Kid Updates(so I don't forget...)

Sophy~ almost 2

Sophy is the baby and she knows it! She is quite the little ham talking in her silly voice and then laughing hysterically. She loves to do everything her siblings do, but also loves to be held...a lot...like all the time:). She is daring and fearless, climbing up and going down the huge slides at the park all by herself. She is so proud that she has mastered jumping(now actually leaving the ground an inch or 2). She has really taken off in her speech and surprises us everyday with new phrases(like when she copies Hayley's talking doll and walks around the house saying, "Oh, I just made a stinky!") Her favorite phrases are, "Hold you Mommy!" and "This mine??" She plays with her baby and play foods the most and is so sweet to watch as she rocks her doll and sings it "Jesus Loves Me." Her favorite books right now are Bear Snores On, But Not the Hippopotamus, and The Very Hungry Catapillar. She is pretty much potty trained although we are having some issues with #2...I"ll spare you the details but it involves a lot of laundry! She said bye-bye to her beloved num-num(pacifier) and is now even more attached to her soft purple blanket. Just moved to a big girl bed and loves it! We all love her to death and have decided that she is going to have to stay 2 forever!!

Hayley~ 4
Life would sure be boring without Hayley! She is the funniest, smartest, silliest girl(or "gill" as she would say in her little accent). She is sometimes difficult to discipline because she's just so darn funny that I have a hard time keeping a straight face. She loves her gymnastics class and can't wait to play soccer next fall. She was begging me to teach her to read, so I thought I would humor her...low and behold she is actually reading!! She still has lots to learn but she soaks stuff up so quickly that it won't take her long! For example a couple weeks ago I was praticing counting by 5's with Myles and the next morning she walked out of her bedroom and said, "Mommy, I can count by 5's." And then she did...all correctly...to 100! She's also really good at memorizing verses. She is the most outgoing of the kids so far(we're not sure about Sophy yet:)) and she loves to talk! She always has a twinkle in her eye that makes you wonder what she's up to. She is a daddy's girl and he loves it! She mostly plays with stuffed animals and it's hilarious to listen in on her pretending! She plays well with Kyra and Myles and lately has really taken on the big sister role and included Sophy in her play. It's so fun to watch! She's dramatic and everything is "super"...super fun, super yummy, super bad, super tired, super hungry. We love you Hayley G.!

Myles~ almost 6

Myles is a one of a kind boy. I can truely say he's my favorite boy(Daddy is my favorite man:)). He has this wonderful crazy boy side which sends him racing around the house shooting nerf darts in all directions, and at the same time he is gentle and sweet with his little sisters. Myles is my prayer warrior! He'll often stop me when I'm busy or frustrated and say, "Mommy, do you need me to pray for you?" To which I always respond, "YES!!!!" Myles is a super talented athlete. He had a great soccer season scoring lots of goals, but also making lots of assists. He is in a 7-9yr old gymnastics class with Kyra and is one of the best in the class. Our living room is actually just a runway for round-offs, cartwheels, and handstands! Lately he has been loving shooting baskets with Daddy at the park, and of course their nightly sword fights. Much to my dismay he really likes Daddy's Christian spanish rap music and can dance with the best of them. Even though it's winter, Myles prefers shorts, no shirt, and flip flops. He loves cars and trains and Legos. This year in school he has really taken off. I wasn't exactly sure what to expect from him, but he has surprised me in all areas! Every week he becomes a better reader, and math seems to click so easily for him. Myles loves to build and create things and is always coming up with new "inventions". I love that one of his most consistent prayers is that Sophy will become a Christian. It is such a blessing to have Myles along with this sea of girls, plus we need someone to take care of things when Daddy's at work!

Kyra~ 7 1/2

Our Kyra...my best helper, my right hand girl, thoughtful towards others and loves her family. Loves to lay in bed and read in the morning long after H and S have left the room. Loves mysteries, loves crafts and cards, loves horses, loves playing with her american girl doll and stuffed animals. Her favorite books are American Girl mysteries, Magic Tree House, and some classic starts-Anne of Green Gables, The Little Princess, Secret Garden. Kyra has really come out of her shell in the past year and been more outgoing with others, at church, out running errands etc. She had a great soccer season and loves her weekly gymnastics class with Myles. She will be in her first spelling bee next month and she is studying hard. School comes very easily for Kyra- she's a great speller, excellent reader, loves science and history, and sometimes likes math:). She delights in making notes, pictures, and scavenger hunts for her siblings...which they all love! When she grows up she wants to be a trail guide for horseback riding at Lake Tahoe:). She recently started doing 1 load of laundry a day to help me out-the fact that Daddy
promised her $2 allowance a week instead of $1 if she helped with laundry might have motivated her a little! I love spending a little time alone with Kyra in the evening because she always has big thoughts, interesting ideas for new crafts or science projects, or funny stories and I love hearing it all! She will always be our special girl- love you Kyra!

