Be My Breast Friend

This last month I started a new job working as a Breastfeeding Counselor for the WIC program. It has given me the opportunity to study study study all about Breastfeeding and the more I learn the more I realize how little I knew when I was introduced to it with Ksenya. Here is a picture of my Ayvri feeding her baby (she did this by herself). It made me laugh. Anyway, I thought I'd reach out to my readers to fulfill my curiosity. Please leave me a nursing comment - it could include any of the following (we'll just call this independent research).

1) What was the worst or best breastfeeding advice you were given?
2) What was the worst or best part about breastfeeding for you?
3) How do you feel about breastfeeding? Do you want to try it someday?
4) What was/is your biggest fear about breastfeeding?

Seriously ladies, write me a novel here I'd love to hear funny stories, experiences, anything you want to share - it's my new hobby interest!

Kissin' Chops

I realize Brigham has gotten more face time than the rest lately - but seriously, don't you just want to eat him up? I love fat baby cheeks all pink and cold baby noses peeking out of winter hoods.

The Wild Bunch

This month I've been reminded again how thankful I am to be a mother - what a beautiful and priceless gift each of these little wonders is and what a great responsibility I've been given. Motherhood is truly God's divine role for women- something we should not fear, but approach with prayer. I love being a Mommy and wouldn't trade it for any other job on earth!

Big Tooth

I think Brig's teeth are bigger than any other baby's I've ever seen. Here is the first molar he cut a couple weeks ago - it looked so miserable and he ran a fever for 3 days over it. Poor little guy was pretty ornery and I can see why! Hopefully the others won't be as bad as this first one.

Warm Fuzzies

Grandma Cox also has a wonderful tradition of making us slippers each Christmas - here are all our toasty warm toesies in a variety of wonderful colors. She even did matching Daddy/Kabe and Mommy/Ksenya pairs this year and the best part? Brigham leaves them on!!! They're fun for sliding around the house on and we know we'll wear them out before next Christmas - Thanks Grandma!!!

Project #3

Ayvri's baby doll has short and wild blond hair just like her - and blue eyes. It's shaped more like an infant and has a sleeping face on one side and an awake face on the other (you just switch the hat).
The cradle that Daddy built is beautiful - he did such a great job and she of course loved it!

Project #2

Kabe had a cowboy Christmas. First, Daddy fixed his stick horse that he loves (it's named Robby) and built him this sweet 22 rifle.
Then Mommy made him some chaps and a cowboy vest and we bought him a real cowboy bandanna. We even let him wear his dress hat for the occasion. The boy surprised us and was longer legged than I expected, but he still loves wearing his chaps. I made them reversible so sometimes we have a buckskin cowboy and sometimes we have a denim cowboy but he's adorable either way.He's also a pretty good shot!!!

Project #1

This is the darling little baby bed that Daddy & Kabe built for Ksenya's doll. It was so much work but really turned out beautifully.

And here is a close-up of her baby. We made the hair long so I can teach her how to braid. She especially liked the little shoes and that she can use her blush to give her rosy cheeks.

Piano Man

Big Brig has developed an interest in the piano and I'm always fascinated to see these little people explore on the keyboard. They all approach it a little differently and he is very methodical. I don't think there's anything cuter than a little pair of chubby hands on the piano.
Can you hear the concert?

Tradition!

Christmas is full of traditions and this is one that I love - Grandma Horse gave all the kids a t-shirt with their nickname on it just like Great Grandma Moody did when Tyler (aka hiccup) was a little boy. Here they are, Boots, Tex, Tinkerbell and Dolly. What a sweet gift and memory - thanks Grandma and Papa!

The Reason for the Season

Each Christmas Eve we have a little nativity and the kids get to act out the story - it's nothing fancy and the costumes are always interesting, the story doesn't last long and it's not rehearsed, but it's beautiful. This year Ksenya chose to be the angel instead of Mary, leaving the Mary slot open for Ayvri and Kabe stuck with Joseph. Brigham and Daddy were the wise men and Mommy got to be the shepherd. Ayvri preferred being pregnant to laying the baby in the manger, but Ksenya liked to have speaking parts.
Another interesting development this year was the running debate about Santa Claus. Ksenya and Kabe had multiple arguments about him and I didn't intend to step in but then when Ksenya lost her tooth Tyler and I discussed the tooth fairy and why we perpetuate him. Finally Ksenya came right out and asked if they are real and we decided it wasn't fair to lie to them so we told them that those things are fun to pretend, to imagine and play at but that they aren't real. Then after the nativity my wonderful husband took a precious opportunity to teach our kids that a lot of the things that we pretend (Harry Potter, Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy) are fun but that they are just for fun and are not real, but fantasy. Then he explained that the Nativity, the Christmas Story and the Savior of the world is not a fantasy but is very real, Jesus is a real person and really did atone for our sins. He bore a simple powerful testimony and the Spirit was so strong! I hope that by being honest with them they will trust us, knowing that we never lied to them and that they will realize that Jesus is very real. This may not be the answer for every family, but I'm thankful that Tyler followed the spirit and took the opportunity to teach a very important lesson.

