Christmas

On Christmas eve. Casey and Brett took the kids fishing out in Filer. We bundled up the kids and they enjoyed a couple of hours in the mud. They caught a few fish right off then spent the rest of the time wandering and reeling in their lines. That night we went over to Brett and Vanessa's along with Terry and Sarah to eat and enjoy tamales. The kids had fun together and we enjoyed some delicious tamales. We headed home, bathed the kids, read a couple of Christmas stories and put the kids to bed.

Because the kids went to bed later on Christmas eve they slept in till near eight. Kendal tiptoed into our room and was excited to tell us Santa had come. We came out and saw that not only did Santa come but we had a lot of snow dump on us during the night. Because it was so windy the snow had drifted over three feet in some parts of our yard and Casey's car had a cool swoop of snow on the hood. Kendal put herself in charge of handing out presents. Peter just wanted the candy in his stocking and kept finding treats to shovel in his mouth in between presents. Kendal received Lego's, kinetic sand, hair clips, a toy plane, and treats from Santa. She got a sweater, an Elsa cape, bracelets, a little critter book, an Anna (Frozen doll), and headphones from Mom and Dad. She was delighted with her gifts and enjoyed them all morning. Peter received a musical / learning drum, kinetic sand, a new hat, a toy plane, and treats from Santa. He got a new shirt, a truck book, a little people helicopter, and puzzles from Mom and Dad. Peter was all about his Candy; we had to take it away to try and get some breakfast down but that made him mad. He spent the morning coveting Kendal's Lego's and playing with his new toys.  We enjoyed our Christmas morning at home listening to music, watching the Disney parade, and playing with the kids.

Later in the afternoon we headed to Raft River to have a Christmas dinner at Casey's parents home. We had a delicious dinner and played games after the kids went to bed. We got to stay in Raft River till Saturday enjoying time with Casey's folks. Peter was mad when we left and kept insisting we needed to head back to Grandma's house instead of going home. On our way home we stopped in Burley and had lunch with some friends.

Peter is 2 1/2!

Peter is 2 1/2 today!
This kid can make us laugh; whether it's the things he says (as you have read from the side notes on the blog), the funny ways he dances, the random ninja poses he makes when he's "fighting", how he wiggles back and forth as he rides his bike, and sometimes he waddles  or shuffles around when he's excited or being silly. He makes us laugh everyday. Sometimes we have to hold back laughter during prayers because he is doing silly things around us that make us smile. 

Peter is talking a lot these days. He definitely takes after Kendal and likes to talk and ask questions. Because his language and understanding is expanding his naughtiness has gone down a lot. Instead of pulling Kendal's hair because she has taken a toy he can verbally ask for it back (sometimes yell for it back). Instead of sneaking up cupboards to get crackers he will ask first. I'm not saying he's a saint by any means he still has plenty of mischievous behavior but nothing like it was.
Peter's appetite fluctuates with growth spurts, teething (2 yr old molars : /), and sometimes the mood he's in. He will eat a meal better than Kendal most days;  however, our problem is now that he's out of the highchair he thinks he can wander and leave the table during meals.  He also takes after Kendal and likes to get into the fridge when a snack mood hits or when he wants ketchup or something extra with dinner.
Peter still plays so well on his own and can sit forever with his Lego's. Lately Peter and Kendal are doing so much better at playing together. They love to pretend play with Lego's, characters, cars, and their stuffed animals. They love to play play dough together and color together.
Peter has a stubborn side to him. (Comes from both sides of the family.) When he's not in the mood to go somewhere, be helpful, or follow directions he shows it. He's either silent and plants himself firmly in one spot, or he's mad and wants to fight (the fighting generally happens when he's tired.). The below picture is Peter being stubborn and refusing to move any further because his sister rode ahead of him so he was no longer in front (it's always a competition for who rides first when we're out on bikes).

 Most of the time he has a sweet demeanor and gets along well with everyone. His nursery leaders love him and think he's so sweet. He cuddles on the librarians lap during story time and he likes to wander around at Casey's games talking to people and being friendly with them. Peter can be shy in first meeting someone but he warms up quickly and will become your best buddy. At our ward party a couple of weeks ago he found a "Nana" and started leading her around by the finger and following her in the gym. He's also very playful and when there are a lot of kids around he generally acts crazier / louder. He wants to be heard and he wants to play with the kids. It's rough being the squirt sometimes.

