Vivi is Two!

The older this little spitfire gets the more it has been confirmed that we named her well. The original meaning of Vivi is alive or lively, and I can't think of a better way to describe this girl.  

• She loves playing in water and we can usually count on a puddle or two on the floor. Our socks are never safe. If she finds a cup of water unattended it is either dumped into the dog bowl or dumped on the floor. Chet decided Vivi's favorite Disney princess is Moana: "I wish I could be a perfect daughter, but I come back to the water, no matter how hard I try." 

She loves when Chet invites her into his room. He is so sweet and patient with her. 

• She does not like to sit in one place during mealtimes. She loved to stand up in the high chair on the island and I was so worried that she would fall out so we finally put it away. Now her favorite thing is to move to as many chairs as possible during a mealtime to make sure she has really left a trail of food and smears. She also tries to snitch food from her siblings' plates or even worse, put chewed up food she doesn't want on their plates. So yes, mealtimes aren't very relaxing right now. 
• She also loves everyone else's toothbrushes so those are now up high where she can't reach them. 

We ruin her fun a lot...

• She used to say "sa" for yes and it was so adorable. After a phase of saying no for yes (we barely survived that), she now says a very clear and drawn out "yesss". 
• When Eliza (started out as Shisha and is now Yiza) is sad and crying, Vivi likes to try to imitate her. She also tries to imitate the sounds of different characters on Mario Cart. 

These two have started playing together and they usually get along. Their favorite game to play is babies. 

• Vivi loves "goggies" and kitties. Whenever I sit down to help someone with school, there's Vivi cramming her way in to ask me to draw her a kittie. 
• Vivienne has the fastest and most infectious laugh ever. She loves to be tickled and asks "again" over and over until we're sick of doing it. 
• She's a little clingy and use to say "shoe!" for hold you. Now she just demands, "hold you!"

Excuse the bathroom photo, but I just needed to show the level of clinginess we're talking here. 

• Vivi has never liked wearing bows or getting her hair fixed. But when I fix her sister's hair she always asks, "fix hairs?" and then promptly rips the hair ties out within seconds and asks for it to be fixed again. It's a vicious cycle. The other day I had a headband in my hair and she said, "Mommy cute!"

For a while I thought about trimming the mullet, but now that her curls are getting longer we are just embracing it. She rocks it. 

• A couple weeks ago in Sacrament Meeting Vivi dumped a whole bag of cheerios out in the aisle. This was right before the sacrament so Tanner got down on his hands and knees to clean it up before they were crushed. While crawling around the congregation sang, "Fill our hearts with sweet forgiving, teach us tolerance and love." It was too perfect in the moment and lightened the whole situation. 
• Vivienne loves to sing and even though she doesn't say specific words she has a sweet clear little jabber to whatever tune she chooses. 

• First thing in the morning she is asking for "bekfast" and she is always excited for "munch". While she is asking for food all throughout the day she doesn't eat very much. She'll ask for a banana, and it must be the whole banana that she has to peel, but she will share a piece after that, then after one bite she is done. Oranges are another problem, she will chew the pieces up and then spit them out. I guess she's getting a little bit of nutrition from the juice? But she will never turn down cheese so she is her father's daughter. 

• She loves to go outside and we have to lock the doors so she doesn't escape or let Josie out, her other favorite pastime. 

• She gets really annoyed with Josie and loves to boss her around. I always think they look so cute looking out the window together but Vivienne gets angry and pushes Josie down every time. She is learning to be more soft with the doggie though. 

• She and Porter have a pretty typical two-year-old relationship. Lots of taking from each other, trying to steal things, and tattling. I'm sure they'll be best friends one day. 

• Her talking is getting better and better but she still loves to speak in her own special jibberesh. We all think it's adorable and will be sad when she stops. 

Vivi loves when she can make someone laugh. Lately she has been doing this fake belly laugh that is just fantastic. 

• She loves to talk to people on the phone and jabbers away as if everyone can understand exactly what she says. 
• Vivi loves to open and close things but if it's a little too tricky for her she'll bring the thing she is working on to someone and say, "ope it." 
• She loves being read to and brings books to us all throughout the day. She is even ok with Eliza "reading" to her. 
• Vivi gives awesome kisses and hugs. It makes me so happy!

We love this lively little light we have in our life. It wouldn't be the same without her! Happy Birthday Vivienne Kay! 

February

I was so excited for this February because for months I have been anxiously anticipating a trip to my sister's house. It did not disappoint.  

It was so wonderful to meet sweet little Irie and spend time with her big brothers. 

The boys love the book What Would Danny Do and they asked if I knew how to make chocolate chip pancakes, their mom has made them before but they couldn't remember what they tasted like. I was thrilled that something so simple could make them so happy. So we had to have them two mornings. I was able to get them to school each morning so Tiff could sleep in a little and it was so fun to see their awesome personalities. 