Male Bonding

We all love it when Daddy is on break but Kabe probably needs it the most . . . all the male bonding has been good for him and the first thing he asked for after presents was to go out and play ball with his Daddy. He also took the opportunity to hit Daddy with a snowball while he was bringing in wood and takes great pride in carrying around his rifle like Daddy showed him.

Little Momma

This little Momma wanted nothing for Christmas but a doll that looked like her - we tried to match her hair and eyes but didn't capture her toothless smile - she lost another one on the 20th. Still, she was thrilled with her baby and loved it even more when she realized it looks just like mine from when I was little (or at least similar to the one my Grandma made me). She is a sweetheart and doesn't miss a detail. This year she is all about memories and is constantly asking us to tell her about Christmas when we were little "so I can tell my baby girl the stories".

Let It Snow!

Can you believe we had a white Christmas in Texas? And it was perfect timing - the flakes started falling on Christmas Eve and it lasted for a solid 2 days on the ground. What a beautiful surprise and made us feel very festive and at home.

Eve Jammies

Here we are in our Christmas Eve jammies. I was lazy this year and didn't make them but they didn't notice and were all excited to open one package early.

My Granola Baby

This was Brig's first introduction to granola - he immersed himself in the experience and was very content until the bowl was empty.

Ballerine

When Ksenya was about 2 years old she decided she wanted to be a "ballerine". She has always loved to butterfly around the house but this year has really started studying Miss Lisa and learning so very much.
I'm so impressed with all the terms that she can remember as she tries to teach her not so graceful mother how to dance.
She works very hard and really loves dancing and really loved having Daddy come and watch her at parents day.
We're so very proud of our little dancing "ballerine".

Builder

Kabe was in heaven every time he joined Daddy in the man cave. He even got to use power tools and was such a toughie every time he hammered his thumb. He really learned the meaning of Christmas this year and even told the checker at the grocery store, "Christmas is all about giving". He is a sweet boy and we sure love him!

Ball Boy

Brigham has developed a love for balls - all shapes and sizes and loves to chase them around the house and watch us throw them to and at him. I don't think I saw him once Christmas day without a ball nearby.

You're Invited!!!

To an online party! Now I know I never go to home parties, for anything, or anyone - I'm sorry. But here's a party where you don't have to leave your house, for that matter you don't have to leave your seat - just check it out and the best part? This stuff is SO adorable, SO affordable, and home-made by gals from my home-town. Also - I get free stuff if you order and as Ksenya says, "Mom's all about free stuff". So think Christmas presents, think a jump on next year birthdays and baby showers. My party is open until December 22nd and if you hurry it could be here by Christmas.*

Here are just a few of my favorite things from their site:

Here's how it works:

1. Click on the link! Simply visit www.thecraftymoms.blogspot.com to check out all the cute hair bows, accessories, tutus, bags, beanies ...

2. Choose your favorites! Choose what you would like to order and email it to Terre at craftymoms@live.com letting her know what items you would like to purchase. BE SURE TO MENTION Toni's NAME IN YOUR MESSAGE! Terre will send you an email asking how you prefer to pay (either paypal or personal check) and verify the order.

3.Your items will be in the mail to you within 7 days or sooner!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact Terre at craftymoms@live.com or me at tynton17@gmail.com

FOOD

As the holidays are upon us my thoughts turn to FOOD!!! Ok, seriously - traditions are so steeped in butter and sugar and gravy that I just have to know . . . what are your staple traditional holiday foods? We're talking the desserts, the main courses, the appetizers - give me a list, I'm HUNGRY! (If you really want to include recipes you can, but if not, I'll just bug you for them later).

So far all I'm determined to make is a rocky road roll (my favorite) and warm spinach artichoke dip, oh and hot wassail. The pumpkin roll last night was divine, but feels more like Thanksgiving to me so maybe I should try a chocolate peppermint version?

