Christmas week recap!

What a great Christmas we had! Everyone got everything they wanted and more. We went to my mom's on Christmas Eve where we were spoiled nearly rotten! We got so much stuff we had to gets, very creative getting it all in the car! Had I talked to my Aunt Jane before we went we would have had the perfect solution, two cars! Makes perfect sense! Dylan got a crazy huge Minny Mouse that she happens to LOVE. Another stuffed animal in our house that will need therapy.

We got lots of cute toys, lots of great clothes and our only bummer was that everyone who gave gifts wasn't there to enjoy the chaos and the fun of kids opening presents!

Santa came to our house and actually moved our tree! He moved it into the living room where he stacked loads of wrapped presents just waiting to be torn open.

3:52. Nope, Sorry Duncan, back to bed. And take your dad with you to keep you there.
6:00. No, Duncan and his dad. Still to early. I am such a joy kill.
7:15. Duncan, dad and Ian. Alright, alright! Let's do this!

By then Dylan had fallen back to sleep but her and Asher ended up joining us not long after we started.

Christmas afternoon we went to Matthew's family and there is nothing like telling 27(?) kids "go!" at the same time and seeing paper fly! Chaos! The only bummer about this is that I didn't really get to see if everyone liked what we got them. You try to follow up with the git givers afterwards but it's hard. Everyone did really well with our kids though!

Some of our Christmas favorites?
Mom: Frankie or Tweety the Bird. I love him. And some new clothes for the kids! (I am sure I will love my new sewing machine soon enough but I don't really know what to do with it yet!)
Dad: Electric cello (Needed for quiet practicing while kids are sleeping)
Duncan: Wall tracks! Also some very cool trains for his wooden train set. Nearly everything though, he runs from one thing to the other.
Dylan: Ian's fire truck and cop car. She loves the buttons! Also a Topzy Turvy toy that Ian and Asher got.
Ian: Wooden puzzles. Who knew? Asher's toys have also been a hit.
Asher: Everything. He doesn't really have a favorite. The kid is loving life following everyone around and playing with everything.
Frankie: Ian's Fire Truck and cop car with sirens.

Frankie was from us to Duncan and he had spent some time at LouAnn's listening to really high class music. She said he was very cultured, he loved classical and MoTab. Of course considering his name was Frankie Sinatra Jr! He would just sing and sing. Then we brought him here and guess what? Frankie loves the hood! He loves the sirens! He and Dylan make a good team because she is always playing something with music and he is always singing along! So much for the culture part eh? I am starting to think he also likes to compete with Ian when Ian's crying at the top of his lungs.

My little Asher had an ear infection, I took him to the doctor on Friday. I joked with Dr. Ped that I almost brought Ian in just to make sure we didn't end up in Instacare on Christmas weekend but he seemed to be doing much better and I didn't. Dr. Ped wrote me two scripts, Asher's and a just in case for Ian. I love him. Asher officially got a referral to the ENT. Boohoo.

Ian's ENT appointment was on Tuesday and Dr. Ears is recommending tubes. No shocker there. However, he did say Ian's ears were nice and clear now! (No script needed! Probably because we had it!) He wasn't at all worried about his speech. He said not putting two words together is probably a little behind but by number of words we are fine and shouldn't be concerned. Any period he has with fluid in his ears he is not hearing well though, and at this age it's important that he hear well most of the time. Hence the tube recommendation.

We also went in for Ian's allergy blood draw to see what the deal is with eggs. He did so well!!! This was my first big blood draw with a typical kid and I wasn't sure what to expect. There was a woman who came in to blow bubbles for him and he barely noticed the poke because he liked the bubbles so much. He kind of turned and yelled at her for a sec. No tears!! Of course as we were walking out he ran into a counter and that got a few! The girls there were laughing at him about that!

Matthew has been off work this week other than a few conference calls and I have been so lucky! He is such a great husband and dad, I have really loved the help. Next week will be crazy busy as I try to adjust to him working again.

We had a great and very blessed Christmas! Merry Christmas everyone and happy birthday Jesus!

Next stop for this spoon? Right in his mouth! Hope Santa knew what he was getting in to with these cookies!


The finished product! I think he did great considering I just set the frosted cookies in front of him and let him do his own thing. I was very impressed with the sugar crystal man!


HUGE Minnie. Straight for the eyes! Have to keep an eye on this kid.


Matthew playing Duncan's new teeny tiny guitar!


Into our new jammies, thrown on grandma's couch for a quick picture, then off to bed!


Look at my cute family!


