Benson - 15 Months

Benson is so much fun to have in our family.  At 15 months he:

• has figured out that doing signs gets him things!  He signs (and sometimes says) 'more', 'want', 'drink' and 'all done'.
• He spits out food.  Very often.  It is very frustrating! I haven't figured out why he does it.  Sometimes I think he is just tired of eating it and other times I think it may be because he doesn't like the texture the food has gotten to. At other times he sees something someone else has that looks better and wants that NOW instead of what he has. Either way, he is definitely the pickiest eater in the family and sometimes doesn't eat much at mealtime. When he is hungry he eats well and nearly always eats spaghetti.
• Benson thinks he is as big as his brothers and doesn't hesitate to push (literally) them around.  He squawks when he doesn't get his way or when he is stuck.  I don't assume anything when I hear Benson squawking because it could be for several reasons! 
• He waves 'bye bye' with both hands at the same time and started blowing kisses. If you ask him for a kiss he will lean over and let you kiss his cheek over and over again with a cute little smile on his face.  During the day he'll randomly grab you with both arms and give you open mouth kisses 'mwah mwah' to whatever body part lines up with his mouth. It is so sweet.
• He'll lay his head on your leg or shoulder etc and 'ahhh' to give you hugs/love.  He'll also pat your arm /shoulder when you are singing to him to lay him down for sleep.  He 'sings' with you at nap time, or at church or on his own whenever he feels like it. I L.O.V.E. it! Makes my  heart smile.
• Benson is a very happy little boy and will laugh for no apparent reason and dance every time he hears music (even if it is just his brothers singing or a cell phone ringing).  He's got some good 'moves' too and loves it when his brothers join him. 
• He is super fast when he hears the garage door open, the bathroom door open, or hears the dishwasher open.  If the dishwasher is left unlocked, I usually find him sitting on the door, playing with the silverware. 
• He likes to sit on the potty for very short amounts of time and loves to get in the bath.  He rarely is NOT standing up in the bath and will move to the far corner of the bath when he suspects or knows it is his turn to be scrubbed up... which he hates and fights like crazy.  From the other room, it sounds horrible. Giving him a bath is not very fun and is quite exhausting.  BUT we do still give him baths...I promise.
• Benson has very complex chattering/jabbering (The Doctor was impressed with how advanced it is) and it is fun to listen to him 'talk' and play along with having a conversation. 
• He is constantly closing doors! Whether it is a bedroom door or the front door we've opened to let the cool air in, he likes to close it.  Cupboard and pantry doors are no exception, though it is usually he who opened it in the first place! Benson daily puts the pantry contents on the table.  I am glad he has switched from the floor to the table... less tripping that way!
• It is impossible to clean with Benson around.  Everything you put away looks interesting and needs to be played with immediately!
• Benson is determined and very persistent when he has set his mind to something.  Fortunately, he can still often be distracted.   Not always though...
• He LOVES to run with his brothers.  He goes half way and then meets them on their way back.  He loves being included in their games whether it is throwing balls with them, pushing toys around the house, or yelling to each other through the sliding glass door screen as they ride their bikes outside. He loves to say 'hi' when Maxwell rings his bell on this tricycle.
• He loves to laugh, especially with his brothers and will join in with them when he has no clue what he is laughing at.
• He will not eat cheerios if they are not complete 'O's. He politely drops them on the floor. 
• At his Dr appointment he weighed 21 lbs and was 31.5 inches tall.

Not so sure about this paint on my hands...

He LOVED being outside running while his brothers rode bikes.  Made me super nervous around the corners!

Anything can be a toy!

Benson makes life fun!

We love this little boy and are so lucky he is part of our family!

