Happy Birthday Canon!

I know you hear this from a lot of parents about their kids, but we can't believe our little Canon is already two! He is such a sweet little and we just love his easy going, lovable personality. Canon loves trains and making the choo choo sound so we thought a Thomas cake would be great for his special day. Thank you google for having lots of ideas for cakes, because I am not creative.

Canon knew exactly what to do with the presents since he had a lot of practice during Christmas. He dove right in and was excited about everyone!

We love you Canon!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! Everson was very ready to open presents right when he woke up but Canon didn't want anything to do with it. It took him watching Everson open a couple before a understood what to do. We had a great Christmas!

Todd's parents came over later in the morning to join us for some present opening. Everson was more then happy to help them open their gifts, especially the chocolates he and Canon got for Deda.

The boys get to open one present on Christmas Eve! We decided to let them open the presents they got each other. I think the pictures explain it all. You could say Everson was just a little bit excited to get his red Darth Vader light saber he has been asking for forever. Canon of course was also excited because he got the blue one (which is the only color he can say)!

We put the boys to bed and I decided to play with my camera a little bit. Here is our tree the night before Christmas, a couple red ornaments on it and the cute tree ornaments with the boys faces in them that their nursery leaders made for them.

Our Friends in town!

We had so much fun visiting and eating lunch with Brian and Marissa while they were in town. They got the boys two new books for Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Merry Christmas Curious George. The boys love books and were excited for new ones. And we are also very grateful for the cute ornament they got us for our barren tree.

We love you two!

Gift Exchange Party

Another Cooper/Padbury/Atack family gift exchange party! The food was yummy and everyone seemed to have a great time. Again, we missed Bill, Kendra, Will and Kayla and hopefully one of these years we will all be able to get together. Thank you everyone for such a fun night. I know my boys had a blast and so did Todd and I.

Ladies: Mishelle, Jeanette, Julie, Tracy and Me (we missed you Kendra)

Men: Todd, Greg, Burk, Chuck, and Craig (we missed you Bill)

Enjoying the food and good conversations!

Present opening!

Everyone got up to show what they got on the Just Dance 2 for the Wii. Good laughs!

The whole crew at the party!

We love you all!

Big Rolls

Everson and Canon thought the rolls that I made in a muffin pan that turned out extra big were the coolest things. Of course, I had to get a picture of them being so happy with their rolls!

It's beginning to look like Christmas

The boys were great helpers with putting up the Christmas tree, ornaments, and lights. They thought it was the neatest thing. Yes, our tree is out of a box (fake), but the boys don't seem to care one bit. Now all we need is to invest in some more ornaments since we only have a handful and our fake tree will look great!

Pretty Boy

After a few minutes of complete silence in the house, Todd and I started to wonder what the boys were up to. Before we could start our search, Everson came down the stairs telling us that Canon had gotten into my bathroom drawer. Right behind Everson coming down the stairs with the proudest look on his face was our Pretty Boy Canon.

Not the best application but purple doesn't look bad on him!

Happy Halloween

This year was our first year going to Trunk or Treat. For those of you who do not know what that it, it is when families get together in a parking lot, decorate the back of their cars/trunks and the kids trick or treat at each car. Everson got a little scared of the mean pirate at the first car so he was a bit timid for a while. Canon didn't know what was going on, but was very excited to hold a glow in the dark sword (aka light saber). The rain held out until the very end when we were just about to head home.

Our little Jedi's!

Dress Up

Since I don't have a little girl, it is only fair that I get to dress my little niece, Kyrie, up in my old dance outfits. She was such a good sport and so were her parents.

Kyrie, working every outfit her crazy Aunt made her try on!

Happy Birthday to my older brother Chad (Kyrie's Dad)!

Kyrie was just a tad bit excited when we all started to sing the happy birthday song!

What better way to end a great day than by giving Lola big hugs and coloring with Grandpa!

Pumpkin Patch

It was the perfect day to go to a pumpkin patch so we headed out to Canby to try the pumpkin patch out there with the Walkers.

They had goats that would climb onto the platforms in the trees so you can shimmy a little can of food up to them. Everson was a little confused about why there were goats in the tree. Both boys also loved seeing the llama, chickens, and smelly pigs.

I think we had a little too much fun taking pictures of the kids with the wooden cut outs.

There was a little farm trail hike that we ventured down. Surprisingly, Everson, who is usually a very timid child, voluntarily led the way.

