It's Been A While...

It's been a while since I have updated the blog. We've been in survival mode... Nate traveled three weeks ago, and when he came back, each of us had a bout of sickness. Nate is still fighting a pretty rough cough, but I think we're getting better.

It is time, though, for me to get a few little stories written down before I forget:

On Sunday, Nate was baking a cake with Miles. He got some music going and asked Miles - can you dance? Miles looked at Nate and said, "No, I can't do that until I’m a grownup. And when I'm a grownup, I'll have a big nose like you!"

The other day I told Cooper, "You've gotten really good at coloring." He said, "Mom, you should call me a colorist. You know, like a guitarist?"

Please do not read this story if you think it is inappropriate to blog about bathroom issues...but if you're okay with it, then here it goes...Miles finished using the bathroom and flushed the toilet. I said, "Shut the lid, Miles! Poop shrapnel is going to fly everywhere!" He looked at me and said, "Mommy - poopy not have wings." So true.

We had a tornado warning several weeks ago, so the four of us piled into the laundry room. (With Nate's parents in the guest bathroom!) The alarm sounded around 9:30. Cooper was already in a deep sleep, but Miles hadn't fallen asleep yet. He and I had a chance to snuggle together in the laundry room. Nate and I have been very strict with our rule about no kids in our bed, so I don't really get a lot of nighttime snuggles from the boys. Miles just lay very still and stroked my arm with his hand. It was a very sweet moment that I want to remember.

Dirt & Dishes

One day last week, Cooper was playing legos really close to the piano. Miles sat down to join him and pulled a plant that sits on the piano right down on his head. It mostly just brushed the side on the way down, but MAN it was scary. Miles cried hard because he was hurt, and Cooper cried hard because dirt got all over his legos. I was trying to comfort Miles and calm Cooper down at the same time. As I brushed the dirt off of Miles in the laundry room, he was trying to get himself together. He sniffled out, "Mommy - can you fix the plant?" Poor little guy was worried about the plant.


Nate is traveling this week, so we had leftover pizza for dinner tonight on paper plates. :) After dinner, I joked to Cooper, "Hey - you can do the dishes tonight" and then we threw away the paper dishes together. I apparently was the only one who understood that joke because after throwing the dishes away, Cooper ran over to the sink, eager to wash dishes. We had a few things to wash - a cutting board and cookie sheet. Cooper went after it! And Miles was jealous! I love it! Tell me it's this easy when they are teenagers. :) (AND - thank you, Lord, for the blessing of my sweet, helpful children!)

The Blizzard

Here are a few pictures from our blizzard:

This is Nate shoveling our drive for the third time on Tuesday.



Our front walk:
The backyard:

Snow angels:

Last night, Cooper was playing his guitar and singing from the living room while I cleaned up from dinner. He stopped suddenly and said, "Mom, I'm not just playing the guitar, I'm picking my boogies and eating 'em."

Cooper wouldn't eat his dinner the other night, and so I began asking him questions about the food that he DOES like. The conversation progressed, and it came to this:
Me: Cooper, if you were a chef, and you could cook anything in the world, what would it be?
Cooper: Chicken Cannelloni
Me: That's interesting. I thought you didn't like chicken cannelloni. When I made it the other night, you didn't eat it.
Cooper: I know. I just want to make it because I know you guys like it.
Me: That is so thoughtful of you! But what will you eat?
Cooper: I'll just go out somewhere.

Random Stories

Cooper came into the kitchen and ate a bite of my homemade granola. He said, "Mom, you are such a good cook! You are better than any restaurant!"



Here is a conversation I had with Miles the other day in the bathroom. I want to document this sample, not because it is super funny, but because it is SO common in our household.

Me: Miles - you need to wash your hands.

Miles: Okay. I will.

Me: Walk towards Miles.

Miles: No, Mommy! I will do it myself!

Me: Okay, Buddy. Can you turn the water on?

Miles: No.

Me: Okay - I'll help you.

Miles: Actually, I can do it. Tries to turn the water on.

Me: Can I help you Miles?

Miles: Yes, you can.



Miles bumped his head at BUM kids and was crying. He told his teacher that he needed Cooper to feel better. They went and got Cooper out of his class to come comfort Miles. Cooper took great care of his little brother, and the teacher said, "Wow, Cooper, you're a great big brother." Coop's response? "I know."



Cooper and Miles were telling me this morning how they want to get the plastic motorized trains, like the Vernons. I explained to the boys that we have wooden trains, so maybe we should just continue building our wooden train collection. Cooper said, "Mom, I have a great idea! Miles can have the wooden set and I can get the motorized train set. I know whow to engineer those tracks."

Snow!

