They came with haste...

A Great Start to the Season

Our Ward Relief Society Presidency organized a wonderful activity to kick off the Christmas season.  They asked people to donate their nativity sets for two evenings so we could all be reminded of the reason for the season.  Families were encouraged to attend together.  We took the kids over and it was the perfect way to get us in the Christmas spirit!  Olivia had already walked through with the Young Women, but she was still there when we showed up, so we borrowed her for our photo.  

 I had each of the boys stand next to their favorite set (or one of their favorites.  It was really hard to choose).  Briggy loved the rubber duck nativity.

 David chose the Precious Moments set.

 Sean and Warren both liked this set from The Philippines.

 I was partial to the Willow Tree set (and I really liked the silver one, too...that's why they are together in the photo).

 They were all beautiful and diverse.  They ranged from elaborate and ornate to simple and cute, but they all helped to remind us about the true meaning of Christmas.

 This one is an entire village scene from Bethlehem.  It was gorgeous!



There was music playing softly in the background and the kids got a candy cane as we were leaving.  I know a lot of work went into setting up (twice).  The Relief Society presidency set it up, lights and all, had to take it down and lock it up for safe keeping overnight, and then set it up again the next day (they did it for two days so that more families would have an opportunity to attend).  I am grateful for their efforts and grateful that my family was able to take advantage of seeing so many nativity sets so close to home.  Let the season begin!

Poor Kid

Last night David came in crying and holding his cheek (I wasn't home, but Darin assumed it was a bee sting).  Nothing seemed abnormal last night, but this morning he woke up looking like this:

Apparently the sarcasm starts early around here...

Tonight we were all sitting in the family room after a long and busy day.

I yawned a big yawn and said, "I'm sleepy."

Brig (who turned 2 just a couple of weeks ago) didn't skip a beat and replied, "Hi.  I Briggy".

Briggy Turns 2!

I can't believe my baby is two!  Time flies.  Briggy is a joy bringer.  He creates smiles and laughs wherever he goes.  He has the most endearing little raspy voice, a half lisp that is irresistible, huge expressive eyes, and a personality that is bursting at the seams. 
For his birthday celebration, we decided to make monster cupcakes.  (Every time there is an unidentified noise, the kids say, "Oh no! A monster's coming!  Hide!"  and then he giggles, clings on to the nearest person, and hides his eyes.)  We had so much fun decorating the cupcakes together.  I was impressed at all of the monster ideas. 

I was curious to see how he would feel about being in the spotlight when we sang to him.  Some of my kids aren't too fond of it, but Briggy didn't mind at all.  In fact, after we sang "Happy Birthday" (he sang right along), he blew the candles out and said, "More again".  So we sang at least 8 times (he still didn't tire of it, but we moved on for the sake of time).





After he blew the candles out, he would wave his hand through the smoke and say, "Shoo, shoo".

Next on the agenda was the opening of presents.  He is very into cars right now, so we got him a hot wheels play set and some cars to go with it.  He loved it!  

He also got some sunglasses.  (I love the way he says "Mickey Mouse glasses")



 Just a few other Briggy-isms while I'm thinking about it. 

 He makes this silly face, points to someone and says, "Do dat" and he makes sure you do it before he shifts his attention to something else.

He is working on asking nicely.  He will say something like, "I want milk".  I say, "Try again please" and his demeanor immediately switches to ultra pleasant and he says, "Pwease, Mommy, I have milk?"  It is adorable!

He loves to play "Sha-Sha".  (Which is code for sword fight.)   He will often have two objects (anything from sticks to spoons to crayons...anything that remotely resembles a sword), bring one to someone and say, "You sha-sha me?"  and then we proceed to sword fight while saying, "Sha, Sha, Sha". 

Here are my littles on Briggy's birthday:





(This last photo is a near miracle.  Everyone is looking.  Everyone is smiling a genuine smile (no silly faces, no pucker lips, no rabbit ears.  No photoshop.  This one will likely end up in a frame).

Echo, Echo

Today as we were driving in the van I heard David say, "Briggy, that whining has GOT to stop."


 I wonder where he has heard that before?

Ward Basketball

Play at your own risk.

What's More American Than a Second Grade Program?

Home Sweet Home

Last week we hosted a barbecue for our fellow Heart Challenge participants.  We were at the park and it was FREEZING.  When we got home, David walked inside and said,

"Phew!  Home Sweet Home."

