Learning About Family

In the last month Trevor has started to understand the concept of family. I love seeing how happy he is to be part of our family. Whenever the three of us are together he always stops to name everyone, usually going around the circle several times: "Mama, Daddy, Fevuh, Mama, Daddy, Fevuh." He smiles and looks so happy that we're all together.

At night before he goes to bed we have a "big hug" and all squeeze together. (Cheesy, I know). That is usually followed by kisses all around.

The funniest thing is how silly and embarrassed Trevor gets when he sees Birch and I hug or kiss. He starts bouncing back and forth on his legs, giggling and saying with a big smile "Kisses!" or "Mama, Daddy hugs!" Sometimes he'll run to the couch and hide his face but still looks back, happy that we're happy, I guess.

I know that families bring us our greatest happiness and it's sweet to see that idea understood by a small toddler.

6/6 Tag & Madera Canyon

This tag asks you to post the sixth picture in the sixth folder on your computer. Thanks, Kat! And the winner is:

Trevor learning to hold his head up! How about those rolls and the bald head? Now I tag Eevi, Bridget, Megan T., Kelly and Jill.

Down in the desert it was around 80 degrees this weekend--perfect November weather, right? Birch didn't have much studying to do so we drove south to Madera Canyon to hike in the trees.

We couldn't make it through the fence opening without taking off the backpack. Since that is so difficult, we (Birch) chose this safer option, climbing over the fence.

Here are the boys taking a break to explore. Trevor liked smashing the leaves while he walked. :)

April 16, Several Times a Year

My dad is a CPA (certified public accountant), so every year from January until the tax deadline on April 15 he is putting in extra hours at work. "Tax season," as we call it, comes to an abrupt end on April 15 at midnight which makes April 16 a family holiday. My dad usually takes a few days off work and gets started on the Honey Do list, happy to be out in the yard rather than in his office.

At our house I've noticed a similar pattern since Birch has started med school. Every month or two he'll have a big test and the week before we move into "tax season mode." Birch is actually really good about being home to study even if it means staying in the office with the door shut. But I'll admit the day before his test I'm about to go a little crazy, tired of keeping Trevor busy and quiet, and ready to have my husband replace the man with the glazed eyes.

Then....April 16 arrives! As soon as Birch walks in the door after taking his test he is a new man! Suddenly there are things to talk about and all kinds of games he needs to play with Trevor. Just in the last few days I've found the boys playing baseball in the living room and later learning to dance to Weezer. We've even had a few meals cooked by dad himself--yum!

Here's a project that Birch and I worked on together in the last few days. He did the cement work and I was the painter.


After our many trips to Rocky Point we found something we hadn't bought before: numbers for our house. I think we almost fit in now with our Mexican neighbors, now all we need are tiles with "DeGomez" written above our door and we'll be set.

Holiday Traditions: Thanksgiving

Some friends and I met this week to share our family holiday traditions. It was fun to swap ideas and hear what other families do to celebrate. I love what my family did for each holiday when I was growing up but I also want to start traditions that will be unique to my own little family.

So now I'm opening it up to all of you! Rather than talk about all of the holidays at once, I thought I'd post about Thanksgiving first and talk about the rest as they come along.

Here's what our group came up with:

• Run in a Turkey Trot (5k/10k) or play in a Turkey Bowl to burn a few calories before the big feast
• Give kids holiday pajamas on Thanksgiving to wear through the month of December
• Bake rolls with messages/questions inside (wrapped in foil) to get the "thankful" conversation started
• Go around the table and give everyone a chance to say what they are thankful for
• Play family games after the meal (i.e. BINGO, white elephant)
• Decorate the Christmas tree on Thanksgiving weekend
  

So what does YOUR family do to celebrate Thanksgiving?

Happy Halloween!

Our ward had a great Halloween party with a carnival and trunk-or-treat. It's fun to have Trevor old enough to understand a little of what's going on. By the end of the night he knew what was supposed to happened if he said "Trick or treat!"

Here's Trevor in his lion costume. Of course, every person asked him what a lion says and I thought he would get burned out. But by the end of the night he was still giving a great "Raar!"

Somehow Trevor went home with the "Cutest Costume" award. He really got excited when they gave him the prize: his own cupcake! (Good memories from that first birthday, right?)