Bright eyes

More about Ky's birthday

For Malachi's birthday Abey and Sebby made him this "little house."

As you can see he had a fine time with all the things they put in there for him.  (Trumpet---blanket---books---stuffed animals---toys.)  It was a nice change from the usual refrain of "Malachi---don't touch that---that's mine!"

We made him a cake that looked like his birdie.  Coincidentally, the words "birthday" and "birdie" sound just about the same when Ky says them, so it was his "boodie booday cake."  Yum!

TWO

It feels like such a long time since last December 11th. 
Last year Malachi was just a baby.  Last year he got to celebrate his joint birthday with his Grandpa.

We miss Grandpa!!

And Ky isn't a baby.  He's a huge enormous boy.

Last year Ky could sign several words, and say one word.  (Cheese.)

This year he talks almost exactly like a real person.  In fact, he talks quite a bit more than a real person.  He has a cute little way of talking that includes lots of exclamations! and conversational filler such as "actually" and "well . . . " and "anyway."  He will not stop saying something until he's heard an acknowledgement (such as: "Yes!  That IS a big front-end loader!")

Some cute sentences he's saying lately:

"Wow, wook, Mommy!  See a tall-tall cwane, mommy!  Wow!"

"So many stars up dere!  A-maaaz-ing!"

"Hiiiii, Mommy and Daddy!  Um, how was backet-ball game?"

"Um, Sebby, dat's MINE monkey, ack-chu-wee."

"Aving a-fel [falafel] tonight Mommy?  Oh-kaay, oh-waaay!"

"I hear fire gin-gin-gin-gin!" [=fire engine---he has a hard time figuring out where the word ends]

"Av-go!"="here you go" (said in a high, cheery voice as he hands you something)

Last year he had not quite learned to walk yet.

This year he does EVERYTHING, and I mean everything, his brothers do.  Only not quite as well.  Which often leads to injury.  (And Sebby might be a factor as well.)  He has had thousands of bonks, scrapes, scratches, bruises, and (above) a smashed finger which we thought was broken---but wasn't quite.  And he has borne it all with great fortitude and bravery.  In fact he often says in his prayers, "Help us to be bwave."

Last year he loved his birdie.

And this year . . . he still loves his birdie.  (He says it "boo-die.")

One of my favorite things about Ky is how much he loves me and Sam.  He is SO loving and affectionate, and he's the first one of my children to be excited (instead of disappointed) when we come home after a night of babysitting.  He always says "hi!" in a happy voice when I enter the room.  And sometimes also, "How-you?"

He loves to sing and can sing several songs all the way through by himself.  (One favorite is "Horsie horsie on your way," which he calls "Horsie on mine way.")  He loves Primary songs and, in fact, when we substituted Seb's Sunbeam class awhile ago, little Ky was the quietest and most obedient "Sunbeam" during Singing Time.

I love Malachi's big blue eyes, his long eyelashes, his curly hair (although he's still cute with his recent haircut---it makes him look older) and especially his sweet, loving, enthusiastic, cheerful personality.  He is our sweetest little sunshine and we love him SO much!

Happy Birthday, Malachi!  Have fun being TWO!

Snowflakes

Yesterday we made snowflakes (one of my favorite wintertime activities). Of course we make the true 6-sided kind (my Dad always insisted on this when I was little)!  After we had been working for awhile, someone had the idea of making pictures in the snowflakes and then we really went to town. :)

Sebby's snowflake

One of Abe's snowflakes

Two more of Abe's---rocket ships and Y's

Double-headed duck

Maze

Rings

Sam says this is a snowflake that a robot would make (technically well-executed, but with no soul)

Christmas trees/poinsettia/star

Bunnies

Daisy

Art Deco/Empire State Building

Tree and pajamas

We have our Christmas tree up, and even more exciting, the boys got to open a present already!  Thank you for the darling pajamas, Uncle Ken and Aunt Sheila!

Some recent pictures

Daisy all dressed up for church

Abe hangs upside-down while Seb looks on happily

Ky is cold

Abe rolls out scones (yes, his apron says "Morgan" on it)

A block rocket Seb built

Three boys

Several strange facial expressions

Four darling children

Christmas camel

Did you see the picture Sam drew for the December Friend magazine? I love it.

Last hurrahs

Brrr!  It looks like our unseasonably warm days might be drawing to a close.  Here are few pictures from our last couple weeks enjoying the weather and the playgrounds.

In one summer Ky has gone from merely thinking he is a real person to actually being a [somewhat] real person.  From barely being able to do anything on the playground, to being able to do everything.  He climbs and hangs and slides and swings just like his brothers now.  I can hardly believe it!!

Daisy's birth announcement

Here's the picture Sam drew of Daisy for her birth announcement.  (True, they were technically more "reminders" than "announcements"---since we sent them out two months after the birth, and since we could "announce" the birth almost instantaneously on the blog---but it's still a beautiful picture, isn't it?)

If you would like to refresh your memory as to what the other announcements looked like, go here.

Picnic at the "ake"

Pretty weather the last several days, warm with lots of sun.  We love it.  Here are some pictures of our Sunday picnic.

Pink blessing gown

I forgot to post this picture of Daisy, wearing the pink gown that I was blessed in as a baby.  The crocheted daisy blanket was made by Nana for me when I was born.

In which we see a great many pictures of a baby in a beautiful dress

Daisy's baby blessing was on Sunday.  My mom made her gorgeous dress!  And the pretty rosebud blanket, come to think of it.

This last picture is my favorite.  Sam thinks it's a bit unseemly for someone to be guffawing like this while wearing a blessing dress . . . but I like it anyway! :)

Do you love her?  We do!

De-wigged

When I take off her hair she begins to look QUITE bald.

I'm wondering if I should make it a regular part of her morning toilette?

UPDATE: Did you see the awesome video Megan brought to my attention?

Once upon a time . . .

there were three bears.

And a little girl named Goldilocks.

 

Great Big Bear

 

Middle-sized Bear

Little Baby Bear

Goldilocks

And they all had a very nice time going trick-or-treating.

The end.

Pumpkins

Abe's pumpkin looks like Abe.

Here are the pumpkins we carved this year. 

Sebby's is the scariest.

(Malachi just woke up; that's why he looks so weird.)  He drew his happy pumpkin face.

Daisy's pumpkin is a replica of her.  Do you see the resemblance?

Hee-hee-hee-hee.  Hee-hee-hee-hee.  Hee-hee-hee-hee.  Happy Halloweeen!!

(That's for you, Mom.)

Weekend Daisy

Some pictures of Daisy dear.  Don't you just want to eat her up?