January favorites

Before getting into the daily photo thing, I thought we'd start things off with some favorite pictures of the kids from January.

lesson for the hard-headed

Today I was piling the kids into the van and had the hatch door open. Gwendolyn thought it would be great fun to climb over the back seat and out the hatch door. I warned, "Please don't do that, Gwennie. The recycling is back there and I don't want you to fall." Over the back she went, right over the recycling and head-first onto the concrete driveway. She was pretty shaken, but not hurt too badly. We had a talk about how Mama often asks her not to do things because Mama wants to keep her safe. Lesson learned? Probably not.

calamity

Today Casper was showing off his physical prowess and rolled off the couch. He wasn't hurt, but was very, very angry. When I scooped him up off the floor, he gave me a very stern look and an angry cry.

yoshi

Linus nurses Yoshi (his huge wooden dinosaur bank) to sleep.

little (kidney) bean

Today I took Casper in for a renal ultrasound to check his little kidney that was giving us so much trouble in utero. It's perfect! It seems that the problem corrected itself before he was born (perhaps one of the reasons he was two full weeks late?) and we are thankful beyond words.

for a sanctuary

Todd goes to Idaho.

4 month check

Casper has his 4 month check up today (almost a month late, I know, but still). He’s a whopping 18lbs 1oz (95^th percentile, I think?) and 27 ¼ inches tall (off the charts!). I really like our new doctor.

disguise

With a hand towel over their heads, Gwennie and Linus hide as a “walking washrag.”

linusisms

Examples of words that Linus still can’t quite say:
“These are my maginickal powers.”
“Did you have this when you were a little girler?”
“The Night of Dates” (United States)

the children's museum

Gwendolyn, Linus and I talk about going to the children’s museum, but Linus expresses a desire to go to the children’s museum in the city where there are “money things in the ground”. I can’t figure out what he is talking about, so Gwendolyn, also excited about these “money things” helps by explaining that, “these are the things you put money in before the policeman tells you to leave.”

Ah! I have it now! All the fun donation drops in the front lobby near the security guard! But my children tell me I am wrong. Gwendolyn explains further, “out by the cars”.

They are talking about parking meters. Parking meters! Of all the hours we’ve spent at that museum (which is rated one of the top children’s museums in the country), playing with the millions of dollars worth of educational and fun exhibitions, my kids are attracted to the parking meters.

quiet time

Gwennie goes in Linus’s room during quiet time and so I gently explain to her that she isn’t to disturb him and he isn’t to disturb her when she is trying to have quiet time. She retorts, “I’m not trying to have quiet time, I’m trying to get him to play with me!”

all grown up

It completely cracks me up when the children say things in an adult manner. Some gems that have come out of the mouth of our five year old recently include:

"So sorry to disturb you."

“I’m not going to give one of these to Linus. I think he’s already fallen into the thin ice.”

“Wow, Linus! You’ve extremely good at that. I’m impressed.” What was Linus doing? Putting Nougat on top of his sippy cup and then drinking.

language of a two year old

Referring to our electric massager, Linus asks me, "Do you want to get your muscles out?"

Linus calls his big-boy underwear, "underwear pants"

I hand Todd the mail and lying on the top is an ad for diamonds and roses.
Todd: Diamonds and roses, huh?
Mama: That’s a hint for Valentine’s Day.
Linus: Tent for Italians’ Day!?

errand days

We go to Costco one morning to stock up on supplies and as I'm pushing the cart down an isle, Linus (who is riding in the basket), sees a little boy his age manhandling some goods on the shelves. Linus nearly falls out of the basket as he leans over the side to loudly reprimand, "Hey! That's not on sale, little boy!" I could hardly believe the fierceness in the voice of my sweet natured little boy, but it totally cracked me up.

Another day we go out with Granny and Auntie Heather and take the kids to all get haircuts and then to Ikea for a little play and shopping.

barfing flu

This afternoon, just an hour after Todd leaves Granny and Grandad's house to return home, Gwendolyn complains of being cold and tired. She naps, and as soon as she wakes, she starts throwing up.

As I carry Linus to the kitchen sink to wash his hands for dinner, he tells me, "I'm feeling sick." Foolishly, I ask, "How are you feeling sick?" and before the words are out of my mouth, he has thrown up all over me.

The kids get blessings and are feeling better by morning. Thankfully, Casper and I manage to avoid this horrible stomach bug.

The Reunion

We travel to Granny and Grandad's house for a reunioning weekend with Granny's side of the family. It is so good to spend some time with Aunt Janie and Angela and get to visit with cousins I hardly know. The only downside is that Granny can't attend because she's recovering from a vicious stomach bug she caught from Auntie Heather's kids.

Auntie Heather is an angel and watches all three kids for us on Saturday morning while Todd and I have a date: a full session together at the temple and a quick lunch at a surprisingly good Chinese restaurant.

bryan

Linus, while talking on the phone to Auntie Heather, “This house is named Bryan.”

a few of our favorite things

Casper is now four months old, which is my favorite age. He's perfect.

Linus prays and asks a blessing on the “turlet” (toilet).
Mama: Why did you say that?
Linus: It’s my favorite word!

the new year

We spend a lovely New Year's Eve in the city playing around. We visit and lunch with the dear N* family and then make quick trips to the zoo and to Costco before heading home. That night, Todd and I try to ring in the New Year by watching The Hud, but we both fall asleep.

New Year's Day is much less exciting, but there is lots of good food and crackers!