Big Boy Birthday

Michael and Sam had their birthday and Michael has declared that he is now a big boy.  He wanted to go for a bike ride around the neighborhood without me and go out to the ice cream store to find a girlfriend because now he is a big boy.  We've had to set a few things straight and help him set some realistic expectations.  He is so excited to be another year older!  They are growing up and we're having to look into a lot of elementary school options, including home schooling with some other families in the ward, because of the district, and well, the state, we're in.  We're entering two lotteries for charter schools and if those don't work out, we'll just see what we do.

The day started with Lucky Charms for breakfast, one of their presents.  They opened their gifts and played with them all day long: a play-doh set with spaghetti maker and Cars 2 molds, a microscope, and some Finn McMissile boats that convert from cars to hydro-cars to submarines.  They are pretty cool. 

 We didn't have any plans that day so we were just home.  We decorated our pre-made gingerbread house and got a lot of happy birthday calls from family.  Thank you!

 I was a little busy making these cakes AND cupcakes for the party the next day.  We've had the same flavors the last couple of years at least.  Chocolate with chocolate icing and yellow with vanilla icing.  Then peppermint and cookie dough ice cream.  Stomach ache anyone?  Of course that was after their favorite dinner of tacos.   This was my first attempt at decorating them so forgive my crooked line on Sam's.  Michael ate off all of the green stars in a circle on his cake with a spoon while we got out the ice cream and plates. 

 The next day we were scheduled to host preschool with a lesson on the life of the Savior straight from the Gospel Art Kit and then we went straight into our Candyland birthday party!  Seven four year olds and me.  Well, I guess I should say 5 four year olds and 2 five year olds!  It was one action-packed party!

We played the Candy Land DVD games of Simon Says and a cake walk and watched some Candy Land music videos.  I know, who knew.  We borrowed it from a friend and it was an instant party.

 Michael was so cute about making sure all of his friends were invited.  This boy does another preschool at home group but his mom let him come to ours for the day and he was a great addition to our party. 

 Michael was really feeling the love that day and Sam, although it doesn't show in this picture, was so excited and so happy.  There's a long video of the kids playing the cake walk game and they're all so sweet and fun.

 After that, we moved on to the Candy Land board game.  I had to keep things moving with seven players.  We went in a circle around the table, drawing a card when they were near me.  Whenever they passed a candy square or illustration on the board they got to eat that candy.

 Here's the loot:  candy canes, gingerbread men cookies, licorice, Raisinettes, gum drops, gum balls, lollipops, and peanut shaped cookies.  Oh my!  I may even be missing one.  They were so anxious to get each thing. 

 We moved into the kitchen for cheese pizza, carrots and ranch dip and milk.  Such fun conversations with this group. 

 
Here's the birthday song, followed by Michael dressed up, unintentionally, as Zorro, filled to the brim with Christmas cheer and excitement one night early this month. 

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And Anna was at a friends' house during the birthday party.  Thankfully!  Here she's showing off her new pigtails.  She continues to light up our lives with her happiness, love, spunk, and fun-loving personality.  

 

At the stake musical fireside a couple of weeks ago we had a special treat.  The Tongan ward sang the Halleluiah Chorus from the Messiah a Capella.  It was so moving.  They sang it in their own language.  It was so powerful.  It was a huge choir with loud voices, full of gratitude and conviction and I told Michael, who was sitting on my lap, that Jesus is the Savior of the entire world - no matter where you live or what language you speak.  When the song ended there was silence, except for Anna who sang out loudly "Halleluiah!"  right on key.   Apparently she had started singing it during the song but I couldn't hear her until the choir stopped.  The people around us all turned to look at her and I've been singing it with her ever since.  These are the kind of things that should get their own posts, but time is a precious commodity around here so I lump them all together.

Have a Merry Christmas!

Backyard Shenanigans

 I spend a lot of time looking out my back window into the yard.  When I'm lucky, Sam and Michael are outside playing and I get to watch.  Backyard Shenanigans.  Rain or shine they like to go out there and have adventures.  I lost the picture where Michael is lying "dead" in the grass.  They were playing "The Worst War Ever."  When I asked, Michael said, "All the good guys die."  Should I be worried? 

