Existential Games

We're all trying to figure out our new normal around here. Bryan kind of went back to work this week, but ended up working from home for two of the days. He's also worked out an arrangement where he takes the boys to school and goes into work late, then comes home early and picks up the boys from school and finishes his work after bedtime. I'm very thankful for this, even if it only lasts a short time.

That leaves me and the girls at home. The tiny girl is in an eat-sleep-eat-sleep kind of rotation, so she and I aren't keeping regular hours yet. We spend many hours each day sitting. The not-so-tiny girl is still active and energetic and seems to have a hard time understanding why I'm not chasing her around like usual.

Yesterday I was sitting, feeding Sophie, when Phoebe ran up to me.

Phoebe: Mommy, come play hide-and-seek with me!

Me: Oh Phoebe, I would like to, but I can't right now because I'm feeding Sophie.

Phoebe: That's okay. You count and I'll hide.

Me: But I can't come find you.

Phoebe: I'll find myself.

Me: Okay. One, two, three, four, five, ready or not, find yourself.

It's Great to be Eight!

Peter had a birthday last week. He turned eight. In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that means that he is now old enough to be baptized. This very important ordinance will take place later this month.

We kept his actual birthday low-key. He celebrated with cake, video games, presents, and bowling. The girls and I stayed home from the bowling, but I hear it was great fun.

Here he is reading a special birthday card about getting baptized that Bryan found for him.

This is his reaction to a present that he requested and I put together for him. It's a writing kit. A good friend of mine made one for her daughter and I showed it to Peter, which is why he asked for one. She wrote up a blog post about it here.

Peter's is a little different. Instead of a box, his is in a notebook. I didn't have access to the art, so I omitted that part. I did include the writing prompts (and found additional writing prompts by searching Pinterest) and the character and setting ideas. I also printed off comic book paper (which came from another project that the same very talented friend made for Cooper, found here) for him to use in addition to the lined paper in his book. There's a pocket in the front that holds colored pens and colored pencils.

So far he's used it to write out instructions to a video game and to make some worksheets for Cooper. Perhaps that means that he's tapping into his genetic predisposition for technical writing?

He got a science kit that he's been eyeing at Costco.

And here's the gift we saved for last. He looked in the bag. Can you tell that he's a bit excited?

Here it comes...

Minecraft Legos! Bryan has this set and Peter was overjoyed to get his own. He spent the next day building.

And as is tradition, here are some of his favorite things right now as a newly minted eight-year-old.

FAVORITE FOOD: Spaghetti and meatballs

FAVORITE DESSERT: Neapolitan Ice Cream

FAVORITE ANIMAL: Cheetah

FAVORITE BOOK: Spaceheadz

FAVORITE COLOR: Red

FAVORITE TV SHOW: Lego Ninjago

FAVORITE MOVIE: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Series of Unfortunate Events, Holes, Turbo
FAVORITE SONG: Families Can Be Together Forever

FAVORITE BOARD GAME: Clue
FAVORITE VIDEO GAME: Minecraft

FAVORITE THING TO DO: Play Minecraft

FAVORITE LEGO SET: LEGO Minecraft Micro WorldFAVORITE MEMORY FROM BEING 7: Going to Disneyland, living next to the MTC and every Wednesday seeing the new missionaries go in
FAVORITE PLACE: Gamestop
FAVORITE SUBJECT IN SCHOOL: Science

FRIENDS: Angel, Brooklyn, Madelyn, Quentin, Zakkarhy, Max, Alex, Edward

The Force

Cooper was very patient about getting his visit from the Tooth Fairy. By the time said fairy came, two boys needed visits.

We didn't realize that Peter even had a loose tooth, and come to think of it, he might not have. See, on the night of his birthday (which I'll write about tomorrow) he was full of energy and bouncing around instead of getting ready for bed. He was bouncing so much that he bounced his knee up to meet his face. The result was a yell of pain. I came to investigate and found one of Peter's teeth just barely hanging on. A moment later, it was out in his palm. That's right, he knocked his own tooth out. Not exactly a happy birthday moment.

The first question was if it was a baby tooth or not. You'd think we would have known from looking at it, but we didn't. I thought it probably was since there was no root, but I wasn't sure. Thankfully our home teacher is a pediatric dentist and lives a few minutes away from us. We called to get his expert opinion and he came right over. It was indeed a baby tooth.

