The Holbrook Family: December 2012

Monday, December 31, 2012

Bear Lake

We headed up to Bear Lake the weekend after Christmas with my side of the family. It was beautiful and freezing up there. Mark took Charlie and Kenya skiing/snowboarding to Beaver Mountain one day, we did some sledding and lots of playing games with cousins. A new one this year was when the older cousins (5 and up) would disappear for hours at a time making and editing a movie with their itouch. The movie was pretty funny, I would've loved to have something so accessible as a kid, making videos is always fun. :)

They trecked it up this ginormous hill and came flying down on their tubes. It was kind of scary to watch. Charlie and Kenya both did it a couple times. Leila was happy to walk up a few feet then slide down on the tube. She loved it.

We didn't really even plan to do all those cute braids, just kind of happened.

All the cousins on my side of the family, two more on the way!

The frenemies Scarlett and Leila. Can't wait until their 3ish and playing better for longer periods of time.

Saturday, December 29, 2012

Sledding

It started snowing on Monday, Christmas Eve and didn't really stop until Thursday and into Friday too. I loved having so much snow over Christmas and for the break, it just wouldn't have been the same without it. The kids were playing outside in it a lot, Mark got the 4 wheeler and sled out again and they bummed rides off the Johnsons 4 wheeler and sled after our day of sledding. Charlie didn't come inside until about 7:00 that night I think. He was out in the snow for 5 hours straight not including our sledding earlier that day. I'd say his new snow gear is keeping him pretty warm, or he's just an energetic boy. :)

That night Charlie got invited to sleep over at his friend Brock's so we took Brock's sister Kiley and she had a sleepover with Kenya. They were both so excited, we don't really do sleepovers, just cousins and a couple select friends. The next day was Friday and I spent the day packing us up to go up to Bear Lake for the weekend. I can't believe how fast our break is flying by. Mark had pretty much the whole week off which was so nice. He got to go enjoy the powder on Thursday up at Snowbird while I took the kids sledding. Lucky guy.

Thursday, December 27, 2012

Random

Dinner with Tia and Brooke. A night at the Cheesecake Factory and shopping. Despite the fact that they kept coming back and telling us they were out of half of the stuff we ordered it was a great night. :)

Part of Charlie's gifts to his friends.

I grew a lot since my last picture. December 19, 24 weeks

We went to Les Miserables the day after Christmas, all my siblings, my mom and Rick and my dad and Christine. Almost filled up the entire row. It was so, so good. I didn't expect to cry throughout the whole thing. My new favorite movie and I think Hugh Jackman is now officially my favorite actor.

Charlie showing my mom his piano skills while I was doing her hair.

I put her to bed with mini oreos in her hand, books, toys, sippy...she is definitely the third child.

Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Christmas

Can't believe it's come and gone already! Even Charlie this year said how fast Christmas came, which I thought was unusual for a kid, it usually goes by so slow. He was savoring every moment. This year was really fun with all of my kids ages because they were all so excited about it. Leila loved opening her stocking and gifts. Charlie woke up at 5:45, Leila 6:15 and they got Kenya out of bed at 7:00. No sleeping in around here. I think Mark was just as excited as they were though. :)

Christmas jammies and opening stockings...

She went through a whole pack of gum in a matter of minutes. She was excited for her "colors" from Charlie and her pillow pet, which she won't sleep with though. I was hoping it would replace the scraggly bunny pillow she sleeps with every night that's falling apart but she won't part with it.

Kenya got the cinderella carriage she asked Santa for and was thrilled.

Leila got a baby cradle and Charlie got Madden 13 and a sled from Santa. Santa brought our family a soda maker. I love their faces in the picture below when we told them what it was.

This was a big surprise for the girls, and Charlie was so excited to get his Red Ryder bb gun. He looks so old in the picture below on the right, it's freaking me out.

Last but not least the kids each opened a Disney ornament and a box filled with balloons and a paper that said we're going to Disneyland! They didn't catch on at first but once we told them what it was they were thrilled. We head out February 1st.

And the aftermath, mess and playtime...

She ate a lot of pez packs too.

Charlie did really well shooting it with Mark, he had a pretty good aim for his first time. That day was nice and relaxing. We didn't have anywhere to go until 5:00 so we ate breakfast, played, ate lunch, watched a show, took a nap, cleaned up, and got ready to go to Cami's for dinner.

