one step ahead of santa

the best medicine

And that is the edited version.

I'm in love with his contagious laugh - the shoulder shakes, the gasping for air, the fact that nothing is funny. I'm in love with everything.

you can't fake this

Just try to look at that face and not smile...

I've got to figure out a way to bottle some of his joy!

first sermon

Today was Gabriel's first talk in church. Maybe that's overstating.

Today I helped Gabriel give his first talk in church.

Hmmm... that could still be overstating.

We practiced and practiced. I would say the words and he would do some signs along with me. I started off by telling the group that Gabriel didn't talk a whole lot with words, but he knew some words with his hands and he would be 'talking' that way. Let's just say he loves the spotlight and got a little distracted. All the signs are ones that he knows very well, but apparently he's modest and didn't want to show off his skills in front of an audience.

Also note: me rhymes with knee.

He's about the cutest sunbeam in a tie that I've ever seen.

[Yes, we took a camera to church. I couldn't resist recording this first. Nobody even kicked us out or confiscated our camera - it's all good]

words to live by

This was picked up several months ago at school. I don't know what it was attached to or what it was for. All I know is that I'm not allowed to lose it or throw it away. Every time Paige reads it, she smiles and reads it again out loud. It's a knowing smile. One that says, "I relate."

I think she may have adopted this as her motto. I couldn't find more fitting words for her if I tried.

in love

The school's fall pictures came around. You don't pre pay, they just print up a bunch of pictures and hope you love them enough to buy some (such a waste of paper). I was determined to stand strong and not let the photo company strong arm me into buying something I didn't order in advance.




Well...

How do you not just love him immediately?

(I ordered one sheet)

things paige loves

• dressing up
• helping mommy in the kitchen
• sweets (has a serious addiction)
• riding the school bus
• her long hair - after many self inflicted hair cuts, it's finally growing 'long enough to touch in the back'
• playing with friends and making new ones
• dancing (we're only slightly concerned that her future career may be that of a pole dancer)
• having date days with mommy and daddy
• beating mommy at cards (any game really)
• manicures/pedicures
• make-up: loves to kiss a lipstick wearing mommy -not often - in hopes that it will rub off onto her lips, and then giggles as if she's ultra sneaky

things taylor loves

• skateboarding
• video games
• dancing his sweet moves while listening to his ipod
• baseball
• helping small children learn new things - he's a great teacher
• all things military
• airplanes - he can identify most jets - wants to one day be a pilot
• pizza - just like his daddy
• having daddy time alone
• shooting/hunting - doesn't have much opportunity, but his goal is to one summer have a week with daddy to go out and 'live off the land'

Gabriel loves.... Gabriel

The last couple days we've been having fun with our video camera. We've had this camera for about a year and a half but have never fully figured it out so it's been used only a handful of times. The disk holds 30 minutes of video so after Taylor had his concert and Paige had her recital, there was some space left that we used for Gabriel.

We figured we'd capture a bit of him using his signs. I turned the monitor on the camera around so Gabriel could watch himself in hopes of keeping his attention. Needless to say, it worked better than I expected. He was so intrigued with himself, he couldn't stop giggling and kept coming to get a closer look at the handsome guy on the screen.

Then we finalized the disk and all sat down in front of the tv to watch the concert, recital and Gabriel once again. When Gabriel came on the tv, the real-life Gabriel jumped up and started to repeat what was being done by video Gabriel on tv. It was quite amusing to watch him watch himself and giggle. So amusing, in fact, I thought it was share-worthy (even if the video quality isn't up to par) :

signs for:.................... 'bus'................................ 'off' .............................'all done'

'tis the season

With close to just 2 weeks left of Christmas, I decided it was time to buckle down this weekend and get some holiday spirit going. The weather cooperated and helped put us in the mood - it was rainy and chilly and so hot-chocolately.

Daddy was home so he put his expert engineering skills to work and put the train around the tree. Taylor gets the 'most holiday spirit award' for his dancing skills and love of loud Christmas tunes. As soon as he realized we would be doing something Christmas related, he ran to the stereo and found the music and pumped it LOUD for all to enjoy. He danced on his own and with Gabriel and each loved it equally. Gabriel wins the 'most excited about the train award' - he was the first to sit down to watch the train and the least willing to go to bed and leave the train. When the train first started up, he just laughed and choo-chooed and signed 'train' over and over.

