Master Builders

Clearly the Lego sets Parker and Conway got for Christmas were a hit. 😀

Merry Christmas!

Christmas didn't start out all that great this year as Parker was feeling too sick to come to the candle light Christmas Eve service at church and later that night was taken to the hospital because we thought he might have appendicitis. Well, they never did find out why his stomach was in so much pain, but after spending most of the night in the hospital, he and David came home and then rallied on Christmas morning. We opened Christmas presents together with Grandma Dianna and Grandpa Terry and then we drove down to Camas to see Grandma Connie, Grandpa Bob and a whole host of aunts, uncles, and cousins. It may not be a Christmas that goes down in the record books as the most healthy, or the most relaxing, but we did get to see the kids experience the magic of Christmas and enjoy time with our families...and the kids got absolutely spoiled with presents.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

{Parker was very concerned that Santa wouldn't visit us if he went to bed early or went to the hospital.}

{"Hey Batman, have you seen Conway anywhere?" This was definitely one of Conway's favorite gifts. Nice work Parker!}

{Cute or creepy? Monroe got a baby doll for Christmas.} 

{So tired after spending the night in the hospital}

{Cousinland Craziness}

P.S. Merry Christmas 2016, Merry Christmas 2015, Merry Christmas 2014

Winter in Chelan

It's always fun to make a trip to Chelan in the winter for some frolicking in the snow. This time we were joined by the Hueys plus Aunt Sarah, Cousin Philip, and Cousin Samantha. There wasn't quite as much snow as there has been in past years, but still plenty for snowball fights, a little bit of sledding, and lots of football and s'mores.

P.S. Christmas Break in Chelan 2016

Waiting Is Not Easy

Oh, advent - a season of waiting! Waiting is generally not easy for the Totten boys, but when the wait for Christmas is filled with activities like making cookies, decorating gingerbread houses, making garland to decorate the house, and painting strings of Christmas lights to use as Christmas cards, the wait is actually pretty fun.  

Hello Santa!

A visit with Santa plus snow falling inside Pacific Place?! Not a bad afternoon for the Totten boys.

P.S. Hey Santa

Christmas Jammies

P.S. Christmas Jammies 2016

Monroe Is 18 Months Old

Monroe's 18 Month Old Stats

Height/Length: 34in (93%)

Weight: 30lb (97%)

Head Circumference: 18.9in (67%)

Monroe is one and a half and he is as energetic and physical as ever! His greatest loves are balls, babies, dogs (or really any animal), and his brothers. He loves giving high fives and hugs and both generally end in tackles, which Parker gets a pretty big kick out of...Conway does not.

Monroe has basically mastered going up and down stairs, which is really nice because now he can navigate his way down the stairs to the basement to play with his brothers. In fact, if someone says, "lets go play downstairs" Monroe generally takes off running toward that door. He has a few different strategies for getting down the stairs, some safer than others. When he's really in a hurry he basically lays on his belly and simply slides feet first all the way down. It's pretty funny to watch actually.

He has also gotten much more stable on his feet recently. He does still take his fair share of tumbles (with the scratches, bumps, and bruises to prove it), but now it looks less like he's being taken out by a sniper and more about him just being reckless. He generally gets from place to place by running and when you see him coming you better brace yourself or get out of his way because Monroe is built like a linebacker and he views life as a contact sport. He's also recently figured out how to walk backwards, which he seems pretty proud of and he loves to dance with moves that tend to look like some sort of yoga pose.

At his 18 month check up he spent the entire time in the exam room emptying book bins, filling them again, climbing in and out of the bins, etc... At one point Dr. Hall took a deep breath and said, "Wow Monroe, you're busy!" Yep.

P.S. Monroe Is 15 Months Old, Conway is Eighteen Months Old, Parker Is 18 Months Old