Thursday, January 31, 2008

Nature vs. Nurture

Monkey in the middle. The very name of this game should bring terror to anyone playing or watching. It is basically keep away with the person in the middle screaming/crying/laughing until they get the ball. And then it's the other person's turn to scream/cry/laugh. Needless to say, my sons think this game is the greatest. They play this or some other real/created game every night in our hallway. I thought this was what all families did with the time after dinner and before bed.

That was until I had a daughter. Last week at Lucy's 15 month check-up the nurse asked me if she could throw a ball overhand. I didn't know. I couldn't remember her throwing a ball. She's thrown toys when she's mad at her brothers, so I said yes. I was very disappointed that we hadn't played catch with our little girl. So I went home and rolled or threw the ball to her that afternoon. That lasted about 3 seconds. She has no interest. She'll play for a few turns, mostly to be part of the action, and then she goes and gets her dolls.

This is what Lucy was doing during the mayhem that is monkey in the middle. Pretty dang cute! She's started bouncing and trying to feed her babies. She's even adopted the babies I gave to the boys, to Justin's horror, when they were little.

So now I imagine people with daughters probably sing songs and rock baby dolls to sleep quietly before bed. While at the Spencers, all "H" is breaking loose while Lucy bounces her babies.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Each Peach, Pear, Plum


One of the best parts of the day is bedtime. Partly because the chaos, that includes football games in the hall, chasing Lucy, wrestling, screaming for no apparent reason and bickering over who is Troy, is over. But I also love bedtime because of story time. Lucy has discovered books! She loves to be read to and to look at them herself. And Elliot is beginning to read. Last night he read a story to Lucy and Charlie.

Thanks to the grandparents and great-grandparents we are well stocked with amazing books that keep the kids fascinated.

Our favorites right now: Each Peach, Pear, Plum. Biscuit makes a friends, Officer Buckle and Gloria. And of course . . . No! David.

Friday, January 4, 2008

The Holidays

We decided to have our basement sheetrocked over the holidays. (I'm still wondering why!) Anyway, our internet has been disconnected so sorry to the 2 of you who read this blog for the lack of entries.

Christmas break has been filled with fun, fun and more fun!

New Year's Eve sleepover at Nana and Grandpa's.

"Real" bowling . . . inspired by the wii.

Charlie in the new Monster Traction. Thanks, Grandpa Craig!

Lucy in her new cheerleading outfit with her baby. (Who knew I'd ever put my daughter in a cheerleading ensemble. Go Utes!

Good times making gingerbread houses with the cousins.

We've spent lots of time laughing, playing Settlers, eating, playing wii (Mama knocked Justin out!), getting our guitar hero on, and teaching the boys to snowboard. Charlie had an unfortunate encounter with a tree that left him with an awesome fat lip for Christmas morning. Justin and I even got to spend a whole night without the kids. Grandma took the kids for a sleepover for our 11th anniversary.