Let the fun begin...

Our Hayley Grace is 4!

Our sweet, funny, full of life precious Hayley turned 4 today!! The day was dedicated to her and she got to choose EVERYTHING! (she was sure to tell that to all her siblings several times:))

Soooooo, after waking up to balloons and presents, we started with a trip to the Donut Wheel, then played at the park, then lunch and rest time(she didn't choose that), then to Toys R Us for her crown, balloon, and toy. Next we headed to Bookmans to spend her $10 birthday certificate(don't you just love getting free stuff for birthdays!) and then to Peter Piper for pizza, games, and carousel rides. After that it was home for "rainbow cake" and ice cream. A fun day with our favorite 4 year old girl!

December Fun!

I love December!! Counting down to the birth of Jesus and so many fun, free, family things to do! We did all our regular traditions, which are different and fun every year because the kids are different ages. We went to the "forest" to pick out our tree, decorated it while drinking hot chocolate and marshmallows, watched it "snow" at the fancy mall, walked through the lights at Winterhaven and ate lote of candy canes! Also drove through the lights in the disney neighborhood several times. This year we made crafts for a nursing home and went with other homeschool families from church to sing carols and perform skits for the residents. My 4 sang and acted out Luke 2:8-14 from the Seeds CD. It was a lot of fun! We got to Flagstaff about 5 days before Christmas and sledded, played with cousin Reese, made Christmas tree coffee cakes with Grandma, decorated our annual gingerbread house, sang carols to Grandma Rosie and hugged her for the last time, and on Christmas got together with all the family and exchanged gifts. Here are some pictures of the fun...all out of order:).

The "bad list" and other funny things...

We don't make a huge deal about Santa around here, but Myles took it upon himself to keep a "bad list" and a "good list" on the back of his bedroom door. One day when mad at Kyra for taking something, he calls out, "I'm gonna put you on the bad list!" I turned and said, "I've been grumpy today. I should be on the bad list." Myles says matter-of-factly, "Oh, don't worry- you already are!"

Hayley after drinking a big mug of hot chocolate says, "Ahh- my belly is so plumped."

Another Hayley- "Please, please, please can I have just a little bit more smudge?!" (aka fudge)

When making gingerbread houses Myles says, "Daddy, Daddy you gotta see my great smoker!" (aka chimney)

Sophy's version of a knock-knock joke(every time)-

Sophy: knock knock

Mommy: who's there?

S: apple

M: apple who?

S: who (followed by hysterical laughing:))

When asked what her name is, Sophy says "Fee Fee!"(which sends all the kids rolling with laughter)

Mommy's stomach growls and Sophy turns and says, "Tigers coming!"

Big Brothers are the Best!!

This picture pretty much sums up Myles' and Sophy's relationship...she is one blessed girl!

Attack of the Mini Ninjas!

Who knew that ninjas traveled on cows, sheep, and dogs?!
I thought I heard someone in the tub...

So much fun to have a boy around!!

The boxes are on their way!

We packed shoe boxes this year for Operation Christmas Child. As we watched some of the videos they have online of kids around the world receiving boxes, Myles, Kyra, Hayley and I were struck with a desire to pray for these kids and their families. We also were reminded once again of how much we have...WE ARE RICH!! in Christ as well as material things. Each of the kids packed a box for a girl or boy their age and filled it with fun toys, school supplies, and hygiene items. They each took great pleasure in picking out things that they thought "their boy or girl" would like. I was proud of them as we went through Target and Dollar Tree- we picked out lots of toys and not one was for them and there was no complaining!(miracles do happen!!) We have been praying for the girls and boy who will receive our boxes and that best of all, they will hear about Jesus. We can't wait to see where the boxes end up!!