The Universal Principle of Mobile Infants

Toys will be ignored completely.  Non-toys will be devoured with gusto.  (Note the untouched toys at the bottom of the photo.)

On the move!

Sarah Kate is on the move! She started crawling a little bit on New Year's Day. A week later, she started really getting places, and today she mastered crawling even on the hardwood floors. Today, Christopher asked, "Is it okay if she is crawling all over the house?" Well, it isn't really okay, but there's nothing we can do!

Happy New Year!

Sarah Kate--8 months

Sarah Kate has changed so much in the last month!  She has had many firsts . . . her first airplane ride, her first Christmas, her first snow, her first bath in the big tub (which she LOVES).  She says "mama" (not necessarily to me) and is starting to prefer me over others, which is both flattering and difficult sometimes.  :)  She can push herself up to sitting and has even done some slow crawling.  She is very determined when she wants something and can usually manage to get to it one way or another!  She also likes to wave bye-bye (but not when you ask her to) and bops her head when she hears music.  She is so much fun!

Christmas 2009

Christmas was a blast this year!  It was chaotic, since Sarah Kate and I got home from Utah late on the 22nd and the festivities began at our house on the 24th, but it was lots of fun.  My brother Jamie and his girlfriend Eva came in from Michigan, and we had a great time getting to know her.  We celebrated with my family on the 24th.  We had a huge meal and opened lots of presents, then headed to church.  Here's some photos from Christmas, Part I:

The table set with silverware stockings made by me and decorated by the boys:

Sarah Kate and Grandpa:

Eating photos . . . always a little awkward:

Look at all these PRESENTS!

Ready for church, Christmas Eve:

Christmas pajamas:

Santa and his friends had a little fun after the kids went to bed:

On Christmas morning, the kids woke up to find stockings and presents under the tree, and best of all--a white Christmas!  Such a rare thing here, and it was a great one.  The boys got plasma cars, which they had never heard of before, but it didn't take them long to start racing around the house!  The kids opened their gifts from us and then went out to play in the snow.  Right before lunchtime, we decided to try to make it to Noel's parents' house to celebrate with all of his family.  We had a very traumatic time getting up the mountain where they live, but thanks to the kindness of a neighbor, we all made it safe and sound--eventually.  Once we were there we enjoyed food and gifts with Nana, Granddad, Uncle Kevin, Aunt Laura, Uncle Garland and our cousin Caroline.  Here's photos from Christmas, Part II:

The boys and their plasma cars:

Playing in the snow:

The spot where we got stuck on the ice for 45 minutes:  

Sarah Kate and Aunt Laura:

Caroline saying "cheese!":

Caroline loves Sarah Kate:

Opening gifts:

And finally, this video doesn't quite capture it, but "Angels We Have Heard On High" was a favorite carol around here this year.  The boys both love it, and at church on Christmas Eve, Christopher sang the  "gloria" part so loudly that I laughed until I cried.  When it was over, he turned to me and said, "Mom, I really busted out that refrain!"  Well, Sarah Kate seems to have joined in her brother's love for this Christmas carol.  We couldn't get her to do it much on the video, but usually when you sing the gloria, she opens her mouth wide and sings "aaahhhhh!"  It is too cute!



(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMOIODbSPI4 if it won't play.)

A New Cousin!

On November 29, my sister Amanda and her husband Brian welcomed their first baby, Asher Greeley.  We are so excited to have a new cousin!  Before Christmas, Sarah Kate and I flew out to Utah to visit them.  Sarah Kate did great . . . as I expected, she grinned at everyone on the plane, hardly cried at all, and even slept on the flight both ways.  Asher is so little and sweet, and I loved getting to snuggle with him.  Sarah Kate kept trying to grab his face, so she didn't get much bonding time with her new cousin.  She loved their dog, Staley, and even let him lick her hands.  He tried to lick her face when she was eating her baby food, but I wouldn't let him!  Sarah Kate also saw her first snow as we were leaving for the airport.  The boys were very jealous that we were going to Utah (mostly because we were going on a plane), but they did great at home with Daddy, Nana and Granddad.  They'll get to meet Asher in February!

Will's Christmas Program

Back on December 17, we enjoyed seeing Will's preschool program, after watching Christopher's appearances the last two years. Will seemed to be singing through all of the songs while also looking around at all the other kids. We were so proud of him!

(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Cb_HFHwU7w if the video won't play)

Gingerbread House

I can't resist posting these photos of the gingerbread house the kids decorated.  We had our cousin Caroline over to join in the fun.  They all had a blast!  All three of them were very careful and deliberate with how they wanted to decorate it.  I think it turned out great!