Us in a November Nutshell

Here is what we have been doing lately. 

Claire

Claire loves to pray.  She always detects the correct time to fold her arms and does so enthusiastically.  Her favorite part is to shout "Amen!" at the end.  During General Conference in October she exuberantly responded with "Amen!" at the end of every talk.

Claire is totally being stubborn about walking.  She has walked steps between Mom and Grandma Judy.  She has walked from the couch to Mom.  She has turned around from the piano and started walking by herself.  However, after a couple steps she purposely throws herself down and speed crawls away.  We're not worried and neither is her pediatrician because she knows how to do it -- she just doesn't want to.  But I do think it will be easier in some ways when I can just hold her hand and not have to carry her everywhere in public.  The other day I went to retrieve her from her crib and she was making Minnie walk.  She was standing up holding Minnie's hands like we do to her.  She looked up excitedly and said "Minnie walking!"  What is so funny about having a child this old learning to walk is that she is bargaining about it.  She will walk for candy.  She will tell me "Ready! Set! Go!" and start.  But as soon as she gets tired she cries and says "No walking!  I sad!  Done! Mommy! Hold me! Hug!" and other pitiful phrases.

Her words and phrases are fairly clear.  Here are some of her sayings that are distinctly Claire baby talk:

• "ganket"- blanket
• "caggy" - candy
• "gancakes" - pancakes
• "non it!" - I don't want it!
• "awn it!" - I want it!
• "leeeeese!" - please
• "nunny!" - funny

The absolute most hilarious and distinctive quality of Claire right now is she doesn't know how to say yes.  Seriously.  She says "no" and "uh-uh" when she means to say "yes" and "uh-huh."  We ask her to say "yes" and she just stares at us.  But we know when no means yes because she giggles and smiles and flaps her hands and gets excited. 

Example:
Claire: "I awn milk!"
Daddy: "You want milk?"
Claire: chuckling . . . "No . . . Yay!"
Daddy: "Say yes!"
Claire: blinks
Daddy: "Clairey . . . say yes, I want milk."
Claire: crickets start
Daddy: "Do you still want milk?"
Claire: "No!" then "ha ha ha ha ha" as Dad hands her the milk.  Then she says "Thake you!!!"

Hallie

Hallie is still so outgoing.  We have lots of talks about strangers.  She is obedient to the rule that we don't talk to strangers.  But, as soon as Mommy or Daddy talks to a stranger she can hardly contain herself.  "I'm four!  My baby sister is one!  Her name is Claire Caron Hinkson!  My Daddy is going to have a birthday.  My grandma lives in California!  I was Tinkerbell for Halloween!"  Out it spills!  It is rather cute and it is soooo Hallie.

Hallie still loves to draw.  Lately she found a pen and started drawing on individual squares of toilet paper.  I reminded her that we have pads of paper and I would have happily obliged if she had asked for some.  She was perfectly content with her toilet paper canvases. 

We got some of our Christmas books out and she loves reading them with me.  It is still one of the best activities we can do to feel closer to her.  It is like reading is her language of love. 

She really likes to say contrary things lately.  Like "I will never go to bed!" while laughing.  Or "I will not sit down and fold my arms, I will stand UP and fold my arms!"  She giggles the entire time.  We get a kick out of how funny she thinks she is.

Chris

Chris is diligent about reading his scriptures daily (I am too).  He also works out daily (I do not, but I need to!).  He is a great example.  He has been typing his old journals so that we have back-up copies of them.  Late last month, we purchased an early Christmas present and bought our family a digital piano.  Chris and I have both been practicing lately and feel so fulfilled having such a great instrument in our home again.  Chris is a self-taught piano player.  I took lessons for five years and he is better than I am!  He has also pulled out his violin several times recently and it has been wonderful.  We frequently listen to music in our home, but to play music adds another depth to our life that only makes it better.  Chris celebrates his birthday this year on Thanksgiving.  The girls and I are looking forward to spoiling him.  He spoils us.  He just bought me flowers again yesterday . . . just because.  Let me add a disclaimer:  Chris and I aren't perfect.  To me we have an almost perfect marriage because we both really put effort into it.  And when we argue we quickly forgive and get on with life.  Lest anyone think we're perfect -- we're not!

Michelle

I have been sewing lots lately. I can't divulge what I have been sewing because they are Christmas presents! But, I will say I have completed or almost completed five different projects so far in November. I started reading the Harry Potter books from the beginning again and just love them. Reading that series is like hanging out with an old friend. I am on book three at the moment. I have been a little busier at work with meetings and deadlines. But, I am grateful to say it is still a low-stress job that we are so blessed to have. Having the piano has taught me great lessons. I really struggled with sight reading as a child. I knew all the theory and notes but was so overwhelmed when it was all put together. In the weeks we have had the piano I am already loads better than I was as a child even though I haven't played in years. I have a measure of patience that I never had before. I think it comes from a degree, a ten year relationship and two children. It is so satisfying to sit down and play songs I never thought I could play.  It has taught me another lesson that I can do hard things -- as long as I put in the effort.  Someday I will apply that effort to eating right all the time and working out . . . or keeping up with laundry. :)

We think we will put up Christmas decorations soon.  Chris and I have a theory that having Christmas decorations up and music going doesn't diminish our gratefulness at Thanksgiving at all.  It enhances it.

That is us in a nutshell in mid-November 2010. 
Thanks for reading.