Look Mommy!

We've hit a milestone! This week, Will started saying "LOOK MOMMY!"... followed by one of two things. He'll either show me something really small and insignificant (but very important to him!) or he'll show me something he's never done before - like standing up on the chair, or walking around with his blanket on his head. Most of the time, "look mommy!" precedes something like dumping a cup of water all over the kitchen floor... something we discuss not doing every single day. One of these days it'll catch on, right?

Not only is Will very expressively saying "look mommy (or daddy, or whoever may be at our house)!" but he has also started saying things like:

• "Where we going?".... and then when I remind him where we are going, he says "OH! Ya." (like he knew it all along, and forgot)
• "Who is it?" (pointing at random people in the store)
• "I play dishes/books/blocks/dinosaurs now" (as he goes from one activity to another)
• "Nursery? No want it...." (with a very sad pouty face) and then "Will crying... want mommy" (He fondly lets me know he was crying for me pretty much ALL 2 hours of nursery.) Although he does say "Singing time? Like it!"
• "Mommy do it" or "Daddy do it" as well as "Mommy come!" (whenever we're going somewhere and he's worried he's going to the babysitter, or just when he wants me to play with him, he'll take my hand, tug on it, and say "mommy come!")
• "Will kinda tired" obviously followed by "Nap? No want it..."
• After Scott or I do something funny and start laughing, or when I do something stupid and say loudly "Oh my gosh!" or "Darn it!" (like when I spilled wheat kernals ALL over the kitchen floor) Will will start laughing and say "Silly mommy!"

We are also constantly reminded at what a good memory this boy has. He has been telling me several times a day, for the past week about Grandma's cat, Meek, who scratches the furniture, and then Grandma says "No no meek!" In Will's words, the story goes like this:
"Kitty cratching! Meek cratching! Gigi says 'NO NO Meek!'" and then often he ends with "silly kitty." He also remembers fondly going with Uncle Jess to feed his horse and remembers that "Clover" (Jess's horse) eats hay.

It is so fun that Will can communicate, our days are FULL of play by plays of what he's doing, thinking, and wanting Mommy or Daddy to do. We love our little boy, he's always so happy and patient with us!

My Hubby....

Scott is a wonderful man, fantastic father, and a great student. Tomorrow, he is officially on the downhill slope to being done with school! He begins his 4th of 6 semesters of grad. school. He has proven himself an amazing student, getting excellent grades and still keeping up with family life, and a hefty calling at church. Will and I are so lucky to have him in our lives and we are so proud of him and all that he has accomplished and all that he still has to accomplish.

Thanks Scott, we love you!

Since we've been home....

We've been home from our Christmas break in Utah for two weeks now. My, how time flies! We've had all sorts of adventures since returning to our arctic home here in Minneapolis. Will and I have spent lots of time together trying to get used to Scott being gone all day, again. We've been out on some major grocery shopping trips, trips to the library, and the children's museum. The only thing that helps us keep our minds off of how much we miss family and our Christmas break, is being able to stay busy, and having the company of wonderful friends.

Yesterday when I tried to go to the gym at 9 am, I got about 1/2 mile away from our house and our car suddenly decided it was WAY too cold to be going anywhere and froze up. Literally, it just died.... everything started slowing down, freezing up, and not wanting to move. It was ONLY -15 degrees outside with a wind chill of -25. With the help of our fellow Minneapolis police, doing their civic duty, I was able to get back to my house where Scott was able to go with our neighbor to jump our car. Since then, it hasn't started again. We are praying it just needs a replacement of the battery! These are the life and times of truly living in frigid MN - oh the joys. Although it is cold outside, we stay cozied up in our apt. making cookies, baking bread, and playing games. Will always enjoys a good movie, his favorites lately seem to be Curious George, and the dinosaur movie from the library. Life goes on, and we are looking forward to warmer days. This week should get up to 7 degrees - HEAT WAVE!

The end....

After seeing moose at the cabin. We knew Will would really enjoy going to Hardware Ranch. Hardware Ranch is where TONS of elk come during the winter to get fed. It is really cool, we took a sleigh ride out to see the elk. Will really liked the horses!

