Lexie's 3rd birthday

Lexie informed me about four months ago that she wanted a princess birthday party and who she wanted to invite. She told me that she wanted a pinata and crowns, she had it all planned out for me. I usually don't do birthday parties at this young of an age, but how can you resist that.

Her birthday happened to be on a Saturday, so I thought I would do it on her actual birthday. Nate fixed her the breakfast of her choice then we opened the presents from family. As you can tell in the pictures she got A LOT of princess stuff, that is all she wanted. Then we got ready for her friends to come over.

We had a pretty good turn out for the party. Luckily Chan and Spence stayed, so that Jacob would not be on his own with a bunch of girls. I tried to have things for both princesses and princes. We started out with having them color and decorate a crown. Then we played a Snow White game. I hid about five apples, one of which was suppose to be poison. The kids were suppose to find the poison apple before Snow White (Lexie) could. They were able to do it pretty quick.

Then we had them search for the puzzle pieces to a Sleeping beauty puzzle, and put it together. It was on to the pinata, it was a pull kind..so no bat swinging. I think all the kids got to pull about three strings before it broke. The kids had fun grabbing all the candy and prizes.

We headed upstairs to do presents, she got tons more Princess stuff. I did not get too creative this year with her cake. I bought a princess cupcake stand and then made pink cupcakes with pink frosting. While we waited for the mommies and daddies they colored a princess picture. We had a little drama when they were playing with Lex's dolls, but what is a party without some drama, right? I hope that everyone had a fun time. Parties are fun to plan, but they tend to wear me out.

Grandma and Grandpa's visit

The week between Christmas and New Year's Nate's parents came to visit for a few days. They flew out for Camilla's baptism, so they spent 1 1/2 days with us and 1 1/2 days with Ryan and Anne. Me and the kiddos picked them up at the airport Monday evening and then we meet everyone for dinner at a local mall's food court.

Then we drove to see the lights at the temple. It was more like a mad dash to get inside the visitor's center, the wind was blowing so hard it blew right through you. The nativities from around the world were amazing. They are always fun to look at and see the different ones. They were having a youth symphony play that night that were absolutely amazing. Everyone was in awe at the youngest ones that played so well.

On Tuesday we went to a museum, the kids were having a fun time dressing up in the uniform. Then we stopped to get Chick-fi-la before we drove through the winter lights in Gaithersburg. On Wednesday we went and picked up Emmett and Gabbie and drove to the Air and Space museum to see the planes. I really tried hard to get Bob and Julie in pictures, but they did a good job avoiding me:) Later then night we went to Camilla's baptism, everyone that spoke did a great job. We had fun with the few days that we spent with them, the kids were really sad to see them go.

Christmas 2010

Christmas came early at our house this year. Chandler was so excited to open presents that he woke up at 3:30 to see if it was time yet. I put him back in bed ant told him he could come back in around 6:30. Well needless to say that he came in about a half hour later asking if it was 6:30 yet. I put him back in bed once again and told him three more hours, we will come and get you when it is time to go downstairs.
I think it was around 7 when they kids came in and we got up to go downstairs. The kids were so excited to hand each other a gift when it was their turn. We left all the presents under the tree this year and went around and took turns opening up presents. Wesley had so much more fun playing with everyone else's toys than his. After awhile he did decide to play with his owns. We got some wonderful gifts this year.
After we opened all the presents the kiddos played while I cleaned up the wrapping paper and Nate took a nap. I think next year I will decide to either sleep in or take a nap and let Nate do all the present opening and clean-up (if you remember last year Nate never came downstairs to open presents, he missed it all, then this year I cleaned up while he slept). Just kidding, I could never sleep through present opening. Great memories:)
After a yummy breakfast we took all the toys downstairs and then got dinner ready. Ryan,Anne, her dad Mike, and their kiddos came for dinner. It was fun to have a house full of laughter and good food. The adults played Ticket to Ride, while the kids watched Snowball Express, it was fun. So all in all I think everyone had a good Christmas and can't wait to do it again next year. The first picture Spencer took of our table before breakfast:)

Christmas Eve 2010

We had a great Christmas season this year. The beginning of the week was filled with sickness, but luckily it passed for the most part before Christmas eve came. Nate had the day off, so it was filled with cleaning, wrapping presents and of course making a yummy dinner. We had a delicious ham dinner with all the trimmings. Then after we watched Mr. Kruegers Christmas, had hot chocolate, had cookies, read the Christmas story out of the scriptures, opened one present,read Twas the night before Christmas, and then put out cookies and milk for Santa.

For the last four or so years we have had this tradition of staying home just our family and doing the above, the meal sometimes changes..the rest stays the same. The only thing I would do different is the cookies, we usually do cut out cookies.

Since the flu had hit out house, we settled for m&m cookies that were easier. They did not turn out very well at all, I used shortening instead of margarine and I did not think they were very good. So I apologize to those that got these cookies, I would not feel bad if you did not like them. It was really fun leading up to Christmas we had about 7 different countdowns going on. We had 4 advent calendars, which Wesley did not really participate..so we did not need that many. We had a sucker tree, lifesaver tree, candy cane calendar, and a chocolate one. Each year it gets more fun, because the kids get older and really get into the spirit of Christmas. I was really impressed with the fact that three of our kids knew the real reason we celebrated Christmas. It helped that we talked about it a lot at the dinner table. So after all these fun festivities the kiddos went to bed, so that Santa could get to work.

