The Thatcher Life: December

Sawyer

Sawyer really started understanding the concept of Santa and that became a nice bargaining chip for us as his parents ha. He loved all the Christmas movies and the lights. I think Frosty was at the top of the list for him for movies this year and we went and checked out the Christmas Lane lights a few times; he and Dawson loved it each time. On one of our outings we drove by a house that had icicle lights and he excitedly said, "Look, mommy! Freeze lights!" This was one of my favorite ages for the Christmas season for sure. He was so excited for everything and actually understood some of the stuff that created that excitement. He was a little bit all over the board on what he wanted to ask Santa for but he saw a little pac-man console that we got for one of his cousins that has about a dozen old school video games on it and he fell in love. He labeled it as the Wreck-it Ralph game (I think because there's a pac-man in the Wreck-it Ralph movie?) and decided that that was what he wanted.

A couple of my favorite things he did this month were that he has become a creature of habit with breakfast and every morning requests to have "two toasts and one chocolate milk". He holds up two fingers to make sure I know he wants two pieces of toasts and then makes sure to put one down while he tells me the number of chocolate milks he would like to go with his food. Everyone now and then we break cycle, but for now, that's his happy place for breakfast. The second thing is that, one day, he so sweetly started to sing a nonsensical song to Dawson when Dawson was losing his cool at the lunch table. He told him, "Don't be sad, I'll sing to you." And it was the sweetest thing. Every now and then, Sawyer will sing like that again to his brother in hopes to help him calm down. I wish I could say it worked, but Dawson is pretty stubborn. I appreciate Sawyer's big brother efforts all the same and want to bottle him up in those moments.

We got the results back for all of Sawyer's testing at school. His speech is completely fine and the therapist said he's exactly on track for his age. His results did show that he has areas of concern with anxiety (no surprise) and what they call atypicality (which stems from his anxiety). The atypicality just means that when they do things like sitting in a group and the teacher says something like, "Raise your hand if you can find the letter R.", Sawyer doesn't raise his hand but the other kids do. Again, in talking to his teacher, we're all pretty confident that it's because he's not quite focusing on what's going on but rather using all of of his energy and attention to simply not panic at any given moment. So it was decided to put Sawyer on an IEP (individualized education plan) for his anxiety. Which basically means he'll be getting a little more one-on-one interaction, people who work with him will be aware of his anxiety, and that he has specific goals to work on that should help him progress. All good things. I initially felt bad that my poor little guy was technically "behind" at the ripe age of three. Mostly because I, as his mom, didn't really know how to help him. But I'm so glad that it's being dealt with early and that we can hopefully provide him with some skills and strategies that will help him as he gets older.

Sawyer also turned 4 this month. He asked for a dinosaur themed party and was more than pleased with all of the decorations. He mostly was so excited for all of the family members that came to his party. Sawyer at 4 is obsessed with dinosaurs (especially the Indominus Rex), is really starting to get into the superhero scene, loves to play with slime and play-doh, is a super picky eater, likes to snuggle with us and watch movies, and is growing like a little weed (he keeps having crazy growth spurts, people always react with amazement when we tell them that he's only 4).

Dawson

Dawson was fascinated by the snow during December and thought it was great to play in (for the most part). He and Sawyer had some advent calendars brought to them by a cute family in our ward and Dawson thought it was seriously the best thing ever. Everyday he'd ask to have his "calendar nandy"? and then be disappointed that he could only have one. Dawson loved the festivities as much as Sawyer and actually seemed to understand more than I had anticipated he would. Probably because he's got an older brother who gets it? He was not shy about ripping wrapping paper off presents when he was allowed to. He also caused me to consider only decorating the top half of my Christmas tree for the first time ever. Sawyer's always been so good about not messing with tree I've never had to worry about it. And Dawson did really good during previous years. But this year, he was all sorts of redecorating mischief.

He liked to pull hats down low over his face (or cover his face with random stuff, but usually hats) and growl at us "I Ironman!" It makes me laugh what they pick up and latch onto because we've never shown them any of the superhero movies apart from one or two Lego ones that are on Netflix. And I don't think that anyone really pointed out Ironman or his mask to Dawson but still, he thought (and still thinks) that Ironman is the coolest.

Dillon

Dillon came in first in (one of) his fantasy football league(s)! It's the only one that he puts money into so if he was gonna win one, I'm glad it was that one ha. He was so excited to finally buy a paddle board with his winnings. I'm curious to see how much he'll actually use it. He's been talking about wanting to get a paddle board for at least two years but I don't think he had actually used one until last summer when I said we should rent one before committing, to see if he even liked using it. He did. And now he's got his very own and is excited to get the chance to take it to the lake.

