bits of January

I had to eat my words from the previous post when I said no one got my sick. That very day Casey came home sick and had to take the next day off of work. Kendal also had a touch of it, but her's lasted one day. Peter has escaped it all (lucky little man). While we may still have a couple of scratchy throats the sick is pretty much gone. Yay!
We decided since we're going on a trip to Disney with my family this summer we'd better get acquainted / reacquainted with some Disney favorites. So last week I wrote down all of our Disney movies and a few that I know our library has to watch. The kids will pick a movie every week or so to watch leading up to our trip.  (This is a big deal to the kids since Mommy limits movies / cartoons, so lets just say they're excited!) We started our Disney movie extravaganza with 101 Dalmatians. Peter loved it, but wanted to see the bad guys go to jail, and Kendal liked the dogs, but not the crazy lady.
 After weeks of begging I let the kids take out their new scooters last week. Kendal did great and loved it. Peter liked that he was on a "big" scooter, but he had trouble balancing it so he stood on it while I pushed for most of the ride.

Last Sunday we had our monthly Darrington dinner out at Terry and Sarah's. The kids were thrilled to see each other and we had a good evening together. The kids even did a little dance for us off of youtube. We also got to celebrate Grady turning one! (Kendal is the blur at the bottom, kid can't hold still for pictures ever!)

The kids have been itching to play in the snow. We were sick on and off for the past month so our snow time was limmited, then the snow melted here. So this week when we got a good overnight dump the kids and I went out for a bit Friday morning to enjoy the snow and attempt a snowman. The snow wasn't building quality so we ended up with a mound for a snowman, but the kids had fun making tracks around the yard.

After a month with no home games for Casey's team we got to go to a couple this week. Thursday night we went and watched Casey's team beat Buhl. The kids cheered for the "boodogs", played hide and go seek, and ate giant suckers.

Saturday's game was over near Blackfoot at Snake River so I called up Uncle Arnold for a visit and the kids and I drove over to watch the games and see our favorite Great (great) Uncle. Arnold joined us for Casey's teams game and then the kids and I went over to his house for a bit. He told the kids about the neat art in his home and shared stories of their ancestors with us. He even treated us to some Pizza, and put up with the kids 1001 questions. It was nice to catch up and I'm grateful for Arnold and dear Margaret that love(d) us and are like bonus grandparents to me. It was a snowy day and I got my car stuck going up Arnold's drive way. Luckily we got it out in time for me to go back and get Casey from the games to head home. (Snowy drive, not so fun, but a visit with Arnold made it worth it.) Last picture is of Kendal eating giant snow flakes. She was in awe of their size.

Kendal's back in the thick of school and loving it. She adores her teachers and enjoys all that she does. She likes her "extra" classes (computers, music, library, p.e.) and loves to sing the songs she's learned with us, and is so excited she finally gets to pick and bring home library books.
Peter is doing well with online preschool and learning with me. He knows his letter's and is learning his numbers. He is learning his letter sounds and can sing the song, but has trouble when asked random letters to give the sound. Learning is still on his terms and when he feels up to it, so we'll continue as best we can.

At one of our Library times recently Peter was being his usual stubborn self and one lady told me it's a good quality to be "strong willed". It'll be the stubborn / strong willed that make it through these crazy latter days we live in and make it to the second coming strong in the faith. So while I may not always appreciate my stubborn little man, I know he will make a wonderfully stalwart and strong man someday.

New Year

Last Wednesday Kendal got to join Casey at Basketball practice while Peter went to story time at the Library with me. Kendal loved being among the girls and Daddy even had her stand in place for a few positions because he was missing players. Wednesday night we went to Burley to spend time with Aria, Rhett and their girls. We had some delicious Costa Vida style homemade burritos. The kids had fun watching a kids movie in one room while the adults watched The Martian in the other.
New Years Eve was relaxed and at home. The kids played with their Lego's (which they do pretty much every day now). That afternoon I made crowns and glow jars with the kids. (success on how cool they looked, fail on how bad the inside of glow sticks stink.) We played family games including a new Disney Eye spy Peter got for Christmas. The kids got to stay up a little bit. After they went to bed Casey and I chilled out in front of the tube. I started getting the chills and was tired so I clocked out just after 10. Casey watched some Dr. Who and ended up ringing in the New Year alone. (Sorry hon I'll make it up sometime.)

New Years Day was worse for me so Casey played with the kids, took them to Arctic Circle for lunch and took Kendal to his practice that afternoon.
Saturday Casey and his brothers took the kids ice fishing at Dirkies lake. We bundled up the kids and they had fun. Sledding / playing around. Kendal even caught a fish! Casey and his brother's caught the rest of the fish while the kids played.

