Shepards

Yesterday we were watching the Liken video about the birth of Jesus. The shepards were on their way to visit the baby Jesus when Audrey asked where they were going. This is basically how the conversation went:

Audrey: Where are they going?
Me: To see baby Jesus.
Audrey: Why?
Me: Wouldn't you want to go visit the baby Jesus?
Audrey: No, Mommy, we're not on TV.

I tried to explain, but she wouldn't listen. A little while later, she and Kierra were fighting over something, and Audrey came to me crying, "Kierra's fighting with me, and I'm right!" I guess she could use a little humbling. Heaven help her future husband!

Bowling

Our girls enjoy bowling on our Wii. Audrey is very competitive and actually really good, usually totalling over 100 points. Well, now Kierra thinks that any sport involving a ball must be bowling. She takes Jeromy's basketball and tosses it after saying, "I gonna get a spare!"

He's back!

Jeromy is back from his conference and things are starting to get back to normal. Whew! It's so crazy when he's gone. Whenever he does go somewhere, he brings us back souvenirs. So while in New York City, he went to M&M World. He got the girls some swirly straws that have the M&M guys hanging on them so you can twirl them around. He got me a kitchen towel with an M&M on it that says "Bake or Broil Baby!" When he was about to take it out of his suitcase, he tried to get Audrey to guess what it was. Thinking of how I like to cook, he asked her, "So what does Mom really like to do?" She answered, "Cleaning!" We chuckled. Then he clarified, "No, what does she like to do in the kitchen? And sometimes you help her with it?" The enthusiastic answer: "Cleaning!" We chuckled heartily. I guess when you're doing something all day long (or at least it feels like I do it all day long) they think you really like to do it.

Christmas Update

Christmas was great! We went to my parents' home in Idaho, all 20 of us (10 adults, 10 kids 5 and under- 4 of which are newborns)! We had a lot of fun, and suprisingly none of us got and spread the flu this year. Most of our free time there was spent watching Psych, our absolute favorite TV show (many of both of our families agree the main character reminds them of Jeromy, which is probably why we're such big fans and also why those who know Jeromy enjoy watching it). It snowed a ton on Christmas Eve, so everyone went outside to play. The adult boys made a huge snow fort complete with furniture and a slide. That night when Santa came, Audrey heard him and his reindeer on the roof and told EVERYONE about it the next day (although nobody else heard him, if you know what I mean). It was really fun to see so many young eyes so big with excitment about Santa.

We wanted to bless Jacob while we were up there since most of our families would be able to attend. We got the needed permission to bless him in my parents' ward, and then they canceled church that morning (church was at 8:30am! Imagine getting 20 people fed and bathed and dressed that early!). So the bishop came over and Jeromy blessed Jacob in my parents' living room. It was really nice. And we were especially grateful that Jeromy's parents, sister and her family, and grandpa came 40 miles away early that morning in not-so-pleasant conditions. It was so nice to have so much family there.

We had lots of fun, lots of good food, and very good company.

Barely Breathing

So I haven't written in awhile for a few reasons. Just so we're clear, I'm not about to complain, but rather to explain why I haven't posted anything in awhile. I know you've all been waiting patiently, ha ha. Here goes.

The week before Christmas, obviously, we were preparing for Christmas. While at my parents' home in Idaho for the holidays, we didn't have the internet for a week and a half (hard to imagine, I know). We got home on the first and had 8 loads of laundry and a cold waiting for us. Then last week Jeromy was working late every night (the earliest of which was 8pm, the latest 11:30) getting ready for the big conference of the year in NYC. Now he is at the conference; he left yesterday. And he won't be back for 3 more days! Needless to say, I haven't had any time to even breathe lately, and won't get another chance till about Thursday. So there's your explanation. See you on Thursday.

(By the way, I'm feeling a lot better now that I'm watching my first episode of John & Kate + 8 on TLC. At least I don't have twins and sextuplets. But I should probably watch something else during my brief amount of down time).

Well I Feel Stupid

Earlier I complained about not being able to get Jacob to sleep during the day lately. It was a rough week last week and I wasn't able to get much done (what was I expecting? He is, after all, only a month old!). But then, miraculously, he was great this weekend. The difference: Jeromy put him in his bed for me each time I was done feeding him, and he apparently swaddles Jacob up tighter than I do. Plus I was a little lazy with the whole swaddling thing last week (and I just didn't even think about it- lack of sleep definitely affects problem solving skills). Well, not anymore! I've learned my lesson. When all else fails, make sure he can't move in his blanket!

By the way, many thanks to Megan for opening my eyes to the wonderful world of swaddling!!

