18 Months, WOW

I can't believe 18 months ago my little boys were tiny, 5 lb babies. Time has gone so fast! I am grateful each day to have these two in my home. They are the sweetest little guys ever. They are healthy and happy and so much fun to be with.

Taylor is so content in the things he does. He is learning so much and watches everything we do. He is keeping it all in his mind and will come back to it later. He is so funny and loves to laugh. He is so smart and loves books, cars, and his brother.

Braxton is full of energy. He is constantly on the go and hardly ever sits still. He has an attitude and gets mad when things don't go his way. He is a great brother and always helps Taylor out. He keeps us laughing with his funny personality and keeps us on our toes.

I wrote down a lot of the things I want to remember.

Words they say: Mom, Dad, ball, jump, good job, ah-oh, diaper, stinky, look, yes, NO, this, purple, blue, car, 1-2-3-go, yum, milk, snack, football, touchdown, juice, thank you, Pa Pa, hi, hello, goodbye, bye bye, bonk, crash, nose, more, knock-knock,bath. They will try to repeat anything you say to them and sometimes will shock us with what they listened to us say by saying it back. Hmmm, we better watch what we say with these two around

Things they do: climb up the couch and chairs, go down slides, walk up and down stair (with help), jump, dance, throw a ball hard, get a diaper when asked, throw things away, bring things to us when asked, get blankets and binkis for each other, tell us when they want to watch tv, take us to where we keep the binkis if one is wanted (they know all the spots to check for them), bring books for us to read, catch balls, give us their binkis when we ask for them, know what a nose is, bark like a dog, read books to each other, sing/do actions to head, shoulders, knees, and toes, love to sing, play pat-a-cake with their feet, dip all their food, say mmmm when they like something, tackle and wrestle each other and us, love to be tickled, love walking on us if we are on the floor, give kisses, run, say sorry and rub each others heads, try summer salts, love to flip over my head (Uncle Heath's trick), push cars under our legs or just climb through our legs, love to tease, shut doors, blow bubbles in the water

Things they love: Justin's whiskers, blankies, binkis, wrestling, chocolate milk, ketchup, hot dogs, cheese, chips, dips, pickles, M&M's, coloring, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Little Einsteins, Handy Manny, Ducktales, Shrek, books, cars, animals (pretend ones), Taylor loves his shoes, socks and hats and get mad when we take them off, bath time

Things Taylor doesn't like: wheat bread, crust, He is pretty much the easiest kid to feed. He loves to eat! Being left in nursery

Things Braxton doesn't like: shoes, socks, hats, cottage cheese, apple peals, wheat bread. He is also easy to please but don't think for a minute that he will keep his shoes and socks on. He is just like his mom!

Nicknames that have stuck:

Taylor: Taylor bug, Tator tot, Tay, T, Taylor-man,

Braxton: Brax, B, Beazer, Braxamous,

We love you two monkeys!

Black Friday Shopping

Friday morning started out early for me. Leslie and I were out the door at 7 (not so early but still too early for me) and headed down to the mall. We got there and no one was there. Macy's was the only store open until 8 so we shopped Macy's until 8. Gymboree had a few great deals but I didn't take them up on much. I would have loved to but I had to keep the spending down to a minimum :-) I can always shop clothes for my boys at Gymboree. After the mall we went to Old Navy and that store was crazy busy! The line was 2/3 a way through the store. It went fast and I ended up with a fleece for Justin. Still nothing for me. I shop like that a lot. I find everything I want for everyone but me. SIGH. :-) We hit Target where I spent 25 dollars for 80 dollars worth of stuff. It wasn't so picked over that we still got a few of the good deals when we got there. Last but not least was Joanns. I LOVE fabric! The snuggle fabric was 1.50 a yard which was great. i got 70 dollars worth of fabric for 20 bucks. Watch out Grandma, I need to get it to you to have your lady put the holes in it so I can stitch around the edges. No avoiding me now :-) In all we had a great time out and about with out the little ones. We have great husbands that were lucky enough to stay home with them. Our trunk after shopping. I thought we did great! Not to little and not too much! All the fun fabric I got for blankets.

Who wants to go next year?? :-)

Thanksgiving Day

We had a great Thanksgiving with friends this year. Everyone had their assignments and it all turned out great! We did THREE small turkey breasts to make sure there were lots of left overs. Thanks everyone for the fun time!

The tableThe yummy buffet of foodTaylor and Braxton enjoying their first real Thanksgiving dinnerDad and the boysThe famThe aftermath of a great dinner. What a mess!

After dinner and pie we decorated ginger bread houses. Taylor and Braxton ate their houses before they could even put candy on it. My houses had MAJOR trauma! I put it together a few days before so it was sitting in my kitchen. I dropped a bowl on it, a high chair tray and broke the side when I tried to move it. My poor house had a rough start and ended pretty bad too. The frosting I used (from the kit) didn't work AT ALL! Don't ever get the Wonka Kit. The frosting was no good. My house was covered in extra frosting and didn't turn out too cute. I have to say that I love the Necco roof with the little piece missing.

