Heading into December

While I'm uploading and organizing pictures I'm going to get as caught up on the blog as I can because time just keeps disappearing when it comes to keeping this thing up to date.

We left Thanksgiving and jumped right into Christmas.  We started by decorating the house.  The kids couldn't have been more excited.  They helped bring in the Christmas totes, put up the tree and decorations, and carefully put up the ornaments on the tree.

Truman and Tacy were so careful helping to get everything put out...Cardon not so much.  We had to keep a pretty close eye on him.  The first few days after we got it all put up he was constantly touching all the stuff.  The worst casualty was when he broke all the spokes off our spinning Christmas ornaments ( I can't remember what it's called for the life of me).  Wasn't happy about that one but I guess that's what you get for having way to many tempting decorations around the house.

The elves are even around.  And so far the red elves haven't had to make an appearance yet.  Actually if Cardon understood things better his elf might have been red a few times.  But Truman and Prentice have been on such good behavior that the green elves have brought them surprised every morning.  Prentice was actually not happy to wake up this first morning when the elves had gotten into the candy and her elf had a half eaten one in her hand.  Prentice had a bit of a melt down because she had eaten part of her candy.  I thought it was really cute but I bet those elves will think twice about eating her treats next time.

Jer usually has the lights up right after Thanksgiving, but this year we were definitely behind and as luck would have it we were both out putting up lights on the snowiest day in at least 10 years.  We opted out of putting them around the house because I didn't want anyone up on the slippery roof.  It took us most the morning but it was well worth it.  I love how the Christmas lights look even if we were a week late in getting them up.  I think the cold dreary day made us all a little sleepy and we actually all took an afternoon nap.  Don't know when the last time that happened was.

And the kids couldn't of had more fun in the snow.  I don't like the snow but if it only does this every 10 years I can handle it.  It was a fun Christmas surprise and it was a good chance to get all the snow gear down and see what we needed for our Christmas trip up north. 

As you can see from the picture, Cardon did not get his snow gear on and didn't even venture out of the house much.  Here is a rare shot of him running around for a few short moments in very little.  He was pretty confused about the whole thing and didn't understand why the snow made his hand hurt when he he stuck it in the snow.

Truman and Prentice did about all they could out in the snow.  They jumped on the tramp, tried riding scooters, made snow angels, built an awesome snowman all on their own, went exploring, and even managed to get dad into a snowball fight.

It was such a fun way to spend a Saturday and Sunday.  St. George is so ill equipped to deal with this sort of thing, that they even cancelled church today.  I have to say that I had the best time watching the kids have such a blast in the snow.  Kinda made me wish it would do this just a little more often.  Took me back to how much fun I had playing in the snow as a kid.  Our living room has been full or wet and drying snow clothes for 2 days now.  I don't dare clean them up because I know they will be right back out there every chance they get until the snow melts.  Luckily it's supposed to last for a few more days because it will be so cold here.  What a nice change for our desert weather.

Thanksgiving 2013 Festivities

We spent Thanksgiving in St. George this year with my family. 

Leading up to the big day, we kept ourselves busy making Thanksgiving pictures and crafts.  Everytime I turned around Truman and Prentice had something else out!

This is how Cardon spends a lot of his day.  We feel like we have accomplished something if we can just get him to put underwear on.

It wouldn't be the holidays withoug someone getting sick.  It acually started with me and then quickly moved to Jer and a few days later to poor Truman.  Luckily it was the weekend before Thanksgiving day so we were grateful to be well for that.

We visited the Jubilee of trees.

I had some me time and made a Thanksgiving craft.

I was able to help at Tacy's Thanksgiving feast.  They sang a few songs in English and Chinese and then had pie and juice.  It's so nice to be able to help in their classrooms sometimes.

We also visited the Children's Museum that just opened in St. George.  We had visited the library to get some books for the break and thought we would go over a spend a couple hours.  It was so hard to keep track of all four kids by myself, because they all were so excited to go do different things.  No matter how many times I told them they all had to stay together, they invariably would end up in different rooms.  It was a lot of fun and I am so excited to have a Children't Museum in St. George.  It will be a great way to keep the kids entertained while they are learning as well.

Thanksgiving day Truman helped Jer make mashed potatoes and homemade rolls.  I made green bean casserole.  My parents suprisingly ended up moving right over Thanksgiving so that threw things off , but we still had lots of fun hanging out with Anton, Liz, Lilly and Claire.

Had to take a picure of all the pies  we had.

The kids has a blast hanging out with their cousins.  I am so grateful they are a part of our life.  It was especially nice for Tacy to be able to have a ton of girl time.  It was awesome for me too.  I got to have Liz go Black Friday shopping with me.  It was my first time and although it was fun to hang out, not so sure the chaos of Black Friday is my way of shopping. 