We received about 1 to 2 inches of snow on early this week, and Cooper and Miles were chomping at the bit to get out in it. I held them off all day Monday, promising we would go out to play on Tuesday. So we bundled up and headed outside in the sweltering 20 degree temps.

It took about 30 minutes to get all bundled up. We each had on 2 pairs of pants, 2 pairs of socks, 3 shirts, a coat, a hat, and gloves. And once we were outside, we only lasted about 15 minutes. Miles was cold and ready to come in, but Cooper decided he wanted to stay out. And then, as Miles and I turned to head in, Cooper ran smack into the tree in our front yard. He just took off running, pulling the sled behind him and slammed into the tree.

Here are the Bethell boys, ready for the cold.

And here is what a cheek looks like after being slammed into a tree:

Our family made it inside, and Miles ran straight to his bedroom, instead of staying with us to get all his snowy clothes off. "Miles, you need to come back out with us to get your coat off." I called. Miles response: "Mommy, I will not ever, ever listen to you again!" Slam door. I left the upset and bloody-cheeked Cooper to go "take care" of that situation with Miles. (You can imply whatever you would like in that generic description of how the situation was addressed.) After it was taken care of, and Cooper's cheek was cleaned up, Miles and I were discussing what happened. I said, "Miles, you said, 'Mommy, I won't ever listen to you again!' and slammed the door. It is not okay for you to talk to Mommy like that." Miles replied, "I not say that, Mommy." I said, "Miles - I asked you to come out with Cooper and me to get your coat off, and you yelled at me, 'Mommy, I won't ever listen to you again!' and slammed the door. It is not okay for you to talk to Mommy like that." Miles said, "NO, Mommy! I not say that! I said, 'Mommy, I won't ever, EVER listen to you again!" So true. He did have that extra 'EVER' in there. Goodness gracious. I won't ever, EVER misquote my child again.

The things they say...

Cooper has had a few cute sayings lately, and Miles is in a very fun spot verbally. Here are Cooper's sayings:

Quote from FB on 1/2/2011: I'm wearing a skirt and tights today for church (a rare occasion indeed), and Cooper approached me with a very confused look. He said, "Mommy, I just need to know, are those pants or not?"

Quoted from Nate's FB on 1/8/2010: Cooper says to me: Dad, let's travel around the whole world to tell everyone how good eggnog is.

Miles still uses "me" instead of "I" and he says "yours" instead of your. Here are some examples:

• Running to where he is supposed to be, "Here comes me!!"
• "Who would like to eat lunch?" "Me do!"
• "I'm going to put this blanket on yours head."
• "Mom, is this yours water?"

Topeka

We traveled to Topeka the weekend before Christmas to celebrate the holiday with my sister, my mom, and my mom's sister, Pat. Pat is from New York, so we don't get to enjoy time with her very often!

Here is Nana reading to the boys, with Aunt Pat looking on:
Nana brought a Christmas villiage for the boys to make. It was quite the deal! You can see that even Baby Blakester was involved.

The four boys got matching pajamas. What a group!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas from the Bethell Family! We had a special Christmas celebration - here are a few highlights:

1. Miles was very scared of the reindeer. He called his daddy into his room several times on Christmas Eve, asking, "Will the reindeer come in my room? Will the reindeer bite me?

2. Cooper and Miles received an Xbox with Kinect from Santa this year. As Cooper was opening it, he said, "This looks like a grownup game!"

3. A favorite gift for both boys was the new underwear in their stockings. Miles received Toy Story undies, and Cooper received Spiderman undies. They were stoked. I think they each tried on every pair.

4. The BEST part of the day for the boys was that they stayed in their underwear (see point 3) the entire day. They were in heaven. However, due to the chosen dress for the day, we do not have too many great pictures to publish.

Thanksgiving

Our family traveled to Enid, OK, for Thanksgiving with Nate's family this year. It was so fun to be together for the holiday! One of the boys' favorite parts was the three kittens that Grandma and Grandpa Bethell had living in their garage. This experience caused Nate and I to think, "Is it time for us to get pets?" Thankfully, the conclusion we came to is NOT YET! :)

We celebrated Christmas while we were together, and Uncle Wade gave Coop a very cool remote control truck. The boys played outside with it, even in the 28 degree weather. Brrrrrrr!

Here is a goofy family picture we took. I didn't want to use the nice one because Anne is going to use it for her Christmas cards...so here's a preview of what's to come. :)

I have been working through a Gratitude Journal throughout the month of November, and I have so much to be thankful for! I am thankful to God for sending Jesus to die on the cross for me. I am thankful that he has my days set before me and the plans for my life all laid out. I am thankful for my amazing family. I am so blessed.