Some Christmas Moments

 

Jim has been taking the boys individually for some father-son time (aka mommy sanity time lol)

 

They are building a gecko cage!

 

The family night before Christmas we did a family nativity with scriptures and hymns. Things went a lot better than last year. It helped to not do it on Christmas Eve when they were so keyed up already.

 

Three Kings

 

Christmas morning!

 

Jake in his box. We would hand him a present and he would open it and stay in his box playing with his gifts. Pretty cute.

 

Diana's stocking was stuffed with a gift from the kids- chocolate graham cracker animals. She sat there eating and eating while the rest of the kids opened presents. She REALLY liked her gift!

 

She also got this kitty that she adored in Target every time we went. It was sweet to see her love it!

 

 

Here's a video of the kids coming down the stairs for presents!

 

 

Here's another video- some of Diana's first moments with the her kitty. Videos can be watched on the blog- http://delbifamily.blogspot.com

Shoes, Preschool Christmas and Lollipops

 

Nicole: In just a few months wore a hole in the front of her shoes. We're on the third pair this school year, this girl loves to run and run!

 

Michael and Jacob: Preschool Christmas program was today and they sang songs (even one in Spanish!). My favorite parts: Michael's constant movement and swaying side to side; Jacob bouncing around to Jingle Bell Rock; both of them waving to each other during the singing and how Jake kept looking at his big brother. Love my boys! (Mike is top row third from left; Jake is prettymuch in the center of the pic)

Diana: Went through two lollipops during the program and REALLY enjoyed the blue one. By the time she finished this one it was ALL over her mouth and her teeth were really blue which made her smile look hilarious.

Here's a video with clips from the boys preschool program.

December fun

 

Jacob used a roll of floss to create his very own spider web. He was so proud of it and I thought it was pretty amazing how it looped around sinks, drawers, doors, and faucets. I vacillated between wanting to scold him and being impressed with his accomplishment. As far as messes go, no big deal, so I just told him to ask me for string next time.

 

Michael was line leader again, and a on a special day where the kids were going to frost gingerbread men. He got an itchy throat cough the day of and his teacher had me bring him home which was really hard for him- until I told him he could decorate one at home. It's all about the cookies I guess! The sad part was that his cough turned into nothing- he usually gets an asthmatic type cough this time of year- but I couldn't blame his teacher a bit with all the sickness that goes around this time of year! This picture is of Michael with Curious George, the class mascot.

 

'Tis the season! I've begun making the fudge- 12 lbs at a time. Usually when the boys are in preschool and during Diana's morning nap. I've learned a lot about the process and the smell is heavenly.

 

Since my allergies don't allow me to eat any, I think there is a significantly greater amount that makes it out of the house this year. We are at 36 lbs made so far.

 

 

The fudge has kind of taken over the fridge! But Jim delivers it the next day, so each time it's just one day of cramming everything else to make room.

We've had some very special family nights in December. This Monday I had the kids color these parts to the nativity scene while I read from the New Testament the story of Christ's birth. Then when we had put it all together I asked them to tell me how they feel about Jesus. Their sweet, loving thoughts were so precious! We decided this year to let them make a wish list for presents in November, and then buy and wrap all of the presents before December so that way none of us are really thinking about presents during the month. It seems to help us keep the real reason for the season in focus. Sharing this special time with the kids is such a highlight of the year!

Thanksgiving and Leaves

 

For Family Night we made thankful turkeys who have feathers with things we're thankful for. Jacob really got into it and decorated his face as well. Michael took good care of the turkeys and when we had a fire in the fireplace he put them all right in front of it to keep them warm.

 

Michael and Jacob had Thanksgiving Feasts in preschool, which was interesting for me to try to attend both since Jim had patients. Michael's class sang several songs and it was wonderful to hear him singing and doing the movements, happy as can be. I feel like he is right where he needs to be for starting Kindergarten next year and his teacher spoke so highly of him.

 

His place setting was a pumpkin with his handprints for leaves and they had his picture as the sail of a pilgrim boat.

 

I raced over with Diana to Jacob's class as soon as I got Mike settled with some food and Jake's class was just starting their prayer song. Jake was darling, trying to sing the song while working his very hardest to keep his eyes shut.