Pixy

Audrey and I did some Christmas shopping tonight, and when we came home, Jeromy said that someone ding-dong-ditched us a present. We're so thrilled! It is a mini Christmas tree and they even put a scripture with it for why green is a color of Christmas. How fun!

Imaginations

I have been so amazed at my children's imaginations lately! Here are three instances:

Audrey and Kierra love playing kitty. One of them (and only one!) pretends they're a kitty (meowing and everything) while the other one guides them throughout the house, saying, "Here kitty, this way." They'll do this for quite awhile.

I guess neither of them is ready to let go of Halloween (2 months later! Geesh.) They both get dressed from head to toe in princess paraphernalia, and then walk around the basement trick-or-treating to each other.

My favorite is when they pretend my big red armchair is Santa's sleigh. They sit on the armrest and Audrey puts this ribbon (which was originally wrapped around a present given to us, but has since been a ponytail holder, sash, belt, cape, scarf, and flying thingy.) on her lap for a seatbelt. Then she tells Santa (Kierra most of the time) she's ready. Kierra grabs the reins (the strings to the blinds) and away they go. If I'm nearby, Kierra will say, "Mommy, I'm Santa! I love you, bye-bye!" and then shakes the reins, just like Grandpa Wilson does with his horses (he'd be so proud:). I'll try to get a picture, but I'm usually nursing or otherwise detained when they're doing this.

I'm starting to think that they're really bored. But maybe it's just proof that they're really smart;)

Snacks

Kierra just gave each figurine in our Nativity a Ritz Cracker, saying, "Here's a snack a you, and here's a snack a you, oh oh oh, turn around, here, eat. And here's a snack a you..." After they had all "munched," they all laid down for a nap. I could just eat her sometimes.

55!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not to mention that I also would like to catch up on all my friends' blogs that I haven't looked at in over a month. Eeek, 55 new posts, Megan? This is going to be an all week project.

Arg

I've been trying so hard to get the dishes, feeding, changing, feeding, laundry, and more feeding done so that I can blog what's in my head before I lose it (I do have Mommy Brain, after all). Alas, the baby just woke up for the tenth time today, so I can't. Help! He sleeps sooo good at night (usually:) but lately I can't get him to stay asleep during the day for more than a half hour. I'm beginning to wonder if he's got some gas issues, or just an incredibly long growth spurt and needs to eat constantly.

Reindeer

Okay, Audrey is too smart for her own good sometimes. We went to our ward Christmas party on Saturday, and Santa was there! Despite being totally afraid of him and refusing to get anywhere near him, she was still intrigued and excited that he was there.

Afterwards, when we were getting everyone in the car, Audrey wasn't getting into her seat because she was looking all over the church. I thought she was just watching the snowfall, and we needed to get the baby out of the cold, so I was getting frustrated. But then she said, "But Mommy, where are the reindeer?" After a big "um" I told her they were probably in the woods behind the church eating while they waited for Santa. Then she continued to ask a bunch of questions about what they eat, etc. I can't believe how smart she's getting!

Elf Yourself

We elfed our kids. Check out this link:
http://www.elfyourself.com/?id=1272659655

Snowman

We got a bunch of snow yesterday, and so I decided to seize the day and take the girls out front to make a snowman. We had so much fun, by the end Audrey and I were laughing so hard from our snowball fight (this, by the way, is Audrey's first instinct when she's sees snow- to pick it up and chuck it at the nearest person). Her aim is so much better than mine that I got soaked!

Snowfall

Aaah, the magic of snowfall.

Fun on the Bus

The girls had a lot of fun shopping at the mall with Grandma Wilson and Mommy the other day.

One Month Old

And here are the ones I took this week at a month old. He's so cute, isn't he?! He's doing so well too, we couldn't be more blessed. He hasn't thrown up in more than a week, so we're really glad about that progress. Now if we could just get his older sister to stop messing her pants, then we'll be in business.

One Week Old

Jacob is a month old now! So I thought I'd share some recent photos. I've been trying to take pictures of him every week this past month to show how fast he's growing, but I only managed to take them when he was a week old and a month old. Here are the ones from when he was one week old.

Audrey's Prayer

Audrey gave the opening prayer for FHE this week. This is basically how it went:

"We're thankful for Mommy, Kierra, Daddy, and the baby. Please bless Heavenly Father. Please bless Santa. Please bless our family to be silly."

Then when she had finished, she said, "That was a new one, Mom!" I guess we haven't covered that aspect of the principle of prayer in our FHEs;)

Burps

The other day, Kierra tripped, fell, and then farted. Audrey then told me that Kierra's bum had burps.