Four. Three Years Old

 4. 3 Years Old

• Christmas Eve was special. We have been going going all month. I really wanted to go to GHR to visit Grandmas with you kiddos, but I was visited out with RS. so after not seeing dad for the last four days, we just stayed home after church and chilled out. We watched a movie, played games, and got ready for our evening. That night, we had clam chowder in bread bowls by candle light, reenacted the Nativity story, sang We Three Kings, opened up robes for the hot tub, and wrote a letter to Santa. You all slept in the girls room. I dragged the kids tree into that room so you could sleep with the lights on. It was magically. 
• Christmas is so special. I love it. We told you kiddos to not call us until 7:30am on the Alexa. I think you guys woke up around 6 and just played with each other until we came down. I am amazed that none of you have figured out that you could just peek if you wanted to. Well, Santa brought you a pink doll bunk bed. You were so excited. You also got ski socks, hair clips, and hair coloring stuff. Dad and I gave you a white cardigan and tights for church, a new pinkalicious book, and a gymnastic bar. You of course love all the chocolate, and ate half of yours by the time we were finished opening gifts. Maggie gave you clothes for your dolls, Millie gave you Disney princess Lego set and Sam gave you a unicorn rocket. We ended the night with the Browns coming over for Cafe Rio. 
• The week after Christmas was full of movies, playing switch,  friends over for hot tubing, and slow days. By the end of the week, you kids were ready to go again and have a crazy week in Utah.
• Utah was a big trip-drove to cabin, sledding at the cabin, painting nails with Auntie Kami, going to the semi final rounds in Uno with the help of cousin Sarah, day in Provo with the Cowles, warm weather so we could play outside, Cedar city, hiking with both Price family, skiing at Brian Head (you were awesome on the green hill!), another day in Provo with the Barbers at the trampoline park, Brigham City, Day with Grandma and going bowling, building snowmen, and playing games, watching Wonka movie, up late for the last night. We were all so tired by the end, but it felt good to be with friends and family.
• It never is a trip with family without someone getting sick. When we got back, you got strep throat. You hated the steriod. You told me that it tasted like soap, but you love the pink antibodics and ask for it everyday so we haven't missed a day yet. 
• The other day, you were fighting over a teacup with a younger boy and it broke and sliced the pad off your thumb. We have had to badge it up all week. Maggie was cute and took her sharpies and drew cute pictures on it like a case. I love all the cuddles, but boy you are not that tough with pain. 

Four.Two Years

 4.2 Year

• We spent Thanksgiving in Oregon. Some of the highlights were dodgeball at the school (you loved getting me out) and hungry hippos, last time at Grandma's old house (so you had to do the zip line and took over the piano room with paper dolls), eating KFC on actually thanksgiving day, watching Wish with Grandma and Papa at the movie theaters, Thanksgiving dinner at Annie's with all the cousins and sushi, dressing up and making up plays, and ginger bread houses at the library. It was crazy and awesome at the same time. I love how you got a lot time with Jessie. She really is one of your favorite people. 
• Side note: you got the Princess Aurora night gown from Grandma for your birthday and you wear it all the time. One time, I caught you wearing it night, the next day, the next night, and was trying to wear it again during the day, but I finally told you to put it in the dirty basket. 
• Preschool here this month was on snow. There happened to be snow outside (we haven't got much yet this year) and it was fun to see you fill up the bikes with snow and ride around. That same day, after we painted pictures of Christmas trees, we delivered them to the different Grandmas in the ward. They all loved your pictures and shared candy with you girls. We were also able to go on a field trip this month to the post office to mail our letters to Santa and then walk over to Creme for drinks and games.
• Christmas is going strong here. We have been doing the different advent day calendars (I should say we did them the first half of the month but then it got to be too much for me so we just put the rest of the playmobiles together on the 24th), had the Happy Birthday celebration with the Rupps, cut out snow flakes, had Santa on the Fire Truck come to our house!!, and been trying to watch more Christmas movies. 
• We got to watch your first dance recital. You loved being on stage and really worked hard on doing your dance moves. The next week, your picture was the main photo on the front of the local paper. It was darling. Millie was jealous that you were the star. 
• We invited a few families over to the church to play floor hockey and chair soccer. It was really fun to run around on a Friday night. Its hard to be the youngest one, but you worked hard at getting in the action and hitting the ball a bit.
• We went skiing as a whole family and you got to go!!! You have been asking about skiing these last few weeks, so it was so fun to take you. Dad taught you on the bunny hill while I was out with the big kids. I guess it was not going well and you wanted to be done at lunch. You told dad that you wouldn't go out unless I was with you. Well, I am not good enough to teach you, so after lunch we all went to the bunny hill to encourage you. It was sweet to see all your siblings cheer you on. You were doing so well and I was able to help you. Dad then took the big kids off to do the bigger hills. By the end, you wanted to go down and do the lift by yourself (don't worry, I stayed with you) and you even told Dad that you were better than him. I am glad that you love it now. 
• Dad had to work the weekend before Christmas so we invited Laura Collins from Elk City to come out here for four days to spend it with us. You think Laura is so fun (may have a hard time sharing her with your siblings). I would find you, Millie, and Sam all cuddle up in her bed with her in the mornings watching silly clips of dogs or something. One of the days, we went to Lewiston to go ice staking. The place had big stakes of buckets that you could use to hold on to while skating. It was just a bit too heavy for you to push on your own, so I ended up skating backwards the while time pulling you along. I love that I got to see you laugh the whole time. You told me that you felt like Pinkalicious. We ended the night at Tomato Brothers and the Train park with the fun lights. It really felt special. 

