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.