Cami's house also ended in a talent show with singing and dancing cousins with a dance party finale by all the littles. It was pretty entertaining!!

Gifts from grandpa.

Entertainment by the twin 2 year olds. Scarlett was hilarious dancing in her underwear.

Christmas songs by the 5 year old triplets. They all have the same kindergarten teacher. Kenya kept getting after Knox because he wasn't doing the actions to "I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus."

And the dance party...

Another memorable Christmas!

Monday, December 24, 2012

Christmas Eve

We had our traditional bowling fest with the Poulson side this year at Boondocks. We had to wait for an hour to get our lanes together but since we were at Boondocks it was fine, we just ate lunch and let the kids play games until our lanes were available. Then we had an hour of fun filled bowling. The kids loved it, I loved the tiny bowling shoes Leila got to wear. Charlie lost by 1 point to Sailor on the older kids lane and Mark won on our lane, not sure about the third lane but it was probably Luke, he is the bowling professional. :)

The triplets, Kenya, Greta and Knox and the older cousins.

Love the pose she kept giving me. Look at those tiny bowling shoes.

We had Mark's family over for Christmas Eve dinner that night. It ended with a little talent show of my kids singing all the Christmas songs they learned at school this year. Leila wanted in on the action and got up a few times when they were done to sing "Twinkle Twinkle" or as she says "Winkle Winkle" she knows the melody really well but doesn't get very many words right. It was pretty cute.

The kids opened up their traditional Christmas Eve pajamas and we got them to bed around 10 I believe. We noticed Santa came later that night so I took a few pictures of what was left for the kids under the tree. He ate our cookies, answered Charlie's questions (sort of) and left a little note for the kids.

Sunday, December 23, 2012

Sunday Best

The girls in their new Christmas dresses, I might have given up on getting Charlie to wear anything else than his suit. We'll have to settle for a Christmas tie I think. Kenya was giving me some attitude and didn't want to smile. By the time I got her to Leila was done standing still. I love that she's playing with her dress though. When I put it on her she said "pretty!" and started twirling around. Last year Kenya was full on crying in the picture so this is a step up. :) Love these little cuties.

Thursday, December 20, 2012

Ice Skating

There is a little ice skating rink at Station Park that we took the kids too with the Nixon's. They had so much fun! We didn't head over until 7:00 on a school night so it cleared out pretty quick and by 8:00 we had the rink to ourselves. We had to drag the kids off the rink. Kenya said she wanted to live there she loved it so much. Mark ended up taking them to the rec center that weekend too because they kept begging to go ice skating again.

Leila and I just watched but she loved when Mark would hold her and skate around with her. She ran around with Luke, they were so cute together.

The World Through Kids Eyes

August 2013

Leila has officially stopped saying "I wanna hold you" :( She would always say that to us and I have never corrected her but I guess she figured it out for herself because tonight she said "hold me". She's growing up too fast!

November 2011
I told Kenya tonight that I was glad Heavenly Father sent her to me. She said "Why did Heavenly Father send me to you?" I said "well we were all a family before we came to earth, in heaven." She said "Mom, how did you get up in the sky?" "I don't know." I said. "Did Santa give you a ride?" Followed with giggles by both of us.

November 2010
Today I was telling Mark about how angry I got at Kenya for coloring on the table for like the millionth time. She heard me talking about it and said "You're not a nice mom, you're like the BEAST! I'm gonna put you in da gawbage and get a new mommy!" Then later Mark asked her when he was reading her a bedtime story "Kenya, am I the King?" She said "No, you're the debil (devil)." Charlie was drawing a picture of our family for school and drew me with my mouth open he said "Look mom, you're yelling." I don't think we're leaving the right kind of impression on our kids here.

July2010
Today Kenya came up to Mark and said "Daddy I have to tell you something." She then made him bend down so she could whisper in his ear "You're the best dad in the whole wide world." He thought maybe I told her to say that but she came up with it all on her own. She then did the same thing to me. I love hearing that little whisper in my ear.

June 2010
Kenya randomly makes comments on the baby in my belly, it usually goes something like this. "I like your big belly mom" then "I like your baby Leila." Then it's followed by "I have a big belly too." Tonight that was followed by "It's hooge."

March 2010
When Kenya is demanding something I will tell her she needs to ask nicely. She then yells at me "NICELY!" Not quite what I was meaning.
If you say something like "How are you doing?" She'll say "Kenya" instead of good, or bad, or sad, or happy. Kinda cute.
She's really starting to put her sentences together and express herself a lot better. It's fun to have conversations with her.

