Bumper Stickers and Books

Ahhh, here's one of those posts -you know - the "fill-in" kind when you don't have a lot else to say.

BUMPER STICKERS
Some people have bumper stickers that say "my kid is smarter than yours" or "my kid plays clarinet better than yours." Well, while my kids are certainly smart and beautiful, they are also unique, so I think my children would have bumper stickers that go something like this:

Ireland's bumper sticker: MY KID IS MESSIER THAN YOUR KID!

Honestly, this girl CONSTANTLY amazes me at how she can take almost anything and make a huge, massive, disastrous mess out of it. We keep trying to help her - and I keep thinking as she gets older she'll figure out how to be a bit cleaner, but not yet. Good thing she's so dang cute!


(Sorry about the video. Just turn your head)

McKinley's bumper sticker: MY KID DAWDLES MORE THAN YOUR KID!

This girl honestly could win an award at taking the most time for any one activity. I love her to death - and at the same time she drives me crazy. Every meal she is the last one at the table, slowly eating her food. I KNOW I should be better about just letting her take her time - especially when it comes to food - but sometimes you got places to be! Also - her morning things, which should take about a 1/2 hour when done continuously, end up taking an hour or two. If she was sent to me for any one reason, it would be patience!

Kezia's bumper sticker: MY KID LOVES CEILING FANS MORE THAN YOUR KID!

Ok - I realize that most infants love to look at ceiling fans - all my girls have, but SERIOUSLY, Kezia is in LOVE with them. This video just doesn't do it justice. She will laugh, talk to, and just generally smile like crazy as she watches that fan go round and round. Honestly, she would be happy as a lark if we just sat by the switch and turned it on & off all day long.

BOOKS

For me, one of the biggest perks of being a mom is that I get to read books to my kids. It is very hard for me to say no when they run up to me with a book and beg me to read it to them. The library is one of our very favorite places to go and we go through our fair share of books (and fines to match). Some books are blah, some of them are so-so, some are pretty good, and some are just amazing! The rhymes and story lines they come up with simply amaze me at times and I think I am just as entertained as my children. Here are a few of our favorites that we have checked out multiple times:

-Baa-Choo! By Sarah Weeks, Jane Manning

-Mary Had a Little Lamp By Jack Lechner (we just got this one and I had to renew it - so cute!)

-Knuffle Bunny & Knuffle Bunny Too By Mo Willems (we love Mo Willems. These books are just as fun for the parents to read)

-Moondogs, Daniel Kirk

-Blue Hat, Green Hat by Sandra Boynton (we're big Sandra Boynton fans and my girls LOVE to say OOPS!)

Progress not Perfection

New Years Resolutions time! Last year, I made a blog specifically for New Years Resolutions - to track, to have support, and accountability for goals. It was fun to support each other in our goals and see the progress we made.
I made another blog for that same purpose, but this year we are calling it "Progress Not Perfection." I don't know if you are like me and get trapped in the all-or-nothing mentality. This is why I stopped dieting. If I ate so much as one cookie, I thought it was all for naught and ended up downing the whole box. I had somewhat of the same mentality with my goals - if I didn't exercise for one day, I would just throw in the towel (at least for a while) - and get discouraged - till I found the willpower & motivation to start again.
Well, my first New Years Resolution is to stop beating myself up if I am not perfect in my goals! I'm still going to set them. I'm still going to work at them. What I'm NOT going to do is expect to be able to do ALL of them ALL the time & never mess up. I will mess up. I will have days that I don't exercise. I will have days that I don't wake up before the kids do to get my personal study in. I will have days that I don't get all the water or fruit or vegetables that I should. But the goal is PROGRESS. Doing the best I can given the circumstances. But not giving up.
Anyway, so that - in a nutshell - is what I'm all about this year with my goals. The site is http://www.nygoals.blogspot.com/. Anyone who wants to contribute is welcome! Just leave a comment w/ your e-mail - and if you're scared to do it for fear that you will fail, don't be. We are all going to mess up.
“It is not a disgrace to fail…one must analyze each failure and find its cause…he must learn how to fail intelligently. Failing is one of the greatest arts in the world. One fails toward success.”

