Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone! We had a blast in California for Christmas and are enjoying being back home for a couple days before school and work start again.

On Christmas Eve, we went to church (except for Marinda, who was still feeling pretty bad from morning sickness) with the extended family and got to hear Grandma sing (twice!) The kids did great and had a good time, at least until Jacy realized there was no nursery and that we were going straight home after church.

That evening we had Christmas Eve dinner with everyone, and then it was time to set out cookies and milk for Santa and carrots for the reindeer!

Luke and Jacy wrapping their present for Marinda. Jacy is "signing" her name 

Getting ready for Santa to visit!

The kids were a little rambunctious that night, but eventually they did fall asleep. We told Luke we would go out and see what Santa brought at 7am, so he asked for a timer to see how much longer he'd have to wait. We set an alarm on our phone, but around 4:30 in the morning he came in and said he needed a timer. So we set a time. And then the screen kept turning off and we couldn't find a way to fix it that early in the morning. So we turned to the guaranteed way of keeping the kids happy - PJ Masks! The kids watched a couple episodes and then it was time to come out!

Marinda opening her present from the kids

Jacy getting dressed up as Owelette

Our superhero!

Clearly they weren't interested in the letter that told them about their awesome presents in Seattle, but they were super excited about their Santa presents. Luke spent the rest of the morning building his Lego set, and didn't even eat breakfast. Jacy played with her toys a bit but then the promise of pancakes was too much and she went to eat. After a couple hours we opened presents within our own family and from Jejema and Jejebapa. Jacy saw PJ Masks toys and shrieked "IT'S PJ MASKS!!!"

Later in the day the rest of the family came over. We opened some more presents (spoiler alert: Luke got more Star Wars legos) and then it was time to go to the park! We walked with Luke and Jacy's cousins, and everyone wanted to push Jacy in the stroller. Luke got a little possessive with her but he ended up being pretty good with sharing stroller-pushing duties with John and Mary. After getting back there was some cookie decorating with Aunt Ashleigh and family dinner again before going to bed.

To get Luke to smile Amit asked him what Kronk says. Luke responded by saying "right" completely normal and pointing to the right

We had a few more days in California and overall it was pretty relaxing. Luke built all of his Lego sets and Jacy was...a 2 year old. She did puzzles, colored, and even took a walk with Amit to Starbucks to help get Mommy's "medicine".

Luke after finishing Han's cargo ship the day after Christmas

Luke finished this 100 piece Star Wars puzzle all by himself

The kids also spent some quality time with their grandparents. They went to the State Park to see redwood trees, the Monterrey Bay aquarium, and the park.

Luke climbed up and down this thing...

And of course Jacy had to do it too since Luke did it.

Aunt Ashleigh painting Jacy's toenails 

Coming back was an adventure. Marinda got wheelchair assistance which was a huge help. The kids did fine until the very end of the flight. It was past the kids bedtime and Luke started melting and complaining that his legs were hurting. He was having a rough time, and then Mommy came to the rescue with M&Ms and all of a sudden he was fine!  Also, we had quiet a bit of turbulence on the way into Seattle, and while the adults were all worried there was a little girl in the back of the plane yelling "Wee!!  This is FUN!"  Thanks Jacy for calming everyone down.  :P

The kids fell asleep on the way home, so they didn't see all of their Seattle Christmas presents until the next day. The PJ Masks toys were the immediate hit, mostly because they couldn't see the playground. When they saw it, they got really excited and couldn't wait to try it out once it got a bit warmer. Luke is also having a lot of fun with his new Knex building vehicles for the PJ Masks characters.

Jacy using the telescope

Jacy sings Paw Patrol and tries brussel sprouts!

This week we were apart for a few days before Amit joined the rest of us in California. Marinda was sick most of the week so there's not a whole lot to write about this week, so enjoy the pictures and videos!

Funny story about this video: grandma initially thought Jacy was saying "be the devil" instead of "on the double." Once that's in your mind, you'll never be able to un-hear it when Jacy sings the Paw Patrol song (which happens pretty often).

