A Memorable Christmas

A big 'thank you' to everyone who helped make our Christmas a good one this year. We were a bit under the weather (so if the pictures don't make us look quite like ourselves, that's why...cameras don't lie) but we survived it all. The kids had lots of fun with their presents and even though we've had runny noses all week, they've been able to enjoy the "new" stuff.

John loved his Spiderman toothbrush, toothpaste, and matching underwear from his stocking. Kelsey got a princess toothbrush, toothpaste, but no undies...ah well. She loves having her own toothpaste with matching accessories.

John got an old Fisher Price Parking Garage (almost antique now!) and Kelsey got the Fisher Price Doctor's Kit (antique too!). Both kids have loved playing with their toys and clothes! John loved his new Superman jammies and had to try out the cape on the back by jumping off the couch! He said it worked great!

Bekah's still doesn't quite understand what all the fuss is about. She was ready to open all of the presents the moment they arrived. So, when it finally came time for her to rip off the wrapping paper, she had to be persuaded to give it a go. Maybe next year she'll be more of a pro.

Shawn and I say "thank you" for our presents too. We were "lucky" enough to stay out of most of the pictures. Good thing too...since we don't look nearly as lovely as the kids. Sick kids take it out of the parents! So...we're hoping to recover fully by New Year's so we can party all night. Well, at least until bedtime. Thank you!

Signs of Christmas

Christmas around our house hasn't been as hectic this year as it has in other years. It's been nice to relax and gradually add decorations to our home. Decorations that have an amazing way of disappearing. We have little fingers who like to help rearrange things. Ah well, what can you expect when there's a nearly 4 year old (no problem with him rearranging), a 2 1/2 year old (she likes to eat leftover candy and cookies), and a 1 year old (she looks cute with cookie mess on her face from eating a cookie off the Christmas tree).


I thought I'd let you see some of the fun we've had this year. Leave a comment on what you think looks different about our Christmas tree from other trees you've seen this year. It's not unique but it is kinda funny.

Happy First Birthday, Bekah Mae!

Rebekah Mae made it to one year! And so did all of the rest of us! Wow! It seems to have flown by so quickly. Here are some highlights from her birthday party! We had such a great time with family and friends in our new clubhouse. It was nice not having it in our own house...there's so much more room to romp and play in the gathering area. See? Shawn had time for wrestle mania!

The kids really enjoyed playing ping pong and fooseball downstairs while the adults got things ready upstairs. So much fun!

I guess Bekah's going to have Christmas themed birthdays for a long time. A cupcake tree seemed like the easiest way to go. I don't have to cut cake and everyone seemed to enjoy a unique idea! Bekah loved her very own "smash" cake. John blew out her candle (thank you, big brother).

The presents were a hit too...especially with everyone else! Kelsey kept running off with the baby doll and John wanted to go get his Spider-Man Christmas presents to put under the little tree where we stashed all of Bekah's presents. He thought it would be fun to open his presents too. Poor guy just doesn't understand.

Bekah loved the truck...as did the other boys present. The monkey ball was a hit. Poor cousin Rian kept saying, "Mine." since we got him the same thing for his first birthday. The box that held Bekah's new church shoes was a huge hit! The puff balls for the snowmen grabbed her attention. It was all I could do to encourage her to look inside the box. Even then, she wanted to finger those snowmen. They were awesome! Thanks, Great Grams!

And here's the only picture we could get of her in her new Christmas romper. Poor kid, looks like she's had plenty of birthday for one year! Thank you, everyone, for helping us have a memorable first birthday for our little Bekah Mae Mae.

A Visit with Santa

Last Friday, the kids got to see Santa Claus at the grocery store. We were one of the first ones there on a relatively slow day. There wasn't hardly a line because no one knew Santa was coming at 10:30 in the morning. It was really fun to see the kids' reactions. John didn't really want to talk to Santa as much as he wanted the candy cane at the end. He did get time to tell Santa Claus all about his Spider-Man hat.

Kelsey's always shy around new people and never really talks much (even when prompted).

And Bekah took one look at the white beard and did what most babies do. CRY!

Also, an update on our Bekah Mae Mae...she's walking now. It's the stiff legged walk but she's taking steps independent of objects. Her favorite thing to say is "Uhhh...", which is usually associated with raised arms. So, although her first word was "Daddy", she has since moved past that to "up!" She'll be ONE on Saturday. What a big girl!

Our Silly Kids

Three pictures...short and sweet. You let me know what you think of my silly kids.

Bekah being Bekah. Why can't she show those teeth?

John being a robot, Ironman, or whatever else he wants to be. That's actually a little purse for one of Kelsey's ponies. Crazy kid!

Kelsey, Kelsey, Kelsey. She's usually pretty happy and wants to give lots of smiles. She's so fun!