Maxwell - 3 years olds

At 3 years old, Maxwell

• loves to go, go, go! He is very determined.
• He is very outgoing and friendly.  At Chris and Corinne's reception, he was asking women to dance with him, feed him cake, and put him on the trampoline.  Jordan met some people who knew his family from Preston and they had already met 'Maxwell'.
• If you say he is silly or crazy or anything else, he will correct you and say "no I'm Maxwell Lester Moser!"
• Maxwell prefers to not have help with anything he can do himself. And he'll tell you 'I can do it!'
• He is the first one to jump into action to help out when he sees a need from getting a toy to help Benson feel better to kissing an 'owie' better, including Daddy's tired feet.
• Maxwell gives good tight hugs.  When he gives me hugs he likes to assure me 'I have lots of hugs for you Mommy!' which of course makes me happy!
• He loves to help you especially if it is his idea. He doesn't accept 'no thanks' as a response to his offer to "help".
• His nursery leaders LOVE him because he sings all the songs and participates in the lessons. He is often the only one participating. After I picked him up from his class one Sunday, Maxwell said 'Mommy we didn't color today!' The next Sunday I mentioned Maxwell's comment to his leader.  She hadn't realized it mattered to the children and now makes a special effort to have something for them to color each week. He loves it.
• Max runs up to greet McKay after school with an exuberant 'HI McKay!!' McKay's classmates often say 'hi Max' - they all know him.
• Maxwell seems like he is older than he is.  He is very articulate, knows his alphabet, (sounds, upper and many lower case), and knows all the words to many songs.  He can also count to 14, knows his colors and shapes. Others who know Max and other 3 year olds are surprised Maxwell isn't older.
• He still runs to the window to see every garbage truck that passes.
• Maxwell is very grateful and has good manners. 'Zoo welcome' and "Thank you'
• Maxwell notices flowers and sniffs in their direction when we pass them in the van.  He'll pick flowers from the yard and bring them to me to smell. Every time we cross a bridge Maxwell says 'I spy with my little eye... a bridge!' Usually we have not been playing 'I Spy!'
• He loves to play with play doh, stamps and to practice cutting paper.
• Some of my favorite things Maxwell has said are: "A booger is trying to come out!" "This is combing my hair" (standing in front of the fan) " "We both said that!'
• His most common response is "Sure!"
• Talking to Benson in the kitchen: "That is Jesus Christ and he's nice." (pointing to a picture)
• Maxwell to Me: You're the best! Me to Max: No you're the best! Maxwell: We both are!

Maxwell loves to wear his Thomas sunglasses.

• 

  He knew all the letters and it didn't take long before he started putting them in the correct order.

  

  Dr. Maxwell giving the baby a shot or a 'scratch' as he calls it.

  

  Maxwell is such a good big brother, helping Benson walk.

  

  Now Maxwell is the big brother who gets to be pushed by the little brother. It is a win for both boys since Benson loves getting to play with his brother!

  

  Look Mommy!  I'm a bear in my cave!

  

  The Maxwell scowl.

  

  He couldn't shoot his homemade bow and arrow very well but he loved retrieving the arrows for Nanna Anna and Chantelle.

  

  Maxwell STILL loves Thomas the Tank Engine. 'Loves' doesn't seem to be a strong enough word here...

  

  Our happy family taking a tour of the Conference Center in SLC. We love our Maxwell!

 

4th of July Weekend

 Here Benson is 2 months old. He is growing fast and free with his sweet smiles!

 All of the family who attended when we blessed Benson: my parents, Jordan's parents, my sister Chantelle, and Jordan's brother Todd, Lisa, their daughters Karlie and Erin and her daughter Brooklyn.  I am not sure how we'll make it through church without the adored Uncle Todd to entertain the boys!

 I am SO out numbered!

 

 Love this little guy!

 While BOTH sets of grandparents were here we celebrated McKay's birthday early with a yummy M&M cake.  Both boys LOVE 'MeM's.  

 Love that RED M&M cake.  McKay LOVES red!

 Here is our red white and blue trifle we enjoyed for the 4th of July just before watching Santee's firework show from the water tower hill by our home.  It was light and delicious!

Maxwell liked it too!

(I still haven't gone through pictures since December... one of these days! I figured a quick update is better than no update at all!)

Neglected

Dear Blog,

One of these days I will add a new post. It isn't that I have forgotten you... I've just been too busy being pregnant (32 weeks now) with baby boy #3, doing taxes, enjoying my sweet boys and doing everything that MUST be done. I could say that I will update soon... but I don't know if that would be honest or not.

So until I update, just know it is still on my list of things to do. :)

Maria

Christmas Letter

We have had a wonderful year and can hardly believe it is time for Christmas already! Our most exciting news is that we are expecting a baby BOY at the end of April next year. We are enjoying San Diego and are happily forgetting how to scrape snow off our windows.

In January Maria and Jordan left the boys at Nanna and Grandpa McCleve’s house in Arizona and went on a Baja Mexico Cruise. They missed the boys but still managed to have a fabulous time. At the end of July we drove 2,300 miles from San Diego to Snowflake Arizona for the McCleve reunion, then to Idaho for the Moser reunion and then home again. Both reunions were camping though Max only slept one night in the tent at each reunion. McKay loved it.