Luke and Jacy were having trouble getting the see-saw to work and had Amit helping them at first. Amit had to either sit on the see-saw or use his arms to keep them going. But thankfully they figured it out so that Luke could jump up and have them go!

Random funny Jacy story:  One morning they had pancakes for breakfast and Ashleigh gave Jacy boysenberry syrup.  Jacy ate it, then said "Yum! Boy Berry Sauce!" To which everyone laughed and proceeded to tell her "no boys yet!"

Luke and grandpa working on a puzzle together

Jacy with her new favorite puzzle!

Jacy after trying a brussel sprout

The primary presidency gave everyone stockings to color in as a Christmas present. The kids had a great time coloring these in!

Jacy's stocking she colored

Luke's stocking. They both did great!

Luke and John pretending to put out a fire

Jacy playing with her cousins!

Luke and Jacy seemed to have inherited Marinda's love of watching Steven play video games

Luke and Jacy sleeping peacefully in Luke's nest

Watch Out! Here Comes Luke's U-Wing!!!

Stuff happened this week, but really the most important thing for you to know is that....

LUKE GOT HIS U-WING!!!

For those of you who don't know, Luke has been doing chores and jobs for the last five months, paciently saving up his quarters until he had earned $65 (286 quarters including %10 for tithing), and this Friday he earned his last quarter!

He had chosen this U-Wing Star Wars Lego set a million years ago, but it wasn't that long ago, so Marinda didn't think it would be a problem going to the store.  Just to be on the safe side, she called to check the price - and was told they weren't selling them anymore. Apparently they are not restocking the old Star Wars movie sets to get ready for the new movie coming out this winter.  Marinda panicked, and called the two other Lego stores.  One of them was out, while the other one had ONE LEFT!  She begged them to put it on hold (she didn't need to, we think the sales lady thought she was a little crazy) then ran up there with Luke and his $65 (we had stopped at the bank to exchange his quarters for cash).  And there it was, waiting for him!  Luke handed over his money, and then proceeded to droll/complain incessantly for the next five hours until Amit came home and they could start building it.

Luke is an inspiration to all of us that it IS possible to save up for impossible goals.  Honestly, who could have guessed that a five year old could have saved up 286 quarters just by doing little jobs every day?  Way to go!

Other fun things this week, we went to the Pumpkin Patch with Aunt Caitlin and her boyfriend!  We did all the fun things we do every year - the barn hay maze, the hay loft slide, see the animals, climb the tractor, tractor ride, and of course, pick out pumpkins!  It was really fun and the kids were so cute!  Especially Jacy, who hit an all time fall harvest cuteness award when she was being pushed back to the car sitting in a wheel barrow with two pumpkins while eating a fresh honeycrisp apple!  There was a little bit of contention at the very end when Marinda and Luke went and got a bag of kettle corn - then realized they should have gotten two when they started fighting over who was going to eat all of it!  FYI, they shared, and there was plenty for all.

Luke Stories:
• Luke was asking Marinda this week "how do you laugh in Spanish?"  Marinda replied that it is the same as laughing in English...  To which our very observant kindergartener replied "No!  Senor Lizano puts his hands on this belly and goes 'HaHaHa!' and that's how you laugh in Spanish!"

• We asked Luke today if he knew what McDonald's was (in Primary they talked about a family that was walking to McDonald's).  He said he thinks it is a farm.  We're either doing something right or completely failing at preparing him to enter the world as an informed citizen.

Jacy Stories:
• Jacy's imaginative play is getting weird.  We mentioned a while ago that she has been focusing on "disaster games" - well, this week she took it to a whole new level.  She had Luke's skeleton dog "Dead" and her monkey "Bobo" - then had Bobo say "No!  Don't eat me!" and then Dead said "I want to eat you!" - and then had Dead make eating noises while Bobo yelled "NO!!" - then tried to put Bobo in Dead's rib cage.....