March 2010
At dinner we were discussing how babies just drink when they're newborns and don't eat food. We asked Charlie if he knew what they drank and he said "yes, milk from your..." he paused for a few seconds and we were anticipating what was going to come out, then he said "from your belly!" What innocence.
February 2010-
Kenya has been saying some cute things lately most mornings she comes into our bed and snuggles in right in the middle of us. This morning she snuggled up next to Mark, put her hand on his cheek and said "daddy you're my sweetie girl." We had to laugh. Last night we were in the car, Mark was on the phone and Charlie was being really loud so he turned around and grabbed his leg to get him to be quiet. Charlie started crying and Kenya got really mad "don't hurt my sista! You otay Charlay?" We explained it was her brother and she said it all over again, this time with brother. She's been calling a lot of people her sister lately, she's a bit confused.
I made chocolate football cake bites for the superbowl and whenever she finishes her food she says "I want a hapball!" The first couple times I didn't know what she was saying until she ran over to them and pointed, now we know that hapball is football.

July 2009-
Charlie was asking me if his dreams would come true (I thought he was referring to bad dreams because he's been so scared of having bad dreams lately thanks to watching "Thriller") I told him they wouldn't come true and he kept asking me about it. Finally he said "Well daddy's dream came true when you were his wife!" Awww, thanks bud!

June 2009-
Yesterday Charlie randomly said to me "You know mom Jesus is sad when you're mean to me." I guess what goes around comes around. He also told me as we were reading "Little Red Cap" (the real Little Red Riding Hood story) "She shouldn't have lied to her mom" he said. I said "No she should've minded her mom and not gone off the path." He said "well sometimes I lie to you." At least he's honest, well sometimes. :)
May 2009-
Kenya loves the park. Every time we drive by one she freaks out "side, side! Mama side mease, meeease!" (slide please) she says "mease" all the time, it kills me! So cute. She also loves to say "go way!" Every time she's mad at someone or we're trying to get her to do something she doesn't want to its "go way!"

February 2009-Charlie said a prayer the other day that went like this "Grateful we could go to Disneyland, grateful for Halloween, grateful for Christmas, in the name..." That was it! Kind of funny.

December 2008-Last night when Mark was putting Charlie to bed Charlie said "Dad, I think Jaxon isn't choosing the right." Mark said "Yeah, how come? " Charlie said "Because he likes BYU and that's not choosing the right." Mark was pretty proud.

December 2008-

Charlie had a Christmas pajama party at preschool. He got a gift from his teachers. He opened it up and it was a blanket they had made for him, "Wow, a blanket!" I said. Charlie said "It's beautiful!" Then a bit later he was doing a puzzle while I was on the computer and out of nowhere he just says "Merry Christmas mom." He can be so sweet.

November 2008- With Christmas right around the corner and his birthday a couple weeks ago Charlie wants everything he sees on TV. He'll be upstairs watching TV and you'll just hear him say "How 'bout that!" And if it's a girl toy it's "How 'bout that for Kenya!" I don't know why it's "how 'bout that" but it puts a smile on my face every time he says it. It's too cute.

I love how honest Charlie is. The other day he went to the bathroom and when he came out I said "wash your hands" as he came out he got distracted for a minute and then said "Oh yeah, I got poop on my finger." And went to the bathroom. The same day he told me that while he was playing outside with his friend Brady he peed in our dirt, just randomly told me later that afternoon with a guilty look on his face. I was surprised because he hates peeing outside!

I took Charlie to Target to pick out a Halloween costume. I thought he would pick one out immediately and probably choose spider man or batman, well he wasn't really jumping on anything he saw, until he saw a transformer costume he said "I want to be a transformer!" I said "Ok do you want to be Bumble Bee?" "No, I want to be Octopus Prime!" I think it's so cute to hear him say it I haven't told him it's Optimus Prime.

One morning while we were getting ready for church Charlie in his best little sick voice says to me "Mom, (cough cough) I can't go to church, I'm sick (cough cough) see I have a cough.! Isn't he a little young to be doing that?

Last night I was kneeling down by Charlie as he said his prayers. This is what he said- "...Grateful I could go to preschool, grateful for daddy and Kenya," then he reached out and stroked my hair, "and grateful for mommy's hair." He was so happy yesterday when I came home from work and my hair was done and not in a pony tail anymore.