Four.One Years Old

 4.1 Years

• Preschool is going really well. Having just the three of you girls have been easy and wants me to do more of the creative things with you since I don't have to worry about behavior. I hosted the halloween party. Your favorite activity was making a witch's potion. I set up this tray with different halloween theme science stuff including colored vinegars in potion bottles, baking soda, eyeballs, glitter, cauldrons to mix them with and bones to use as stir rods. It was a real hit and I love how you girls were laughing and ohhh-ing the whole time. 
• We have had a lot of fun with Halloween. Deciding costumes has been a bit crazy with you because you keep changing your mind. I had to keep bringing you back to the idea of a unicorn princess. In the end, you hated wearing the hat, but oh well. Our friends the Zechmanns hosted a Halloween party. Each family was suppose to bring a haunted food. We made shepherd's pie and piped the mashed potatoes to look like the small intestines. The veggie tray has red coloring dripped over it like blood. You had a really hard time wanting to eat any of the haunted food. We also were able to go to the ward Trunk-o-treat. I brought our pears and gave them to each kid. We spent actually Halloween night in town. We started at the city's Trunk-o-treat and there was a hay ride. Nora started to go out with us house to house, but got too cold and bailed. I was surprised how well you handled the cold. When it was time to go, I couldn't find my keys. Both Dad and I retraced my steps, but no luck. The next day, we found them on the lawn of your friends house, which you thought was a miracle and reacted so well.
• You wore the funniest outfit to church. It included crazy curly hair, two bows, a head band, lacey dress, pink tights, painted nails, and using a barbie dress as "gloves". Your sense of style is such your own. I try hard to guide you on wearing cute, matching outfits, but you will just change it to something your own. You are loving your "Chelsea boots" and ask me to wear mine so we can match. 
• You and Millie are such best friends. I love seeing how much you two get along. Lately, you girls have been playing with dolls. The weather hasn't been too cold, so on one of our Sunday walks, Millie pushed hers in a doll stroller and you held on to Junie while riding your bike. The next time we went on a walk, you got the stroller, but after the up hill, you ditched it to the side of the road because it was too much work.
• The Browns are the new family/doctor so we have been trying to introduce them to new things here. This year, the weather was beautiful, so we took them up the mountain to cut down a free Christmas tree. It was fun stomping through the mud (no snow). You really liked all the tiny trees so we ended up picking out little ones for each of your rooms. 

Four Years Old

 4 Years Old

Dear JoJo,

Today you turned four years old. You have been waiting for so long since you have seen all your other friends have birthdays. For your birthday, you wanted to have a party with your friends where you go hot tubbing, eat "banana splits" (though no bananas but with brownies, but you insisted it was not a brownie sundae but a banana split), and end the night with the movie Barbie a Fashion Fairytale. You have such a great group of friends. 

JoJo, you have so many traits that make you easy to love. First, you have this bright joy that shows through you. This joy makes people around you feel happier. I know when you were little, you tend to not like others, but that has changed. You will run up to other adults in church and give them big hugs. Just the other day, Brother Clark was telling me how you ran up to him, told him that he was the one that help build your shower and gave him a superman hug. It made his day that you remembered him and shared that bright joy with him. 