We decided to go for a hike the next day and thought it might be fun to take the kids on the "volcano" hike.  I though we did a pretty good job getting 6 kids to the top with no whining or complaining.  We are turning them into quite the hikers.

We had such a fun time with Anton and Liz and their family for Thanksgiving.  Can't wait to do it all again for Christmas.  I'm not close with all my family so I truly appreciate their friendship.  Glad that no matter what I know they are there for me and love my family not matter what differences we may have.  Cardon can't wait to see Uncle Anton again so he will tease him.  I'm sure they got their fill of boy craziness while they were here.

Chambers is 8 months!

I better get down Chambers' 8 month happenings since we are part way to 9.

Jer and I comment everyday on how wonderful he is.  Don't get me wrong, life is crazy and stressful and everyday I also comment on how overwhelmed I am, but this little guy makes it all worthwhile.  He is so laid back and content.  He sleeps, eats, plays a little, gives us tons of adorable smiles and sounds and then does it all over again.  When he cries it truly is to let us know he is hungry, tired, or wants to be held and I don't even know if you can call it a cry, usually it's more or a whimper.

Chambers wakes up at about 8:30.  Sometimes he would sleep longer, but then I wake him up.  He has a bottle while I hold him.  Usually by this point I have gotten the other kids ready for school so  I make sure Cardon is busy with something and I just enjoy Chambers.  After he eats I change his diaper and bath him and get his clothes on.  Then he has a banana and he's ready to go back down for his first nap.  I normally wake him up at about 11:30 and feed him lunch (sweet potatoes or applesauce usually) and then we read books and play with toys for a while.  I put him down for his second nap around 1:30 and he sleeps until the kids get out of school at 3:30.  Our house gets pretty crazy from here on out, so Chambers just kind of goes with it.  It is less structured in late afternoons but he just kind of does whatever I am doing with the other kids.  He eats dinner with us and then has another bottle before bed at about 8:30.  He loves his bed and turns right over with his blanket in his hands and falls asleep.  No fussing.  We don't even really have to be quiet.  He just goes to sleep.  I guess it's what they say...4th babies have to be good.  Or maybe I am just more relaxed and don't too worked up about things.  Either way, to us he is an unbelievable baby.

The kids love him.  Especially Truman and Prentice love to make him smile and want to hold him.  He has turned into quite a mama's boy so he usually wants me, but they still try.

At 8 months you:
feed yourself baby "puffs"
eat solids 3 times a day
say "ba ba" for nothing in particular
pat things when you're excited
are a pincher
grab hair
have 2 bottom teeth
sit up great
haven't started crawling, but look close
give kisses sometimes
wear size 9-12 month clothes
love your pacifier
have lots of really light blond hair
will still fall asleep in my arms sometimes
love your bed
like to watch what the kids are doing
put everything in your mouth
especially paper
have started to show an interest in Ann
still like me to carry you in the Baby Bjorn
but are getting heavy for me to lug you around
are a wiggle worm
want to get to everything

Brog Portrait

Our friend and neighbor L'Deane is doing a watercolor painting for my parents. I am always amazed at her talent and ability to capture not only the likeness of someone but also their individual demenour. The paiting is set in my parents backyard. My dad is working in the yard as usual and my mom and sister are there as well. Monique is holding one of their dogs. She also added many of the animals that have frequented my parents yard...including a child named Cardon (or it could be Truman) who is climbing the rocks. Cardon has gone over to her house a few times while she works because she has given him a huge pile of clay that he is making into a volcano.

In the picture you can see that she is working on Cardon in the background.  I will try to post another picture when she finishes the whole thing.  She is also planning on adding Chambers to our family watercolor so I am looking forward to that as well.

Snow Canyon bike ride

We decided to play hookie for stake conference and do something as a family.  We justified ourselves by saying that we work hard in our church callings every other week and that the kids wouldn't sit for 2 hours anyway.  And who could pass up this beautiful November weather?

Jer checked all the bikes and got them in good working order and loaded them all up in the truck.  We headed out in the late morning to Snow Canyon State Park and biked about six miles, with a hike and sand dunes in between.

Cardon and Chambers got to be pulled by dad in in the bike stroller.

We stopped at Pinyon Trails and had did that hike and then stopped for lunch.  Once we got all the kids to stay on the actual trail and not go exploring all in different directions in went pretty smoothly.  Jer and I had gotten over our disagreement over whether or not he should have headphones in on our family bide ride, so we just enjoyed this awesome place.

And I couldn't resist a shot of Cardon't behind while he tinkled after lunch.  Truman was a little more discreet behind a bush so I couldn't catch him.  I think that's part of the fun of hiking is we let hte boys pee outside.  I think Jer gets excited about it as well!

I guess the bike ride tired Tacy right out because we found her asleep while she was doing her daily reading.  I don't blame her.  The kids biked hard.  If you've been to Snow Canyon you know there are a lot of hills.  Lots of hard work for little legs the way up and lots of fast riding on the way down.