A New Blog!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! And as a Thanksgiving treat, I'm announcing that Tyler and I have decided to combine our blogging efforts into one blog: theheasleys.wordpress.com. So if you want to keep following our adventures, you'll have to check us out over there. AND You'll get to hear from both of us. AND Both my previous blog posts and Tyler's previous blog posts have been imported into the new blog. Hope everyone has a happy and safe Thanksgiving! Gobble gobble!

There is SO MUCH to be thankful for lately. . .

Do you know that for the past few months, Tyler has been getting up between 4:30 and 5:30 every work day to study for one of his actuarial exams?

Do you know that he's been doing this so that when he comes home from work in the evenings, he can help me with the boys (and really with anything else I might need)?

Well, all of Tyler's sacrifices and hard work really paid off. He passed MFE (his third actuarial exam) on Friday!! This is such a huge blessing for our family in so many different ways. I'm grateful for the little break we will get before Tyler will have to get so involved with study again for his next exam. (And I am so grateful for a husband who works so hard for me, and for my family.)

In other Heasley news, Rich is transitioning (beautifully) to a twin bed! I really thought it would be more of a struggle, but he seems to really love being in (what was) "Grandma's bed"--the bed my mom would sleep in when she visited. Note: he must sleep with "Grandma's pillow" when he's in the big bed now.

And, Rich is even starting to use the toilet. (Just on occasion. I don't think he or I are ready for full on potty training yet.)

And Leo is growing and growing. At his four-month appointment today, he weighed 14 lbs 15.9 oz. He's still fighting off a bit of a cold, and he might be teething, but other than that, he is healthy and strong.

I really am just so grateful for my sweet family. My boys really do bring me so much joy.

The Holidays, Thanksgiving Preparedness Edition

I love the holiday season. It all begins with Halloween--there's just an excitement in the air that lasts until the new year begins. 

And I love that in the midst of all the holiday excitement, we have a chance to reflect on the many ways we've been blessed throughout the year. I do love Thanksgiving time. 

So in the spirit of Thanksgiving, and in preparing for the upcoming holidays, I want to take some time to reflect on some of the things I'm grateful for. 

(Ideally, I'd post every day, but I'm already tardy in getting started. And with how lackadaisical my blogging has been recently, I doubt I will be able to fit in something each day. But I do want to share some of the things I am grateful for.)

I am so grateful for inspiration from a loving Heavenly Father that helps guide our lives. Just looking back over the last year, I can see so many ways in which I have been guided in the decisions that we have had to make as a family. 

I have felt the Lord's hand in big ways--like in searching for employment opportunities for Tyler, or finding an apartment for our family after moving out to Oregon.

And I have felt the Lord's hand in little decisions which have turned into huge blessings for me. Like in starting a gratitude journal earlier this year. Or in helping me find hobbies I can enjoy while taking care of two little boys.

I feel like I have also really felt the Lord help me in my parenting: giving me strength when I'm tired and feel like giving up, in deciding how to help my boys, and in helping me get to know and love my boys more and more every day.

Anyway. Before Christmas sweeps in and takes over the holiday cheer, I hope you guys get to take some time and really reflect on the things that you are grateful for, so you too can see how the Lord has been blessing your life this year as well. 

(I promise not to be so preachy all the time in future posts.)

And 'cause I know you guys are really just here for the pictures:

(I love my little walking buddies.)

Allow Me to Give You The Bird

Ok, that's maybe a semi-inappropriate title. Or maybe it's completely inappropriate. (My apologies if I've just offended anyone. This also assumes people still read my blog, which given how inactive I've been here lately, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm only writing for myself here.)

But look at how cute this bird is!!

So, we've been having troubles with sleeping schedules (with both boys!) for a while--which has led me to be so inactive here on this blog.

And yet the days just seem to fly by!! (Ha! Another bird pun!)

You'll have to bear with me, as this might be a hefty update.

Ok. So.

Halloween has come and gone. And although this holiday is one of our favorites, we didn't have much time to plan and execute awesome Halloween costumes/activities. So for a couple months, I kept my eye out for an awesome costume for the boys (or even an awesome costume idea). But like the procrastinator I am, I didn't really get proactive about anything until the day of our ward's trunk-or-treat.

Luckily, I found what I thought was the most awesome costume ever for Rich.

Check it out:

It's a dinosaur. Rich is riding a dinosaur! It's the coolest thing I'd ever seen.

Plus, I thought he'd love running around playing in it.


Turns out, Rich hated the costume. Refused to wear it. Begged to be freed from it. Cried when I didn't get him out fast enough.

(This pic is blurry because Rich was so anxious to be out of the dinosaur. Or frog, as Richie called it.)

We ended up going costume-less to the trunk-or-treat. But Rich still got candy anyway.

So, back to Target the (totally awesome) dinosaur costume went.

In the mean time, I got an email from Old Navy about a one-day only costume sale. I decided to check it out--and we hit the jackpot. We got the last 2T-3T costume left in the store.

But Rich LOVED it. He couldn't wait to wear his new jacket. It's one of his favorite items of clothing now. (It was totally worth the blisters I got carrying around Leo's carseat while we hunted around the store looking for the costumes.)

He spent all day Halloween in his costume.

Leo--was going to be reprising the role of Professor Plum. But he was a pretty sleepy (and/or fussy) boy both the day of the trunk-or-treat and the night of Halloween. So, Leo went dressed as a baby.

(Or as my friend Carly put it, a silkworm. Which is perfect. The early bird gets the worm, no?)

Totes adorbs. (PS, I had been dressed as a fashion blogger for Halloween earlier in the day, but do you know how constricting that was for nursing/making dinner/caring for a sick husband/handing out candy/chasing after a toddler/carrying a baby/etc.? No wonder I'm pretty much fashionless at the moment. Give me a t-shirt and pants any day.)

Ok ok. Back to the updates.

My sister came to visit us, just as Tyler caught some terrible cold that knocked him out of commission. Then Rich caught the bug. Then I did. And Leo. Hopefully Marilyn (or Aunt M) was spared. But having her here was a godsend. I don't know how I would have survived the last week without her help. And Rich LOVED getting to play with M. He's been asking for her/about her ever since she left.

Not only did M help with the babysitting, but she took Rich trick-or-treating while I finished making dinner. Then we went back out for a few minutes so I could see Rich go around and trick-or-treat. And boy am I glad that I did. Rich was just so sweet. He's too little to be demanding and just so sweet. He loved seeing so many kids out and about. And he loved knocking on doors. He was more interested in people's pets than their candy. And hearing his little voice say, "Gankoo (thank you)" at each house was priceless. "Gankoo, M. Gankoo, Mommy." I just love that little boy.

Ok, moving on.

Rich has been very into stickers and coloring lately.

And Leo is starting to show interest in his toys, too!

Notice Richie in that diaper box? He's actually inside that box coloring.

Best. Toy. Ever.

Anyway. These boys keep me busy. And some days are harder than others. But we're having fun along the way.

Besides. This face. I can't even.

Ok. Goodnight, all. (Anyone?)