Will and Tabi

Penelope Olivia Pettit

2012-01-05T20:02:00.000-08:00

Penelope Olivia Pettit

12/12/2011

7 lbs. 3 oz.

20 in.

Our little Penny arrived in record time just before Christmas, and she is perfect, absolutely perfect.

Save the Guy

2011-11-12T22:10:00.000-08:00

Liam and Dado have been on a movie making kick. Here is their most recent creation:

It truly was a full cooperative effort in both storyline and editing.

Happy Halloween!

2011-11-11T13:09:00.000-08:00

Liam has been learning all sorts of fun songs in Kindergarten. He even let me film him singing one! Here is the complete unedited version:

We hope you had a Happy Halloween too!

First Day of Kindergarten!

2011-08-31T16:27:00.000-07:00

Today was Liam's first day of Kindergarten! He had only the teeniest bit of a nervous look on his face as I said good-bye. He was ready and waiting for this day, mentally and physically. He had his new Clone Wars shirt, Lego Ninjago backpack, and Lego shoes. He loves what he loves, and now he has one more thing to love...SCHOOL.

On the way home this afternoon he chattered all about it. I don't know that I've ever heard the word "awesome" so many times in succession. He had a great day! High points of his day included "eating a troll!" (cookie) and being able to "play inside and outside!" He can't wait for tomorrow.

Guess Who Lost a Tooth!

2011-08-25T13:09:00.000-07:00

My baby's not a baby anymore! Liam surprised us by losing his first tooth just before starting Kindergarten! It was all he could talk about (with a slight lisp) for days.

"Look Mom! I can stick my finger in here!"

"Look Mom! My straw fits between my teeth!"

"Look Mom! I can see my new tooth growing in!"

Before the Tooth Fairy came, Liam kept asking me if I was the Tooth Fairy. I could honestly answer him that I had never in my entire life been a tooth fairy.

The real Tooth Fairy had lots of practice and came that night bringing a dollar's worth of quarters and a lot of sparkly pixie dust that stuck to Liam's face the next morning. (I'm still finding it in his hair.) Unfortunately, those quarters somehow slipped behind the bed before Liam woke up. "Mom, the Tooth Fairy took my tooth and didn't leave me anything!" Good thing she also left a note mentioning those quarters or we would have had a very bummed boy.

Just before breakfast Liam mentioned that maybe the tooth fairy was really his Kindergarten teacher and that she had used her magic wand to get into our house to quietly leave the quarters and sparkly dust. I told him to ask her all about it on his first day of school.

Liam Lullaby

2011-08-05T19:56:00.000-07:00

An unfortunate accident occurred this evening shortly after bedtime resulting in the changing of Liam's bedsheets. Not a huge deal, but Liam and Teagan now sleep in the same room. I warned Liam before returning to his bed that we had to be extra quiet as we changed the sheets because Tigi was trying to go to sleep. As we entered the room, Liam walked over to Tigi's crib, reached his sweet little hand through the bars and started to sing Teagan's favorite song "Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star" to her as he stroked her face.

The song ended before I was done changing the sheets, and Liam turned to me and said in a matter-of-fact voice, "Well, that didn't work," as he stared at his wide awake, but calm sister. I think he really expected her to fall asleep right then. I pointed out how calm he had made her and asked him to sing her another song while I finished up with the sheets. He broke out in "In the Tigi Room," our family's version of the famous Disneyland Tiki Room song. Part of his rendition goes a little like this, "All the birds sing words and the flowers grow..." He's convinced that's how it goes. Works for me. Tigi, on the other hand, is convinced the song is really about her. Again, works for me.

He ended his serenade with another variation on the Tiki Room theme. He came up with this one on his own. "In the tootie, tootie, tootie, tootie, tootie room." I think it may have been Tigi's favorite number of the night too as she soon joined in singing.

Liam the Fifth Turns Five!

2011-07-12T19:58:00.000-07:00

After weeks and weeks of postponing for this, that, and the other, we finally had Liam's birthday party! The weather in July was much more stable and warm than the precarious weather of May, so for the first time ever, Liam was able to have a swim party before breaking his traditional pinata. (Don't worry, we had a smaller, more personal, family celebration for Liam on his birthday.)

The theme for this year? What else? LEGOS! (Isn't Liam the cutest thing you ever did see!?)

(Surrounded by family!)

Before anyone gets funny ideas about me and birthdays, I'd better show you my Lego cake. I may have the patience to spend hours and hours on a pinata, but I have no patience for cakes. It might help if, for once in my life, I spent longer than the twenty minutes before the guests arrive decorating one. I don't work well under pressure. For once, the picture actually makes the cake look better than it really was.

Here's a little peek at the festivities:

(Seth's NBA-worthy leap to grab the rope for the pinata.)

(Poor guy. The pinata, not Will. Will rather enjoyed messing with the kids by controlling the movement of the pinata. After five years, he's a pro.)

(Oh, the carnage!)

(Oh, the sweetness!)

I think Liam really had a blast, and we are so excited that he gets to be our five-year-old. We sure love him.

Liam on Love

2011-07-10T20:41:00.000-07:00

Before I repeat the conversation that occurred between Liam and me, I have to explain that at the time "twenty-four" was the biggest number that could possibly exist according to Liam.

Liam: "Mom, do you love me more than twenty-four volcanoes?"
Mom: "Yes."
Liam: "More than twenty-four clouds?"
Mom: "Yes Liam."
Liam: "More than twenty-four pirates, twenty-four treasures, and twenty-four squids!?"
Mom: "You've got it."
Liam: "More than anything?"
Mom: "More than anything."

Contrast that with his comment a few days later:

Liam: "Mom, I love you more than Kleenex boxes. More than boogers."

I love you more than boogers too kiddo. Even more than twenty-four boogers.

Lego My Lego

2011-07-10T20:23:00.000-07:00

Liam and Dado have found a new love this past year: LEGOS. I'm not sure who enjoys them more, Liam or his Dad. We now spend many of our days building, destroying, and rebuilding. It's fun to have an activity that we all enjoy.

