Scattered Thoughts

1.  Kate keeps telling me she is, "as hot as a squirrel!".  I'm surprised she is hot.  It has been so cold here.  And are squirrels usually hot?  I don't know, but apparently Kate does.

2.  A few nights ago Enoch told me that when Jesus was picking out families, he (Enoch) saw me and asked Jesus if he could be in my family.  Isn't that so sweet!  I needed to hear that after a day like I was having.

3.  Enoch visited the dentist this morning to have a filling replaced.  On the way up, he asked, "Does Santa Claus brush his teeth after eating all those cookies on Christmas Eve?  Or does he magical teeth that he doesn't have to brush and he never gets cavities?  Who is Santa's dentist?  Maybe it's an elf."  Dr. Lambert assured Enoch that Santa does indeed brush his teeth - and flosses too, every single night!

4.  Guard is sick.  My poor little guy - fever and throwing up.  Keeping our fingers crossed that everyone is healthy on Christmas!

Enoch's Piano Recital

Enoch has loved playing the piano.  He rarely fights me on practicing and only whines when I get after him about his timing.  He really does enjoy playing.  He likes his teacher, Michael Boyd, and thinks he is really great.
When Michael told him about the Christmas recital, Enoch was excited and then very nervous.  Enoch is my worrier and he puts a lot of pressure on himself, so performing in front of a lot of people is very scary.  We talked about it and he decided he could do it.
Enoch was able to pick out his own song and he chose, Silent Night.  He learned the song in one day.  He was so proud of himself.  It sounded great (except for a few timing issues that never really were worked out; he is a bit stubborn that way).
He was okay until a few days ago.  He started getting nervous and more nervous and more nervous - so nervous he was making himself sick.  We talked a lot, we prayed together, he practiced often and finally decided he could do it
I am so proud of him!  He did beautifully!  He conquered his fears and did so well.  I am so happy for you, Enoch!  Great job!  (Yes, that is Guard singing along.  He often sings and hums when Enoch is practicing.)

Santa Claus is Coming to Town

I was worried about this from the beginning.
 When I found out that Santa Claus was coming to Kate's preschool, I wondered how she would do.  Does this look tell you?  (I love how Taylor looks so excited and Kate is looking quite concerned!)

When Santa Claus walked in the room, Kate started scooting farther and farther away until she was almost completely on the other side of the room.  She was having none of it.  All the kids took a turn sitting on his lap.  When it was Kate's turn, she refused and then burst into tears.  She ran to me, wrapped her arms around my neck and wouldn't let go.  Poor thing!  It made it so much worse for her that everyone was looking at her.  Kate does not want attention, she hates having people watch her.
Guard was willing to sit on Santa's lap, only to pull his beard.  I love his expressions!  He isn't too sure of this Santa person either.

 

Kate recovered after Santa left and was back to her happy self.  I hope she isn't too scarred for life.  It's fine - Santa can be a bit scary when you only see him once a year.  Merry Christmas anyway!

Kate's Preschool Program

Kate has been singing Christmas songs for months.  She was so excited for her preschool program.  I was a bit concerned that she would get up there and not do it, but she did wonderfully.  She absolutely does not like being the center of attention, but she does fine with a group.  Kate was able to stand next to her best friend, Taylor, and that helped her nervousness.

 

The kids sang seven songs and recited three poems.  Kate really liked Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus is Coming to Town.

She did such a great job and had a lot of fun!

 Kate loves her teacher, Mrs. Skousen, and always looks forward to preschool.

Merry Christmas!

Randall Christmas

I think this was such a great idea.  We tired to schedule a time where all the Randall siblings and cousins could get together for Christmas and the only time was today.  It worked out great!  It spread Christmas out for the kids and gave them new toys to play with over the first part of Christmas break.  I think this should be a new tradition!
We played with cousins, visited with family, ate yummy treats and opened presents from Grandpa and Grandma Randall who sent them from Africa!  (Isn't Amazon.com amazing?)

