Merry Christmas

I won a gingerbread house kit from a work party this year. 

The kids thought it was the coolest thing and keep buggin' to eat the candy. 

We visited the temple and saw all the lights on Christmas Eve. It was cold but we had fun. 

I think the fountain was still their favorite part.

We got a visit from the Jolly Old Elf himself this year. We must have been awesome this year.

Brionney's biggest hits were a bassinet and magnidoodle. 

Jamie got a bike, Legos, and Lego Star Wars.

Daddy got a safe and smaller than I thought PJs- ugly to boot. 

Let's just say that they were cuter on the hanger.

I also got a bike, several new books, and thankfully new cookie sheets.

GG and GGpa came over for dinner Christmas day.

Guess where Missy B was most of that time? Right next to GG. She loves her GG and GGpa.

GGpa is the next greatest thing. We were all watching the picture DVD that GGpa made.

We ended the day with cocoa and cookies. 

Merry Christmas to all!

Let it snow...

We got snow!!! It stuck and we've been in it for a week now. 

The little city girl that I am couldn't resist playing with it for a bit.

 Jamie spent the entire day out in it.

 Isn't it beautiful? And it wasn't done for the day.

Grandpa, Uncle Matt, Jamie, Brionney, and Mom build this wonderful snowman. 

 Dad got home just in time for pictures and the snowball fight. And then it snowed some more...

 Jamie loved making snow angels. We did them over rocks so we could see them.

 Last night was our ward Christmas party and we had a special visitor. 

Brionney wanted nothing to do with him. Jamie gave him an earful.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for taking them.

I told them to go play in their room...

 I think they had every toy they have on that bed.

But they got along and Mommy got some quiet time. I can't complain.

Merry Christmas!!!

By the way, it's been a week since it snowed and it's still here and as beautiful as ever. 

Though I must say: ice sucks!!!

And so do single digit temperature.

Brionney is a funny girl. She takes after her brother. 

She fell asleep during dinner. She had the bobbing head and everything.

She LOVES shoes. She clomps around the house in whatever shoes she can find. It's not long until her brother finds another pair and stomps around with her.

Believe it or not, she got up there by herself with no prompting from anyone.

(And Grandpa loves the attention.)

Movie night with mom. We had popcorn and M&Ms cuddled under our pillows and blankets.

 

Thanksgiving weekend, Uncle Travis was her favorite buddy. He carried her around the house like this and taught her to say, "Help, help." So stinkin' cute.

Saturday, Grandpa let the kids take a turn on the horse.

All my nieces and nephews waited so patiently hanging on the fence.

Brionney taking a turn on the horse. 

I missed Jamie's turn but everyone loved it.

Hunter made a hammock in the apricot tree and Noah made a fort behind him with the yellow blankets. 

After all our family left, it was time to pull out the Christmas decorations. 

After we were done decorating, we settled down for some caramel popcorn and hot cocoa.

Happy December everyone!!!

Where has this year gone?

Jamie

Jamie  is 4 1/2 years old and he can now ride his bike without trainig wheels. Again, this mom had oddles of videos but none will upload. you will just have to come and visit us to see.

WAY TO GO JAMIE!!!

 ps. He is super proud of himself. He is very steady on the bike- only wobbles when he first gets going. YAY!!! Day 1: one crash when he tried to stop: no tears, no crying YAY!!!

Halloween

Halloween was awesome this year. 

This is our skeleton friend that Mom picked up for us. We came home from our shopping and found him playing on Daddy's XBOX. I had Jamie open the door for us so I got to see his expression when he first saw it. My boy is a bit of a scaredy-cat. He just froze and walked as far from him as possible. We got Brionney to hold his hand but even she was kinda freaked. We hung him on our door for the month. He also glows in the dark. Kids stayed away from the door all month.

 

Jamie was a dinosaur. Brionney was a bear with a cute little black skirt. Mommy was a hippy. Daddy had to work. Grandpa brought the wagon and pulled the two all around the block with Mommy and Grandma following. The kids had a blast and made out like bandits. 

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!

I realize that my posts keep getting farther and farther apart; however, we are still alive and kicking here in Southern Utah.

Jamie had a dance recital at school a few weeks ago. He and his Preschool class sang and danced to the Hockey Pockey. I also have the video- you will have to come to me to see it because my blog won't play it.

This is Jamie getting prepared for the dance.

The child would NOT let me take a decent picture.

 He was a rockstar. Sang and danced like a PRO. Really thought you have to see the video. I told him to sing loud so Daddy (at work some 30 miles away) could hear him- He all but screamed the song. HILARIOUS!!!

We took a quick trip to Orem. Ron let me play with his clay. I wanted a vase- I think it turned into a bowl until Ron saved me and got it back into a vase. It's a lot harder than it looks and lots of fun.

 Jamie got to play too.

Daddy couldn't resist either. He got the bowl. 

Back in school

Jamie started preschool 3 weeks ago. HE LOVES IT!!! 

He comes home with new silly songs and explains all the rules. 

He is in heaven. 

his first day he ran up to the door and told his teacher his name and walked right in. There was a kid crying outside, another screaming inside- Jamie had no hesitation. After class he came running out proud as can be. No drama, no tears, just excitement. I was expecting something... but not from his boy.

 In true school tradition, we had to model our new school clothes.

 School has me over worked, underpaid, and pulling my hair out. 13 weeks to go!!!

I am rockin' my internship. I am still learning the different roles I am playing there. It's so different from the hospital. The hospital is straight forward. We have a specific purpose- not so much with this agency.

My supervisor had me take the lead during an intake assessment today- I totally froze. My mouth opened but only a squeak escaped. Luckily, there was machines humming in the background so I don't think anybody heard, but I did. Luckily, my awesome supervisor came to my rescue.

Travis and Christina came two weekends ago. As I downloaded pictures today, I found these and had to share:

Christina

Travis, or Unc, as he taught my kids

Grandma, what did they do to you?

Then there's B... what more can I say?

We had a rockin' game night with everybody.

First the flour game. put a penny on a tower of flour and slowly cut away the tower. Who ever ropples the tower must receive the penny without uses their hands.

Grandma toppled first.

Elena did awesome. She and Jamie have very steady hands, but Elena had to do it twice.

Then the candy bar game. When you roll doubles, you put on an apron, a hat, and gloves and cut slivers of a candy bar. Keep eating until the next person rolls double but you'd better be quick.

Jamie thought it was awesome. He did feed himself most of the time. 

My turn! My apron got stuck.

Christina's turn.

Elena was rockin' it as well. She also needed some help figuring how to work it.

Brionney was passed around the table as we all had turns. She'd leaned toward the candy mouth wide panting for a bite. Uncle Matt took pity and she took his turn. She was in heaven!

And finally the suckin' skittles. Jamie and Elena loved this one too. Suck up skittles with a straw. The adults found this super easy so we started fighting for pieces- who can suck it up first? Definitely need more competitive rules or something.

It was great to see these guys, we don't get to see them often enough. Love ya. 

Thanks for an awesome weekend. 

And now I really need to stop playing and get on the homework...