Liam has always had exceptional fine motor skills. (He has always been very good at getting into things!) It's nice to have a hobby that further develops those skills. It's also been very exciting to see him move from following instructions and replicating other's creations to creating his own increasingly complex masterpieces.

As a dear friend recently said, "You've got a real kid!" She meant it in relation to his age, and I have to agree that our years of toddlerhood and preschool are bittersweetly drawing to a close. Everyday he becomes a little more "little boy" and less preschooler.

Bear Lake Vacation

2011-06-20T15:52:00.000-07:00

Now that you've graduated from BYU Nanna, what are you going to do next? Go to Disneyland? No!? How about a trip to Montana? What there's still four feet of snow up there in June!? Fine. How about Bear Lake? Perfect, and let's take the WHOLE family too!

For the first time in years, my whole family took a vacation together. We rented this beautiful cabin up by Bear Lake where we had this fantastic view of the lake.

It was a nice "just-be" kind of vacation with a little "sight-see" vacation on the side.

Of course, what would a trip to the lake be without a little fishing?

(Seth practicing his "I caught the BIG one" pose.)

Sarah and Maddie did a little exploring. (Thank you "Momma Sah." Teagan kept all of us up the night before, and I was dragging this day. Tack on the allergy medication I was taking just to survive the pollen and you've got one tired Momma.)

Later, Teagan did a little exploring on her own and rediscovered her pockets.

Nanna enjoyed the surroundings.

Dado enjoyed his daughter.

(Why they call fishing a sport, I'll never know. There was a lot of sitting and waiting going on here.)

Finally a new location, some more casting and waiting, and wa-lah. Our niece, Maddie, caught the first and only fish. I'm still not sure if Maddie or Sarah was more excited.

Liam just loved being outside and casting over and over again. He'd been practicing for weeks.

Liam is going through a stage where he HATES getting his picture taken, so we were pleased to find so many smiling pictures of him from this trip. As he looked through them, he said, "I didn't know you were taking pictures." That just may explain everything...

(As a sidenote, some of my earliest memories are of Seth going through that same stage. I think every picture from the year we lived in D.C. features a scowling Sethy. I think he's finally matured past that stage.)

(Or not.)

Then, the party really started when the Tillmans arrived. We started with some serious game-playing.

(Some serious battle strategy going on here.)

...built some serious Lego creations,

...and ate some seriously good food! Yum, smores!

(Could our nephew Cael be any cuter?)

Next, a trip to the local Minnetonka Caves. Way cool, but it was way rainy and cold that day. Even colder in the caves. That may be why I missed taking pictures of that part. Or maybe it was the frantic rush to the potty back through the caves. We didn't make it. (By "we" I mean Liam and Dado, but mostly Liam.) I guess it's a good thing we were out in nature and that Liam's a boy. No clothes changing necessary. I knew I should have asked before we headed in. Momma fail.

For those planning on a visit to the caves, go potty before going in and be prepared to hold your toddlers and the hands of your younger children. It's a bit treacherous with all the climbing, steps, and slippery areas. Teagan was an angel, and I think she enjoyed it up to the point when she fell asleep in my arms. Poor tired girl.

She found her energy after lunch when we finally made our way to the beach.

It was cold and windy, but a blast.

The girls were brave enough to get in the water and roll driftwood back to shore.

Liam joined in and LOVED it.

Lizzy frolicked...

...and frolicked some more.

My dad and I did what we do best. Goofed off. Careful, you might need sunglasses when viewing those winter-white legs.

I figured if Liam could handle it, so could I so I joined in the fun. (Dado played cameraman and LOVED it.)

Pooper. Every party has to have one so I've heard. In his defense it was cold and windy and had been a LONG morning.

All in all, it was a great trip, and I hope we get to do it again.

Quotable Liam

2011-05-13T20:29:00.000-07:00

Liam: "Mom, monkeys are cooler than you...because they throw their poop."

Geronimo

2011-03-01T21:51:00.001-08:00

Tonight I snuck into Liam's room where he lay sleeping to lotion his poor chapped paws. As I slathered his skin with lotion, he stirred, squinted at me, and said, "Geronimo." Then he smiled and turned over.

Surprise

2011-02-25T11:23:00.001-08:00

After a night of interrupted sleep thanks to our little miss, I was a little slow in waking up. I didn't realize how slow until Liam walked in looking like this:

"I'm Harry Potter," he announced proudly.

I admit, I did praise him for his well-drawn lightning bolt and allowed him to wear it all day. After all, we weren't going anywhere. We did, however, have a discussion about drawing on ourselves. Thankfully, it was a washable marker.

Mushy.

2011-02-12T22:46:00.000-08:00

I'm not really one to get all mushy, but I just have to say that I love being married to my husband. Life with Will is always exciting. Just ask the kids. No one can get down on their level and play pretend like he can. (Or for as long as he can for that matter!)

He is patient, understanding, and supportive. The calm to my anxiety. The yin to my yang. My best friend and most trusted adviser.

Every night before bed Will affirms how much he loves being a dad, and it is obvious in the love he shows for our children. There is never any doubt in my mind that he loves us more than anything, and we sure love him back.

2011-01-18T20:14:00.001-08:00

Someone woke up from a nap today with an explosion of happiness...on her head!

M and M

2010-11-08T22:12:00.001-08:00

Apparently the whole "melt in your mouth, not in your hand" rule doesn't apply to the blue M and M's.

Bedtime Stories

2010-11-03T22:25:00.001-07:00

This is just to document the part of our daily bedtime routine that melts my heart.

If I Die Young

2010-11-03T22:21:00.001-07:00

One day while walking through Target, Will picked up a cute storage bin, looked at me, and said, "If you died, and I passed by a container like this, I'd think of you and miss you."

How romantic...in a morbid sort of way.

Must be genetic. After all, nothing says love like a deceased insect.

I Wish

2010-11-02T23:51:00.001-07:00

I wish I could say that was me curled up on my bed for a nap.
But I can't.