~ Unknown quotes from Whoever Makes the Most Mistakes Wins: The Paradox of Innovation

December Slideshow & Newsletter

McKINLEY:
-McKinley was pushing a stroller with a doll in it – and by her, pushing the other stroller with a different doll, was Ireland. McKinley was explaining to her “Ireland, these are our babies. I’m an aunt to your baby. Not a bug – a HUMAN aunt!”
-McKinley was singing “We miss you a Merry Christmas, we miss you a Merry Christmas…”
-One day McKinley asked “Why can’t we call Jesus?” (mom said we could pray) McKinley said “But why doesn’t He have a phone?”
-Mom told McKinley if she got ready fast, dad would take them sledding. McKinley got all excited, ran out of the room & yelled “Ireland!! We’re going on a sleigh ride!”
-Mom was driving McKinley to preschool one day & McKinley said, “I saw a cow!...no, wait –it was a yak!”
-On the way back from preschool mom told McKinley that she loved her. McKinley said “Why do you say I love you all day?” Mom said “so you won’t forget!” McKinley said “Mom. I never forget.”
-At This is the Place Heritage Park, we saw live reindeer. On our way out, McKinley said “But mom, where was the one with the red nose?”
-On the drive home, McKinley saw a deer sign. She said “Watch out for reindeer dad!”
-1 hour after we put the girls to bed, we heard singing. McKinley would sing “You better watch out, you better not cry!” and then both girls on the chorus SCREAMING “SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN!”
-McKinley is big into jokes nowdays. She says “Why did the chicken cross the road?” And usually the answer goes something like “because he wanted to see his friends!!”
-McKinley was saying the prayer when some bodily sounds were heard. She stopped & said “Wow! I tooted and sneezed at the same time!!”
-McKinley likes to explain to Kezia how the world works. One day she was sitting by Kezia & saying “Kezia…Santa is nice! He gives us presents because of Jesus!”
-One day we had this lunchtime conversation: Mc-“I want to be an elf!” Mom-“Why?” Mc-“Because I like to work!” Mom- “Really? Well, you can help me work!” Mc –“Ok, well, maybe just a play elf.”
-McKinley asked one day “Mom – do people in heaven have TVs?”

IRELAND:
-One day mom found Ireland affectionately giving her baby doll Kezia’s used nose sucker for a bottle.
-Ireland plays her own game of “I spy” whenever we’re in the car. We’re constantly hearing “I see the sky! I see a plane! I see a car!” or “Daddy…watch out for deer!”
-For some reason, Ireland thinks everything starts with the letter P. She will try to sound it out & go “P-P-P chair!”
-After Christmas, we asked Ireland what her favorite part was. She answered “Chocolate!” We laughed & asked her what her favorite gift was. She said “Chocolate!” Hmmm – must be related to her parents.
-Lately when people ask how old Ireland is, she holds up 4 fingers & says “four!”
-We’ve had a lot of problems with Ireland biting lately. She bit McKinley 3 times & Kezia once.
-Ireland has been drawing a lot lately (she’s pretty good – and a lefty). She likes to draw lots of pictures of her daddy and spiders.
-For some reason Ireland has been wearing socks on her hands a lot.

KEZIA:
-We love our little Kezi-boo. She smiles all the time now & mostly does this cough-laugh thing, although we have heard her full-on giggle, too.
-Kezia is a pretty good sleeper – she usually goes 6-8 hrs, although one night she slept for a full 9 hours!
-Her 2 month check-up went well. Dr. Daynes says she looks great – about 75th percentile in height, 50th percentile in weight, and 80th percentile on her head. She had to get 2 shots, poor thing.
-Kezia was sleeping in her vibrator chair for about 2 months, but she was just getting too big. She’s been sleeping well in her crib now.
-Her sisters still love her to death & want to hold & talk to & lay by her all the time.
-Kezia was such a good girl on her blessing day. She slept a lot and was so good with everyone holding her.

Christmas Blessing

I was going to title this post "Christmas/(Kezia's) Blessing," but I decided that it worked just like it is - because Christmas truly was a blessing this year. I really think that 2009 will be a Christmas to remember - one we'll look back on and cherish. One that will change all future Christmas' because we will work harder to bless others the way we have been blessed this year.


From all sides, generosity came pouring in. We have never had such bounteous gift-giving. Christmas morning was truly exciting because there were many presents that were absolute mysteries. We had no idea what was inside. They didn't disappoint! The sub-for-santa gifts were wonderful, thoughtful, and delightful. Thank you again to our "Santa." As far as the going-down-the-chimney Santa, he brought McKinley a princess bike (she LOVES it - rides it around and around the kitchen island all day long), Ireland got a portable DVD player (OK, so she wasn't that stoked about it now, but I'm sure on our trips to Richfield, she will be LOVIN' it!), and Kezia got a cute toy.