Luckily, Paige was enthusiastic about decorating, otherwise it could very well be another week until it was done. She wins the 'most helpful award'... sort of. We had fun putting up the tiny trees that I allow the kids to decorate however they want. She had an unscheduled invitation to play in the middle of our decorating party, and rushed off - leaving me to finish it all alone.

That evening, Mara had a gingerbread making/pizza party at her house. The kids look forward to this each year. Taylor and Paige make houses and Gabriel decorated a gingerbread man. All the cousins were excited about their crafting skills and did a great job on their projects. I'm reminded, though, each time all the cousins get together that outside parties are much more fun for the mommies. Inside parties wear a bit on this mommy's ears. :)

As if all that wasn't enough fun for one weekend, we got really crazy and went to our ward Christmas party. The kids were happy to put in their requests with Santa- with the exception of Taylor who declared that he was officially too old to meet Santa and he sat this one out. Awww... I guess it was bound to happen. We were nearly the last in line and it was a long, hot wait. Paige and her little friend were just silly and cute, I enjoyed watching them run around holding hands and giggling together. Gabriel was a tad nervous about his visit with Santa until he was told that it was Grandpa (not his, just a grandpa). Then he sat on his lap and stared suspiciously. When he was all done he signed 'thank you' which brought many aahhhhs from those still around to watch.

friday flashback

This flashback doesn't go too far back - just to September. But since September was before my blogging days, I wanted to go back and add this one in, just because of the darling factor.

Gabriel started pre-school in August, and by September we felt confident that he was familiar enough with school that we could give the bus another try after a couple of failed attempts. The newness of school and the bus took its toll on the little guy and this is how he would come home to me most days:

who's your daddy?

This little guy loves his daddy.

He barely even noticed mommy was there taking pictures.
When Daddy sings to him, he loves it - he's mesmorized.

And by the way, his daddy thinks the little guy is pretty great, too.

friday flashback

This one goes back 7 years! Our little Taylor. He's getting to be such a big kid that I get a bit nostalgic looking back at all our photos. He was our one-and-only for 4 years and what a good boy he was and continues to be! When he was tiny, Todd used to always say, "Man, we scored with this kid!" - and I would wholeheartedly agree.

I've had some distress as of late about my children growing up. They continue to grow and learn and for that I am grateful, but I find myself too often wishing I could somehow find a way for it to linger longer!

the tickle

Whenever Gabriel starts to get a little sleepy or needs some soothing, he loves the "tickle". He makes his wishes known by sticking his arm straight out and waiting for me to gently run my fingers up and down his arm and hand. Sometimes he impatiently shows me how he wants it done by moving his arm so that my fingers tickle where it's most preferred. As he relaxes, he'll lower his arm - but if I stop, the arm goes back up. If he wakes at night, I don't usually take him out of his bed, he'll just stick his little arm through the crib rails and let me tickle. Sometimes if I'm not available for the tickle, he'll tickle himself.
I love this boy.

eat, drink, & pass out

Looks like Gabriel had too much of a good thing. You can't easily tell, but Gabriel is actually asleep in this picture. It wasn't even late. We were having a family movie night and Gabriel got a little crazy with the popcorn eating. He sat himself down in front of the tv and before we knew it, he was out.

We've got quite a partyer on our hands.

just for fun

Just a little fun with Daddy. How cute is that?

I'm not sure who was more fun to watch, Todd or Gabriel.

Daddy thought that he was posing for a picture instead of a movie.

Introducing...

Dada















Taylor















Mama















Paige















This morning Gabriel was helping his mommy with the laundry. Each time something would come out of the dryer, Gabriel would identify who the clothing belonged to.

For instance, when the red shirt came out, he would repeat "Dada, Dada, Dada" along with using the sign for Daddy over and over until it was acknowledged by mommy.

And he was right every time.

What a good helper.