Scooters!!

Gabe and Garrett got some awesome scooters for Christmas. They were nice enough to let Jill join in on their fun. One time I heard Jill ask Garrett if he would share with her and he told her "I'll always share with you Jill." It was so sweet. I also have video which hopefully I can post soon.

Christmas Program

I have some cute video of Jill from the Christmas program but I can't get it to load. I will have to keep working on it... In the meantime here are pics.
As tradition in Tuck's family we had a program on the night of Christmas. We did a nativity which is fun. Jill was Mary and she wrapped her Woody doll up as baby Jesus. I was the Innkeeper which was fun. Emily and Nick were a shepherd and her sheep.
We enjoyed some cranberry juice in sugar coated cups and let the kids perform some numbers for the program. Jill sang her preschool Santa song and recited 2 Nephi 19:6. Coop had to sleep through the whole thing.

Christmas part 2

No one slept very well Christmas Eve night thanks to Cooper. He had a really rough night and would not stop crying. We ended up opening presents at like 5 something because Cooper had woke up at 430 and raised such a ruckus. Christmas was still really fun but it did not lend well to photos of the kids in their Christmas outfits. This is the best I got before church.

Later we watched the Grinch.

Jill and Garret always have a good time together. Garrett and Cooper also formed a little bond over rough housing. Cooper finally found someone that likes to play as rough as him. I think it made Jill a little jealous but it was good to see another kid actually like playing with Coop.

Stay tuned for the Christmas program pics and videos

Christmas part 1

We left home early on Christmas Eve morning in order to spend the holiday at Mark and Martha's home. JJ, Emily, and family were there as well. We even got to skype with Morgan on his mission. We all had a great time.
Cooper was in love with all of Mumsy's nativities. He was non stop with those.






Mumsy and Gus had lots of fun things going with the kids. Jill, Gabe, and Garrett all got to participate in the scavenger hunt.
















Cooper worked on his fear of dogs with Molly. Tuck and JJ were playing "words with friends" a lot.







Nick was super cute and sweet.

We did a "star walk" to look at all the fun Christmas decorations on Christmas Eve.

Cooper on Christmas Eve with his dinosaur.

Jill really got into Christmas this year. She is already asking if there will be a Christmas next year and has announced Cooper is on the naughty list.

Jill was delighted to see Santa delivered on her requests.

Preschool Christmas Party

We all had fun at Jill's preschool Christmas Party. Jill's class sang a fun little song about "Where is Santa". She did really well. You could actually hear her singing!
The little girl next to her is her friend Penny. She is the only other little girl in their class of 12.
Then we were graced with Santa himself. Jill had been stressing out at home that she would not get any presents because she had not talked to Santa this year. She had had opportunities but was too scared. So, when he showed up she worked up all her courage and with Tucker and Cooper's help was able to sit next to him. We'll work on the eye contact and actually speaking another year.
Santa was really fun. He led the kids in a few songs and even showed them his big golden key to his toy workshop. Very fun!

Dance Recital

Jill has been going to a dance class for a couple months now in the home of a friend in our ward. She had a little recital at the beginning of December. She did a great job "walking like a princess", doing somersaults, and LOVES singing and dancing.

Thanks11

I feel like I have not blogged in forever. Things have just kind of been plugging along here. We had a good Thanksgiving. Mumsy and Gus were kind enough to come celebrate with us and actually make it seem like a holiday. We all enjoyed it immensely.

The kids have been up to their usual antics. Jill is always saying things to crack us up. Here are a few (more for my memory than your enjoyment so feel no obligation to read).

- Cooper is still trying to learn to say words. Anytime we try to work with him Jill yells at us "he can't talk!" Tucker explained that Cooper was trying to talk and Jill said "trying means doesn't." Then we heard her saying to Cooper in the other room "Think in your mind: What are you up to?" I am very curious what he was thinking in his mind at that moment. He seems to be understanding more and more.. just hesitant to talk himself.

-- Cooper is not quite as popular as Jill was as a tot. He seems interested in other kids but then his idea of playing with them is pulling hair, shoving, and stomping on them. We went to the mall the other day and Jill, per her routine, threw money in the fountain and made a wish. Her wish "I wish Mama would quit work" then her wish for Cooper was " I wish other people would like Cooper". How sad! The wishing fountain is a great way to peer into her deepest thoughts.

--Coop is obsessed with brushing his teeth. Its kind of weird.

--The kids are playing more and more with each other lately. Its very cute.