James' first talk in Primary

Today was James' first talk in Primary. The topic was "Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love me." Yesterday we helped him decide what he wanted to say and we planned to have him hold the pictures while Ben whispered in his ear, but he informed us that he could 'do it all by himself!' He read his own talk in Primary. He was afraid of the microphone at first, but as soon as they turned it off, he did just fine. (I was teaching Gospel Doctrine so I couldn't be there to see it.)

We can't take credit for his reading; we continue to be amazed ourselves. I think it's a combination of Leap Frog DVDS, Starfall.com, Pbskids.com and his BIG OL' NOGGIN! The really good thing about him reading his own talk is that there was no room for improvisation. He didn't have a chance to say something embarrassing like, "My mommy likes to watch ICarly." or "My daddy snores like a chainsaw."

For Family Night Ben taught a lesson about "scriptures" since we just gave James his first set on Sunday. We were examining the books when...

James: Hey, my name is on this book!

Ben: Yes, it's the King James version of the Bible.

James: I'm the king of the Bible? HEY! I'M THE KING OF THE BIBLE! I'M THE KING OF THE BIBLE. I'M THE KING OF THE BIIIIIIIBBBBBBLLLLLEEEE! (Runs around the room like a chicken with his head cut off.)

Ben: Come back! We're not done talking about the scriptures.

James: I'M THE KING OF THE BIBLE!!!!!

(Finally got him calmed down to listen to the rest. I'm pretty sure the only thing he got out of it was that he is the King of the Bible!)

Someone save me

James: Hey, let's play the gas game!

Ben: How do you play it?

James: Whoever makes the most toots wins!

Ben: *gasping and not able to breathe from laughing so hard*

Me: Welcome to manhood.

(As I'm typing this, James is reading over my shoulder insisting that I write that HE had the most toots and that HE won. It's true.)

First Day of Primary!

Tried to get a decent pic of James today for his first day of Primary. His was happy but quite disinterested in posing. I was *told* that he was really well behaved today, but it's probable that's what they tell all the mamas of the Sunbeams. His class shouldn't be too bad since it's just him, his Bff Lilly and one other cutie boy.

We got him an inexpensive set of scriptures and Daddy gave him his case.

Sniff. He's growing up. When we were walking to the car after church, this is how it went down:

Me: Did you have an awesome day at Primary?

James: Yep.

Me: How was your teacher?

James: Really nice.

Me: How was the class?

James: Same ol' Same ol'.

(Am I already raising a teenager?!?!)

Christmas 2009

The first thing you may (or may not) notice as you look at these pics is that James is wearing pjs in every single one. We spent Christmas in Kansas this year and we passed around the gift that keeps on giving: Stomach flu. James got sick the 2nd day we were there, and as he was getting well, Ben got it; and as he was getting well, Grandma got it. (Knocking on some serious wood here: I never got it.)

We had fun despite all the sickies and enjoyed our time not only with Grandma and Grandpa, but also Uncle Jared, Aunt Nolita and COUSINS! James was once again in cousin heaven!

James jumping up to express his excitement about the marble run he got for Christmas. Daddy always makes the best designs. (The dark area on his pjs is from vapor rub...)

Ben at the height of his sickiness, accompanied by Grandpa at naptime.

James looking sicky. Just included this pic because this is how Joshua spent his holiday...in perpetual motion!

James yelling out, "Merry Christmas, everybody!" as we were opening gifts.

James was a bit nervous about Rocky the Robot Truck. We all LOVE this toy! Worth the money!

The best way I could capture the happiness on Christmas morning.

Kids table on Christmas Eve. James was still feeling icky and would only eat Asparagus for dinner.

Elizabeth is a dear cousin! She spent many patient hours doing things with James.

Grandpa Swan gave James his sign from his parking place at the library. What an awesome gift!

Opening gifts with cousins....Joseph entertained that child forever!

Christmas morning waiting for the presents to be passed out.

This Christmas was full of magic for James. Anytime we drove past a house with ANY minimal Christmas lights, he yelled at the top of his lungs, "LOOK! THEY ARE GETTING READY FOR CHRISTMAS!" or simply, "CHRISTMAS!!!!!!!" It was enough to make us almost wreck several times. I tried to use the whole, "Santa is watching you" threat sparingly-and it worked! He loved talking to the Santa at the mall in LJ over Tthanksgiving and once again at the church Christmas party. When I asked if he had thanked Santa for his gift at the party, he insisted in waiting in line again so that he could tell Santa thank you up close and personally.

And true to his recent trend of declaring everything the "best _______ ever!", all day Christmas he declared, "This is the BEST Christmas in my whole life!"