Basement

The basement complete! Now the kitchen is almost there...so many projects!!!

In the spotlight

Jacob has had a few chances to be in the spotlight over the past few months. He gave the prayer at his friend's baptism and it was really sweet. Then he was Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in the 3rd grade colonial play and did a great job. He has performed with the 3rd grade chorus for a few performances. He also participated in the Pinewood Derby for scouts and has already received his Wolf badge.

Rock star

Bradlee loves rock music. He got a guitar and microphone set for Christmas and has since composed a new song called, "Rock the house!" He performs in the living room and Sarah is his #1 fan. He has also written his first trilogy called, "The bunny and the boy." He has a whole library box of books that he has written. He's going to submit one to the PBS young writers contest this year. He said, "I should get an award for writing so many books and being a rock star."

He's got the confidence of a rock star as well. A young but married friend shares Bradlee's birthday and he asked her out on a date to celebrate their birthdays. They went to Wendy's. He's not going to have a problem talking to girls when he's older!

He also lost his first 2 teeth and wanted a dirt cake for his birthday.

Kidisms

Samuel tries to say "Hip hip hooray" but it comes out "Hick hick foray!" Different meaning.

Sarah enjoyed her birthday and is already planning next year's festivities. She spends a lot of time thinking about her future husband and children, how many kids she'll have and what their names will be. She told me today she wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

The other night Sarah talked in her sleep: "I love Jacob. I love buckets. I love that." Then she turned over and went back to sleep.

Another night she yelled in her sleep: "Samuel! Samuel! SAMUEL!" Then she kept on snoring. Samuel couldn't hear her because he had his head under his pillow. New song: "I'll leave my Samo, under his pillow..."

Samuel, though extremely good at speaking, still makes errors sometimes. He's convinced that every phone call is for him and loves to talk to Gma April on the phone. The other day he enthusiastically greeted her, "Hi Gma A-hole!!"

Samuel calls all of his stuffed animals his "guys". He's excited to go to the father-son "camp-up" this year. One night during the closing song of family night he fell off the piano bench and got a 1/2" incision in his tongue and a cut on his cheek. When the bandaid on his cheek came off he sadly said, "I fumped my face."

yes, Christmas

Here are some Christmas pics. Apparently, all the kids needed was a box! Samuel sang, "Hark, the Herald Angels sing, Glory to the boring king!" When I told him it was "newborn" he said, "I can't say that." But he can say "reconciled" perfectly, so I don't really believe him.

Samo and Sarah held hands and danced together, inspired by the dancers on Christmas with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Bradlee declared, "I'm the best dancer in this family!"