Warmest "Spring" in February

Charley helping Max learn to drink from a water bottle.  Short sleeves and shorts in February.  I think it was 65 degrees during the day.  Perfect in my book. 

My Dad got the boys these cool push bikes, Dexter just likes to sit on them.  In the sun I might add. 

Outside time.  Will was in character in the picture below, sweating in that jacket, it was 60 degrees. 

But I think this is coming to an end...snow is in our future.  Maybe it will stay in the mountains. 

The cutest 6th grader you ever did see

Each Thursday Dexter comes to my classroom.  Will has to go and volunteer at Max's classroom for 2-3 hours so Dexter is my companion.  I love Walden because they have no problem with Dexter being in class with me, and my students adore him.  And frankly are better behaved when he is there.  And his cuteness is out of this world. 

He practices his writing skills.

He wears hats of my students and smiles with delight. 

He is a great teacher.  He watched Wreck it Ralph while teaching math. 

He allows his Mom to take recess selfies.

Walden has chickens.  Yup chickens.  And Dexter loves them. 

And Dexter is really good at science projects.  He eats the planets - especially enjoying Jupiter. 

Rocked it at Nursery!

Dexter went to his first day of Nursery this past week.  He has been wanting to go for months.  He wants to be just like Max!  At 18 months (January 25th) he can go, so a week before we let him test the waters. 
There were no tears. 
There was no nervous looks. 
There was just "Okay mom leave, I got this!" 

He is growing up.  He is still a little guy who just wants to be big.  Will went and checked on him halfway through and told me that "he is eating snack, in a chair, drinking water."  He wasn't standing in the corner crying, he wasn't playing on his own, he was being social, he was listening and following along with the other 18-month old kids.  He was being my ham-it-up Dexter. 

When I came to pick him up he didn't run into my arms.  He wasn't excited to see me.  Instead he was mad that we were leaving and he couldn't play with the bubbles anymore.  Then End.  He rocked it!

Gifts that keep giving

That one time when we got Max Thomas the Train cling-on-stickers for his room for Christmas and it was the best activity ever!  This was a present WIN if I have ever seen one!

Christmas 2014 - The Year of the Train

If I could use one word to describe Christmas 2014 it would be Trains. 
Max has been obsessed with everything Thomas the Train. 
I even found Train Christmas PJ's. 

It was magical.  The boys were really excited to open gifts.  Max though asked "Where Emily?" at the end of opening all the gifts.  Emily didn't make it until December 30th. Max knows the names of ALL the trains, and can easily list them off.  His favorites are James and Emily (of course!)

Will had the flu and bronchitis the whole time, so our usual McGuire Christmas Eve didn't happen this year.  I still want to get our McGuire Christmas Picture. 

Dexter of course loved the boxes.  He would open the gifts and then put them back in the box and dump them out.  He is in the dump out and put away stage of toddler-hood. 

Dexter was very happy with his new stack of books.  He has already had us read them a few dozen times.  I am glad to have a new story or two for our collection of favorites. 

 Max refused to put on pants the whole day.  So during the Winter Storm we went to visit Uncle Matthew in a PJ top, a diaper, and boots.  Perfect.  Parents of the year!

Merry Christmas 2014

Christmas Visit from Poppi

My Dad came out for three days over Christmas.  He arrived late on the 26th and stayed until the 29th.  We had so much fun.  Max was so excited to see "Poppi" and kept asking for him over and over.  And the reunion of Poppi and Max was the sweetest.  Max ran right up to my dad and gave him hugs.  He knows his visits are special and short, and I am so lucky that my Dad can come out to visit!  I am also very grateful for Facetime.  It has really helped Max and Dexter stay in contact with my Dad. 

 We went to Provo Beach Resort and played games.  Then visited the toy store and bought candy. 

 Framing this one ^^^

 We built so many train tracks with Poppi. 

 We went to the Discovery Museum in Salt Lake.  The boys loved it. 

 

The coolest thing was the outdoor helicopter.  Dexter loved all the buttons.  It was donated by Primary Children's Hospital. 

Then came the snow.  Oh boy did we have a lot of snow.  The boys loved it.  It was also my Dad's first time visiting Utah in the Winter.  He was really excited about all the snow. 

Thanks for a GREAT visit Poppi.  We sure love having you here in Utah. 

Mr. Curious

Dexter is so curious. 
He loves life. 
He loves being right in the thick of things. 
He especially loves to be right next to Daddy when he works.