Tis the Season!

This time of year is always busy and crazy and fun, and leaves little time for blogging. With all of the family parties, school programs, neighborhood activities, and getting ready for Christmas we have sure enjoyed ourselves!

 Park had his first grade program, and of course he was on the front row and so I could only see him if the red sea parted...but he did a great job! From what I could see.

Between all the family gatherings and craziness we did our best to keep our celebrations Christ-centered. Scott works with a woman who helps to organize a Christmas dinner for the homeless downtown with her church. They have had problems with running out of food before everyone is fed. We thought it a good idea to help out in an interfaith service opportunity. After buying some things from Costco we took the kids to her house and we helped to put together lunch sacks that could be handed out to those who weren't able to get a dinner. It was great to watch even Indie and Milo get involved putting granola bars, nuts, fruit, and even candy canes in brown paper bags. They really enjoyed themselves.

We had a Family Home Evening of doing the Nativity play with the kids.

Milo was our Nacho Libre shepherd.

Park and Annicka were Joseph and Mary.

And Indie was a naked wise man.

What a cutie!

Christmas Eve we had dinner with our neighbors. These guys are like family to us. We couldn't imagine not doing some celebrating with them!

Amen!

And some pictures from Christmas morning.

Indie was mad about not being able to keep playing the kindle and so he refused to stand long enough to take a picture. This is as good as it gets!

He did calm down once he realized that, yes, he was going to get to open presents.

I love how excited Milo gets over the little things!

Yay for Jake and the Neverland Pirates!

Minecraft Legos?!?! It doesn't get any better than this for Park!

Now that Christmas is over, I've realized how much I've got to get done before this next baby makes her appearance in about 3 weeks! And life keeps moving forward!

Milo's First Snow Experience

A week or so ago we got our first measurable snow and since it was a Saturday morning the kids got to go out and play. I'm pretty sure I kept Milo in last year during most of the snow because he was still so little. Not so this year!

 I don't know how Adam managed it, but he and the kids were able to collect enough snow to make a snowman. There wasn't any snow left in our combined yards, though.

Despite what this picture says, Milo really did enjoy himself until he got too cold. This is mostly me saying, "say cheese!" and Milo responding with, "DON'T!"

Happy Birthday Park!

7 years old! Next year he will be baptized, we can hardly believe it. The week between Park and Annicka's birthdays we went to Jump On It for some trampoline birthday fun. Any excuse for dad to take a day off of work, right? Park got to choose a new bike, as his old one was a hand me down from a neighbor and the wheels wore out and we couldn't find replacement tires for that size. And since Park doesn't love cake we made cake pops instead! We stuck a couple of candles in the bottom and called it good.

 YUM!

Happy Birthday Park! We love you and are so grateful for the happy, silly, sweet personality that you bring to our family.

 

2013 Family Pics

 Here are this year's family pictures, taken while in New Harmony...this is kind of a big deal for me since I hate having my picture taken while pregnant, let alone doing family pictures that are going up on our wall for the next year! Not too shabby! Though our couple picture might not make it to the wall...Scott and I both like the previous one better.

 

 

Happy Birthday, Annicka!

Seriously? 9?!? Where does the time go!

 What a delicious Strawberry Cake it was!

 The kids laughing at a wonderful rendition of "Happy Birthday," by Scott and I.

 Make a wish!

Happy Birthday to the greatest big sister around! We sure love you, girl!

It is finished!

The day before Annicka's Birthday I submitted my portfolio for my last class! Barring failure on any of my submitted assignments, I am a BYU graduate! My diploma should come sometime after Christmas and I'll get the chance to walk in April. I AM DONE!

Halloween

Trick-or-treating at dad's work, plus later that night equals lots of candy! We had loads of fun!

 Superman was so funny about his candy. His bag got so full he could barely carry it, but he wouldn't let us help. If we so much as touched his bag he would yell, "Don't! Mine!" He had a death grip on the handles and ended up dragging it all over the office.

 Miss Scarecrow was a great help opening Superman's bag so he could put more candy in it. She came up with her own costume this year and we had a great time sewing patches all over her clothes and hat.

 The Red Ninja loves trick-or-treating, but not enough to eat his dinner to be able to go out again that night. He and I had a good time handing out candy by our fire-pit out front.

 And anytime this guy was asked what he was dressed as he responded with, "My name is Pirate!" I think he probably ate 20 pieces of candy after he got home Halloween night.

Here come the Holidays! First up, Milo's Birthday!

Can you believe it? Milo is 2! As per the norm, we kept it low key and just had a little celebration at home. Cookies and cream cup cakes, and Cars cars for a present. I love the simplicity! What more could a 2-year-old need?

New Harmony

For "fall break" we decided to take a little vacation down in southern Utah. We found a vacation rental property in New Harmony which is about half way between Cedar City and St. George. We went with our neighbors, the Michaelson's. This place was perfect! It was on a 50 acre ranch that had animals galore, a party barn that had a theater, pool table, foosball table, and ping pong table as well as stuff for horse shoes, Frisbee golf, tree houses, and plenty of room for the kids to explore. Did I mention the Jacuzzi? We had such a great and relaxing time! In fact we were enjoying ourselves so much that we didn't really get that many pictures in. We did manage to get family pictures taken, so those will be coming soon, as soon as I get them from Summer.

 This was the view from the house. Those are the five fingers in Zion National Park. Incredible.

 Oh, and the fishing pond! We didn't catch anything, mostly because Scott wasn't patient enough and this kids were done after about 20 minutes. But fishing! Fun!

 This is Milo and Leah "feeding" the ducks and fish with grass and duck poop. It was great.

 At the park during the "Apple Fest" that they had on Saturday while we were there. Mostly booths and a playground, but we did get some delicious fresh squeezed apple juice to have for breakfast in the morning.

 The party barn opened on both sides to animal pens. And one of the pens had DEER! How crazy it that! Indie ate it up.

 Chillin' in the hot tub.

 All four of our girls in the bath together! I remember doing things like this with my friends when I was young. So much fun!

 Feeding the ducks our leftover bread at the end of our stay...Milo and Indie mostly ate it themselves.

 And playing in the leaves at the church that was nearby. I love fall!