What do These Two have in Common??

For those who didn't grow up in the 80's. This is Rock Eater from Never Ending Story. For some reason Calvin loves to eat rocks. I will catch him with a rock in each hand and two in his mouth. He grinds his teeth on it (you will probably have to do dental work Todd). I try to stop him but if I don't watch for two seconds, he has another rock in his mouth! Please stop eating rocks Calvin :)
And for those who are wondering what Bryce and I are up to... This is what we did tonight...

We kicked the nerf soccer ball at each other. At one point, Bryce was picking weeds off the lawn and I pegged him in the bum. I had really good aim until we started making bets. After that, I couldn't hit him for the life of me! Dang... I was going to get a foot massage tonight!

Good Times

Bryce, Calvin and I all had an awesome trip to Snow Canyon this past weekend. We were really thankful the Mottishaws planned this trip. There were supposed to be more families, but little by little they all couldn't come. So it was just us and the Mottishaws from up North. My friends Brit and Dave and their kids (from St. George) came and hung out as well. We had such a good time!

Calvin helping dad put up the tent in Snow Canyon Campground

Like father like son. Rather sleep in a tent then in his own bed.

Bike ride up Green Valley Trail

Hiking in Snow Canyon. Bryce was the tore guide for the kids. He showed them how lizard make their tracks. We all decided he should be a kindergarten teacher :)

We were twenty minutes out of St. George Saturday night, when Bryce decided he didn't want to go home yet. He turned around, bought a hotel room, and we spent the rest of the trip together just us as a family. We walked around the temple grounds.

Calvin was playing hide and go seek with Bryce on the temple lawn.
We went miniture golfing at the "Fiesta Fun." Calvin won. He got a hole in one each hole. He would pick up his ball and put it in the hole and say "uh oh" We just had fun playing with Calvin.

Of course, on our way home, we had to stop at Kolob Canyon. It is part of Zions that not a lot of people know about. It is just before Cedar City and tucked behind the mountains off of I-15. Bryce and I hiked in 8 miles and camped a few years ago. It was an awesome experience and we recommend it to anyone.

Blue! Blue! Blue!

I think everyone knows that I am surrounded by boys... Bryce, Calvin and Milo... and you probably guessed already... But we are having a BOY!
Don't worry though. We both were so excited. I thought we were having a girl, but when we found out we were having a boy, I was relieved. Calvin and this little boy will be best friends. They will go camping together, have bunk beds together, and even possibly be out on missions together. We are excited!

Are Kids Supposed to Act Like this at 16 Months?

He looks pretty innocent and cute doesn't he???

This is my morning: (this is an email I sent to Bryce)

So… I was reading book with Calvin this morning. He took them all out. So I thought it would be a good opportunity to teach him to put his things away. So I said. .. Calvin can you put your book away? I picked one up and put it in the basket… and then handed one to him. He took the book and threw it on the ground. I then said “here, it goes in the basket” He again threw it on the ground. This went on for about 5 minutes. I am being very patient and using a kind voice. Really trying to teach him. I even help him put one in the basket and I praise him up and down… he takes the book back out and throws it on the floor.

So then he goes into our room and picks up all the cloths out of the basket and brings them into his room and starts throwing them everywhere. I just sit there and don’t do anything… I think he is trying to get my attention. So… he then picks up his pants off the floor and starts throwing them at me. He does it over and over. I just sit there. He finally gets sick of me not reacting to him… So he grabs my nose and pinches me so hard. I have a big scrape on the bottom of my nose. So I just picked him up and put him in his crib. He is now screaming for me.

DO YOU THINK I TAUGHT HIM A LESSON??? Probably not. I don’t know what to do. He hates me… I love him. Just thought I would share it with you :)

Love you

Melissa Joy… I really am having more patience :)

Linton Family Easter Egg Hunt

Uncle Daniel Helping Calvin

It looks like Calvin is the only one hunting for the eggs... there were other kids. We just let Calvin cheat and pick up the eggs before any of the other kids came out.
Calvin caught on that there was candy in the eggs. He picked up the egg, took the candy out and threw the egg back on the ground... what are the eggs for?

My moms family gets together every year to have an Easter Egg Hunt. It is at my grandparents house. They have both passed on but my brother lives in the house now. It was fun to watch Calvin. It took him a while to get it. P.S. For my family members... there are more pictures of all the family on the family blog.

So Fresh and So Clean... Sort of!

While I was doing this on one side of the kitchen

Calvin is doing this on the other side

And now he is finally doing this :)

Why do I even clean?? Is there really a point? I guess it is good for sanitation purposes. My sister tries to explain to her husband what it is like to stay home with the kids. She tells him... It is like if you had a big huge project and you finally finish it... someone comes along and pushes delete. That is my life in a nut shell. But I love being a mom. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
(I was going to post this yesterday, but while I was cleaning, Calvin hid the camera plug... just found it under my bed :)

Late Night Snack

Bryce and Calvin's snack before bed is cereal. Bryce has taught him well... he now knows to drink the left over milk out of the bowl. I am realizing most my post are about Calvin eating. He is always eating... can you imagine when he is a teenager?!

Where's Daddy? Where's Milo?

I ask Calvin where Daddy or Milo is. He puts his hand up and says "daddy?" "Milo?" It is so cute. I love it. I don't know where he got it. Maybe I do that.
He also loves his bananas. This is right after eat ate Two and a half bananas. He would rather eat bananas than chocolate. I tried to only give him one and he pushed the chair up to the fruit bowl and grabbed a banana. Before i could get to him, he had taken a bite out of the skin of the banana. So I had to open it up and give it to him.
I hope everyone's April Fool went well. Bryce's work pulled a joke on him. Last night they told him that his best friend from work got fired. He came home totally depressed. He kept telling me that he didn't think it was a prank. He even prayed... "please bless the Hilton's... Unless it is a joke." Well he went to work this morning and in walked Cassidy. I am glad somone got Bryce though... because he has pulled plenty of pranks on me :)