Jordan is still working on the San Ysidro land port of entry (Tijuana into San Diego) project and is learning a lot, though his Spanish has not improved at all. He enjoys being active and ran his first half marathon in September at Camp Pendleton. At the beginning of the year he and McKay built a bed for McKay which eventually will be part of a bunk bed set for the boys. He loved being able to use his tools as well as acquire some more ‘necessary’ tools and is anxious to begin another project.

Maria loves being home with the boys and keeps busy with trips to the zoo, library, beach, park, sea world, soccer, etc. She enjoys doing tax returns during busy season though continuing professional education the rest of the year isn’t as enjoyable. She and Jordan team teach the 16-17 year olds Sunday School and really enjoy the calling. She enjoys cooking nutritious meals for the family and tries to fit in a few crafty projects in her spare time, which never seems to come around often enough.

McKay (4) is a joy to have in our home. He has an excitement for life that is contagious. He loves ‘working’ outside with Daddy whether it is in the yard or in the garage working with wood. He enjoyed swimming lessons during the summer and loved playing soccer this fall. He began preschool in October which, yes, he loves. He is very social and quickly makes friends at the park or wherever we go. He loves to play with his brother. McKay can memorize quickly and has memorized several of the Articles of Faith. He has a sense of humor and loves to tease and play. He loves primary and reading books. His favorite movies are Mary Poppins, Toy Story, and Cars. Buzz (Lightyear) has been part of his name all year.

Maxwell (18 months) is truly a delight. He loves to smile and tease and always says ‘bye’ and waves whenever we leave anywhere, whether anyone is around or not. Maxwell’s favorite songs are Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam and the Itsy Bitsy Spider. He loves to read books, especially books about trucks, trains, cars, airplanes, bikes, and circles to name a few. Every balloon, helicopter, airplane, and truck is noticed. Max loves to go to the park, to play with balls, and to do whatever his brother “kay” is doing. Maria hasn’t been able to cut off his curls yet and he gets compliments on them wherever he goes. Max is a sweetheart and we love his hugs and kisses.

Merry Christmas and best wishes for a Happy New Year!

November in a Snapshot or Two

The first weekend in November Jordan and McKay hand-tilled our back yard and planted grass. McKay kept Jordan going by reminding him of how much he had done and Jordan appreciated his 'help' to keep going. His arms/tendons were sore for a couple of weeks afterward. We have enjoyed watching the grass grow... it LOVES all the rain we have been having.

The epitome of cheap entertainment.
My onion powder turned to rocks due to the humidity but I needed some for a recipe I was making and got enough powder to make the rub. The boys had a ball transferring the tiny and the not-so-tiny rocks from one container to the other. They would have been entertained for hours but I cut them short to hopefully limit the mess I would have to clean up!

Maxwell turned 18 months November 20th and went to nursery without a backward glance. There are a couple of 'rough' boys in there that have made it a bit harder for him to be excited to go to nursery but overall Maxwell seems to enjoy it.

McKay and his cars sat on his stool looking out the window and waiting for Nanna Anna, Grandpa and Chantelle to arrive for Thanksgiving. After about an hour we called to see where they were. Grandpa told McKay what time they would be there according to the GPS so he got the clock from the bathroom and notified me each time it got a little closer the time Grandpa told him. I knew they had arrived when I heard McKay run out the door to greet them. Excited? I think so.

I did a terrible job of taking pictures while they were here so most of what I have is what my mom took. They arrived on Wednesday and on Thursday we had a delicious Thanksgiving dinner once the turkey finally got done. It was nice relaxing and visiting. McKay loved having so many people to play hide-and-seek with. Friday we went to Old Town and ate at Coyote Cafe. Then we hurried over to the Mormon Battalion for a tour.

After the tour Mom and Dad went to Lancaster for a massage and we took senior pictures of Chantelle around Old Town and then with the sunset at the beach. Jordan & I enjoyed taking pictures of someone who smiles and does what you ask!

Panning for gold.
We spent Saturday at Sea World. Jordan finally had people who could go on rides with him (at least rides that don't go in circles) and it was nice having more laps at the shows and hands to hold between! We went to a 15 minute Polar Express in 4D and hit all the major shows: dolphins, sea lions, and Shamu. The boys and I were entertained by the penguins while the others went on one of the rides. The day was just warm enough that they were able to go on the 'wet' rides and not totally freeze. It was a lovely day!

