Happy Birthday Sweet Avery!

We celebrated our darling neice, Avery, on Sunday for her 2nd birthday! 

PRESENTS!!

CAKE!!

We love Avery's spunk and energy.  She can hang right in there with all four of her boy cousins.  Don't let those ruffles fool you into thinking she is prissy and timid.  That Avery is one tough cookie!  She is quite a ham! 

We love you, Miss Avery!

Being Nathan's Dad

Some things I don’t want to forget about Nathan from the past year:


• You are growing up so fast, I notice myself calling you “Tot” and “Nater-Tot” less and less, and you used to tell people that your name was “Tot” but now you say “my name is NATHAN JOEL!”
• You are carefree, easy going, and slow to anger
• You are friendly and always tell everyone bye when you leave somewhere
• You LOVE to wrestle, climb, be flipped, thrown, tickled, etc.
• You love to sleep late and always tell us that your “peepy” (sleepy) when you wake up
• You still love “boo kanket” (Blue Blanket)
• You tell people that the girl on the raisin box looks like your momma
• You love “bad guys” and pretend to be one and “get people”
• Favorite villains: Captain Hook, Big Robot, Darth Vader, Chick Hicks, Grim & Acer
• You make me pretend to be a robot, put on your cape, and attack me!
• You love Larry Boy and Veggie Tales
• You are “silly” during naptime at school and have had to visit the directors office for special talks
• You are always the first one to be found during hide-n-seek because you giggle uncontrollably
• You spill something, or several things, at EVERY meal, EVERY meal.
• You like to ask people, “you happy?” and then you always follow up with “I happy!” and “be happy!”
• You do a great impression of Darth Vader, Chewbacca, and like to use your finger as a laser
• You are fearless
• Favorite sayings: “sorry dad, it just an accident”, “excuse me guys”, “how it work?”
• You have accidently head butted me, racked me, and poked me in the eyeball more times than I can count
• Sometimes, for no particular reason, you decide it’s better to be naked, strip off your clothes and run around (thankfully this has not happened at church or school)
• You are sweet, funny, and energetic
• You like to come to games at my school and when I tell you I’m going to work you respond, “At the basketball games?”
• You love to watch football with me so I have to keep old games on the DVR because you don’t understand why football is not on anytime you want it!
• You are incredibly polite for a toddler, always please, thank you, excuse me, and “you welcome”

-Bryan

Being Jordan's Dad

Some things I don’t want to forget about Jordan from the past year:

• It’s amazing how being born two whole minutes before your brother has seemed to make you his boss! “Nathan, I said NO!” “Dad, Nathan is not obeying me.”
• Your favorite color right now is “norange” (orange)
• You can name all forty of your cars, tell who they are “friends” with, if they are a “good guy or bad guy”, and you like to put them in groups
• You love to help and get excited when we give you “jobs”
• You are very observant and ALWAYS listening
• You wake up at 6:30 every morning, EVERY morning!
• You still love “Ellie” and can’t sleep without all three
• You tell me that your mom is pretty like Sally, a car from your favorite movie
• “Dad, you want to wrestle me?” “Dad, you want to have fun with me?”
• You love cars, dinosaurs, and “fixing” things
• “I want to snuggle with momma.”
• You love your schedule and constantly ask us where we are going, which door we are leaving from, which one is first, which way we are going, and ask “what street is this?”
• Pooping in the potty makes you “nervous” and playgrounds, especially tunnels, seem to be a natural laxative for you
• Loved the Christmas story and baby Jesus, was “so excited” about Santa Clause coming
• Favorite meal: breakfast
• Favorite food: macaroni
• You can be extremely stubborn but you are also very sweet and sensitive
• Very independent
• You love your dog Cooper
• You love to sing Veggie Tale songs and you have an amazing memory
• Favorite saying: “Which ones youse likes?”
• You are funny and silly
• You like to interpret for your brother when no one else can understand him
• You recognize the fact that your brother is a clown, “Dad, Nathan is silly!”
• I love your sweet prayers before dinner
• You are a little OCD, you like things to match, be in equal numbers, not be damaged or torn, and you like to organize your toys (don’t worry Jordy, I get it!)
• You are great at puzzles, games, and you can stay focused on a task for a considerable amount of time
• You love to play hide-n-seek
• You randomly tell your mom and I that you love us

-Bryan

A father’s perspective….

