Christmas 2009

Christmas this year has been so much fun. The kids have been bouncing off of the walls. They've been so excited for Santa to come on Christmas eve. Christmas eve began with making cookies for Santa. We set out the plate of cookies before we took off to Grandma Mower's home. At grandmas house we had a delicious prime rib dinner, and then acted out the nativity scene. We exchanged gifts, and then the grand kids all opened up their matching p.js. Christmas morning the kids were so excited to see all the toys Santa brought them. Kate got some princess Polly pockets, and a castle for them to play in. She also got a bed for her American girl doll. Kirk mostly got Star Wars toys. He also got a batman car. Benjamin got a baby toy that spins and plays songs, though he mainly enjoyed playing with the wrapping paper. The kids also all got Disney stuffed animals in their stockings. We announced to them that we will be taking them to Disneyland in February. The kids have been so excited for the trip. It will be nice to have something to look forward to as the long winter wears on. We opened presents, and them my parents stopped by to visit, and see the kids toys. We all ate our traditional quiche breakfast with poppy seed muffins, and orange juice. Then the kids played all day with their toys. Later in the afternoon we went to my grandma Woolsey's house. We saw many of my cousins, and aunts and uncles. Over the weekend we took the kids to the movie, and enjoyed carefree days of staying in their p.j.s and playing with their toys all day. It's back to reality now, and routine. We've enjoyed the holidays, but it's nice to have everything back to normal again. I just took down the Christmas decorations. It's been nice to return to normal routine.

My sister's get away

At the beginning of December me and my sister Kristen who lives in Colorado flew out to visit my sister Karyn who lives in Hawaii. It was a total relaxation vacation. We shopped for jade jewelry in the open air markets, went to a chic flick film, and had a few relaxing days at the beach. It was nice to enjoy a few days without any worries, responsibilities, or cares. We had such a great time. It was really nice to have some girl bonding time. I love my sisters so much. They are my very best friends. Here are a few pictures of our trip.

What a fun filled Thanksgiving weekend!

We just had such a fun weekend. We had Thanksgiving at my Parents house this year. My sister from Colorado came in to visit, and it was so much fun for my kids to be able to play with their cousins. They really love seeing their cousins from out of state. Dinner was awesome. My Mom is a great cook, and the turkey was so moist and Delicious. We also had my favorite sweet potatoes. They are so terribly unhealthy that I'll only eat them once a year on thanksgiving, but they totally melt in your mouth, they are a dream. I found myself salivating just thinking about it right before we ate. I had gone for a 4 mile run in the mountains that morning so I was starving for Thanksgiving dinner.

After dinner we all stayed and visited for awhile. We always love to just stay up and talk for hours with my family. Then of course we had to get out the ads. I'm a black Friday shop-aholic.

I love getting the deals. We needed a new camcorder. Our old one had broke, and poor little Benjamin hasn't had any baby video taken of himself since his birth. I had done my homework, and knew which one I wanted. It was on sale at Best Buy for 69$ off. They open at 5:00am. I decided that I wasn't going to stand in the cold for hours, so I got to the store five minutes before they opened. There was a line that stretched around the entire building. I was doubtful that I'd end up getting one. They usually don't carry very many of the door busters, but I decided to still stay and see. I actually got the last one on the shelf. I was totally excited! Then I went to Joann's for a new Christmas tree, and then target for some toys. At target I wanted to get a remote control car for Kirk, but they had been long gone for quite awhile. As I was walking out of the store I spotted one randomly sitting to the side, like someone had changed their mind and just set it down. I snatched it up, and bought it. I was really excited about that. It's such fun when you get a good deal like that!

Then Friday we went to SLC to see the christmas lights with my sister and her family. We decided to ride trax down. Our kids have never been on trax before, and they we really excited to try it out. It worked out really well, we were able to sit and visit on the way down, and the kids got to spend some extra time with their cousins as well. We really enjoyed seeing the lights, and the afterwards got some dinner. It was a really fun day!

Then Saturday I took Kate to see Ballet West Nutcracker. We went with all of the girls. My sister in law Shauntel and her daughter Alexandra, and my sister Kristen and her daughter Caroline. Kate loved it! All of the girls were able to pick out an ornament. Kate picked a ballerina one. She has named her Clara. (By the way if anybody knows of a good ceramic glue clara's arm as broken off, and needs reaparing).

Then that night we went to Dan's parents to decorate gingerbread houses. That is a family tradition that we do every year. It's been alot of fun.

So as you can see our weekend was chuck full of fabulous memories. It's time to get back to reality now, I've got some laundry to catch up on!

What we are thankful for

Tonight for family night we talked about what we are thankful for. It's amazing to think of all of the bounteous blessings the Lord has bestowed us. I'm so greatful to have been born into the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This gospel has brought so much peace, and joy into my life. I'm so blessed to live in this country, with so many freedoms. I'm so blessed to be able to have three healthy beautiful children. I am so grateful to be married to Dan. He is such a good person who truly motivates me to be better each day. I'm so grateful to be able to stay home with our children and be there for them every second of every day. I also am grateful for Dan's job. In the economic times that we live in I'm so grateful that the company Dan works for is still pressing forward, and doing well. These are a few of my thoughts, here's what the children said:

Kate:"I'm grateful for the whole world. I'm grateful for flowers, butterflies, and rainbows. I'm grateful for my family, cousins, friends, toys, and Christmas."

