New Years

For New Year's Eve this year we took the kids to the family dance at the church for a while.  They had lots of snacks, music, a bounce house, and game rooms.  Alan was introduced to Monopoly and loved it.  Micah and Brooklyn spent most of their time in the bounce house.  We stayed until 9:30 or 10 and then we came home to watch a movie.  We pulled out the hide a bed and everyone sat on that:

Everyone stayed up until midnight - even Brooklyn.  We all yelled "Happy New Year!" and then we headed to bed. 

The next day we went sledding. 

Alan coming down:

Dad and Brooklyn had fun:

Micah was very cautious at first.  We found a little hill and he went part way up and slid down.  After that he climbed to the top of the little hill and slid down over and over.  Eventually he got brave enough to slide down the big hill by himself:

Conner was not a fan of sledding.  He got some snow in his face the first time down and after that he wanted nothing to do with sledding.  We stayed out for quite a while though and he eventually tried the little hill with Micah.  By the end we wasn't as mad, but I still don't think sledding would make his top 10 winter activity list.  

Merry Christmas 2014

This year for Christmas we went to visit Grandma and Grandpa Pitcher.  We were able to see Reed and Steph and Drew and Brittany while we were there as well.  It was nice to be with family!  On Christmas Eve we went to the live Nativity at the Stake center and then we went home and put out cookies and milk for Santa.  Then it was off to bed for the kids. 

Christmas morning started early, a little after 6 am.

First we opened stockings:

Micah wasted no time in opening his candy and eating it:

Then we had some breakfast and then we moved on to our presents. 

I got a new camera so now I can take pictures!  We love Christmas!

December (minus Christmas)

Here are some random pictures from December.

 

Alan's cub scout pack:

We had our ward Christmas party at the beginning of December.  Santa came to visit at the end and the kids were very excited. 

I wasn't sure what Brooklyn's reaction would be but she was VERY excited to see him and talk to him.  Waiting patiently in line with a huge smile on her face:

She marched right up to him and sat on his lap:

Micah telling Santa what he wants for Christmas:

Conner sitting with Santa:

Alan telling Santa that he's been a good boy:

The kids had their school Christmas concerts.  Conner is on the middle row, second from the end:

Alan

After Christmas Drew and Brittany stopped by on their way down to school.  We decided to go sledding even though it was bitterly cold.  We lasted for 2 runs down the hill and then kids started crying from the cold so we went home to eat donuts and drink hot chocolate:

In the middle of December the Porters came to visit!  Hooray!  We went to the church with the Campbells and let the kids play while the grown ups talked.  It was great to see the kids just pick up where they left off - they are still good friends:

Group shot:

The moms:

All about Brooklyn

Here is a quick update on Brooklyn.  Her vocabulary has exploded and she loves to talk.  She also loves to sing "Jingle Bells" at the top of her lungs.  Here are some of her favorite phrases:
"coolawesome" - she says these words as one word
"I want to hold you" - she always says this when she wants me to hold her
"exactly" - this is a new one.  It sounds so funny and cute coming from a 2 year old.

Brooklyn has been our worst by far about coloring on things she isn't supposed to (walls, floors, herself ect).  It was so bad that I had to throw away all of our markers.  Then she discovered food coloring.  She got a hold of it once and used it on herself.  After that I made sure I put it up high.  Well, she climbed on the counter and found it and went and hid on Micah's bed and used it again.  She colored herself, Micah's sheets and the carpet.  I was not happy so I threw the food coloring away.  Shortly after that I found her on her bed with two more containers of food coloring!  I couldn't believe it.  I don't know if she found them in the garbage and rescued them or if she hid them away after her last coloring experience.  Either way, she waited a few days, dug them out of hiding and used them on herself, her sheets and her carpet.  So frustrating!  So our house was food coloring free for 6 months. 

Here is a picture of her food coloring art work:

Just a random picture of her at Micah's birthday party:

Brooklyn loves to pick out her own clothes.  She loves to dress up, but it has to be her idea.

 

Ready for church:

Brooklyn has a thing about taking all of my clean dish towels and dish cloths and laying them out on the floor.  She often uses them to cover up her babies. 

