The Stephens: 2013

So I realized I never posted about our Utah Trip in October. I lately have been out of sorts with technology. I have been trying to balance my life more and that being more away from technology since i seem to get wrapped in too much and too quickly. So sorry for the lack of responding to emails, making blog posts etc but i felt it was necessary for me to do as I am trying to find a better balance.

Our Utah trip was blissful. The reason for the trip was to see my mother-in-law speak in the General Relief Society Meeting and General Conference held by the LDS church. I went a week earlier than Daniel did and loved every minute of being with my family, I did miss Daniel lots; its always hard to be away from him for so long. Calvin loved being with both his grandmas and grandpas and playing with his aunts and uncles, and cousins. This time he wasn't scared of everyone and would actually go play with them. Our home has a few spots where the imagination of child goes wild. One is the tunnel that Calvin especially liked. I think his favorite thing was opening and closing the door saying hello.

General Conference was truly amazing. I learned so much and i know its important for us to continue to read and study each talk to receive more revelation for ourselves in what we can do to become more like our Savior. As we all strive to study what our Dear Prophet Thomas S. Monson, his apostles, and other leaders of the church say we will be who the Lord intends us to be.

Other highlights of the trip were seeing my sister-in-law being sealed to her new husband.

Touring V-Chocolates with family

Calvin Playing with the chickens

Going on hike with Kels and Tan- I love love the mountains and of course those two

Going on a train ride with Grandma S

Visiting Gardner Village with Grandma H

Going on walks

Visiting old friends

Pumpkin Patch

Since I am blogging I guess I'll talk about our Thanksgiving..

We went to our cousin Tina's house in Fort Worth. We met J/D. and fam there. We loved being there and the Knudsons were so good to us. I enjoyed so much being able to get to know Tina's family better. We ate like queens and kings the food was amazing. I even attempted and succeeded for the first time in making cranberry sauce and rolls.

Calvin received the best present ever from them and not only got to see real trains got to go on them. He hasn't stopped talking about it yet.

It was hard to say goodbye and 4.5 hours later when we arrived home Calvin started crying saying i wanna be with cousins, cousins, no home. We are happy that we at least get to see J&M soon enough again. Can't wait for Christmas.

A few weeks before Calvins Birthday to up to now I have been going through all sorts of emotions. At first I couldn't wait for Calvin's Birthday. I have loved every minute with him but I espeically love this stage. But now when we are playing together I catch myself staring at him, thinking is this adorable little boy really mine, where did my little baby go, and then tears start to swell up.. It's true what they say about how time goes faster the older you get. Calvin is now 2 and within just a few days I have noticed how grown up he really has gotten. I am so lucky to be his Mom. I have such deep gratitude to Heavenly Father for giving me one His precisous sons and I can't express enough how happy he makes me. I wouldn't trade being his mom for a thing in the world.
We are best buds. We do everything together and I wouldn't change that for anything. His daddy also adores him and the little mister adores him right back! Even though he likes to tease his dad before he goes to work he talks about him frequently during the day and cries after he leaves. So we sure love it when Dad comes home from work because well just like the song says it's always fun when daddy comes home. And 3 is much better than 2.
Once he turned two, he has become much more imaginative and curious.

For his Birthday I asked him what he wanted to do and he said train ride so I looked one up and found one near by. He loved it so much. Then later we played outside. Made his favorite : Pizza and Cookies.

Later that week we had a little party for him with his friends. Everyone dressed up in their costumes. He loved opening presents and keeps asking me to open more to this day.

I made just a few of his favorite treats and snacks

I'm so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers. I love this quote even more now that I have my Calvin.

My little Calvister.

His favorite color is orange. He always asks for his orange plate, cup, bowl and spoon (even though he doesn't have an orange spoon). he loves pumptins and likes to collect orange leaves.

If you haven't heard but calvin is pretty obsessed with Trains. He plays with them all day and takes them to bed with him and his bedtime song is about trains that his dad made up and it's pretty great. He was a Train Conductor for Halloween. Scored his costume at Kid to Kid in the clothing section.

Calvin loves to eat Car Tortillas or Pumpkin Tortillas outside in his little red wagon

He loves to read with Mom.

He loves kissing tortures from dad

His favorite prophet is Enos. Every time we say we are going to read the scriptures he wants to read about Enos. Now he likes to dress up like a nephite.

He is getting really good at dancing and dances on the couch or the bed. When mom and dad dance he wants to join in and spin mommy.

He plays make believe with sharks and whales.

He will only take a bath if its cold. Before he would fight and fight me until one day he kept saying cold mom cold so I thought it was too cold so i turned to warm and he was like no cold. once I turned it to cold he didn't want to get out.

HE's OBSESSED with Snacks!!!

He likes to give kisses and hugs.

He prays for grandma and grandpas and cousins everyday and whoever he played with that day.

He likes to paint. :)

He is quite good at the Harmonica

Ring around the Rosies is his favorite nursery rhyme.

Hide n Seek is a favorite game

He is a very good helper, his favorite cleaning task is sweeping. Today he asked to clean and he started washing the bathroom cupboard. Silly boy.

Whenever he spills he gets a towel and mops it up. And he is pretty good at picking up his toys.

He is now attached to his stuffed bear named Cougar and his 2 blankys.

He loves brushing his teeth and putting on moms makeup.

He talks really well. Saying little sentences now. he is a very good mimicker.