Kirk:"I'm thankful for the Pilgrims and Indians. I'm thankful for my knights, Grandma and Grandpa, Dinosaurs, show and tell pass".

I'm no sure what a show and tell pass is but I think they do it at his preschool.

Dan reported that he was thankful for his family, Christ's atonement, the gospel, sports, and food.

If Benjamin could talk I'm sure that he'd say that he's grateful for his binkie, his bottle, and of course a mom who wakes up at 1:00 am to feed him every night.

This time of year I hope we can all thank God for our many bounteous blessings which have come from his hand. May we all have a wonderful thanksgiving with our friends and family.

Preschool Adventures

The kids have loved going to their preschools this year. Kate and Kirk attend two different ones, the same days of the week, and at the same time. This makes it easy for me to get my errands done while they are there. This week Kate and Kirk both had some fun experiences at preschool. On Wednesday Kirk's preschool went to the tree house museum. We were lucky to make it there on time. Benjamin's diaper leaked all over my jeans just as we were about ready to leave from the preschool teachers home. I had to rush home and change my pants, and Benjamin's diaper. Despite the crazy start it turned out to be a lot of fun. It was good to have this Field trip to force me to take the kids out. I tend to just like to stay home since having three small kids in tow is abit of a workout.Then today Kate had her Thanksgiving party at her school. All of the kids were asked to dress up like a Indian or a pilgrim. This morning I woke up and decided to get on line to figure out an idea for a costume. I decided to make an old stained white table cloth into a little apron for her. My mom had a cute white pioneer bonnet which was perfect. It turned out adorable. I made the apron big so that she could wear it into elementary school if she needed to. She wore jeans and a black sweater underneath it. I was a little disappointed when I dropped her off. She was the only kid in her class that dressed up like a pilgrim. There were a few boys with paper feather headbands, but none of the girls were wearing costumes. Kate said that everyone liked her costume, but I think it would have been more fun if she wouldn't have been the only one. I am so excited for thanksgiving this year. I love this time of year it's so festive. Here are also some cute pictures of Benjamin, you gotta love naked baby in the tub pictures! I bought Kirk some new boots at Sam's club yesterday. I've never seen a kids get so excited over new boots before. He said "I just can't wait to show my teacher my new boots". He put his hand inside them to feel the soft fur lining. "He said theses are so soft"! After trying them on the said "Mommy these are the nicest boots I've ever seen"!

Some of the cutest pictures of Benjamin

I have been trying to keep my blog updated, but time just keeps slipping by. We are approaching mid November now, and it feels like we just barely moved in. Today while I was feeding Benjamin a bottle, I was thinking about how quickly he's grown. He's starting to get into that ready to crawl any day now position. It would be amazing if he crawled this soon since our other two didn't start until they were almost one. I can't believe that the first birthday for our little guy is creeping up just around the corner. He's seven months old now so that makes him more than half way to one years old. It's funny how with my first baby I was always looking forward to the next stage. I couldn't wait for her to sit up, crawl, and eventually walk. I was ecstatic when she started talking, and learning new words. With Benjamin I've been totally the opposite. I'm dreading the next stage. I don't want him to grow up. It seems like he's growing way to fast. I'd be perfectly content for him to stay seven months for about three more months. I need to just relish every second with him. It's funny how time just seems to speed up as you have more children. I've decided that it's because I've needed to divide my time between three kids instead of putting all of my focus and attention on one. If any Mother has discovered the trick of how to have more time during the day please let me know. Until then I'll just have to try to enjoy Benjamin in every brief moment of everyday. Thank goodness for pictures. I feel like through pictures I can keep a part of my babies with me always, even after their all grown up!

Halloween Night!

Kate was Barbie as a Musketeer. It's the latest Barbie movie.

Kirk was the Star Wars bounty hunter Boba Fett
As Kirk described himself "Mommy I'm a bad guy, but Kates a good guy."

Benjamin as the ever cute and cuddly cowardly Lion!

The kids have been counting down the days till Halloween. They were so excited to go out trick or treating. Kate really got into and was running from house to house. The rest of us had a hard time keeping up with her go getter trick or treat ambition. We made the mistake of going down the big hill in the neighborhood. That meant we had to hike up it when the kids were all tired out. I think next year we'll go up the hill first and save the down hill for the end when they're running out of gas. All in all the kids got plenty of candy. I think the kids might need some help with getting all their candy eaten, I"ll gladly oblige! After trick or treating it was time to make visits. We went to Dan's parents house first. It was right on our trick or treating route this year. Dan's parents home sit directly behind our home. After some snacking, and visiting we headed to my parents home. I made a pumpkin cake for dessert. It all turned out to be a lot of fun.