He knows if you've been good or bad...

so be good for goodness sake!!!
I have been saying this a lot ot the kids lately. I love December because I can defer to Santa like crazy.
"MOMMY- I want this!!"
"Ask Santa"
"MOM- I want a DS"
"Ask Santa"
"You're stupid"
"You better not let Santa hear you say that."
"I don't want to go to bed!!!"
"Santa's watching"

You get the idea...

Last night was Mike's family party at work and a very special guest was there.







Christian was asleep for the first round with Santa. So after some yummy cookies we came back and let Christian get his two bits in to Santa.





DEAR SANTA,
WE ARE SOMETIMES NAUGHTY, BUT MOSTLY NICE!
LOVE,
THE BLACK KIDS

Guess who is moving?

Christian of course! He is now 8 months old and all over the place.



Short Tail wants into the house and Christian likes to taunt her.



The newest cousin was over for a visit and Christian was enjoying getting to know Brinlee.


In November he had his first two teeth come in, perfected crawling and began pulling up.
No wonder he gets tuckered out.

Briggy's Quirks

Brigham has a funny little habit of hoarding. Each week when we go to play date at a friend's house he spends the time collecting the toys he likes best and hiding behind me. He wants to make sure no one plays with them. He doesn't play with them either.

This is a pic of him surrounded by his favorite things and asleep.


The other day I was putting away some laundry and opened his drawer and it was stuffed full of planes, train cars, cars and chap sticks he had taken from the girls.

December is a busy month for Mike and Briggy was trying wait up for his Daddy. He cuddled up on the vent to wait, but didn't make it. Sometimes the vent can get a bit toasty or even burn your skin if it has been on for a while. While sleeping he moved off it just enough.

Winter Happenings

Just a little bit of what we have been doing lately.

See the fake poinsettas on the front porch. I have actually watched a deer try to eat them. She gave up after a bit. This last Thursdee we had 15 deer walk through the back yard. Since the pond was frozen, they all munched on the plants around the pond that they can't normally access.

Not as much snow as last winter, but we enjoy it none the less.

Kate and Amy were building retaining ponds and catching the water that was melting and flowing down into our circle.


Uncle Dave came over and took the boys sledding a couple of times this week. Thanks Dabid!!

Happy Birthday Briggy Baby!

Brigham turned "freeee" today! It snowed all day so we pretty much hung around the house. Tonight we had burgers/ hot dogs/ fries and a train "wreck" for a cake (not my best)with ice cream. Brigham received some planes, a "Nephi" book and some underwears. We are gearing up for potty training!





Brigham is such a fun little guy. Mike said he loves Briggy's sense of humor. Tyler said he was a good "drawerer". Katelyn says he is a cute and nice boy. Amy thinks he is nice too. I love having one on one time with Brigham. He does have his own sense of humor and is a big helper. I think we had a special bonding time when we were alone together in Florida while the house was selling.

Here is a look back at Brigham! We love you Mr B.!
MIke and Briggy on his blessing day

5 months old at Sea World


Always climbing in the fire place

Birthday Model

2 Years Old- Summer 2009

Christian: 7 Months

Christian is seven months now. Time is flying by when we have so much going on at our house. Christian is trying hard to crawl. He will get up on his arms and tippy toes, but still needs to learn to pull in his knees. No rush though! He can sit on his own and now plays by himself for a while as long as he has been "fed and watered". He eats everything as you can see and is a pretty good sleeper.



He sleeps in the bassinet for about 4 hours and then joins us in bed for the rest of the night. This week has been bad because his first tooth is coming in. I have been completely paranoid about the swine flu and everything else and I was nervous when he got a fever. I looked closely and could see that little white spot under the gum and sure enough...
Christian is a happy little guy. Always smiling. If you wants to get our attention he just does a short yell. It is so cute. The boys are good at keeping entertained with balls and cars and the remote. He loves the remote to the tv. This is a rare moment when both Tyler and Christian are sleeping.

Happy Belated 7th Birthday Amy!!!

Amy had a great day on her birthday. She made homemade Oreos with yellow icing on Sunday to take to her class at school. She made yellow icing because yellow is her favorite color. She received a book from her 1st grade class where each person took a page to draw a picture for her and write one thing they liked about her. I know I have personally read it twice and I think she has read it over 20 times.

We love you mAmy Cakes

Our Amy is 7! Holy cow! Where does time go?
Almost 1!

Two Years


Three Years

Four Years

Five Years

Six Years


Happy Birthday Amy!!!!

We have an arrr-tist!

Katelyn was one of the featured artist at this year's Lamp Light Art Gallery showing in downtown Bountiful in October.

A paper sculpture- luminary


Paper sculpture


Frottage: "Leaves in the Wind"


Katelyn enjoys art and she is good at it. She is taking art lessons from a lady in our ward that lives a couple doors down- Sister Colleen Parker. Sis Parker is an amazing artist herself. Most of Katelyn's work is in landscapes. She loves being outside.

Another Car Seat Canopy

This one for Susie Q and Jay Christian!

Happy Halloween!

On Sunday "WE" carved the pumpkins. Brigham's was an airplane(a pathetic looking plane that would never ever fly- I will do better next year). Tyler's was a scary pumpkin, Katelyn's was a silly face and Amy's resembled herself- both are missing a lot of teeth right now.


The elementary school always has a costume parade so I snapped these pics at the parade.
Katelyn the witch!!


Amy the bumble bee!!


Tyler the pirate digging for gold!!!

When I was chuckling at the computer Tyler came to see why. Instantly he began crying when he found out I was laughing at him. He would be so sad now to see this post, but give it a few years and he will have a good laugh too:)

Brigham the Transformer


Christian the Pumpkin


Our Spooky Dinner

The SPOOKY Menu:
Bloody Fingers by Amy
Jack-O-Lantern Pizzas
Blood n' Guts Soup
Bones
Green Booger Slime to Drink
For Dessert Katelyn put some "dirt" in a glass and dug up a worm for everyone (no pic)
It was YUMMY!