Peter enjoys the library and books. He obsesses over tractor books. I think I have checked out and re checked out all of the children's books with tractors in them. Occasionally I sneak in Curious George books, or truck books, but he covets the tractor books the most.
Peter still loves his Lego's and as his imagination grows so do his Lego creations. He comes up with buildings, airplanes, bridges, guns (thanks to Kendal teaching him), trains, etc.. He likes his cars also and hordes his favorites around the house. He is in love with his tractor and loves to put Mickey in the drivers seat to go around the house. He recently got a toy airplane and loves flying it around the house making plane noises as he goes. Peter loves his stuffed Monkey. Lately he'll talk to him like he's real and tell it he loves it.

Couldn't imagine life without this little man; he makes us laugh, sigh, smile, and shake our heads in wonder everyday.
Update: Peter is 34.5 in. tall (17th percentile), and 26 1/2 pounds (14th percentile). A bit on the smaller side, but he's on track for the pattern he's set so far.

Casey's birthday, Darrington Christmas party

Casey turned 31 this past week. The kids and I took lunch to Casey on his birthday. We picked up some subway in town and brought it to his school to enjoy. Later that afternoon we went to his basketball game. His team wasn't at their best that night against Filer and lost. After giving Daddy more birthday wishes and loves the kids and I headed home and Casey stayed to help with JV and Varsity. I don't think there has been a specific kind of cake I have made Casey more than twice  in our nine years together. Casey likes variety and trying new delicious treats. This year I made him a candy cane ice cream cake. It was a hit with the kids and Casey. I'm so very lucky to have Casey in my life. He is my best friend, a wonderful father and a great man. He works so very hard and cares so much about being a good teacher and coach for his students. I've been blessed to have him in my life for nine years; i love him more and more as time goes on. I love his humor, his caring nature, his generous spirit, and his selfless nature. Happy 31 years to you Casey! You're not as old as you think, just wiser, and a bit older than when we met.

Saturday morning our ward had their Christmas party. We were fed breakfast and then we got to do service by wrapping presents for a local charity called "Eastend Providers". There were about four truckloads of toys and presents for children in need that were wrapped. The gym was covered in tables and those tables were covered with toys and people wrapping them. I was in Heaven! (I have a secret joy in gift wrapping. I adore wrapping presents.) It took our ward two and a half hours to wrap gifts; Kendal and Peter had so much fun running around with the other kids and eating peppermint candies that were all around.
After our ward party we headed out to Raft River for the rest of the weekend. That afternoon the kids "helped" me cut out and bake sugar cookies for our party on Sunday. Casey and I played games with his mom, Cody, Vanessa, and Sarah that night. The kids found Grandma and Grandpa's tractors and were having a blast going all over the house with them. I got some snuggles in with baby Thomas.
Sunday Nicole and her family came. We all went to church in the morning. The second hour of church the primary put on a Nativity program for everyone. Kendal and David joined the primary to sing, but were only able to help sing a couple of songs they've learned. We had two long benches of very active kids during sacrament meeting.
After church we ate lunch back at the house. We had a bit of down time and then started the festivities. The kids decorated (licked frosting and made messes ; ) the sugar cookies. We put on our own Nativity that Cody narrated. Grandma read the kids a Christmas story and then we did our gift exchange.

Kendal is in love with her Frozen puzzle, book, and winter accessories she got. She had a blast playing in a tent that her cousin gave her (made by talented Auntie Vanessa). Peter hasn't stopped playing with his airplane and car he received; he loves them a lot! Grandma and Grandpa gave him a cute outfit and some Candy that he imminently broke into to eat. Casey and I received "date night" with frozen yogurt and movie gift cards. It was just what I wanted and I'm thrilled to get in a date night out with Casey (especially a free one). We all pitched in and gave Cheryl and Kenny a laptop for Christmas. (It was a gift much debated over and heavily discussed. I'm thankful for our ability to work things out and love each other just the same; even if we're viewed as slightly more crazy by one another.) Casey's parents gave us some money that we're putting towards food storage and a WII game system (THANK YOU!) We enjoyed a light dinner and more treats afterwards.

The kids ran amok around the house and loved playing and being silly with their cousins. It's always a high octane atmosphere with 10 little ones in the house, but we love our family time and wouldn't change a thing!



 Earlier in the week Kendal helped me make our annual Christmas caramels. They are so delicious and were devoured over the weekend so we'll have to make another batch to take to Logan ; ).

