Christmas is coming - around the corner really, and this year we're looking at changing some traditions. After all, we're near family now and so some adjustments make sense. I have to admit there is part of me which screams "no way... this is how we've always done it with our own little family so this is the way we'll always do it" and yet another part is finding a growing sense of excitement in trying to think up other "new" things to start.
So - I think we've decided the Midnight gift opening ritual (which the youngest always seem to sleep through anyway) is going to have to be set aside. The kids seem fine with it... the only problem (though the kids don't see it as a problem yet) is that the kids will not be able to open gifts until a "reasonable hour" when family has a chance to gather (sometime after 7am).... I know, I think it's asking too much, but we'll see.
One of the "exciting new" things for me is coming up with something yummy for first thing in the morning. We never really worried about it - made snowman pancakes as the kids came to the table (we just might have to continue with that too). Bob, of course suggested cinnamon rolls, which everyone loves. Simple enough to have together the night before and then pop in the oven that morning. But when he said that, I thought of Danish pastries... I love those. I've never made them, but I've always wanted to learn. So, I've just found a recipe with great reviews that I'm going to try out sometime this next week. And if all works out well, I'll be making homemade apple and cheese danishes (not mixed, two different kinds). Maybe a lemon one? I'm excited. We'll have a little "bakery" of sorts... I might have to make up some doughnuts for the boys... we'll see.
Now... to keep them entertained from 3 until the gift opening time..... (maybe we'll be lucky and it will be 6am).... maybe some special Christmas games ... yes, there are stockings, but really, how long will those last? Any ideas?
Monday, November 30, 2009
Friday, November 27, 2009
Tummy Needs a Nap
Peter decided he was full before he had emptied his bowl of cereal yesterday. This was our conversation:
P: My tummy's full. It needs a nap.
M: Oh.. don't you think you could eat a couple more bites so your tummy stays good and full?
P: No, my tummy is full. It needs a nap.
M: Does your whole body need to take a nap, or just your tummy while you play?
P: Just my tummy needs to take a nap while I play.
P: My tummy's full. It needs a nap.
M: Oh.. don't you think you could eat a couple more bites so your tummy stays good and full?
P: No, my tummy is full. It needs a nap.
M: Does your whole body need to take a nap, or just your tummy while you play?
P: Just my tummy needs to take a nap while I play.
Friday, November 20, 2009
1 of 13
We just found out today that Gabi was one of 13 winners of an art contest. The art will be used to create a calendar for next year for the community! She's very excited - as are we! There will even be a special awards night for her and the other lucky 12.
Congrats, Gabi! You did a wonderful job!
Congrats, Gabi! You did a wonderful job!
And The Cat Trumps
When cleaning up the books and magazines in the livingroom a few days back, I picked up one of the Book of Mormons that was given to the kids by their old bishop. Wondering whose was not in the bedroom, I opened it to find that it was Peter's. Since he was working with me, I said to him:
"Peter! Look what I found!"
He eagerly grabbed it and started turning to the pictures (his favorite part) and said very excitedly
"My Book of Norman! You found my Book of Norman!"
At first I wasn't sure I'd heard him right, but then later, when he was suppose to have taken it to his room but didn't, he came out and told me again that he had his Book of Norman. Laughing (because Norman is the cat he plays with at grandma's several times a week), I corrected him. He repeated Mormon, and then proceeded to tell me he was putting away his Book of Norman.
"Peter! Look what I found!"
He eagerly grabbed it and started turning to the pictures (his favorite part) and said very excitedly
"My Book of Norman! You found my Book of Norman!"
At first I wasn't sure I'd heard him right, but then later, when he was suppose to have taken it to his room but didn't, he came out and told me again that he had his Book of Norman. Laughing (because Norman is the cat he plays with at grandma's several times a week), I corrected him. He repeated Mormon, and then proceeded to tell me he was putting away his Book of Norman.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Famous?
Okay, maybe not quite, but Beth made the paper this week! A week ago, on Veteran's Day, the girls were part of a salute to veterans concert. They prepared for weeks, loved all the "America songs" they learned, and I must admit that I loved the concert. Being kids and all, I wasn't sure just how much I'd understand in the back row while I tried to record and take pictures.
