I did the twelve days of Christmas for Dan this year.  I did little things each day like pictures of the kids, treats, gift card, gum.  One of the days I got him a gift card to the Anniversary Inn and some sparkling cider.  He's not all that big on sparkling cider but we both LOVE the anniversary inn.  One romantic night away can make you feel so relaxed and more connected.  I was ultra stressed out this Month for a lot of reasons.  I just got a new calling as the primary chorister, we've had car problems that we just couldn't get resolved, and of course all the doctor visits with kates broken arm.  We also met our deductible this year so  I was trying to squeeze in every last possible medical issue before the end of the year.  I love Christmas but with all the party's and shopping, and baking I was just really burned out.  It seems like when I'm pulling late nights every night we just don't make time for each other. This get away was really needed.  I felt so relaxed.  We stayed in the secret garden room and I felt totally transported back into time.  I felt like I was in an Anne of Green Gables movie.  We walked around temple square lights.  The Temple is just stunning this time of year.  It always amazes me how the church does such a fantastic job with the lights.  Below is a picture of us together in front of the Joseph Smith memorial building Christmas tree.  It was interesting this year the top half of the tree was gold, and the bottom half was pink.  I told Dan it looked like they started from the top and then ran out of ornaments so then they just had pink ones for the bottom.  I would love to make this a new Christmas tradition for us.  It was probably the best Christmas gift ever, just having time together, enjoying each other with out any stressors.   

Pictures with Santa

 

This Year we managed to get pictures with Santa Clause again.  My only regret was that  I didn't get one with all the kids together.  There was a pretty long line, so I hated to take up to much time, plus I have to really threaten Kirk about taking pictures now days.  He just doesn't like getting them taken.  I tell him taking a picture with Santa is kinda a prerequisite to getting presents.  I am starting to wonder however, when kids get to old to see Santa Clause?  At what point do I let Kirk off the hook in taking pictures with Santa...... mission age?  Jence on the other hand was in seventh heaven.  He absolutely loves and adores Santa Clause (as you can tell from his picture).  I was really proud of Ben for taking a picture with Santa this year.  Most years  I have to literally photo-shop him into the picture because he won't see Santa Clause.  Ben has always thought that Santa was creepy.  Maybe this one at the Symphony was a little classier than the Walmart one we went to when he was 3.  We had the opportunity to go to the Symphony with Santa Clause.  It was a Symphony performance designed for kids.  They played a lot of really up beat holiday music and at the end Santa Clause came out for an appearance and even conducted the last song.  I think This particular Santa had a pretty good background in conducting music.  He did a great job.  The Symphony was amazing.  I loved every second.  I told Dan that I think in Heaven there will be live symphony music on 24/7.  It makes me hope and dream that Kirk will continue with his talent of the cello.  I would love to see him perform in an orchestra some day. 

 

Jence and Ben playing B-Ball

We have been busy with basketball the last few weeks.  Yes Jence who isn't even potty trained yet had his first basketball camp.  I thought it would be a complete waste of money, but Jence jumped right in and played. He was dribbling, and shooting and running.  He loved every second of it you can tell by the size of his smile.  Most important he got a sucker after the clinic.  Ben also joined up on his first "real" basketball team.  He did awesome.  He scored at least 2-4 basket's each game.  He and his cousin Max were on the same team and between the two of them they won the games for the entire team.  Ben is a hustler and isn't afraid to get in and steal the ball.  Dan coached and it required a lot of patience.  He did awesome thought and Ben just loved it. 

 

Christmas Eve 2014 was really fun.  We started the day off by the kids going over to my Mom and Dad's house to make cookies for Santa and watch a Christmas movie.  It was nice because I had a few extra errands to run and a couple of last minute things to finish up.  I was so appreciative of my parents for taking the kids for us.  Then we headed up to Grandma and Grandpa Mower's house for Christmas eve dinner.  It was so delicious she made a prime rib dinner and it was really good.  We acted out the nativity scene and Kate sang Silent Night.  Then the kids got their matching pajama's from their Grandma and Grandpa Mower.  Our tradition that the kids do is that they also get to open their stockings on Christmas Eve.  This is a tradition that was started with the Black side of the Family.   I can remember waiting so anxiously all night for my Mom and Aunt to pass out the stockings.  Inside was always a little white box of hand made candies and chocolates that My Grandma Black made herself.  It was so special to have my own little box of candy just for me.  I am not as good about making candy, but the kids got a candy cane, legos, pokemon cards, (boys) Barbie clothes (Kate), and a tooth brush and orange sticks.  We tracked Santa on the Santa tracker and discovered he was in New York City so we got out the milk and cookies and sent the kids off to bed.  There was absolutely no snow at all when the kids went to sleep, and when they woke up it was a complete winter wonderland.  What a wonderful white Christmas!  

