January 2016

 January may be dreary and dull for many people, but not for the Bonners! We keep the party rolling past Christmas with two more birthdays. Jack turned five on January 4th. He has been really excited, looking forward to the big day, counting down the weeks and then days and then hours. It was his first day back at preschool after the break. He was happy to take treats to his friends and go somewhere fun for the morning.

After school, Todd took a break from work and we went mini golfing with Jack's buddy Alyse. We had banana chocolate chip muffins for dinner, and dirt and worm cake.

Jack got some sweet presents, too. He's been most excited to play with his double stomp rocket out front. He's always been a thinker and loves puzzles and mazes and building things, as well. He's a smart little cutie. 

Here are some fun things to know about Jack:

Favorite color: orange

Favorite toy: the mermaid doll he got for Christmas (he and Gemma play mermaids in the tub)

Favorite movie: ”It’s definitely not Inside Out, because, you know, the clown.. It’s Peter Pan.”    

Favorite animal: tiger

Favorite book: Mercy Watson books (He got the set for Christmas - they're really funny!)

Favorite song: "Staple It Together" by Jack Johnson (Jack loves to turn this one on and dance around with Gemma), "Crazy Frog: (still going strong among my kids), and "Bad Day" by Daniel Powter

Best friend: Alyse Woodland

What does he like to do outside: look for rolly pollies

What does he like to sleep with: his stuffed animals and blue blanket - He starts out in my bed most nights and likes the comfort and protection of the giant stuffed gorilla til he goes to his own room. 

What do you want to be when you grow up? "A scientist – like making the potions and stuff." 

Favorite food: candied yams and chocolate chip muffins

Where is your favorite place to go? "Utah, to see Nana and Grandpa."

What do you do really well? Play with Gemma, make really good presents for people on their birthday. 

Three words that describe him: smart, curious, tender (my words)

Favorite season: winter - because you get presents - Christmas and birthday

One food he really dislikes: "Mashed potatoes - but I do like turkey - I love turkey."

If he had one wish, it would be: "to get presents when it's not even my birthday or Christmas."

What makes you laugh? potty talk

What are you afraid of?  "Those really bad dreams that I had, like that rat one biting my back and the snake one. Those are the two that I hated."

What do you like to do with your family? "Play games with them, with you guys, like Battleship and stuff."

What do you love to learn about? Secrets that Hazel whispers in Mom’s ear so Jack can’t hear. 

Hazel is a reading machine. She's devouring chapter books like Nevergirls, Amelia Bedelia, and Critter Club. Like, reading several a week. She loves Friday nights because we let her read in her bed until 9:00. She's often reading during breakfast or in the car.  Actually, she's reading whenever she gets a spare moment. It's awesome! 

Todd and I are reading the Book of Mormon with Hazel after the other kids go to bed each night. We're trying to do two pages a day. Our goal is to help her read and discuss the entire Book of Mormon before she gets baptized. It is really cool to see her remembering the stories and understanding basic doctrinal principles. We really want her to learn to recognize the Holy Ghost and develop a testimony on her own and understand what she's undertaking at baptism and let it be a responsible, personal decision and not just a cultural coming-of-age ritual for her. She is such a good girl and really impresses me with her love for the gospel. 

Hazel was awarded Student of the Month in January for responsibility. I know it's an arbitrary reward and all the kids get something every year, but it is still satisfying to see her teacher noticing strengths in Hazel that we love about her. 

Gemma is still obsessed with dolls. We have lots of four-inch dolls she loves, and plenty of Barbie sized dolls, and Lego dolls as well, and she carries them all over the house and asks me to play with her. Lately, she'll give me a doll and tell me to have my doll talk to hers, and then I'll have mine say "Hi, how are you doing today?" and hers will say something like, "Leave me alone! I'm NOT TALKING to you!" and turn her back on my doll and huff and be all dramatic and pretend to cry. I don't know how to work with a plot like that! Todd and I are constantly talking with Gemma about making her dolls talk nice and be friendly. She just doesn't want to play like that! 

Here she is, with Rapunzel and Jasmine peeking around the laundry room door to spy on me. 

Gem's getting quick on the balance bike. We're using the stroller less and less. She wants to be a big girl so bad. 

 Gemma turned three on January 14th. We had her little bestie Grace over for a playdate party. They got into the dress ups, did play dough, had a snack, and danced to princess music.

I felt bad that we hadn't gotten Gemma any new dolls for Christmas, so I made sure she had one on her cake. She's also working towards another doll by staying dry all night, which is something she seems to rock at when she sleeps in a diaper, but not when she sleeps in panties. 

Gemma got a baby doll stroller, an art easel with supplies, and her latest favorite book ("Olivia and the Missing Toy") for her birthday presents. 

Here are some fun facts about Gemma: 

Favorite color: pink (and sometimes purple)

 Favorite toy: dolls (Barbie size and smaller

Favorite movie: Bubble Guppies episode with the witch with a potion to turn people into frogs Favorite animal: dogs

 Favorite book: "Olivia and the Missing Toy"

Favorite song: "Belle" (Little Town) from Beauty and the Beast

Best friend: Hazel and Jack (and Grace Woodland)

What do you like to do outside: ride bikes, swing, jump on tramp

What do you want to be when you grow up? a mermaid

Favorite food: snack foods (crackers, raisins, pretzels, treats)

Three words that describe her are: funny, independent, charming

The next day I flew out to Chicago to spend the long weekend with my sister Emily and meet her new baby, Isaac, who was born in November. She and Doug are loving parenthood! Like, every second of it. I only changed one diaper the whole time I was there, and even then, they hovered over me and seemed to wish they were the ones doing it. They waited a long time for their sweet little guy and they are not taking the experience for granted. It's wonderful to see. My brother Ryan also lives in Chicago, so we all got together and had a great visit. 

We returned some duplicate Christmas presents to Toys R Us and let the kids have a mini shopping spree with the store credit. They each had $10 to spend and had fun looking around and comparing options. Hazel picked a little cat that meows, Jack got a small Lego set, and Gemma chose Little People Rapunzel and Flynn Rider. We also brought home Hungry Hungry Hippos to add to our mix. We've started up a Sunday Night Game Night tradition which is so fun! 

And finally, after much debate and dollar naming and hemming and hawing, Todd and I bought our belated Christmas present to ourselves: a piano! I think Todd wishes it was acoustic and not digital - he keeps saying it doesn't rattle his bones the way it should - but that's something for down the road when we're richer and settled down. For now, this is going to be great for our family. Hazel starts piano lessons today!