We are so glad Todd was able to hold this tree up so we can all pass! Jonah wasn't buying it but Eli was a little hesitant to pass under it.

We had a fun little time on our small hike!

Pumpkin picking didn't go as quickly as we thought. Canon found his very quickly and then proceeded to try and eat it, and wouldn't put it down. Everson on the other hand searched and searched for the right pumpkin. He told us he wanted an oval pumpkin that he could carry but still pretty big. Everson got a little frustrated when he couldn't find the pumpkin he wanted, but then ended up being happy with one Todd found for him.

The boys and their pumpkins!

We were so happy to spend the day outside with friends at a fun place!

Take my picture

This morning Everson told me to get my camera to take a picture of him wrapped up in a soft blanket on the couch. Being a good Mommy, I obeyed. And there he was like he said, wrapped up in his soft blanket with his friend the shark.

Canon also insisted I take pictures of him once he saw the camera in my hands. Just so you know, if you ask Canon to smile, those are the faces you get!

Ready for Church

Our cute boys, ready for church! Love them!

More silly faces

They love making silly faces!

Blue Monster

One of our very talented friends, Adam, who is a kids book illustrator, was so nice to illustrate a special picture for Everson.

When Everson first found out this cool drawing was for him. He was so happy!

Everson and his new cool blue monster drawing.

Making a scary face (even thought it looks more like a sad face) like the blue monster.

The awesome blue monster drawing, just for Everson.

We hung it up in Everson's room between the boys' two beds. Canon loves it too. They both like to pretend the guy in the monsters mouth is Daddy, the and the other two are Everson and Canon. The boys love having Todd and I make up stories of the blue monster.

Thank you Adam for the blue monster!

A Slug

Todd found a slug in our yard and put it up on our deck so the boys could get a better look. Everson was fine just looking at it, but encourage, quite persistently, Canon into touching it. Without hesitation Canon poke the slug as egged on by his brother.

There it is Mom.

Dad, did you see the slug?

Let me get a closer look!

Making Cookies

The boys were so good at helping me make cookies. Everson made sure to taste the batter after each ingredient was added. He even tasted the baking soda, yuck!

Silly smile!

Funny face!

Just another day

The boys cooking their animals.

He always has to make a silly face.

Canon loves talking on the phone, or at least pretending.

First ER visit

Canon woke up with a really bad sounding cough at 12am. Right away we knew it was croup because of how bad he sounded and how he was wheezing every time he tried to breathe. We took him outside on our deck into the fresh air which helped him breathe a little easier. He would fall asleep for a little bit then cough and wake himself up crying. It was so sad to see him so miserable. After about an hour being out on the deck, he was still wheezing with each breath so we decided to take him into the ER for the first time. Todd's parents were so nice to come over and stay at the house with Everson so Todd and I could go to the hospital. At the hospital they gave Canon some medicine with steroids to reduce the inflammation of his airway and did a breathing treatment. We finally got home just before 3am and to bed we all went. Just four hours of sleep for me and Todd. Needless to say we were both pretty beat the whole day. Everson had no clue we even left and Canon slept until 9:30am. Canon is doing better today. His cough sounds like a "normal" cough and no more straining to breathe. He is still pretty fussy for most of the day, but I can't blame the poor guy.

PS(On our way out the door for the ER I was about to grab my camera to document the event, but decided against it. I thought the doctors and nurses would have thought I was crazy. I kind of regret not snapping one picture with my camera phone.)

Boating

Today was Everson and Canon's first time boating. At first, like we thought, Everson did not want to even get on the boat, but once we got going he had so much fun. The weather wasn't too hot which made just sitting in the boat very enjoyable. We had a great time! Thanks again Greg and Tracy.

Chilin' on the boat

All the wakeboarders getting some serious air.

Keegan, Brooklyn, Travis and Todd all did a great job wakeboarding.

Greg did an awesome job giving the tubers a run for their money. They were no match against his driving. I couldn't believe how much air the three person tube got.

I love the faces of Keegan, McKayla and Todd in the three person tube. Terrified is what I get from those expressions. Then there is Travis holding on for dear life on the single tube.

Poor Keegan got clobbered by the big tube, but was able to hold on while the other three wiped out.

Keegan, Everson and Todd just before Everson's second tubing ride.

Our first tubing experience as a family. Everson and Canon were a little nervous at first, but warmed up and had so much fun!