thanksgiving and kate's birthday

My brother Seth came down from Logan for Thanksgiving. The kids were over the moon about it. They love him. They wouldn't stop jumping all over him, not even for a picture.

We ate Thanksgiving dinner with Nate's family at his brother Caleb's house. (We later had dessert with my family.) Gray let his favorite cousin hold him for a few minutes.

Heather had a bunion removed from her foot a few days before Thanksgiving. She had to sit down with her foot elevated, but that didn't stop her from painting her toenails!

Brad brought his iPad and let his son Donovan play with it. Older cousin Bryant was quick to "help," and younger cousin Colin just wanted to do what the big boys were doing. They sat and played quietly together for a lot longer than you would think a 3-, 4-, and 7-year-old could.

Dinner was good. Dessert was good. We came home and threw the kids in their beds since they didn't get naps and were super ornery. Then Nate and I played The Game of Things with my siblings and Lance and laughed till we cried. Then we went to bed.

The next day things got interesting. They started out okay. Kate played with her new dress-up clothes that Grant and Kelli gave her for her birthday.

She insisted on wearing both skirts at once.

Gray was his regular chunky, adorable self.

That night we went to Granny and Papa's house to have dinner with the other Silveys. That's when the puke hit the fan. Donovan didn't eat dinner because he said his stomach didn't feel good. Then he puked on Brad/the stairs. Kate was grouchy so we took the kids home. Nate went back to help his brothers finish a project, and he barfed too. Later Kate woke up, ran to me, and threw up hot dogs all over me. Nate and Kate and Donovan puked for a few hours late Friday night. Brad, DeAnna, Papa, and Colin threw up Saturday. Diarrhea was also rampant through most of the sickies. Colin and Kate also had nasty head colds which led to crazy infected eyes which led to a visit to the doctor on Monday which led to me having to pin them down and put eyedrops in their eyes while they scream. (Oh, and we all got flu shots. Fun!)

I did not sleep much over the weekend. I did do a lot of laundry though. Thankfully I have remained puke-free up to this point. However, my brother just got violently sick last night, so maybe Round 2 is about to start.

Best Thanksgiving Ever!!!!

Kate's birthday was yesterday. She was a little grumpy since she was still recovering from the weekend, but she had a fun day. She opened presents from my family during the day while my mom was around, and then Nate's parents came over in the evening for cake and presents.

Nate and I gave her a Rapunzel doll. She loves it. Naturally.

I built Kate a Rapunzel-style birthday cake. This is supposed to be Rapunzel's tower.

I also made some Pascal cupcakes. He's Rapunzel's chameleon sidekick.

Colin couldn't keep out of Kate's business. He even blew out her candle. He wanted all of her presents, and he made sure to tell her how she could share everything with him.

Granny gave Kate a sweet purse to put her treasures in. She loves it.

I would comment on how I can't believe my little girl is already 2, but the truth is I can believe it. She's had the attitude of a 2-year-old for quite a while now. Kate is very sweet and affectionate, but she is also sassy and prone to temper tantrums. She loves to play dress-up and pretend with her older brother. She talks really well, and I love to listen to her sing songs. She got some Minnie Mouse underwear for her birthday, and she wants to start using the potty, but I don't know if I have the strength for that just yet. We'll see. She still changes her clothes several times a day, just because she can. She loves her Daddy best of all. She's a bit of a picky eater. She still uses her pacifier when it's time for bed, but not for much longer. One of these days I'm going to be Mean Mommy and destroy it for good. One of her favorite phrases is "No, I do it." She also likes to dance and run and be crazy-pants. I sure do love her a lot.

Also, Gray can roll from his back to his stomach. He has done it several times now. He doesn't roll from his stomach to his back though. He has also giggled for me, but not for anyone else yet.

I straight up love this video

pre-thanksgiving

Here's what we've been up to lately. We don't get out a lot.

Colin's new favorite place to read. Kate likes to join him. Sometimes they tell me they are sick so they need to lay there. Sillies.

I was told by a neighbor (who is a reading specialist) that you should let your kids look at books before bed to encourage a love of reading (because who wouldn't want to look at books when the other option is to go to sleep?). This is how I found Kate the other day.

I have video of this somewhere. They were kicking their legs and yelling and laughing and thought they were so funny. And they were. Man, they have skinny legs.

Nate finished our table! The top is stained to match the floor, and the bottom is painted to match the cabinets. It looks really nice. Nate does good work. We bought the table (solid oak) on KSL about a year ago for $100. Not a bad purchase, eh? Now if we could only find some chairs to go with it....

We moved the couches when we put the table up. The red rug is gone and I'm looking for something a little smaller to put in its place.

Gray is secure enough in his manhood to wear pink. Also, it's his favorite color.

My baby boy has the cutest fat-faced dimples ever. I wonder if they will stay when he grows up.