The future home of the Mortensen cabin - we can't wait! The property looks fabulous!
"Our" property.... we even got to see 2 moose while driving through the property. Will thought that was great and wouldn't stop talking about them.
The Tetons - the cabin will be right in between Jackson Hole and Yellowstone - we are SO EXCITED!!

A Magical Christmas cont'.... the after party

We had a pinata with lots of New Years stuff inside. Will did NOT like it. He was totally freaked out by the fact that we were all swinging a broom at this thing hanging - I don't blame him, it is a very weird concept. Aren't we trying to teach our kids NOT to hit things? Weird... Go Grandma!
Enjoying the goodies
Happy 2008 - Mortensen Family
Devin and Liz enjoying the hot tub. They helped Sadie build a snowman! Owen and Ashlie
Uncle Ty showing off his snowshoe skills! Check out the creek, it was really pretty.

We spend New Year's at a cabin in Island Park, ID. The snow was great and we had a blast. It was a wonderful way to start the New Year! We went snowshoeing, snowmobiling, played games, and ate lots of great food. Will loved riding on Scott's shoulders while we snowshoed, it was SO pretty - we can't wait to go again. Family Picture in the beautiful snow -
Jess and Kari cross country skiing

Will enjoying a sucker after snowshoeing.
He thoroughly enjoyed it - that's what the holidays are all about right?

Lizzie and Will after sledding -
The day after Christmas we went swimming at Sport's Academy. Our little water baby loved it, and so did Dad and Uncle Ty
JUMP!

A Magical Christmas cont.... Christmas Day

We were lucky enough to have a very WHITE Christmas. So, Christmas day, Jesse, Scott's brother hitched up his horse - Clover and pulled us up and down the street on the sled. It was a blast! It was a gorgeous day, just what Christmas should be....
Yee Haw! Scott and Will...
Gigi and Will
The girls - minus Ashlie and Lorinda - Notice Kari's cute pregnant belly! Only 3 weeks to go Kari!

Opening his stocking - goldfish, an Elmo toothbrush, and lots of chocolate. Will would have been completely satisfied with goldfish - if only we could ALL be so easily content! Oh, and he was still talking about his dinosaur jammies! Showing Papa his Elmo toothbrush
His first (of many) books from Santa. The "Grumpy Book" - I read it to him, then he took it to Scott, and then Grandpa. We could hardly get him to open other presents.
The next HIT - "How do Dinosaurs Eat their food?" Will had been talking about this book for months and he was SO thrilled!
Aunt Lizzie - by far his favorite person of the trip!

A Magical Christmas

Reading with his cousins and Aunt Ashlie - A very sad "Joseph"... he didn't like dressing up. Since he was the only boy, he got to be Joseph, a shepherd, and a wise man all at the same time.
Our little family Nativity (Will with cousins Ellie, Molly, and Sadie)
A very EXCITED Will opening PJ's with DINOSAURS! This was an exciting moment! He LOVED the jammies - He pointed out to everyone what each dinosaur was called.
Family Pic - Christmas Eve

Scott's dad is starting to retire. Scott went with him to celebrate his last day of "rounding" at the hospital. It was a momentuous occasion! YUM YUM YUM - Sunday dinner, turkey legs, need I say more?
Will wanted in on the action....

At my sister Krista's house enjoying a very yummy ravioli dinner and of course, ice cream for dessert. This wasn't just any old ice cream, it was special BYU Dreyer's stuff - it was delish! My little nephew Matt is quite a guy - he doesn't waste any time getting his ice cream... I think we should all start using spoons as big as ice cream scoops!

Will loved playing the piano at Grandma's. Here, he's singing away! We also got to enjoy LOTS of great snow while we were in Utah. Will liked it for a few minutes, but got frustrated that he couldn't really move. He loved being pulled on the sled - I'm think that would be a good investment for Minnesota - especially for hauling all my groceries into the apt!

Get ready for picture overload! We had a wonderful, magical Christmas in Utah with our families - so here's all the photos of our adventures!