More Babies

Lola had another cute batch of babies!  Now that we have Charlie, the excitement of the hedgehogs is wearing off.  The cage is harder to clean in the winter and the kids have decided to be done.  So, they are all listed on KSL and we're hoping there are lots of people who want hedgehogs for Christmas!

I'm Getting Nothing for Christmas

Jason was so excited for his school singing program.  They started learning songs at the beginning of November and he would walk around singing songs all month.  His favorite was "I'm Getting Nothing for Christmas".  Not sure if it's because he can relate to the naughty behavior...

Anyway, the day before the program, they had a rehearsal in front of some of the kids at school.  Nathan got to go to it and he came home saying he was so embarrassed because Jason bowed after every song.  The boys got arguing about it, and before I could break them up, there were punches thrown and tears shed.  I made Nate apologize and told Jason that he could bow after every song if he wanted to. 

Lucky for us, he did just that...

The kids were so cute!  They sang all these cute songs with fun little hand gestures and at the end of every song, my little Jason took a bow.  Mike and I were dying with our silent fits of giggles.  We had gotten Allie out of her class so she could see it too and we were all exchanging looks and trying not to laugh out loud.
The little girl next to Jason started getting after him at the end of the songs telling him to stop, but I had given him a thumbs up and he wasn't about to stop when he knew he had made me and Mike smile.  So, at each song's end, he made a bow and then held whispered arguments with the girl next to him as she tried to make him stop.

A few songs in and people all around us were adding their silent giggles to ours as they noticed the funny kid bowing on the back row.  I even got a few texts from other moms that I knew who said Jason was cracking them up.
That kid...

Way to go Jason!  It was our last Kindergarten sing along and you made it one to remember!

Snow!

Allie was super excited to get enough snow to sled.  She got a pile of girls together and they went up the canyon to sled.  Yay for snow!

Lego's

I've been sick.  I feel like a pretty crappy mom because the kids are eating cold cereal nearly every night for dinner.  I haven't felt like going out and we are getting pretty low on groceries.

It was Nate's night for a date and I didn't want to go anywhere.  He prefers Mike as his date partner, so he wasn't too thrilled that it was my turn with him anyway.  As we were brainstorming ideas of things to do, he remembered a box of Lego's that hadn't been put together.  They were Jason's, but he didn't mind.  So, I laid in bed and instructed Nate on assembling a pretty cool space ship.  He had a great time and I got to lay down.  Win, win.

Mike brought in a new shelf from something he had left over and we decided to use it in the Lego room.  I was getting it in place, and I turned around to find it covered in a dog and kids.

Poor Charlie didn't know what was going on.

A Skiff of Snow

That's all these guys need.  They just need a tiny bit of snow to be able to go out and have fun.  

The ramp seems to work well.

Jason was cracking me up.  He insisted that he didn't need a coat or gloves.  So, he was out there in a short sleeved shirt, boots, and a hat.  Dang kid.

Lucky Dog

Nathan earned enough class money to buy a "bring your pet to school" token.  We finally found a day to take Charlie in and he got to show him to the class.

I thought it was cute to see Charlie wandering the halls at school.

Nate was totally professional and listed a bunch of facts about Charlie...
I was genuinely surprised that he knew so much.  I guess he really is paying attention as he flips around the house tossing footballs and sliding all over the floor.
He even told them that he is hypoallergenic so that if they are normally allergic to dogs they could still come up and pet him. 
Then, he got to call each row up and let them pet Charlie.  It was all so cute.

As I headed out the classroom, it was fun to see all the stockings on the wall.  I think Nate's turned out really cute.

 Charlie was a model show and tell pet.  He really is such a cutie!

Happy Birthday Jake!

14!  The oldest boy child turned 14 today!

 His gift (snowboard boots) didn't make it here in time, so he got to open a paper that told him what he got.
He also got his own container of cashews and some candy.

The boy doesn't like cake, so he asked for fudge for his birthday.  I complied and I even let him clean out the pan when I was done.  I left lots in there.  :)

We sure are glad you were born cute boy!  Happy birthday!

Jake Bobba Ganoosh, 

14!  That's a whole lot of years that you've been in our lives.  I'm glad for every one of them.