 

Pumpkin Carving is always one of those things that your glad you did it when it's done, but the prcess is really messy.  Some how me and Dan end up cleaning out all the pumpkin seeds because the kdis think it's gross.  This year Kate decided to paint her pumpkin instead.  She is so artistic that it seemed perfectly suited to her.  Kirk did a diary of a wimpy kid, and Ben just wanted as scary face.  Jence picked out a tiny pumpkin so his carved up pretty easy.  Note to self next year pick out the smaller pumpkins they are way less messy to carve!

We also went to Black Island Farms this year with some good friends the Lowes and the Johnson's. 

 

Black Island Farms is a corn maze, pumpkin patch, and playground with slides, and bounce houses.  The kids a an absolute blast.  It was fun to go as a family.  It had been years since we have been and in the past we would just go in the day time with a preschool group.  Going at night with the whole family and friends was super fun. 

Haloween

Halloween this year was really fun.  The kids got so much candy that there is candy everywhere in their rooms.  Wrappers turn up all over the house.  The other morning

 I even spotted Kirk eating a bowl of cereal for breakfast in between bites of cereal he was eating a full sized Twix bar.  I am so tired of candy I feel like gathering it up and disposing of it.  I think I'll give the kids a few more days to work on it, and then what ever is left over in their rooms will "disappear".  But really the kids had a great time.  Kate was a sound of music girl.  She wore a costume her Grandma brought back from Poland.  As you can tell from the pictures it's pretty authentic and really nice.  Kirk was a minion.  Jence was really two costumes I bought him the minion jacket from Sam's club.  The jackets were the best find.  Just zip it up and go.  It;s also nice that kirk can wear it as a nice jacket during the year.  On Halloween day however Jence decided to be a ninja turtle from our dress up bin.  The turtle costume turned out cute, but I still love the minion jacket.  Ben was Harry Potter.  I can't believe what a cute harry potter he made.  he looks so adorable in glasses.    

Kate climbing tree's, Jence playing in leaves

 These pictures were taken while we were up at Bear Lake.  Jence just had a ball playing in the leaves.  Yes Kate is climbing the tree with her cast on.  Believe it or not she didn't get hurt at all climbing trees, but ends up breaking her other arm just a week later from walking down our driveway!  Granted our driveway is a little steep, but seriously two broken bones in just one month.  People are going to start assuming that we are abusive or neglectful parents.  It's sad because Kate is our most cautious child, and she has unfortunately has had more than her share of accidents.  I'll get into more detail about her second brake in another post.  For now enjoy her sweet smiles in these two pictures.  She's had a tough weekend but she's going to be okay.

Bear Lake in the fall

We went to Bear lake over UEA.  It was so much fun to have a couple of days off.  It's nice to be away and really enjoy being together with no distractions.  The Fall colors were on full display and looked stunning.  Really this is my very favorite time of year.  The gorgeous golds, reds, oranges, and browns.  The kids had fun running around on the property.  They played basketball, rolled int eh leaves, climbed trees, and rode bikes.  We also made a trip to the ice caves in Paris Idaho.  It isn't a very far drive and we enjoyed the gorgeous scenery.  The cave was pretty cool.  Dan had always wanted to go and see inside it.  Unfortunately Dan hid his head pretty hard on part of the low ceiling inside of the cave.  That put a damper in our fun for sure.  His head felt a lot better once he had a shower, and some Advil.

 

Jence is a big three year old!

Jence turned three on October 11th.  Jence absolutely loves Curious George.  He loves to watch it everyday.  I decided to do a George cake theme this year.  I always let the kids go onto the computer and pick out the type or style of cake they want.  Usually the kids love doing this and get very excited about their brithdays.  This year Jence was very adamant about having balloons on his cake.  We went to the party store and walked around for half an hour until we came a crossed them.  The happy birthday banner on top was my idea.  I have decided that's the way to go.  I just got sticker's and it was way easier than spelling it out in frosting.  I think it turned out really adorable. He loved his cake.  Besides having some oven issues, and the cake sinking a little in the middle I think it turned out really great.  For Jences birthday this year he got a fisher price airplane, some cars and an imaginex fire station and police station.  He loves anything that has to do with cars, planes, and trains.  Jence is such a sweet cute little guy.  He is always saying the funniest things.  We love you so much Jence!  The past three years have flown by.  October has such great memories of having Jence in the fall.  I can remember putting this little sweet bundle in Halloween PJ's.  Now he's a little boy full of personality and spunk!