From near to far, from here to there...

...Funny things are everywhere!

I tried to get a Cat in the Hat-esque picture of the kids looking at the squirrel out the window.  They are wearing bibs because this is how they ate lunch, watching the squirrel for at least 30 minutes.  

 Here are some noteworthy things the kids have been up to lately:

Jacob

• Whenever there are two or more of something he will often say that there are three ("free!").  
• He has picked up a nice set of adjectives from somewhere, "That scarf just made Rebecca so pretty!",  "Rebecca is so cute with pigtails!" and my favorite, "That was just a lovely song!"  
• "Do you want to see my silly game/talk/walk/thing?"  It is usually something he has done once and then wants to show us.  
• We read a few Dr. Seuss books in close succession earlier this week (we have almost all of them) and the Cat in the Hat logo was on them and I think he realized maybe it was by the same person. So I told him about Dr. Seuss and how we could even celebrate his birthday on March 2nd. He said, "Oh, I think maybe we should just call him and tell him thank you for writing these nice books." 
• He has learned the First Article of Faith this week and should be able to pass it off in Primary tomorrow. He recites it almost to the tune of the song up until the end where he says "in the Holy Ghost!" and gets very high in his range.  I was so proud when he totally got it yesterday!  
• In April our Primary is having a party where the kids can get the same number of ice cream toppings as Articles of Faith they have passed off. Jacob is excited for this and can't wait to get more "ice cream coughings!"  
• He loves being a Sunbeam and asked me today if I was going to come peek at him again tomorrow. Last week he saw me in the back when I was doing RS attendance and the week before that I went in to help him say the prayer, so I guess he thinks it will stick.  \

Helping take the Mickey window clings down after Christmas.

Jacob won Candy Land the first time he played it!  

First day of Sunbeams pictures with Dad while Mom was at choir...these are all hilarious but I think this is my favorite.

Helping Rebecca put her clip in.  

Rebecca

• She is learning lots of new words that are fun to hear. A few of her newer words are popsicle, popcorn, Cheerios (said it today for the first time), stir, boo (as in Peek-a-boo), frog, turtle, brother, Grandpa (Pa Pa), Grandma. 
• Yesterday I told her we were going to call grandpa and so she said Papa and then a minute or so later I was being silly as I pulled my phone out and said we were going to call Grandpapa and then she smiled and said Papapa?  
• She likes to be my little echo sometimes when I say prayers, so I am trying to end sentences with words she doesn't know how to say yet just to hear her try it out.  
• She loves nursery. It took a few weeks to get used to it but she really loves it and sometimes nearly breaks into a run to dash to the cultural hall after Sacrament meeting.  

Jacob playing video games with cousin Peter

Rebecca found a fun seat to enjoy her snack during our Hoopes family cabin stay.

It looks like Jacob built this snow cave. But really, Jeff and his siblings worked on it and Jacob came in and tried to take credit for all the hard work.  :)  

One of the funnier moments of our vacation. We went in to go to bed one night at the cabin we stayed at before Christmas and found Rebecca asleep in the pack 'n play and Jacob was not in his bottom bunk...but in our hamper with the dirty clothes emptied out on the floor.  

The kids had a blast making a gingerbread house with Grandma Hoopes!  

That is one happy wise man!

Cousin picture...Kirby, Myklin, Fallon, Jacob, Rebecca and Tys at my sister Jamie's house. 

Enter now! The Twelve Hour Kix Giveaway! *Updated with winner*

And the winner is...Katja! I'll email you right now to get your address. Sorry for the delay in posting the winner! Thanks for all the great ideas. I'll let you know what changes we make to breakfast time.

I loved eating Kix when I was a little girl, and I still like the cereal now! My kids are not picky at all, but it still makes me happy that I can share this cereal with them that I've loved for so long.

Recently our family received a fun package courtesy of General Mills and MyBlogSpark. In it was a box of Kix, a box of Honey Kix, counting flashcards for the kids, a snack cup, a straw cup, and a giant animal counting puzzle. The cereal is long gone but we are still enjoying the other goodies. How would you like to win the same Kid-Tested, Mother-Approved prize pack? Just leave a comment before 12 Noon Eastern Time on Wednesday, Jan. 12, answering the following question. Please be sure to leave a way for me to contact you to speed things along!

What are some things you do during your busy morning routine to still make it a fun family time? If you are just eating by yourself in the morning, do you have any special routine you follow? This is something I'd actually like some advice on. Some mornings are slower than others with just a toddler and a pre-schooler in our house (no school bus to catch or anything like that!) but I could use some good ideas on something to do during breakfast besides just eat! I usually do picture time with the kids before naptime where we look at a picture and discuss a scripture together - maybe that would be better done in the morning!

I'm excited to choose the random winner of this prize pack tomorrow at noon - it was loads of fun to have the "Man from the Puppy Truck" bring it to us! (That's FedEx in case you don't understand Jacob's lingo!) Thanks again to Kix and MyBlogSpark for sponsoring a great giveaway!