I wish I could say that wasn't actually a great big pile of clean laundry rolled up in an equally clean comforter (cleaned due to a late night nosebleed.)
But I can't.

I wish I could say the existence of a giant pile of clean laundry wasn't a regular occurrence in our house.
But I can't.

I wish I could say that Liam hasn't noticed its regular occurrence and learned to bury himself and his toys within it.
But I can't.

I wish I could say a load wasn't awaiting me right this second.
But I can't.

Shoot.

Been a While

2010-11-02T23:39:00.001-07:00

I've decided that it is absolutely shameful that the posts from this Halloween might very well end up on the same webpage as those from last Halloween because I haven't written enough in the past year to push last year's post down to the "older posts" category.

I'll try my best to remedy that.

We'll start with this cute little girl who is growing up faster than I am ready for despite the fact that she apparently likes to pretend to be a baby while being pushed around in her cousin's play stroller and sucking on a pilfered binkie.

We put her in it originally as a joke and pushed it around, amazed that she fit. Then, I went to pull her out thinking that she might be uncomfortable, and she cried and cried until she was returned to her place of honor.

Silly girl. How I love her.

I love how she loves to laugh anytime she hears laughter even though she may not know what is so funny.

I love that she gets so sad when she thinks she's in trouble. One stern, "No," and she melts into tears. She reminds me of her auntie who did likewise as a child when her behavior chart's smile turned upside down.

I love how she gets right up in your face, touching noses, when she wants your attention.

I love how she loves attention and has to get it from everyone possible. Exhibit A: One day while sitting in church in the back of the chapel because of course we were late again, Teagan stood up on her chair and smiled at the entire back row all of whom with the exception of one guy were smiling back. Tigi then focused her attention on him. Gave him a huge smile to which he was unresponsive. (His shoes must have been very interesting for they held his gaze.) Then, undaunted Teagan refocused her efforts, stared him down and called out, "Aaah!" He looked up startled, then smiled at the source of commotion. The source proudly smiled back, and once again surveyed her conquest giving all her subjects a royal smirk.

I love her.

My Little Boy

2010-06-01T09:03:00.000-07:00

Liam is growing up way too quickly, but he still says a few things that let me know he is still my little boy. For instance:

"I'm gonna fight like a enja!" (enja=ninja)
"Maybe we should read the destructions." (destructions=instructions)
"And then it desploaded!" (desploaded=exploded)
"Mom, can we play Mario brudders." (brudders=brothers)

And my most recent favorite:
"Mom, don't be scared of that bug. I can swatter it." (swatter=swat)

Successful Dentist Trip

2010-05-22T11:52:00.001-07:00

Liam went to his first official dentist appointment. He was a little nervous but did very well. It apparently made a big impression on him because on the way home we discovered that he had opened his new toothbrush and toothpaste and had begun to brush his teeth. (No coersion on our part.)

He didn't stop there. Out came the floss.

Eat your heart out Uncle Nate.

How Do I Love Thee? Let Me Count the Flies

2010-02-03T19:54:00.000-08:00

Tonight Liam and I painted Valentines. He really wanted to paint one for his little sister. After painting the letters of her name, he asked what he should paint next. I suggested a heart or a design. He looked at me, and then slowly responded, "Or I could paint a dead fly," which he promptly did.

Nothing says "love" like a deceased insect.

Smile

2010-02-02T19:22:00.001-08:00

Hey Liam, can you make Tigi smile?

Yep.

I'm decorating.

2010-02-02T19:20:00.001-08:00

Here's what I found a few weeks back when Liam announced he was "decorating."

He must get his decorating sense from his Aunt Rachel who hung her dollies from the stairs.

Hmm

2010-02-02T19:11:00.000-08:00

While walking through a bookstore a few weeks ago Liam picked this book out for me. I'm still trying to pretend I don't know what he was getting at.

Never Leave a Three Year Old for Long...

2010-01-31T07:11:00.000-08:00

Or you may just find him here...

...standing in front of an overflowing sink...

...happily floating sponge boats.

Still here

2010-01-30T18:29:00.000-08:00

We're still here just plugging along with two adorable children.

Somedays are a little more like this:

But over all, life is good just a lot less blogged about.

The impossible can become possible...

2009-11-15T16:12:00.000-08:00

...if you're awesome." -Rhino the hamster

Speaking of impossible or rather nigh unto...here is the much anticipated Halloween post. Blogging has been at the bottom of my list and the back of my mind for a while now. Laundry, however, has been up to my ears and in front of my eyes...both clean and dirty. Liam is convinced that clean laundry on the couch makes a great hideout to tunnel into. Says something about how often it's there now doesn't it? I'm great at the washing and drying part thanks to good ol' Maytag but the folding and putting away need improvement. I am happy to report that tonight the laundry is all folded and ready to be put away in the morning. That is if it escapes further tunneling by my little three-year-old mole.

Laundry, hmm? I felt so focused when I started this post.

Let's move on to the pictures, shall we?

This year's theme: Disney's Bolt. Liam is, of course, the titular character, Mommy the female supporting role, Penny, Teagie the adorable one, a cat named Mittens, and Daddy, the villain known as the "Green-eyed Man."

Trick-or-treating started at our house, of course, with one last practice round before hittin' the neighbors up for treats. Can't let all the other kids get all our candy right?

Obviously it was quite the exciting experience for Teagie who spent most of the night like this:

But she looked fabulous anyway. (Name that Pixar movie reference. It becomes easier when you have a three year old. Trust me.)

...and the resemblance was uncanny.

Mommy and Liam weren't half bad either.

Great weather, great friends, great treats. What more could we ask for? A bigger Halloween sack perhaps?

Pure awesome-ness. Be-awesome-ness.

She's Here!

2009-09-25T17:43:00.001-07:00

Teagan Rose
9.9.09 at 9:39 P.M.
6 pounds 8 ounces
19.5 inches

Goodbye Green Goblin :(

2009-06-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

Last night after a surprise knock at the door and an offer to buy it, we bid farewell to the "Green Goblin that said 'AHE'" (a.k.a.the '92 Blazer).