 

Gavin got a two new games, Risk and Forbidden Island, and a new book.  Grandma highly approved of the book!

 

Enoch received a Lego set (which he promptly had together in 25 minutes and has played with so much since), a Smithsonian science experiment kit and a Star Wars Origami book.  He loved all of them!  (Sorry, Enoch was so excited, he wouldn't look at the camera!)

Kate got some Friends Legos, a game, Animal Upon Animal (which is seriously a fun game, we have played it a lot) and some coloring books and crayons.  She also loved everything and had her coloring books out within a few minutes.

Guard slept through the whole thing.  Later that afternoon he opened a cute fabric train with stuffed animals that sit in the train.
Instead of exchanging sibling and cousin gifts, each family gave the other families a Christmas book or movie.  It was great.  We can't wait to add more to our collection to watch and read during the holidays.
Thank you Grandma and Grandpa!  We loved all our presents!  It was so good to spend time with our family.

Gavin's Band Concert

It's always a toss-up if I'm looking forward to Lehi Junior High's Christmas band concert.  The 9th grade band and Jazz band always do great - the 7th and 8th grade bands are still getting there.
This year was surprising good all the way around.  Lehi Jr. has a new band teacher, Mr. Summers, and he has really required a lot of his students; and it shows.
Gavin has enjoyed Jazz Band this year.  It has been a lot of work - 6:45am every other day, switching to bari sax from alto sax, and adjusting to a new teacher.  I can see the hard work paying off.  He is doing so well and the band sounds wonderful.
Gavin's favorite song, We Three Kings: (Gavin is on the far right.)

Guard at 6-7 months

Our little Guard is growing up so quickly.  His personality is bursting through his little body and it is so fun to see him develop and grow.  Guard is very happy and can be flexible, but he is awfully stubborn and a bit spoiled (my fault, I know).  He is super smiley and active, but at the same time, happy to be a baby.  He is so wiggly, it is getting difficult to snap good pictures of him.  I did my best!

 He has discovered his tongue and is always sticking it out, blowing raspberries, making hilarious noises.  It is so cute!  Look at that angel face with his big, blue eyes - no wonder he gets pretty much whatever he wants!

 Guard's favorite toy is the remote control.  His dad is not happy about that.  Greg tries giving him the Roku remote or taking out the batteries, so Guard can't change the channels, but he knows when he has been given a fake remote.  He only wants the real thing.  He also likes Coal's ball.  She drops it in his lap and Guard chews on it.  Yuck!

 Guard also loves his books.  At Kate's gym class the other day, he was getting restless on my lap and so I reached for the diaper bag and got out a few toys.  He looked at the toys and lunged for the diaper bag.  I sat him back up, handed him a toy and he started to fuss.  I sat the diaper bag on his lap and he reached in and pulled out a book.  He broke into a huge grin and his little legs were kicking.  He is able to turn the pages by himself and especially likes his touch and feel books.

Ten points to his wonderful parents who let him roll off the bed on Thanksgiving morning.  That was the first time he did a complete roll from back to tummy and then tummy to back.  Now he is everywhere.  He rolls and then does this funny scootch where he arches his back, digs his feel into the floor and pushed himself around on the top of his head and his heels.

Greg loves to tease Guard and thankfully Guard loves to play along.  One of their favorite games is when Greg pretends to drink Guard's bottle.  Since Guard isn't particularly attached to his bottle (more like despises it) Guard thinks it's hilarious.  He laughs and laughs and probably wishes Greg would just drink it so he wouldn't have to deal with his mom force feeding him.

 Guard is such a figity baby.  No wonder he can't gain weight, between his activeness and metabolism, he's doomed.  He has managed to keep his cheeks, rubber band wrists and a few rolls on his legs, but he really doesn't weigh much.  He doesn't look skinny; he is just fluffy.  His six month stats: 16 lbs. 10 oz (30%), 27" (75%), head 43.3cm (40%).

 

He is such a cutie!

 

We love him so much!