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!

Josef

Josef loves to climb in this ottoman, but he has not figured out how to get out of it yet!

Josef saw his brothers boots, and really wanted to put them on, he is pretty determined. He ketp trying, and then he pick one up and brought it over to the table, so that he could try and steady himself by holding the table. I can't tell you how many times he bent over and stood the boot up...

Little Workers

This is what the boys were doing when I was at a meeting this morning, aren't they cute?

This is Josef greeting me when I got home from a meeting!

SNOW

This is what we woke up to the morning. The boys and Otis were SO excited!

Josef's Newest Trick

Josef is my biggest climber out of all of the boys. He makes me really nervous. He figured out how to climb on his horse, and switch the light on and off in his room (I think anutie taught him about light switches). He thought he was pretty cool. He did fall down one time, and he didn't cry. I just hope he makes it through this climbing phase without a big tumble, and trip to the doctor.

Sleepy Josef

Josef is really wanting to skip his morning nap, and just have an afternoon nap. I am not ready for him to do that, I know I am selfish! This morning he wouldn't go to sleep. After we picked up Wilson, I put him in his chair to eat a snack while I got Wilson and Holden some lunch. I thought he was pretty quiet, and this is what I found...

Holden and the Bathroom

Holden does the funniest & strangest things. He is a curious little guy. I write about these things, so that when Holden is older and asks about his childhood, I can give him specific things that he said or did.
The other day Holden went pooped. In Holden style he came running out to tell me, so that I could wipe his bum. When I entered the bathroom, I knew something wasn't right. These was some pooped on the floor, so I asked Holden if he had an accident. He said "no, mom I just pooped standing up." I am not sure how many times he had tried this, but that better have been his last time. Holden and I had a long talk about how you need to poop sitting down (I REALLY hope it sunk in).
This morning Holden went pooped. yes it was sitting down. After I had wiped his bum, I told him to wash his hands. Holden has a habit of washing his hands for a long time (he really likes water). He had been in the bathroom for awhile, so I went to check on him. He had the lid on the back of the toliet off (along with the sanitzing wipes, and bum wipes that were on the back of the toliet). He was just standing there looking in, and watching the tank fill back up with water. I asked him if he had put anything in it, he said "no", then I asked if he had been playing in it, and he said "no mom I am just checking it out".
Holden makes me nervous when he is in the bathroom. I am very happy he is potty trained, but adding the bathroom to the rooms he spends time in is a little nerve racking!

Happy Veterans Day, thanks to all who have served!

World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.”

In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: "To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…" (this was taken from here).

This morning I woke up to a flag waving in our yard. As I drove Wilson to school, we talked about why there were flags all through our neighborhood. The discussion started talking about Ken, and how he served in a war and was a veteran. Then I talked to the boys about how there were soldiers, from our country, that freed our ancestors in Belgium in World War I and World War II.

I am so grateful that Ken was able to serve our country. It was a very difficult time for us, but I am truly grateful. He made wonderful friendships during that time. As I have been thinking about that this morning, I have thought about the relationships that are built as we serve. It can be in the service of our country or our Lord. Serving brings people together.

I have been really impressed with a feeling of gratitude for those who served in WWI and WWII. I know that their service and sacrifice directly impacted my family, and especially with those that served in WWII. I have heard some of the experiences that my dad had as a small child in Belgium during that time. What a blessing those soldiers were to all of the people they liberated. I hope that my dad will write those experiences down for my boys (and me:). I know that if they have stories from their grandpa about WWII, they will better understand and appreciate history, and most importantly value the liberties we enjoy!

Eight Years

I can't believe it has been eight years. It has gone by so fast, but then it seems like forever. We have had some trials, but I can't believe how we have been blessed!

Brothers watching the snow

It is snowing. This morning Holden went to the sliding class door, push his little chair over, sat down and watched the snow. Then he said, "Hey, Wilson come sit with me and watch the snow". Ken was sitting by them feeding Josef, he got my attention ( I was busy cleaning up breakfast), and told me to take a picture. It is episodes like this that warms my heart, and make me so grateful for my little boys! I am also grateful for Ken getting my attention, what a sad exchange to miss!

Uncle Eric

Wilson & Holden have always loved their Uncle Eric & Auntie. Josef is a whole other story. Josef likes to look at Eric, but he usually doesn't like to be held by him...until last week's Halloween Party. Josef walked right up to Uncle Eric and sat in his lap. Uncle Eric was just a litte proud, and I caught him rubbing it into Auntie!

Pumpkins, Pumpkins, Pumpkins

Ken helped the boys carve pumpkins. Wilson even helped clean out the inside (a little)! The boys drew the face on a piece of paper, and then Ken carved it out for them! Josef obvisouly didn't draw a picture - his is the one in the middle!

This is what we ate for dinner before Trick or Treating...yummy pizza!

Holden's Shiner

Monday morning, Holden fell on the stairs going to get Katie for school. He got banged up pretty good. He had scrapes on his arms, hands and face. When we got home, he went straight into the bathroom. I went to see what he was doing, and he was soaking wet. I asked him what he was doing and he said, "mom, I am washing the hurt off". I wish it were that easy!

On Sunday my mom took Holden to the bathroom during church. After waiting and not hearing him tinkle, my mom ask Holden if he was finished. He told her, "grandma, something is wrong with my pee pee (it won't go), maybe it went somewhere else..." With Holden we have a lot of false alarms, so his pee pee must go somewhere else all the time. I really wish I knew where it went!

Waiting for Grandma & Grandpa

I know this is totally out of order, but I took these pictures on Thursday when the boys were waiting for Grandma & Grandpa. The grabbed a bag of mini oreo cookies, and waited on the curb!

Family Halloween Party

Rocky and the cake he made, pretty nice!

The Scary Teeth Crew!

The Grand Kids

Ozzy, Barfy & Witchie Poo

Grandpa & Grandma Clown

Professor McGonagall, Hedwig, Hermione, Ron & Harry

Hermione, Ron & Harry