Wall tracks! Can you just see how excited he is?!


Dylie got a new baby that smells like new baby. Boy does she smell!


Tweety the Bird/Frankie. (He is at the top, just right of under the dome thing.) Duncan spotted the cage right away in the morning! He really wanted a bird but has since complained about how loud birds are!


Mark, get set, GO!


Ian and his awesome toy! Asher and Ian shared a toy this year. (PERFECT!)


Too big of a day for Dylan (who is wearing new clothes!)


My little super boys!! Aren't these shirts awesome!?


Ho Ho Ho! Thanks for coming! (Duncan does NOT love bubbles on his face, he was being a good sport!)

No more bink!

Guess who is the biggest boy ever? A great privilege of growing up and getting to be two is the revoking of the rights to the binki. We don't make a big deal out of it, just one day you have it, the next you don't. I start the conversations with daddy around birthday time (a little before) and make up my mind shortly after the birthday. Then it just takes dad to get on board and no more bink.

It's just, they make them so happy...

Well, we did it, last weekend. Put him down for his afternoon nap, no binki, just his awesome favorite blankie. He talked for an hour (without his plug I suppose) and then he fussed for about five minutes and it was over. That was it, really... That night, he went to bed fine and he has been doing fine ever since.

I haven't exactly flaunted Asher's binki in front of him and Asher takes two kinds, the ones Ian used and another kind, so we are using the other kind for a little while. Not really a problem though since we only use a it at night and for naps for him as well unless we are all in a really bad mood. Asher's not hanging around with it making Ian jealous.

I am so proud of him! It was just like when we took it away from Duncan, we had it built up as this huge impossible task and then, nothing. I even reminded Matthew of this when I told him that Saturday was the night. Piece of cake, count our blessings, I know for most it's not that easy!

Dylan of course still has her bink and we are okay with it. It is so small in her mouth that when she sucks it makes a squeaking noise around the edge. I actually like it though because she can't breath through her nose and when she sleeps her tongue goes up to the roof of her mouth making it nearly impossible for her to breath. However, if she falls asleep with the binki in her mouth is holds her tongue down when it slips to the side and wah-la! Peaceful sleeping. At least for the briefest of moments. I have no plans to break that habit any time soon.

My boys are going crazy being boys lately and I am wondering how much of is has to do with Christmas and the excitement being in the air and how much I will have to get used to. Duncan went from napping every other day to having to have a nap (and sleeping) and then going to bed on time. I thought we were working our way away from naps but maybe not. Unless it is a Christmas thing. They have been tackling each other, full on running into each other and falling to the ground. Heads thumping on the floor. Also, Duncan's been a relentless tease and Ian's irritable so there's always someone yelling. I can handle boys... I just have a hunch that this is a wee bit more than just boys! (Hoping!)

All of the kid's are sick and bless her heart, I think Dylan is doing the best! Shelley mentioned her yucky nose on the last day of school last Friday and it kind of came and went. She has a little bit of a cough but I didn't even have to give her a dose or two of Hydrocortisone! This is GOOD! I almost always have to give her that medicine when she gets the slightest little sickness. She handled this so well! Knocking on wood here. I am pretty excited that this might be a new normal.

As for the boys, they are so, so coughy! Gross coughs that they have had going on a week. No bueno. I am just crossing my fingers that there will be no accompanying ear infections but Asher woke up with a fever last night... Boo. We will see how tonight goes and decide if I should take him in tomorrow. We really don't need a Christmas weekend doctor visit! And at least Ian can wait until he goes to Dr. Ears on the 27th right?

Asher has been pulling to a stand every where and he thinks he is just soooo big. However, once he gets up to some places, especially ones a little bit higher, he isn't quite sure how to get down again! He so busy being big he can't possibly take time to actually sleep. He just stands up on the crib or pack and play and gets more and more tired! And when he wakes up, back to standing but now add screaming. Someone please have a heart to heart with him and tell him to stop growing up!

Cute picture of Ian he has no idea what this big man in red is all about but he was a good boy playing along.


I am not sure what this picture was all about... Maybe Duncan didn't quit talking long enough to get his picture taken? Random... Not the cutest but for Duncan the visit was the important part.


And Dylan wasn't all about it so we all jumped in. What the heck, might as well!


This is a prime example of the craziness. Duncan pushed Ian off the couch and he crash landed on a car. We had couch pushing on the couch before, but pushing off is new. Fun!


I actually think it makes him look pretty tough!

Look who's TWO (and some catch up!)