It was our first car, and it was hard to see it go. It was the car Will and I read scriptures in every night during the year we were engaged, the car we drove away from La Grande in after our wedding reception, the car we brought Liam home from the hospital in.

Sigh.

I know it's just a car..."it has no feelings, and the new one is much bettah."

Still...

At least I know that the Green Goblin lives on through cameos in almost every home movie we've ever made.

Out of the Mouths of Babes #4

2009-05-21T18:38:00.000-07:00

Liam (with exposed belly) uttered the following in serious super-hero tones:

Super, SUPER, belly button blaster!

Out of the Mouths of Babes #3

2009-05-20T18:34:00.000-07:00

As I finished replacing a sprinkler the other day, Liam, somehow managed to open our sticky front door whereupon he discovered a baby bottle filled with what he believed was water. He promptly took a gulp from the oh-so-tempting container discarding the paper funnel stuck in the nipple-less bottle top. I looked up to see him at the front window with tongue hanging and drool crippling down his little chin. I quickly came to his aid, assessed the situation, and discovered the demise of my VINEGAR filled fruit fly trap and the subsequent surprise of my three-year-old! Poor kid!

FYI Apple cider vinegar, a little dish soap, and water in a small dish attracts and kills fruit flies like no other. Regular "water-look-alike" vinegar...not so much.

This was my first and most likely last attempt with the funnel method. Apple cider vinegar might work better I'm sure, but that could easily be mistaken as apple juice!

Out of the Mouths of Babes #2

2009-05-19T18:32:00.001-07:00

Liam: Momma, when the baby cracks (like an egg, most likely of the dinosaur variety), we could play wiffit.

Momma: Well, (laughing) babies don't really crack. They kind of...uh...slide out.

Liam: The baby'll swide out, go "WHEEEE," and THEN we could play wiffit.

Guess Who's Three!

2009-05-03T15:18:00.000-07:00

It's a...

2009-05-02T07:27:00.000-07:00

GIRL!

Yippee! I'm not boy trapped anymore! (For those of you unfamiliar with this phrase because you have not spoken to an elementary age girl lately, "boy trapped" refers to a girl sandwiched between two boys when sitting at the lunch table or in any other circumstance. Such an occurrence can result in the disastrous transference of cooties and swine flu.)

What's that? "Names?" you ask? Good question. Really good question. I'm having a hard time with that, but enjoying the uncertainty this time. Liam's name was pretty set in stone, so it's nice to have a change, and you know I can't wait for little dresses!

Out of the Mouths of Babes #1

2009-04-08T21:24:00.000-07:00

If you had been a fly on our wall this evening for family scripture study (with the children's reader), you would have overheard the following:

Will (pointing to a picture of two men standing in the water preparing to get baptized): "Liam, what are those two men doing in the water?"

Liam in a surprised and nearly appalled voice: "They're getting their pants wet."

Living with Boys

2009-04-01T07:06:00.000-07:00

This seems to be the week of me finding pictures on the computer! Here's the latest found on our desktop:

Take a second look. Click on it to see a larger version if you must. We're not alone.

See what I mean. Boys.

I wouldn't have it any other way.

(I won't be surprised if the next one's a boy too.)

Zurg

2009-03-30T07:50:00.000-07:00

Dear Zurg,

Shame on you! I thought you were Liam's friend. Why do you insist on making appearances in his dreams...or rather, his nightmares?!

Last night at 3 AM the poor child woke up calling, "DADDY!" Apparently, you'd made your appearance and frightened the little dear so badly that he woke up and called for protection. After installing Buzz Lightyear at the head of his bed and saying a little prayer, Liam finally decided to fall back to sleep. A faster resolution than expected, but still...

Haven't we been good to you? When you first broke and we told Liam that maybe Papa could fix you, didn't Liam take one look at Papa when he arrived and run from the room to fetch you for your repair appointment? Then, when you finally broke beyond repair, didn't we go out the very next day and replace you because Liam couldn't live without you for even that long? For goodness sake, Liam wants to be you for Halloween next year! Could you cut the kid a little slack and just behave yourself?!

Sincerely,
Mommy

Evidence

2009-03-27T08:48:00.001-07:00

I discovered these pictures on the camera this morning.

I'd like to think that the sharks are devouring an octopus...maybe not the most pleasant idea, but more pleasant than what I believe is the actual case.

Part of me just knows that that's no octopus...those are intestines.

The two pink fish halves prove my point. They would have to be pink, wouldn't they?

Oh, the things I've learned living with boys.

Fun with Daddy

2009-02-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

Daddy always comes up with the best games. Today, we got to play pirates! We each designed our own costumes. I got the award for "Most Creative Use of an Empty Ritz Cracker Box." It's a very prestigious award, and I may be the only one to have EVER received it! We look pretty ferocious, eh?

-Liam

When It Rains, It Pours!

2009-01-26T16:02:00.000-08:00

Apparently, it pours right down the inside of the walls in our house! Here is the current condition of our bathroom:

Those are two big fans and a dehumidifier whose NOISE rivals a brigade of jackhammers. They have to be kept running constantly to try and dry out our bathroom so that some water damage from a leaking roof can be fixed. The good news is...it wasn't the toilet, no mold upstairs, and now I can repaint the bathroom.

Seth is HOME!

2009-01-24T12:59:00.000-08:00

Last week, my brother came home from his two-year mission in Oregon for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Here we are waiting for him at the airport in our matching t-shirts. (The pattern matches if not the color!) He's the only one in our immediate family who has served a mission and we are so proud of him. We just had to go all out. So much for Mom not wanting to be a spectacle! I only wish we'd kicked up more of a ruckus when he came down the escalator!

Welcome home Seth! We know you are ecstatic about being home!

More and MORE Christmas Snow

2008-12-27T15:53:00.000-08:00

This year we celebrated Christmas Hoffer-style. It snowed the entire week before giving us the first "White Christmas" we've ever had.

