We had a lazy morning with candles in the breakfast cake. Hazel intentionally blew out only four of her candles, then turned to Jack and said, "The last one's for you, J!" and let Jack blow it out. I was so proud of her. That Hazel, she can really surprise you with her generosity and thoughtfulness.
She opened her presents while we FaceTimed with Todd. I got her a craft kit because the kid is always making something and I thought she'd love some fresh supplies. I bought a couple totes and stuffed them to the rafters with tissue paper, scrapbooking scissors, sparkly paper, feathers, jewels, glue sticks, you name it. Most of it was just odds and ends I had in my own craft supplies, but I did beef it up with a few novelties. She was over the moon, and made three or four projects that day, starting with a sparkly Christmas tree.
I asked Hazel a few questions about herself, and want to record her answers here:
Favorite colors: dark pink, yellow, and turquoise
Favorite movie: Mulan
Favorite animal: cheetah
Favorite song: Pirates of the Caribbean soundtrack
Best friends: Eva and Esther, and Olivia and Zack, and Nova and Spencer
What do you like to do outside? Play in the snow
What do you like to sleep with? cheetah and lemur
What do you want to be when you grow up? A job to take care of little kids
Favorite food: steak
Where is your favorite place to go? safari with Daddy
What do you do really well? art projects
What words describe you? artistic
Favorite season? winter - actually, spring
One food you really dislike? pickles
What makes you laugh? Things that are funny, like when a clown falls into an egg and can't get out.
What are you afraid of? pirate dreams
What do you like to do with your family? FHE treats
What do you love to learn about? animals
On the night of Hazel's birthday, my parents and my brother Chris joined us for a birthday dinner. Of course, we had steak! Then we decorated the Christmas tree.
On Monday, we had a friend birthday party. We invited a handful of buddies from church and preschool over, played some games, made personal pizzas, and opened presents.
Gemma started spending a lot of time standing in December, and shortly after she hit her 11-month mark, she took her first step.
She spent a lot of time pulling off and playing with the ornaments on the lower branches of the Christmas tree. I couldn't get enough of it, I thought it was so darling. I was so mad Todd was missing it.
Santa didn't come to our ward Christmas party (what?!) so we searched him out in the community and went to see him. Hazel has never let me forget that we didn't go to the church party last year and she didn't ever see Santa. Apparently, it is a BIG DEAL. I was surprised that Jack was willing to sit next to him and shake his hand.
I can't resist. How adorable is this, all three ducks, sitting in a row.
Jack did some weird and naughty things this month, like climbing into the dryer. . . (Yes, we had a talk about how he could get trapped in there.)
Pouring his own syrup when I was out of the room . . .
And even playing with matches. No picture of this one, but he did, in fact, light and put out a match while I was rocking Gemma to sleep for a morning nap. Hazel was at school. I came out of the room, and smelled it right off the bat. Jack was very forthright; he'd been laying by Gemma's door waiting for me to come out so he could discuss his adventures with me. He went to a time-out while I prayed frantically to know how to discipline him - because the boy can't be phased - and was inspired to show him a youtube video of a house on fire. We stared at it and talked about it and thank goodness, I think the seriousness of the situation really did sink in, and I hid the matches in a new, higher spot, and so far, our house still stands. Wish me luck.
The kids continue to make little forts with the furniture. I thought it was nice that they included Gemma.
One day, they decided to play "going swimming." I thought they were crazy. There's eight inches of snow outside! I've got slippers and a jacket on! Oh, well, it's too much fun jumping off the couch into the "water" to worry about dressing appropriately.
Emily and Doug flew in from Chicago for Christmas, and Chris took the whole week off of work and spent it in Logan, so we had tons of sibling togetherness. Mom took this picture the afternoon Chris joined us. We were so excited, we were all just squished together on the couch, snuggling and chatting.
Doug brought his trumpet, and Jack was completely fascinated with it.
Hazel and Ryan played a duet together. No, Hazel cannot play the piano. Ryan is just incredibly loving and patient.
We took a quick jaunt down to Midway a couple of days before Christmas to see Grammie and Poppa. KB helped my kids decorate their gingerbread house.
Hazel proved herself Todd's daughter when she grabbed a salt shaker, poured some into her hand, and licked it up. Sometimes a Bonner just needs a little salt!
We came back to Smithfield and had the traditional Christmas Eve devotional with my family. Here's Gemma with my brother Scott's son, Ethan. Cousins!
I had a hard time (emotionally) setting up Christmas alone. This month has been really, really hard for me in the Missing Todd Department.
Christmas morning, Jack was the first to wake up. I tried to get him to cuddle with me and look at books until Hazel woke up, but he decided to go sit on her bed and wake her up himself instead.
Looking at the Butterfly Stories book Todd wrote for the kids:
Jack got a keyboard that's been really fun for him to play with. The kid loves buttons and music.
Hazel got her first doll. It was a shot in the dark - she's never asked for one or even really shown interest in them, but it seems like every girl her age has one, and I needed a $30 something to even her and Jack out. I can't believe how much she has loved it. She takes her to bed with her, people. She buckled her in the car next to her when we went to the dentist the other day. I'm so glad I got Hazel a doll.
Santa got Hazel an iPod shuffle. She was completely inseparable from it for the first 48 hours.
Sibling group shot: (top) Emily, Chris, Kathryn, me (bottom) Scott, Ryan
Christmas night, the crowd came over to my place to hang after I put the kids to bed. We had been taking personality tests, and spent the night discussing the results and gaining insights about each other. It was a cool evening.
Unfortunately, within minutes after everyone left, the stomach flu hit me and Jack hard.
Within 24 hours, Ryan, Mom, and Chris were feeling sick as well, and it was all downhill from there. Everyone got sick. While my immunity was down, I caught a cold that I'm still fighting, ten days later. We've hardly been anywhere or done anything. Thank goodness for all those new Christmas toys to keep the kids happy at home!
Hazel and Jack love their new flashlights:
And they've spent hours listening to books on CD with our new CD player.
Thankfully, I felt well enough to host my parents and Emily and Doug for New Year's Eve. We had cheese night and played games. The hit of the night was Hide and Go Seek in the basement with the flashlights (Todd's idea).
