Happy Holidays!

Time has flown by and somehow the holidays are already over.  We spent Thanksgiving in Las Vegas and had our Christmas party that same weekend while we were all together.  Unfortunately almost all of us got the stomach flu during the week.  Luckily it was a pretty quick recovery and my sisters and I were all able to go shopping the day after Thanksgiving together.  December went by in a flash and before I knew it we were celebrating Christmas Eve over at Laura's house (which I still call Grandpa's house when I'm not thinking).  It was fun to carry on some of the same traditions that we've always done, even though it sometimes seems to accentuate the fact that Grandpa is no longer with us.  On Christmas Day we opened presents, played with our new toys and games, then had the Stewart family gathering.  Everyone was able to come and it was so much fun to see all the cousins playing together.  The Saturday and Sunday after Christmas we went back to Laura's house to hang out with my Mom and Dad while they were here.  Last but not least, we celebrated New Year's at Laura's and once again there was lots of playing, eating, and chatting.  I'm feeling pretty bummed that the holidays are over, but fortunately I had Cameron 8 days late last year so I still have his Birthday to look forward to on the 7th.  After that, let the January blues begin...

Some of the kids hanging out at my Mom's house.  This is actually a picture from September, but since I didn't remember to take any pictures over Thanksgiving (I was too busy puking!), I'm putting this in to represent that time.  We also hung out with Lindsey and her family before we realized that we were exposing them to the plague.  Fortunately I don't think they ever came down with it.  (Right, Linz?)

 

 

 

My kids like this freezing cold weather A LOT more than I do.  I'm a Vegas girl at heart, and I have an especially hard time staying warm during the rare occasions that I'm not pregnant. 

I asked Carter what his favorite gift was and he gave the politically correct answer "Everything."  He has played the most with his Didj, Nerf guns, bakugans, and Hooked on Phonics workbook so far.

Lydia's favorite gift was her Barbie "Pambelina" (Thumbelina).  She also really loves her jewelry box and jewelry and her pink Leapster.

Meleah was the fastest unwrapper of everyone.  She just kept saying "I need nother one."  I don't think she even realized what she'd been given until all her presents were opened and she took the time to actually look at them.  She has really loved her Barbie with a bike, her ABC's baby, and her jewelry/jewelry box.

 

Cameron was really not all that excited about his gifts.  He would just tear off a piece of paper then continue to tear that piece into tiny little pieces, not even bothering to look at what he was unwrapping.  He has since fallen in love with his Mickey mouse music set (especially the drum and the maracas), and his ball popper.  My favorite gift he received was his new booster seat that he can't get out of and is super easy to clean. 

 

Cameron kept stealing the clementines Grandma and Grandpa Stewart gave to everyone and eating them before they were peeled.  I thought he would learn after the first bite, but he just kept going for them.

I didn't take very many pictures at all the gatherings held at Laura's but here's a picture of my Dad and Randall chillin' on the couch.

 

Looks like I got a little carried away when I was wrapping...

Lyddies

This is Lydia's school picture for this year, and I was a little bit annoyed surprised to see that they took off her cute little white sweater that goes with the dress.  While voicing my disappointment to my husband I heard Lydia's little sweet voice behind me say "I told them to take it off Mom...am I still pretty?"  Of course she is!  I sometimes forget how grown up my kids are and how much they understand.  Lydia has been going to preschool Tuesday through Friday this year, and totally LOVES it.  She still loves to ask questions and is constantly asking me what day it is tomorrow, what day is after Saturday, and what she's doing on Thursday.  Most of the time she already knows the answer (since she'd just asked the same question five minutes earlier), but I think she just likes to have a conversation with me and can't think of anything else to say.  She also finds it hilarious to say "huh?" or "what?" after I tell her something even though she totally heard what I said. I generally don't share her amusement in that particular situation.  She's getting much faster with her walker, and just beams with pride when someone pays her a compliment (which is admittedly quite frequent).  She loves to boss around play with Meleah and occasionally even receives the great honor of playing with Carter.  (Only if he's REALLY bored.)  She loves to be a big helper and do things all by herself (although not quite as bull-headed about it as her little sister). 

Favorite Food:  Squiggly Noodles (I know they're nutritionally void, but I ALWAYS put peas in them alright!)

Favorite Movie:  Sleeping Beauty

Favorite Friend:  Everybody 

Favorite Boyfriend:  Carter AND London AND Wyatt

Favorite Color:  pink AND purple

Favorite TV Show:  Max and Ruby

Favorite Book:  Glow in the Dark Firefly 
Favorite Hairstyle:  Sleeping Beauty (down with lots of curls)

Favorite Toy:  Barbies

Favorite Parent: Mom   Just kidding!  I didn't really ask her that...even though I think I know what her answer would be.  :)

What do you want to be when you grow up?   a doctor and a mommy and a teacher

Favorite Phrases

"I'll be waiting, that's what I really want..." sung to the melody of Taylor Swift's Love Story along with a variety of other Taylor Swift and Miley Cyrus songs.

"I had a cupcake at school tomorrow."  I could easily correct her confusion about yesterday and tomorrow, but I think it's cute, so I'm not going to.  I know, I know, I'm a bad mom.

"It's really freakin' me out Dad!"  She said this about the water draining out of the tub while she was still in it.  She has since overcome her fear of going down the drain. 