We slept at my sister's house on Christmas Eve with most of the grandchildren. Amazingly, they all went to sleep quickly and didn't wake up too early with the exception of Maddie who, like me, was so excited that she couldn't help but wake up a couple of times during the night. Sheesh, you'd think that after all these years I'd grow up and be able to sleep through the night, but no. I'm as bad as when I was seven!

Christmas morning we put on our coats and got ready to go to Nanna and Papa's house two blocks away (Maddie made her mom promise ahead of time to go before showering to save time). As we opened the garage door, this is what we found:

We knew it had snowed, but we didn't realize how much! Sarah carried the kids to the car while Will scraped off the car and got it warmed up. (Those are Maddie's feet swinging in the picture below!) We decided to cram into one car instead of taking two out in that treacherous snow. It was crazy getting to Nanna's house. We kept reminding the girls not to scream. That Sarah sure has a strong set of lungs. J/K Good thing it wasn't more than two blocks and that our gallant William got us there safely. He's so courageous!

It snowed all day. Papa couldn't help but get out and play in it even if it was still snowing! (That must be who I get it from.)

We went back to Sarah's house when it finally stopped snowing just before sunset to get a little sledding in before dark. It was Liam's first sledding experience and he LOVED it. "Again, again," was his mantra. My thighs protested and were burning after pulling, pushing, and carrying him back up the hill over and over. That was the only part of me that was burning though; everything else was frozen. We soon had to make the trek back to Sarah's house through snowdrifts up to the girls' waists. This is half of our sledding party in front of the pile of snow shoveled off Sarah's driveway:

Merry Christmas!

2008-12-25T08:30:00.000-08:00

Merry VERY White Christmas!

Christmas Snow

2008-12-23T09:39:00.000-08:00

We have had so much snow this week! I haven't seen snow like this for years! We have about a foot of snow right outside our door. Will is finally beginning to appreciate it now that he doesn't have to drive to work in it. On the other hand, Liam and I have been giddy about it all week. We just had to get out and play in it so we bundled Liam up in his new SIZE 4T coat and his "monster pants" (snow pants). The monster pants were a big hit, and allowed Liam to enjoy the snow without getting wet or cold. He had so much fun. A big improvement from last year when he wouldn't even touch the stuff. (Here he is the first day it snowed being amazed by his footprints.)

We made a snowman and began an igloo (with the help of a couple of neighborhood friends). The snowman became the first casualty of the year when he was knocked down the next day by a five-year-old in the neighborhood. His big brother, who coincidentally helped build the igloo, made him apologize. They apologized to Sam downstairs. I think Sam was a little confused. I asked the five-year-old about it on Sunday at church and he denied the act of vandalism...but I don't think he realized it was my house. He later came with his brothers to deliver a Christmas treat from his mother so I consider the debt repayed.

The snow doesn't come without its treachery unfortunately, and I've seen four or five cars get stuck in the insanely deep gutter across the street already. The snow deceives a number of cars each year by hiding its depth. Our friend Greg and even our mailman got stuck. (That's our mailman and our half-done igloo which is how it remained for a few days while we waited for some nice wet snow so we (I) could finish it. Every child that stopped by on the way home from school asked when and how I was going to put the top on.)

Finally, it snowed six inches of great igloo snow yesterday, and I was able to finish! (I have to admit, I worked on it during Liam's precious nap time even though I had about a million other things I should have been working on. It was just so fun, and I knew the snow wouldn't last forever.) Here's a shot showing the scale of the igloo. Not the biggest, but pretty cute. The mailbox was Will's contribution to the project. Nice touch. Liam refers to the igloo as the "turtle sculpture." He must have picked up the word sculpture from his artist mother.

I was so excited to have it finished!

So were Liam and Will!

Happy Tanksgiving!

2008-12-09T21:22:00.001-08:00

Although my other posts might lead you to believe otherwise, the misspelled title of this one is purposeful. The Pettit family has a Thanksgiving banner that missed receiving an "H" during production. (Manufacturer's fault, not the Pettits' doing.) So now, every year at least one of the Pettits will wish us a "Happy Tanksgiving" in consequence.

This year Will, Liam, and I spent a lively "Tanksgiving" weekend in Vegas with Nate, Aubrey, and Aria. It was so much fun!

I finally got to see the sites in Vegas. I've only ever driven through before. The fountains at the Bellagio were amazingly beautiful. The Bellagio keeps their part of Vegas surprisingly clean, morally and physically! I was pleasantly surprised.

Here's our little stroller brigade.

Liam LOVED running around and dancing to the music playing. (How do you like our compromise on shirts? I always said I would never let my children wear character shirts. They just seemed tacky. Ha...that was before I had children. You know how that goes. Now I realize just how much Liam loves them, and I confess, I bought the Wall-E shirt for him personally! I still try to dress it up a bit though, hence the compromise with the collared shirt!)

Most of all it was so much fun spending time with Nate, Aubrey, and Aria. We really miss having them next door.

My Little Mouse

2008-11-21T22:19:00.000-08:00

Liam asked me to cut a piece of cheese for him yesterday. He carefully pulled the cheese from the fridge and lugged it my way. Lugged being the operative word because we buy the HUGE hunk of Tillamook cheddar cheese from Costco.

My hands were busy with something else so I asked him to wait a moment. Apparently I was asking too much of him because when I turned around he was trying to open the package himself...with his teeth. They certainly package that cheese well because with all the biting Liam did, amazingly there were no punctures in the plastic!

This story is especially funny considering that when Will brought home a box of powdered doughnuts about two weeks ago Liam tried to open them, and when he couldn't open the box, he tried to get at the doughnuts by licking the plastic window on the box.

Happy Halloween 2008

2008-11-02T21:05:00.000-08:00

This year we took our cue from Liam who is SO into Buzz Lightyear. I don't think anything else was even considered as a costume. Will was Woody and I was Bo Peep keeping with the Toy Story theme.

Even though I only had to make my costume and Will's, I was sewing up to the last minute. Thankfully, I got a great deal ($10) online for Liam's. And to top it all off, I got a wig this year! I've wanted a wig for forever.