I can’t believe that in a few weeks my boys will be three years old. Even though the past three years have gone by at warp speed it seems like an eternity since the 2:00 a.m. feedings, constant diaper changes, and I honestly can not even remember the crawling phase. They change so much every day. I’m always telling Becca that every time things seem to get easy with the boys it’s time for a new transition and the process starts all over. When they finally started to take their bottles quickly it was time for them to start with baby food. Once they could handle baby food without needing to be hosed off it was time for them to start eating table food. When they were finally able to handle just about going anywhere in public we threw out the diapers and started potty training. There are few things more terrifying than being in a store with both boys when one of them suddenly gets the urge to go! As luck would always have it I’m usually the farthest distance away from the bathrooms as possible, the stalls are occupied or filthy, and when all is said and done it was a false alarm! Even though some days are exhausting and difficult, it is a huge blessing and honor to be a dad of two crazy boys and I would not trade it for anything.  Usually in those crazy times Becca and I will look at each other, laugh, and say “we prayed for this?” The fact that the boys are almost three is extra significant to us. Three years is how long we prayed, cried, and struggled to have a baby. There were stacks of adoption papers and lists of specialists and the lingering question of, not would we be parents, but when and how? Then came the day when I sat next to my wife, staring a fuzzy monitor, pretending to see what it was the doctor was pointing out, all while trying to digest what she was telling us. “Mr. and Mrs. Calvert, see this little blip? That’s your baby! Congratulations, and, oh, wait, you see this other blip? Well, that’s your other baby!” I still remember us getting in the car and not saying a word for about a minute. Wow. Twins?! There was no anxiety, no fear or stress, just overwhelming joy and gratitude for a Savior that meets all of our needs and MORE! I always joke with people and tell them that someone was praying just a little too hard for us to get pregnant! So my perspective after three years of fatherhood is this: God’s sovereignty, timing, and plans are perfect. The three years that Becca and I struggled to have a baby was a time that God used to strengthen our faith, grow our marriage, and prepare our home and finances to be parents. It is a high calling, an honor, and a blessing to be Nathan and Jordan’s dad. Not to mention that I get to parent my boys alongside my best friend who is beautiful, Godly, and a rock star of a mom! Seriously, I do not know how she works a full time demanding job and then takes such amazing care of her three boys, I am so grateful. She is my hero (Becca, Bono, and Dirk, that’s the order!). God is good, all the time.     -Bryan     

"You Happy?"

It's kind of hard to convince Nathan that he's in trouble...it takes quite a consequence for him to feel like we are serious.  My Nater-Tot just thinks everything is hilarious.  I am hoping it is to his advantage some day.  He got in trouble with Gram the other day and this is their conversation:

Nathan: "Gram, you happy?"
Gram: "No.  Nathan, I am not happy because you are in trouble."
Nathan: "I'm happy.  Be happy Gram."

I guess we could all learn something from my Nater-Tot.  Be happy. 

Turns out he had a similar conversation with one of his teachers at school last week...while she was kindly trying to get him to settle down and sleep during naptime.  Oh Nathan, if only your parents, grandparents, and teachers thought all of your shenanigans were funny like you do! 

Pastries for Parents

Bryan and I got to head to work a little late on Tuesday and enjoy Pastries for Parents with the boys at preschool.  Such a special treat!  It was pajama day for the kids so the boys had to wear their favorite Darth Vader PJs. 

Powdered Donut Face!!

Christmas is OVER???!!!?

Nater Tot and Jordy have been so deep into the Christmas spirit, that I don't think their little hearts were ready for Christmas to ever end. On Christmas day, we were watching TV and a commercial came on that said, "Even though Christmas is over, our sales are still going strong."  And, my sweet Jordan perked up his ears and questioned, "CHRISTMAS IS OVER?"  It was so sad.  Thank goodness, I was able to tell him we still had one more Family Christmas Party. 

On the 27th, Jordan looked at me with his sweet brown eyes and with such a genuine spirit he said, "Mommy, I am so excited that Santa Claus came to my house."  It's so precious to see him so thankful.  I hope he keeps that thankful heart forever.

On the same day, I got this text message (with the following pictures) from Bryan because he was at home with the boys by himself that morning...

"Nathan walked in and discovered me taking down his Christmas tree...he started crying and saying " I need it Daddy, I need it!"  He ran away and wouldn't let me hold him.  He keeps saying, "I'm not happy anymore." 

It is so hard to understand that Christmas will come again next year.  I'll be starting back to school tomorrow...I'm sure even some of my fifth graders would cry too if it was cool to cry in fifth grade.  In fact, I'll probably feel like crying when my alarm goes off at 5:00 in the morning. 

Christmas at MeMe and Grandad's House

We spent the day after Christmas at my parents' house.  We are so thankful for our parents that help to make Christmas so special every year. 

Nathan and Jordan enjoyed playing outside for a while.

