A Perry Stocking

My 10 year-old son asked me to make a Christmas Stocking that looks like Perry the Platypus. (Have you ever watched "Phineas & Ferb?" Possibly the greatest kid's show ever!) He designed the stocking himself.

We used my Kona Cotton Color Card to find just the right colors and ordered the fabric. He was so not happy with the wait for the fabric. But, it finally came.

Perry the Platypus and S

My mother-in-law makes lots of custom Christmas stockings she sells through her Etsy site. She pointed me to an easy pattern on pintrest.

Word to the wise: Being a Quilter doesn't make you a Seamstress. This "pattern" is just a stocking shape and words that basically say "print to actual size; cut 2 lining and cut 2 outside fabrics; sew and you are done!"

I had NO idea what I was doing and made it up as I went along.  My son LOVED it, but I'm so tempted to scrap it and start all over again. I was happy with it until I made the LAST seam, but was so tired I just wanted to be done.



Christmas Morning

  

Christmas Eve, my son put out Perry's stocking with a note asking Santa for chocolate for Perry because Perry has never tasted chocolate before. He was beyond ecstatic when he saw that Santa brought Perry his very own fedora.

It turned out to be a great Christmas. 

First!

Today, the kids ran to the car in an attempt to be first.

MK: (slamming into the van first) FIRST!
S: (makes a show of touching the van) 52nd!

Chess Tournament

Saturday, the boys and I spent the day at a chess tournament. 

S before a game

The boys had a real good time. The last game C played, I could see him laughing and smiling throughout the entire game. He was still laughing and chatting with his opponent as he left the table even though he lost. 

Both boys did well winning some and losing some. The best part is that they had a lot of fun. One of the greatest chess players ever, Capablanca, said, "You may learn much more from a game you lose than from a game you win. You will have to lose hundreds of games before becoming a good player." 

S earned a medal

C narrowly missed out on a trophy by one place.

I've started to volunteer at the school's after-school 4H program teaching chess. It has been a lot of fun. Half of the club came to the chess tournament. I loved seeing my kids there, meeting their parents, and watching them play. I'm not a grandmaster by any means, but it is so fun to teach the basics to these kids and see them play. 

Happy Halloween

I snapped this picture of the kids this morning when I dropped them off at school.

Kids at Halloween

 MK had been something different each time she's dressed up--totally taking advantage of being the youngest with all the costumes we've accumulated. This morning she's a dragon. She wants to be a mummy tonight. We'll see.  C has a scary mask, to wear with his black cape/cloak/gown but can't wear it at school. S made his own glasses, wand, and broom. He's wearing a cloak aunt Dolly made for her kids they outgrew.

UPDATE:

I took the kids the the city's Trunk-or-Treating at a local park. Yes, MK did talk me into making her a mummy. I put it together SUPER quick and she kept tripping over stray mummy wrappings.

S: Harry Potter, MK: Mummy, C: Scary Monster

Kids at Halloween

Kids at Halloween

How I know S Truly is My Son

While watching TV together, a shoe commercial aired advertising shoes for $39.95. Without missing a beat he turns to me and says:

S: $39.95? That's like it is $40.00, which means each shoe costs $20.00.
Me: Yes, S. You're right.
*secretly thinking it was the exact thing I would have calculated as a kid.*

Jump Time

For the boys' birthdays I told the boys they could have a big party in our back yard, or they could choose something "BIG" and invite just two friends. Both boys opted for the "BIG" party with two friends.

On Thursday, we finally had S' birthday party. He invited 2 friends to go to Hang Time with him. Hang Time is an indoor trampoline park. I've never been, but I was really impressed with the place.

C, Friend D, S, Friend T

(No matter how many times I tried to get S to LOOK AT THE CAMERA, he insisted on doing something silly.)

Birthday Friends

Friend T and S

Birthday Friends

It was a lot of fun and low key for me. I picked up the friends, they goofed off and chatted on the drive up the Hang Time, jumped and played for 1-1/2 hours, goofed off and chatted on the drive back home, had cupcakes & presents, played at home building a fort, then I drove the friends home.

S' Baptism

Saturday, S was baptized.

It's great to be eight.

S being silly for pictures before we started the service.

It was a nice, small family affair. Uncle Brandon gave a great talk about baptism. C then did a wonderful job on a talk about the Holy Ghost. S was then baptized and confirmed by R.