DaNae

Besides for all the fun (and there was plenty of it), this was the month that I started to not feel awesome (although I made it to about week 7 of this pregnancy before I felt iffy which made me have high hopes, but those were quickly dashed) so I didn't have a whole lot going on outside of the major things happening this month. We did find ways to participate in the Light the World initiative and that was a welcome change to the typical hustle and bustle of the Christmas season.

Making Santa's sleigh at a Home Depot workshop. Complete with a reindeer.

Showing off said reindeer.

Just talking to Santa.

I thought it was so funny how he would fly his reindeer and sleigh around while making sure to include sound effects.

Partying for G's birthday.

This was our family's tree that we decorated for our ward's Christmas party.

Christmas Bunco!

Pre-dinner cotton candy and cookies at the ward party.

We visited a house in town that has quite the light display that they let you walk through. It winds around through their backyard and is quite the setup. They have a donation box for Make-a-Wish at then end of it. The boys both got to put in a dollar and they thought that was pretty cool.

Visited Delta for an early Christmas. This is us attempting to get a picture.

Then we moved locations and realized Jaidyn wasn't outside with us. So Papa Steve collected her and brought her outside.

Dawson being a ghost and playing with Mason.

Opening presents.

More shark slippers from Grandma Ronna!

Giant trucks from Papa Steve and Kim.

The coolest beanie from cousin Jaidyn.

Shark blanket from Grandma Ronna.

Aunt Bridgette introducing Sawyer to the baby shark song/video.

Decorating cookies.

Dawson REdecorating everyone's cookies.

More lights!

Play-doh toothpaste.

Dawson kept stealing this "tiny baby Jesus" from one of Kristin's nativities. Anytime anything is tiny or a baby, he changes his voice to be super high pitched to tell us all about how it's a baby whatever it is so this was right up his alley. And, I didn't get a picture, but Sawyer noticed Kristin's statue with Santa kneeling next to the baby Jesus and reverently touched it and whispered, "Santa is with Jesus." It was just a really sweet moment.

Me and Dillon looking our finest.

Dawson loved this elf hat at my family's Christmas party (all of these parties fell in the same week- ward, bunco, delta, cedar) and whew it was a lot but also so fun!

Some preschool pictures of Sawyer from his preschool blog.

He handed his birthday treat out early since his birthday was going to be over the break. He was pretty excited about his crown (and the fact that they got to make gingerbread houses at school that day).

Shouting out a happy birthday to their Grandpa Dale.

We announced our news to the masses once we had taken care of telling both of our families.

Just being superheroes in a couple of the get-ups Grandpa Dale ordered for them.

Somebody got into the hair pomade.

Cute brothers helping me deliver some Christmas presents.

And the Indominus Rex that Sawyer got from Mason, tagging along.

We escaped Cedar's cold for a minute to go visit the Dinosaur Park.

Just bumping along at an early 9.5 weeks.

Poor Dawson started off Christmas Eve by slipping in the bathroom and whacking his mouth hard on the floor.

Who-cakes! and the original Grinch movie.

Little guy taking over Grandpa's chair.

Dawon's stuff from Santa.

Sawyer's stuff from Santa.

The boys Christmas morning. Sawyer- so excited for his Wreck-it Ralph game (not really Wreck-it Ralph related). Dawson- so excited about his baseball bat and ball.

All snuggled up in his new dinosaur blanket.

Visiting the grandparents house Christmas day. Candy necklace strapping his face.

Braden is somewhere underneath all of those boy cousins.

Sawyer's ornament he made at school. Absolutely one of my favorite ones that was on our tree.

Raegan, Rachel, and the girls came to visit. Sawyer and Dawson LOVED playing with them. This is McKayla with Sawyer.

Birthday donut!

His birthday bike. He was so excited about it and initially gave it a gentle pet while whispering that it was "so beautiful" but he's not a big fan of actually riding it. I think we need to do some adjusting with seat height and what not to see if that helps.

Birthday dinner, complete with a play place.

His hulk hands that be bought with money from Great-Grandma and Great-Grandpa Hossner.

Dinosaur party.

He was so excited to have a surprise visit from Kristin, Mason, and Allie for his party. This picture is just his typical non-cooperative picture taking face. He really was excited.