Miriam's December adventures

Miriam has continued to be a busy girl. I find myself wondering where my little baby went. We brought home from Eric's Christmas work party some Hershey kisses and somehow she found them, knew that they would be good (we don't give her candy! how does she know?!) and ate about 1/2 of them before I caught her. She was behind my rocking chair while I was taking care of Aaron. In the process of devouring them she got chocolate all over her which majorly upset me, but I found the instinct to take a picture greater. In the process of capturing her misdeed I managed to calm down so I didn't scream at her.

Miriam still loves and is doing more role playing with her dollies. She wants to wrap them up in a robe or blanket and takes them for a walk. Pretty sure what we long suspected is true she will be a purse girl, and it must always be carried over her arm. Here she is also wearing cute Princess Christmas jammies my mom got her last year. We didn't think we had any jammies then all of sudden we have like 14 somehow. Part of the problem is they are 18 mon which I thought would be too big but there not, just right. Miriam plays pretty good by herself in the morning letting me take care of Aaron and get something done around the house.

Both of these next 2 pictures are of Miriam helping me. How is standing on the table helping? I had asked her to turn the light on for me which is one of her new favorite things to do. When I asked her to turn the light on she went over climbed up on the table and did it. She is pretty obedient at doing what is asked. She is starting to play games of keep away/run away from us though. At my RS Christmas party I had both kids and as we were going out to the car on sheets of ice Miriam decided to play run away from me. She was headed out directly into the path of an incoming car, she scared me to death I screamed stop which luckily she did. The car also stopped, but with all the ice either one of them may not have been able to stop, luckily alls well that ends well.

I was glad to get a good picture of her favorite way to help- washing the dishes. She tends to soak everything in sight, but we have a good time. Mom says if we keep training her maybe she'll take over so I wouldn't have to do them any more! I'm glad I have such a good helper!

I used to lament that she didn't sit for more than 5 min to watch a movie when I need desperately needed a nap or to get something done. Well now she is getting obsessed with watching "moos" as she calls them. She likes movies that are animated and with animals the most and is always wanting to watch them. Unfortunately they don't really put her so sleep. She will find the dvd, open the drive and watch them herself. Favorite way to watch is standing in the computer chair in front of the screen. She is developing quite a liking for Pixar and their shorts otherwise it is "Aristocats". Grandma Delta is also introducing her to Thomas the train and "Max & Ruby".

This liking of moos transfers over to daddy's laptop. She thinks its a toy just for her and always comes running when Eric gets it out, drives him crazy! Here she is helping type our Christmas letter that we are still contemplating sending out. I think its amazing that when she types she has the proper hand position and all.

Miriam is still a really good eater and unfortunately is developing a sweet tooth. Tyring to get the last of the root beer! You can do it!
She also is pretty fond of brushing her teeth and whenever she sees me flossing wants to floss her teeth. One day I went into my bedroom and found her on the hope chest with some floss she had found flossing her teeth.

I don't know how to keep up with her and pray daily to make good choices for her and thank Heavenly Father for sending such a sweet girl to our family!

Sibling Love

Miriam's love for Aaron continues strong. Sometimes only Aaron can cheer her up! She always has time to give Aaron a hug or kiss even if she can't spare one for mommy or daddy. She is always excited to see "baby" as she calls him more often than not, though she is getting close to saying his name, Aarah is more how it sounds. Often she holds out her arms to hold him though now that he is grabbing things in particular hair that is slowing down a little. She is a good helper often getting me his pacifier, blanket or burp cloth. She wants to wipe his face, or burp him and is quite concerned when he isn't with us.

This shows that Miriam might be more fond of Aaron than Aaron of Miriam. She does tend to hug him around the neck or lay on him. Though I think Aaron is coming to love playing with Miriam too. I've caught Miriam hiding than popping out making the both of them giggle wildly. He also loves watching her, he'll crane his head way around to catch sight of her and follow her with his eyes.

Miriam is ever helpful, here she is showing Aaron how fun her rocket is. Grandma Nicee put Aaron on and then Miriam had to show him the features. Then finally she couldn't stand it anymore and wanted to get on and go for his first ride. I can't decide if Aaron enjoyed it or just endured it either way I love the look on his face!Both of these pictures show them chilling out together. I hope this continues through the years and they enjoy each others company. Top watching a movie together one morning. Below Miriam sharing a book with him.

December In Review

After we got back from Idaho and put everything away it was time to decorate our house! It was harder this year because I had to figure out all new places for everything. I kept adjusting things all month- shoot it probably took most of the month to finish decorating! Miriam helping out. She is getting a fixation about playing in containers.

First party we went to was Eric's work party. They had it at a nice restaurant and the food was pretty good. Did a guess how many M&M's game and sent us home with a gift card to Olive Garden. Miriam went to play with all her cousins at Aunt Melissa's house. She showed them she had learned to open doors by going outside without any one knowing and getting caught by Aunt Kim coming to get her girls.

We went the first weekend of Dec (5th) down to pick out our tree with Kim and Rusty. It was a freezing day, but we were pleased with the selection and price. This is tree number number two that Miriam helped decorate. I'm not sure I got to enjoy the tree as much as usual because I don't go in my front sitting room very often. I was also hoping to finally get a tree topper, but I didn't look hard enough. Later Miriam helped William decorate his tree too.

Also that Sat I had a Relief Society Christmas dinner with a very nice program. It was a play about women in the Bible and the gifts they gave Christ. Aaron got to be baby Jesus. Unfortunately he was tired and cried when he saw someone besides mom holding him. After several women said it just made it more authentic.