We actually went trick or treating this year with Liam. It was slow going, and I don't think Liam really grasped the concept that every house was handing out candy. (It was a little traumatic when he realized we had to give some of our candy away too.) He was very social though and tried to go into every house we stopped at. For a short visit, no doubt. I think he'd even planned a short message and decided to leave with the parting words, "Is there anything we can do for you?"

Potty Training

2008-10-24T22:09:00.000-07:00

Yes, I know this photo is highly inappropriate and that someday Liam will be upset about me posting it. Nonetheless, here it is, and I LOVE it.

We are beginning toilet training in our house. We're taking it slow, really slow. I don't know if we can really even say we've started yet. More like tested the waters. I've honestly been dreading it and dragging my feet all the way until recently when Liam started to ask to go to the bathroom. It's become our special time of the day where he sits does his business and I read to him. No distractions. Just us. Just special.

Halloween Past - 2006

2008-10-23T17:03:00.000-07:00

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year for two reasons: the costumes and my mother-in-law. My mother-in-law, Julie, has a birthday just before Halloween and so Halloween has always been her favorite holiday. We're talking more decorations for Halloween than for Christmas favorite holiday. No joke. She gave me my first Halloween decorations, and now I'm hooked! My addiction only increased after having Liam. He's just so much fun to dress up. Here are a couple of pics from his first Halloween:

Will and I were pirates and Liam was our "not-so-undead" monkey.Liam's monkey costume was purchased by my mother-in-law from Old Navy and it has been well used. Liam used it again later in the year to make a little movie for his Uncle Ben who is serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Peoria, Illinois. Then, cousin Cael used it last year for Halloween. This year, cousin Aria is using it as the monkey music box from Phantom of the Opera.

My Toy Review

2008-10-20T13:56:00.001-07:00

Okay, so I just rated this toy on ToysRUs.com and thought that it was really neat that I could post my review to my blog from their site. That's all. The review isn't important. I was just playing around.

Originally submitted at Toys R Us

Transform your room into a racetrack with "Pit Row Race-Off" Lightning McQueen. With his spring-loaded pit stop launch pad, McQueen is ready to race off for the win. Bright team colors and a sponsor mean you have everything you need for first place. Hook up other racers (sold separately), drop the ...

Love it!

By Tabicatster from Provo, UT on 10/20/2008

Pros: Easy to Control

Best Uses: Young Children

Describe Yourself: First Time Parent

We recently got this for my two-year-old. It's great because he can do it all by himself which is very important to him. We especially love this toy because we can shoot any car, any make, with it as long as the car is small enough to fit on the platform. Most cars are. It is also very safe; there is nothing to snap you with.

(legalese)

Movie Finally Up

2008-10-11T18:33:00.000-07:00

I didn't have the movie from our anniversary (back in May) finished when I originally posted, so I FINALLY stopped procrastinating and got it up today. You can find it HERE.

Homecoming Parade

2008-10-11T14:56:00.000-07:00

Liam and I went to the BYU Homecoming Parade this morning. It was a freezing! I'm talking first snow of the year falling from the sky cold, but it was a BLAST! We loved it. All the excitement and CANDY. GO BYU!

Imagine our surprise when the BYU Dr. Who Club came walking past with the Tardis! We just had to get a picture with it.

Let's Roll

2008-10-10T16:27:00.000-07:00

Liam is learning to dress himself and has discovered new ways of expressing his individuality.

Grandpa Great

2008-09-18T14:04:00.000-07:00

(From left to right: William Alfred Pettit IV (Will) holding William Alfred Pettit V (Liam), William Alfred Pettit III (Trey), William Alfred Pettit, Jr. (Bill), and William Alfred Pettit, Sr.)

Great-Grandpa Pettit passed away last week, and we shall all miss his wit and wisdom.

I have never been so thankful that we named our son after him as I was at the funeral. He was an amazing man and left behind a legacy that I am proud to pass onto my son. I am thankful that Liam got to know him if only for just a little while.

Although I did not grow up having him as my grandfather, Grandpa Pettit was and is very dear to me. More than grief at his passing, I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude that he got to be part of my life for so long. I feel I am a better person just for knowing him.

Being a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I have a different perspetive on death than many. I know that death is not the end, just a passage and that life and families continue on forever. I think that if Grandpa could comment on his life and death, he would repeat to us the words of a poem written by his father William Alfred Pettit, Sr.:

Let there be no weeping when I am called to cross the bar.
The Lord has always blessed me as I've traveled long and far.
His angels have attended to protect from major sin.
His Spirit has always strengthened when my courage was growing thin.

He gave me worthy parents who taught me what was right,
and now I go to meet them in a place that's ever bright.
I have no fears of worries as I prepare to meet them then.
I know you soon will join me, and we'll form a family there.

I've taken many a journey when I knew I'd soon return,
but this one will be different as I've further work to do.
And at last when you've completed all that you were sent to do,
I'll be waiting on the other side with a place prepared for you.

Here's the song Will IV wrote to go with Will I's poem.

.

Days Like Today

2008-09-17T22:00:00.000-07:00

It's days like today that make me love being a mom. With this little boy and his silly smile as a son, who wouldn't want to be a mother!

Liam was especially good today, and I had a blast watching the ducks, eating fruit snacks, and playing soccer with him. We even got to see a REAL police car with a siren, and the police officer even waved at us. I think that might top seeing Mickey Mouse at Disneyland! Add Liam walking into the room with a hose around his waist and explaining that he was a rocket, and the day was completely perfect. Nothing spectacular, but everything special. Just the way I love it.