 

He had a handprint turkey for a placemat and a cute turkey he'd colored. His teacher said she wishes her whole class was full of Jacobs he is so obedient and sweet. She said during chapel time they were singing "You are my sunshine" and he was just singing with all of his heart and so sweetly that it made her cry. Love my Jake Jake! I got him some food and went back to check on Michael.

 

Mike had discovered the desert table! I got Mike more food and had him say goodbye to his teachers and friends and took him and Diana into Jake's class so I could enjoy talking with both of them about their special day. They both felt so special! Michael drank 4 juice boxes, I think he loved that Mike from Monsters was on the front of the boxes.

 

When I let them pick a desert, Jake went straight for a "birthday" and picked out a chocolate one of course. He is my chocolate man!

 

 

Nicole's teacher sent us this cute picture of Nicole. They did some fun games but no big celebration (thank goodness because there was no way I could attend 3 parties!)

 

We had a "quiet" Thanksgiving this year with just our four bedlamites. The kid devoured the rolls, loved the turkey, discovered the joy of Jell-O, guzzled A&W and kept blowing out the special occasion candles. They were not fans of the potatoes and gravy, but if you know me I didn't mind a bit!

 

Our trees dumped a ton of their leaves so Jim brought the recycling trash can out back. While two of the kids helped Jim shovel leaves into it, another one would stomp the leaves down. They LOVED getting in the trash can.

 

When it was time to take the leaves to the street, they all got in for a "ride." This was the highlight of their week!

 

The day after Thanksgiving, we set up our Christmas decorations. This was the funnest year because we put D down for a nap and then all of the kids helped- the boys helped Jim with the outdoor lights and Nicole helped me with the indoor décor and the tree. Then they all came inside to put on the glass ornaments, all while we listened to Christmas music and got into the holiday spirit. The kids were thrilled to have scripture study that night in front of the Christmas tree! Diana's hair is growing out slowly and looks hilarious a lot of the time these days. I love her in this picture!

Baby Ultrasound, 75 lbs of Fudge and Other Fun

 

I'll start with the most exciting news first- we're having a baby GIRL!! She is very active already and the nurse couldn't get all of the pictures she wanted to (of course that could be since Mike, Jake and Diana were also in the room since Jim couldn't be there). I was amazed at how clearly you can see her and I love her cute little nose, looks like a Del Bianco to me :)

 

 

Diana is in the climbing stage. Climbing the outside of the stairs, any chair or table possible... any place high is her happy place, regardless of the heart attack it gives me. She also loves anything the big kids have or do, from Nicole's Barbie to Mike's bike helmet.

 

Tis the season! After testing the idea out last year, we're doing the full fudge factory this year for Jim's business. Here's the boxes all ready to go!

And the ingredients that over the next 4 weeks will turn out 75 lbs of fudge! I love, love, love making holiday goodies so it is awesome that I can make all of this stuff, can't eat a bit of it because of allergies, yet get a good deal of the holiday goodie craze out of my system. I could use a good taste tester though since my kids are bound to like anything with so much sugar in it!

 

I ordered the boxes and trays, created coordinating holiday cards and stickers, and got bows to top it off! Jim will have an opportunity to talk with his many referral sources, thanking them for their business as well as keep in touch with everyone. For me, I'm glad to be a part of helping Jim's business in such a fun way. Not to mention how amazing the house will smell...

 

Jim decided Jake should be the "family drummer" and was extolling his sense of rhythm to me until Jake came down with his toy drum and sang some tribal sounding song about ghosts and jingle bells.

Last BIG hurrah before #5

We took a mini-vacation to enjoy family time before I get humongous. We drove up to Greensboro to see their science center which is a museum/small zoo and also just opened an aquarium a few months ago. The "sciquarium" was the highlight of the place by far.

These cute little penguins had just been fed.

 

An otter observatory (the otters weren't there though!)

 

We got to watch a keeper feeding the turtle in a tank.

 

The kids favorite part was getting to touch the sting rays. Mike was SO patient and tried so hard to reach down to touch the rays you can see his sleeve PAST his elbow was wet. I had to hold on to him several times so he didn't take a swim.

 

Jake's little arm was just too short so Jim would lift him up so he could reach down. Jake finally got to touch one but wasn't too happy because Jim had accidentally dipped Jake's mouth in the water to get him low enough to reach! Jake was not too happy about that!