We got to Grandma & Grandpa Potts house a bit late (OK, OK - 45 minutes late - sorry!). We had a great time this year - it was so wonderful because all the gifts were so thoughtful! We had the Edwards family for gift-giving and we had an agreement that we would spend nothing on the adults and under $10 on the kids. We got the kids some toys and got Cindy some DVDs that were transferred from tapes, gift certificates for babysitting, more DVD transferring, and digital scrapbooking. I also put together an 11x17 homemade picture with a butterfly poem and the footprints of each of her children made to look like butterflies.

Cindy was AMAZING! In between all her studying, preparing for her own Christmas, & being a single mom to 4 kids, she was able to make each of my girls fairy dress up costumes (from sentimental material, no less!), get each of them red & black dresses with matching flower/bows, make me LOADS of bread-maker ingredients in a bag, mom's hot chocolate in a bag, and probably the most meaningful of all - a day-by-day thought book made from my mom's old one. She typed each thought (all 365), printed them, cut them each out (had to be in a circular shape), and pasted it. I LOVE it, Cindy! We also got hand-made moccasins from Mike - they're way comfy -thanks Mike! Also, Kalli was cute & gave us a sacrament book for the girls and Tiarra was SO SWEET - she handmade gifts for all of us - clothespin dolls for the girls, a handstitched bookmark for me, and she even made a tooth bag for McKinley's first tooth. Tiarra- you rock! I seriously loved this year because everyone was so much more thoughtful and creative.


We also loved (as we do every year) Uncle Richard's amazing bag of candy for each person. And we're not talkin' little bite-sized pieces. No - I'm talking POUNDS of king-sized candy bars, jerky, etc. Awesome. Also, THANKS goes to mom & dad who got each of us a 9x11 digital photo frame. I've always wanted one!!


The rest of the day was spent enjoying the company of family (& especially the Checketts & Joseph who we don't get to see much), watching movies (Star Trek, Coraline & old home movies), going to the theatre (the boys went to see Sherlock Holmes), and eating tons of yummy food.
What an amazing Christmas! Here's a few pics (more in the Dec slideshow to come):
McKinley with her new bike!




The girls with their morning "loot"!



Kezia in her new bumbo!

My favorite gifts of all!


The crazy Potts girls

Kezia's blessing was the Sunday after Christmas. It's supposed to be on a fast Sunday, but with my sister & brother in town, we were able to have it the Sunday after Christmas. It was a beautiful blessing. Kezia was gorgeous in her dress (with the hand-crocheted overdress from Grandma Tew that all the Potts great-grand-daughters have been blessed in). She did so great the entire day & it was so neat to have both sides of the family at our home to visit, eat good food, and share in the celebration of our sweet new baby girl.

Before church (see the dresses that Cindy got for McKinley & Ireland & our cute matching bows?)

The girls (doesn't Kezi just look like a little doll?)

Her namesakes

the boys.

Now... here's a comparison of all my girls in the same dress...

McKinley - Oct 2005

Ireland - Sept 2007

Kezia - Dec 2009

Hamilton Christmas Card 2009

So...I guess I am "non-traditional" in the sense that I have done a Christmas webpage instead of sending out Christmas cards, for about 5 years now.
It's not that I don't love getting Christmas cards in the mail - I do, I do! I guess it's just that it's more convenient for me to just e-mail a link - plus I get to put more pics & info.
I try to send out personalized e-mails, too, so hopefully that makes up for it a bit.
In case you didn't get an e-mail with the link, here's our "Christmas Card" for this year.
Merry Christmas everyone!
http://hamiltonchristmascard.blogspot.com/

Thank you...

I was sitting under the Christmas tree tonight, reading a book called "God bless your way" to the girls for their bedtime story.

The doorbell rings.

I assume it's Jason coming back from scouts and I have McKinley open the door.

Wow.

There are a bunch of presents on the doorstep - for each girl and gift cards for me and Jason - from "Santa." Beautifully wrapped & labeled.

I am surprised. Shocked.
Times are tough for everyone...and yet, someone did this for us.