Mom's Feeling the Muse

So, I decided to "show off" some of my completed projects. I'm proud of any project I actually finish but some of these turned out rather well....if I may say so. Anyway, to show you some of the things I've been doing this summer and fall, I thought I'd include some pictures. It was fun!

Spaghetti sauce goes quickly in our house, especially if it's premade! This took a few hours to complete but I'm excited to see bottles of sauce ready for cold winter days when I don't feel like cooking much. Very nice and tasty!

I just finished these at a Relief Society activity. The first two are magnet boards. I used two pieces of 12x12 scrapbooking paper and glued them to a large piece of sheet metal (the edges aren't sharp, thank goodness!). The letters (pet themed board) and the flowers have magnets on the back. The other three objects are supposed to be car kits. They are hot pads with baggies sewn inside to carry things like scissors, thread, buttons, pens, band-aids, etc. in a car's glove box. I was hoping to use them as little travel kits for the kids. They'd need something to hold small pads of paper, crayons, small cars/toys, etc. when we travel. Kinda fun.

SNOW DAY

These pictures are actually from the beginning of November when we had a bit of snow. It wasn't much but it was enough to get the kids excited for the coming winter. We hauled out snow boots (discovered both kids need bigger boots!), mittens, hats, and coats. John was out the door before I could get Kelsey ready. He was so excited to experience it all first.

First, he ran around in it to make as many footprints as possible. Then, he started chucking snowballs. Hence, the picture of him winding up for a throw. Future athelete? Probably, but he's more interested in hockey than football or baseball. Ice hockey usually doesn't entail throwing a ball.

Kelsey joined him for a snow taste testing contest. They both decided it was pretty good. Cold but good.

It then moved on to the favorite game of the morning: snow angels. Every yard had one in it by the time John was finished. Kelsey finally got brave enough to lay down in it, though she didn't accumulate as much snow on her backside as John. They both had loads of fun and didn't want to come inside until I mentioned HOT COCOA with marshmallows!

Park Pictures

I have been behind. These pictures are over a month old but I had to put them up to let you see how the kids have been doing now that Fall has arrived...and is nearly over. They have enjoyed our trips to the duck park and the last time we went the ducks were so hungry, they didn't care how close they got before they could eat. In the pictures, the kids were so excited to see the ducks they didn't care they were giving away their snacks (Goldfish) to the ducks. Everyone was happy that day!

Look at all the ducks! Bekah was saying, "Addah, Addah, Addah!" and kept trying to touch them!

John and Kelsey love this jungle gym. Kelsey had to try everything that John did. I kept having to watch her (seems like I should watch Bekah more since she's the baby), but Kelsey's coordination isn't as developed as John's. I was worried she'd fall and lose her last front tooth. Then she'd really be singing, "All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth" for the next six years.

Two Kids Enter....Hilarity Ensues

It has become a pseudo-tradition for us to stop in at the automotive section of our local Megalo-Mart and have the kids try on a few motorcycle helmets. Usually this entails both kids wearing helmets and trying on all of the different helmets they can find. Well...this time it was a bit different and a great deal more enjoyable for everyone.

I'm not sure how it started. Maybe it was after Kelsey put her helmet on and couldn't see. Or, maybe it was just the alignment of the planets. But, no matter how it happened, one thing was certain.....our local Megalo-Mart had just turned into Kiddie Thunderdome.

Two Kids Enter......Hilarity Ensues!!!!!

....enjoy.

Halloweiners

In the tradition of running around costume clad throught the night at least once a year, my lawyer has advised me not to discuss our other costumed escapades, we bring you our Halloweeners Gallery of Terror...or Cuteness, which ever you like.

The above pumpkins were carved the monday before Halloween as a FHE (Family Home Evening) activity.  The Kids had fun picking out the seeds and cleaning off the slime.  Kelsey was more gung ho than John.  Although he did eventually get his hands dirty.  From Left to Right: Shawn's Skrull-O-Lantern, Linda's Shooting Stars in Squash, and Finally John and Kelseys Smiley with Pokey Teeth.

We ended up roasing the seeds in a little oil and salt.  They turned out really well, and the kids loved them!  These are pictures of John, who snuck down when he was supposed to be asleep, enjoying the aroma of the seeds.

 

And, what you really came here to see.  The Kids in their Halloween Cutness.  

Kelsey as Ragedy Ann.  We did the red hair for Boo at the Zoo, and that was enough for us.  It's really messy!

John as a Pirate Crocodile. It's really a turtle costume, but Linda convinced him that it was an Aligator early on and it's stuck.

And Bekah as...The Frog "Which every one of your kids has been at some point in time."

We hope your Halloween was a great as ours.