• At gymnastics this week, Jacy was on a piece of equipment playing, when another kid started coming toward her from the other side of the same piece of equipment.  She then turned to Marinda and exclaimed "The baby's coming!  The baby's coming!"  Clearly to Jacy all toddlers are "babies", even if they are as big as she is!
• Amit was putting Jacy into her carseat and asked her if Daddy was the best Daddy.  Jacy then smiled and said "No!  Jacy the BEST!"

Marinda Stories:
• Yes Marinda has a life - and more than just watching Netflix lately!  Last week was Marinda's FIRST DAISY MEETING!!!  For those of you who don't know, Marinda got roped into being (okay, fine, she eagerly volunteered her time, talents and her sweat, blood and tears) the Girl Scout Troop leader for the kindergarteners at Luke's school by some of the other moms in Luke's class.  Honestly, they didn't need to try that hard, because it was something Marinda always wanted to do, she just thought it would be more when Jacy was five.  Oh well!  The meeting went AWESOME, and the girls

Coming to a Theater Near You! BLOOD AND TEARS!!! (In Spanish with English Subtitles)

This week was a week of great ordeals, of tears and blood and large yellow vehicles.  It was also aired in spanish with english subtitles.

The first such horror: Kindergarten Orientation!  *Gasp!*

Ok, maybe it wasn't that bad (for everyone except Marinda.)  We walked through the doors, and there was Senor Lazano waiting to hand out the scavenger hunt.  He talked only to Luke, and only in Spanish, and Luke looked like a deer in headlights.  Then he melted and was silly, and ran to go find Liam.  Marinda was only slightly hyperventilating by then.  We showed up at the same time as the Walsh's, so Luke and Liam literally ran through the school finding all the different rooms (class room, nurses office, gym, lunch room).  We saw other kids that Luke knew from preschool and even swim lessons.

Parent's?  Oh those things?  Yeah, we're in Kindergarten now.
We don't need them anymore.
(Yes those are Darcy and Jacy by the window)

We then sat down to listen to the principle give a presentation, and Luke turned to Marinda and asked "Do you and Daddy know spanish?"  Marinda said no, but they were learning now, and Luke said, "Aw, I guess you guys didn't go to kindergarten."

After the presentation, we went to our classrooms to meet with our teachers.  On the way there, Luke and Liam were marching to their room chanting "ONE FOUR ZERO" (their class number) and giggling to each other.  Amit and Jacy kind of wandered off to the side because Jacy was having a meltdown, while Marinda sat at Luke's table spot and Luke sat on the rug.  And Senor Lazoano proceeded to give the class presentation - in spanish.  Ok, he also explained everything in english, but Marinda was able to understand about 30% of what he was saying, so we guess Duolingo is working!

The other super fun part of this presentation was how Luke was SO excited to meet new friends he just had to be, um, a little silly.  Or a lot silly.  Senor Lazano had to stop the presentation to calm him down, and it was kind of amazing.  He was talking only in spanish to Luke, but through hand motions and this crazy alpha male "I believe in your ability to understand me" vibes he was able to walk Luke through taking a deep breath and calming down.  Yeah, Luke is going to be just fine.

For the last part of orientation was a BUS RIDE!!!  This was how we bribed Luke into going in the first place, and has been the center of his existence since we first told him he was going to take one.  He and Liam jumped on board, and then smashed their face against the window waving at us (though it was hard to see because the glass in tinted.)  Then off they went - around the block!  We thought they were just going to go around the parking lot!  So, fifty years later they returned, and were on cloud nine.  We asked Luke what he did, and he said "sat still and were quite!"  We're assuming the bus driver gave them a talking to before they left, because there is no way they thought up that on their own!

Later that week was the parent teacher conference, or really the kid teacher conference because he hardly talked to Amit and Marinda at all (we wisely left Jacy with a babysitter).  This time he talked mostly in english to Luke, and honestly seemed interested in getting to know Luke.  He seemed genuinely impressed that Luke was able to sit in the chair for such a long period of time, and that when he was tired of sitting he let us know that he needed a break from sitting.  Senor Lazano also pointed out something Marinda had never noticed before - that Luke doesn't need to make eye contact to understand what he was telling him.

