Bringin' on December!

So to finish off November, Ross got his medal for finishing his preschool gymnastics class that I coached with my friend Roni.  I had the kids calling us coach, and some of them were quite taken with it.  Though I stayed "Mom" for Ross. ;)  He definitely is getting stronger and more coordinated.  It was really fun to teach some gymnastics, though I won't be doing it this next semester - my kids are still pretty little and our schedule is just a bit too tricky for it to feel like it works for us. 

He did it! His favorites were jumping in the pit, forward rolls, and pullovers.

 We've gotten some snowstorms, but lately it's been warming up quite a bit - like it's supposed to be 70 this week.  How crazy is that?  So Ruby was fascinated by the melting snow...

My mom helped us bring on December by sending ADORABLE Christmas jammies - and these kids of mine - just melt my heart all the time!

LOVE baby bellies! And cute smiles :)

Daddy rides to bed are also quite enjoyable :)

We've also been binging on this AMAZING music video by The Piano Guys.  I watch it at least once a day.  We had a special little experience with Ruby when she watched it for the first time.  We had the missionaries over for dinner and shared it with them, and the kids sat and watched with us as well.  It got too the part where the newborn Baby Jesus is shown, and all the sudden I hear, "Baby Jesus! It's Baby Jesus!" and I looked over to see Ruby with sweet little tears in her eyes and complete joy on her face.  Her eyes were so wide and she started clapping when the angels appeared.  Once it was over, she jumped to her feet, clapping her little heart out and begging me to play it again.  It was a sweet experience for sure.  I'd like to think we all felt the same when Christ was born and clapped our hearts out and sang just as joyously.  

I felt this was especially sweet, because our little Ruby is a busy body with the spice of life in her - she doesn't like to just sit and hang out during scriptures or prayers, but this portrayal of the Nativity spoke to her.  I will forever cherish that.  

A few other festivities we've been having - Buzz the elf has come to visit which is helping in the behavior department... and we went to our city's light parade again - it did not disappoint - the kids were very satisfied. :)

Ruby was too enthralled with the parade to look.  But he's cute ;)

Cute snow monster :)

This kid LOVED the parade - he just saw another lit up truck coming our way...

We've also managed to have a Christmas dance party.  Steve's gotten in to this Dubsmash app as well...he's pretty good...

Also blanket rides are fun...

 And sometimes Daddy takes the kids to the church gym to get some wiggles out. :)

And here's Rowland doing his standing thing these days...

Ruby especially loves Christmas songs.  She will sing and serenade at the top of her lungs to anyone or anything.  Even at the doctor's office before flu shots...

Speaking of flu shots...can you guess which of the three kids did NOT get a shot?  Two of them did...

Ross was mad I wouldn't let him hold my phone to watch a show on it.  Rowly had JUST gotten his and was pretty much over it - Ruby had hers before Rowland.  Always a circus at our house!

She had just jumped in a puddle and didn't understand why her socks and shoes were all wet...

And he's just adorable.  Ross loves to give Winnie the Pooh to him when he wakes up from a nap. :)

We got our decorations out and went and picked a Christmas tree...well actually - hardly anyone sells real Christmas trees around here, and when we stopped at Big R - which was completely sold out, one of the workers was kind enough to give us his since they were going to get another bunch of trees on Monday.  It smells divine and looks amazing!

We decorated it today and we also got to watch the annual Christmas Devotional our church leaders do every year.  I love all the stories, the scriptures, and reminders of what this season truly is for and what it is all about.  Our kids were a bit crazy, so listening to every talk didn't exactly happen, but we felt the Spirit, and it was wonderful. :)

Notice how we have a concentrated area of ornaments. ;)

Rowland was banned to his jumper for a while so we could decorate :)

Three ornaments on one branch isn't too many is it???

So he tends to kick out of the legs of his jammies at times...

This cute boy was really excited to help decorate :)

Rowland was freed because he peed through his diaper....hey - whatever it takes right?

Hmmm - what should I go for first??

Putting the star on top

They each needed a turn.

I LOVE Christmas devotionals.  It really brings in the whole Spirit of the season.

