The Squirrel Slayer

One of the squirrels that recently inhabited our attic finally met his match this week. Armed with a Pay Day, a headlamp and raw gumption, Brent successfully trapped the beastly pest and released him in nearby green space.
Unfortunately for us, our foe had a friend. We didn't even have one day of peace before another squirrel was scratching and clawing its way among our rafters and wreaking havoc with our wires and insulation.


Like any true Man's man, Brent suited up once again and dared to enter the squirrel's lair. Armed the second time with wire, gorilla glue and newly acquired trapping experience, he sealed up any possible pest entrances around the roof and reset the Pay Day trap. Hopefully our home can now deem itself a true "Rodent-free" zone. But now that Brent has effectively battled birds and squirrels, he's prepared to take on any creature that dare defy him.












Incredibly, my husband boasts talents even above squirrel trapping. He somehow made time in his busy rodent-hunting schedule to take us all to Zoolights. The zoo puts on a pretty spectacular light display for the holidays. The boys loved it in spite of the cold weather and drizzling rain. They kept pointing at all the lights and babbling incoherently.













Brent also took the boys to their third and final football game of the season. I'm preparing for his football withdrawal come mid-January. How will we possibly fill our time on Monday and Thursday evenings and on Saturday and Sunday from noon until 9 pm?











The boys are up to all kinds of new tricks lately. One of which is wearing this Santa hat. They love to put it on and take it off of themselves and each other. Then they want me to wear it and then take it off. It's an exhilarating game as you can probably imagine. It's a good thing they look so cute in the hat or I would tire much more quickly.

Give Thanks

I'm grateful for a husband who lives to entertain his sons.



And who strategically leaves his coke cans in low-lying places.

I'm grateful for Uncle Bryce, who takes great care of his nephews.

I'm grateful for a mother-in-law who patiently teaches me the ropes of cooking turkey and prime rib. Only the Burnett men cannot survive on turkey alone.

I'm grateful for grandparents who love spending time with their grandsons.




I'm grateful for the most perfect and happy sons I could ever imagine.


And for a husband who is man enough to set the table.

The difference a year makes

Same football. Same boy.







Same uncle. Same nephews.




This Thanksgiving season we are grateful that Keith is officially larger than a football.

Illness, Birthdayness and Submarines

I'm receiving hate emails and harassing phone calls from family members for allowing so much time to lapse between posts. Let me assure all of you it can only be attributed to the "Black lung" which has seized our home. The good news is that the boys are on the mend. Only runny noses remain. The bad news is that cold sores have commandeered my face. I have nine (yes, count them, NINE) cold sores right now. And I'm not counting the little tiny ones that huddle near the big ones for protection. I'm talking separate beasts, here. OK, I'm grossing myself out, moving on...




Birthdayness.
My sister Darel uses this term to justify week-long birthday celebrations and ridiculous requests regarding her celebrated day. I've chosen to describe the month of November at our house as pure "Birthdayness". The boys were insanely spoiled by grandparents, great-grandparents, aunts and uncles and honorary Grandma Patti. Mostly the month has allowed Brent and I to re-live the amazing and difficult time that was November 2007.


The boys have come a long way. Their heart, lung and temperature monitors no longer haunt our sleep. We don't live and die by the baby scale each morning, just hoping that the boys have gained weight. We no longer pray for Keith to have a bowel movement so he can eat. And fortunately, Brent and I do not share a less-than-twin size cot 24 inches above a tile floor.




Fortunately, these pictures bring back very real memories that also seem very far behind us.

Presently, the boys are tearing up the house. Just today, furniture was rearranged, an entire box of tissue was torn to shreds and partially consumed, toilet paper rolls were unraveled and literally every reachable kitchen item was pulled from its cuboardly home. And just to make sure I haven't lost my sense of humor, Keith decided to dock his own personal subs in the tub this morning. He just wanted to remind me how grateful I am that he has a healthy bowel system. And in a weird way, I'm glad he did.

Animal Crackers in My Soup

"Monkeys and Lions loop the loop."






"Gosh oh gee, Grandpa has fun,"



"Scaring animals one by one."





Thankfully, Grandpa repented of his evil ways and decided not to scare the animals anymore.



Grandma is the only one who could love a face like that.




There was one big monkey that got away...but he doesn't look too scared.

Welcome Jade!

We got to travel to Boise last weekend so C and K could visit their newest cousin, Jade. She is absolutely beautiful! She has olive skin, dark eyes and loads of hair.

Grandpa and Jade.


No, Brent. Don't even think about it.

G and G with their current grandchildren. Another is very soon on the way!

One of the best things was being able to spend time with Great Grandma and Grandpa Johnson at their farmhouse. Here's a 4 generation picture on the front porch.


We also got to celebrate an early birthday for the boys.





They LOVE riding around on their new trucks from Grandma and Grandpa B. Although Mom will be relieved when their feet can touch the floor and she doesn't have to push them around on her knees!




I am currently in the process of teaching Cole to push Keith around. The training is coming along quite nicely.