New Years Eve

We spent another New Years Eve partying at the Hunting homes with wonderful friends and food. The kids ran around and had a great time. Caleigh was feeling sick that night and didn't do too much running around, but still had a good time. We had our annual white elephant gift exchange. I was able to get rid of one of Mikes books and some chocolate. I came home with cucumber melon soap, lotion, body spray, and what is quickly becoming my new favorite lipgloss. Score! We played some games, laughed, talked and rang in the new year, a little early (around 9:30pm) with pots and pans and toasts all around. The kids especially love opening the front door and banging on their pots and pans. When else can they make so much noise.

My little reader

Elliot has been fascinated with learning her letters lately. She points them out where ever we go. So I decided, since I have nothing going on during the day, that I would teach her to read. I wasn't that hopeful, she's only 3 (until Jan. 3rd, then she'll be 4). But I thought it was worth a try. After all, she is the one who keeps bringing it up!

We broke out Griffin's hooked on Phonics set, and got to work on learning all of her letters and sounds. She picked up on them pretty quickly (she still confuses a few.) I even enlisted the kids help asking them to point out letters when they read to her books. They were more than happy to help.

And I'm happy to report tonight, she read her first words!!! I was so proud of her. She read cat, hat, pat, mat, sat, fat (which made her giggle), and rat. Then she read a story: Cat. Rat. Cat sat. Rat sat. Cat, sat, sat, sat. Rat, sat, sat, sat. Fat, fat, cat. Fat, fat, rat.

I have a feeling she's been able to read for years, she's just humoring me by starting at the beginning.

Winter has begun

We've had a few light snow days, but finally we got one that brought enough snow to play in. The kids were excited to try out some of their Christmas gifts. Griff did pretty good on his "snowboard." And all the kids loved putting together a snowman. Sadly he has melted away...for now. It won't be long before we have more snow to play in.

Merry Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve and Day. We missed family and friends very much, but had wonderful people to spend the holiday with. The Huntings hosted a great Christmas Eve party with Fondue (of course) and a chocolate fountain. The children entertained us with dancing and carols. It was so much fun.

After the par-tay we headed home to open one present and then to get the kids in bed. The girls made beds in the boys room and they all fell asleep by 9 pm. Wish that would happen every night

Then after weeks of waiting it was finally Christmas morning. The kids were wonderful. They were so grateful for all of their presents, and they were wonderful at sharing with each other. It was a great Christmas morning (with breakfast burrito) and tons of wrapping paper everywhere! Griffin and Caleigh had been busy all week making presents for everyone. Not only did Griffin make things for Mike and I but he also gave every one in the family one of his most prized possession. I was the recipients of his sea glass collection. I am so grateful for my wonderful family.

A proud moment

Miles and Caleigh received their report cards last week and Mike and I were so pleased that they both had earned straight A's!!! Their school holds an honor assembly giving out various awards. Miles and Caleigh both got an award for their straight A's.

They both work so hard on their homework and I'm so proud of them. I'm grateful that they both have teachers that seem to fit their personality. It makes such a difference to send them to school knowing they enjoy it. Good job Miles and Caleigh.

This year's Nativity

Our ward had a Christmas Linger longer and the primary children performed the Nativity. Griffin got to be Joseph, Miles a Wiseman, Elliot an Angel, and Caleigh did a wonderful job as the Narrator. It was so wonderful to watch. Elliot cracked me up. She kept singing opera and insisting I take pictures. Then she would run over to see the pictures during the play.

Shop till you drop...

Me and Elliot have been spending every last school day to finish up my Christmas shopping. (I love Elliot's clueless-ness. I bought most of her Santa presents with her with me! She has no idea). She is such a trooper, being dragged from store to store, lunch from a prepacked baggie, and having to hold off her potty breaks till we can find a bathroom. I am truly grateful for our time together, since I know in a few years she'll enter school and I'll have to share her with the public school system (scary).

I snapped the following photos after a long day of shopping. Her face is covered in brown ink, since her toy of choice was a brown ink pad. (I'll do anything to keep her happy and entertained while we shop.) We also take advantage of the long drives between stores with long deep conversation and learning games. I'm proud to say, she knows most of her letter sounds, and she loves to rhyme. She also knows all the words to Mr. Grinch, Dynamite, and most all Glee songs. She is so much fun! Love you Elliot.

Griffin's Holiday Concert

On Monday Griffin had his Holiday concert. These things are usually P A I N F U L. I am a huge music lover and was involved in different singing groups since elementary school, but the past Valley View concerts have been no where near music. Is that harsh? Sorry, but the truth hurts.