Tiff took me to her in laws one day to see all of the farm animals and it just reminded me how much I love animals...now if there wasn't any work involved I would be completely sold. This nanny goat was my best friend. There were sheep, goats, cows, chickens and even a puppy. We also got to see the horses so it was a good day. 

I took the boys out for a spin on this thing...you can have a controller and drive the car remotely and I realized that I am horrible at that. But the boys survived and were happy at the end...success!

It was so fun to go to a new mom's house and be able to help her. I loved all the baby time I got. I am so grateful for all of the help that I have received with my five children and it felt so good to do that for someone else. I loved spending so much time with Tiffany talking, laughing 'til we cried, and just being together. I also loved the time with my nephews. They are just amazing boys and I wish I could get that kind of time with all my nieces and nephews. I will treasure that week forever. Thanks Cameron for putting up with me for a week. 

And it wouldn't have happened without Tanner's amazing support and Natalie coming out to watch the kids while Tanner was at work. Brittany and Baydon ended up going to a conference that week so Grandma Crossley came up with the Hilton cousins too and it was a party all week long. I don't think my kids even missed me because they were having so much fun with the cousins. There was lots of hockey played, science experiments, and mario kart tournaments. I am so grateful there are people who love my children so much and supported me in going to my sister's. 

Every night when I would Facetime with the kids Vivi would yell, "Hi mom!" over and over with the biggest smile. 

No get together is complete without a tea party. 

I got home just in time for a snow storm. We haven't had much snow this winter so we were all excited for how much we got. 

The kids made a fort with the neighbors

Despite icicle fingers, Vivi lasted quite a while out in the snow. 

Once the girls went inside the boys had a snowball fight

Brittany and Baydon came back down to spend some time with Natalie before she left and I got this great picture of them both in Grandpa Warner's sweaters. They didn't even plan it! 

Valentine's day wasn't a big deal this year, but I made the kids some Valentines and we had chocolate waffles for breakfast and they were happy.

Mariah wanted Josie to dress up for the holiday

We got another snowstorm with even more snow and all had fun shoveling outside. 

One day the boys went to the racquetball court with Tanner, so Eliza and Mariah asked if they could paint my nails. I decided toenails would be best and they went to town. Each foot is very different, a perfect reflection of their personalities. Mariah did polka dots because "Easter bunnies would be too hard on nails". Eliza suggested that they could be Easter Eggs. And she decided to paint every toenail on her side a different color followed up with lots of sparkles. They are pretty exciting. 

We said goodbye to my parents over Zoom as they left on a two year mission to Botswana. We will still be able to communicate with them online and I'm already planning a trip there...now if only I can convince Tanner. 

It was a wonderful month spent with so many people that I love so much. Seems fitting for the month of love. 

 

January

I'm way late in doing this so January feels like a long, long time ago...I'll do my best to remember the highlights. 

Chet (Finally) got to play basketball. And it was everything he dreamed of and more. I was a little afraid that his confidence might be crushed when faced with reality, but he ended the season proud of himself and excited for next year. A testament to good coaches! He played with a great group of boys and they learned a lot and had a lot of fun. 

And we learned that Vivienne and Eliza are not the best basketball fans. Vivi tried her hardest to run out on the court and Eliza never stopped talking...so I decided to stay home with them for the last game.  

The kids were excited to sit with Tessa during one of the games. Tommy was on Chet's team. 

We hit a milestone...Mariah and Chet did a science experiment all on their own. I just looked up the directions for them and gave them a few pointers. It was glorious. And everyone was really excited for the eruption. 

A few months back Mariah and Chet got recorders. So Austin was thrilled when he was able to get one at the last homeschool activity. You can see how thrilled I was with it...

We finally got some snow and the kids took full advantage of it. There was lots of sledding. Vivi really wanted to keep up with the big kids but did not want to wear her mittens. And then she fell in the snow multiple times and decided it wasn't so fun after all. Her poor little hands were frozen and she cried until they finally warmed up. And the next time she went outside she again pulled her mittens off. Can't win with that one. 

There were some disagreements as to how the snowmen and snowdogs should be built, so we had multiple snow sculptures. 

We had the opportunity to go to our first Kemem. In the Marshall Islands, the first birthday is a really big deal and families throw big celebrations for their one year olds. It was really fun to learn so much more about their wonderful culture. 

The amount of food everyone got was so amazing! I was helping serve up and it blew my mind how big the plates of food were for the kids. I was proud of them for trying new foods. 

Adults were served first and children were expected to wait. Vivi was clinging to my legs and getting fussy While I was serving, so I told her to go over and eat some of Dad's food. Eliza quickly joined her and Tanner shrugged his shoulders, looked at some of our Marshallese friends and said, "sorry". They laughed and didn't seem to be too offended...I hope. 

There was fun dancing, prizes thrown out to the guests and just great happy company. We loved it so much and can't wait for the next one! 

Most of our January was spent doing the normal day to day things, but we're grateful for the fun mixed in.