Shhhhh! Babies sleeping.

Lizzie is all about baby dolls these days.  Often she will line them up on her chair or couch or the floor and quickly get after anyone making noise.  "Shhhhh!" she says.  "Babies sleeping!"  

W's Preschool Program

The day after we returned from Utah, W sang his school's Christmas program.  They had been practicing for weeks!  I was so glad W could be there for it; and I was so excited to see it.  

The kids sang several songs, both fun and spiritual Christmas songs.  W's favorite went something like, "Ho-ho-ho-hosanna, Ha-ha-hallelujah.  He-he-he-he-saved me.  I've got joy of the world."  

After the program, they had a little party in his room.  We got more art projects to take home that I could've imaged, including W's little picture ornament.  He was so proud of his work and singing.  

W's buddy Owen.  W is always quick to say Owen is his "best fwend."  They are good little buddies.  Owen has a really great family, too.  I'm glad they're friends.  

So proud to have Daddy there.  

First snow 2012

Lizzie experienced her first real snow while we were in Utah just before Christmas.  It snowed and snowed a LOT.  W was in heaven.  He couldn't get outside soon enough!  Thankfully Maria left her snow clothes in Utah, so W was quickly outfitted -- though it was a little feminine.  He quickly made his way to the backyard and started on his snowman.  

Lizzie, on the other hand, was super excited to go outside, test out the snow, discover that it was really cold, and make her way back inside.  She was OK watching it all through the window.  Maybe next year?  

"It's good, Mom!"

The snowman in his glory.  

Poor snowman toppled over after W showed it some love.  

Early Christmas with MaMom and Poppy

Though we wouldn't be with them Christmas Day, MaMom and Poppy celebrated Christmas with us and the kids while we were in Utah.  Sunday morning the kids opened gifts and presented their own to my parents.  It was so fun to see their eyes light up -- both my kids' and my parents'.

{Superhero stickers}

{Baby doll}

{Buzz!}

{Trains, trains and more trains}

Moment at Temple Square with W

We ventured to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights, displays, and get in the Christmas spirit.  We weren't the only ones with this idea.  Thousands and thousands and thousands of others poured into Temple Square that evening, too.  It was shocking to see the masses of people.  Despite being hungry and tired from a long day, the kids were troopers.  We saw the lights and headed over to the Christus and nativity.  The line at the Christus was nightmarishly long.  So was opted for the nativity.  I took W down to the front so he could see.  It was a special moment I never want to forget.  It. Was. Magical.

We watched as the different parts of the nativity were lighted:  the creche, the wisemen, the shepherds.  W was quick to point out which group was which and what they were doing.  At one point he whispered in complete awe, "This is amazing!"  Then a few minutes later, "Wow!  Wow!  Wow!"  It was sweet, and genuine, and pure innocence at the grandeur of what he was watching.  It was like the spirit of Christ and Christmas came to life for him.  We were surrounded by hundreds of people and it was like no one was there.  Thank you, W, for showing me how sweet and simple and magnificent Christmas really is.  

Chickens in December

I can't even express how happy it makes me to see my children run in wide open spaces, get their hands dirty, use their hands and feel pride in their work.  These chickens in the "field" do all of that.  

Baby Got Bach

We took W to a Baby Got Bach event here in St. Louis.  It was our first time going to one of these, and we left thoroughly impressed.  Young children, ages 3-8-ish, are given the opportunity to play various musical instruments, compose music and experience rhythm, all at the hand of highly trained musicians.   Then they attend a very age-appropriate musical performance, which highlights many of the things they learned in the previous activities.  

W really liked the percussion and rhythm activities.  He was a bit antsy during the perfomance, but he loved waving his flag around and shouting and clapping.  

It was so much fun.  Such a cool program to have here in St. Louis.  It was definitely a little outside of my and Dave's comfort zones, as we are not musicians in the least.  But it was really cool to expose Winston to different varieties of music, as well as show him how much a part of his life is music. (this sounds like something I pulled from their website; I promise it wasn't)

Quick trip to Utah

Lizzie and I made a quick trip to Utah just before Thanksgiving.  It was fun to travel with little busy body.  She is the cutest little girl I know.  She had lots of fun pushing the iPad button over and over and over again, as well as making funny faces in Photobooth.  Cheap thrills, right?

Flying with little people is always a little tricky.  But our flights to/from Utah were so much more manageable because we always managed to sit by someone so nice and so helpful.  It's always such a relief when the person sitting next to you doesn't hate kids.  And the people we sat next to on all four flights would have done anything for Lizzie.  They were so kind.  So patient.  So sweet.  

We flew into the Wasatch valley right at dusk.  It was breathtaking.  Gosh I miss this place.  We flew over the mountains into Provo, then up the Wasatch front into Salt Lake.  I couldn't take my eyes off those beautiful snow-capped mountains on the east and that burning orange and pink sun to the west. This view never, never gets old.   

