bag, which actually I saw her do, but I just thought I would take it back out, but then sneaky Grandma helped us load up and I'll be danged if that diaper bag wasn't the first load she took out! I told Isaac, "Your mom just put money in my bag and now its out in the car!" He said "Lyndi, its not worth a fight." I just thought to myself I wasn't going to fight or even argue I was going to just sneak it back out and (of course NOT get caught) and not mention it. Anyway, I didn't win. We loaded up and drove through the night again. We got to Memphis about 7:30 and stopped and visited at Ryan and Sarah's. We had so much fun. She made breakfast, the boys played, it was just fun, its always fun. Isaac said he was wide awake and didn't need a nap (I had driven a little stretch and he'd napped) but the longer we visited the heavier his eyes got. We ended up taking the boys to a really fun park (called Shelby Farms for anyone who might visit the Memphis area, we really liked it)

anyway Isaac stayed behind and got a good nap on the couch for a couple hours. We stayed and had lunch there and visited some more, we were having a blast but the day was slipping away and I knew I had piles of laundry ahead of me so the boys would at least have clean church clothes so we finally left. (All the while money is still in the diaper bag, but I was just using a different little bag for most everything that had the pump and stuff  in it because Colt goes on a major nursing STRIKE every time we travel anywhere at all.)
Then comes Sunday, and I had sharing time to teach and Isaac got out the door with Cann man and I was shortly behind him with Colt and my load of stuff and the regular diaper bag. So we got to church, I apologized to Patrick-our company for dinner from the week before and we settled into the meeting. And I did decide to go up and share my testimony. I just thought Cann would follow me, because that's what happens if I ever have to leave to change a diaper or something, anyway I just handed Colton to Isaac as I walked to the pulpit and thought Cannon would be on my heals. But he never came. When I got back to my seat I found out why. Cannon had got into the diaper bag and found the money Grandma had stashed and was passing it out! Sister Wing handed me $40 as I sat down and said "Forty bucks was all I could talk him out of." He had the rest fanned out nicely on the floor and one in his hand that he'd carefully rolled up, he wouldn't give it up either, until I traded him for a pack of fruit snacks, little does he know that's the most expensive pack of fruit snacks he'll ever eat. It was hilarious. He had people all around us laughing. Brother Marchant teased "Yes, Tender Mercy! I knew I came to church for a reason today." It was just funny and oh how I wish I had a picture to go with the one in my mind. Oh well at least its documented now! So if  you weren't at church Sunday...I guess you should have been at ours :) it could have been a profitable trip for your soul and pocket book!
After Sunday I can't think of anything exciting until Wednesday. (Laundry Laundry and more Laundry trying to play catch up is not exciting.) But Wednesday night late Grama and Ann came! SO FUN! I really should have told Cannon it was going to be Thursday, at 9:00 at night when we were going to get them Cannon said "I've been waiting ALL day to see Ann!"

Its been a little chaotic, that's for sure, but so fun! We have a Children's Museum here that I'd heard good things about. They put a little one in St. George too and the kids had a great time at it over Christmas. My understanding is that it was free but they are going to start charging or something. This is random but I thought that's totally what my bro's should do with the $$ Grampa Great gave them for Christmas. (About that me not deciding how others should spend their money HA!) But I really think that I just THOUGHT it and didn't say anything but then I realized WAIT! That's what we should do with the money Grampa Great gave us for Christmas, buy a pass for the one here! So We Did! But we waited until Ann came to maximize the use :) So far she's been here 2 days and we've been twice. They love it, and its something to do inside, so Grama and I love it too!

In other news, 
I went visiting teaching Thursday, I am so humbled! Sometimes I complain or grumble about our "little" apt but it is a palace! And this gal, a fairly recent convert, is just thankful for all the ways the Lord has blessed her. WOW.

And Colty Colt, Little Britches, Mr. Big stuff,  IS SCOOTING! Slow down little boy your growing up so fast.

   

And he's pretty much a champ about any baby food I've given him so far. I just ease it in with the cereal and so far so good. (I'm still leery though... we'll see...) I always mention how great of a sleeper he is, Cannon is still up 1 or 2 times a night, so little sleeper is a welcome change. I've been telling Cannon he can watch an episode (2 actually) of Thomas if he sleeps through the night. The bribe has been surprisingly successful! YAY!

That's all I can remember...for now anyway!

Seeing Grandma and Grandpa in OHIO!

Greetings from Ohio!!! It's a long story but no internet so just a quick Friday blog from my phone:

