Happy Birthday Grandma Call!

We all want to wish Grandma a very Happy Birthday!! I had visions of the boys smiling for Grandma in the picture but the boys had a very late night last night after going to a fun party and were very exhausted from preschool. All three went out for a nap within five minutes of taking the picture.

We Love Grandmas and Grandpas!

The past couple weeks have been so much fun for our family because we have been able to have both sets of grandparents come visit us! We feel so blessed to have such wonderful family. Thomas and James loved having sleepovers at the hotel with Grandma and Grandpa, swimming, flying kites at the beach, Easter egg hunting and playing in the backyard. Philip was all smiles because he loves to be held.
We feel so fortunate that Thomas and James were able to start Rainbow preschool at Stanford this month. One goes each day for three hours and I have the other home with me. It has been so great to have one at school having fun and me home having one-on-one time with the other. (Philip usually naps for a good part of that time.) They love school and it makes it extra special for them to get to ride to school on Daddy's bike! Thomas and James now have backpacks to match Nicks. (James even requested a laptop with an apple on it to go in his backpack:) They love these backpacks and are actually wearing them in bed right now. I don't know if that's even safe but I'm happy they are liking school.

Even baby Philip loves our new backyard!
 James loves his new big bed
Philip - 2 months old

My apologies for posting so many pictures but my babies are growing up so fast! After finally getting settled into our new home at Stanford graduate housing, we have all decided that it was worth all the work moving requires because we love it here! The boys love that there is a park in our backyard with many new friends to play with. We went bowling with other grad student families today and had so much fun. Thomas and James scored over 100 and it was their first time! (There were bumpers though.) Baby Philip is still cheery and smiley. The boys still adore him and are so sweet and helpful with him. A couple weeks ago, we noticed James has a little gray tooth and after a couple visits to the dentist it was confirmed that his front tooth is dying. I don't even remember him falling or getting hit. He probably cried and I just told him to toughen up. I have made an extra effort to bond with him over the past couple weeks. He loves to cuddle, do crafts, dance, and take pictures. There is nothing more precious than James excitedly holding up the camera saying "Mommy say cheese!" He actually takes great pictures. 

Thomas and James have a new favorite film... Mama Mia! Somehow they have gotten confused and think Merril Streep is Nick's mom so now they are calling her "Grandma Mia." Thomas has been extremely verbal lately and saying the cutest things. The other day we drove past Nick's law school and Thomas said to James, "James, that's STANford! That's where Daddy lives."

Oakland Temple

We had such a special Christmas! Nick and I were up at six, so excited that we couldn't go back to sleep. At seven, Nick woke the boys up shouting "Santa came!" They were so cute and grateful for every little gift. We are so grateful to have such sweet little boys and for experiencing the magic of Christmas again!

Merry Christmas!!

We want to wish all our friends and family and Merry Christmas!  Thank you for all of your wonderful cards and letters. We wish we would have sent cards out this year but our little prince didn't allow it.  We hope this gives you a laugh!

Tiny King

On Sunday, at the conclusion of our ward's musical Christmas sacrament meeting, the choir sang a beautiful song titled "Tiny King." I was so touched by the simplicity of the words sung by some of the most intellectual people I know. I looked down at my 7 week old baby boy and thought of the huge responsibility placed on Mary and Joseph to properly raise the "Tiny King," knowing he was the Savior. Were they ever frustrated when he wouldn't go to sleep at night or when he threw up all over their only clothing? Since Sunday, Nick and I call little Philip our tiny king. He decides when we can go to sleep and loves to cuddle and be held. He is so precious and I have felt like I have really been able to enjoy him. When Thomas and James were newborns, I think I was too overwhelmed with their basic care that I didn't enjoy them enough while they were tiny. I love "my three sons" and the fun phases that they are in right now. Thomas and James are so excited for Santa to come to our house. It is so cute to listen to them talk about Christmas with each other. They keep reminding me not to light a fire in the fireplace on Christmas Eve so Santa doesn't get burned! The only real problem I have had since Philip was born is mastitis, which is terrible and I hope that I can avoid ever getting it again. The second time I came down with it, my cute mother-in-law offered to come out and help and I was so grateful for her being able to do that! Thomas and James really bonded with "Grandma Bean." She has more energy and patience than any grandma and runs up the huge slides at the playground faster than Thomas and James! 

It was a happy Thanksgiving!

I hope all of you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We are thankful for all of you! We were so happy to have my parents come to our house for Thanksgiving. It was so fun to spend time with them and they were so much help. Thomas and James love Grandma and Grandpa! They loved playing at the park with Grandpa and making a gingerbread house with Grandma. We were excited for them to meet our new baby too!