So, now it's 1:35pm on Christmas day and we are all still in our pj's. That is everyone except our baby, Lauren. She of course has to be in a "dance costume" every second of her life. Santa brought her little dance slippers in her stocking and she was such a sight to see wearing those, a full tutu costume that Melissa has grown out of and scootering around on her little pink princess scooter that I just finished assembling (Santa got too worn out last night to assemble it, and just wrapped it in the box). Spencer and McKay got golf clubs and a promise from Jerem that a few lessons come with that....here's looking to some fun father/son outings. We've all been playing Beetles Rock Band all morning that was a family gift and I have to admit that it's pretty fun. We've had to watch where we are walking though as the little boys got remote control cars and they are everywhere with them. With all the fun, relaxing, excitement of today, I'm glad we had a nice evening last night to talk about what Christmas is really all about.
(break for sledding at Grandma Pitt's.....and yes getting dressed finally)
We are all doing well. Rachel just made the Jr. high basketball team which she is sooo excited about. She also is still on a highly competitive soccer team which she plays goalie half of the time. She is such a great girl, and loving 7th grade in the big Jr. HIgh School. I'm not sure if I'm ready for her to grow up so fast, but it is so fun to see her grow and become such a wonderful young lady. Somewhere something happened right, and we feel so blessed to be her parents and let her be a good example to the rest of the bunch. She got her ears pierced this past fall and it's fun to see her liking pink and girly things now and keeping up with her Piano.
Spencer is so full of love. That kid has such a big heart. He enjoys soccer (most of the time) . He has started liking watching football and basketball maybe even as much as Jerem, so it's fun for the two of them to do together. He is often found out on our front lawn with his brothers and the other neighborhood kids playing football. He got a flag football kit for Christmas....hopefully the tackles won't be so rough now.
Melissa is so cute. She is always out to please. She has a love/hate relationship with her violin and practicing, but is getting pretty good after 4 years. She got a crocheted head band with a flower for Christmas with lessons from my friend to teach her how to make them. She is incredibly good with crafty things to do with her hands. She is the best singer on the Beatles Rock Band that we have played this morning. She tried soccer for the first time this year and is liking getting it all out on the soccer field.
Hunter is a cutie. He's been working hard on his tumbling, and can do some pretty amazing back flip/ twist things. He sure is a determined little guy. He also is enjoying soccer and started piano this past year. He can always find a way to crack us up, and we love him so much.
McKay is a bundle of energy and determination too. He loves to make booby traps and surprise you at every turn. He'll be 7 in a couple of weeks. He likes reading to me every day after school and also enjoys soccer and football. He's been begging me to take piano too, but I don't think I can keep up with another music lesson, but we'll see if I can just teach him a little here and there until summer.
Brigham can be found with a bandaid on his right thumb all of the time in efforts as he would say "so I won't be a beaver". Actually we are trying to help him stop sucking his thumb, and it's working as long as a bandaid is on there. He also doesn't want to look like a beaver. I sucked my thumb , so I'm incredibly nervous about him doing it too long, and am trying to help him now. He is soo cute. I love the little words and questions that he and Nathan come up with. They are loving their bikes and going to preschool with Mrs. Laurie. Brigham loves mopping our kitchen floor after dinner.
Nathan is also so cute. He is always buddy buddy with Lauren who loves him dearly most days. Nathan is also very articulate and corrects well anything miss-said by his two closest siblings. Like the other day Brigham said that if you are bad then you will get "uncle cool" (a term my brother Steve says is his nickname) for Christmas, and we all laughed, and Nathan quickly corrected him and said, "no that's a Lump of Coal". Nathan loves working with me to clean up and is good at being obedient. (usually if I can get one of the youngest three to come, then the others follow suit)
Lauren is pink pink pink. She loves all girly things. She shows us her "pingernails" every time Melissa paints them....which is often, yet holds her own with her big brothers. She is potty trained now...YES! I keep reminding her that she is Mama's baby and we both love it and snuggle on the rocking chair in her room as often as we can.
Phew...what a review. Jerem is doing great as always and is the super-glue that holds us together well. I am so grateful for him! He is always found rubbing my back of which I know he would love in return. He is wonderful at playing with the kids and doing the little things to help keep them happy. I have loved our talks about our lessons we have as we relish in the blessings of the gospel that we have.
I love keeping things as organized as possible and making yummy things to eat for meals (in between that I try to keep up on laundry, look for a little bit bigger home close by, make movies or do photography, study for lessons I teach for church, read to my kidos, nag them a little to do what they need to do, run car pools, check over homework, practice the piano and violin with the kids, watch games my kids are playing in, put bandaids on owies, put out figurative fires, sometimes practice the piano or violin myself, a little cleaning and even excercising) You know....being a Mom.
We have loved being around all of you this Christmas time and are as grateful as ever for such a wonderful family and support.
love, Jerem and Cathy