Then,  the kids enjoyed a fun game of Jingo (A Christmas themed Bingo game) with MeMe!  So fun! Jordy got so excited with every match on his card.  He loves to find "matches." This reminds me of a little Jordy story that I must record here for myself.  The other day, the boys wanted a "special treat" (dessert) after lunch.  So, I told them they could each have three M&Ms.  They were totally okay with three M&Ms.  Well, until Jordy picked three and realized he had two green M&Ms and those matched.  But, he had only one red M&M and it had no match.  He looked so stressed.  Bless his little perfectionist heart.  I gave him one more green M&M to match the other green M&M and all was right with Jordy's world.  HA!  No more odd numbers for Jordan.  And, if you know my husband, you would know it's in Jordan's genes.  It just is.

Jordan took it upon himself to sit at the table of appetizers and munch on all the "Christmas chips."

COUSINS!  We were so excited to have my sister and her girls here for Christmas...all the way from CALI!

My handsome boys...

Our Little Family...

MeMe and Grandad and all four of their grandkids...these four kiddos sure do think their grandparents are AWESOME.  And they are.  We hardly make it a whole day without the boys asking to go to MeMe's house.

My beautiful sister and me...she is really fabulous.

My handsome hubby and Me

Vivi got her very first American Girl doll from MeMe.  Her name is Rebecca and she is just beautiful.  I'm pretty sure this is a "right of passage" for all little girls.  It's a pretty special Christmas when you get your first American Girl doll.

Nathan and Jordan were thrilled with their new tool belts and drills...they thought they needed to "fix" everything.

I had to add this last picture because I thnk it's so sweet to see cousins sharing their new toys.

Thanks to MeMe and Grandad for a very special day. 

We also enjoyed hearing Vivi, Nathan, and Jordan "read" the Christmas story from the Bible that evening. 

In Vivi's version, she told the story just beautifully from a great five year old perspective but I did get a little tickled when  "the wise men just skipped on over to see Baby Jesus." 

In Jordan's version, "Mary ride on a donkey.  Baby Jesus in a manger.  Shepherds came.  They said "Ha ha ha."  The donkeys said "Hee haw, hee haw."  I done." 

In Nathan's version, "Mary and Joseph and de de de de de de.  And Baby Jesus.  De de de de de de de de.  And, the sheperds.  De de de de de de."

How precious it is to have your child stand in front of family and proclaim the Birth of Jesus!  Thank goodness I have it on video.  It will be one I will replay many many times over the years.

Christmas Morning! HO! HO! HO!

Waving "bye-bye" to Charlie the Elf on Christmas Eve Night.  He hopped on the sleigh with Santa and went back to the North Pole that night. 

Nathan and Jordan set out cookies and milk for Santa Claus and some carrots for the reindeer.  Nathan almost got a bite of Rudolph's snack!  Uh oh!

Santa came to our house...How did Santa Claus know that Nathan and Jordan love Cars, tools, dinosaurs and pirates??!!

And again this year, the apples were one of their favorite surprises in their stocking!  HA!  Little do they know, Santa loves to stick apples in their stocking because they take up lots of room and they are a very healthy snack.  Of course, Santa left mini candy canes and M&Ms too.  :)

The boys were so excited to find that Santa brought them all of their favorite Cars characters.  Filmore!  Flo!  Doc!  Ramone!  Snotrod!  Red!  Shu!  Sally!  Santa had to work pretty stinkin' hard to find all of those cars that are not made anymore.  Thank goodness we live in a technological world of the internet.

When Nathan saw his builder's hat, he said, "Just like Dino.Dan!"

We had some special visits from family on Christmas Day and then played toys in our pjs all day.  It was perfect. 

Christmas Eve Morning

We spent Christmas Eve Morning with PaPa and Gram at their house.  Such a fun tradition to go to Gram's house in our PJs and eat a big breakfast together!  We had a wonderful time!  Nathan and Jordan were so excited to eat breakfast with their cousins and open presents too! 

Look at Jordan's "waiting for breakfast face."  He is so serious about his food and his routine!

Nathan and Jordan got a kick out of playing "Ring Around the Rosies" with their cousins while they were waiting to open gifts. 

I just love these boys!!

Gram and PaPa and all five of their grandbabies...Gram and PaPa are ROCKSTAR grandparents.  For real.

Granny with five of her great-grandbabies...these kids absolutely adore their Granny.

The Pachecos...such fun cousins for N and J to play with!

All the Calvert Girls...yes, we do wear matching pjs every year.  :)

Brad and Libby...aren't they cute?  We sure do wish they lived just a little closer!

CHRISTMAS SUGARS!

It's Siddeley the Airplane!!  Whoohoo!  Aunt Emily had two happy nephews on Christmas Eve morning with her gift for them!

First football helmets for Bryce and Brayden.  So COOL!

We are so blessed to have had such a special Christmas Eve morning.