Friday, December 21, 2018

December 21, 2018

We've been fighting sickness on and off for a couple of weeks now and so we really haven't done all that much.

The big boys had their final Choir performance Sunday evening. Nana and Grandad were able to come. Robert and William did great! Robert was particularly on point during his group's solo song and William knew all of the words. I am so glad they liked choir and look forward to them getting to participate next year!

Hannah had her ballet performance in class on Tuesday evening. Francis and the kids joined me to watch her. She did her routine for us twice and did great both times! She loved having an ornament exchange and a cookie too.

Wednesday we went to the Children's Museum, yesterday morning we went to the Museum of Natural History in town and last night we went out with our Sunday School class to eat at Rudy's and tour the lights in Central Park. All were fun! Other all this we've been home. It feels weird to be home as much as we have, but since we will be gone for a week for Christmas, I guess some home time is not bad.

Andrew is getting really good in his walker. He's attacked the Christmas tree twice and removed a few ornaments, but he's been relatively gentle and nothing has been hurt. He's also good at rolling so laying him on his mat is no longer a guarantee he won't travel. He has his 6 month check up today (he turns 6 months tomorrow), so we'll see how he's grown. He's an expressive guy and it's never hard to guess how he's feeling. Having him as part of our family is such a blessing. I can't wait to see what wonderful things his first Christmas holds!

Merry Christmas!

Monday, December 10, 2018

December 10, 2018

Life has been moving along at the Phillips' house. December 1, we headed to Austin in the morning for a day to have breakfast at the Capitol building. Mom and dad met us there and we had a fun morning with good food, face painting, crafts, a balloon man and Santa. Now we don't "do" Santa so my kids were yet again suspicious when the man in red asked them what they wanted for Christmas. It's slightly funny. It was fun to see my parents and the gets got to tour where mom will be working. We even got a picture with the kids at Mom's House seat. So so cool!

Last Tuesday was the last CC of the year. We had fun at the end with a Christmas party, mini concert and funwith friends. My kids are sad to go on break, but they will be refreshed when we go back after the New Year!

Thursday was a big day in College Station. At noon the kids, Francis and I went and found our spot to wait hours to see the processional as they brought President George H. W. Bush to be buried at his presidential library. The weather was cold and rainy, but it was worth it. It was a special time and the people around us were amazing. One man knew both president Bushs for over 30 years and had been at both their inaugurations. He had been pen pals with the elder Bush for many years. It was amazing the stories he had. During the processional George W Bush waved at the kids as he passed with his family. The kids waved flags, stood quietly and smiled at him. They were perfect and though they may not remember it, they have had a former president wave at them! After the processional there was a 21 plane fly over. The last plane peeled off and flew up into the clouds and disappeared. The clouds that swallowed it lit up somehow and Robert recognized that it represented leaving for heaven. I had been good up until that point, but tears streamed down my face. I won't forget that moment.

Thursday evening we went to Chick-fil-a for their spirit night. We saw Santa yet again and did crafts and had yummy food. Saturday Andrew and I drove to Houston for Cyndy's baby shower. There was a great turn out and Jackson got so many wonderful things, due in no small part to him having two amazing grandmothers. We made it back home mid afternoon and still had much of the day together as a family. We took the kids to the dollar store so they could shop for their siblings and cousins. They had so much fun hiding their gifts from each other in the store and have started to wrap their gifts. It's fun seeing them begin to cultivate the spirit of giving and not just getting.

What else? Andrew has mastered the walker. The other day he maneuvered it over to the tree but couldn't figure out how to reach across the front tray to get to the tree. I've got to keep an eye on him. He's also rolling like crazy and starting to lift into a crawl position so setting him on the ground isn't safe either. He's cute as can be though and loving his new found mobility. He is also loving to "talk" to his siblings. They enjoy telling him all sorts of things and he responds!

Hannah is still a "big girl" and keeps her brothers in line. She is loving ballet and tap class and has her winter performance a week from tomorrow. She's the first volunteer whenever I need a helper. She is making good friends and is a second mother to Andrew (which he has mixed feelings about). She loves hanging out with me most and it makes me smile that she's my girl!

Robert is beginning to take off as a reader. It he puts his mind to it, he can read most things now. He has mastered single digit addition, had moved onto subtraction and can even do a little multiplication when the mood strikes him. He is the first to want to pray at dinner and loves making art and stories for others. He feels strong and deep and takes after his momma. I can always count on him (and Hannah too) for a good dance party. I love him!

William is beginning multiple digit multiplication. He is working for CC memory master so we have been spending time working on learning all of his school facts. He stepped way out of his comfort zone this year and took Choir with Robert. Their Christmas performance is a week from Sunday. He devours any book you hand him and loved explaining the plots to his siblings. He enjoys thinking deep and asking beyond the surface. He's getting big so fast and I love seeing him grow!