Our flights were delayed, but our ride home was not deterred.  My mom brought down my grandma and niece Maria and sister Liz to be our welcoming committee.  It was so fun to have them all there when we arrived.  We drove into SLC and stopped at City Creek and Macy's to see my sister Liz's candy ornament display.  

It was even better than I imagined.  Amazing!  

Rough picture, but gosh I miss these people.  We sisters -- and mom -- will move heaven and earth for each other.  I'm so lucky to have you.  

Winston, 3 1/2 yrs.

Winston is officially three and a half years old.  Lots of things to remember about this boy.

• The difference between a three year old and a three and a half year old is HUGE
• Likes to be asked what his favorite part of the day was every night when he goes to bed
• Suddenly dislikes the color blue
• Likes to use "loud" plates and "loud" cups (read:  glass plates and cups)
• Loves his cousins and misses them dearly.  Of course, there's lots of talk about, "Well, James does this," or "Will does this," or "I want to go with Kate and Rachel," and "Can I go to MaMom's and see Nonnie?"
• "What are you talking about?!"
• First real falll off his bike and scraped his knee. (6.2.12)
• First roller coaster: dragon coaster at St. Monica carnival (6.1.12)
• Still always has to say the prayer.
•  was making my bed and Winston was wearing my boots and pretending to be Woody. I asked, "Hey Woody, would you come help me make my bed?" He walked out of the closet and said, "Woodys don't make beds. Cowboys don't make beds." (7.6.12)
• "What do you want to be when you grow up?" W: Putting his finger to his nose and really thinking about it says, "Um...big. With all of my family." (7.5.12)
• "Can the angel come and take my tooth and leave me a surprise like a toothbrush?" (8.15.12)
• We were kneeling down for prayer tonight and W volunteered to say it. He started, "God is g..." like his prayer at school. Knowing something didn't sound right, he looked up somewhat confused and clearly blank and sincerely says, "Um, I don't know how to start it." (9.21.12)
• "I love you to the airplanes and back."
• "Oopsie-doozie"
• Lizzie was having a hard time going to be and had been upset for some time. On his own, W went into L's room and sang "I am a Child of God" to her. Minutes later she was quiet and went to sleep. (10.17.12)

• W: "Can I have a dollar?"  Sheshe: "Why do you need a dollar?"  W: "So I can go on a mission! I don't have enough yet."  Sheshe: "Where do you want to go on a mission?"  W: "Ummm, maybe to MaMom and Poppy's house."  (10.25.12)
• I had a really hard day and I was crying. W wasn't sure what was going on, but he said, "But mom, we love you!" Later that day he told me I was a beautiful princess (I was dressed like a witch). Sweet boy!  (10.26.12)

Lizzie

This girl kills me.  

{peek-a-boo!}

{chocolate cake beard}

{first time in the mud. loved it.  then hated it.}

{body slam!}

{popcorn magic}

Halloween 2012

I suppose it's better late than never to catch up on life on the blog.  

W knew he wanted to be Capt. America for Halloween the moment he saw his cousin James' Capt. A costume.  Never mind that W knows nothing about this world-saving super hero.  There was no convincing him otherwise.  W was to be the best Capt. America out there (he and every other pre-school boy).

And L was quite possibly the cutest little bee I've ever seen.

We trick-or-treated in our friends' neighborhood.  This neighborhood knows how to do Halloween right.  Hundreds of kids.  Houses decked out.  Families in the yard.  Treats for adults and kids.  It was so much fun.  

W rides a bike

Winston learned to ride a bike!  It is so fulfilling to see him feel so proud -- even surprised -- at learning to ride a bike.  He's super fast.  He falls down on purpose and is sure to convince us that, "I'm OK."  He still needs a little help getting started, but he's got the rest of it down.  Even brakes!  Good job, W!

Bowling with MaMom and Poppy

Well before my parents' visit in October, W requested to go bowling with MaMom.  He was serious about it.  He wanted to go bowling.  His request was granted.  

The whole experience fell just short of a total disaster.  I have one idea why (see above picture).  Bowling is not suited for young toddlers.  Lizzie ran down one of the lanes.  She stuck her head in the ball return more than once.  She ran around non-stop.  I suppose I shouldn't have expected otherwise.  Nevertheless, she did roll the ball down the ramp a few times, followed by a few gymnastics demonstrations on the bars.  

When we weren't chasing after her, we were getting after W for bowling his ball down the wrong lane. Oops.  

Winston's first camp out

Winston and Dave went on their first father-son campout in September.  Winston wasn't sure what to expect, but he was thrilled to go somewhere -- overnight! -- with just Daddy.  Dave wasn't too sure what to expect either, but the night went rather smoothly.  

W got in the tent, set out his very own sleeping bag, climbed in and said, "Ohhh, this is cozy!"  

Bear Lake cousin time

I don't think I'm the only one who would say one of the highlights of the reinstated Waterfall family trip to Bear Lake was having all of the little cousins spend every waking hour together.  These kids haven't all been together in way too long, yet they pick up right where they left off, as if they were together the week before.  

Cousin soup

Pinata, oh yes we did.  

Sleepover and a movie (which they handled surprisingly well).