Anyhow, we had a great Thanksgiving but can't wait to be home for Christmas. We missed our families.

I am grateful today for many things. The Gospel, Justin, my boys that are crying :-), their blankies that make everything better, FAMILY that we miss, friends here in Spokane, friends we miss, my apartment, my car, interent, blogging, doing my first Thanksgiving dinner, giggles from my boys, children that learn new things each day, my camera to capture cute moments of my boys, heat to keep us warm (it's so cold today), Justin almost done with school, yummy sticky buns that are cooking. I am grateful for everyone and everything in my life.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

Poor persons Chuck E Cheese

McDonald's

We have been talking about going to Chuck E Cheese and today was going to be the perfect day because Justin didn't have class. As it got closer we had to make a change in our plans. We took the boys to McDonald's for breakfast and let them run around the play place for a while. They had a great time and didn't even care that it wasn't Chuck E Cheese :-)

Taylor and Braxton, no smiles! (If you click on the picture to make it bigger you can see that Justin did their hair today! It was organized chaos as he called it)
Brax
Tay

Any time one of them gets hurt or the other is mean they say they are sorry by rubbing each others heads. I am not sure where the picked up on it but it is so stinkin' cute to see them rub each others head. "Sorry" that you fell brother!

Cupcakes

The other day we made these cute Turkey cupcakes. The boys loved it! Well, they loved eating all the candy corn and then ate the cupcake before we could finish!
Braxton

Taylor

Trying something new

Over the last few days I have been trying to figure out a new header for my blog. Then I decided with a new header I needed a new background. Then it all got changed :-) I don't have a family picture that I wanted to use for my header so for now the Hatch Family of Four only shows pictures of the cutest members of the fam. HA HA It may change a few times in the next few days so bear with me.

I have been a bad blogger lately. I haven't been super busy just haven't wanted to blog. Seems like that is becoming the norm. Well, I always have cute pictures of my boys so I will be better. Saturday Justin was home so I took full advantage before finals start! I went to the morning movie with some friends and saw... Twilight of course! Loved it! We went to Red Robin after for lunch! I always get the same thing but I decided on a cheeseburger instead and it was so yummy! (My mouth is watering just thinking about it) So good! That afternoon was the BYU/Utah football game so Justin headed out to the Bar (ha ha) and watched the game with his friends. Amy and I took our kids to the play place at the mall. My boys love it out there. They have so much fun running wild and playing on the slide. Great winter activity. We will probably be there lots!

On to the pictures. They have nothing to do with Saturday but are my boys being boys!Taylor and Braxton love to play with my wallet. They take out all my cards and what little money there is. I guess I have to watch out before they learn what they do!! :-) They are going to be great shoppers!Taylor was sitting on the table with a book so Brax had to be up there too. They are only shirtless cause it was bath time. They do love to run around with out clothes though!Sunday Taylor and Justin made cookies while Brax was sleeping and I was watching the final season of Gilmore Girls. Yes, I will admit I love that show! Shhhh.. Don't tell! Taylor loved making the cookies and watching the mixer go. He liked them even better when he got one with milk! (Justin makes GREAT cookies) NOSE!

Kisses to Grandma! Thanks for the shirts and candy

Taylor and Braxton got a little package from Grandma yesterday. They loved the shirts. We had to try them on. They played with the little M&M guy for an hour. When we opened it the M&M's were in little pieces but they loved them anyways! M&M's are one of their favorite treats!

(Thanks for the blocks too mom. They are turning out super cute!)

Yummie Bread

Over the summer we were extremely spoiled with Clarine making bread all the time! It tastes so much better then it looks and it looks pretty darn good! I am pretty sure its no family secret recipe so here is an easy, way yummy bread. If I can make it, anyone can!

1 C, warm, almost hot water

1 packet of yeast (if you use yeast in a bottle it would take 2 1/4 tsp)

Let sit for about 3 minutes.

Add:

1/4 C oil

1/4 C honey

1/3 C milk

1 1/4 tsp salt

Mix until combined

Add up to 3 1/2 C of Wheat flour- dough should pull away from the sides of the bowl but should still feel stick. (I use all 3 1/2 C)

Knead for 8-10 minutes (I let my kitchenaid do the work!)

Place dough in a bowl spray with Pam. Cover and let raise for anhour

Remove from bowla nd roll into a loaf shape, Place in a greases bread pan and cover.

Let it rise for another hour.

Cook at 350 for 20 minutes. Cover with foil and cook for another 20 minutes.

Makes 1 loaf.

IT IS SO GOOD! TRY IT!

