Welf

The Elf of the Shelf, aka Welf, was SO much fun this year.  I did a lot of "research", and got tons of ideas on fun places for him to hide.  The kids thought he was so funny and really enjoyed the Dr Pepper, smores, and zip line.  I'm not entirely sure who had more fun, but I am glad it was more than just hide and seek this year!

Christmas 2011

Christmas feels like so long ago.  I am so behind, but hopefully I can get caught up over the next few weeks.  We did our traditional Christmas eve Pj's and it was a plaid, button-up kind of year.  The boys had been asking for button up pj's and they love these.  With Christmas being on a Sunday, we had thought things would be super crazy because we have certain traditions that help make Christmas an all day affair.  We did have to rush a bit at the end of opening the wrapped gifts, but we were able to do all of our normal fun things.  

The boys snuggled until 6:45 and then we went and woke up Grey and Lily.  We let the kids open stockings and play with Santa gifts and then we did our traditional crepe breakfast.  We all somehow got spoiled this year, thanks to grandparent money.  They are always too kind.  

It was a wonderful program at church and we were asked to dinner by our old bishop, Brother Littlejohn, in the ward.  It was great to have grandparent-like people that the kids could be around.

This year was mainly a sports themed year. The boys all asked for uniforms.  They got football and soccer stuff.  I think Landon's favorite gifts were his new football jerseys and his soccer sweat pants (think hammer pants).  Cohen's favorite was the new video games, and his new "real" football helmet (go Ducks!)

Greyson loved all his new soccer unis, and football jerseys, but his favorite was the motorcycle helmet and his monster truck.

Lillian got her first tea party set and several dolls.  She also got some really cute new outfits from her daddy.

I got spoiled with new church outfits and best of all new framed pictures of the kids and family.  Steve spoiled me so much and I can always feel how much he loves me.  His love language is definitely gifts!

It was a year full of gratitude and the kids were amazing through it all.  They never fail to be overly thankful for all they receive and make it all worth the sacrifices we make for them in the end.

SiX!

On January 12, Cohen turned 6 years old.  For his special birthday, we decided to go against the traditional birthday party and took him on a 2 day adventure to the snow.  We went ice skating, tubing, made smores by the fire and just enjoyed being together as a family.  I know he was a little disappointed by the fact that he didn't get to celebrate with his friends, but I haven't gotten to know a bunch of the parents yet, and I still am not in to the big party thing, so I pushed for this.  On his actual birthday, Steve was able to take him to EA sports, where they make all the sports video games and they toured the place where the games are made and even got hooked up with 2 new games each and awesome hats.  We went to dinner that night at Boudin, his choice, and had cake and gave him his gifts.  The big gift was the trip to the snow.  He also got a new suit, angry birds, and sticky gloves for football. 

So here are a few things about this sweet 6 year old boy that I want to remember:

Height: 51 1,4" 

weight: 56 lbs.

Loves: video games, iPad, sports, playing with his brothers, giving hugs and loves, and dogs (really wishes we could get one).

He is almost always willing to be talked into playing whatever Landon is wanting to. 

 He has started playing baseball and soccer and loves both.  

He can be highly emotional and occasionally I have to remind him that it is NOT ok for a 6 year old to lay on the ground and kick and scream when he is upset.  

He loses his temper when pushed past his threshold and is willing to admit when he has.  Still loves to snuggle and love on everyone.  

His favorite food is Caprese salad.  

He has a tiny lisp that manifests when saying his S sound.  

He is truly the most laid back of the boys.  

He is not great at trying new foods, and tends to be hard to feed.  

He seems to like school, but would be perfectly happy to stay at home. 

 He knows his letters pretty well, with an occasional backward letter. 

 He knows his sounds and is starting to sound things out.  

He knows about 25 of the sight words. 

 He can write his numbers 1-30 (maybe even more, but we haven't tried).  

Can count by 2's to 20.  

He can get frustrated at home with the school work, but he does fine at school.  

He is wearing a size 3-3.5 shoe and is only about 1 size behind Landon. 

He has the biggest heart and is always a pleasure to be around. 

Lillian 10 months

Lillian at 10 months:

weight: around 16 lb. 4 oz

Lillian has changed so incredibly much this month.  Steve and I sat and watched her this morning and both agreed we could envision a toddler in our near future.

Lillian got 2 new teeth this month.  The first popped through December 26 and the second took another 2 weeks.  She now has two top teeth and two bottom and is so incredibly cute.  

The biggest change in her happened about 3 weeks ago.  She just blossomed when it came to eating solids.  She is trying lots of new things and acts much like a normal baby.  She still eats small amounts, but she is eating: mashed potatoes, scrambled egg yolks, cheese, yogurt and several different baby foods.  She isn't crazy about the veggies by themselves, but likes the pears, apples, will eat green beans mixed with apples, and some of the fruit combos.  It is amazing to do these normal things that we find so amazing every time.  She still hasn't gained much weight, but all of her test came back normal, so it seems like she is just going to be petite.  We do give her a supplement called Duocal that adds extra calories to the things that she eats.  