Sunday brought a new church time and a lot of questions from Kendal because she thought a new time meant we were joining the ward that usually met at nine. I was still under but bucked up and went to church so I could teach my new class. Peter happily took Kendal's hand and went to Sunbeams all on his own. His new teacher is Sister Arrington, but he calls her Darrington because they sound the same to him. Casey ended up last minute subbing and shifting around classes for his absent teachers. After church we relaxed and had an easy day.
School was back in on Monday. Luckily no one caught my sick so it's been good. Casey had a game in Jerome last night where they won. (Varsity is 13-0, JV is similar with one or two losses and Casey's team has two less games so I think it's 10-1 so far.)
This post has been delayed because I'm still on the mend from my mega flu / cold evil and I've been fighting off migraines and headaches. So while the beginning of the New Year hasn't started off on a high note in my books hopefully it's just up from here. No major resolutions for me. . . maybe a few hopes. . . mainly just to have a good year and good memories with my family.

Christmas visit to Logan

After our Christmas morning at home we drove to Logan. We were spoiled by my family. Kendal recieved more American doll goodness and Lego's. Peter got cars / car mat, Lego's. (They received much more but those are their favorites.) Casey got a waffle maker, tools, a chia garden,  and other kitchen stuff. I got a temple bag, some books to read to the kids, and Kendal and I got a muffin tin/ craft package. The kids got to play with Campbell, Elliot, and enjoy their Christmas spoils for the rest of the day. My Nana came over and we enjoyed a Christmas dinner that evening.

  Saturday morning the big boys went to see Star Wars. Afterwards they took the kids sledding at the shop. The kids got to ride behind a four-wheeler on sleds, go down a giant hill of snow, and even drove a mini snow mobile. (Kendal did great, peter kept ending up in the side of the hill.) That night we got to go to the Loosle party at my uncle's home. It was great seeing family. Kendal got to run around and play with Emma.

 

 Sunday we joined my parents for church. Peter was under the weather so he and Casey stayed home. We had a nice dinner and enjoyed more time with Nana and my family.
Monday was a chill day at my parents. We put together Kendal and my gift of muffins, and made puppets and painted scenery for a puppet show that Katherine helped Kendal write. (Inspiration If You Give A Moose a Muffin : ) Monday night we went to Patty and Eric's to play games with my cousins. We learned a fun new dice game and enjoyed family time.

Tuesday morning my Dad treated us to bowling. Peter was all about the swivel chairs and Kendal danced the ball down the lane. We played a few arcade games after and then ate lunch back at my parents. We left to come home so Casey could hold some practices this week.

 Th last picture of Peter is when we were driving out of town Peter said "I think my eyes just want to close." He fought to keep them open for a minute till he gave in and slept.
Thanks for the visit, the memories, the gifts, and the love!

Christmas Eve / Morning

Christmas eve we wanted to do something fun with the kids. We gave them multiple options, and they chose bowling. We had a good time. Peter was disappointed when he got a strike because it ment he didn't get two turns ; ). Afterwards we went to Arctic Circle to have a treat and get extra wiggles out. After dinner that night we let the kids open their jammies and we read stories before bed.

Christmas morning the kids came in just after seven. We let them cuddle with us in bed and listen to the nativity story with us. Next was presents! Santa brought the kids Lego's!! They each recieved some individual sets \ pieces and then got a big box of pieces for both of them. Peter and Kendal both got some books, a shirt, and a new bin to hold special books by their beds. Peter got a Woody doll and cowboy hat. Kendal got food, matching headbands, purses, and fun little accessories for her American girl doll. We spent the morning building and enjoying stocking goodies.

3 1/2

At three and a half Peter is very imaginative. He comes up with different Lego builds each day and the stories he puts with his cars play and Lego's are funny and unique. Once in a while he'll even sing a  monologue of what he's doing / playing. Peter makes us laugh every day, and has a quick wit about him. He is smart in many ways, but learning comes on his terms. He's passed a couple of levels on ABC mouse, but it's only recently that I've gotten him to verbally name his letters and sounds. His favorite letter is P and he loves finding it and pointing it out that it's his letter. He's even learned to write it!
To put it plainly Peter is our stubborn child. When he doesn't want to finish two bites of breakfast to get his cartoon he won't.  He doesn't want to go somewhere, he'll park his butt firmly and make life difficult. If he gets his feelings hurt, he'll put on the best pout face you've ever seen. I can definitely say two's were a breeze with him and three's where he's coming out strong, attitude and all.
When he's in the mood, Peter can be so loving, caring, and affectionate. But when his stubborn side strikes he doesn't want to be talked to, and he will push anyone away.
Peter is way more into books these days. He has a pile of his favorites by his bed that he tries to coax me into reading all of the time. When we visit the library he likes to look for Thomas the Train, Little Critter, Clifford, and Pete the Cat.
Peter is so excited to become a sunbeam in a couple of weeks. They've been prepping him and the 20 other kids for a couple of months. He's got some songs down and loves to find Kendal to hug when his class joins singing time. His teachers love him (they've always sang praises for Peter). (Sometimes I just wonder if it's really my child their talking about. You mean he was sweet, and nice, and adorable the whole time? Well if only life were like nursery we'd have a Saint Peter on our hands. ; )

We love you sweet-Pete / sour-Pete!