I could barely finish the book about baby Jesus. My eyes were full of tears & could not focus on the words. My heart is filled with gratitude for someone who is truly full of the Christmas spirit - who is truly honoring the babe in the manger who's birth we celebrate.

The generosity of others truly astounds me at times. It is an amazing, humbling thing to be on the receiving end of such giving.

Thank you "Santa." Truly. Thank you.

November Slideshow & Kids stuff!

Holy Cow! Where did November go?? Hmmm - must have gotten lost in the newborn-baby-fog!
Below is the slideshow from November (pictures from Kezia's 2-week photoshoot are at the end - so sweet!) & a random little vid with the girls & then below are the usual crazy/cute things that my girls say & do!

McKINLEY:
-McKinley sure loves her new baby sister – she loves reading to her, singing to her, and holding her (after she washes her hands – she is so good at remembering!)
-She has had a hard time going to preschool this month. We made the difficult decision to pull her out anyway because of our financial situation, but they love her so much, they are letting her go once a week for free.
-In the car, McKinley loves to play “I spy…” She is really good at it & loves to help Ireland and Kezia find things to “spy,” too.
-McKinley & Ireland were in some kind of altercation when McKinley says “Mom – Ireland is not getting any toys this year, huh? Because she’s being naughty!”
-In the car, McKinley was excited to spot the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Then she said “I can’t find the guy with the flute, mom!” It took mom a little while to realize that she was talking about Moroni on the top of the temple.
-McKinley is into talking about twins a lot lately. She thinks that if you have the same hair color, or are born in the same month, or have the same color of bowl, you are twins.
-McKinley was drawing her friend (and apparently future husband), Jack. She said she was going to draw him with spiky hair (like her daddy) because he was a daddy in the picture.
-We were driving to grandma’s house at about 5pm & the sun was going down. McKinley said “The sun is going down already! This is a teeny-tiny day!”
-McKinley was supposed to be cleaning her room. She came downstairs & told mom “My room is all clean!” Mom said “Great! Let me go check…” to which McKinley said “No, No! I was just pretending that it was clean!”

IRELAND:
-Ireland has been learning to share. She still has a long way to go, but it’s so cute when she gives a toy to someone and says “here ya go!”
-Mom had pulled out the rack to check on a dish in the oven. Ireland came over and fully grabbed the 425 degree oven rack. Poor girl. She screamed & cried for quite a while & had quite the blisters the next few days.
-Ireland is so excited when she draws & likes to point out when she draws pictures of daddy, mommy, dogs, etc. Of course, there is absolutely no resemblance yet, but we’re taking her word for it at this point.
-Lately when we have caught Ireland getting into something she shouldn’t (which is quite frequently), she will point at you, and then scream “NOOOOO!” followed by “You’re a bad guy!”
-Ireland has started to contract her sister’s inquisitive nature. She’s started saying “But why mom/dad?”
-Ireland is into the preschool shows & has started to really interact. She will say her name when they ask what it is & try to say the letters. It’s so cute!
-Ireland is quite adept at getting naked given any choice of outfits. She’s also getting good at getting dressed by herself as well.
-For some unknown reason, Ireland gets a big kick out of biting all the erasers off any pencils she can find.
-We keep waiting for the novelty to wear off, but Ireland still cannot get enough of Kezia. When she is awake, all she wants to do is kiss her, hug her, talk to her & just be RIGHT THERE in her face the whole time. Kezia usually tolerates it pretty well, but she will let us know when she’s had enough.


KEZIA: Heidi always says that the last month of pregnancy is slow-motion, but from then on out, it’s fast-forward. It seems to be more true with each baby. Can’t believe she is 5 weeks!
-On the 30th, Kezia truly smiled for the first time. We’d seen glimpses before, but what an adorable, precious smile she has! Her daddy is especially good at getting her to grin!
-Kezia is healthy & strong & about 10 lbs already!
-She usually wakes up at about 2:30am & 5:30am. Not too bad!
-She is our little snorter – even before she got this little cold. She will always snort when she cries.
-She is also SUCH a hiccuper. She was in the tummy, too, but really it’s 4 or 5 times a day and they last for quite a while.
-She got her 2-week photoshoot at our home and she did really well. We got to play with lots of props, bows, and accessories.
-She did GREAT on our trip to & from Richfield. Slept the whole way!
-She had some issues w/ thrush & we both took niacin medicine for it. Not fun, but it seems better.