Saturday we went to a baptism. Sunday church was normal we invited a friend over for dinner (lunch) but when I got home I realized that morning instead of unplugging the iron I unplugged the crock pot. UG, so we reinvited him for dinner dinner this time. In the mean time, Isaac coordinated with his older brothers and decided to come to Ohio to be here for his dad's open heart surgery. So after we ate we seriously didn't even invite the poor guy to sit down just said we'd do it again sometime and basically kicked the guy out. Then Isaac gave me a hug and said "I got one more curveball...want to go with me?" And there you have it, the most spontaneous thing I've ever done in my life, we drove about 13 hours through the night and got here about and hour before he had to go to the hospital Monday morning! Here we are and it has been so fun! Grandpas surgery went well, Grandmas (had a lot more work with us around because she always fixes meals and stuff even though she doesn't need to) but she's had a blast spoiling my boys, you know Cannon loves that!! And really it's the first time Grandma and Grandpa have gotten to meet Colton! A bonus for me is one of my best friends from BYU-Hawaii and her (darling) family live here, it was so fun to catch up with her. Oh and the other huge blessing was Tuesday for sure and we think Wed too it snowed in Mississippi and they canceled Isaac's school anyway!! Oh and we were here for the polar vortex Artic freeze whatever...ridiculous cold! High of 3 wind chill -30 or something like that. Heathers kids didn't have school cuz it was a "cold  day" crazy. Crazy cold. I bought Colt who didn't even own a coat a little clearance warm suit thing for a coat we call it his "Cookie Monster" suit best $5 I've bout ever spent! And mostly we just hide inside but it's been fun!

Snow inside? It was way too cold to play in it outside but-Grandma made it happen! In the tub too!

 

I never got a good picture but here is Cannon sporting Grandpa's Eder Ison tag!

5 Months! for Colton and Cannon the helper

Let the antagonizing begin...pretty sure Cannon deserves any and all of it

 

We've had a fun week. Isaac was the guest reader at Miss Suzanne's bookstore last week. This is what happens when you go to your neighbors on Halloween. It was a hit, we had a good time. Of course he didn't get out of the house without his little monkey. 

 

 

We've been able to get out a couple of times this week. That's been nice, basketball at the church Friday then we found a little hike for FHE (at the park we always go to!) Saturday was a really nice day and we actually got out to play a little tennis. I don't have a picture of the bloody nose that was totally my fault, up until that point we were having a great time. Colt was sleeping in his car seat Isaac and I were in flip flops/jeans but just volleying back and forth and having a great time and Cannon was playing mostly independently with a ball and his racket at the net....and I'll be more careful next time! He's tough though and still wanted to go play on the slides once he settled down. 

Cannon is our little helper! He just Loves Loves LOVES to help...(to the point of driving me crazy-short drive, but still) Here he his helping his dad make grilled cheese-and painting my toenails! I mentioned needing to paint my toenails to which he said "I can do it, I cant do it for you." I made him wait until his dad could help and supervise a little. They are white and red for "Balentines" and beautiful...let me tell ya.

 

Helping is most fun when its helping with Colt!

 

Along with helping, if I had a nickle for every time I've heard Cannon say "If you want..." this week I'd have at least a hundred bucks. The problem is he's confused, what he means when he says it is its what HE wants and the kids is terribly persistant. "I can Help... I can Help... I can Help, if you want..." Or  "Hey mom, I can watch Thomas if you want!" typing it out just really doesn't do it justice, you need the voice inflections/almost whine but not, he's a character!
He's also been scrunching up his face real funny lately...like if he doesn't like the idea of something--enough that I'm pretty positive its something I do that he's picked up on mimicking. I wonder if I look as silly as he does? Anyway...He woke up from his nap the other day and came and found me and said "I had a good nap, we can go for a bike ride now!"... it was freezing cold but we went anyway, we "rode" (I pushed his little 3 wheeler) over to the playground at the front of our complex. He was really disappointed I didn't get on Isaac's bike with Colt all strapped to the front of me and bundled up...no thanks.

 

Then there was this scene. I whipped out my camera but really should have turned on the video so I could have had accurate dialogue because -as usual- it was hilarious. Isaac comes home from work "OH....bud, your in time out when I get home, that's never good, how come?" C: "I hit my brother." I: "Why would you do that?" C:"Well, I didn't break break him! But mom made me come to time out anyway..." and then it just kept going and going and going with this super random string of explanations. That I can't remember but it was so funny. I took this picture and text Isaac "this is hilarious" as it happened but I really REALLY should have been videoing. Oh well.

Grandpa Ison is in the hospital in Ohio again. When I found out I told him "Grandpa Ison might need your prayers." And Cannon is spot on! He'll just start praying all of the sudden "Dear Heavenly Father..." but if I don't stop and fold my arms he's like "Hey, I'm praying!" So then I do stop-and he does say the sweetest prayers.

Here's little (or big) Mr. 5 months old! Wow, time goes fast!

He's such a good happy boy. We see that Frei temper flare every once in a while and call him DiffiCOLT but mostly its smiles and boy does he love his brother. It makes me a little nervous with all the mischief that they are sure to get into together. He's a great sleeper, usually just wakes up once, sometimes makes it through the night. He's been eating a little cereal. And grabbing and playing with/tasting anything he sees. He knows the spoon goes in his mouth and has shoved it in and gagged himself until he puked twice. My bad on letting play with that, I thought it was a good idea while we were feeding him.  I feel like I should have more specific stories but...I don't. Maybe I need to write them down as I go. In some ways he's of course high maintenance but in plenty of others he just seems chill and I'll take it. Oh he was fussing the other day and Cannon told him "Enough Colt!" Then told me "I'm just trying to get him to chill out." Oh brother! I do think I have my hands full most of the time. We survived feeding the missionaries and preschool here at our apt this week, and I think that's about it.