Comment Countdown

Our time with company is coming to a close, sadly. But here is a little countdown of our most favorite comments that came out of people's mouths over the past few days. I realize you probably had to be there to fully appreciate these but oh well, I wanted to remember them...

Group Shot: (taken with Kellys new tripod!) Tyler, Dallin, Brandon, Laura, Dylan, PJ, Brynn, Kelly, Annette, Kate

#8 Brynn, Christmas afternoon, completely surrounded by new toys, books, movies, games, candy, family, and on and on and on... still can't help but say "I'M BORED!"... a few times. (Oh seriously, we love that child and her attitude...)

#7 As we took in a little Toy Story 3 and cuddled on the couch Brynn looked up at Kelly with one question, "Mom. Do you have to go to college?" Mom's immediate response, "Pretty much."

#6 Dallin, while on hold for 80 mintues with the airlines while trying to reschedule his cancelled flight into Boston (and not for the first time), "No more India! Can I please get someone who speaks ENGLISH!" (We were secretly a little happy that things got all messed up cause that meant we got to have them one extra day!!!)

#5 Dylan, Christmas morning, as he opened each present... "what is it? what is it?" Then he opens his Little People rocketship and is content to just play with that. Then everytime he's asked if he wants to open another present he replies nonchalantly, "ohhhh. shursh." (aka "sure")

#4 While playing Settlers of Catan, Dallin loudly 'lets one fly' and his mother proceedes to comment on his smelly rudeness. His response?... "Oh mom, its just a little gas. You know, another natural commodity."

#3 While the adults were gathered around the table playing Bohnanza, Brynn and Tyler constantly whinned in the background that they wanted to play with Brynn's new Model Magic kit. Kelly told them they needed to wait until the table was ready because she didn't want the mess anywhere else. Brynn's response?... "But we can just do it on the floor. The commercial on TV said there would be no messy crumbles!"

#2 Christmas morning, Tyler opens his "fastest" train for his new Geo Trax from Santa. In his utter excitement he yells out, "Wow!!! I wanted this my WHOLE life!!!!" (And yes, in reality, he had only known it existed for a matter of days. Gotta love this kids enthusiasm).

#1 Brandon, looking straight at Kelly, and with a tear welling up in his eye, blurts out, "You are the worst mother in the whole world!!" Explanation to come...

Gingerbread Creations

I've never been a huge fan of making gingerbread creations. In fact, its one of those things I usually find very frustrating. But we had bought a couple kits in anticipation of Grandma coming since we knew Grandma loved gingerbread houses. And as it turns out, while it was still slightly frustrating, the kids loved it!

The boys train - Brandon, Dylan, Dallin, Tyler...

The girls house - Kelly, Laura, Annette, Brynn...

The house and train weren't holding up incredibly well so we hurried and snapped the group shots before they were done just in case. But as it turns out they eventually dried (and we used a few pretzels to hold things together) and all was good.

I'm dreaming of a...

...WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!
Our first snowfall melted just as we were getting ready for our guests to arrive for Christmas. It was a little sad. Brandon had never had snow (or even coldness) for his holiday before and we wanted to give him the ultimate experience.

But what do you know?!... we woke up Christmas Eve morning to beautiful snow falling outside. And it didn't stop all day long! It was wonderful.

(Dallin & PJ with their snowman)

However, while others went out and had fun, Brandon choose to stay in the warm, cozy house. Which was just fine. Sometimes that's just as grand...

4 Months!

Kate is 4 months today! Unfortunately, her 4 month appointment hasn't even been scheduled yet (*oops*) so no current stats. But really not much else has changed; although she is starting to grab at stuff - which is sometimes fun, sometimes not ;).

She is still drooling and constantly has her hands in her mouth. In fact, it was hard to get a good shot because if her hands weren't in her mouth she was trying to shove her pretty dress in it.

The Best Day Ever!

Brynn's Conversation with Grandma Eccles this morning...
Brynn: Grandma today is the best day ever!

Grandma: Why?

Brynn: Because Santa comes tonight!

Grandma: But then tomorrow is going to be even better because tonight he comes but then tomorrow all the presents will be here!
Brynn: No, cause if he didn't come tonight then there wouldn't be any presents tomorrow. So that still makes today the best day ever!

