Journey to Bethlehem

We took the kids to see Journey to Bethlehem. It is a program that the Mountain View Baptist church puts on. It was a wonderful program all about Christ. We were each given a name and a passport at the beginning  and had to keep it with us at all times because we would have to show it to the Roman soldiers along our journey to Bethlehem. The workers were so well organized. We thought we would be standing in line for hours waiting our turn but we weren't; we were seated in the church's sanctuary where we watched a film about Christ's birth. It was a wonderful reminder of what Christmas is truly about.

Santa

We had our HOA Christmas party this last week. The kids loved sitting on Santa's lap. They each got a stocking filled with fun surprises.

Mr. Smarty

You can see where he wrote his name at the top of the pages.

                            

 Sorry this video is so dark, but you can still hear him pretty well.


As I look back over the last few years with Logan; I'm so glad I continued to teach him his letters and their sounds, numbers, colors, shapes, and other things even though I wasn't sure he was learning. It would have been so easy to give up because of his lack of  talking but we didn't. I also think he was just a late talker because of all his ear infections and sinus troubles. However, the last six months have been incredible. He knows all his letters and the sounds they make, he also recognizes his numbers up to 12 and can count backwards from 10 to 1, he knows all his colors and shapes too. He can spell a few words and he can write his name with no help.He can also write equally well with both hands, we aren't sure yet but he may be ambidextrous. He also stops before going into most stores to read the letters off the store. He loves to put puzzles together and love playing with toys that are more about learning. I'm grateful for his ambition to learn.Sorry if this sounds like I'm bragging but I'm just so happy with him and all the progress.

Aurora Update

This is a little late. Aurora went down to the eye doctor the beginning of November. Her doctor is very happy with her progress and declared that we have officially saved her from blindness because of her cataracts. She is seeing 40or 50/20 with no glasses and is able to see 25/20 with her new glasses. He also has us moved our visits from every few months to once a year. We are super happy about all of this and are so grateful that we live in a day and age when this is all possible. Aurora has been a great sport through 2 surgeries, 2 laser treatments, and a bunch of other things. We are grateful for her and her upbeat personality through it all. Her doctor will now watch her for signs of glaucoma and a few other things that may happen, but he is very positive about it right now.

Thanksgiving

This is me with 3 of my younger sibling's. However it appears that I'm now the little one.

Here we are almost 12 years ago when I was the one bending down.

The grand kids on my side. There will be one more added very soon.

My mom with four out of six of her kids. We spent Thanksging down in St George this year with some of my family. We had an enjoyable feast and fun swimming in our hotel pool. And the weather was fantastic.

Nut Cracker

Aurora and I went with her Girl Scout troop to see the Nut Cracker.

Ice Skating

Aurora has been taking private lessons for a few weeks now. These videos are showing her working on learning to ice stake on one foot and to go backwards on one foot. In December she will be preforming a Christmas show with the Wasatch Figure Skating Club.

3rd Lost Tooth

She lost this tooth at Pack Meeting while eating a gummy worm, she even swalloed the tooth.She had also figured out who the tooth fairy is.

Halloween

This was just before our ward Halloween party. Avery was at a friend's party so I never did get a picture of him. But our friend got one later that night. I will post it when I get it.

Future Basball Player

He loves it when I play baseball with him. He likes to pitch the ball and have me hit it. Once I have hit the ball a few times he takes a turn batting.

Boise Trip

All the grandchildren on Joseph's side. Looks like a few of his brothers need to buckle down and get busy.

We made a quick trip up to Boise this last weekend so we could attend one of Boise State's football games on the beautiful blue turf. We stayed with Joseph's brother's Matt and his family.
The kids enjoyed playing with their cousins.

Hangin' on the Stairs

Logan likes to hang out on the stairs for some reason. He sometimes gets a blanket and pillow and will lie on a stair.

Fun Pictures

Aurora went to a Spa Birthday this last Saturday and she got her hair done and her nails. She had such a fun time. I'm hoping she will let me do this again sometime. Her hair curls really easily because it is already naturally curly.

The boys wanted to have some picture to. I love how Logan can change his expressions so quickly.

Too Smart

Logan loves learning and enjoys his educational toys more than any of his other toys. The other day he was building his own words with this fridge toy and he spelled the word toe. I think he must have memorized it from playing the other game where is tells you what letters to use.

Logan's 3rd Birthday

He makes the best grumpy faces.

It's funny how quickly his mood changes. Logan is finally 3 and is such a smart one. He knows all of his letters and most of their sounds, he can count 1-12 and then he skips to 16, he also recognizes numbers 1-10, he knows all the basic shapes and colors. This may surprise some since his language has just taken off in the past few months but he is a lot like Avery in that way. He is the most polite child I know. He says, please, thank you, you're welcome, sorry, excuse you, and excuse me at all the right times and even waits for a polite response from me when I forget. He also loves to come up to me multiple times a day to give me a hug and say, "I love you mom." This is a wonderful thing to hear and helps me deal with the other not so nice and polite side of Logan. He sometimes thinks he is the grown up and will clap or count at me when he is not getting his way. We are sure happy that we have this boy in our family. 

Aurora's Black Eye

Saturday night on her way in for the evening, Aurora fell. She fell right on her face and glasses; luckily her glasses were fixable. Her eye took the worst of it and her she hurt her shoulder and knee. When she fell we ran outside because she was screaming like she had been hit by a car. We were glad that wasn't the case and helped her inside. When we got inside Logan bent down and gave her leg a kiss and said, "It's ok Aurora." He is such a sweet boy. We cleaned her up and iced it for a little while. She is doing much better.

Saturday's Adventures

Girlfest

3DS Geek-fest

Saturday we headed down to Murry so that Joseph and Avery could attend a 3DS street pass event; I call it "geek-fest." Our friends the Berghouts joined us for the day. While the husbands and older kids tagged with complete strangers Aurora and Logan played at the park and Sarah and I went and checked out the Farmer's Market. Then we all headed down to Sandy to have lunch. We ate at this hole-in-the-wall place called "The Philedelphian" that had really good Philly Cheese Steak sandwiches. Then we parted ways with the Berghouts and went to Girlfest, a Girl Scouting event held at Sugarhouse Park.

Just Chilin'

I'm not sure what Logan was thinking, but he enjoyed laying under the table.

C is for Cookie Monster

Another craft for letter C. We also baked cookies the same day.The kids really loved our cookie day.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

We have been talking about the letter C this week. So after reading the book The Very Hungry Caterpillar we made some caterpillars. It's fun to watch how different these to are compared to Aurora and Azure.

The finished product.

These 2 Have Grown

Aren't they cute?

It's so neat to watch how these girls are growing. They are still great friends and have so much fun playing together.

Just a Cute Picture

These two love playing together.

Bounce House Fun

The Saturday after Aurora's birthday we all went to the local bounce house. The kids had a great time and tried themselves out.