The first two years Miles and Caleigh participated in this concert it was so poorly planned. The entire school (minus Kindergarten) would take turns rotating onto the one set of risers and sing their two or three songs. Meanwhile audience members talked during the entire "concert" and the large gym made it hard to hear the children singing. And to top it all off the principle (who I like, really sweet lady) would have to get up and remind the children and their parents to "remember their concert behavior". Hot, crowded, painful. I'll end now, because Mike has heard this rant and it goes on for while.

But this year was wonderful!!! (I plan to send a email to the new music teacher). She had all the children organized and sitting together on the bleachers. No more sharing the one set of risers. The children all sang the same 5 songs together so you could hear them all. They even had a slide show with the words and pictures. They did go over concert behavior at the beginning of the beginning, but it was presented by the children and each rule had a witty twist. Like one of the rules was, "don't leave with out us." Cute.

Good job Griffin, I'm glad we didn't skip it. Even though Dad wanted too.

Can we open presents now?

Ever since the tree went up Thanksgiving weekend, Elliot asks everyday, "Can we open presents now?" How hard it is to be 3 and have to wait for SO LONG to open your Christmas presents.

I saw on my SIL's blog, my nephew Carter had this wonderful Santa advent calender. I thought it would help Elliot be a little more patient. She had fun coloring and glueing her very own advent calender. But the next day she found the cotton balls and glue and filled Santa's beard almost full! I guess she thought if she just glued on all those cotton balls she would finally get to open up her presents.

Sorry Elliot, you still have to wait.

A few traditions.

Before G and G Head left, the kids decorated their little trees for their rooms. Since Elliot was only 2 last year, she didn't have her own, but this year she was asking where her's was. G and G were to the rescue, not only did they get her her own tree with lights! They even got her cute pink decorations for it. She felt like a princess with her light up tree. It is also making a great night light right now.

And last week we attended our towns annual tree lighting ceremony. The tree seems to get smaller every year (which I'm grateful for, since it's in the middle of the street.) But we always have fun. The kids especially love running into friends from school.

This is Caleigh and her cute friend. I just love her glasses, she's like a little American Girl doll walking around.

The Christmas Dove

One of our family traditions is to hit the store, the Christmas Dove, around Thanksgiving. It gets us all excited for Christmas, and my kids love to play with the trains! I don't think I've really taken good pictures of this store, it is amazing.

It was great to take Gma and Gpa Head there this year. They've been before (truly, I love this store, I take everyone whose willing). Any way each of the kids got to sit on "Santa's" lap and have their annual picture taken. Mall Santas still scare them, but this Santa is a no-threat Santa.

We also had the kids write non tradition Santa letters this year. Instead of just writing down what they wanted, we asked them to write "why" they deserved presents at all. I can't find Caleighs letter (her room is the bermuda triangle for things, I'm sure she knows right where it is.) But I wanted to write down Miles and Griffin's letters...

Miles letter:

Dear Santa, this year was a good year. It had it's up, downs, slantways, sideways, square ways, and any other ways you can think of! (from Charlie and the Chocolate factory). I deserve presents because:

-I did service for others

-I didn't fight

-I gought good grades (B counts, doesn't it?)

Sincerely, Miles Peterson

Griffin's letter:

To Santa and elfs

Dear Santa I think I was good through the last few month. I gust want books I nede to be smart. I also want some lego sets. Santa I know that we give you cookies and people give the randers food but I don't think thats a noth. So I'm gowing to say wut i'm thankful for: I'm thankful for Santa and the randers and the elfs and Mrs. Claus and your sled the big bag the north pole and winter and Christmas. all this things i'm thankful for are the true meaning of winters. So I hope you check that list twice and see who is noty or nice because you are coming to town.

Sincerely, Griffin.

Elliot said to me:

Merry Christmas Santa. Ho ho ho. I want presents because I wrote lots of letters to you.

I'll add Caleigh's letter when I find it...

Found It!!!

Dear Santa,

I know I wasn't very nice this year, but I think I still should get presents this Christmas. Because I was still nice to people sometimes. Please leave anything that you think will make me happy. Thanks!

Sincerely,
Caleigh P.

A lot to be Thankful for...

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving day. It was so nice to have my Mom helping in the kitchen, and my Dad here to carve the Turkey (my least favorite activity of Thanksgiving). We had so much yummy food, and wonderful company. Mike's co-director at UNH, Jim, was able to come, along with a man from our ward. It was a wonderful day. The kids had a great time and Mom and I were able to get some shopping in that night/Friday morning.

We were exhausted on Friday. It was worth it though to get some good deals, and spend some shopping time with Mom.