Heller. Heidi here. This is my favorite time of year and so busy! Let's ketchup. (Joe's in a big ketchup phase right now. Sometimes we don't have anything ketchup-appropriate, and he'll ask for another condiment, and then pretend it's ketchup. "Joe, that's ranch." "NO! It's ketchup and I love it because. I. DO!")
Anywho...
Utah finally got with the program and we played in the leaves. No, no: this is a big deal. Riley and Joe have been talking about this activity since summer. Why? I don't know, maybe they saw it on TV.
A week after the leaf pile day this happened:
"Snow ball!"
The weather is exciting! Almost as volatile as a 4-year-old's moods! (Or a 3 year-old's, for that matter...they are lovely, though, no denying it.)
In the way of events people might actually care about, Tim had his senior recital and my nephew had his baby blessing and they both did us proud. Tim! The 10th and final bachelor's degree in our family! Matthew! Got dressed all in silky white, blessed and stressed, but didn't puke on the exquisite hand-made outfit from Grandma! Well done, you!
Mom and Dad flew out for the blessed events and we had a wonderful long weekend.
(We were a tad late to Tim's recital so we listened to the first number from the comfort of the hallway. Dave.)
We're so proud of you Tim! Even if you did say you made mistakes on the one that was our favorite, we obviously thought it was all pretty fantastic.
Mom made little Matthew's blessing outfit and somehow I find little boy dress clothes so much more impressive than little girls. I'm sure they both take skill, but fitting pants and the baby onsie snaps on the bottom and the masculine bonnet and shoes, it's just impressive. And he was a gem. A vocal gem, during the blessing itself, but precious nonetheless.
We took advantage of having Mom and Dad here to have an early Thanksgiving with the McClure side at Jon's house. It was deee-licious, and Riley and Joe loved the turkey crafts Grandma and Grandpa brought to do with them. We sat around a visited and ate too much visited some more.
For actual Thanksgiving the Harrelds hosted, Em and Chris and Tim and Tim's friend Tyler joined us. Suzette did a very tasty spiced turkey and she and Tim had a pecan pie competition (everyone wins in a pecan pie competition). Riley and Joe got to do another turkey craft, this time with Grandpa Don. They made marshmallow cookie turkeys, a tradition passed down from Don's father:
After dinner we went for a very chilly walk (a McClure tradition. "They are excellent walkers, I suppose...") and Em taught Riley and Joe about animal footprints and they loved that. "It's a MYS-tery!" They are super into mysteries. Mysteries and knocka-knocka jokes. Bad at them, yes, but entertained all the same, most definitely.
And then we ushered in the Christmas season. Decorations were hung, Santa was visited, and a Christmas advent calendar whipped up. I did the calendar more for myself, on account of feeling like the holidays were here way to fast and I wasn't ready or in the right mindset or mood or something. We do a scripture a day plus and activity. Mostly service-oriented, involving crafts frequently.
Bird seed ornaments were a huge hit. With the birds, but also Riley and Joe got a kick out of watching for birds out the window, and refilling birdseed when needed. Little ones don't get to take care of others so much, but their hearts thrive on it.
They also appreciate hot cocoa out of doors.
We celebrated Christian's birthday. The kids love to play basketball with Uncle Chris and so Riley wanted to get him a new basketball for his birthday, but the Dollar Store doesn't have basketballs so we got him a desk game instead which turned out to be way harder and more impossible than any real basketball game. But they had a lot of fun trying to win together.
We made mason jar snow globes with Aunt Em:
And 3 cheers for the big guy!
A much-anticipated visit with Santa. FYI, Springville Library is the place to be: they are #1 in the state of UT and have awesome activities (Star Wars Day anyone??). Santa Story Time was so fun: He read a dinosaur book that Joe was mesmerized by, then we sang songs and watched the Grinch, made a craft and got pictures taken. Stayed up way too late doing all that, but Riley and Joe were over the moon. Joe jumped on his lap and yelled, "HAPPY CHRISTMAS, SANTA!" while I took this picture and Riley pretended to be shy till he asked her what she wanted for Christmas and then you better believe she found her voice. (The pink My Little Pony was the main thing. Joe wanted "a gun that shoots and 3 things." 3 things...hmm.)
Speaking of Santa: how 'bout that belly! I have crossed the half-way mark in this pregnancy - 22 weeks down! (Picture is at 20 weeks).
I feel pretty big, but with my short waist that belly just grows outward. I remember in past pregnancies people asking if I was having twins, to which I replied no and almost never punched them in the face. But that's not important. What's important is these fun baby kicks I'm feeling in there these days! I really notice him kicking around when I lay down at night. Funny, Riley and Joe like to go crazy when they see me lay down too...like, "oh, you want to rest now, Mom? Let me just blow on your cheek and stick my finger in your nose." Haha. You should see how tender Joe gets about the baby. He is always rubbing my belly and kissing it and making sweet comments. "I wuve you, baby. Because I do." Of course, he also kissed Riley's rear end tonight. When he's making the bedtime rounds, he'll kiss whatever area is closest, so Riley was leaning on the couch with her bum out... Didn't think she noticed, actually, but we were tucking her in and she suddenly burst out laughing about it.
They really are the coolest. One last thing: The Bibbity Bobbity Magic show: completely designed and executed by the children. It brings me a ridiculous amount of joy when they get creative and find their own way for things. Oh, and Joe's Despicable Me dance - that brings all kinds of joy too :)
Well and then the kids and I flew to VA and are having a valley Christmas vacation, which is all kinds of peaceful and nostalgia, but it's time to put this post, and myself, to bed, and leave some ketchup for later.
Nights!
*I am such a movie geek. Quotes make their way into my conversation waaahahay too easily; in this post alone we hit Sense and Sensibility, Madea, and Pride and Prejudice.
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