Busy week

It's been one of those weeks I feel like I didn't accomplish anything I set out to do, but it was pretty busy so I can't say nothing happened.
I had preschool this week. The theme was trees with stars, the letter K, and #11. I added learning about textures to give a bit more learning into the basic theme. Monday the kids painted advent calendar trees. They got to take home stickers that they will add the rest of the month at home. We made a collage of textured tree's that the kids got to cut out and make. I did a story about a tree in the forest who wanted to be a Christmas tree but was too tall for anybody to take home so his forest animal friends decorated him for the holiday. The kids stamped stars out of cheese for snack. The kids' free play was play dough trees they got to decorate with beads and buttons. The kids also had workbook time.
For preschool on Wednesday the children played with clay and different items that made textures in the clay. I had the kids stamp out and give texture to some stars that I baked and turned into ornaments for them to take home. We made painted toast for snack; it was a hit with the kids. Kendal had to do a rainbow like Mommy and Peter wanted his toast mostly orange.  We read stories after snack and then did a coloring page for the letter K and they did a sticker page for the number 11. The kids colored tree / star glasses to play a game of eye spy with. While I thought my games were simple (eye spy, Simon says, duck duck goose) I was proved wrong and the games seemed to be over the little ones heads so we gave up on games and I sang a rhyming song they had to keep beat with.
Preschool is always packed. Whether it's messy play (bits of play dough all over my rug), arguing kids (a barley three year old arguing at me that my two year old is a baby), bathroom accidents (yep one kids not quite set on the potty and another starting potty training soon : ( , and kids who don't listen. I could make my activities simpler and do less, but I feel for Kendal's sake I want to pack in as much fun and information as possible because she doesn't get that elsewhere. I am still doing extra activities and learning time with her at home and she's enjoying all that we do.
We got some outside time this week. I'm grateful for the 40-50 degree days I can let the kids out for a bit.

I got a call just after 2 in the morning on Thursday. Vanessa went into labor and she asked me to come stay with her kids. I hauled but over there and shooed the parents to the hospital. David woke up and had a MAJOR diarrhea poop incident that I got to deal with; then I settled him back into bed and tried to get some sleep myself (managed an hour and a half). Sweet Thomas was born early in the morning just after five o clock. He's a little breath of Heaven and so sweet to behold. Becca and David were still sleepy when we broke the news to them the next morning. They were happy that their "mystery" baby turned out to be a brother and happily went with Grandma to meet him after we got them ready for the day.
Casey had three games this week. He was at Declo on Tuesday where they lost, and at home Thursday where they played Gooding and won, and Friday they played Canyon Ridge and lost.
After Casey's game on Thursday I took the kids to see a nativity display event at our church. I thought the kids would enjoy it and they did, I just had to threaten Kendal with loss of her cookie at the end if she continued to touch the many rare and very breakable nativities. Peter was firmly held on my hip and pointed out every baby Jesus he saw. We watched a the church video of Christ's birth while we ate our cookies and then headed home.
We got to visit and gush over baby Thomas in the hospital Friday morning. Peter was all over the place in Vanessa's room so we made our visit brief. Both Kendal and Peter got to hold the baby and loved seeing him.

 After Casey's game that afternoon we headed out to Raft River for the night. Casey's Aunt brought some photos that had been Casey's grandparents. We found one of Casey when he was two. We laughed and smiled because Peter looks so much like his Dad at that age and Peter was even wearing a red shirt like Casey had on in the picture.
Saturday we went to the annual Webb family Christmas party. Kendal was thrilled to meet and see her second cousins. She happily played and talked with almost everyone there. We had kids all over the church playing. Some were conducting their own primary in the primary room, others were rolling around the gym with balls, and all were stealing cookies and treats when they thought the could get away with it. Peter had about four cookies while we were there. The Darrington crew was definitely the wilder of the Great's that were there but there were a few others that held their own in the crazy category. After we ate we did our cereal story (Johny Wright had $1.00 left. . . ). Our present exchange was "round" gifts this year Kendal got a tube with a pez dispenser, peter got holiday plates, Casey got a flashlight, and I got a thermometer. It's always interesting and random what the gifts turn out to be. We ended with Christmas songs. I gave a meager attempt to accompany a few of the songs with the piano because Vanessa was absent (with good cute reasons :). After the party we spent some time at Casey's parents house.