Indeed.

Very Amazing Vineyard Viking Vocalists

That was the name of Olivia's school choir this year.  The choir director let the kids come up with names and they left it to a vote.  I think it's got a ring to it! 

Here they are at the end of the year program:

 Olivia with Mrs. Hoops

 ...and with Brooklyn and Lily (Olivia is still not sure how she's going to make it through her first year of Jr. High without Brooklyn next year.  School boundaries will put them in different Jr. High Schools.  It is a sad, sad thing.  We heart Brooklyn)

I can't believe her elementary school career is coming to an end!  When did she grow up? (Sunrise, sunset)

The Birthday Celebration

It's official.  David is 5. 

His two favorite outfits were in the dirty clothes on the night before his birthday, so he said, "Mom, maybe you could surprise me and wash these before tomorrow."  So I did.  He woke up to both outfits laid nicely out on his bed. It wasn't really a tough choice for him.  His Itty-Bitty Bruin shirt is by far his favorite shirt ever.  He wears it often (but thankfully doesn't put up a fuss when it gets washed.)  The paws are fading and it is comfortably worn in.  We had a little panic a month or so ago when he decided to take it with him to the Elementary School's walk-a-thon (he wasn't wearing it, but it was freshly washed and folded and he just wanted to take it with him.) that was held at the park across from the school.  He was supposed to wear it to a field trip a couple of days later, and that's when we discovered it was missing.  I checked the school's lost and found several times with no luck.  I also checked the lost and found at the park with no luck.  I admit that I was as sad as he was.  That shirt is like part of the family!  Then two weeks later, I checked the park lost and found again and it was there!  Great relief. 

After he was dresseed it was time for breakfast: A blue pancake shaped in a #5 on the "Celebrate" plate with a side of sausage on the tea set plates (and many declarations of "It's my birthday!!!")

 He went to preschool (where they sang to him and he gave them dum-dums), then we met Dad at McDonald's for a birthday lunch.   I think he could have played there all day.  He was having so much fun on all of the musical equipment.  It was a perfect day for an indoor play place (it was very rainy).

After lunch, we headed home so Briggy could have a nap.  David played MarioKart, then played outside with friends after the weather cleared up a little bit. 

When Dad got home from work he took Olivia and David to the pet store so David could choose his beloved fish.  Two weeks later, we're still not sure what the fish's name is.  It started as "Everything" (his original plan), then went to "Birthday Boy", then "Yoshi" and just this morning he said his name was "Diamond".  Maybe that's the beauty of a name like "Everything".  Anything goes. 

While they were gone I wrapped his presents and baked the cake.  Then we went to dinner at Great China.  Grandma and Grandpa had called earlier in the day to see when they could bring David his birthday money.  They met us at the restaurant.

Sean tried on Grandpa's trifocals. 

While we were waiting for the check, the kids entertained themselves by climbing on the table in a booth nearby and making faces at themselves in the mirror.  (We are amazing parents.  Feel free to judge all you'd like.  I even took a picture for your viewing pleasure.)

When we got home, it was time to decorate the cake and open presents.  David chose a treasure chest cake, which I found fitting for him.  The boy loves treasures (and by treasures I mean collections of little knick knacks found around the house then stuffed into whatever bag or box he can find.  One time Olivia's ipod was missing and we found it a couple of weeks later at the bottom of one of David's treasure bags).  I was at a crucial part of putting the cake together when I had to drop the cake and help the birthday boy dislodge a sixlet from his nostril.  Thankfully the damage to the cake was minimal and the sixlet came out without too much of a fight. 

Here is David with his fish, his un-opened presents and his cake:

I never did get a photo of his presents once they were opened, but he got a card game, an IronMan glove that makes sounds and shoots plastic bullets (they were out of Spiderman gloves with real powers), a ball and velcro mitt game, some treats and gumballs and his big present that was hidden at the end of a treasure hunt.  The boys were anxious to help him find his treasure:

I should have been more clear about the fact that there was an actual treasure at the end of the treasure hunt.  When he got to his new bigger bike, he kept moving it around looking for the blue piece of paper.  When he finally understood that the treasure hunt was over and that this was his present, he was thrilled!  He said, "It's just my age!"  He has had so much fun riding his new bike. 

Happy Birthday, my sweet boy!