Charlie's Aunt Kristen asked him one day "Charlie what did you do today?" He said " I played with Samara." She said "Oh, is that your friend?" "No!" He said, " she's my husband!"

Mark sold his car and Charlie was with us as we dropped it off to the new owner. Charlie said "Dad, where is your car going?" Mark said " I sold it, it's going bye bye." Charlie said "All our of our stuff going bye bye?" I hope we're not traumatizing him! :)

Charlie has been learning about the Holy Ghost and he seems a bit confused at the concept. Today out of the blue he asked me "Mom, where is the Holy Ghost?" I tried to explain to him that he's a spirit and he can bring good feelings to you etc.. Then he said "Oh, can I touch his blanket?" (This is what a ghost is to him, somebody with a blanket over them.) So then I explained that he's not a real ghost he's a spirit and he doesn't have a body etc. Then he said "Yeah, but he almost has a body, and when I pull off it's blanket is the Holy Ghost a girl or a boy?" Let's just say he's still confused. :)

We went to Discovery Gateway today and as we were walking in there was a little person standing by the entrance. Charlie looks at me and says "Mom, that was a wittle mom." I thought that was pretty politically correct. :)

Today at church Charlie was playing with some cards on the bench during sacrament when I looked over at him he seemed to be pondering something and said to me "mom, am I going to get baptized?" I said "Yes, when you're 8 you can get baptized." "But I want to get baptized now!" (The lady sitting in front of us turns around and whispers "precious." :)) I told him again he could when he's eight. Then he said "Can daddy help me get baptized?" I guess he is learning something in primary and FHE!

Almost every morning I have a battle with Charlie on what he's going to wear. At least the mornings when I care what he wears and want him to look decent. Last night he got to pick out a movie to rent, he chose a Buzz Lightyear one (this is his latest obsession.) This morning I brought out some clothes and he saw them and said "No, not that shirt! That shirt won't make me Buzz Lightyear!" I said "Oh, what shirt will?" "Come here, I'll show you." And he took me into his room and insisted that he wear a white baseball T with green sleeves. This is the closest shirt he has that resembles Buzz Lightyear's costume. Pretty creative kid.

Charlie is in sunbeams now but we've been watching Cami's kids this weekend at her house so he went to nursery today with his cousin Luke. When we got home I asked him what he learned in nursery. He said "nothing." I said "didn't you have a lesson, you must have learned something." Very adamantly he responded "No we don't learn anything in nursery, we just have snacks!" No wonder why he loves it! :)

Cami has a piano in her house and yesterday towards the end of Charlie's nap Luke started softly touching the keys. Charlie woke up and came out of the bedroom with his hands out to the side palms facing up and said in a sweet surprised voice "I wake up and heard the piano singing." Mark and I thought it was too funny.

Those of you who have been around us probably know that Charlie hates my hair in a pony tail. I have no idea where this came from but for about a year he has been like this. It's getting better but at first he would throw a huge fit and say "Don't cutta your hair!" Then I explained to him it was a pony tail so it became "Take out your ponytail!" And he would grab my hair and try and get the elastic out. He's made progress over the past year, it went from forbidding it to throwing a fit but on occasion after I explained to him I was going to the gym or didn't have time to do my hair a few times a day I could make it through the day. Now He doesn't immediately respond to it when he sees it but at some point through out the day he'll comment on it. The other day he was going down for his nap and he said "Mom when I wake up will you take your ponytail out?" I can't believe a three year old boy could care so much about a ponytail! So much for short hair, he probably wouldn't speak to me for weeks! :)

After we sold our house we moved into my dad's. Charlie loves being around his grandpa and the other day he was sitting on the potty and I said "Charlie, do you need help?" and he said "no, I want grandpa to wipe me!" I said "no, grandpa doesn't wipe you, just mommy." So a couple days later he says to grandpa "Grandpa, are you a boy or a girl?" Grandpa said "I'm a boy." Charlie said "if you're a boy then you can wipe me!" Don't know how he decided that one but I guess he's got it all figured out!

Kenya has been sick the past day and tonight at dinner Charlie said "why isn't Kenya eating?" I said "Because she's sick." He said "Oh, does she have a snotty nose?" I said "No, she has a tummy ache." "Oh, did she eat an egg?" "No, I said ache, not egg, it means her tummy hurts." In classic Charlie response to everything "Oh." :)