After the baptism, we went home for dinner and socializing. Grandma Great came with Great Aunt Julie. We were so excited to have them here with us. Grandma and Boppi were there. And Grammie, Grandpa, and Uncle Brandon made the trip to be with us. We had dinner, visited, then played games. We had a great time together.

I'm so proud of S and his choices. He may be silly, but he knows his mind. He knows what he wants to do and knows what is right. 

Happy Birthday S!

Today, S turns 8 years old!

Birthday Breakfast

After a pancake breakfast, we went to play at Seven Peaks Water park. We had a great time playing in the water and sun. S wanted hamburgers for his birthday dinner. After dinner, we had cake and presents and S got a new bike!

 

Grammie, Grandpa, and Uncle Brandon arrived tonight to be here for S' baptism on Saturday, so we got to spend the evening with them as well.

Conversations

The following conversation happened yesterday in our car after we passed a Little Caesars Pizza.

MK: I know why they call it "Little Caesars" because he has scissors.
Me: I know Caesar and scissor sound the same. But actually, Caesar is a name used many years ago in Rome for their Emperor, Ruler, or King.
MK: Oh.
S: I wouldn't use "Caesar." I would call them "Your Majesty," or "Your Hinny-ness."
Me: *cracking up*

Soccer Camp

This past week, S has been participating in a RSL Soccer Camp. He absolutely loved it.  He was always so excited to go and then eager to tell us or show us what he learned that day. 

S with Coach Jake

RSL Soccer Camp

S showing off his new camp t-shirt

RSL Soccer Camp

S loves soccer. When it was time for baseball signups, I asked him if he wanted to play baseball and he said "No, I want to play soccer." I had to talk him into playing baseball because it wasn't soccer season. I've looked into getting him involved in some of the local soccer clubs, but he is still too young: The age cut off for the youngest group was 2 days before his birthday. 

A Kind Brother

Tonight at dinner we were talking about our day and our plans for tomorrow. R is out of the office all week, so he gets to play with us every day. The kids want to go to Seven Peaks Water Park tomorrow. MK started to tell us all how she is so excited and how she knows how to swim now because S taught her last summer.

C: S also taught MK to swing.
Me: *looking at S* What a great big brother you are. You really do a lot of nice things for your little sister.
S: *big smile while chowing down on his hamburger*
Me: Yeah, sometimes he's nice and sometimes he's a jerk.

*Silence around the table as everyone looks at MK, then we all burst out laughing.*

Lost Tooth

S woke up missing a front tooth.

 

He was very concerned because he lost his top front tooth during the night...and couldn't find it. He wanted to find it so he could leave it out for the Toothfairy. After searching and searching his fort he slept in last night, he finally found it. He was SO excited. He then had to wash it because someone told him he'd get more money for it if it was sparkly clean. 

Cub Scout Hike

Today, the boys and I went on a small hike up Payson Canyon to a grotto. We had a great time. The hike was short and easy. The boys cooled off in the small waterfall.

Scouts showing off their muscles

S really wanted me to take pictures of him under the waterfall

 

It was a successful hike: no one lost, no one hurt, everyone was still smiling at the end. 

While the boys are were away, MK went to play with a friend.  

Scout Day Camp

Yesterday was Scout Day Camp for C and S' cub scout den. S isn't officially a scout yet, but boys who have a summer birthday are invited to come. And, I've been asked to help out the scout den again, this time as an assistant den leader. It was a very fun filled day at Camp Jeremiah Johnson. They boys made a craft, made air rockets they shot off with an air gun, did group/partner races, climbed a rock way, shot BB guns, and learned archery.

C lining up his arrow

You can't see his face, but this is S. The first two shots he was thoroughly confused and frustrated with the whole thing. One of the camp counselors came to him and spent some one-on-one time with him showing him how to do it all. Then S shot off the third shot by himself and shot a bullseye. Every shot after that was pretty on target. Wow!

S learning archery

S on the rock wall.

S on climbing wall

C on the rock wall. The object wasn't to just climb high but to go around the entire wall. C went around a few times.

C on climbing wall

Chess Camp

S and C attended a three day chess camp for the second year in a row.

At last year's Utah State Chess Tournament, we found TNT Chess Camp that provides chess camps taught by their teenage children who are all nationally ranked chess players. Both boys had a great time last summer and were eager to attend again this year. They spent time playing chess, learning strategy, playing other games, and having a great time. 