Now I just have Christmas stockings, pj's, a quilt, cards, and a few more presents to organize...whew!  We may just make it!  Happy Christmas season!

Happy Thanksgiving 2015

We stuck around this Thanksgiving and celebrated with our friends, the Dursts and the Andersons.  We thoroughly enjoyed and engorged ourselves.  Steve and I made sure to get some serious exercise in before we went - so we didn't feel like total garbage about ourselves after we stuffed ourselves with all the good food. ;)

I made the rolls, green beans, and some pies to contribute.  I absolutely detest making pie crusts, but decided to give it a try again...they turned out in the end, but it didn't change my feelings towards them.  I made a pretty bomb apple pie, and then a pumpkin creamcheese (that I later found out - in the entire group - I was the only one who liked pumpkin pie!).

So the apple pie has a turkey on top of it - with a burned beak ;)

Ross my helper :) (With his crab pinchers)

Ross got to celebrate at preschool by having a Pow Wow

And be a pilgrim. :)

We ate in the afternoon, let the kids play while we played a fun game called Dudo with dice and then enjoyed some pie and more visiting.  
 

We forgot his glasses ;)

Rowly felt pretty cool eating off our plates

Ruby at a roll...and like three bites of turkey - don't over do it girl. ;)

Rowly and his cute friend Knox scoured for cheerios..

I'm thankful for such a wonderful family I get to be with and take care of.  I'm thankful for good friends who are generous and thoughtful.  And I'm thankful for a Savior and Heavenly Father who created this world for us to experience and be blessed with.
 

The Harvest sign - to make us Thanksgiving-y ;)

Happy Thanksgiving!

10 Month Old Rowland

Well - this kid just does NOT want to stop.  He decided to just pick up crawling - like speedy crawling - and then pulling himself up on things right after that.  He also got his first tooth about a week ago followed by a second shortly after.  He likes to scrunch his nose up and smile - showing off his no longer gumless smile.

He LOVES to eat real food - but it takes about a million years for him to eat it.  He loves mandarin oranges, bread, cheerios, mashed potatoes, rice, and pretty much every meat I've offered him (besides the baby meats - those make him cringe and spit it out).  He feels so proud of himself when he's eating the real food - smiling - even clapping for himself occasionally.  

He's been learning the "squeaky wheel gets the grease" concept and will whine out - yes you read that right - whine out - like his sister does when something gets taken away or he doesn't like something.  Then he does his scrunchy nose smile - and you think he's adorable.

He's definitely the one who's loved the Johnny Jump Up the most out of all our kids.  He loves to kick his legs and slap his arms down when he's excited, so it's hilarious in the jumper to see him jump like a foot higher when he gets excited.  

Rowly has also decided that stairs are his next challenge to overcome.  He likes to pull himself up on the first one and then will himself up the steps (in his dreams) - though he recently got up one of the steps.  Oh how I'm not a fan of baby proofing.  It will be interesting with our Christmas tree this year. ;)

Pretty sure those brown eyes can get whatever they want!

Some of Rowly's favorites:

Ross's airplane toys - particularly ones with small parts (heaven help me)
Cleaning mommy's floor for her - picking any and everything up and putting it promptly in his mouth.
Being picked up and walked around to see what's going on.
Making sure he's where the action is - especially with brother and sister.
NOT holding still while getting a bottle or a diaper change (it's torture for him)
Chewing on everything
Getting snuggled and kissed by everyone in the family

His stranger danger side is still about the same - if he's in a familiar place - he's better at handling new people, but if it's crazy and new and he doesn't see mom or dad - forget it.  Church activities often turn out in meltdowns at some point because of that.  It's rough being so cute and having people wanting to hold you all the time. ;)

He loves bathtime and splashing in the tub, and gets mad at me when I take him out.  He'll stand holding on to the side looking in trying to will himself back in all the time.  It's pretty cute.

We've also had to lower his crib because he's pulling himself up - it's like he's just decided to take off and get big.  I can't handle it!  

But we love him anyway and adore everything about him.  Happy 10 months Rowls!