For Thanksgiving this year we went to Grandma Lori and Grandpa Rob's. You had fun playing with Quade and Bosten, but I'm pretty sure you didn't eat a thing on your plate when it was time for dinner! The next day we went out and found our Christmas tree and actually got the best looking one we've had in years. The next day we got to go to Hurricane while dad helped Grandpa build a fence and I did some Christmas shopping. You and Tess hung out with Grandma Hillier that day, so I'm pretty sure those 3 days with your grandparents were the highlight of the month for you guys.
Your dad started his winter break in November this year, and the first week he was off he decided to take you coyote hunting. We weren't sure how you would do since it would be early and cold and you'd have to be somewhat quiet, but you weren't out for very long before I got a picture message on my phone with you and your first coyote. I was pretty jealous so I went out with your dad after Thanksgiving and wasn't as lucky as you, and come to think of it, I don't think dad's gotten once since that day either! You must be a good luck charm. After your dad shot the coyote it was still alive so he got closer to finish him off and missed a few times at close range. This is my favorite part of how you tell the story because you are so excited about how dad shot the coyote and then you go on to say, "And then he shot at it and missed, and he shot at it again and miss, and then he shot at it again and missed AGAIN!"
Dad was able to go back to Texas again at the beginning of December, so I knew I had better try to plan some fun things to do to keep us from going crazy now that it has been too cold to go to the park. One thing I am going to try to do with you guys every year is make Christmas ornaments. These were some apple cinnamon ornaments we made and then decorated. You guys had a lot of fun and I just cringed and kept my mouth shut while the glitter went flying!
And of course you guys jumped at the chance to break out the Santa hats and play Santa. That is probably one of your favorite things to do all month is bring me things stuffed in your Santa hat and have me open my present. I'm not so sure why your shirt is tucked into your underwear, but those Grinch socks only come off after a lot of discussion about how you can't wear the same socks two days in a row!
Earlier this month you had woken up around 5:30 a.m. and went into the bathroom to pee. Your dad was out on the couch because I was in our room working on the computer, when all of a sudden we heard a horrible scream coming from the bathroom. I went running and by the time I got down the hall to where you were I could hear your dad laughing pretty hard. I thought for sure he had heard you go into the bathroom and decided to scare you, but it turned out instead you saw a mouse! Even though we have caught the culprit and you watched him get flushed down the toilet I'm pretty sure you are forever scarred by that event that morning. You are always hearing things and asking me what certain noises are and asking me to come to the bathroom with you. You even have Tessa go with you sometimes! It doesn't matter how many times I reassure you that we have gotten them all and that they are more afraid of you than you are of them. I really hope we HAVE gotten all the mice in this house because I'm not sure what I am going to tell you if it happens again!
The other day I was reading one of my favorite blogs, and she was talking about her boy who started kindergarten this year and it reminded me a little of you. She said, "I swear, this is such a weird age. I love it, but it is just so strange. He's half teenager, half toddler. He is so big, but so small (so smart, so dumb). He's got one foot out there in the big scary world - and the other is still clad in a pair of feetie pajamas." That pretty much hits it right on the head. Sometimes the things you say and the way you say things make me wonder how old that soul of yours is, and other times you come out dressed wearing a Santa hat, Grinch socks, and red shirt tucked into a pair of shorts in December! There have been rumblings here and there of some girls at school taking quite a liking to you too. Already? It makes us laugh now, but I feel like the girl/teenager/real world thing is coming at me at warp speed. I don't want to stop you from growing up because it is SO much fun to watch you tackle these new things in Logan style, but let's at least keep the girls away for a few years!
Be good to your new little brother buddy, and please be patient with me while I try to figure out life with another person in the picture. I remember the transition last time was less than stellar, but you weren't quite old enough to remember much of it (thankfully!). This time I have a better idea of what to expect, but you also are more aware of what is going on. I hope those two things work for me instead of against me. You have such a heart of gold though that I know whatever mistakes I do make you will (most likely) forgive me for. Thanks for that buddy. I know that you and that great personality came first in this family for a reason. Keep that heart of gold. I absolutely love to watch you with other kids when you let that trait shine, and I know it will be one of your best assets in your life if you stick with it.
Love you bud,
Mom
One from last month when you and Tessa played in the "snow."
