Here are a few pictures of yesterday evening of them playing and being good friends:)
I have had a myriad of stories and benchmarks that I've wanted to record of the boys but have failed to do so. I'm sure I have forgotten many but I wanted to record the ones that I remember so hang on for rundown of stories:
I've really felt that I've handicapped Jared in a way from being independent. I think because he was the first I've had more time on my hands so I've often done things for him because I was faster. Jared has always allowed me to do things for him showing little or no interest of doing it himself. For a long time I've tried to encourage him to dress himself and eat more on his own (I more feed him because he gets distracted and won't eat unless I do so it's not that he can't). He has fought it quite a bit saying "I can't do it" all the time. The thing that's been hard with this is it takes forever to have him even try so it's Soooo much easier for me to do it. But recently I have really pushed him because I've realized I need him to be more independent with baby number three coming soon. It definitely takes him longer to do than me but his progress has been wonderful. He gets dressed really well and doesn't make to many mistakes as far as putting things on backwards. The only things he kind of struggles with are socks, sometimes shoes, and doing up his pants on his own.
Jared talked in church about a month ago and did really well. He talked about his family, temples, and how he was a part of a heavnely family as well. Before he gave the talk he kept raising his hand saying, "I get to talk in the microphone!" He didn't clam up and did really well. Also in church the primary sang for mother's day. They sang "Love is Spoken Here" and "Mother I Love You". As soon as Jared saw kids walking up to the front he went right along with them. During the first song he didn't sing just had his hands in his mouth, but he knew the second song and sang the whole thing. When he came back he said, "I didn't know the first one." Pause, "Can I do it again?" He was one of the last kids to come down from the stand before he realized hardly anyone was around him. He's not as shy as I would have thought...
Jared loves to have treats! And he likes to have them right by him. Often he has to wait till after dinner or after we do something before he gets his treat but while he waits he wants it right by him. One time right before dinner I found him sneaking chocolate chips. I made him spit it in my hand and said he could finish it after dinner. He then asked me, "Can I hold it... in my mouth?" It was like he realized it looked gross and didn't want to hold it in his hands but still wanted to "hold" on to it. It didn't trick me but I got a good laugh:)
In Chicago preschool starts at age three. I was really sad by the thought at first but have warmed up to it especially since Jared is so excited. He's been asking to go to school since October last year. In late April when our friend had her baby the thought came to me to tell him he wouldn't go to school until the baby came. He has asked so many times since then if the baby has come. Kids so don't get time. I've tried to explain that my belly will get REALLY big but he already calls my belly big so to him the baby is ready anytime.
Two more stories of Jared and his conversations... Chris and I have been trying to have him not say hate because he doesn't use it in the right context (usually he hates people). So I've had to try and not use it (I always say I hate my phone!). Anyways, often now he will come up to me and say, "I don't hate you mom." To which I reply, "I love you too Jared." I think he likes using a word he thinks is naughty but he doesn't get in trouble using it that way:)
K, for the last story, this conversation happened between Chris and Jared a week or so ago:
J: How's work going?
C: Bad.
J: Did you loose your job?
C: No (wondering where in the world did he get or learn this from????)
Pause
J: How's work going?
C: It's busy Jared, really busy.
Content with the answer and runs off.
As for my little Spencer... He is such a joy and such a handful! I LOVE his laugh. I hope to catch it some day on video. It's a little "Ha, ha, ha" literally that is deep and awesome:) I love to scare Spencer. A lot of times when he comes looking for me I'll hide around a corner then jump out saying roar to which his little body tenses up with clenched fists and all but also the biggest smile and ha, ha, ha I could ask for. Love it!
I also love how easily he can smile. Jared was one I could get to laugh on cue and Spencer can smile on cue. All you have to do is smile at him and he reciprocates your smile. He is one good looking boy with his curls, blue eyes, and ivory skin.
Along with Jared, one of Spencer's favorite shows is Dora. He used to sing Dora, Dora the explorer (at least get the tune down), now he just says Dora Dora which is pretty cute. He also can say show pretty well. I think I ruined him when we watched sooo much tv when we were sick. One more word I've started to recognize is Jared. It doesn't sound like Jared but it's unique and definitely he means Jared when he says it.
Spencer loves to be loved and given attention. That's the hardest thing oddly enough because he whines all the time to get attention. He comes crying to me with every bump and wants a pat, hug, or to be held. One day he was crying soooo much and I just didn't want to acknowledge it anymore so I just let him cry at my legs. After awhile Spencer realized he wasn't going to get attention from him so he went to Jared and cried into his shoulder and Jared gave him the hug he was in search of. They are great little friends. I think they'll be even more so when Spencer an talk and they can communicate.
Right now one of Spencer's favorite things is to be chased. Why Jared chases him is because he usually has an object he wants. So they both have a lot of fun until Jared accomplishes the task of retreiving the object to which Spencer cries relentlessly until it is given back (if it is given back). Often when Chris plays with Jared catch or baseball or something Spencer wants to play too so Jared or Chris will toss the ball to Spencer to share but once Spencer gets the ball he takes off interrupting the "game". One day they'll get it down and be able to play more effectively:)
And one last story for Spencer. At about his age I had started to work on potty training Jared. Well Spencer is not Jared and I have not even attempted this feat for many reasons: I can't reason with Spencer like Jared, Spencer shows no interest, and Spencer is more stubborn than me. Chris on the other hand has made some attempts at warming Spencer up to the idea. Every time he'd change him or take his diaper off for a bath he would take him to the toilet and hold him there and make the sound, "psssss" and congratulate him. So now when Jared goes to the bathroom or whenever he feels like it Spencer will walk up to the toilet hold his belly and make the sound, "pssssss". It makes me chuckle:) (FYI: I have since tried to have Spencer go on the little potty and he did once but now he doesn't even want to sit on it. I'll wait awhile I think).
Weight- 26 lbs - 75%
Weight- 35 lbs - 90%
Spencer loves his trike and just sits as we push him. He can reach one foot at a time to the pedal so he's not quite ready for the pedaling but it's a perfect transition trike for him cause we can take the push handle off when he's ready. 
Later we dyed eggs and the boys had a blast with that as well. 
The next morning they did their mini egg hunt. Chris' family grew up where they had the main candy in the baskets and little candy was strewn about. My family we hid the basket with everything inside. So we did a combo of both. In the morning we did Chris' family's version and in the afternoon we hid a basket with a picnic lunch in it (along with the sweets we always had a picnic lunch as well in my family). Below is a clip of the morning hunt. When we heard the boys wake up I quickly made them oatmeal and fed it to them in their room before we brought them upstairs. Good thinking on my part, they stuffed their faces with candy!
The boys found some superman capes that grandma had made for Chris and Ty when they were little. They loved them, especially Spencer.
Then our last evening there grandpa suggested a picnic. Jared was Soooo excited. He helped grandma pack the car and they thought of everything: toys, juice, blankets, treats and more. We got chicken but Jared didn't want it so while we were waiting at the drive thru grandpa jumped out and went to a hamburger place close by, these kids are loved!
Spencer LOVED the corn on the cob.
And Jared enjoyed the hamburger grandpa got him.
While at the park, (candy cane park where Chris went often as a little boy) the boys had a blast and uncle Jo entertained them till the end. 
Then we headed back to Chicago. The plane rides went fairly well I was just busy the whole time entertaining. When we arrived in Chicago I promised Jared he could play on the airplane in the airport since he didn't get to when we left. Chris picked us up maybe 1 1/2 to 2 hours after we landed so the boys could play.