Ward Activity

So - when you make soup for 200 people you end up chopping a lot of vegetables. Onions and my eyes don't go so great so I borrowed Ksenya's swim goggles for the blessed event. Thank you Tyler - for documenting my most glorious moments.P.s. the Christmas activity was a great success, great food, great entertainment, a great message and so many great people - thanks to everybody and thank heavens it's over :)

"Big" Walker

Here's the smiling guy himself - very proud of himself!

And then there's the "Get away from me with that camera" face.

Mr. Man has been walking up a storm and is so pleased with his new accomplishment! Probably this comes from the fact that he's followed by clapping everywhere he walks and thanks to Daddy he claps for himself when he stands up.

But he'll always be Mama's boy!

Pixie Dust

This little piggy played too hard at dance and fell asleep in a perfect little pile on the couch. She is the sunshine in our house and makes us smile every minute she's not bossing us around.
She's also very into posing right now and it's hard to get a real smile out of her, but she ALWAYS has her legs crossed - such a dainty pixie.

Little Weirdy

Just when I thought Kabe's weird faces couldn't get any weirder he discovered this . . . and now cross-eyed Kabe is a regular at our house. He loves to tell jokes and we finally heard one the other day that made sense to both him and me "Where did the King keep his armies? In his sleevies!" He practiced it over and over to tell Daddy at dinner and it never gets old!

He also has an uncanny ability to look innocent when he wants to. Sure love this little heart-throb!

Big huge girl

I can't put up the tree without remembering the first year we put Ksenya under it. She was so little! Now she's a big huge grown up girl and I wonder where the years went? I know it will only get worse, but I still just want to put her on my lap and tickle her face and thank heavens - she hasn't outgrown liking that yet too!Toothless George is such a sweetie and all she wants for Christmas this year is a great big baby.

Probably because I'm always calling her my great big baby!

He fell down and broke his Chinigin!

Tyler has given his pointy chin to 3 of our 4 children and Brigham has joined the ranks of "scarred" in our family. Now only Ksenya and I remain unscarred and as the chins heal I pray for no repeat performances.
Pardon the messy face, we're in recovery after all :)

Tender Mercies

This funny girl is one of Heavenly Father's tender mercies. I know we couldn't have become sisters by chance. He knew how much I'd need her and so He made us family.

Brotherific!

This is my big bro. He's super cool. One time when I was littler (probably 14) I had a problem remembering to turn my light off. It bugged him. One morning when I woke up there was a picture of a horse he had drawn taped to my now-off light switch with a little note that told me how much he loved me. At the bottom it said, "p.s. turn off your light".

I still have it.

Little Mancub

I love him.

BFF's

Over Thanksgiving we got to reconnect with our BFF's . . . here they are in their happy pairs.This is my baby (far left) and red baby (far right). This guilty look that they all three share is not uncommon and I laugh that both of them are putting something in their mouth which is also not uncommon.
These two were probably the most fun to watch. Finally with a vocabulary to share they played dressup, played pretend, read books and just enjoyed laughing and wrestling with one another all week. They were hilarious, sweet and very content to play with each other without any coaxing from Mom's.
Of course girls, being emotional beings, were immediately joined at the hip and even tried to dress each other. They loved all the girly moments they had - particularly the late night giggling kind that are so rare. These two are a lot alike and both of them cried when it was time to say goodbye!
Another pair - these two boys are just that! They love to be loud, be wild, be monkeys and be funny. They like to be gross and make the girls squeal. They loved playing swords and guns with everything they could find and getting away with murder because of their handsome smiles.
Yes, even the dogs found love - albeit unrequited. Hannah, the visiting pup, wanted nothing to do with my rogue boys despite their unrelenting efforts to win her affection. Now, 4 days later, they are still searching the yard for her, thrown off by her lingering scent no doubt.
And finally - the Mama and Papa BFF's. Thanks guys for driving through &$*#& and back to visit us. You are the best Christmas present ever!

Thankful to Catch Up!!!

Happy Thanksgiving All Ya'all!

So - I sort of fell behind (shocker) with my list of Thankful's so I thought I'd catch up . . . here are a few things I've been thankful for in the last week . . .

Dogs. They are great at cleaning up the messes the kids leave on the kitchen floor.

Super Glue. For the times that my climbing kids fall on the ceramic tile and bust their chins (this time it was Brig)

Food. Good tasting food, good for you food, good food for kids, good food for hiding. I love food!

BFF's. Watching my 4 kids find their BFF's this week, spending some good casual quality time with mine while our husbands pretend they're grown up. Bliss!!!

Fire. I love to have a fire in the fireplace - to feel, watch and smell the cozy goodness of a fire-lit home. Heavenly sentimental.