Happy Josef

Josef loves his toutie(s). He loves to have one in his mouth, and as many as he can find in his hands. He was in toutie heaven this afternoon when I rounded up six touties. I put them in a container that was in his room (another one of his loves). Now he is walking around the house with a toutie in his mouth and a container full of them...it is the simple things in life that makes us happiest!

PJs & Beanies

I am so grateful for my Aunt Becky. She has always been such a positive influence in my life. It is wonderful to have her and my Uncle Ben live in Farmington. Wilson, Holden, and Josef adore her, and often call her Grandma Becky. She made one of the boys famous cloaks for Halloween. For Christmas, she gave the boys these cute matching pjs, and the fun beanies. The beanies were made by one of the missionaries in Nauvoo. I am not just thankful for the things that she does for us, or the things that she gives us, I am more grateful for the way that she always makes us feel welcome and loved!

We Miss You Grandma & Grandpa Voordeckers!

Santa brought Holden a Harry Potter Gryffindor badge! It is a good thing because that is what Holden has asked for over, and over again!
The boxes were a big hit with Josef.

The boys were excited to hug their Pillow Pets!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Wilson's Boots

Wilson LOVES these boots. They were hand me downs from his most favorite cousin Matthew. These boots are still at least one size too big this year. Last winter he wore these boots everyday, and that schedule is continuing this year. They are great boots! Yesterday I noticed that some of the stitching on one of the toes is starting to come out - first thing next week these boots are going to the cobbler (shoe repairman). I know there used to be one in Kaysville; hopefully, he is still there! These boots have many more winters to be of use, Wilson has at least one more, and then there is Holden and Josef too!

Josef's Step Stool

Josef is a MAJOR climber. He has figured out how to climb on all of the furniture, even the stools at the counter. To make his adventures even more exciting, now he takes along his riding toy. He pushes it to whatever he wants to get at, and then climbs up. I will be really relieved when he finishes this phase!

Christmas Adventure

Ready for the adventure to begin at the Frontrunner Station in Farmington. The boys had fun riding the train, and then they were amazed when their dad picked us up in Salt Lake.

waiting for the train

After dinner at the Nauvoo Cafe, we went out to walk around the Temple grounds.

The Wise Men.

Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.

The Shepards with their sheep on their way to see the baby Jesus.

The boys listening to the narrator

more Shepards

The Temple was beautiful, of course, there is a white nativity that sits in the reflecting pool just in front of the Temple.

Wilson loved looking at the Nativities from various countries. In this one, he said the donkey was Nestor because it had long ears (there is a Christmas cartoon about Nestor).

Conversations with Holden

This morning, as we were running out the door to take Wilson to school Holden said, "hey mom, I look like a scout".

At Target, we got a bag of popcorn for Holden and a Diet Coke for me. Holden said, "I'm really thirsty, mom did you know that Christmas is all about sharing". I told him that he was right, then he said, "mom will you share your drink with me?"

Holden told me, "mom, I'm a Toys R Us kid!" I asked him who told him that, and he said "the TV". I then told him everything he hears on TV is not true - I am sure that he will get told them many times:)

Laundry Baskets

Josef loves to play with and in laundry baskets right now. If he sees one around the house he either gets into it (emptying its contents first), or drags it around on his tour of the house looking for something to do. He loves to get in, and have his brothers take him for a ride, and he especially loves to turn them over so that he can get to something he can't normally get to. Give Josef a box and a laundry basket and his day is full of surprises!

The Grinch

Holden and Wilson in 2007

Wilson making a grinchy face in 2007 - he has grown up so much!

This morning Wilson got to do a "Show and Teach" in Kindergarten. He decided the family tradition he wanted to share was our love of the Grinch. He took the book, and our new additions to our collection, Max and Grinch stuffed animals to school.

Josef gets to wear the Grinch and Max shirts this year. I love it when my boys can wear these fun shirts!

Our family loves The Grinch. We love to get out the book early in the Christmas season and read it over, and over. Wilson and Holden love it when I am finally able to DVR How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I don't know how many times I have heard my boys sing, "you're a mean one Mr. Grinch"...