It was wonderful, though. The Veterans who came only added to the beauty of the program. When the theme song from their particular branch of the military was sung or played, they would stand in salute. Just amazing. And to hear certain heartfelt songs about our country and about the people who fight for it, well, I must admit I got teary eyed a few times. None more so, though, than when they concluded with "God Bless America".
Anyway, only one picture from their particular school made the paper, and Beth, being right up front wearing a red shirt and her blue with white stars jumper was apparently patriotic enough to land center! The downside - well, it doesn't seem they post pictures on the Newspaper website, so I can't link you there to enjoy it. But Beth is especially excited today!
It was wonderful, though. The Veterans who came only added to the beauty of the program. When the theme song from their particular branch of the military was sung or played, they would stand in salute. Just amazing. And to hear certain heartfelt songs about our country and about the people who fight for it, well, I must admit I got teary eyed a few times. None more so, though, than when they concluded with "God Bless America".
Anyway, only one picture from their particular school made the paper, and Beth, being right up front wearing a red shirt and her blue with white stars jumper was apparently patriotic enough to land center! The downside - well, it doesn't seem they post pictures on the Newspaper website, so I can't link you there to enjoy it. But Beth is especially excited today!
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Update
I'm not doing so well with keeping up with the blog... I have several pictures and events to post about, but it will have to come here and there. It seems we're all pretty busy in our own ways - in our own worlds!
But, some things I don't want to forget:
Last week, after the Bishop had help confirm someone at church, he had walked back up on the stand and Peter got so excited and pointed then said "Look, Mama, that's MY Bishop!"
We're spending more and more time playing games! It's better than TV, better than movies and of course it's better because Bob is around more! Jeremy's favorite game is Checkers - another favorite (which Peter is getting the hang of) is Guess Who!
Wood heat is still wonderful! - Though we have an insert instead of the actual stove, it's still nice.
This morning Peter told me: "I'm Petor! There's a different Petor. It's not like me."
There will be some "school blogs" on our school site too. Again... late, but at least you'll have an idea of what is happening. Due to the particular's of our children and the structure of schooling in their age groups, we're developing a home school plan which is a supplement to the schooling. They really are doing well there, but there really is only so far they can go with certain things under the circumstances (mostly with the kindergarten). I don't mind, and I think it will mostly be on the "vacation" times - which is when they would be wanting to do it anyway!
But, some things I don't want to forget:
Last week, after the Bishop had help confirm someone at church, he had walked back up on the stand and Peter got so excited and pointed then said "Look, Mama, that's MY Bishop!"
We're spending more and more time playing games! It's better than TV, better than movies and of course it's better because Bob is around more! Jeremy's favorite game is Checkers - another favorite (which Peter is getting the hang of) is Guess Who!
Wood heat is still wonderful! - Though we have an insert instead of the actual stove, it's still nice.
This morning Peter told me: "I'm Petor! There's a different Petor. It's not like me."
There will be some "school blogs" on our school site too. Again... late, but at least you'll have an idea of what is happening. Due to the particular's of our children and the structure of schooling in their age groups, we're developing a home school plan which is a supplement to the schooling. They really are doing well there, but there really is only so far they can go with certain things under the circumstances (mostly with the kindergarten). I don't mind, and I think it will mostly be on the "vacation" times - which is when they would be wanting to do it anyway!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Soccer
So this is old news.. .but I wanted to share it anyway!
Soccer is done differently out this way... in large part because there are many more people and lots of kids who are interested in playing. So there is an actual league which include levels based on age. Arriving when we did, we nearly didn't end up with any players this year. But since they needed one more coach, they asked Bob if he would do it. So, though the girls would not normally have been on the same team, they allowed Beth to "bump up" so he could coach them both!
It was a fun season for them - started in August and ended around the end of October (maybe a week before). So kind of long for what we're use to as well. They had practices in the first few weeks and then it was just games (which were typically two or three a week). They had a lot of fun and the parents were very impressed with Bob's style (focusing both on "fun" as well as teaching skills).