Another reason why it is easy to love you is that you are just plain fun. I love the funny stories that you make up, you are always up for playing a game or cuddling in my bed with a book. You love to go outside (probably the most out of all the kids) and will happily go for a bike ride walk with me, even when it is colder outside. you play well with older kids but you are so so sweet to babies. 

Lastly (though there isn't a lastly because there are endless reasons to love you, I just only have so much space), it is easy to love you because you think about others often. I love how you make all these cards for me and your friends. When it was Olivia's birthday, I was wrapping up some books for her and you thought she would like a more fun gift so you went through your toys and picked out two toys to share with her. I laugh because it was a puzzle that has already been open and a microphone. It was so sweet. 

I love having you in our family. You are the perfect forever baby. Thank you are being my buddy.

Love, 
Mom

Three.Eleven Years

 

3.11 Years

• School started this month. You were so sad that the big kids left you and especially that you couldn't get on the bus with them. Both Sam and Millie has joked with you to hop in their backpacks so they can sneak you off to school. It was also hard because you knew that you were going to preschool, but it didn't start the same week as them, so you had to wait even more. Waiting is hard.
• Grandma and Papa Price came for a few days. It was fun having them. The kids were in school for once of the days, so you got them all to yourself. Grandma painted with you, read you many stories, and we snuck off to town for a bit. They helped out with driving for soccer practice and enjoyed a hike and bike ride up at fish creek. The big thing was that we took them on a float trip with some of our friends. You and Grandma were buddies and you helped her during the scary bump bump parts. 
• The week after Labor Day came, and the waiting is over. You got to start dance, story time, and preschool. You were so excited to get dressed up for ballet class, but once we got there, you were nervous and wanted me to stay. It calmed you down a bit to see all your friends in the class: Nora, Addy, Trinley, and Macie. The set up is pretty awesome. On Wednesdays, you have dance, then we head over to the library, and since the weather has been so nice, we finish with lunch at the park. Preschool was here the first week. It was an adjustment because you were use to going to Noah's Ark with Millie on her leader day. So you kept asking when you were going to start "real" preschool. I have been loving the co-op. It is a small group, but it is turning out so well. It is Nora, Addy, and you. You all three love doing crafts and are so engaged in all the activities that it makes it easy to teach you.
• Speaking of teaching you, we officially started the reading book and it has gone fabulous. You are wanting to do each day, often asking to read to me before I read to you. You will peak ahead to see what the next new sound will be. And you really are picking it up. I love how well and smooth it is going with you. I knew once you decided that you wanted to learn, you would go for it. 
• I got to take you kids to a high school football game. You were excited to watch the cheer leaders. I gave you each a dollar for a treat and you were able to buy 5 airheads with it. And yes, you tried to eat all 5 during the game. 
• Dad went backpacking with Uncle Mark, so we made a quick trip out to Oregon and entertain us while we was gone. We helped out in the yard for a while and Grandma and Papa were nice to pay you guys in Lego coupons. It turned into a fun afternoon in Canby, with a lunch at the park, walking around the little stores, buying a lego set at the lego store, and ending with ice cream. That night, all of you guys had a sleep over at the Price's while the adults went to the temple. I guess I forgot your pjs, so you that it was silly to wear Jessie's. Saturday was filled with Ocktober fest. It was huge. All the families came. We bought some fun food, your favorite being the Mexican Street Corn. We waited forever for the trampoline ride, but you loved jumping on it. 