We had some yummy (white with white frosting) cake for Ian last Friday and had a bunch of family over. I can't believe my big baby is 2! CRAZY! Next thing you know my little baby will be 1. Boo hoo!

Ian had his own piece of cake and then we opened presents even though I mentioned not to bring any on my invite! Ha! Shhhh, don't tell Ian! (It said that in the note too!) People can't help getting toys I suppose! The toys didn't end with the party either, when Jess came for knitting night she came bearing gifts! Toy city, I live in toy city. Population 6.

All of my family came over, Michael and Megan and Sara and Bert and their little girls Madison and Emily Jane. It was so fun to hold that little tiny baby, she was so soft and squishy! I reluctantly gave her up to load her in her car seat.

And some random thoughts on our favorite two (TWO!) year old:
Ian is such a great boy, he is so adorable and we love him so much! He loves to be just like his big brother and tries to keep up with him, even in the sassy department! His fits are awesome, but... (this is where mom feels a little badly) they have been further between now that I think we finally licked the ear infections (for now). He is a great snuggler and whenever you sit on the floor he will back up to you to sit on your lap and watch TV. It definitely makes you not want to change the diaper you called him over for! He loves to lay on his dad's belly and watch TV in the morning until mom comes out. When mom comes out he runs and knocks on the pantry or fridge. Mom means food, dad means snuggle. His babbling is hilarious, even if it's technically a 'speech delay'. I could listen to him tell me stories all day long (and I do!). He is so sweet to Dylan with his gentle pats and toy sharing. He loves her so much. Brother's are different though, they are for running tackling hugs and his favorite thing to do with Duncan is chase him around and around. He has the greatest little sense of humor and I think, like his big brother, when we can get over this communication barrier, he will be hilarious like his dad and uncle Michael. I hate to see the time pass so quickly but I look forward to every new day with him and what surprises it will bring us.

Shifting gears a little; on Wednesday we had the D's Christmas program at school. They were so good. Duncan could be heard "singing" over all the whole class for the Muffin Man song, or at least the first couple lines of each section!

When we first walked in and Duncan saw us he was adorable. He didn't know what to do with himself he was so excited! He settled for blowing me a kiss! Unprompted! I love! He wanted to run right over to us but was intercepted and he did his very best to maintain control during the entire three songs! Good boy!

Dylan wouldn't have been into it but she loves music and she loved the attention that she was getting from Shelley. She just eats it up when people talk and sing to her. It was really cute. After the program Matthew said "You are right, Shelley is really cute with her!" I know right? Super cute. I am telling you' the girl is well taken care of!

Then Duncan handed out his Christmas cards to the teachers and we were on our way. I thought that was it for the year but I am so glad that Debi said see you on Friday! Duncan's going to miss school over the break, he asks if it's a school day every day, there's going to be a lot of "nos"!

Well, that is unless they all get sick, we may not escape the sickness that had us in the emergency room last New Year's. She seems to handle illnesses better these days and she's been doing well so I am hoping for the best! Hope with me!

Carefully eating a tootsie roll, bit by tiny bit! My cute birthday boy!


I can't believe he is two! Look at his super cute face!


This might look a little familiar... None of the kids like Buzz and Woody as much as Ian so it was a must!


Most of my pictures from his birthday were blurry! I am not sure why. I have reset my camera though and and hoping for more success... (Those first pics are a good sign) but boo to missing out on a few moments!


Did someone say presents?


He hates this thing... You can tell by the happy look on his face as he figures out the scoop!


And look where little Mr was first thing in the morning the day after... (Did someone say Toy City? Look at that messy house! Terrrrible!)


Ian also got a new car seat for his birthday! He got to turn around like a big boy! (He looks so little!) He was pretty happy about sitting next to Dylan, he kept looking at her, touching her and smiling. Happier about that more than anything else, but he also likes to touch, and hit :/, Duncan as well.


Look who is singing his little heart out...


Well, except for this time when he is bugging someone else while he should be drumming!


He must have wanted ice cream pretty badly eh? I learned bribery is a great form of parenting last Year's non-singing performance! (I tried to explain scary smile and happy smile after we took this picture. I had no luck. Maybe when we brush his teeth we will try again in the mirror!)


Dylie loved the music of course...


And Ms. Shelley. (Who, by the way... was so amazing because throughout the whole program she would pull out a trusty tissue and wipe Dylan's never ending drool. How do you say... a dor a ble.)


This was after he got high centered and decided backing out was the best approach. In the end... I just ended up helping him.