On the last day, they participate in a tournament. The kids get to pick the prize they want based on where they placed in the tournament. C was so happy he got the chess set he wanted. S really wanted one of the chess books, but the books were among the first things to go. He was still very happy with the chess set he picked out.    

S & C

Both C and S have been excited to show us things they learned at camp.

Lemons are Sour

So, we have a fruit basket we keep on counter. The kids can help themselves to fruit at anytime.  We had eaten everything we had in the house. No more apples. No more juggling oranges (the kids named the small clementine oranges "juggling oranges" because you can juggle with them.) No bananas. All that was left in the fruit basket was a lime and half an lemon.  MK wanted a snack, so she checked the basket and saw the lemon.

MK: Mom, can I have the lemon.

Me: You don't want the lemon.

MK: Yes I do! I like lemons. They're sweet.

Me: No. Lemons are sour.

MK: No. Lemonade is sweet. And we put lemons on our apples, and it's sweet.

Me: Fine.  *holds out lemon* Here. Lick this.

MK: *licks the lemon and pulls the BEST sour face EVER!*  No, I don't want it.

So we finally went shopping.

MK LOVES shopping, but the boys aren't too keen on it. I told them we'd stop to play at a park after shopping was finished IF they took care of a few chores before we left. They did their chores, we did our shopping, and we stopped to play at a new park next to Costco. They have a splash pad, but we weren't prepared with swimsuits or towels. I told them they could play and get all wet if they didn't mind driving home like that.  MK and S were so excited and wasted no time getting wet. C didn't want to drive home wet, so he played at the playground.

MK all soaking wet

Splash Pad Fun

MK and S after playing in the water.

Splash Pad Fun

What Big Brothers Are For

Now that baseball season is upon us, we spend a LOT of time at the parks. On Wednesday, C had baseball practice. I told S and MK they could play at the park while C was at practice. I gave them the usual lecture of "Who's your buddy?" and off they went. S and MK run off to the park area without me while I stayed and watched C for a bit.  I eventually made it down to where S and MK were and found this:

S was teaching MK how to swing

S & MK

S found a jump rope. He tied two swings together. Then, he helped MK into the swing by picking her up and making sure she was on it. He got in the swing tied to hers and started moving them, all the while giving instructions on pumping to keep the swings moving. 

S & MK

MK  was so happy to be able to do this on her own and learn from her big brother. Eventually, she was going it all on her own without her big brother next to her. 

S & MK

S is so creative. He knew just what she needed. I love these pictures of them smiling and happy to be together. 

Piano Party

I signed C and S up for piano lessons soon after I bought our piano. They have loved it so far and are always eager to show me what they have learned.  Their teacher normally does a Recital in May, but has had a very hectic life with two sons getting married and another son getting ready to go on a mission. (He's going to Paris, France, which just makes me so excited as that was MY mission!) Anyways, their teacher decided to just do something easy and fun for all her students and had a banana split party.  She had awards for all her students. For C, S, and another student were very new she gave them medals. 

S in the background is showing off his medal. C was just being silly and wouldn't smile.

She also did a fun gift for each student that reflected their personality. 

S received several bouncy balls as she described him as "bouncing off the walls he is so fully of energy." I couldn't agree to a more fitting description. He was even jumping around when I tried to take this picture. This is only one I got where he's not blurry. 

S

C received a yo-yo because he keeps going back and forth between his lessons and home where he practices hard and is so eager to learn. (I finally got a smile out of him for this picture.) 

C

I'm so glad my boys are learning music and enjoy it. I only took piano lessons for 1 year when I was 8 years old. I have always wished I had stuck with it. It's been so fun to have a piano in our home where I can play anytime I want and I can hear my kids playing, too. 

MK wants to learn so badly. C has put masking tape on the keys to write down the key's names on it. Then C and S have both written down the notes for songs like "Mary had a Little Lamb" and "Rain Rain Go Away" for MK. She will get out HER music and plunk along and play the songs. 

Stay Off the Sidewalks!

Baseball season has started. We spent last night at the ball field for C's first game. After the game, S wanted to head back to the car before the rest of us were ready. I gave him the keys so he could get in. When I finally made it to the van, this is what I found:

S behind the wheel

He was also pretending to steer.

Lost Tooth

S lost his first tooth on Wednesday. He was so excited!