The Genie Brush: My sister introduced me to this little miracle brush. If you have a child with hair long enough to be brushed, you should really get them one of these. While not completely pain-free, they are so much less painful than your typical, everyday grocery store hairbrush.
Trader Joe's Srirchacha BBQ Sauce: I bought this last week and we used it to make bbq chicken pizza. If you like a little bit of a kick in your bbq sauce, this one is a winner.
Dinosaur vs Santa: All of the Dinosaur vs. books by Bob Shea are winners with my children, and this is one of our favorite ones of the season.
My New Friend Is Fun: It's no secret that I am one of Mo Willem's biggest fans, and this book is our current favorite. I laughed out loud the first time I read it. When the snake tries to cover his eyes I just can't hold it in. Perfect books for budding readers.
Caramels: I learned how to make caramels for the first time this year and I kind of created a monster. I think I made half a dozen batches of caramels (at least!) during the month of December. We made vanilla pecan ones, cinnamon ones, and even black licorice flavored ones. The cinnamon ones were some of our favorites. And dipped in chocolate (like the picture above), they tasted like chocolate dipped cinnamon bears. Who doesn't love cinnamon bears dipped in chocolate? Mel's Kitchen Cafe is where I found all the recipes and tips for chocolate dipping.
Steel Cut Oats: I love them. I cook a big batch in my slow cooker every couple of weeks and then I just heat them up and eat them almost every morning for breakfast. This recipe (I ditch the heavy cream and opt for milk and extra pumpkin instead and I don't sweeten it--I do that individually because everyone's sweetness preference is different in my family) tastes like the perfect blend of pumpkin pie and oatmeal. I love this one as well because maple and brown sugar just go together so well IMO. In this recipe I add the maple but wait to add the brown sugar until I'm going to eat it. With both of these recipes, I only cook them for about 4 hours on low because that's how I like the texture. When I've let them go overnight it always turns out too mushy for me.
I really like this article on motherhood. One of my CT sisters sent it to me and I thought it was so enlightening and motivating. And something that I could definitely work on, stepping back and asking, "How would you do it?"
Merry Christmas Everyone! I'm sure you've all seen this video, but I couldn't do a Favorite Things post without mentioning it. I think I've watched it dozens of times and have found that it's the perfect cure anytime this season when I've needed to be reminded of the real meaning of Christmas.
Davis seems to be growing up at an ever increasing rate these days. I love watching my kids learn new things. It is, for me, one of the biggest paybacks of being a parent. In the last month or so, D has learned a couple of exciting new things.
Riding a Bike:
Our next-door neighbors lent Davis their Strider Balance bike a few weeks ago. The first time he sat on it and tried to ride, he was so wobbly that I thought it would be years before he was peddling his own two wheeler. I was wrong. After a week or two of zooming around the neighborhood. he seemed to have the whole balancing thing down. So we took off the training wheels of a normal bike and I told him to do just what he does on the balance bike, only "Pedal really fast as you go!" He did, and that was all it took! I am a true believer in those magic bicycles. The video above was shot about 5 min. after the training wheels were removed. Seriously, balance bikes, I tell ya!
Learning to Read:
Davis and I started doing "home school' (as he calls it) this past fall when his older siblings started back at elementary school after summer break. "Home School" consisted of reading a lesson a day from the book Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons. I have used this book with both Isaac and Maddie as well and it is pretty awesome. I'm not sure if it's because Davis took to it more than the other kids or because I was just more relaxed than when I used it with I and M, but this time around was so much more pleasant! It helped that Davis really looked forward to these lessons (a quarter for the candy machine after he finished each one may have had something to do with it). Yesterday he barreled through the last 4 lessons so that he could finish all 100. As a celebration he chose to go to the movies with Isaac and Maddie and myself to see "Night at the Museum # 3." I was overjoyed that he finished right before Christmas. The perfect gift for me. It's been great to see this little guy's confidence grow as he has learned this new and important skill. Even though the book can be tedious and boring as can be, I have loved being a part of teaching him.
With three boys, wrestling is pretty much a nonstop game/fight in our house.