Duncan made (Duncan made?) these for his and Dylan's class this year... I may have helped her package up a foam penguin craft for the kids as well.


And what has Muppet been up to? Perhaps measuring Duncan's stocking for presents?


And sitting on the light fixture 'fishing' for Swedish Fish! Good thing he left some for Duncan in the morning!

Temple lights and Duncan's wish list

Our annual adventure! Last night we went with my Mother-in-law to see the lights at the temple. We planned to go with Michael and Megan but we wanted to go this week hoping it wouldn't be as crowded and it would be a little warmer and our schedules didn't quite mesh.

It was a great night! Not terribly crowded and definately good weather for the adventure!

After we went to Hatch Family Chocolates for a Dark Chocolate hot chocolate! You actually watch them melt the chunks of chocolate in the bottom of the cup! A.Maze.Ing.

Duncan's preschool sent him home with his Christmas list. This is what it said...

Duncan's Christmas List
* "5 trains"
* "Up/down thing with a button for my back"
* "Toy house with legs"
* "Ginger boys"
* "A school with buttons"

Awesome.

And for an update on Dylan's bamboo arm braces... They are doing well. She hates them, but is very tolerant of them as long as she isn't tired. Once she gets tired she just starts whining. Takes me a minute to figure out what the deal is. Her hands seem to look better and I have been on top of her chapped little face so both look healthy right now and not terribly red. I just have to put Aquaphor on her face every time she goes to sleep (Or at least once a day) and it keeps up nicely.

My grandma asked about the braces, yes... Once she gets out of the habit of putting things in her mouth she can have them off again. It's a matter of her learning how to play with things without eating them. Noise makers, pop ups, high-fiving, clapping etc. The leg braces however, she will always have to have. Although, you should see the girl walk around without them these days. I guess where there's a will there's a way!

My little Ian's big fat second birthday was yesterday! TEAR! we are having cake and ice cream for him tonight so I wanted to hurry and get these pics up!

Matthew said "Duncan did you make a moose?" and Duncan was quick to say "NO DAD, That's a reindeer!"


Asher was in a full outfit with flannel jammies over, bound in my wrap with his arms bundled tight and my coat and scarf around him. He was perfectly fine wrapped as a mummy and was one of the warmest of the bunch!


Another shot of the whole family! We are on a roll people! (Notice Lou's mad knitting skills with the matching hats!)


I got two pictures of these two that were great... er, would have been... if my camera had not chosen to focus on the lights in the background. Grrrrr... They had given up on me and did this and of course IT'S in focus!




Ian was all bundled, in the same outfit as last year! Such a cute little face!


Love this picture LouAnn took! It's perfect!


As you can see, Dylan was captivated with the lights, as usual.


Grandma paused the story of the seagull and the crickets to smile for the camera!


On the way to the car we ran in to Santa! This picture does not adequately capture the look on Duncan's face! He was star struck!


A cute pic Ami took when we were tree shopping.


This was a good attempt at a family picture...


but this one was definitely a keeper! I love it! (Too bad I already did our Christmas cards!)

Our awesome appointment!

Last week we had all four of our kids' well-child appointments and what a circus that was! I totally understand why they usually only do two kid's at a time! We got special permission to do all four but I don't think we will ever do that again!

To compound the fact that we had four kids, the doctor came in about two hours late! Can you believe that? If he wasn't one of the best doctors like... Alive... I might have been upset. But I am telling you, he is totally worth the wait. He was very apologetic too.

After the appointment one of my friends told me he must have been screening for child abusers because if you leave someone alone in a room for that long, with that many little kids and that many things they aren't allowed to touch and everyone comes out in one piece we must be fit for parenting!

So how'd we fall out.
Dylan:
28 pounds, 34.7 inches. She is growing along her own growth pattern which mimics the chart, but is below it. It looks great though. I talked to the doctor about potentially sedating her when we travel and he said to try Melatonin again. We had used this in the past and it gets her to sleep, but it doesn't keep her asleep. Maybe we will have to give her a middle of the night dose too. The problem with sedatives is that they tend to suppress breathing too and for a kiddo that already has breathing problems? Yea, probably not a great idea right?

She got two pokes and they hurt her so badly she wouldn't walk the next day. I doped her up with Motrin and Tylenol and she was better but still uncomfortable.

Duncan:
38 pounds, 40 inches. He is just below the 50th percentile in height and just above the 50th in weight. He was such a trooper during this appointment. We had no concerns at all with him. He also got two pokes which I had told him would hurt a little but he was going to be tough. The first one he totally was but the second one stung and he really felt it. Poor guy! He got over it quickly though, I am so proud of him. Ouchy! He has a big dark bruise on his leg still today about the size of a small bandaid.