Happy Birthday Greg

2008-09-06T20:01:00.000-07:00

Our good friend, Greg, recently had a birthday, so Will and I threw him a surprise birthday party. (I'm taking the picture, and that little dark round bump near the left bottom corner is Liam's head. Oh and no, that is not our child that Will is holding, that's our friends' (Rob and Lindsey's) little girl Sadie. )

It was a fun Dr. Who themed party. (For those Americans out there (who haven't been influenced by Greg yet), Dr. Who is a British sci-fi T.V. show equivalent to Star Trek in the States minus a lot of the "I am Keptar from the planet Ooptigarn. My ship is damaged and is in need of whobitigoobity and a refractory some scientific word lasar warp engine" and all that mumbo-jumbo. Not that that's bad, I grew up on Star Trek and we ALL know Will did; he even had a Federation uniform at one point. It's just a little harder for Star Trek outsiders to get into. Dr. Who is a little more mainstream. It's been around forever, but has recently been re-done, and Will and I are hooked. It keeps getting better and better as time goes on.)

What Dr. Who party would be complete without a Dalek cake?

Greg also lets us borrow his movies all the time, so as a present, I made him a Tardis DVD carrying case. It turned out much better than I expected.

(If you too are a Whovian and want a Dalek cake or a Tardis bag, I should have the instructions up within the week on my craft blog refugeecrafter.com.)

The Best Daddy in the Whole World

2008-09-06T19:46:00.001-07:00

One glorious morning, Will let me sleep in. I awakened to find Will and Liam in the kitchen playing with the play dough. Here are the creatures they created. Apparently Liam requested monsters from
Disney/Pixar's Monster's Inc.(From left to right-Sully, Mike, Waternoose, Ceila, Randall)

Can you see the similarities?

Waternoose is my favorite.

Happy Birthday Will!

2008-08-20T23:11:00.001-07:00

We recently celebrated Will's birthday. Birthday plans included going to the Disney Store and buying Liam a toy, watching Space Chimps in a real theater, getting a Jamba juice, visiting the duck pond...wait this sounds more like Liam's birthday. It's what Daddy wanted to do. We also had Chick-Fil-A for lunch...a very Daddy thing and got a movie from Redbox...also another Daddy thing.

The best part of Will's birthday was that he got to spend the WHOLE day with us.

I know all that sounds like a lot for one day...it was. We ended up having to spread the festivities over the whole week! He's such a wonderful daddy and husband, he definitely deserved more than just a day of celebration.

The Big Boy Bed

2008-08-02T15:38:00.000-07:00

Liam is officially sleeping in a "big boy bed." After repeatedly crawling out of his crib, we decided it was time to take the side off the crib to make a toddler bed.

My little one is growing up too quickly!

Pettit Family Vacation 2

2008-07-15T15:12:00.001-07:00

Here we are at the San Diego Animal Park which was really pretty awesome. I felt closer to the animals, and the animals seemed so much more lively. Well, all except for Liam who fell asleep at the end. We tried to wake him up enough for a carousel ride, but he was O-U-T. I was glad that he got to feed the animals in the petting zoo at the beginning of the visit.

Pettit Family Vacation

2008-07-15T15:12:00.000-07:00

We just had a wonderful visit with our family! With seeing Les Mis at Tuachan, playing and shopping in Provo, visiting Grandma and Grandpa Great in San Diego for the Fourth (alternatively names include Great-Ma and Great-Papa, Liam hasn't settled on names for them yet), going to the beach, and the wild animal park our time has been well spent.

It was especially fun to have Aubrey and Aria stay with us though N8 who was busily studying at home was sorely missed. Aubrey and I were amazed at how much better Liam and Aria acted together than they usually do alone, particularly when shopping. Grandma Julie had a lot to do with this too, I'm sure. It's too bad that we live so far apart now that we actually have time to play with each other.

Here's a cute picture of Liam and Aria in the bath. I suppose we can use it as blackmail later.

Liam looked so cute in his Fourth of July outfit. I just wish I'd gotten a picture of him with his Lightning McQueen shoes on too. (They were a gift from Grandma Julie, and Liam LOVES them. Convincing him that he has to wear Sunday shoes to church instead is quite the feat. Pun intended.)

Here's my favorite picture from the beach. It helps that my hindquarters in a bathing suit aren't featured!

Dummy Cop

2008-06-25T15:03:00.000-07:00

I just thought this was hilarious. In the southern Utah area we visited this weekend towns are far and few between. In an attempt to decrease the amount of travelers inclined to speed on the open roads, the towns of Orderville and Glendale have each placed a mannequin in a cop car on their city limits. Here's the one from Orderville:

Stevens' Family Reunion

2008-06-25T14:10:00.000-07:00

We spent this past weekend in Mt. Carmel, UT, for a family reunion held at the farmhouse my grandma grew up in.

It was a long car ride as demonstrated by Liam's woebegone pose.

Seriously though, Liam held up pretty well thanks to our recent purchase of a portable DVD player.

We were pretty far from civilization. Cell phone coverage was pretty-much non-existent, not to mention the primitive ways we had to travel. Okay, so it was really just a Flintstone-like car outside of a rock shop. A REAL rock shop shaped like a rock itself. Too bad I couldn't find a white stone necklace like Wilma's.

We also visited the Coral Pink Sand dunes where we found a toad. Uncle Brandon caught it in a cup and showed it to Liam and Will. The frog literally leaped at the opportunity for escape when Brandon lifted his hand off the cup and FREAKED Will and Liam out as it shot towards their faces. We're not sure, but we think it actually smacked into Liam's face as Will who was holding him whipped around to avoid the attack. Liam's account of the event as documented in the police report goes as follows:

"Froggy get me!"

We had a lot of fun hanging out with the animals on the farm, most of whom were related to us. The goats and horses weren't bad either. Playin' in the "crik" was enjoyable too.
All in all, it was a pleasant trip.

Ball Helmet

2008-06-25T14:09:00.000-07:00

Obviously, Liam is not alone in realizing the head-wear potential of a deflated ball. Placing a deflated ball on one's head is apparently a genetic tendency as demonstrated by our niece Katie.

Great...being that Katie is my sister's daughter, this oddity must come from my side of the family.

Wall-E

2008-06-17T16:47:00.000-07:00

Liam is really excited for Wall-E, the new Disney-Pixar movie. We watch the preview on Apple Trailers over and over. Here's a movie as evidence.

