Merry Christmas 2009

So this year, I did not even pretend to think that I would get a Christmas card out...way less stressful that way! This post will serve as our "official" holiday greeting.
Besides our sweet little James joining the family, 2009 was a pretty quiet, pleasant year for the Thatchers. So, without further ado, here are the family updates:

James

10 1/2 months. Our little runt...but oh so cute. He's finally just starting to crawl normally, but resorts to the army crawl when he wants to go quickly. He started pulling himself up to a standing position this past week. He seems to be following in his older siblings' footsteps in the sleep department. Nights are still a struggle, we seem to be constantly training and retraining this little guy! We are finally getting somewhere with his eating solids. The past few days he has eaten quite a bit which makes me very happy! He's such a happy, sweet baby and will melt your heart with his big, cheesy grin. We love him to pieces!

Dylan

3 years old. Rambunctious, rough and tumble, 100% boy! Loves anything that shoots, hits, digs, hammers or causes destruction in general or makes load noises. Our little clown (I fear for his future teachers!) He is constantly making us laugh, he says the funniest things. He loves playing make believe with his toys, which is very entertaining if you get an opportunity to listen in! His toys fight and argue a lot...I wonder what this says about his home life! Just yesterday he was playing with our Little People nativity set and I heard him crying and called out to him to find out what was wrong and he said, "I am not crying, it's baby Jesus!" It was so cute and funny! Every family needs a Dylan!

Grace

6 years old. She is our star kindergartner and has had 100% attendance so far this year (an accomplishment not only for her, but for her mom as well! We didn't do so hot with Jesse last year...trips to CA were just too tempting!) She loves school and her wonderful teachers. She loves to read (which makes her mom really happy) and is really good at it. Grace loves her baby brother and is a great helper with him. She is so sweet and happy...except when she's not! She holds her own as the only girl with 3 brothers. Grace brings sweetness to our lives.

Jesse

7 years old (soon to be 8). Jesse is in 2nd grade this year and is an excellent reader and speller. He's our Mr. Smarty Pants. I can't believe how fast he is growing up. We are on the verge of having a big kid! Jesse looks forward to getting baptized and starting scouts next month. He is a great big brother when he is not teasing and tormenting Grace and Dylan! We love our biggest boy!

Danny is keeping busy with work at Intel. He is also enjoying teaching early morning seminary (all except the "early morning" part!) And I am still here trying to be a good mom, wife and contributing member of society! It's definitely a work in progress!

We are looking forward to a fun and relaxing Christmas here at home and welcoming in the new year in California.

We are also mindful of our Savior, whose birth we celebrate at this time of year. How grateful we are for His life and sacrifice on our behalf.

We are so thankful at this time for all of you, our friends and family. You enrich our lives immensely and we love you all. We hope that you have a very Merry Christmas and the happiest of New Years.

I'm still here!

Sorry for the lack of posting! I have 2 excuses...
1. Nothing blogworthy
2. I have been lost in Green Gables, Queens, Redmond, Windy Poplars, Ingleside and Rainbow Valley, but I am back (and missing Anne!) and will have a Christmas post up tomorrow (if all goes well, I am suffering a little writer's block!)
Thanks for sticking with me!

Giving Thanks and Hello Christmas

Grace and I started our Thanksgiving at the Ronald McDonald house helping set up for a Thanksgiving feast. It was a great way to start the day.Then it was home to finish cooking...then to have dinner with our friends the Hatches and Bylunds.Nice pic, eh? But the only one I have of the turkey. Danny and I have started a tradition of brining our turkey. We try a different recipe every year and have met with success...it was really yummy!As usual, I was too busy for many pictures so this is all there is!
Good food and good company...and soooo many blessings for which to be grateful...what more could we ask for?

And as tradition stands, the day after Thanksgiving was our day to welcome the Christmas season.
We're ready for Santa!

Smarty pants Jess

Sunday, on our way home from church, Jesse was telling us about what his class had done for sharing time in Primary. He said that the lesson was on how to make our homes more holy and that he held up a little truck. I asked him what the truck symbolized, completely expecting him to say "What does that mean?" Well, he didn't skip a beat and said "Do you mean what does that represent?" Well, yes that is exactly what I meant! These little people are often a lot smarter than I give them credit. They keep me on my toes, for sure!
BTW- the truck "represented" helping to pick up your toys and sharing them. He then proceeded to tease Grace mercilessly all the way home...Does that help make our home holier???

A lesson in global economics

Jesse and Grace are becoming very aware that everything (or most things) are made in China. They are constantly looking for the labels on all of our products and then enthusiastically proclaiming their origin. They were shocked this morning when they discovered that James' binky was "Made in Germany"! When Grace made this discovery, Jesse had to see it for himself before he would believe it. Anyway, I didn't realize how common this occurrence was in our home until this afternoon. While we were waiting in the car to pick up the big kids from school and listening to the radio, Dylan exclaims: "I know this song...it was Made in China!" It was cause for a good laugh. He says the funniest things! He's catching on. I used to think that Spanish was the language to learn...I think I'm going to have my kids learn Chinese!

**side note: after dropping the kids off at piano, Dylan says "I not going to suck my thumb anymore cause I going to be a big boy." That lasted all of 5 seconds when he recanted with "but I am still a little boy!" and popped his thumb back into his mouth! Funny boy!**

That guy is "sick"?

Yesterday at the park the following exchange took place:

Jesse: That skateboarder is "sick"
Me: He's sick?
J: You know like he has good moves, he rocks, he's wicked!
M: Can't you just say cool?
Has "cool" become outdated? Is "sick" the "bad" of today? I don't like that kind of talk coming out of my kid!I told him that I don't like him talking that way.Am I right to say so?
Or should I just let it be?How do you feel about this topic?

*pics from a beautiful fall afternoon at our neighborhood park. I love the view of the mountains from this park.

I need a plan...

for my life. It is spiraling out of control. The problem is...I'm not a planner. Where do I start? How do I get control before my life is over? Anyone wanna come help me get a life? Or at least a plan for this life that is upon me whether I like it or not?

~~crickets chirping~~

Yeah, that's exactly how I feel!