Christmas morning

 The joy of Christmas. It was a peaceful, wonderful, joyful day. We took our time enjoying it all in stages. We weren't done until 11 with opening presents because we took breaks to play with things and eat and such.

Munchkin did not talk to anyone for about 45 minutes, she was too intently playing with her kitchen.

The beginning of the 1700+ lego building adventure

Baby slept most of the day.

Mmm... macaroni salad, a troll mountain fortress and a galactic space enforcer. Recipe for success.

Thing shirts from grandma.

Lovely lovely day.

Dinosaurs Unleashed

We've now been twice to visit the animatronic dinosaurs visiting the science museum. This last time we got to take my sister with us while she was here for a quick visit.

Controlling dinosaur movements

Standing in a fossilized footprint.

Don't let him bite you!

Munchkin stopped being afraid of them this time.

Dig up the fossils!

Ahh, giant bubbles

The ball floating above the cone is always fascinating.

Santa!

Three boys born within the same week. Don't drop my baby Santa!

Munchkin did not like meeting Santa this year.

She did accept the candy and enjoy it thoroughly.

The older boys and Santa

(I just realized I can't really say "The boys" anymore for my older two because I have a third boy!)

Baby and dad

Six!

I've gotten a lot of mileage out of this train cake pan. He still loves his train cake. :) Trainboy turned 6 this month. We got him the game Lego Robo-Champ for his birthday and he loves it. We've played multiple times a day pretty much every day since. His brother got him a Hero factory guy and they have had much play with that since then.

It was a quiet birthday at home though I'm planning to give him a party in January with a few friends.

Violin concert

Winter violin concert went well. Dinoguy played Andantino, Trainboy played May Song. It was weird not being the pianist and just listening. I videotaped the performances on the camera that I haven't taken the time to figure out how to put on the computer. If you really want to watch their performances, email me and I will send you another link.

Dinoguy is disappointed because he did not make his goal of learning Minuet 1 by the end of this year. He knows the song before it - Etude - but due to skipping lessons for about a month, he was delayed some from making his goal. I think its awesome how he sets goals and really has the ideas of practice down - he'll go to work on something I ask him to practice and work at it until he gets it. He is pretty much only held back by how long he wants to practice.

Trainboy is doing so well and yet it has been a harder fall for him. He has struggled with various technique things and while he has learned many songs and plays well, I say it is harder because practice is not as much fun as it could be. He's in a period where anything not going his way results in tears and a plaintive "I tried my best!" No amount of me being loving and soft with suggestions for improvement or making games of it all prevents this. It is something that appears in all facets of life right now and probably has to do with adjustment to another family member and some growing up.

Anyway, they continue to learn the violin and play beautifully (in my opinion at least. :D )

Blessing

Baptism

Dinoguy's baptism went well. I have kept putting off blogging about it because I don't really know what to say. It was nice to have family here and I'm proud of him. His brother played a violin solo of "When I am Baptized". His Aunt & Grandpa gave the talks, two other Aunts helped with the music. Lots of family came and we had a good time.

I finished his blanket finally. I've been crocheting and cross-stitching on it all year. Yay for being done!

Mine!

Earlier this week Fixitman walked in the door before the kids were in bed. Not a common occurrence currently. Munchkin looked up, pointed at his beanie and yelled "uuuhhhhhhh", which translates to "give me that now!". No big hugs for her dad, just a demand for his hat.

Tonight she did say "mine" while grabbing a toy from her brothers' hand. Munchkin knows what she wants.  She does talk quite a bit lately. And tackles her brothers as needed.

Trainboy holding Baby in his fleece snow suit before we went to Santa's village. Trainboy loves to hold Baby.  Dinoguy was on Elf TV at Santa's village. He mostly just stared at the TV image of himself so you didn't miss much. I did record some of it on my new cell phone, not that I know how to download that to the computer yet (I don't use texting).

This weekend we also made gingerbread cookies. Yum. We were going to take them to lots of people but then we just ate on them all day. We did take some to 2 neighbors so I guess that's progress.

Mommy brain

My purple Christmas lights Fixitman put up for me

Today I woke up and remembered Baby had a doctor appointment that morning. So I got breakfast going and the boys started on their violin, chores and academics so we could go to park day right after the doctor. Got meat out to thaw for dinner and made graham crackers for snacks at the park. Great start to the day.

Looked at the calendar and the appointment isn't until next week. Oops. Well at least we're ready for the park. Loaded up the truck with my three bags (food bag, diaper bag, craft bag), four children, lawn chair, ipod (we're listening to Harry Potter 6 on it when we drive), sling, purse, cards to mail and grabbed extra blankets for baby in case it was windy (it was.) Only went back in the house twice for forgotten items before finally heading to the post office to mail the first stack of Christmas cards and then to the park! 

Had a nice time at the park. It was cool and windy when we first arrived but tolerable. After a bit the sun came out and it was quite nice and Munchkin shed her shoes and jacket. Didn't see the boys much, they were quite busy with friends.

All our friends left a bit early from the park today so we packed up and left a little before 2 PM. (Normally stay another hour or so.) Decided to go to the museum we'd skipped yesterday due to my not feeling well. Realized a blanket had been dropped while loading up the truck and sent Dinoguy back for it. Stopped by home to pick up the stroller and take care of baby needs while Munchkin and Trainboy napped some.

Arrive at museum and strap Baby on in the baby bjorn for back support. Put Munchkin in the stroller and we're off! We had fun at the animatronic dinosaur exhibit at the museum and all the other more regular ones. It's quite empty in the afternoon on week days and we mostly had it to ourselves. Started home, remembered we were going to go to Santa's village tonight but I am too tired. Tell kids we'll go tomorrow instead. Get home and as I'm unloading the truck I realize I'm missing my sling. Frantically search truck for it and house. Call Fixitman upset and tell him I've left it at the park and am heading back. He points out traffic is practically at a standstill in that direction right now and I should wait. Moreover, he's almost done for the day and can go for me. Grudgingly admit that is a better plan.

Force myself to cook for children. Make hamburgers instead of planned meal because they don't take thinking. I do manage to round it out with the fruited jello I'd made earlier, some tamales Fixitman had brought home and cookies. Nice well balanced meal? I consider it a victory because we didn't eat out.

Fixitman calls from the park to find out where we were and manages to find my sling. Hooray! (I made this sling when Trainboy was born, I am very attached to it.) It must have fallen out of my bag while first leaving. Boys help pick up the house and then we watch an episode of Avatar cartoon with kids and then its scriptures, prayers and bedtime.

Mommy brain - where you remember appointments you don't have and don't notice when you drop things.

Because he is so cute and awesome

 Life is busy with 4. I'm adjusting pretty well. Not on the computer much, especially with all that happens at the end of the year! Have definitely reached the threshold of finding out there are more things I want to do than time to do them. Sorry to dear baby that he doesn't get quite as many posts as his sister before did as a baby. I do take pictures though.

Falling asleep after a shower.

My three boys.

Trainboy and Munchkin LOVE to hold baby.

two weeks old

three weeks old

daddy hugs at four weeks old