 

The shark tank! We got to watch two divers in the tank and hear all about the tank. The viewing panel is made of hard plastic instead of glass so the viewing was not distorted (in either direction!) and the sharks definitely liked making passes in front of the kids!

 

The museum was probably the least favorite for the kids, there were a few interesting exhibits, but the layout was a lot of small rooms with a few things in each. For example the "'Bone Room" sounded cool, but had a handful of skeletons displayed with very little about them and the kids walked right through the room without realizing they were missing an exhibit! So it was sometimes interesting, but not very engaging.

This was awesome- a two headed turtle named "Jim and I" (like Gemini which means twins)

There was also a few play areas for the kids which was cool, even if they didn't have much to do with science! We played here until a staff member asked us to get Diana off the table. If you know Diana, nothing short of removing the chairs from the room would stop her from getting back on. So we moved on.

 

Michael loved putting groceries away the most! He and Jake got as much as they could, only Nicole was selective in getting the tasty pretend food.

 

I really liked this alligator named Frank, it was cool to see a small gator looking right at you!

 

Huge lobster

 

The zoo was missing the tigers, meercats and big gators which was so sad! But the petting zoo totally made it worth it! The kids played with these goats and some sheep for a while.

 

Diana LOVED touching the goat!

 

They even had brushes so the kids could brush the goats. Jake made sure to go to each goat and give it one brush.

 

Some animal statues. The kids loved this outdoors stuff!

Nicole hiding in her turtle shell. Once again she is wearing all black hoping to be fast like a ninja :-)

 

Jake wrestling the alligator and Nicole trying to pretend she's getting eaten.

 

Mike was so proud of himself for spotting one of the wandering peacocks!

The lemurs were our favorite animals outside, we sat and watched them play for a long time. I think the reason so many animals were gone was due to the cold weather and they were also redoing some habitats. So the zoo was small, but there was plenty to see. The kids liked the wolves we saw, and it smelled like skunks over there bigtime. Apparently that is the smell of wolves marking their territory!

 

That night we stayed in a hotel with a pool, so we went swimming, had Chickfila for dinner and then watched a movie and had popcorn as a family. The hotel had breakfast the next day and the kids (and Jim and I) ate a lot of food. Mike had 5 servings of eggs alone, not to mention everything else he ate. (I have to insert that I got this hotel room with 2 queen beds for $62 including tax- wohoo!) I picked a hotel close to Mt Airy, where the Andy Griffith town of Mayberry was based on. Their ice cream shop Nicole loves was closed since it was before 11 but we visited this incredible sweet shop and each of us picked out an enormous and decadent dessert which cost us a total of $12. Incredible bakery at a great price!

Had to get a picture with Barn.

 

We drove from Mt. Airy to Pilot Mountain State Park. We had some incredible views of the fall foliage! We told the kids specifically not to throw anything over the edge or try to climb the fence, etc. Of course Mike had to grab a handful of dry dirt and try to throw it over, which happened to be directly in the face of the wind so us and everyone around us got a nice big faceful of dirt. We decided to retreat to the trails at that point. Michael really knows how to keep things lively!

 

 Here's everyone with their goodies. I love how Jacob chose the brownie titled "Death By Chocolate." So proud of my son :) Mike wanted the M&M brownie (because it has M&Ms and brownies- 2 in 1!!) and Nicole chose what was labeled a "big cookie" because who doesn't want a big cookie?

 

We climbed rocks and raced around since I didn't feel like hiking a lot. (We had a long drive and meeting ahead of us!)

Kings of the mountain!

 

We drove back home so we could be back in time for Stake Conference. For the adult session we brought the kids and had them in a room where we could hear the speakers. It was a wonderful session, we had two general authorities visiting to reorganize our stake. At one point I looked over and Nicole had put on my gloves on her feet. We told her she looked like a monkey and so she made the motions and sounds to go along with it. Silly girl.

The kids played with Legos while we listened and Diana ran around with the lego box on her head. It was amazing how quietly the kids played so we could listen and a great blessing to us.

Getting ready for conference this morning- they each got to pick out a hot wheels car at the toy story in Mt Airy so they have been playing with their beloved cars and racing them around everywhere. We had a wonderful time as a family with a bunch of small fun things together on our vacation that added up to some fun memories.