At 18 months, Nathan:
Is very attached to his muslin baby blanket and sneaks it out of his crib whenever he gets the chance. He started chewing on it to fall asleep as a teething baby and has loved it ever since.
Is a mama's boy until he hears the sound of the garage door opening at dinner time each night. Then he runs to wait for Ryan to walk through the door, all the way chanting, "dadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadadada!!!!!!!"
Is starting to speak more and more and has even picked up a few phrases that he must hear around the house on a daily basis. Some of his favorites are:
"No I'm not!"
"Go get it!"
"What the??"
"I don't know!"
Still has trust issues with all of his siblings because, while they don't ever mean to hurt him, they all have to be reminded that he is a person, not a toy. He is STILL more fun to play with than any toy in the playroom. Maybe it's time to get a wii. I love that they love him but sometimes I wish I didn't have to remind them of boundaries with him so much.
Loves to eat string cheese, apple sauce, clementines, chick peas, milk, and anything sweet. He turns his nose up at raw vegetables but is my only child that will eat any and all of the dinners I cook with a big smile on his face.
Loves books but hates to sit and read them. Just carries them around and tears them apart. I'm not sure I've ever actually read him an entire story from beginning to end.
Is 30 lbs of solid chub. I heart big babies.
Went to nursery class at church for the first time last week. Epic meltdown doesn't adequately describe his reaction.
Is perfecting the art of climbing ON things but can't climb OFF of them. Multiple times a day I find him crying on top of the stool, chairs, and most recently the kitchen table because he's gotten himself stuck. True to form with my other children, he is a constant danger to himself at this age.
Loves to play outside or be anywhere that the big kids are.
Gives the best hugs.
Stands at my feet, barking, "MOM! MOM! MOM! MOM! MOM!" until I pick him up. It's hard not to give into him. I readily admit that it's hard not to give into him.
Has the blondest, cutest curly head of hair. I definitely have an unhealthy attachment to his locks and I'm not afraid to admit it.
This toddler of ours just rules the roost around here, and his smile can light up a room. We love him so much.
Over the past week or so I experienced a couple of unfortunate events---nothing earth-shattering, or even consequential in the grand scheme of things, but just disappointing enough to make me grumpy and ungrateful. And so, at a time of year when the rest of the world was focusing on the abundance of their blessings, I was acting anything but grateful. It was about this time while I was perfecting the art of feeling sorry for myself that I came across this quote shared by a friend:
When you're looking for joy you will always find it hiding in your gratitude. --Ann Voskamp
I have thought of it over and over since I read it. And I believe it. I love President Uchtdorf's talk, "Grateful in any Circumstance," and President Monson's conference address from a few years ago, "The Divine Gift of Gratitude." I have really been trying to have a more grateful heart and it has helped me to be happier more than any other singular effort that I have put forth. I think that Heavenly Father must get really frustrated with me at times because this is a lesson that I have had to learn over and over and over (and most certainly will learn again in the not-so-distant future). As a mother, when my children show gratitude for the things that I do for them, it really motivates me to serve them even more. I can't help but wonder if God isn't exactly the same way, especially when we are sincere and heartfelt about our thanks to Him. President Monson said, in the talk reference above, that "Sincerely giving thanks unlocks the doors of heaven and helps us feel God's love."
I have much to be grateful for. I hope I can remember to find happiness by showing gratitude, even during times of discouragement and trial.
Here are four little people that I am grateful for:
One of the lucky two at Thanksgiving dinner who scored a turkey leg.
It was too cold for sane humans to swim on Thanksgiving day, but that didn't stop our Davey and his siblings.
Nater's happy face.
A Jedi is always prepared, even with a helmet during cookie decorating, just in case.
Media Overload during the cousins' visit a couple of weeks ago.
This afternoon I was running errands with the kids when Maddie started asking me a bunch of questions about the Man in the Big Red Suit:
"Mom, was Santa around when you were a girl? Did he give you presents? Did you ever see him? Why does he have to stay so hidden all of the time? What happens when Santa dies? Who will take over? His son? His wife? The elves? The reindeer? Who????????"