Little Hair Stylists

It started out with Taylor playing with my hair with his fingers. He does it all the time but then Brax decdied it would be fun to play too! Justin was nice enough to go get them a comb and brush and they continued with the hair do. Brax even decided to give Justin a new style. Thanks for making us pretty boys!!

Oh my boys

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Tonight after we got home from watching the Gonzaga game we decided to have a family movie night! We rented Kung-Fu Panda and had popcorn and skittles (not the best with popcorn but we didn't have M&M's). The boys watched for about 30 minutes and then played until the last 5 minutes when they decided to watch. They loved the popcorn. As we were starting the movie I asked Taylor to sit down so I could get his picture and this is what I got... As soon as I was done he ran up to me to see the picture I had taken.
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These are our family Christmas pictures...

Ok, not really but that is what I wanted to take pictures for and they were not having it. They HATE pictures when I want them to look at me. Hmmm. What other kind of pictures do I want?? They cried and ran the other way! So I guess we will try again tomorrow :-)

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The other day I was reading the boys a book and sitting on the toy box. When I was done they wanted to sit and read.

I asked Braxton to smile and here he is... CheeseThis is my favorite. His big old CHEESY grin with the stupid binki. I tried to take it out but then he wouldn't smile, just a glare. Oh how I hate the binki! I've tried to take it but then they both started teething (they are both getting FOUR teeth!)

***

Yesterday was such a LONG day! The boys were going crazy and after the 10th time cleaning up the movies I decided we needed to get out. We went down to McDonald's and the boys had a blast running around and playing. I couldn't get them to climb up to the slide but maybe next time. So this is pretty pathetic to be blogging about but it is a milestone in my life :-) I am FINALLY getting rid of these shoes. I have had them so long and they are so comfortable but they were completely trashed. They have no traction on them and the other night at the store I was sliding on the tile so I came home and threw them away. I have been tempted to take them out of the garbage and put them back in my closet but I have held strong.

I will miss you my favorite shoes! :-) ha ha

How cool do I feel!

Thanks Heather for making my day a little brighter!

There are a few rules to go with this award so I better do my part! Rules: List 6 things you love and then give a way 6 ( I added the 6 because I have to limit myself or I could go on and on) Creative Blogger Awards to those that I think are creative.

Here we go...

#1. Justin is my number 1! He is a great husband and my best friend. He always makes me laugh , especially when I'm grumpy (me? grumpy? who would have thought) and I don't want to. He always knows just what I need. He forgives me when there is a big pile of dishes, laundry, and toys everywhere and all I have done is play all day. He is the best dad to my wild and crazy boys.

#2. Taylor and Braxton are my favorite little guys ever!! They are so much fun and so much work! They always keep me on my toes and amaze me with the things they know! They are so smart!

(I FINALLY finished this quilt today! I have had it ready for a month just never did the binding. I think that is the worst part of quilting)
#3. Spokane. It may not be the nicest city but I love it here. The weather is usually pretty good. Kinda like Idaho Falls with NO WIND! Being away from family has given Justin and I an opportunity to learn so much about marriage and about each other. My apartment is getting smaller every day (or I just am getting more crap) but it is a nice place. We have great neighbors and other awesome people around us.

#4. Family and Friends. My families are amazing. I look up to each and every person in both mine and Justin's family so much! Everyone is so different but great at the things they do. I love you all!
I have great friends all around the country. Even though we are far apart I love that I can talk to all of you and still feel like we never were gone. My friends here in Spokane keep me sane and always keep me laughing. You guys are all great!

#5. My sewing machine. I love sewing. I love fabric. It is so addicting and so fun to see what I can create.

#6. Even though I want to trade it in for a newer model (shhhhh) I love my camera. It was the greatest surprise to get a new camera when meeting my family on vacation. It has brought so much joy and so much family bonding and learning. Thanks!!

DRUM ROLL PLEASE... I give this award to...

...My Mom! If you have ever met her you know she is probably the most creative person. I copy everything she does. If someone compliments something I have done I usually have to tell them it was because of her. Thanks for passing a little creativity my way.

...Sarah. You are creative in everything you do! I hate having to keep up with my sisters! They always leave me in the dust with the things they are doing.

...Emily. I know you already got this award so feel extra special that you get it twice. I learn so much from you all the time. I hope one day my house can be cute like yours.

...Taryn. Are you still around?? :-) If you ever have seen her blog you would know why I think this girl deserves this!! So creative and fun!

...Camille. Who doesn't know Camille? She is the one that got me into sewing and all she had to do was mention it to me and I was hooked!

...Grandma Merrill. Grandma took me in and taught me how to crochet around blankets. I used to drive to Preston on my days off and we would spend it looking at fun fabrics and she would teach me to stitch around blankets. She was so patient with me cause I will admit I am a slow learner.

Thanks to all for listening to my long ramblings and forever long post!