 I would love to know what they're talking about.  Anna gets into it sometimes but is usually chasing them around trying to keep up.  We've started taking turns each day of the week with who's day it is.  If it's your day then you get to pick what make believe we do, what we watch on t.v., what book we read at story time.  It's basically a free ticket to boss everyone else around.  Anna will have to have her days too I suppose.  It's solved the problems of bossiness and jealously a little bit.  I cannot be two make-believe characters at the same time, you see, so this has cut down on the schizophrenia, well, at least the pretend kind. . . They are sadly outgrowing make believe a little bit. Sam hasn't asked me to play "The King's Pancake" with him for a couple of months.  I should ask him if he remembers what it is. Basically he puts on his king costume from last Halloween and eats pancakes.  Then he goes off to fight an invisible enemy with his foam sword and comes back to tell me, the queen, all about his battle.  It is also known as "The Queen's Pancake." 

 We did most of our cookie baking last week and I had some great helpers.  We didn't even eat too many, yet, and had fun dancing around to Christmas music while we baked.  I read Anna books on the floor while we watched the cookies bake.  It's magic.  We had some little friends over last week and started dancing in the kitchen when some fun music came on.  They thought we were insane.  I don't think they dance at their house. 

 That picture makes me a little bit sad because that bunny, Lady, has been missing for a week.  It is Anna's number one security item and she even does the sign language for bunny while she says "Wady."  We've been looking everywhere and haven't seen her.  It's not looking good for Lady.

 

We put the bunk beds together.  There is so much more room to play in their bedroom now.  We moved most of their toys up there but it's like they don't realize they're there.  They never play with them.  Maybe they're just ready to move on to some new birthday and Christmas toys.  They'll be five next week and I am dying at how fast they're growing.  Sam's up to the bottom of my rib cage now.  The rib cage his head bent when I was pregnant with them.  It's very sentimental, that left rib cage. 

At our Relief Society service exchange I won a photo shoot from a friend.  She was so generous.  She took an hour out of her Saturday to take pictures of these wiggle worms and then edited them up into these beautiful shots, all for free.  No one would hold still so I was thankful for her fast camera!  

Check out those eyes!

 Michael said he was like the country mouse and Sam was dressed like the city mouse.  It was unintentional, but true.  Michael loves his cowboy boots and that was the only shirt of his that fit into this color scheme.  Sam cracked me up being shy for the camera.  He never is at home! 

And sweet baby girl was having too much fun running around most of the time to get a good shot, be we love her and those kissable cheeks and tiny pony tail!

 

"Let go!"

 

And here's the Christmas card.

 Those are the best ones and there is a goofy face in each one, but that's my life these days.  Nothing is perfect but things are getting done and there are plenty of kisses and hugs and stories in my life with those goofy faces.

I am so happy she tilted that and lopped off the bulky part of me, leaving the smiling part.  Thanks, Katrina!

My boys. 

 Here is my favorite part.  I asked the boys to kiss me and what a surprise I got!  A total kissing marathon from Michael.  My little snuggle bear.  Can he stay four a little longer?  I have really enjoyed age four. 

 It was like an old "Big Red" commercial. "So kiss a little longer . . ." 

I ate it up and I'll eat up these pictures forever!

Thanksgiving was mediocre.  We did it.  I am grateful and happy but without family it was a little flat.  And the dark meat of the turkey was underdone.  The mashed potatoes were dry.  The stuffing was wet.  Fortunately, that's all I made.  Someone else brought amazing green beans, sweet potatoes, and pumpkin CHEESECAKE.  I ate three slices in two days.  Good thing it only comes once a year.

We're moving on to Christmas and oh how excited we are around here!  It's like Michael and Sam don't remember it.  I asked them what they want and they could only tell me two things each that they've recently seen at the stores.  They don't know what toys exist out there and I'm glad.  They'll be so excited to get the few things they want.

Last Sunday we put up the tree.  They couldn't stop bursting into "Oh, Christmas Tree Oh, Christmas Tree!  How lovely are your branchees."  We're deep into rhyming and tree rhymes with branchee.  It's all logical with Michael.

Next up, birthdays and Lucia, ward Christmas party, singing at the stake Christmas night.  Hopefully lots of fun after lots of preparation.  Now go rest your eyes after skimming this long post!