You are growing into a fun kid.  There are so many things that are so easy to love about you.  I love that you wake up on your own every morning and then you come wake me up so I can spend a few minutes with you as you eat breakfast and get out the door.  You snuggle Charlie while you wait for your toast to pop up or the oatmeal to cool.  We pray together and then you head out the door to school where you are doing really well.  You are getting good grades in all your classes and you seem to be happy with your friends.  I used to worry so much about you at school, so it's nice that you have found a good groove.

You come home from school an hour before everyone else, so we always have time to chat and catch up then too.  You always ask what the plan for the day is and you are always so good to help with the boys if I have places to run.  I'm sure it's because it means unlimited screen time with them, but you are nice to them and they like hanging out with you.

I love that you like to read the blog and are always cracking up at the things the littles used to do.  I love that you like cello music and that you listen to Harry Potter books and talk about them with me.  I love that you still like to read.  I love that you are gracious and kind.  I love that you roll with the punches.  I think it's crazy and also great that you are taller than me now.  I love that you are so sweet with Charlie.  I think it's funny that you crack up over Jim Gaffigan comedy sketches.  I love that you go shopping with me late at night because I never stop you from tossing a bag of gummy sour things in the cart.  I do stop you from buying gallons of OJ because we always have concentrate in the freezer...sorry if it's sub par...I just can't do it.

As for funny quirks, you can't stand to eat if there's anything at your table space.  You are particular about it at the lunch room, and you always wipe your space clean at home.  It throws you off if one of the littles sit at your spot and leave crumbs on the chair or the floor.  

You can't stand Cheeto dust, so if one of the littles is eating Cheetos by you, you are completely grossed out and even irrational about it.  :)

You are still a fact keeper.  You know all kinds of nerd facts and I just have to take your word for it most of the time, especially if you are talking about space, because you for sure know more than me about obscure topics.

You aren't a huge fan of playing the piano anymore, but you have been playing a few times in Priesthood and I keep hounding you to spend at least half of the time on the piano that you spend playing video games.  Ugh...that is our one constant battle.

Anyway, as you grow up, some of the things are still the same as when you were a cute little 2 year old boy.  We laugh about all your old quirks and talk about your new ones.  :)

Here are some of your favorites...

Food: Orange Chicken from Panda Express 

Drink: Orange Juice

Color: Orange (just now noticing a pattern :) )

Things to do: "mess around with friends", snowboarding, reading, PlayStation
Church Song: A Child's Prayer
Subject at School: Orchestra
Number: 5

You're a fun kid though, and I'm glad you made me a mom and that I get to be your mom. I was so proud of you in church today.  When the bishop asked you to stand in front of the congregation, he said that he knows you are a tender hearted boy because he sees you (from across the street) getting double attacked by the littles and you always just take it and you never unleash your true power.  Later, when we were in the room to ordain you, he talked about your kind heart and your powerful spirit and I was so proud of you.  I loved the blessing Dad gave you today as he ordained you a Teacher.  He blessed you to be a friend to those who are in need and said all kinds of neat things and the tears rolled down my cheeks as I thought of the powerful spirit that resides inside your body.  You are meant for great things.  I just know it.
I really hope that this 14th year is a great one for you.  I hope you find happiness in the things that you do and I hope you are proud of your accomplishments.  I hope that you can always choose the right, even if it isn't easy.  I hope that you are kind to others and that you find joy in serving.  I love to serve you and am so glad you are mine forever.

Loves!

Mom.

The Reindeer Express

USU's school of veterinarians set up a thing called the Reindeer Express.  It was in a huge building and we walked through and looked at animals.  

 They all loved the camel. 

 There were a few reindeer and they inspected them to see if they were ready to pull Santa's sleigh.

I think the highlight for all of us was the horse drawn wagon ride through the field.

It was wet and muddy and we probably won't attempt to go again, but it was a fun activity to get us in the Christmas spirit.

Homework

Nathan's homework was to make a stocking to decorate the halls at the school.  He wanted a Green Bay Packers stocking, so I helped him trace it out.  He's becoming a super fan...it's pretty funny.

 Jason gets homework packets each week and he's supposed to work on them a little each day.  He saves them for the last day though and then does all the pages at once.  I can't convince him to do it otherwise...wonder where he gets the procrastination gene...

Here he is with his Octopus puppet...