"Hi Dad!  I'm singing REALLY loud!"  This was yelled across the chapel during the Primary program last week.

"You fed a baby chili?!"

Technically it's chili MAC...

Halloween '09

We had TONS of fun this Halloween.  Here are some dark/blurry pictures of all the festivities - (my camera is in great danger of being replaced at the after-Thanksgiving sale if it doesn't get it's act together ASAP!) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blog Clean-up

My Children have Many opportunities for future employment...

Beautician

She looks "just like Mommy!"

Cowboy

 

 Mudwrestler?

 

 Musician

 

Contortionist

 

Magician

 

 Chef

 

 Housewife

 

 Housewife II

 

Note that she is still in her pajamas!

Mascot

 

 ...and the ever popular superhero!

 

Favorite Phrases

"What's tookin' so long to be a grown-up?!" - Carter Isaac Stewart
"HHHHHHi!" - Meleah Susanne Stewart
"My tummy told my mouth that he's REALLY hungry." - Carter Isaac Stewart
"I love my stister! She's my fravrate!" - Lydia DeOn Stewart
"C'mon, we have to go save Jesus! He's stuck on the T!" - Carter Isaac Stewart
"You look so beeautiful Mom." - Lydia DeOn Stewart
"I don't like it. It's too tasty." - Carter Isaac Stewart

"Ma-ma-ma-ma-ma!" - Meleah Susanne Stewart
"Boys like strawberry. Girls like chocolate." - Carter Isaac Stewart
"Do you need some more wipe-wipes Mom?" - Lydia DeOn Stewart

I'm Tired!

This Is The Kid That Never Sleeps
written by: Candice A Stewart
Sung to the melody of This Is The Song That Never Ends

This is the kid that never sleeps.
Yes, he wakes up a lot my peeps.
Sometimes I think he's sleeping
and I give a silent cheer.
But then I hear him crying.
Oh, it can't be what I fear!
This is the kid that never sleeps...

Meleah Susannie

Mischievous
Energetic
Laughs like a crazy person

Entertaining
Always falling

Helper

My little Elly Jelly is so much fun.  She definitely has the most diverse personality of any kid I've ever met. On one hand she can be very stubborn, disobedient, and yes I'm going to say it...a little mean.  On the other hand she loves to be my "biggest helper" and spends hours gently rocking, kissing, and putting her babies down for naps.  Meleah has always seemed much older than her actual age to me, most likely because she loves to do everything herself.  Unfortunately, I don't generally want to wait 5 minutes for her to do something I could do in 0.2 seconds, and thus the battles continue... Why can't she just happily be babied like her two older siblings?  Then again, it takes me an hour to convince Carter to dress himself in the morning, so I should probably just be grateful to have a child that actually wants to be independent.  

Favorite Phrases:
"So bad" after everything.
example:  "hurts so bad" or "potty so bad"

"Did it myself"  She's been saying various forms of this for a while, but I just love to hear the excitement and pride in her voice when she says it.

"Mommy home!"  This is another thing she's been saying forever, but I don't think I've ever documented it before.  She gets SO excited when I come home, even if I've only been gone for a few minutes.  She runs up and gives me the biggest hug.  It makes me feel so warm and fuzzy inside.  Ü  Oh yeah, and she generally gets excited when Daddy comes home too...

Quirks - 

- She loves when I put "hair pretties" in her hair.  She then proceeds to tear them out, and come back and ask for more.  Thus, she generally can be seen running around with either hair in her face, or with crazy ponies that are half pulled out.   

 - She isn't incredibly particular about colors.  She usually gets excited about whatever color she's given, but just know that if you give her a different colored spoon/cup than her plate she's going to go get the appropriate color out of the drawer herself. 

- As grown up as Meleah is, she still loves to steal Cameron's "ba-ba," curl up on her bed with a blanket, and twirl her hair.  I know it's not exactly good parenting to let your 2 1/2 year old start drinking bottles again when she's been drinking out of cups for a year and a half, but she looks so cute that I just can't help it.  Besides, I'm a sucker for kids with bad habits because I sucked my thumb and had a "silky" at bedtime until I was in the first grade.  Not to mention that it takes her a good twenty minutes to down a bottle, which equals twenty minutes that I don't have to hear her high-pitched screams from fighting with Lydia or wonder what she's getting into. 

- As you can see from the pictures, Meleah still takes a nap every day.  Carter and Lydia both stopped taking naps when they turned two, but Meleah eventually crashes in odd places if I don't get her down for a nap.

- She loves to carry around big heavy things and say "Mia so STRON!"

- Her favorite foods are tomatoes and cheese (not necessarily together) and she drinks like a fish...especially juice. 

Sometimes I wonder if I should write about my children's less desireable attributes, but I want to remember exactly how they are during these precious years that just keep flying by.  Sure, I could just document all the sweet things they do, but then I may not remember that Meleah can scream so loud that I feel like my head is going to explode, or that I have to tell her EVERY TIME she's done going to the bathroom that I'm going to put her undies on myself (fat chance) just to make her naked bum come running back to me saying "No, my undies!"  My little Meleah's not perfect, but I can definitely say that there's never a dull day around here, thanks to her.  I love to just sit and watch what she's doing.  It's almost like I can see her little brain working.  She brings TONS of laughter into my life and I'm so glad that Heavenly Father blessed us with her.