Yeah, Luke is going to be just fine and is ridiculously excited and keeps asking when he gets to go to school.

Jacy was having fun getting in Darcy's face repeatedly, putting her fingers by her mouth and hissing,
then informing us that she was a spider - while Darcy melted into tears.
Yeah, we'll work on her interpersonal skills before she gets to elementary school too!

That was the tears part, now it is time for the BLOOD part!

There is a song that every child in America learns that goes "five little monkey's jumping on the bed, one fell off and bumped his head."  This song is actually a terrifying twisted rhyme full of morbid warning for those who don't listen to their parents, because one little monkey in our house this week fell off the bed and bumped her head - on the edge of a towel rod that was on the floor waiting to be installed.

Luckily, Marinda was there and was able to grab her and throw a paper towel on Jacy's head before too much blood got onto everything, then did a pressed bandage around her head and headed off to the ER (because it was 6:20am and urgent care wasn't open yet).  We're all impressed that she didn't speed.  Side note:  Jacy was fine by this point eating her granola bar.

Poor baby!

Everyone was amazingly helpful.  The nurses were great, and even got Marinda half a turkey sandwich when she mentioned that she hadn't had breakfast, and even wrapped up Bobo's head to match her!

In the end, it needed stitches (the gash was several millimeters deep), and the doctor who sewed her up was one of the best doctors Marinda had ever met.  During the procedure, Marinda went back and forth from being fascinated, then would remember that this was Jacy and feel sick - even if she did get some great material for her book.  Jacy, on the other hand, had been doing fine for the most part, as long as Marinda was holding her and she was eating graham crackers (also provided by the nurses) and watching Really Wild Animals on Marinda's phone, but she did scream bloody murder during the stitches.  They had to swaddle her up in a blanket, have one nurse hold her down while the other held her head, then put a cloth over her head with a hole where the cut was so she couldn't see anything (though she did wiggle herself enough that one eye was poking through looking at Marinda with complete betrayal.)  In case you are wondering, this is the normal response to have if someone ever ties you up, holds you down, covers your head, and then sticks you with sharp needles.

So Jacy now has four, beautiful stitches, and after a mini-nap on the way home, she proceeded to run around like craze with Luke and Liam for three hours while Marinda crashed on the couch for the rest of the day.

Luke stories:
• Luke has been doing a bit of reading lately - not long, complicated words, but nice short three/four letter words that follow logical phonics rules.  Luke has told us that he actually has a favorite word, which we know he does because he exclaims "That's my favorite word!" whenever he sees it.  What word has won this great honor?  "The."  As you can imagine, he gets excited quite often.  :)

Luke and Liam enjoying the last days of summer by ceremonially covering themselves in mud.

• You know that scripture that says we are to learn "line upon line, precept upon precept"?  Well, we're really taking that to heart!  When Luke turned five, we started reading The Book of Mormon with him every night.  Marinda's dad did this with her when she was in elementary school and it really helped her, so we are continuing this tradition.  The thing is, well, he's five, so we literally read one line a night.  Like, four to six words, using a post-it note to mark our place, with Luke reading the short words he knows (like the!) and us reading the words he doesn't know.  We always ask if he wants to read another line, and he always says no - until this week one night he went crazy and read 21 lines!!!  That's, like, three weeks worth of scriptures!  Wooo!

Ten points if you can find Jacy!
Yeah, this has kind of become a morning ritual for these two.

Luke's solution to his pest problem - too many grownups were getting in.

Jacy stories:
•Jacy has started eating salads, which is great! What wasn't great is when she picked up a piece of cabbage, said "Look Dad!" to Amit and I guess she was pinching the cabbage too hard because it flew out of her hand and hit Amit in the face!

Enjoy this shot from Amit walking home!