Three.Ten Years

 3.10 Years

• We got to float Kooskia to Kamiah. We borrowed inner tubes from a friend, and met up with friends that we hardly ever do stuff with. We tied all the inner tubes together, passed snacks all around, climbed from tube to tube, and got to go cliff jumping at the end (I pushed you off, which I don't think you appreciated).We rafted the river later that week with the Stones and McKnights. WE took a long dinner on one of the beaches and didn't get home until 10pm. I am so grateful that you have been so flexible with sleep so we can do all these adventures.
• General summer fun: so many days at the pool, drawing on your belly after seeing the big kids draw on their bodies at swim meets, drawing all over big Maggie's arms because I told you not to draw on yourself, going on our first overnight raft trip as a family, playing in the pond, having a sleep over at Megan McKnight's, and Maggie babysitting you and Millie while Dad and I went to Lewiston.
• The brown family moved in and Macie is your age. It is adorable seeing her fit right into the girl group. 
• This month we got to go to Utah to celebrate Mark and Kami's wedding. It was a whirlwind of a trip, but it was one of your highlights for the summer. We got there in the middle of the night Wednesday night so we could have all Thursday to spend with Grandma and Papa Matthews. We checked out DI with Grandma, played at the splash pad where it turned into a huge water war of your kids verses this other family of kids, and ended the night watching Sophia while big kids went to the movies. On Friday, we got to do some back to school shopping on the way down to Provo and have lunch at Chic-fil-a. I know that is not much, but I liked having that morning as just a family. We made it to the temple just in time. All of you cousins waited in the room off to the side. The sealing was beautiful and we were able to take pictures afterwards. We ended the night with dinner up the canyon. I loved seeing you so affectionate to Mark and Kami. You would run up and give them so many tight hugs. We spent the night at Amelia's house. We crammed all five of you girls into their room. Grandma and Papa Price were in town for Education Week along with Uncle Josh's family. That morning, Grandpa treated all you kids to $5 at the DI. I laugh at that, but that DI was huge. We joked that it was the Walmart of DIs. Millie convinced you to big this four feet tall Elsa doll with creepy hair. It was awful. I wanted to say no, but Dad said yes, so now we own a creepy doll. We grabbed a quick lunch at their house and then headed to the Provo Rec Center for a few hours. It was crazy trying to do all you girls hair in that family bathroom, but it all worked out in the end. The Wedding was beautiful. You loved having all your cousins there. You actually got to throw flower petals down the isle, which you were beaming about. It dumped while we were eating dinner, but thankfully, there were enough canopies to cover us and the moment dinner was over, the rain stopped. We dance and sang karaoke. You kids drank so much soda and stayed up way late. It was definitely a celebration. 

Three.NineYears

 3.9 Years

• We made a fast weekend trip to McCall with the Cowles. You were so excited that you could wear you McCall shirt in McCall. We rented a lake house with its own dock, sandy beach, and hot tub. It was a blast with their kids. You tagged along with Macie, though you "Spidey" (Kyle) was pretty cool. We brought the little kayaks so you guys were all over on them. We rented a boat for a day. The water was freezing, but it was still fun, as long as we didn't fall off the tub. You got on the tub with me and were giggling the whole time. I love seeing you have fun. The real hit was the hot tub. That thing was covered in an inch of sand by the time we left. 
• Fourth of July!!! Seriously the best holiday in Grangeville. This year, we got to have Grandma and Papa Matthews and the Pavia family come join us. Grandma and Papa got their early, so we were able to do some fun activities with them before hand like getting ice cream from the stand and making tied dye shirts. Berries have been on sale, so we had fun making red, white, and blue breakfasts. When cousins arrived, the four wheeler was a big hit. The bigger kids just sandwiched you in between them and was riding all up and down the hill. We took a short hike up at fish creek. On Monday, we got to go jet boating up to the dam. You held on tight when we crashed into the big rapids on the way back. We lit off fireworks in the driveway, which the Pavis hardly ever get to do. On the actually fourth, we did the whole thing. Egg toss and foot races in the morning. We decorated bikes for the bike parade. We ate lunch at the stands. We waved at Dad and Millie as they got to be on the Syringa float. I laugh because we turn around and both Grandma and Papa had fallen asleep during the parade. We ended the night with fireworks at the high school. It was a very full day. 
• we have been on the river a lot. We have spent many days playing at the river and rafting with friends. The river is definitely our happy place. 
• We got to do our annual bike ride to Creme Cafe for a milk shake. This year, you got to ride your bike.
• Auntie Rachel and Owen and Caleb came for a long weekend. It is always great to have them over. Those boys adore you and it is precious to see them be so sweet to you. We took them to the river. Our friends showed us this trail to a waterfall where you can slide down it like a slide. I had you sit on my lap, but I don't know how much you enjoyed it. Walking back to the river by way of the creek was quite the feat in itself. While dad took the boys fishing one night, we had a girls night of painting toes, baking strawberry shortcake and watching The Great British Bake Off. Rachel loved it.