A Visit From the Tooth Fairy

While we were in Utah visiting Grandma and Grandpa Bohman, Daniel got his first loose tooth. I explained to him that when his tooth fell out he could put it in a special tooth pillow and the Tooth Fairy would come to take it and leave him some money. He wasn't very excited about the money and he asked if maybe the Tooth Fairy could bring him a lollipop instead! He had to run upstairs so Grandpa could check it out (he's a doctor and my boys are constantly wishing he was with us when the boys get any owies). Grandpa reassured him that it looked great. Then Daniel was so excited. Grandma made him (and Liam) a special tooth pillow, so he'd be prepared when it came out.

After school on January 12th Daniel was playing on the back of the couch. He yelled out to me that his tooth had come out and fell into the pile of legos! Luckily, we found it quickly, stuck in the back of a green lego, and put it into his pillow. I asked Daniel if he'd been wiggling his tooth when it fell out, but he insisted that it jumped out all by itself. Daniel called Daddy and Grandma to tell them all about it.

That night the Tooth Fairy came and brought a dollar and 3 lollipops (along with a note complimenting him on his nice tooth, encouraging him to keep brushing, and requesting him to share the treats with his brothers). Daniel was so excited to tell everyone at school about his visit from the tooth fairy and demonstrate his latest trick: sticking his tongue through the hole in his smile. He looks so cute! What a fun first.

Boxloads Of Fun

A week or so before Christmas a few boxes arrived from Grandparents. After the initial excitement of unloading the gifts under the tree, the boys put their imaginations into high gear and the fun began. Some times they were Choo Choo Trains...

They were completely covered with crayon and markers...

Caleb wasn't about to be left behind! When he didn't fit into the other box with Daniel and Liam, we had to find him his very own to decorate...

The boys showed me all of the buttons they made to make their spaceship go slow, fast, and super fast. They also showed me the controls for their boat and all of the ocean life they drew on it.

They had so much fun, I considered taking back all of the presents and replacing them with more boxes.

It always amazes me that even in this technological age, my kids attention can be filled longer by something as simple and timeless as a cardboard box.

Christmas is for People with Kids

I've always loved Christmas, but it is so much more fun now that I get to watch my boys experience it. I love reading stories about Christ and hanging up pictures of him in our hallway each night. It was fun to decorate the tree and house, bake cookies for Santa (this year he got molasses cookies--delicious!), carroling to the neighbors, riding the Santa train, sitting on Santa's lap, I love reading our favorite Christmas stories and finding new ones to add to the collection.... but one of the best parts this year was watching my boys get so excited about picking out and giving eachother presents. We took each of them individually to the dollar store to pick out something special for their brothers. They spent their own money. Daniel picked out stick horses for Liam and Caleb. He also got a ball that lights up for Caleb. Liam picked out a set of guns that shoot balls and CARS stamps for Daniel. Daniel and Liam together got Caleb a puppy stuffed animal. The boys also bought Nathan a Hot Wheels crocodile racetrack (I helped a little.). Liam got me a snowflake stamp--good job. Daniel knows that with 3 boys, I don't get much "girl stuff". All month he gave me hints about my gift. (Actually, he said it a little too loud a few times, luckily I didn't hear. Wink Wink!) He kept telling me it was something that started with the letter D. I guessed diapers, doors, drapes, and dogs, but on Christmas Daniel was so excited he helped me unwrap my very own Princess Doll! It is so sweet. He told me that he knows that girls like dolls, so he knew I would like it. I really do. Daniel put so much thought into the perfect gift. He even reminded me to pack it for our trip to Utah, so it wouldn't be lonely and I could sleep with it. The gift choices were fun, but Christmas morning was amazing. Daniel and Liam were more excited about the gifts they had picked out than what they were getting. After each one was opened they gave eachother a huge hug and thank you. Definitely the highlight of the present portion for me.

They also had a lot of fun with some special presents from Santa. The biggie was an electric train. When they came out to the Christmas tree it was set up and running around the track. Before they ran for their stockings or other presents they all sat down in and around the train track and watched it. Nathan showed them how to use the controls. It was one of those good old fashioned Christmas morning pictures. Caleb sat in the middle of the track, entranced long after the other boys turned their attention to binoculars, candy and measuring tapes in their stockings. It was so cute.

This year we also celebrated with Captain Rex (Star Wars) and Bumble Bee (Transformers). Each of the boys got their gear and had a "blast" (pun intended). (I realize that I'm a girl and don't have much experience, but it seems that boys' toys are all very loud--and I'm not really sure why--boys come with built in sound effects!)

This year Caleb got a baby doll of his own (since his brothers don't like him to steal theirs), a ball, and a microphone. Now when we play Guitar Hero or Rock Band as a family we won't have to worry about him sliming our microphone!

Every Christmas night we go to the temple to see the nativity. It is a great way to remember what Christmas is really all about. We get most of the temple grounds to ourselves and with the boys' interaction it becomes nearly a live-nativity. The boys brought the cameras they got from Grandpa Bohman to take their own pics. Daniel did a great job, but we wanted everyone in the picture so we also had another visitor take a picture of all of us together.

Thanksgiving in St. George, Utah

This year we decided to pull an all-nighter and drive to St. George for Thanksgiving. It was a quick trip, but it was so great to be with family at Grandma and Grandpa Steed's. Nathan's brother Daniel, his son Damien, and wife Kym were there too. The cousins hit it off right from the start. Damien is an amazing golfer (only 3 years-old) so he brought his putter and shared some of his hockey sticks, so our boys could join him on the putting green at the hotel.

Between Damien's cars and our boys' trains, along with a few surprises from Grandma Brady, the cousins kept busy and had a lot of fun. They also played hide and seek, and just got each other giggling. We also had fun in the hotel swimming pool and hot tub. The weather was nice and kids couldn't be kept inside for long. Daniel said it best, "Let's go on an adventure!" Some of the adventures were collecting golf balls (more than 3 dozen) from the driving range, playing soccer (until the ball got kicked one too many times into the prickly bushes), laughing and cheering for the grownups playing tennis, visiting a neighbors' dog, and making up stories playing Star Wars with dirt, rocks, and sticks in the backyard.

This Thanksgiving I am so thankful to know the two angels in this picture. Nathan's mom and Grandma Steed are amazing wives and mothers. They are such great examples to me. One of the greatest things about them is how welcoming they've always been to me. From the first moment I met them (and even from the first time I spoke to Grandma on the phone) I felt their love and joy at the prospect of being part of their family. It was an immediate bond. I remember after that first phone call with Grandma and Grandpa Steed that I no longer was sad that my Grandpa Carr wouldn't be the one sealing me to Nathan (he had passed away when I was a senior in high school). Grandpa Steed was already family to me and I loved him so much. I was thrilled that he could seal us.

Caleb didn't get many of his usual naps with all of the visiting and playing so he was pretty worn out. But I loved one moment when Caleb crawled up on Grandma's lap and she sang to him and rocked him. And he just cuddled with her. Such a sweet memory. The trip was exhausting. Daniel got sick with a cough that wouldn't stop. Nathan always prefers to leave for home at 3 or 4 AM, which is 2 or 3 hours too early for my body to make sense of, but this time I actually agreed. We didn't get any sleep, because of Daniel's cough and then a fever. So before 3:00 we were on the road. Afterall, we may as well drive since we certainly weren't sleeping.