Merry Christmas!

and just for fun:

Spaghetti Special (with meatballs)

I just think he looks so funny!
Grant looooves to eat. He only has 2 teeth, but he eats pretty much whatever we eat. He especially loves pasta--spaghetti and meatballs and macaroni and cheese are some of his favorites. He's been taking a lot of baths lately! He also loves chocolate. We aren't sure how he knows when we are eating sugar, but he makes a lot of loud noises whenever he sees us eating something yummy and we aren't sharing. Interestingly, he doesn't expect Madison and Logan to share with him; he will eye and try to grab their food, but he doesn't get mad. Apparently, he knows that dad and mom will share. 

Also, Grant loves to play with instruments (see video). He does get frustrated that the xylophone sticks are connected to the xylophone. He really loves to play the drums (I'll try to get a video)--it must be hereditary because his dad and Uncle Aaron also play the drums. And of course, he loves to play the piano. I used to be able to hold him on my lap while I played, but no more--he wants to do all the playing (a.k.a. pounding). If he sees the piano is open, he stands up and cruises his way down the keys. Maybe he's a musical genius, maybe he just likes to hit things. He really likes to make noise.

Poor Madi! Sometimes Grant can be dangerous!

Family Entertainment (For Lola)

There's much to write about. Like how it's a New Year and we canceled our Dish Network and are now T.V.less. (So if you watch American Idol, can we be friends?) Instead of T.V, we've been finding entertainment in other places.....  Enjoy!

Scooting, Scootering, and a Race

Today's weather was the recipe for a perfect fall day: chilly in the a.m., warm and breezy in the p.m.  The beginning of a new season always leaves me knowing that the current season is my favorite.  

(rambling ahead)

My piano, an inherited 1975 Sohmer, was tuned for perhaps the first time ever.  I've been putting it off because, well, I played my out-of-tune piano everyday--why tune it?  I hate spending money (a leftover from our not-so-long-ago student days), and I have an especially hard time spending money on myself.  Sometimes my resourcefulness prevents me from doing things that I love or would love to learn about.  But last week I broke down and called around to find a tuner.  I thought I would rethink my decision, but instead I felt renewed and encouraged to set new goals and to begin doing things I did before I became a mom.  Don't get me wrong, I LOVE being a mother.  But sometimes motherhood has been my excuse for not progressing, for not pursuing the interests I had before becoming a mom.  I tell myself I'm too busy, there's more to clean, meals to make, laundry, kids to play with, etc.  Do you ever make excuses, or am I the only one? ANYWAY, I set up an apt. with a tuner and my mind seemed to open.  And today I sat down at the piano after Tony Romano worked some piano-magic, and WOW!  It is so worth the money!  Not only because it sounds sensational (I didn't know I could sound like that!), but because I've learned that sometimes spending money and time on something important to me motivates me to make time to increase my talents and oh-so-limited knowledge. And that feels good.    

SOOOO, we enjoyed this perfect fall day by:

• getting the piano tuned
• playing with friends
• making yummy freshly-ground, whole-wheat rolls (a perfect smell for an autumn day)
• going to preschool (Logan)
• eating lunch with some friends (Madi and I)
• playing outside--scootering, biking, walking, running
• cheering for Grant as he scooted across the carpet to get Logan's pirate toys
• watching a movie (Mulan II from the library.  Don't waste your time :))
• putting 3 tired, cranky kids to bed early (7:00!)

I'm finally figuring out the iMovie, although I can only blog it on the lowest quality. Anyone know why?  So, without any further ado, I present, for your viewing pleasure: Grant scooting across the floor; Madison riding a scooter, and Logan and Madison racing (I think Logan slowed down for Madison). Enjoy!

  

Logan's First Day of Preschool

Logan started preschool on Thursday, Aug 28.  He got to buy a new outfit for school, which was kind of hard for me because he chose a bright blue Spider-man shirt--not what I would've chosen! Luckily, we found this brown Cars shirt in his closet, and the blue spider shirt became day #2's shirt.  He is super excited, likes his teacher, Miss Mindy, and the new friends he met.  His preschool is really like kindergarten was when I was little (I'm ancient, you know).  He goes Mon.-Thurs. from 12:30-3:00.  My little boy is growing up, and he's way too excited about it!  

The videos are two of the songs the kids have been singing lately: Rascal Flats "My Wish for You," (which I can't get to download; I'll try again later) and "When Jesus Christ was Baptized" (the song we are learning in Primary).  Just in case you can't understand the lyrics....

My Wish

My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to,

Your dreams stay big, and your worries stay small,

You never need to carry more than you can hold,

And while you're out there getting where you're getting to,

I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too,

Yeah, that's my wish.

When Jesus Christ was Baptized

When Jesus Christ was baptized down in the River Jordan

Three members of the Godhead were present there in love.

The Father spoke from heaven when Jesus Christ was baptized

The Holy Ghost descended as gently as a dove.