Ian:
26.5 pounds, 33.7 inches. He came a great way on the length chart, leaping to about the 30th percentile. For weight about the same and weight for height almost the 50th! Perfect for a short little dude. Otherwise he was a bit of trouble! Bad ears again, really... Bad enough to treat (Asher too actually) and that means time for an ENT referral. It will take us several weeks to get in to the ENT and we will see what happens in that time. The script he gave is the one that we have to mix with maple syrup to get him to go anywhere near too. What a pain!

He doesn't talk hardly at all and now it was suggested that we get a speech evaluation. I am wavering here. He says things if we ask him to (and he feels like cooperating). And, to preempt a question, the talking doesn't have to do with the ears. He's just not a talker. I think I will wait and see how the next six months go. Am I in denial? Maybe?

There's also a dry patch on his hand that we can't seem to get to go away. Got a script for that (which is working quite well). Oh, and a script for a lab blood test to test his allergy to eggs.

Asher:
17.8 pounds, 28.7 inches. Although he seems super long (especially compared to Owen and Lanie!) he is really in the 50th percentile on height. Maybe he seems so long because he is so skinny too, his weight is about the 8th percentile and weight for height is off the chart low! Though not as low off the chart as our sweet Dylie!

Little baby has a patch of dollar eczema on his face we had been battling and we got a new script for that (I had been using Ian's) and of course, the aforementioned ear issue.

Phew! Nice little round up! We went in at 3 and got out at 6! Yeouch!

We decided to decorate some cookies for Christmas this last weekend so we called up our friends and had Duncan's little buddy Charlotte come over to join the fun. She is such a good sport that little Lottie, when all the kid's go down she does too, even though it might take "exercising the car." What a good girl, our kid's don't do that. No way, no how. We are lucky that she will do that and we can still have fun with our friends.

Though, Shannon's almost 9 months pregnant and man, I am ready to meet that little person! They are doing it right too, and not finding out the gender... Or not telling rather. They tried to not find out and like with Ian, it slipped. But we don't know, and I am ready for the surprise! (Yea yea yea Shannon, I know you want to make it through December and all, but COME ON! Just sayin'.)

Well, the kid's had a lot of fun and way over did it on the decorations. They created some beauties! I now totally understand why my mom used to pick off all of my lovely decorations before she ate my awesome cookies, ha!

On Sunday we went to the big family pageant... A day in which all LouAnn's brothers and sister get together with all of their kid's and grandkids. The littles act our the story of the birth of Jesus and the adults all sing and sing along while the story is being told. It's pretty fun actually, though it doesn't sound like it is does it...? There were certainly a lot of angels up there! The extra girls are angels and the extra boys are animals. Duncan was a Shepard and actually did surprisingly well at sitting still.

Ian did not play along... He would probably have done what Elijah did which is walk up and down along the stage waving his animal face threateningly!

After, during the extra singing time, Ian accidentally pushed a new little friend down the stairs. I think he was just trying to get him to go ahead of him and, well... He went ahead of him, head first, whoopsie!

I got to hear Oh Come, Oh Come Emmanuel which was awesome, I love that carol!

At one point during the evening Ian's big cousins had mad cousin love for him when he brought Dylan over a baby doll. He walked around her and then bent down with his hands on his knees and looked at her really closely. Then he took his cute chubby hand and gently rubbed the top of her head. It was adorable. Queue the round of 'awwwwwe!"

My adorable husband is off work this week, woohoooo! And we have found our days filling up too quickly!

Daddy asked Duncan to smell the frosting, and then the decorations. Fool me once...


Charlotte's amazing creations!


Lottie holding up a cute cookie!


Yup - That's my boy!


Drool!


Someone islooking very big!


BaKell! Our cousin McKell as Mary and Bridger as Joseph. (and a second cousin behind them as the angel, you will understand in a minute why I don't know their names! Too many!)


Asher, the show is ahead of you! With cousin Gannon, and I see several other cousins we love, but are too big to pageant, sitting there on the front row!


Mama's little shepard..


The whole crew! (Well not really Elijah is way over on the right out of frame. Shooing away imaginary things with his animal face.)


Dylie loving up baby Jesus during the after show singing!


Look who showed up and brought us a Lego Advent Calendar! Yay!


Silly Muppet! (Muppet will forever be his name...)