As this was Beth's first year ever playing on a team,
I must admit that I was pretty impressed. In the beginning it was pretty obvious that she didn't have experience. Later on, she'd improved, though being so little and all, it was still obvious that she was not as experienced as the older kids on the team. All in all, though, I am very happy with how she played. How she was so enthusiastic. Her favorite thing to do was to giggle with excitement while she was running after or kicking the ball. Her favorite position ended up being goalie - and though she was little and not as experienced, she could hold her own against several of the other teams. She also had incredible defense to protect her! While in goal, she would often dance around and laugh - occassionally laying down because the ball seemed to be staying at the other end of the field.
For Gabi, she improved a lot. Though she's played before, she'd never played on a league like this and the dynamics are certainly different. She made three goals over the season - for which she was very happy - and was the team enthusiast always cheering for any member of the team when they got the ball, kicked the ball, made a goal, etc. She loved making new friends and playing with them. Sometimes she'd be talking with another player or singing songs with them while she was waiting for a chance at the ball. Though having improved tremendously, going after the ball is still not her strong point. She'd go for it until it looks like someone else (even from the other team) has it. Then often she'll pull back and wait to intercept after it's been kicked. But, considering age, I don't think that's so bad!
Anyway, it was a fun season and the boys and I went to most of the games. It was hard on Jeremy because he really just wanted to play (so warm ups were fun because he could be included). On one of the fields, there was a tree that many children (waiting for a playing sibling) would climb. Around it were lots of rocks that they also thought were fun to throw it the "ditch" where the tree was. Jeremy and Peter took part in this.
Peter was really only interested in the naps or the snacks. He'd often fall asleep on the way to the game and stay that way as I carried him up. So he'd either sleep on me or on a blanket we'd managed to get spread out. Peter would like to play, but it's not the problem it was for Jeremy (at least not yet) and that's good, because he's got at least another year to wait through before his turn comes up!
Soccer is done differently out this way... in large part because there are many more people and lots of kids who are interested in playing. So there is an actual league which include levels based on age. Arriving when we did, we nearly didn't end up with any players this year. But since they needed one more coach, they asked Bob if he would do it. So, though the girls would not normally have been on the same team, they allowed Beth to "bump up" so he could coach them both!
It was a fun season for them - started in August and ended around the end of October (maybe a week before). So kind of long for what we're use to as well. They had practices in the first few weeks and then it was just games (which were typically two or three a week). They had a lot of fun and the parents were very impressed with Bob's style (focusing both on "fun" as well as teaching skills).
As this was Beth's first year ever playing on a team,
I must admit that I was pretty impressed. In the beginning it was pretty obvious that she didn't have experience. Later on, she'd improved, though being so little and all, it was still obvious that she was not as experienced as the older kids on the team. All in all, though, I am very happy with how she played. How she was so enthusiastic. Her favorite thing to do was to giggle with excitement while she was running after or kicking the ball. Her favorite position ended up being goalie - and though she was little and not as experienced, she could hold her own against several of the other teams. She also had incredible defense to protect her! While in goal, she would often dance around and laugh - occassionally laying down because the ball seemed to be staying at the other end of the field.
For Gabi, she improved a lot. Though she's played before, she'd never played on a league like this and the dynamics are certainly different. She made three goals over the season - for which she was very happy - and was the team enthusiast always cheering for any member of the team when they got the ball, kicked the ball, made a goal, etc. She loved making new friends and playing with them. Sometimes she'd be talking with another player or singing songs with them while she was waiting for a chance at the ball. Though having improved tremendously, going after the ball is still not her strong point. She'd go for it until it looks like someone else (even from the other team) has it. Then often she'll pull back and wait to intercept after it's been kicked. But, considering age, I don't think that's so bad!
Anyway, it was a fun season and the boys and I went to most of the games. It was hard on Jeremy because he really just wanted to play (so warm ups were fun because he could be included). On one of the fields, there was a tree that many children (waiting for a playing sibling) would climb. Around it were lots of rocks that they also thought were fun to throw it the "ditch" where the tree was. Jeremy and Peter took part in this.
Peter was really only interested in the naps or the snacks. He'd often fall asleep on the way to the game and stay that way as I carried him up. So he'd either sleep on me or on a blanket we'd managed to get spread out. Peter would like to play, but it's not the problem it was for Jeremy (at least not yet) and that's good, because he's got at least another year to wait through before his turn comes up!
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