January comes and eventually goes

Stephen needed new shoes and so Grandpa Quist offered to take care of Boston while we took Stephen shoe shopping.

They went to several playgrounds and had so much fun!  My Dad is so good at playing with my boys and they adore him!

What a blessing it is to live so close to both of our families.  Our boys get to have a close relationship with both sets of Grandparents.


One of the first Saturdays in January we spent doing a few projects around the house.
For Christmas my mom gave us some house numbers to put up since the only numbers we had were faded stickers on the mailbox and faded paint on the curb.  Now we look fancy!


Then Scott set up our new outdoor table and chairs, a gift from Scott’s Mom and my brother in law, Travis.  I love having a place to sit outside while the boys are playing.  It is also a nice spot to eat breakfast.


We were also recipients of a garage door “clicker” so after six months of living here we can actually park in the garage!  I love it – thanks again to my Mom.


The first week of January also brought a new meeting house for us at church.  We now go to church in the old stake center (now a ward building) which is closer to our house.  I like meeting there because it is identical to the building I grew up going to.  I know right were everything is!  Boston sported his new Sunday sweater that his Grandma Smith gave him for Christmas.  He still loves going to nursery and he loves his nursery leaders!


I have a New Year Resolution to spend an hour a day playing with my boys.  This may seem like a silly goal to some but playing with my boys does not come naturally to me like it does to some moms.
We got off to a good start with playing “Spy Training.”  They had to crawl through the crepe paper “lasers,” pick up darts along the way, and when they reached the end of the hallway, use their dart guns to shoot at the target hanging on the wall.

Here is Boston’s spy face:


Stephen, waiting for his turn:


And my favorite, Stephen’s “spy face.”  It could also be called a smolder if you ask me. 


Another day we made cloud dough. 

The whole time we played with it we called it “moon dough” and only just now did I discover that it is actually called “cloud dough!”

It was really fun to play with.  It is crumbly and appears to be powder until you pack it or squeeze it and then it sticks together.

It is also extremely messy!

Our play time isn’t always spectacular and usually involves books games and puzzles.


So now I have to confess that despite my good start, I am having a hard time sticking with my resolution.  Let’s just say it is still a work in progress.


But really, it doesn't take too much to entertain them...

Here are their alien eyes.





















Their favorite thing is to just get good and dirty.

They were so filthy this day that I had to document it



























Especially Boston...  
































I don't think the photo quite captures the layers.  Snot...food, dirt...


























Lots of dirt.

Nothing a nice bubble bath can't take care of!