November Activities

Before our vacation to Michigan we were able to do some fun Thanksgiving/Fall activities at home. Here are some of the highlights. I usually post something I'm grateful for every day of November, but seeing that I don't always get to my blog every day or even once a week I opted for something new and different. A gratitude window. I bought some window markers and every day after dinner we drew a picture of something we were grateful for. This was what our window looked like at the end of the month.....




This was a simple activity but kept Xavier busy for a really long time. I pulled out our pumpkin play dough and some popcorn kernels. Then I told Xavier to make designs in the play dough. He loved it!

We made some potato print turkeys and added feathers and googly eyes. We also made pilgrim hats. Xavier loved acting the role of a pilgrim and "hunting" for turkeys. He even asked if we could make buckles for his shoes. So, I obliged and added some paper buckles to complete his look.

One day when the weather was absolutely perfect we went for a nature walk, gathered some natural leaves, grass, bark, etc. from our walk and made a collage.

For a yummy treat we made apple turkeys. We used apricots, raisins, dried cranberries, cheerios, and marshmallows for the feathers, head, and legs.

Xavier showing off his turkey.

We also made some tee pees and talked about how the Indians helped the Pilgrims when they came to America.

Xavier learned some fun turkey songs and finger plays along with these crafts. Most importantly we were reminded that we have a lot to be grateful for this year including our health, Tim's job, our home, our family, our friends, our faith, times of laughter, times of trial to make us stronger and to learn to help each other, times of transition to learn new things about ourselves, times of forgiveness to remind us that we all make mistakes and need encouragement, times of learning to grow and develop new talents, and the chance to reflect on all our blessings that make life a time to cherish.

4 Months Old

The Stats are in...

Gavin weighs 16 lbs. 9.5 oz.

26 1/2 inches long

Our little Gavin is a super duper baby! He loves it when I make a pig sound and he laughs at his big brother all the time. He loves playing with rattles, blocks, and his very hungry caterpillar toy. His squeals of excitement always make me laugh. When he wakes up in the middle of the night and I come in his room his cries instantly turn to smiles, squeals, and lots of excited kicking. I wish I could be that happy at 4 am.

When Gavin got his 4 month shots he cried more when I set him on the crinkly paper covering the exam table than he did when he got his shots. The first shot they gave him he didn't even cry. The second one he let out a cry for about 4 seconds and was fine after that. It was incredible how calm he was.

Gavin is close to rolling, but not yet. He scoots around in circles when he's on his belly and he'll scoot forward and backward when he's lying on his back. I'm sure once he starts rolling there will be no stopping him. He is getting good at holding toys and puts everything in his mouth.

We are so delighted to learn all about Gavin and life is a joy when he is in the room!

Family Pizza Night

We have started a new family tradition. My bread maker has come out of hiding and I have loved making homemade bread on Sundays. My new favorite is homemade pizza dough. So we turned Friday nights into our homemade pizza and family movie night. Last week we did pepperoni and cheese, this week we did barbecue chicken, next week maybe Margherita pizza. The possibilities are endless. Xavier has loved rolling out the dough and putting the toppings on with daddy while listening to their favorite music as loud as they can.

If you're happy and you know it say P-I-Z-Z-A!

This one's for you Grandma

DAPPER LAD

Xavier is wearing the same coat Tim wore as a little boy.

What do you think Grandma?

Xavier's First Visit with the Dentist

In preparation for this BIG event we read one of Xavier's favorite books- The Tooth Book and Tim showed him how he would have to sit in the BIG chair. He told Xavier to lay like a board and say "ahhhh" as long as he could. Xavier got a kick out of this and said he could do it, no problem.

So off we went to the dentist the next day! I kept telling Xavier that the dentist is his teeth's best friend and that the dentist was going to check to make sure his teeth are healthy and strong. Xavier couldn't wait...that is until the assistant called his name. His face appeared a little less confident. We walked to the room where Dr. Ashley was and she greeted him with a warm smile and a friendly hello. Xavier couldn't believe her name was the same as mine, but I think it helped him warm up to her quickly.

The dentist originally had Xavier straddling me so he could lay back into her lap, but Xavier insisted on sitting in the big chair. He kept talking and talking and was so entertaining to the dentist. He talked about Transformers, Halloween, sharks, and everything else he loves. I'm amazed she was able to look at his teeth.

Here Dr. Ashley is showing Xavier what the spinning toothbrush feels like.

Xavier showing us his mad patient skills. Open wide and say "aahh".

Dr. Ashley even let Xavier take some of her blue gloves home. (We played dentist all afternoon)

The verdict is.....NO CAVITIES! Yippee! I was a little worried since Xavier's candy/sugar consumption has somewhat increased since we came to Pennsylvania. But I've become more vigilant in brushing his teeth due to daddy's need to fulfill his role as Xavier's personal candyman. I'm so proud of Xavier for being so brave!

The leaves are "FALL"-ing all around

I love that we have an actual front yard with a tree and leaves (all the better for raking). It's the best during this time of year when you see the joy of your child jumping in them and burying himself in the colors of fall.

This brings me back to the days when I was a child and would visit my grandma and grandpa in Logan. There was a huge hill by Utah State's campus lined with trees. Me and my sister would run through the leaves, throw them up in the air, and roll down the giant hill. Today this picture made me think of my wonderful grandmother and those amazingly free fall days we'd have during our visits.

Cheers to another generation of leaf splendidness.

Trick or Treat

Here are our "Bumblebees"

Buzz Buzz!

This is the first year in Tim and I's seven years of marriage that we've had trick or treaters. I loved it! It was so fun to have the doorbell ring and to see all the fun costumes. In past years it always felt like something was missing. This year it made our Halloween complete. Xavier got so excited every time our doorbell would ring. He'd jump up and shout "It's another trick or treater!"

We visited some houses, but not too many. After a trunk or treat and the Mars Fall Fest we had plenty of candy to go around. Plus, after about 6 houses Xavier said, "Let's go home so I can eat my candy!" I wasn't going to argue.

My snuggle bug.

What I didn't realize is that Xavier was a little smarter than me and Tim. He realized why should he go to so much work walking around the neighborhood and saying trick or treat when there was an entire bowl of candy at home?

Happy Haunting everyone!