Gone Fishin'

2008-06-07T14:11:00.000-07:00

Today Liam went on his first fishing trip with Nanna and Papa and all the cousins at Tibble Reservoir in American Fork Canyon. Mom and Dad, Uncle Brandon and Aunty Liz were there too. Aunt Sarah, or "Mamma Sah" as Liam calls her, stayed home with a cold and was sorely missed.

Liam loved running around and exploring and would have loved to swim with the fish or at least to have climbed into a stranger's boat and gone for a ride.

Liam's Hat

2008-06-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

Recently, Liam has two loves when we play outside: one, wearing his daddy's hat, and two, pushing his own stroller. (And looking adorable doing both!)

The Bell Tower, Again

2008-06-05T07:35:00.000-07:00

When the ducks lose interest, Liam and I look at the waterfall. Liam has been known to approach the waterfall while tugging at his shirt and saying, "Bath" or rather, "Baf."

The Bell Tower

2008-06-05T07:33:00.000-07:00

Liam and I often walk to the bell tower to hang out with the ducks. Sometimes we feed them, mostly Liam just likes to run and run. He particularly likes to run down the hill which, like all other things with an incline, he terms, "Slide." (He will actually scoot down driveways on his bum because he thinks they are slides. And I wonder why his pants wear out!)

Maddie's Birthday

2008-06-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

Maddie recently celebrated her seventh birthday with water games at the park. Liam had so much fun splashing around!

Classic

2008-06-03T09:06:00.000-07:00

I just thought this was hilarious.

The After Bath

2008-06-02T20:44:00.000-07:00

Liam and I had a fun playing peek-a-boo after his bath the other day.
He's so cute!

Tub Time

2008-06-02T20:39:00.000-07:00

Lately, Liam will put anything in a line and call it a train whether it's couch cushions, cars, or in this case bath toys. Trains are certainly his favorite.

Fun at Wymount

2008-06-02T20:22:00.001-07:00

With the warmer weather Liam and I can often be found outside. This particular day we invaded a Wymount Park. (Their playgrounds are very toddler friendly.)

I just had to laugh when Liam found that deflated ball and put it on his head with the simple explanation, "Hat."

Old Mac Liam Had a Farm

2008-05-09T07:21:00.001-07:00

What can I say? We live in a zoo.

Our Anniversary

2008-05-08T14:28:00.000-07:00

Four years married, a year engaged, a semester as a couple, one getting to know each other, and still going strong! I'm more in love with Will than ever.

Anniversary plans included dinner at Olive Garden, a movie, and gelato at a little place called Maestro's on Center. Liam was so good at Olive Garden, but he definitely did some two year old things. Here's a little movie:

Liam is Growing Up!

2008-05-01T14:15:00.000-07:00

My little boy turns two this week and has been trying extra hard to show me that he has entered the "terrible twos." In the past three days he has pulled all the tape out of a cassette tape which I painstakingly had to rewind, dumped laundry detergent all over the floor, stuck a hand towel in the toilet and then up to his face (gross!), poured a Costco sized jar of parsley flakes all over the floor just this morning, and constantly pulls the DVDs off the shelf and opens them one by one and puts them in the CD player. I'm sure I'm missing something. Oh yeah! Yesterday, he crawled out of his crib or fell out. I'm not really sure. I just heard a thud and then the pitter-patter of little feet in the hall. I really am an attentive mother; he's just so dang fast!

But as he grows more troublesome, he also grows sweeter. He asks "Ok?" whenever I cough just to make sure I'm alright. He's also started to go to people and give them hugs when asked, or rather, let them hug him.

Today he did a very "big boy" thing. He asked if he could sleep on the twin bed in his room instead of his crib at naptime, and he stayed there the whole time! My baby's not a baby anymore. Here are a couple of pictures I stealthily took as he slept. Such a little boy in such a big bed.

DT Destruction

2008-04-23T13:40:00.000-07:00

Liam and I walk over to see the dorms being torn down almost every day. Liam really likes to watch the cranes and trucks and honestly, so do I!

U Hall, the hall where I lived as a freshman and worked the next year as a resident assistant, is the last to go. Only one of its stairwells still stands.

Here are a few pics taken this morning:

Grandma and Grandpa's Visit

2008-04-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

Grandma and Grandpa Pettit came for a visit last week, and we had so much fun! Liam loved the extra attention, and still asks for Grandma and Grandpa each morning.

True to form, Grandma (and Grandpa) treated us to dinner (or should I say "dinners") during their stay. One dinner that stands out was our dinner at the Mayan Adventure, complete with diving shows and shenanigans outside afterward. These are a few of the pictures.

We can't wait until June when we can see them AND Nate, Aubrey, and Aria again. (Last week I kept telling Liam that Grandma and Grandpa were coming, and he would always add "and Nate...and Aubee..and bebe." He was a little disappointed that they didn't arrive with Grandma.)

Liam's New Dance

2008-04-03T09:26:00.001-07:00

Liam is a dancing machine. Here is his new dance.

Sadie's Blessing

2008-03-24T22:12:00.000-07:00

Our best friends, Rob and Lindsey, blessed their baby, Sadie, this Sunday. It was fun to be a part of such a great event. It's easy to see how much they love that little girl, and so do we!

Liam and the Sword

2008-03-23T14:33:00.000-07:00

It was bedtime, and Liam was acting a little loopy. He decided to be a ninja rather than go to sleep. Tabi picked up the camera and did a little magic on iMovie (with Will's help). The rest is history. Enjoy.

Introduction

2008-03-23T12:58:00.000-07:00

As part of WillandTabi.com, we decided to start a blog to keep all of our friends and family updated on our lives. So here it is!

Because we are such movie people, we've also started snostreblog.blogspot.com which is our blog dedicated to reviews of films we've seen lately.

Once we got started, we just couldn't stop and Tabi started her own blog, tabithapettit.blogspot.com, to keep track of her recent projects.

Soon, we hope to make WillandTabi.com live complete with sections for our pictures, artwork, personal movies, and recipes. In the meantime, continue to look for updates on our blogs.