McKay was very disappointed when it was time for them to leave. I forgot to remind him they were leaving on Sunday so it was a bit of a surprise. He is already asking when they will be back again or when we will be going to Arizona.
Thanks for visiting!

The new grass at the end of the month, after 3 1/2 weeks of growth. Not bad!

Primary Program

McKay was in his very first primary program yesterday and he did great! He had his part memorized which is no surprise considering how well he memorizes. It was "We lived with our Heavenly Father as His spirit children before we were born." He loved practicing it and would say it over and over and over again. When it was his turn he got up to the pulpit and said it loud and clear. As he finished there was an audible 'ahh' and chuckles. After the meeting we had several people tell us how much they enjoyed watching him sing all the songs, especially 'Praise to the Man' which is one of his favorites. The sunbeams were sitting in the front next to the pulpit so everyone could see him the whole time. We are so proud of him!

On another note, we were happy to be able to attend since have all had our turns being sick for the last 2 weeks!

Happy Halloween!

We haven't made cookies for a while so one Sunday evening Jordan and I decided to make some. As you can see above, the boys were so excited for the cookies to be done!

Where are the cookies??

Yay! The timer dinged!
I put Maxwell on the chair so I could get the cookies out of the oven without worrying about him and McKay went and sat next to him.

'I love chocolate chips!'

Check out the size of that pumpkin! 20 lbs! When we were at the pumpkin patch they showed the boys where the pumpkin's bellybutton is and Max loves to point it out.

The Saturday before Halloween we went to Sea World to see their Spooktacular Shows. We went to see a Pirate show in 4D. McKay liked it until the very end. Then he wanted to leave immediately. The bad pirate got a little too mean.

We enjoyed a couple other shows and the boys did a little trick-or treating.

After a loooonng wait in line, McKay and Jordan finally got to go on the Elmo ride. Max wanted to go too but I wasn't about to go with him!

For family home evening Jordan and the boys carved the pumpkin. McKay remembered carving the pumpkin last year and knew exactly how he wanted it to look this year.

He always makes this face when he is carving or doing other things that require the same amount of concentration and precision.

Maxwell didn't love the carving part. Nothing to do but watch and wait...

Maxwell wasn't too sure about touching the slimy stuff at first but he got into it... and made sure nothing stayed on the table if they happened to miss the bowl.

It was dark in the room so I didn't know McKay was doing this until I saw the picture later.

Our ward had a dinner and then trunk-or-treat this year. McKay knew exactly what to do and most people could tell what he was right away. Maxwell caught on quickly. He wasn't too sure when Jordan gave him a bite of chocolate so he just took a bit. He said 'mmm' as only Max can and opened up wide for another bite!

Front - notice the line of mailboxes along the road. McKay picked where each car should go.

After I took these pictures I added a tent and campfire that you can see in the picture above. I thought this would be a breeze compared to the christmas tree last year. It wasn't as difficult but it turned out to be harder than I thought it would be. Hopefully McKay will pick something a little easier next year!

This is the back. McKay chose Jessie to be the rock climber. He initially chose Buzz but after I warned him there was a chance he could get lost, he immediately changed his mind.

McKay wore his costume to pre-school so I let Maxwell wear his costume to take McKay to school. Halloween evening we took the boys to a few houses in the cul-de-sacs near our home. McKay was all business and said 'thank you' at each house. Max said thank you sometimes but he always waved and said his sweet little 'byen', sometimes several times, which of course made most people smile and 'ahhh'. It made Jordan and I smile every time.

We got home and McKay was anxious to finish trick-or-treating inside (hand out candy) and anxiously looked out the door for the next people to come.

After putting way the clean silverware (McKay's job) he offered to help me with the dishes. Maxwell woke up before I could finish so McKay ended up doing them for me. He did a good job too!

Tuesday Morning, November 1st, McKay woke up with a croupy cough and sore throat. We haven't left the house yet. So far Maxwell has escaped sickness but he has been taking nice long naps; he usually sleeps 2 1/2 hrs but I've been getting 3 this week. I haven't fared quite as well and am hoping to get some sleep tonight!
Here McKay is trying to take a nap... in his box. He tried for quite a while but didn't ever succeed. The boys have had SO MUCH FUN playing in this box. It will be a sad day when it falls apart!