She is getting more and more confident on her feet and cruises everywhere.  She occasionally forget and lets go, but can balance for a half of a second before plopping to her bum.

She also started babbling this month.  She started with Mama, but can also say Dada although not as ofter and I've even heard a baba in there too.  She says Mama all day long and it never fails to melt me as she crawls up my legs saying Ma ma ma. 

Mimicking is now in her bag of tricks.  The last week she has been sitting on her knees and bouncing up and down and waving her arms.  I call this dancing and if I tell her to dance and bounce a little, she gets on her knees and does this.  She is also doing the funniest head bob where she throws her head backward.  She loves when we laugh at her and does it over and over.

Her hair is getting thicker and still has a little curl to it.  She leaves her headbands in and everyone marvels at the fact that she will.

She is napping 3 times a day and usually for around 45 minutes.  (around 9,12 and 5)  She goes to bed around 7:30 and still wakes up once and usually is up for the morning around 6:30-7.  She always wakes up happy although she is having to cry herself to sleep from time to time.  It usually only takes her a minute, but she knows since she is happy always, that if she protests a nap, often times I will keep her up.

She is still very small through the middle and it is very hard to find pants that fit her.  They are usually too short for her, but they are still 2 inches too big in the waist. 

She is happy when anyone holds her, but if I am near, she will reach for me.  She is starting to express her dislike about certain things more and more and will even get mad, but the best is that she will cry for about 3 seconds and then forget all about what she was upset about. 

She also discovered this month that she can open all of my cabinets.  This proves to be exhausting since we know we won't be here forever and it seems like a waste to baby proof everything.  Right now hair bands are keeping her out of the important stuff and I do a lot of pick up on the rest.  

She is so fun to have around.  I know these next two months are going to fly by and I am going to be saying she is 1!

 Can you see her teeth in this big smile?

 Notice the high waters?

I love it when she sits on her knees like this!  So cute!

9 months

This sweet little girl turned 9 months old today.  This 9 months has flown by.  When I think of it in relation to things like, only 3 months until she is 1, or she is half way to being old enough for nursery, I can't believe it!  

Here are her stats:

16 lbs. 1 oz (5%)

28.5 in. (74%)

The Dr. was ok with her weight even though she had dropped a little from her last appointment.  She is trying new things and making progress.  And she is doing everything developmentally (well, almost) that she should be.

So here is what this cutie pie can do:

-Crawls on hands and knees 100% of the time

-pulls up on everything

-walks along the edge of the couch and ottoman

-moves back and forth between couch and ottoman and occasionally forgets and just lets go entirely

-climbs the stairs at a very fast pace

-pulls up at the toilet (so gross!) and unrolls all the toilet paper

-claps her hands

-says "yaw yaw yaw" and "la la la" (but no consonant sounds yet)

-plays peek a boo

-squeals

-has 2 teeth and is very close to getting 2 more

-takes 2-3 naps (not consistent on length, usually short though)

-night sleep, wakes up 1-2 times, 7:30-7

-still loves to be swaddled at bed and nap time

-leaves hair bows in and seems to like them

-starting to fight me to go down for naps and I have to lock her in to a cradle position and then she will finally give in

-loves mashed potatoes and does best with these, just not off a spoon

-will eat chunks of avocado, star puffs, mac and cheese, cheese quesadilla, cheerios, and even tried egg with cheese

-her portions are tiny, but she is making progress

-still no baby puree

-whines at my feet when she wants to be held

-still in a size 2 diaper, but I think she is almost ready for the 3

-3-6 month pants are too short, but too big around the waist

 Can you see her teeth?  I should have edited and zoomed, but that would be too much work!

She was so patient for this photo shoot.  I felt so bad because she is really sick and as soon as it was over, her fever spiked and she zonked out.  She really is the world's best and sweetest baby!

Ward Christmas Party and Santa

Our ward Christmas party was something entirely different this year.  Being in a ward that has such few children, to be honest, I was almost surprised they had Santa there.  The program was long and boring and there was nothing for the kids to do.  Our kids came home upset because we were one of the few parents that wouldn't let their children run through the church.  

But the Santa experience is always fun.  The older two boys were SO cute!  Their faces lit up as they told Santa all of the things that they wanted.  Grey on the other hand wasn't so sure.  After a quick pep talk from Dad and a promise of a candy cane at the end, he hopped up there and was so cute saying the things that he wanted.  When we went to do a picture of all the kids, sister didn't really realize who was holding her at first, but then she turned around.  She gave me an uncertain look, but then we were done.  After all the boys had sat on Santa's lap, I tried to get one individual of Lily with Santa, and well, the picture says it all.  She lost it.  I love those pictures and think they are quite funny.  Even if the rest of the night was a bust, it was worth it for these super cute pictures.