Wyatt's Birthday Party

My friend, Laurali, had a party for her son's birthday at the Irvine Park Railroad. It was a lot of fun. Being Christmas time, there were booths set up with activities, lights on the trees, and a train ride to see Santa himself. My girls did amazingly well waiting in line both for the train, and to visit with Santa. It helped that Sandy and her son Paul were along to distract them. I had a hard time keeping Kaleb away from the Candy Canes. And, yes, these masterful pictures were taken with my ever available camera phone.

It would make a fun family outing. You can check it out at www.irvineparkrr.com

Milestones

Kaleb is growing up. Last month I set Kaleb in his crib and left to do something. When I came back a minute later, he was sitting up in bed, happy as could be. A week after that, he pulled himself up to standing on a basket. I thought it was a fluke, until I went to the market one day. After running errands all morning, he was tired of sitting in the basket and Larissa was just tired. So I put Larissa in the seat and carried Kaleb. I had to put him down for a minute, and when I turned around, he was standing! Other milestones -- He scoots, his third tooth came in, he took a bath without crying, he says "mama" &" hi" (while raising arm). I'm don't think he really knows what he's saying, but being a proud mommy, I'll claim them as words.

Thanksgiving

Frank and I have finally hosted our first family get together. We had Frank's family over for Thanksgiving and it was a huge success--everyone ate and no one fought. If you know the McCormick boys, you know that no fights = success.

Besides well known recipes, Frank and I made my mom's rolls for the first time, and I made homemade gravy for the first time. They weren't perfect, but they were still tasty (to me at least).

I forgot to take pictures, so I took a picture of a wall. We had a thankful wall so we wouldn't have to go around the room and verbally share our gratitude (It didn't turn out well last time we tried that). This worked much better, and most were willing to participate. Notice that my brother-in-law Seamus is thankful for himself.

Among many other things, I'm thankful that we now have a home large enough to accomodate family gatherings, that my children are healthy and happy, that Frank has a secure job, and that I have the gospel to give me guidance, peace and perspective. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving.

Tooth Tales

Kaitlyn's two front baby teeth had never fallen out, because two partial teeth blocked the permanent teeth from coming in. So, about a week ago, Kaitlyn went to see the Oral Surgeon, and came home with a bag of 5 teeth ( He pulled another loose tooth for free). Kaitlyn hit the tooth fairy jackpot! She was excited to find $5 under her pillow. The tooth fairy even let her keep her teeth as a souvenir!

Yesterday, Kaitlyn and Brenna were looking at the fascinating bag of teeth, when Brenna asked if she could borrow the bag of teeth. Kaitlyn agreed, and handed her the bag. Brenna planned on putting them under her pillow in order to get $5 for herself.(Talk about a get rich quick scheme!) I informed her that the tooth fairy would know they weren't hers, and wouldn't leave any money. She just said "Oh", shrugged her shoulders, handed me the teeth and walked away.

A couple hours later...Brenna came down stairs excited, "Mommy, look!". I saw a tooth between two bloody fingers. Brenna has talked about a loose tooth for a few weeks, but when I checked it a couple days ago, it barely wiggled. To me, pulling your own tooth seems like a hard way to make a buck, but Brenna thought it was genius--and it would have come out sooner or later anyway. It was worth all the work when she found $1 under her pillow this morning.

What's New

Kaitlyn brought me home a reminder from school. Thought it was good for everyone.



Kaitlyn is doing great at her new school. She's still timid, but likes her teacher, and is doing well. Brenna is loving school as well--not surprising. We walk Kaitlyn to school in the morning. It's only a little over a mile round trip, but the trip home wears me out (more emotionally than physically) . They love going TO school, but no one wants to leave. I find myself carrying one in the bjorn, pushing one in the stroller, and trying to keep the third walking either by cajoling, distraction or hand holding -- all up hill (really). Here's a picture of the path:

Nice view, don't you think? I'm definitely enjoying the trails--feel lucky to live next to one.

Uncle Joseph took the kids trick or treating on Halloween. It's fun being in a neighborhood with lots of trick or treaters. We gave out over 200 pieces of candy, and had to stop because we ran out. While the girls were out and about the neighborhood, Kaleb was home with me.

Here's the girls. They didn't want to stop treating.

Prop 8

A couple weeks ago my sister's family found their "yes on 8" yard sign stomped on and torn. My niece was upset by this, and asked to make her own sign. To keep it from being ruined, my sister laminated it and, ignoring her fear of heights, posted it on their Chimney.

Favorite Quote Anyone?

The other day I came across this quote:

"Cleaning and scrubbing can wait till tomorrow,
For babies grow up, I've learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I'm rocking my baby, and babies don't keep."

I used to keep a notebook with my favorite quotes, and would like to do it again. Do you have a favorite quote? notalgic, witty, inspirational, silly? I'd love to read it.