We made our monthly run to Delta the 11-12 with William in tow. I came back a little early to be there for my parents arrival in the midst of a snow storm. They were coming for my cousin Trevor's homecoming report the next day. We had a good time together as usual. We played Parcheesi that my dad got for his birthday- Miriam got into helping roll and giving the board earthquakes. After the meeting we went and saw the Salem pond lights, but those were the only ones we caught.

We had our ward Christmas breakfast on the 19th. They had an assortment of breakfast casseroles besides the usual pancakes and fruit. Santa came to visit, but we didn't feel like Miriam even knew who he was so no pictures w/Santa this year

More trouble from the kitchen

Miriam is now tall enough to get things off the counter. How do I know? Last Sunday she comes to me with a piece of candy to open for her which just happened to be from the candy jar that sits on the edge of the counter. I look over and sure enough there is the jar on the floor. Also 2 days ago she discovered she was tall enough to fill her own water cup from the refrigerator, but not tall enough to see when it was filled- good thing it has a lock button. Now if we can just remember to use it. ;)
I will try and capture photo evidence so this post could be updated in the future.

Post Thanksgiving in ID

After we got done with all the feasting it was time to play! It was pretty low key the rest of the weekend. Once again we simply enjoyed one anothers company More bonding time for Aaron with his grandparents which is getting to be more fun as he starts to interact more. We hauled up the old marble works to see how Miriam would like them. She enjoyed sending the marbles down but didn't really get the putting it together. And of course lots of stories, thanks to everyone for taking care and helping with my kids- a nice break.

Friday night we loaded up the van with all the leftovers to have dinner with my G-ma and G-pa Briscoe. We had a good visit with them.

Saturday was get ready for Christmas by cleaning and putting up decorations. Miriam was a big help as usual. As we make way for Christmas decorations I like to do some deep cleaning like polish the piano and dust. We also picked out a tree.

Sunday after church in the midst of final loading and getting something to eat we helped decorate my parents Christmas tree which was the first of three that Miriam helped with. Ready for Christmas! Happy Holidays!

Thanksgiving

This year for Thanksgiving we went to my parents house. We decided to combine the trip up with a stop at Walton Feed to stock up on food storage so we took G-pa Jones' big truck and trailer. I tell you if you were a truck person this truck is family friendly with an extended cab. Eric took an extra 2 days off so we could travel Tue, help prepare Thur and play the rest of the week. Turned out good timing to go up Tue because Jaren's funeral was in Logan that day.The kids did really well traveling for the most part. We rushed up to Logan,were late to the funeral, had lunch afterwards then rushed out to pick up our food order. We thought it would take us longer than mom to get home so we sent Miriam with her. We almost didn't get to Waltons in time, thank goodness I called ahead because they were very sweet to wait for us past closing time. By the time we got to Rigby we ate and got ready for bed. Wed we made a lot of pies and hung out together. Dad and Miriam watched Aristocrats multiple times. Miriam had a good time playing with Granddaddy and the toys there. It's amazing what a mess and how long baking projects take.

Getting ready for the feast! Top is Eric and Miriam having breakfast on Thanksgiving day, we learned Miriam is very fond of frozen fruit. Then mom mixing up the insides of the cherry pie I believe. Bottom is Miriam helping Granddaddy shred bread for stuffing and helping Grandma shape the rolls.

Our Thanksgiving feast! We had a wonderful dinner though Aaron wasn't very happy to stay in his new bumbo seat that G-ma and Granddaddy gave him for an early Christmas present. There is definitely something comforting in traditional food that is always the same with only minor changes and the leftovers are to die for! The drawback of going somewhere else.

As usual we made about 30 pies this year with this apple being the biggest one. I have a hard time making my own pies because my mom does it so well! We had pumpkin, apple, 3 different meringues, cherry, banana creme, pecan, and berry pie, yum yum!

Happy Thanksgiving! We can have thanks all year round, eh?

More Funerals

Unfortunately for us our trend of once a month funerals have continued bring the total number of funerals my kids have attended to 5. The latest two brought distinctly opposite feelings one of tragedy and the other of celebration. The week before Thanksgiving we received word that my cousin Steven's baby Jaren was in the hospital in a coma.Apparently he had been screaming all weekend and 2 visits to the doctor hadn't yielded any help till the third day when they immediately sent him in an ambulance from Logan to Primary Children's. As soon as they left he went into a coma and never woke up. They finally diagnosed it as spinal meningitis. This is their first baby and he died 6 days before his first birthday. The funeral was Tue before Thanksgiving. His parents were the speakers and did an amazing job as they have used the experience to bring them closer to the Savior. Ever since I heard this news I just wanted to pull my babies closer having faced the fact that life is fragile.

On the other had we got the news at another cousins homecoming that my Great Grandmother, Anna Swann was finally called home after 103 years! We never expected her to live that long, I left on my mission 8 years ago not expecting to see her when I came back. She has also been in very good health till about 2 years ago when she had a mild stroke and had to move to a nursing home. he died quietly in her sleep on her husbands birthday, we figure he came to get her. I keep thinking over and over what a wonderful Christmas present for them to be together again! I'm grateful we took advantage of most of our opportunities to visit her and that she had met Aaron in October. She has left her family a tremendous legacy.

Five generations! This was from her birthday party in 2008.

Feeding the ducks

We have been having play dates with our neighbor down the road, the Paulsens. After that big snow storm it warmed up again enough to go feed the ducks at Salem pond on November 20. We took a picnic lunch and had a great time. Dianna Paulsen playing with Miriam, her boys Seth and Noah (2 mon older than Miriam) on the swing bridge. We always have a good time playing with them. She had gone to feed ducks with her cousins before but we were too late so this was really the first time and she enjoyed it.