In a nest

Ky has been in and out of a high fever (104+) the last few days (better today? so far) and so has been very cuddly and quiet.  I love reading to him and singing to him and cuddling him, and the older boys have been really nice to him.  They like to make him little "nests" where he can snuggle and have all the things he needs close by. :)

Christmas

I made the boys these shirts with their favorite animals on them.  Sam helped design the animals, and I cut out fabric scraps and appliqued them on little T-shirts.  I was pleased with how cute they turned out.

Nativity--other wise man and/or angel absent due to circumstances beyond our control (i.e., Seb's utter refusal to participate) :)

Sebby with Brownie 1 and Brownie 2

In Sebby's stocking, Santa put another monkey just like his old one.  Since we don't really encourage our kids to ask for something from Santa ("He knows what you need better than you do!") I was pleased to hear Seb say, shortly before seeing his stocking, "I just WISH Santa would bring me another Brownie JUST LIKE BROWNIE!"  (The best part of that story is that his Grandma happened to give Seb another monkey---very similar, but bigger, immediately named Brownie 3 but now nicknamed "Bob Monkey" for some reason---and when we were talking today about things we would wish for, Seb said, "I wish I could have another monkey which I would name Brownie 4.")

Four more "gingerbread bears"

We couldn't find any packaged gingerbread men this year (and I didn't think homemade ones would keep all month) so this year we had "gingerbread bears" on our advent calendar.  Note that on the last day before Christmas, EACH boy will get a bear. :)

Also, don't be alarmed, but Daisy is a bunny.  A very cute one.

Abraham had his first-grade Christmas program.  As you can see from the pictures, when one hauls three other wiggly kids to a program, one doesn't wish to sit in the front where one can see (and be seen).  But it was a nice program---his class sang AND DANCED, which I thought was ambitious of his teacher, but it paid off---they did a great job.

1 million cake platters I made for my 1 million sisters-in-law.  Fun.  I love having Christmas projects to work on!

A cute, snuggly family in their cute, snuggly pajamas

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