This is a book of songs, and I took video of Nate singing to the kids, and then he started singing that he was going to smack me if I didn't stop recording, so I took a picture instead.

Gray is moving and growing and learning. He loves to suck on his hands, and since he can grab toys now he likes to try to suck on them too. He curls up on each side and rolls around on the floor, but he has yet to roll over. I blame that on his largeness. He's starting to try to laugh, and he loves to smile all day long. He likes to play with his toys. When he has tummy time he mostly just sucks on his fists like a chump. I can't convince him to try anything else. He likes to be carried and snuggled. He doesn't sleep well at night. He's a pig who loves to eat, and there ain't nothing wrong with that. He adores his siblings and loves when they sing and talk to him. He loves to stand and bounce.

It snowed a few days ago and the sweet neighbor kids across the street took my little ones out to play. It was nice. Colin was so excited to go out and use his shovel.

Kate is Gray's biggest fan. She gives him hugs and kisses all day long. I have to keep an eye on her when I lay Gray on the floor because she can be a little smothery when she gives hugs. She is so cute when she talks to him. "Hey Brother! I love you, Brother! Hi Gray hi Gray hi Gray! Hello Sweetness!"

I love her crab pajamas. I call them her Crabby Pants.

Oh, and I totally slept for 7 hours straight last night. (Pretty much every other night since Gray was born has consisted of maybe a 4 hour stretch, if I was lucky, followed by 1- to 2-hour increments.) When I woke up and saw what time it was I panicked because I thought Gray was dead. When I realized he was still alive I was very happy and well rested. Everyone should get to sleep so much at night!

halloween, et cetera

Hey Gray, nice, uh, sweatuh.

Is it bad that I got the camera and took a picture before I helped this little guy up? I guess his little legs are a bit too strong.

This is what I got when I asked her to say cheese. Kate loves this jacket. It's very soft fleece and super cute on her. And I got it for $3 at Savers. Cha-ching!

Kate kept running away from me when I got out the camera. She looked so cute I just wanted a picture. So I waited in the hall until she came running back and snapped this one.

Halloween! Colin was so excited, even though he had no idea what was going to happen. Kate was just happy to be in the dinosaur costume. This is the best picture I got of the two of them. Kate wouldn't stop looking at Colin's 'stache. He sure did make an adorable Luigi.

And here's our little Mario. Gray was very grumpy, so this is the best picture I got of him. It was bedtime for the poor buddy.

First stop—Granny and Papa's house. Papa made them take like 5 pieces each. They were willing to oblige.

The best picture I got of Mario and Luigi.

The three kids with Granny, everyone cooperating and looking at the camera. Good job!

Colin and Kate both loved Trick or Treating. They were very good and stayed with me. They said, "Trick or treat," at each door, and even remembered to say, "Thank you," most of the time. Kate roared like a dinosaur when asked. When we would leave she would look at me and say, "He gave me a treat!" It was adorable. And they are both so young that they didn't feel gypped that we just went around the block and only hit a few houses. They got to see some of their favorite neighbors, so they were happy. I got to eat all of their chocolate, so I was happy. Nate got to stay home with Gray and not answer the door, so he was happy.

Gray is very attached to this blue bunny. He stares at it and talks to it all the time.

Gray was looking so handsome the other day that I wanted a picture. I propped him up on my pillow, but he kept trying to sit up, which was evidently a lot of work so he just grunted and did not smile.

Colin as Milleficent. Or Prince Phillip. Or maybe Batman.

Kate changes her clothes several times a day. Yesterday she was wearing a long sleeved yellow shirt inside-out. On top of that was the pink printed shirt backwards. She refused to put on pants. I did something to offend her, so she wouldn't look at me.

She was very mad.

She tried to ignore me.

And then I said something about candy that captured her attention. She decided she could be my friend again if it meant she got a treat.

Handsome Gray.

In other news, everyone in our house had the stomach flu last weekend. I threw up all night Thursday. (Which was super fun while trying to nurse Gray. It didn't seem to phase him when I puke while feeding him though. He just kept on doing his thing.) Nate stayed home on Friday to help me with the kids, and he threw up Friday night. Saturday we felt better but the kids were snot-nosed and whiney. Beginning of the week brought diarrhea for Colin and Kate. (Kate made the biggest, most disgusting mess ever in her crib Monday night.) That spread to me and the kids downstairs on Thursday. And then Friday I got hit with a massive cold. Colin has had a cough for the last few days as well. Huzzah for sickness! Gray has escaped mostly unharmed. He has a bit of a stuffed up nose, but he's doing fine. So far Nate has escaped the cold part. It will be fun to see what next week brings. Also, how did we even get sick in the first place? We don't go anywhere or have any friends or interact with people in any way. Hmmm. A mystery for sure.