NOVEMBER

November started with at Winter overnight trip with the Young Women in the ward.  Silas was lucky enough to tag along and was quite a hit with the girls.  We went to the Toone's cabin up at Brighton.  The next morning we woke up to some snow and went on a short walk around Silver Lake.  

We also attended International Gaming Day at the Viridan Event Center.  The kids joined us and played games with us for a solid 6 hours.  We played Disney Code Names...which was harder than we thought it would be.

Our friend Paul joined us for part of the day.  We played Isle of Monsters...and I think that Phin won.

We also played Settlers of Catan Junior...Phin caught on very quickly.   We played lots of other games...but my phone also died this month...so I lost all of the photos I had taken.

Seth was willing to hang up Christmas lights again. 

While Seth worked on lights Phin volunteered to blow leaves.

We were also blessed to have my 2nd cousins Penny and Chase over on Penny's birthday.  Chase and Penny always play with our kids and they LOVE it.

The kids went through a stage this month where they were playing with their stuffed animals.

They also were playing with some of their toys...it makes my heart happy to hear them playing pretend.

Millie had the classic Thanksgiving Feast at school.

Phin had a feast too.  I signed up for him to bring carrots.  I put the carrots in his bag and reminded him as he headed to school for the day.  After school I checked his bag...and the carrots were still there.  Hopefully this is just typical boy stuff...

On Thanksgiving we held our First Pie for Breakfast party.  Our kids loved having friends over to play games.

We also started the tradition of giving our kids new jammies on Thanksgiving...then they can lounge around all day.

The Saturday after Thanksgiving we headed up to Cache Valley for a family get together.  Phin got to shoot a BB gun for the first time.

 

 

Millie loved running around with her cousins and playing with new toys.

Grandma Jo also had a little craft ready for all the kids.

Millie loved making her train...Phin loved eating his train and probably ate it all in one sitting.

Silas loved getting attention from his cousin Hollie.

Seth was also able to get a game in with Beth, Hyrum and Hannah.

Uncle Jotham offered horse rides.  Seth said Millie was hesitant at first but by the end was a major horse lover.

We also got to see cousin Mark's hedgehog.

Jotham pulled out his drum for Silas.

The week must have worn Millie out...she crashed on Nona's couch one afternoon.

We pulled out the play-doh one day and Phin made a mighty mustache.

We also went to the zoo for Wild Wednesday.  Silas looked adorable all bundled up.

Silas got a little haircut this month.  His hair is so fuzzy on top it just sticks straight up.

We also went to the Children's Museum with Amy, Zoey, Connor and Grace.

For some reason when we pull toys out into our family room our kids play better with them...I think they just want to be where everyone else is hanging out.

8 MONTHS

Silas hit the 8 month mark just after Thanksgiving.  This month was particularly fun because Silas celebrated his first Halloween and Thanksgiving.

For Halloween he wore the same costume that Phin wore...Phin is the top picture and Silas is the bottom.

 Here are his weekly pictures for the month...I love his smiles.

He continues to be long and lean.  He wore mostly 9 month clothes this month and is still in size 2 diapers.

If he is awake he is pretty much sitting up.  He wants to see what is happening and doesn't like to be on his back or tummy.  He is able to scoot to get around. 

He is incredibly flexible and can bend in half to reach for any toy that is just out of his reach.

He is babbling more and more and I heard him say Dada at church this month.

Silas also got a little haircut this month.  His hair was getting so long on the sides.  He was really good at holding still for me.

Silas loves solid food and eats 8 ounces of solid food every morning at daycare.  He has a STRONG gag reflex and when we have tried cereal puffs or anything else he tends to lose his whole meal.

He usually gets up just once at night.  His morning naps are becoming inconsistent.  He just doesn't want to miss out on anything so he holds out as long as he can.

He doesn't mind going to anyone that will give him attention...although when Mom is in the room she is usually his preference.  Here he is with his cousin Hollie...and sticking out his little tongue.

Phin update: He is loving Kindergarten.  When I ask him what the favorite part of his day was he usually says RECESS...typical boy.  He could survive on carbs alone...chicken nuggets, pizza, square crackers (Wheat Thins) or granola bars.  He loves to hear stories and is starting to come up with his own stories too.  He lost a DOJO (classroom point) this month for trying to kiss a classmate.

Millie update:  Millie seems to have grown so much since Silas was born.  She can be kind and sweet...but can also throw quite a tantrum.  She discovered a pair of hand-me-down or in this case hand-me-up shoes from cousin Carver and loves to wear them.  She also loves to pick her own clothes for the day...her unicorn and princess shirts are her favorite.  She loves when we have one of the Beehives over to babysit.  She is very attentive to Silas...but also very protective of her toys and often takes them away from them if he has managed to reach them.

We are sure blessed to call these three our kiddos.