Christmas Morning

Should of turned the lights on the tree for the picture would've been alot prettier. Oh Well, Merry Christmas 2009!Shortly after we awoke our dog escaped out of the yard. He does this all the time its more of an inconvenience than anything but it can be emotionally draining. So we all waited while Dad looked around the neighborhood. The kids were very patient about opening their present until dad returned. Luckily Noah had gotten this book the night before from his Grandma so he was happy to read while he waited.

My sis helped me stamp all the kids hands on Nate's T-shirt which the kids gave him for Christmas. I'm sure he loves it even if he only wore it that day!Sydney's sporting a new princess dress she got and had to immediately put on. What a fun morning with the twins, they were so excited about everything they got no matter what it was!

Kelsey was a little challenging thing year being the oldest and all but I think we did pretty good a nice combination of clothes, games, and books made her very happy.

Daddy got this castle for the twins it took forever to put together! What you can't see is the matching vanity, sink, and baby cradle inside, sold seperately of course. He did get a screamin deal but that thing is huge and the twins toys are slowly but surely taking over my house!

After presents Nate and the kids headed up to his parents cabin for breakfast while I went back to bed, I'd been up until 2 the night before and was wiped out! We all went back up later for dinner. IT was a great day!

Gingerbread houses

We had our friends the Tippetts up the other night to put together and decorate graham crackers houses.If your thinking Noahs cheeks look kinda chubby its becuase their full of candy. He had so much fun with his buddy Isaac they were wild boys!
Theres big Sydney and little Sydney. Little Sydney got really into it into this year . She was the last one left at the table decorating. We orginally didn't make her a house to decorate so we made a little one. The rest of the night she kept asking for a big house.

Here is Sydney's house. We tried to add onto it to keep her happy but it still wasn't big enough for her. I though she'd given up on it and we cleaned everything up only to have her come back begging for a BIGGER house.

Kelsey with her house, she had a lot of fun as did everybody the kids always love getting to eat a lots of candy

This is just one of the many Christmas traditions that we do, just another reason I love Christmas.

Tree Decorating

This last weekend we got our Christmas Tree. We were all set to decorate Sunday night when the power went out. So it stayed half decorated until Family Home Evening the next night.Kelsey and Noah didn't fight near as much as they did last year about who was putting up what ornament and in my book thats progress!
The girls were really into this year and would of gladly put on all the ornaments if we let them. Of course they would of all been put on in the same spot.

For some reason we can't get Sydney to smile with teeth? Oh Well. The girls have only broken 3 ornaments so far... hopefully thats it!

Noah's been doing this same picture every year since he was really little and it never get old!

If your wondering why Noah's shirt is off and its in the teens outside its because Nate does these huge fires in the fireplace and gets the house super hot. Of course Noah also chases the twins around the house.

My Little Picaso's

A few weeks ago I was feeling brave and got paint out for the twins. They spent hours painting picture after picture. Now they want to do it all the time which is fine but kinda a pain because I have to get out the paints and the tablecloth and when their done wash out the brushes....I continue to be awed by the differences in my girls. Of course I know their two different people but just how different is fascinating.

Aubrey wanted to try out ever color and cover as much of the page as possible with seemingly random messy brush strokes.
While Sydney stuck with one or two colors and took her time meticulously painting the pictures on the page. In case your wondering this theme carryings over into their coloring as well.

So they had a great time...didn't make too much of a mess. Sydney did get some in her hair and Aubrey had some on her face but thats what soap and water are for, right?!

Noah Turns Eight

Last Friday after school Noah had his 8th Birthday Party. He invited almost all the boys in his class. Luckily only 7 of them came, plus a couple cousins. Here there playing Hullabaloo which was a big hit and a lot of fun!Noah just wanted a regular cake but I talked him into this soccer cake I think he liked how it turned out but I guess he just doesn't get excited about stuff like that. He got a lot of fun toys. Legos, games and cars. Nate and I had gotten him a pokeman DS game, unfortunately it was the wrong one so after the party was over I took him to exchange it for the right one.

When the boys first got there they made their own pizzas which they loved and we played alot of games including bingo, musical chairs, and pop the balloon. I was sure wiped out but they all had a good time.

When it was time for the boys to leave they all gave Noah hugs good bye I thought it was really sweet. I can't believe my little guy is 8 years old it makes me feel kinda old too!

Applepalooza

A couple weeks ago my step sister and I along with the help of my Dad and stepmom canned applesauce and pie filling. We worked at it off and on for a good 8 hours but we got ALOT done.My step sister is really great, she's my age and she's married to my sister-in-laws ex-boyfriend who Nate and I double dated with when we were 16. What are the chances? Here's happy Aubrey and a couple of her cousins despite the cold they played outside for hours.
Kelsey was a pretty good little helper and the applesauce turned out so yummy. My kids can't stop eating it, which is good but I'm hoping it lasts a long time.
My Sweet little Sydney was attached to me the WHOLE day which made it challenging to do very much. She was actually pretty sick with a fever and runny nose which explains the clingyness. At one point she actually fell asleep on my lap which was pretty cute.

All in all it was a pretty fruitful day! (get it)?

Halloween Hijinx

Here's my sweet little care bears at the ward Harvest Party. Kelsey and Noah wore these 5 years ago. It was easy to decide who wore which one because when I was getting them dressed Sydney was crying so she was Gryumpy Bear and Aubrey, Funshine.One of my Beehives moms made Bee costumes for me and the rest of my beehive class. (One of the girls isn't in the picture). I look strangley excited to be wearing a big bee costume? The Young Women were in charge of the Party and it was a busy but fun night!

Kelsey thought the bee idea was a winner and decided to be a bumble bee as well. It took ALOT of shopping to find those black and yellow leg warmers. The shoes and the skirt is also new. The antennas we painted and put glitter on and I taped the stripes on her shirt. The moral of the story making your own costume is more expensive, time consuming, and overall pain the rear. But Kelsey was happy, thats the important thing right?

Oh yeah, it was Nates birthday too! His parents and my mom came up for pizza, cake and trick or treating. Unfortuntely Nate's been super sick and missed almost a week of work. I cant' believe I still ate that cake after he blew on it? But look at it...yum!