This time she used them as stepping stones:

Brooklyn was here!  She likes to line up all of her babies, as well as any stuffed animals she can find:

November

Still no pictures.  I can only think of two things that stand out in November:

1.  The day before Thanksgiving Conner started to complain that one of his teeth hurt.  At first I brushed it off because it didn't seem to be bothering him very much.  But that night he started to cry and even after I gave him ibuprofen he was still hurting.  I looked in his mouth and it looked like one of his teeth was cracked.  I wasn't sure what to do - I knew that our dentist office would probably be closed for the holiday for the next 4 days.  I didn't want to take him to the ER, but I wasn't sure if he could make it 4 days.  I finally called a guy in our ward who is an oral surgeon.  I asked if he had any advice (I remember his wife telling me that she had cracked a tooth).  He offered to meet me at his office and take a look.  I was so grateful I burst into tears.  Anyway, I took Conner there and he checked it out and told me that one of his filling had fallen out, which was why it was hurting.  He offered to put a temporary filling in.  First he had to numb Conner's mouth and I don't think Conner even realized what he was doing.  Then he filled it and while Dr. Whitney was working Conner fell fast asleep.  I couldn't believe that he zonked out while his mouth was being propped open and a guy had his fingers in his mouth.  I guess he was really tired (it was really late at night).  When it was over I thanked Brother Whitney and carried Conner to the car.  I was so grateful we could enjoy our Thanksgiving weekend!

2.  For Thanksgiving we went to Grandma and Grandpa Bassett's house.  We had a yummy Thanksgiving dinner.  On Friday I went shopping and got almost all of our Christmas shopping done - Yay! 

Beautiful sunrise:

October

 Here is a look at our October.  I don't have many pictures because our camera went missing at the end of October and we still haven't found it - very frustrating! 

In the middle of October we went to my Mom's surprise birthday party.  We were planning on having us all go but the day that we were supposed to leave Conner had a fever so Reed stayed home with him and Brooklyn and I took Alan and Micah up.  We stayed in a hotel that night and then went over to help decorate.  When I got there my parents cars were still in the driveway but my dad said that they would be gone by then so I was walking up to the door with the cake and kids when my brother Reed drove up.  He stopped me and went in to check.  They were still in there!  We hurried and ran back around the corner and waited for a while until they left.  That was a close call!  Then we decorated and waited for the party guests and for Mom and Dad to come back.  Mom was completely surprised!  It was very fun. 

At the end of October we celebrated Halloween.  This year the kids changed the minds a lot about what they wanted to be.  The three boys finally settled on robots.  I found three boxes and covered them with duct tape.  Then I printed out buttons and gauges and added milk caps and pipe cleaners and let the kids decorate their own costumes.  Micah had a ton of fun making his exactly like he wanted.  When he was finally done he smiled at his costume, smiled at me and then said "I want to be a knight" and walked off.  I couldn't convince him to wear the robot costume at all, the silly turkey.  We already had all of the stuff for a knight costume so I let him choose and that is what he picked.  Alan and Conner had fun being robots.  I bought some led light strings and put those on the costumes and it really added to the "coolness". 

Micah the knight:

The best picture I have of Conner's robot costume:

And the best picture I've got of Alan's robot costume:

Brooklyn was a bee.  She really liked looking a pictures of bees in books and making the buzzing sound.  A friend let us borrow the costume so that was very nice.  At first Brooklyn did not want to wear it but once she realized that she got candy if she wore it she tolerated it:

We went to the down town trick or treating, and then we went to the church for dinner and a carnival. 

All about Micah

Here are some things to know about 4 1/2 year old Micah:
1.  He can be very silly.  He loves to run and play, especially if it involves "tickle chase"

Silly boy

2.  He hates haircuts. 

Handsome boy all ready for church:

3.  Micah still naps almost everyday.  In fact, he puts himself down for most of his naps.  He will be eating lunch and looking sleepy and then he will just get up and walk upstairs to his room and lay down on his bed with his blanket. 

Here he fell asleep and Brooklyn decided to come and snuggle him.  Brooklyn and Micah are pretty close, they like to play together (most of the time):

4.  He plays independently very well. 

5.  Likes to hear stories about himself when he was a baby. 

We brought up the old car seat and he had to try it out:

6.  Micah loves to play with Legos and build treasure chests.

7.  Micah is very expressive with his hands, face and voice.  I love listening to him tell stories because he is so serious, but the story matter is so silly. 

Here are some funny Micah sayings:
"Just give me a minute"  He does not like to be rushed and he started saying this when I tried to rush him. 
"That was tacular(spectacular), I joyed(enjoyed) it, it was fun!"  This was how he described going sledding.  He was just so enthusiastic!
"watch and learn" For a brief time he would tell Reed and I this while he did something (like put on his shoes).
While we were eating dinner at the table Micah tried to pour himself a cup of milk from a very full jug.  We suggested that he let Conner help him.  He looked skeptically at Conner and then turned back to us and announced very seriously "I work alone".  It was so funny!

According to Micah:
Favorite Color:  White
Favorite food:  Bread (he has a bad habit of sucking on bread)
Best Friend:  Brooklyn (other friends are Ephraim, Jackson, Peyton, Brandon, Emmiline, Emree)
Favorite thing to do:  Play
Favorite Song:  I am a child of God
Favorite TV show:  Puss in Boots
What do you want to be when you grow up: Micah
Favorite book: King Arthur's very great grandson

We sure love this silly, lovable boy!