The Holbrook Family

Sunday, December 27, 2009

Merry Christmas!

What a wonderful Christmas we had this year! Oh, except for that wake up call at 4:00 am by Charlie. If you read my last post you'll know he didn't go to bed until 10:00 which is late for him, I was hoping he would sleep in a bit, I don't know why I hope for such things. He was sooo excited when he came into our room and had seen that Santa had come. We sent him back to bed and he came in our room every hour, at 6:00 I stuck him in our bed and he sort of fell asleep for about an hour when we sent him upstairs to watch a show until Kenya woke up. Finally at 7:45 he got to start opening his presents. I love how Christmas gets them so excited! I was worried that Charlie might act ungrateful for his gifts and just want more and more. Thankfully that didn't happen. He was truly excited with each gift and when it was over you could tell he was sad but he was really thankful and excited to start playing with all his toys. I love the joy I get out of watching my kids enjoy Christmas so much!

I didn't take many pictures (again) but we got the whole thing on film. Kenya got some dress ups.

Charlie got his launcher/remote control rocket! Thank goodness, he was very anxious to head outside and try it out.

Here they are with most of the presents. I love that Kenya is playing the drums.

We went to Mark's mom's get together with all of his cousins and aunts and uncles before heading over to my dad's that afternoon. They had a karaoke machine and Charlie was the first one up there singing a solo of Jingle Bells. Kenya didn't want to miss out and later sang "I Am A Child of God" all by herself. It was really cute, again no pictures. I am terrible this year. I just haven't had the energy, this pregnancy has made me pooped! I think I'm just sick of being the picture taker but I guess I better keep doing it if I want pictures because no one else will!

Charlie loved this huge truck he got from Grandpa. Kenya loved her princess art set.

I did manage to get a family picture at the end of the day when we look haggard. Oh well, at least I got one! :)

Merry Christmas everyone! I am so grateful for this season to reflect on our Savior's birth. I feel so blessed in my life and wish I would take more time to count my blessings and savor the love and the spirit of Christmas year round instead of just once a year. It's such a wonderful time of year. I love it.

But I am exhausted and have had an extremely lazy weekend recovering! :)

Christmas Eve

Growing up it was always our tradition to go skiing on Christmas Eve, ever since we all started having kids of our own we've stopped that tradition since it's just a little too much work for now, I am excited for the year we feel like we can start doing that again but until then we've been going bowling instead. This year we decided to go ice skating though with our kids. We had a great time and the kids absolutely loved it! Charlie went a couple times last year with Mark but this was Kenya's first time and she had a ball. Charlie was a little more reserved this year but started getting the hang of it, holding our hands then wanting to go by himself. Fun memories!

She would just take off with Mark, practically running, it was really funny to watch!

We went to lunch, came home and started cooking and cleaning to get ready for Mark's family that night. It was the first year Grandmother Holbrook wasn't with us but we were able to remember her by using her China and reading one of her wonderful stories that she wrote about her child hood Christmas experiences. Mark's dad Richard was of course missed and remembered too.

I was so exhausted that night that I was really lazy at taking pictures which I now regret. At least I got a couple of Mark and his siblings, although this looks EXACTLY like the picture I took last year of the three of them. ;)

Charlie asked if he and Kenya could sleep in the same bed, I regretfully said yes, thought that if I gave them a little melatonin they would go to sleep okay, we always slept in the same room on Christmas Eve growing up so I thought it'd be fun for them. I should've known better. Finally a little before 10:00 I took Kenya out of the bed (kicking and screaming of course) and put her in her crib. Maybe next year? Okay, maybe in a couple more years. :)

Sunday Best?

I usually have bought my kids a new Sunday outfit for Christmas time each year. This year I decided it was time to be frugal, Kenya had a dress from her cousin Kaia that was perfectly Christmasy, probably Kaia's Christmas dress and I bought Charlie a vest and a sweater last year, I got pictures of him in his vest last year so this year I thought I'd just use his sweater. Sounded like a good idea huh? We have 9:00 church so I'm always rushed, Mark's not there in the mornings either which makes it crazier so I thew his sweater on snapped a couple pictures and we were off to church. Once at church I noticed I kept pulling Charlie's sweater down, after a couple minutes it would ride back up and was pretty much showing his stomach. After about the 15th time of telling him to pull down his sweater and noticing the sleeve had some lovely gunk on it Mark and I agreed he needed to wear something else, he looked a bit ridiculous! Mark took him home before primary and changed his sweater. Moral of the story? If you're going to be frugal, plan ahead and make sure the clothes still fit!

Kenya's First Dance Recital

Kenya had her Christmas dance recital, it was the cutest thing ever. She had two dances and a little finale. She did pretty good following her teacher in the dances. She came out on the finale with the totally wrong class, but that's okay it gave us a good laugh. Her cousin Greta is in the same class with her, they were really excited to perform!

There was a really tall girl who decided to stand right in front, almost on top of Kenya during their ballet number so I couldn't really get any good pictures of that one.

Greta couldn't stop waving to her family, it was cute.

Proud mom!

Mrs. T's Christmas Program

Charlie was so excited for this program because he knew Santa Claus was going to come! He was practicing the songs at home all the time, Kenya even learned some of them. He got to stand right by Santa and sang all the songs so well. He is quite the singer. All the kids got to sit on Santa's lap after singing and Kenya kept saying "Santa! Santa!" During it all. She was a handful to get to sit still and at one point she snuck her way up there and before you knew it she was on Santa's lap. She got shy when she got up there and mumbled something that she wanted. It was pretty cute.

I felt so bad because when it was finally Charlie's turn to go sit on his lap I was chasing Kenya and he got on and off so fast that I didn't get a picture. The picture below you can see Charlie in the corner going back to his seat, sorry bud!

He did tell him that he wanted a rocket launcher, monster truck, and a Chick Hicks truck. He's stuck to that list the whole time!

Snowman

Yay for some Christmas snow! The kids love playing it and were excited to build this snowman with their dad.

Saturday, December 19, 2009

July 17, 2010

Is when we will be expecting baby number 3! I'm 10 weeks along and starting to feel better, just tired and fat. I can't believe how quick my belly stuck out this time around I look about 4 months pregnant, it's wonderful. I thought I better let you all know before you saw me and had to wonder. :)

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." :)