"If You're Happy and You Know It"

Dallin has had a little over a year and a half to work on being a big brother. And now that Sierra is old enough to participate in his cunning "older brother tricks" he is enjoying his role in life quite a bit. It has come to our attention that Dallin is destined for a career in management-- or so he thinks-- why else would he encourage his little sister to do things like break dry spaghetti noodles into a million tiny pieces and scatter them on the kitchen floor, or see how far she can run with the end of the toilet paper roll from the bathroom? Under his direction Sierra participates in many of his "experiments" but when mom wants to know who is responsible for the mess, Dallin quickly assures me that it was Sierra who made the mess (True, but who encouraged her?). This week Dallin was once again testing his magical "Big Brother Powers"-- First off let me say, Sierra loves to sing and Dance. One of her favorite songs is "If You're Happy and You know it". With that in mind, let me begin my story:

Thursday Evening during dinner I left the kids at the table eating while I poured Dallin another glass of milk. While in the kitchen I heard Dallin begin singing "If you're happy and you know it, SPILL YOUR PEAS . . If you're happy and you know it, SPILL YOUR PEAS . . . If you're Happy and you know it, and you really want to show it, if you're happy and you know it, SPILL YOUR PEAS." Dallin was giggling after each verse and I responded "Oh, Dallin you're so silly!" (He does afterall enjoy changing the words to songs.) That is, until I realized why he was giggling. Every time he would sing "if you're happy and you know it, spill your Peas" Sierra would take a spoonful of peas from her plate and pour them on the ground, causing Dallin to giggle with delight as she made a big mess under his instruction.

I must say I am a bit frightened for the future older brother tricks he will play, mostly because I grew up the guinea pig for many big brother experiments (licking 9V batteries, jumping off the roof, getting in a garbage can that was then placed on a skateboard and pushed off a ramp etc. . .). I guess we still have a lot to look forward to. . . and Sierra has a lot to learn.

Comics sometimes strangely reflect our lives so perfectly, I guess that's what makes them funny ... See the picture below!

Saturday morning in the Rice home.

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

We started our Christmas Eve out by making this ginger bread house together as a family.

 

Melissa fixed a beautiful Christmas Eve dinner.

 

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care...

 

CHRISTMAS MORNING

BEFORE...

AFTER!!!

 

Sierra takes her new bears for a tour of the house in her new buggy.

 

Santa brought Dallin a robot that walks just like he had asked in his letter.

 

We couldn't miss church on Christmas. Sierra had to take her new Bear though. She's not smiling in this picture because her mouth is full of Christmas candy.

 

We had a fun family day in downtown Seattle that included: an interactive train in Macy's store window, a historic carrousel ride, the largest ginger bread houses we've ever seen, and the Teddy Bear Suite in the Fairmont hotel (Luxury suite decorated for Christmas with teddy bears and fun Christmas decorations).

Letter to Santa as dictated by Dallin age 3

Hi Santa,

Can I have the thing that turns into a robot? And a remote control race car? Maybe I can call you on your phone so you can come back from the north pole where you play with all your reindeer. Right now you're back with all your reindeer. Santa, I want a Robot that knows how to walk like this...(I am acting like a robot right now). Sierra wants a stroller for her baby - one big enough for my Big Bear so I can use it too and she can share with me.

I love Santa!

Dallin

Yes that's a sock on Sierra's hand. We don't usually get snow in Seattle. Don't worry though we went out and bought her a hat and mittens that night.

SNOW ... SNOW ... SNOW

 

Snow in Seattle, makes for a nice change from all the rain.

 

Dallin gets ready for a snow ball fight. Bring it on "pops."

 

Our little snow angel.

 

Dallin made this great looking ginger bread (graham cracker/milk carton) house. Most of the candy didn't make it to the finshed product.

 

Here is the finished apple pie, it tasted as good as it looks. This was the first time Melissa hosted a Thanksgiving dinner. Everything was perfect.