That night Peter wrote a note to the Tooth Fairy and asked for a new toothbrush. He's never been one to want money. We told him the Tooth Fairy had Christmas break off. Well, he (because the boys are in agreement that their Tooth Fairy is a boy) finally delivered.

On Sunday morning the boys woke up to these notes under their pillows.

They also found the red and green toothbrushes pictured below.

Their Tooth Fairy has skills. And when they asked if I had made the notes, I could honestly answer no.

Bryan's Year

Remember my end-of-year movie that Google+ put together? Well, tonight Bryan got one too. He's kindly letting me post it here. Some of the pictures are also in mine, but there are a few special ones that are only found in Bryan's.

For instance, the first picture was one we took this summer. The building that we're standing in front of is one of the dorms at BYU. Specifically, it's the dorm where I was an RA for two years and where Bryan proposed. All of those buildings are being torn down and rebuilt, so it was very important to us to take the kids and get a picture while it was still there.

Another special picture comes near the end. Bryan went on several business trips in November and December. His last trip took him an hour and a half away from where his sister and her family live. After he finished his meetings for the day, he got in his rental car and made the drive. While there, he got to meet his brand new nephew who was only a few days old at the time.

There is a random movie stuck in there of a couple guys from work, but the rest is awesome.

Tough Love

It's good to have such a loving, doting big sister.

But sometimes the loving and doting gets to be a little too much.

Frozen

For Christmas my parents sent me the soundtrack to Frozen. The kids and I have all been enjoying it. Today Cooper and Phoebe sat calmly in front of the CD player, lyrics in hand, and listened to the whole thing. It was awesome.

One side effect is that we've all been singing the songs. Cooper really likes the beginning song, Frozen Heart, and has been singing that. Phoebe sings several songs, but today I heard this song more than any other. She has the tune and the words, except she pronounces the words like a pop singer. I don't know where this came from, but I'm trying to undo it. I do love hearing them sing though.

We Are Family

My dad, brothers, and children all share a particular sleeping trait. They like to slumber with one leg crossed on top of the other, like they're sitting in church, not lying in bed asleep. I checked on Sophie a few nights ago and found her like this:

It might be hard to see, but I'm pretty sure this is the newborn baby version of the same thing. She already bears a strong resemblance to the rest of us, I guess this removes any doubt. She definitely came to the right family.

Always

Sophie has a fan club. The three most vocal and active members are Peter, Cooper and Phoebe. They go out of their way to hug and kiss her. They speak to her in soft, loving tones. Yesterday Sophie was sitting in her car seat, crying, and Peter sat and sang to her until she calmed down. It was very sweet.

Today I was holding Sophie when Phoebe came over for a hug. She leaned in, put her arm around her new sister and said with her eyes closed and a peaceful smile, "She's ours forever."

Yes, she is.

In Review

Most of the pictures I post on here were taken with my phone. Since my phone automatically uploads all movies and pictures to Google+, that's where I often go to find blog inspiration. 

I was perusing my files yesterday, looking for something post-worthy, when I found a little gift from the folks at Google+. It's a year in review, made up of the footage I've uploaded.. Some of these pictures have been on the blog before, some are new. When I saw it I thought, "That's perfect for my last post of the year!" And yes, it made me a little weepy. Sadly, it does not include pictures of Sophie, but you can scroll to any of the other posts since her birth and look at those pictures and imagine that she's part of the movie.

Happy New Year!

Gifts

The children have spent the last few days engrossed in their Christmas goodies.

Peter has split his time between his Lego book, his new almanac, and The Dangerous Book for Boys. Cooper has been engrossed with his new Batcave, his Darth Tater set (which Bryan found on clearance for $5, because he has skills), and his new doctor kit. Consequently, I overheard Phoebe today as she used the stethoscope, "Wow, my heart is really healthy!" Phoebe, in what is not a surprising move, can't decide which she likes more, her princess storybook, her princess castle, or her new princess costume. (Both of the latter were also found on clearance; did you know that Costco does clearance very well?)

I'm thrilled that they love their new toys so much. I'm even more thrilled that some of those toys are books. The best part? I've been able to spend less time playing referee and more time with my favorite Christmas present: