Tessa Boo

 It's about time that we posted something about our Tessa Boo. Tessa recently studied the Aztecs, the Inca, and the Maya in her History class. Tessa loves History! 

At their new school, instead of having class parties, they have what they call, Culminating Activities. After they spend time on a specific unit, they do an activity to go along with what they have just studied. After learning about the Aztecs, Inca, and Maya, Tessa's culminating activity was soap carving. The Inca were known for their stone carving. Tessa said soap carving must have been as hard as stone carving. She made a beautiful heart and did a great job!

Tessa loves school. She says her favorite thing about school is P.E. and history. She is also learning about performing and Opera in one of her classes. Her class is practicing a play to put on and she will be the Narrator for the story of the Farmer and the Golden Goose, and she will be playing the part of the Dew Fairy in the Opera, Hansel and Gretel. She hates performing for us at home, but she is loving it at school.

She has lots of friends and she is adored by her teachers. She was thrilled to come home on Friday and announce that she was the only one in her Math class to get 100% on their math test!
She is a good little student. She started the Magic Tree House Series about 2 weeks ago and is already on book 7. She loves to read! We are proud of her for doing so well in school!

Adam's First Pinewood Derby

Tuesday night was the much anticipated Pinewood Derby! Adam has been working on his car for a month. He designed it, sanded it all by himself and painted it. Daddy helped him with the big tools, but otherwise, Adam did everything else. He has been so excited to race!

 He didn't win any trophies, but his car did well in a few of the races and now he has better ideas of how to make his car even better next year. It was a fun night to be a Cub Scout!

Gwen's Check-Up

 Last week, Gwennie had her 3 year old check up with Dr. Paxton. She was so excited that it was finally her turn to go see the doctor. She wore her favorite skirt and her red shoes. The nurses in the office think Gwen is a crack up. She takes being there very seriously and talks non stop. 

 She is a solid 30 lbs and 3 feet exactly. They checked her blood pressure and even did an eye exam. They said most 3 year olds can't do the eye exam, but since she was so thrilled about everything, they gave it a try and she was able to tell the nurse all the shapes that she saw. 

She loved chatting with Dr. Paxton and she sat so still while he checked her heart. She did her deep breaths so good (she practiced at home beforehand), and she loved having her reflexes checked. It was better than a day at Disneyland! 

 Gwen's other big news from the last couple of weeks is that she is finally potty trained! And she and Mommy both survived! She is now officially a big girl!!

Janurary Happenings

This month has seemed to fly by. There have been so many things going on. I keep saying that February 1st will be our official first of the year. Hopefully by then I will be organized and ready for a new year.

Tessa has taken off reading this month. She decided to give chapter books a try and wanted to start with Harry Potter, but we convinced her to do something a bit easier. She started with Charlotte's Web and loved it. She also started reading the Magic Tree House Series about 2 weeks ago and has already read 5 of those. I am so glad she loves to read. 

 We were sad to have to say goodbye to Aunt Katy earlier in the month. She went back to Washington D.C. to finish up her last few months of school. We had fun with her while she was here.

 Mommy so looks forward to a few minutes of relaxation in the evening without kidlets. These 2 have not been cooperating lately and are staying up far too late with Mommy. 

 Before Caleb started rolling, he was wiggling all over the place. He would start in the middle of his play mat and then wiggle himself all the way off of it. 

 We've had more cooking lessons. Adam made dinner all by himself one evening (with very little help from Mommy.) He made Aunt Virginia's Hamburgers and did a great job!

 January has been our sick month. It always it. We've had sick tummy's, sick noses and lots of coughs. Mommy and Gwen spent 2 nights on the couch one week when Gwen had a sick tummy. Gwen took a nap the next day. A very rare occurrence. Both babies were asleep at the same time. Mommy literally did not know what to do with herself. She could get used to that!

 We could not get Caleb to wake up one night for his final feeding. We tried everything, but he was zonked! But, oh so cute!

 Gwen has spent most of the month dressed up as someone other than Gwen.

 Adam and Tessa's handwriting is getting so good. Tessa has worked hard at her cursive and it is paying off!

 Late nights with Mommy means taking selfies.

 The kids are still constantly grabbing my phone to take pictures of their cute brother. 

Ma sent a picture of one of their cousins who was throwing a fit, so they wanted to take a silly picture to cheer her up. 

 Precious! I love when babies snore.

 Mommy has been getting up extra early to work out and get healthy. It is not easy! And Gwen is usually up by 6. So not much of a break.

 Mommy and Daddy made a goal to get to the temple more often this year. Mommy got to go first this month. We are so blessed to live to close to so many temples!

He's on the move!

I do not post enough about this adorable little guy! He is the happiest and most fun baby! He has been wiggling all over the place for a few weeks now and now that he is rolling, he is all over the floor. I finally got some pictures of him rolling over. The kids love watching him do his "tricks".

 Once he is on his belly, he looks like a seal. He will balance himself on his belly and keep his arms and legs in the air.

 Baby thighs make me happy!

 He is tolerating tummy time a bit better these days. He is getting better at rolling from his belly to his back, so that is helping. It helps when he can chomp on a toy or his fingers. 

 He used to have red hair back there. Now he just looks like a bald old man. 

 He isn't left alone much. There is always someone in his face or kissing his head. He is one loved boy!

 And, now we know we can't just set him in his bouncer without buckling him anymore. Sneaky little boy!

The Frozen Party

Last Thursday, we headed to the Springville Art Museum for a Frozen Party. The girls had been looking forward to this since we found out about it in December. Adam and Caleb got to tag along. We told our friends, Cooper and Presley about it, so they joined us. There were several different craft stations set up for the kids. But the highlight was seeing Elsa and Anna.

Making a snowman out of clay.

Winter Art

 Summer Art

 Tess and Gwen with their favorite princesses!

 Gwennie, Tessa and Presley. (Presley is Gwen's little bff.)

 Adam and Cooper just wanted to get to the hot chocolate.

 We made some cool snowflakes.

Before we left we had some yummy hot chocolate and then someone asked me if the girls could be in a picture for the paper. I snapped a quick shot too. We are excited to see the article when it comes out!

It was a fun afternoon getting to do so many art projects (Tessa's kind of Heaven) and the girls loved being in their Elsa dresses all afternoon.