I thought that was some pretty impressive logical thinking for a 6 year old. Maybe we should be discussing with her the whole concept of how if there were no Christmas there would be no Easter.

Oh, and not only that... but tonight just got even bigger. Cause not only is Santa coming, but now we will be getting a visit from the Tooth Fairy as well. Maybe the two will run into eachother.

Ironically, Brynn's favorite Christmas song this year has been All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth. And this tooth has been hanging by a thread, practically turned brown, because she wouldn't pull it out. She tends to wait until they drop out of her mouth, which it did this morning as she ate her breakfast. Perfect timing!... She said she knew it would do that :)

Holiday Cheer

Our holiday cheer arrived this week when our family started coming! We were very excited to be 'hosting' Christmas this holiday. And have been very busy getting ready for that and making everything merry and bright. So Uncle Brandon got here Monday evening...

And then Uncle Dallin & Aunt Laura got here Tuesday afternoon...

Last night we went bowling on base at our Stars & Strikes :) bowling alley...

Dallin would like it to be noted that he won. But even if Laura & I were a close 2nd ;) or something like that :{ It was fun for all...

...there are just so many things to tinker with at a bowling alley.

Snowy Week Catch Up

So on Sunday we got our first snowfall of the season! And then on Monday we had our first snowday from school... and today we are having our second. Now the snow here is not that impressive. What is impressive is the wind and the ice that has accompanied it. So while it hasn't looked bad outside, and I wondered why school was being cancelled these two days... I'm realizing it has something to do with the -10 degree windchill or daddy's truck sliding all the way down the driveway and out into the street this morning because it was solid ice (doctors apparently don't get snowdays from the hospital). And despite the yucky conditions Tyler can't be kept in doors. He loves being outside; even as we point out to him that the snow is blowing sideways or that no one would be joining him.

At one point he came in and said his hands were cold and he needed some gloves. I looked up to realize that that wasn't his only problem - he was wearing just his short sleeved undershirt and his snowpants!?!? Missed that photo opportunity of my great mothering skills because I was huridly putting more layers on him before my neighbors decided to turn me in for neglect.


Dylan got his coat on and went out once, for about 7 seconds, and turned around and came back in and hasn't been back out since.


Tyler had another fun moment this week as we had a real live "fixer" come to our house. With the sideways -10 degree wind was blowing outside I quickly realized that it was coming in our house around some of our doors and windows. And had them come take a look (apparently it isn't the 'worst' he has seen but there wasn't much to be done about it). Anyway... Tyler was all up in his business and as the "fixer" was putting new weather striping on this door Tyler slid in on his stomach so he could see everything. So I had to get out a chair and tell him he couldn't get off of it if he wanted to watch. Oddly, I was embarrassed to get a picture of that cute moment and captured this one from a distance instead so the "fixer" wouldn't wonder why a flash was going off around him...

We went to another one of daddy's work Christmas parties yesterday - this one was for the Residency program. And Santa came. Tyler marched right up to him. Sat down. Santa leaned over and asked him what his name was. Santa heard "Kyle". Tyler corrected him. And then corrected him again. Then got up. Marched right back down the isle to me. Pulled on my shirt. And asked me to please tell Santa that his name was really Tyler. Poor kid.

And it looks like our last visit with Santa was just a freak moment. Because of course everyone couldn't be happy all the time. For some reason Dylan decided he didn't want to be near Santa...

And Kate wondered what in the world Dylan was screaming about. Cause Santa really is a nice man...

Speaking of Kate... Something I don't think I've mentioned before is what a strong girl she is. She has always held her head up, from the very beginning. But in the last while she has started something new - crunches. You can't just lay her down and let her relax. She is constantly leaning forward with her head and chest trying to sit up and see the world and whats going on around her. So daddy has started to try letting her sit. It hasn't gone so well...

She is my first kid to not mind tummy time...

On Tuesday night we got a late night call from our friends the Hartmans that Brandi was going into labor with their twins; so Ally & Anya got to come over for a sleepover! It was cute, the next morning I found Ally and Dylan cuddling on the couch while watching shows. They were actually both on their side and Ally had her arm around him. But when they saw the camera they turned over to say cheese...

Aren't Macy and Max Hartman adorable?!?