Christmas time and Alex as Bob Cratchit

This year was a very busy Chrismas for us. With a job transfer on the way, and our minds fully involved in moving and selling a home, it seemed like Christmas rushed up on us all at once. Alex was in A Christmas Carol with his school. At one time, he didn't even want to do choir at church in a large group, and now he decides to get involved in Drama as his extracurricular activity!

So here's Alex as Bob Cratchit and the rest of the kids at Christmas!

When Dad Goes to Work!

When dad goes to work, John gets upset!

No one can take care of little John like daddy, so he decides that mommy is going to have a tough day...again!

Adam, however, is a bit more creative, and decides to have a productive day. He loves baking, cooking, and helping mom with the household chores...

There is a big, bright spot in the day, however...and that's when big brother Alex, big sister Katy, and Steven and Ryan come home. Alex is a great help with John, and he has the routine down!

After John has calmed down, then Adam takes over and helps John find ways to be productive helping mommy in the kitchen!

Mesa Temple Lights and Some Cookies

Today, we decided to go and see the Mesa Temple lights that go up around Thanksgiving and last until the end of the year. We took a long drive across town and bundled the kids up for the freezing cold 40 degree weather. On the way, we even had a chance to sing some Christmas songs and enjoy the drive together as a family. The lights were very beautiful, and we also had a chance to see the visitor center. There were Nativity scenes, and other things that reminded us of what Christmas is really all about!

These are some pictures, but they don't do the lights justice..they even had flowers that were made out of lights...good stuff!

Rita also had a chance to make some cookies with Adam earlier today. He even brought me a spoonful of cookie dough while I was changing John's diaper. That didn't work for me so well, but it was a very kind gesture!

Ghost bread and keeping track of the dog

Rita thinks that I spoil the babies. Since we've had the two new guys, I've been the "baby magnet" and they only want to be held by me, put to bed by me, etc. etc. So Rita is easily able to take a break and leave me with the kids, which is great for her.

One such evening had me watching Adam and John, and Adam the Two Year Old wanted a hamburger bun. We only had eight, and I was making sloppy joes for dinner. He got a "no" but did not want to hear that. I tried to offer him a regular slice of wheat bread, and he was not having it! Just then, I saw the cookie cutter on the counter...

It was few days from Halloween, and Rita's mom Betsy (the REAL kid spoiler here) must have been using this ghost-shaped cutter for a school party or something. Dad had an ingenious idea...ghost bread! Take a regular slice of "gross" wheat bread, punch the ghost out, and now it's something special for any 2 year old! You can even get them to eat the rest of the slice, because it's a ghost too! Dad strikes again.

So the next day comes, and what does Adam ask for? Ghost bread. Rita is making fun of me and the ghost bread, saying that I spoil the babies too much. I was just trying to save the burger buns!

Now we're onto Ghost Toast, thanks to Rita and her advanced methods of cooking bread. I just served it to them raw...now who is spoiling who?



Today I was upstairs at the desk, trying to send out a FAX, and I have two babies that like to strike the keyboard at the worst possible times. The dog is barking next door, and the boys are letting me know about the "doggie".

Rita is in the next room, when she sees me walking into the loft with a large window valance (never installed, due to my foresight on selling the house!). It looked like a great footstool to me; perfect for two babies that wanted to look out the window at the doggie.

Once again, Rita is laughing at the way I'm handling the boys, but they get to see the dog barking. It's like I took them to the zoo.

And they aren't playing on the keyboard.