This Just In!

George has found his first word! I know he is behind the times, but he has an phalanx of sisters to do his bidding on the slightest whimper. Why waste energy communicating? Anyway, the First Word: George recognizes - and uses appropriately - "hot". Not "mommy" or "daddy" or "ball". Maybe it's the danger junkie aspect of his personality?

He's turning into a ham, and a bit of a drama king. (hmmm, wonder where that came from?)

He also still has a bad habit of biting. Don't those chompers look dangerous? Oh, they are.

I swear, he is going to need therapy in his adult years, because in his infancy, no one wanted to snuggle with him for fear of the little half-moon bruises he gives out so freely. It's not as bad as it has been, I admit, now mostly when he's tired.


Oh, and he's teething fiercely right now. It usually rears its ugly head at 3 o'clock in the morning, so he's tired A LOT. So are we.

Also, Mark grew his beard out for hunting season, for the first time in four years. George loves it when his daddy gobbles on his neck with those tickley, prickly whiskers! The beard goes away this weekend. Maybe there will be pictures.

Lucy isn't in this picture because she's too tall to fit under Gabba's chin, and Hyrum wanted a "totem pole" photo.

Hyrum helped me set up Gift Creation Central in his room, and is helping tremendously. Also, we put up the Christmas tree for FHE this week - sorry, Mom, the kids didn't want to wait until the 15th, as is tradition *sniff sniff* - and it has become the center and catalyst of all the make-believe going on in the House of Phogles. George pillages everything he can reach, which is a lot, because he is learning about moving furniture...

And the girls are using the ornaments for characters in their games. We find ourselves with three (3) gorgeous angels for the top of the tree this year. Two are too heavy, so they have become decorations for the mantle. But the girls take all three - bar stool to get the one off the top of the tree - plus some angel ornaments, and they play the newly-invented "angel game". It's been non-stop angel action for three days. It adds a new dimension to the Christmas season when you get to decorate (and redecorate) the Christmas tree every day...and the ornaments double as action figures!