Shenangins

This is just an update of odds and ends - stuff I need to remember.

Sam - Yesterday he managed to make it up to his hands and knees. He wasn't quite sure what to do from there so he just laid back down. At this point he will be crawling in no time. I think it is grossly unfair that my last baby is growing up so much faster than his siblings did.

Grace - Gracie has discovered a deep love for books. If you come to my house you will soon find a little girl in your lap with book in hand. She doesn't care who reads to her, just as long as you read a book. 100 times. Twice over. This is one of her favorites:

I pointed to a pig the other day and asked her what it said. She promptly replied, "La La!"

Libby - Libby had to stay home from church last Sunday as she had a mild fever. In the afternoon I asked her to put away her toys. Her reply needs to be read in a snotty teenager voice for full effect: "This is the worst Sunday of my life! Even if I died in the middle of church this is still the worst Sunday ever!"

Ethan - We were headed home from shopping and it was getting close to dinner. Everyone was a little tired and grumpy. Libby asked what was for dinner and I said we should just make a big pan of brownies and eat that for dinner. Ethan, expressing wisdom beyond his years quickly nixed the idea. "We can't eat brownies for dinner. You can't eat unhealthy food for dinner. We need a healthy dinner." Boy, did he put me in my place. But what kind of seven year old doesn't want brownies for dinner I think I've done something wrong.

I know that everyone loves pictures but I haven't been taking any, but Ethan and Libby have their brand spanking new cameras. Enjoy.

Post 200 and a New Year

I noticed that this will be my 200th post and just in time for the New Year. I was wondering if I should do something cutesy or dramatic but I just don't see that happening. Or I could write my goals for the New Year. Things like walking everyday, getting up at 6:30, remembering to read scriptures everyday, to never yell at my kids, to lose 15 pounds, to cut down my chocolate consumption, to not make Ethan wear pajama pants all day because laundry is way behind, and while I'm at I'll find a cure for world hunger. How I would love to accomplish all these noble goals. And even though I am pluggin' along, working towards these glorious endeavors (well not getting up early, I don't get up until the kids do and I don't see that changing and I'm not sure what to do about world hunger), I am not going to perfect them in the next year.

So I am setting some more reasonable goals for myself. I have three goals for the New Year. First I will finally print some pictures of the family and hang them on the wall. My sister-in-law gave me a ton of picture frames so I just need to fill them and hang them and maybe have a family picture done. I have been saying I will do this for years but this is the year I will accomplish it. Just don't think less of me if you find me hanging pictures on New Years Eve 2011. I will still have accomplished what I set out to do. Second, oh crud I just forgot my second goal. Maybe it wasn't that important anyway. Third I will be able to sleep through the night. I haven't had a full night's sleep since I was pregnant with Grace. I figure Sam will start sleeping through the night sometime this year, and then, I get to sleep. So my goal is to get 8 hours uninterrupted sleep. Maybe my memory wouldn't be so shot if I got more sleep. Oooh-oooh, I just remembered #2. I will print my blog into some of those cute little books so I have a hard copy. Technology changes but a book is a book, and this is the only journal type thing I keep, so it is worth printing. I just haven't figured out what to do about the videos I've posted. Any tips on that would be appreciated.

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to getting eight hours of sleep. I know I can do it. I just might have to leave the kids with someone overnight.

Christmas

It started at 3:30 in the morning.
"Mom, can I get up yet?"
"No, it's too early. Go back to bed."

4:30
Now there are two children at the foot of my bed.
"Mom, can we get up yet?"
"No, go back to bed."

6:30 (still an hour earlier than they usually get up)
Now there is Ethan, Libby, and Grace who has been liberated from her playpen.
"Mom, can we get up now?"
"Oh, alright."
Santa brought Ethan and Libby cameras. Oh yeah, life is good. And on a side note I think next year I will check to make sure they have on cute pajamas before they go to bed.


Ethan was very excited for his stocking "loot". His word, not mine.
Grace's very favorite gift. She also enjoyed the candy from her stocking as evidenced by her face.
Sam thought it was still too early. I agreed.

At 9:30 we went to Michael's parents house for breakfast and a gift extravaganza. My kids were thoroughly spoiled. By this point Grace had figured out how to unwrap gifts and was having a ball ripping paper off all the packages.

Libby showing off some of her Christmas finery. The only thing she's wearing that wasn't a gift are her underwear. She is very fortunate she has a grandma and aunts who supply her with such fancy clothes.
My sister in law made me a family tree. I LURV it.

I enjoyed Christmas so much this year. We spent time together, time with Michael's family, time with my family. There was lots of great food which I was able to EAT and not throw up later. Yay for not being pregnant! Ethan and Libby are old enough to get in the spirit of things and made Christmas presents for everyone. Everything just worked together to make this a wonderful year. And the icing on the cake was some wonderful, thoughtful, generous, useful and helpful presents.

7 Years

It's just amazing. At this rate he is going to be off to college next month.

New Hobbies

I attend church with some wonderfully talented women. One knit an exceptionally cute booga bag for our Boy Scout auction. I really wanted it but didn't end up winning it. So the woman promised to show me how to make one. Meanwhile the lady that did win it used it as a pattern and made me one. Woohoo! But, I was still seized with an urge to learn to knit. So, I have been harassing three different knitters at church and they have all been very patient with me. I have finished a couple bags and a hat so far. I have no pictures, though. I gave my creations as Christmas gifts and just didn't think to photograph them.

It has been quite an effort to learn to knit and it takes me a long time to knit anything. It only took Grace moments to figure out how to unknit, though. Makes a mother proud, doesn't it?