Catch up

I have not been very good at updating our blog as of late. It seems that every time I sit down to do it, other things come up. The last few months have been filled with birthdays, check-ups, stitches, 1st time walking, and other fun filled adventures.

Nate celebrated his 33rd birthday the end of September. I surprised him by getting a $25 restaurant gift card for $2, so we got to eat out at a nice restaurant..just he and I. To some that may not seem such a big deal..but it was, we never go out.

Wesley started walking the middle of October, now he just runs everywhere and does not stay still..we have nicknamed him our little tornado. Of course there was Halloween the end of October. The boys each had their parades and parties at school. Then we had a neighborhood party with the kids in our neighborhood. Then we went to Nate's work to trick or treat and then eat yummy pizza.

In the middle of November I celebrated my 32nd birthday. Nate surprised me with an IPhone, so now I am almost up to date with others..I still do not text at all. I took Wesley in for his 15 month check-up right before Thanksgiving. He came in at a whopping 26 pounds. The paper got lost between the doctor and home, so I don't remember his length..he is a tall kid.
Then came Thanksgiving. We watched the parade, which is a must around out house. It is the only parade that Nate will actually watch and not complain about it.Then Nate cut Spence, Lex, and Wesley's hair. Wesley's nice curls are gone(insert a little tear, they were so cute). We went to Ryan and Anne's for a yummy dinner. Anne's brother and family were in town along with one of his friends that lives in the area. It was a day filled with yummy food and great company.

So far this month we have gone to cut down our Christmas tree, go to our Ward's Christmas party, and take Chandler to the E.R. to get stitches on his foot. We left out a garbage bag and he stepped on it, we are thinking that it was either the broken glass or the broken metal cookie cutter that did it. Nate at first did not believe me that he needed stitches, but he did end up needing them. The two lessons are remember that you put a broken glass and cookie cutter in the sack and two always believe Jill when she says our kids need to go to the E.R.:) So needless to say Nate went out and bought a garbage can, it has only been 1 1/2 years of taking it to the curb in bags.

I just love this time of year. Between Thanksgiving and Christmas I really start to think about what is important. I have had to step back from all the gift buying and frenzy of Christmas and really think about what it is all about. I need to remind myself that it does not matter how much my kids get in toys, but why we celebrate CHRISTmas. Hopefully I can be better about posting on here closer to the events that happen, since some of the magic wears off after too long. Here are a few pics to show what we have been up to.

Rockwood, PA

It has been a little while since I have last posted. We have had lots going on the last month and a half. I will post more pics..when I can get the camera to corporate and download. Anyway, I downloaded a fun vacation to PA about a month ago and never got around to posting them.

The second week in September we rented a cabin in Rockwood PA. It still amazes me that we live soooo close to such great vacation spots. We planned this vacation months and months ago, and so when it finally came time everyone was ready for it. We got up there late on Thursday night in the pouring rain. As a side note Nate wanted to rent a cabin that was off the beaten path..and we found one. We just kept getting further and further off a paved road..so it was a real cabin in the woods. I am really glad that we did not get stuck in a crevasse in the road. The kiddos were so excited to be out of the car, that they were very much wired..hence the picture of them jumping on the bed.

On Friday we got up and had a lazy morning, Nate was not feeling that well. So the kids and I went for a walk outside and built towers with the Jenga blocks. Then we headed to Ohiopyle State Park for a picnic and hikes. We went and saw a waterfall, very pretty. Then we drove a short distance to a natural water slide. You can actually slide down it, when the water is down a little bit. Then we drove around the area a little bit to see what was around.

On Saturday we went to the Caddie Shak. They had mini golf, boat squirters, three different race tracks, airplane ride, spinner, and a few small rides for kids. The place was pretty empty, so we did not wait in lines for the rides. Later after dinner we roasted marshmallows and told ghost stories. The stories the kids told were really fun to listen to. On Sunday we packed up and came home. It was a nice relaxing few days of vacation. We have decided that we are going to make it a yearly tradition to go up to the area.


*the posts to come, Nate's b-day, Wesley 14 months, halloween parties, and more random stuff.

1ST Day of school

Here is Chandler his first of school. He insisted on holding Wesley to get a picture. I read the bus stop paper wrong, so needless to say we waited at the wrong one for a little while. We finally figured it out and got to the right one. The bus got there after school was already suppose to be starting, so the kids were about ten minutes late. School has been back for a few weeks and it is always a guessing game as to when the bus will get there. He is really enjoying it so far, I am glad that he loves school so much.





Here is Spencer on his first day of Pre-K. He was so funny that morning he got up and asked if he was finally going to take his lunch to school. Luckily that happened to be the day he stays later to eat lunch at school. Which he ended up not eating anyway. I think he had his Buzz lunch bag ready a week before school started, funny kiddo. He was a little less excited to be going to actual school, though. He really wanted me to take a picture of him in front our fall decorations.
Our family is going to be welcoming fall with a huge hurray!!! Our summer has been soooooo hot and humid. Since the middle of May it has been either hot and really humid, or really hot and dry. We usually get some cooler days with lots of rain, but the grass around here was dying...which you never see in the east. People don't have sprinkling systems, because it rains plenty. I think that we had the hottest summer in a verrrry long time.