I loved President Uchtdorf's talk in the First Presidencies Christmas Devotional. If you did not get to hear it, it is in the next post.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf

I love this talk. I love that he talks about The Grinch, it is something I relate to well!

Not in the Dancing mood

Josef loves chocolate. Usually, Josef will "dance" to get a piece of chocolate. It is so cute when he shuffles his feet, I thought I would try and get a video of it before he stops. Of course, he would not "dance" on demand. I do love the way he cares on a conversation with me! Josef is at such a fun age!

Our Christmas Tree looks different this year...

In years past, our tree has been decked out in gold and silver ornaments. This year I decided it would look a little different. Not because I got new ornaments, or was ready for a change, but because of too many little hands. Between Josef and Stone, and two other little boys I watch two days a week, I did not want to spend the month of December scolding them to get away from all of the enticing ornaments. Wilson and Holden really wanted to put up their initial ornaments, and the star at the top, so for a couple of weeks our tree has had a W, H, J, P, and two K's. Earlier this week I got tired of picking up my woof and poof Santa's and snowman, so I just popped them in the tree. I then remembered some woof and poof star ornaments and mittens I have had forever, so I gave them to the boys, and with a little help we decorated the top half of our tree.

Our tree is definitely not what I love, but it will do this year, and it has been nice not having to scold little curious boys!

Time to Catch up...

These are just a few of the things that have been keeping us busy. I can't believe it is already December 10th! Grandma was here for a week, and I didn't get a picture of her - that is terrible!

(Just a quick reference to the previous post:) The Utes did pull out a big win against the Cougars, just in the knick of time! It made for some craziness at the Holmes' home!

We went to The Church History Musuem with grandma. Brian Kershisnik's painting the Nativity is being displayed. The boys loved seeing the angel Moroni up close, they always point him out on top of Temples that we pass.
Boys took their turn speaking at the pulpit!

Evan was in his 6th grade play "Dig It". We had so much fun watching him as a mummy! Grandma even came to visit for a week, so she could see the play too!

Josef loves playing in boxes with tissue paper. Christmas morning is going to be so fun with him, maybe I will wrap him up some empty boxes just to open and play in....

WHO will Win???

Those of us that are old enough to make our preference know have choosen sides. Poor Josef is in the middle. I am sure his shirt is going to change many times while we are watching THE GAME!

Christmas Card Picture

WHY IS IT SO HARD TO GET A GOOD PICTURE FOR A CHRISTMAS CARD?

ANSWER: Wilson, Holden, AND JOSEF!

We went to the Joseph Smith Memorial Building today to try and get a picture of the three boys for our Christmas card. I really wanted one outside, but it is way too cold. I really wanted to get it done today, so I had to choose a picture. It is now being processed at Costco, and maybe in the mail Monday morning - I will be excited to check that off of my list!

Just in case you are wondering...I didn't put the one that will be on our card in the post...

Watching the Parade

Ken took this picture of Wilson and Josef on Thanksgiving morning. The two of them were watching the parade, and Josef was just clapping his happy, little hands...

Turkeys

Wilson and Holden have both made Turkeys this week.

Holden made his on Sunday in his Sunbeam class. Holden has had the best Sunbeam teacher this year. He started out having a hard time going to Primary. Sister Romney came over to our house on the second Saturday in January to see him, and he has been her biggest fan since then! Holden's turkey is so cute, and he told Sister Romney what he was grateful for, and she wrote it on the feathers.

Wilson's turkey took a lot of work. He finally made it today in Kindergarten. This whole month Wilson has worked on various skills or knowing different things. Each time he would complete one, he would take a slip of paper to his teacher (yes pinned to his shirt), and then he could add a certain color feather to his turkey. He has memorized our phone number, our address including zip code, he can skip alternating feet for more than 30 feet, identify numbers up to 20 in random order, draw circle, square, rhombus, rectangle without a model, and five more things I can't think of right now. Wilson is proud of his turkey and each one of the feathers he earned. I am proud of my little guy too, the only sad part is that he really isn't a little guy any more - he is growing up so fast!

BEAUTIFUL

I love it when it snows and then the sun comes out, it is absolutely beautiful!