It's probably time I sit down to remember and record the things that have been going on lately. I made a list the other day so I could update this blog, but I can't find it. So this will have to be from memory...and that's not always as reliable and one would hope. The good thing is we're all happy, healthy, and busy. There is lots of excitement for Christmas. I think Kenzie remembers to include "bless that it will be Christmas" in almost every prayer, even the blessings on the food. As soon as December 1st came, Grant was so thrilled because he knew this was the month of Christmas. Tyler "oohhs" and "awws" when he points to the Christmas tree or garland on the stairs. Oh the magical time of Christmas! It's so cute and adds so much more fun and magic to this time of year. A few highlights of the past month.
Grant finished his first year of soccer. He did great and was so much fun to watch. He would put forth effort on every play, even when the ball was on the other end of the field. He kept his feet moving and ready just in case the ball happened to come his way. He was in the Under 8 group since he turned 6 before August 1st. That meant some of the kids on his team were turning 8 during the season. That also meant there were some pretty big boys he played against. We were so proud of him. He had a lot of fun and so did we! He is loving school. His teacher came up to me one afternoon while the kids were playing on the playground after school and told me she was going to move him up to the top reading group. I of course figured it was about time. I help out in Grant's class every Friday and noticed how he seemed to be in the wrong group but I never said anything. Maybe it was just a mother's bias. But when Mrs. Harris came and talked about moving Grant up I wasn't surprised. She said he's just been so quiet and good about doing his work that he just kinda sneaked past but that there's a lot going on in his head. Of course I was thinking, "it's about time she noticed," but took the compliment. He's been working hard and doing well. He is such a good helper at home too. When Tyler wakes up from naps Grant is always willing to go get him out of bed. He and Kenzie play so well together and they are good to include Tyler even if he does take the toys they were playing with.
Mackenzie is still loving dance and loves playing with her friends. She is such a girl! but I love it! She loves playing with all of her friends. She also loves to draw which is good when it's on paper. For some reason she has really struggled with remembering that we ONLY draw on paper. Walls are not paper... One day she had drawn with black pen on her pink walls. When I saw it I talked to her about not wanting black ink in our pretty pink walls. I don't remember if it was the next day or just later that day but she was so excited to come tell me to look at her wall. I was expecting to see that she had washed the black ink off...but no, she had colored over the black ink with pink marker. Her excitement for me to see it was so sweet that I couldn't be upset. We tried to wash off both the black and pink but it didn't quite work as well as hoped. Even the magic eraser fell short of my expectations. Since that event we have had two other drawings on the wall...KENZIE... A tradition for Thanksgiving is to go around the table and say three things we're thankful for. She begged to go first and shared the three things she is thankful for as Flowers, Rainbows, and Butterflies. She is such a sweet girl (most of the time) and a good sister.
Tyler is our little comedian. He has been to his fair share of football games so it really shouldn't have come as a surprise when one day I realized he kept saying "de-den" (defense) and then he would clap his hands together. He has also learned a joke. He says, "Not-not" (knock-knock) and when you reply who's there he answers back "Boo." He doesn't say the punch line yet, but it's still funny to hear him say a knock knock joke. Tyler also has a thing where he squints his eyes at people when they talk to him. I don't know if he's trying to hide or just be funny. He's a little bashful but I think he loves getting attention. The other day we were at my parents' house and Tyler had grabbed the PS3 remote. My dad tried to grab it but Tyler ran away. When my dad had him mostly cornered Tyler held the remote over his head as if to keep it away from my dad. Didn't work though. I don't know if Tyler realizes that practically everyone he knows is taller than him. Good try though.
One other highlight from the past couple months has been going to my brother Tim's football games. The kids have been really good sports to go to so many. It seems like at least one child has fallen asleep at each game. Some times all three of them fall asleep and that makes it fun when we go down to the field after the game. We have had to wake Grant up...poor kid...and make him walk. He doesn't mind as soon as we get to the field and he ends up playing with his friends. Tim has had a great season and made it through 2 post season playoff games.
So now it's the Christmas season and life will not be slowing down for me to keep up on our "history." We're happy to be at our home for Christmas although we wish we could spend time with all of our families during the holidays. Talmage was just commenting last night how he really would love to go to Seattle for Christmas without the worry and time of the drive or without the cost of flying. Maybe we can negotiate something for next year. We look forward to the fun and spirit of the season with new and old traditions. Last night Grant's primary class had a Family Home Evening on family traditions. We came home with great ideas for new traditions. Hoping everyone has a wonderfully special and happy Merry Christmas!
