Hamilton Heros

Christmas 2011

We had a nice Christmas here at home. We got up before 5, but not for the usual reasons on Christmas morning. Spencer came in with another one of his bad earaches. I'm 85% sure it was an ear infection, but thanks to a priesthood blessing and my Christmas present of essential oils, I started doctoring him right away and he eventually got over the discomfort enough to enjoy Christmas. That was a Christmas miracle!

Luke and Bria seem to have the same taste this year. I should have got them identical gifts so they wouldn't keep fighting over them! This phone is one of the coveted items.

It was a hero factory Christmas!

Hero factory transport.

My own microscope! Science is so cool!

My own legos!

Memaw's blankets are the best!

So pretty!!!

Check out my awesome straw glasses!

Watch out, I've got the hammer of Thor!

Luke is sitting on a super DI find- $5 instead of $60!

Bria's new favorite bike too!

My very own juggling balls, yipee!

Pop rocks all over the table? SCORE!!!

Sound asleep with my groovy girl after a full Christmas day.

Random Pictures

Here are some fun pictures of my precious family. They are a nifty bunch!!!

I have a rule about eating in the kitchen or as I sometimes say on the hard floor. Luke loves to push the limits and sit on the carpet with his feet on the hard floor. He is too funny!

We borrowed a plasma car from a neighbor. What a fun toy!!! The kids tied it to Drew's trike and road around and around our backyard. They had the greatest time with it. I think someday we might get one. We all could ride it, from Luke to Travis.

These two love their bath time.

New hair cuts! Luke's first (not counting trims around the ears.)

These beads Memaw sent are so fun. We love them!!!

Luke has discovered the ipod. His favorite app is a piano one. I have to remember it's not a baby toy!

We LOVE pomegranates!!! Bria was excited to try using chopsticks. My parents have a tree and we were thrilled to get the fruit off it. Delicious!

Luke

I read a story recently about a toddler who liked to put his face up to a blank wall several times every day. His family could not figure out what he was doing. They decided he would probably grow out of it but thought it was really weird. He would randomly stop what he was doing and run up to a wall, place his cheek against it for a few seconds and then return to whatever he had been doing. One day the mother heard a noise out front and peeked through the peep hole in the door. Suddenly it hit her! Her little boy was copying her. He just never knew she had a peep hole. She promptly held him up to look out the hole and suddenly he got it. He was so excited about this new discovery! It all made sense to him and he never again was seen pressing his face up to a blank wall.

The power of example is great! It makes me realize what great care we need to take. These little kiddos learn soooo much by our example.

Luke is so much fun (when he's not teething.) He tries to do everything we bigger people try to do. He's cute, isn't he?

Show Your Work Night

I got to go see Drew in action at all his favorite Montessori works. He seems to really enjoy the math environment. He had a really hard time deciding what to show me. I know he really likes to observe the other children and learns a lot by watching them. It also builds his confidence to see others do tasks he is unfamiliar with. I think it's so interesting how different he and Spencer are. The Montessori classroom is wonderful because it is so versatile. We are so blessed to live so close to such an excellent school!

Thanks and Giving

This year for the month of November we made these thanks and giving trees. Each day we put up a leaf on each tree. One tree is for all the things we are thankful for and the other is for the ways we served. It was nice to focus on the blessing of being thankful and to make a specific effort to serve each day. A thankful heart is a happy heart and giving service blesses our own lives in countless ways. I am thankful for this special time of year!

In the words of my favorite Veggie Tales song:

I thank God for this day,

For the sun in the sky,

For my mom and my dad,

For my piece of apple pie!

For our home on the ground,

For His love that's all around,

That's why I say thanks every day!

Because a thankful heart is a happy heart!

I'm glad for what I have,

That's an easy way to start!

For the love that He shares,

'Cause He listens to my prayers,

That's why I say thanks ever day!

Coons Bluff

We started making a point of going on at least one outdoor adventure each month. November's adventure was going to Coons Bluff. We hiked to the top of the bluff to check out the view and watch some scouts rappel. The hike was a little steep but we all made it. Then we went down by the river to explore and search for treasures. It always feels great to get outside, but I have to admit, this trip was a little exhausting trying to keep Luke from ending up in the water. He loved standing at the edge throwing things into the water. Everyone had a great time. Hooray for nature!!!