some needed R and R

This past weekend the kids and I went up to Park City with my mom.  It was a nice, needed break.  My car has been broken for the past month, so I was feeling very stir-crazy.

We went swimming a couple of times, saw The Lorax, and played in the snow.

 The snowplow at my parents condo built us a nice hill for the kids to sled down.  It was over 6 feet.

 Keagan wasn't feeling too great, and didn't last long the first day playing, but did better the 2nd day.

 This is what I got when I told Keagan to smile.

 Making snow angels

 Keagan didn't have any snow pants this year, although there hasn't been much snow, so it hasn't mattered much.  We went and got some and got a size big to last for next year.  She loved them.

 Yes, I was there!

 Mmmm, snow.

 Starting to make a snowman

 Our finished snowman.  We made him right by a turn in the cross-country ski track, so the skiers could enjoy him.

It was so pretty up there with all the snow, and much needed relaxation.

dinosaur museum and Bean museum

Keagan's preschool had a field trip in January to the BYU dinosaur museum and the Bean museum.  Easton got to tag along with us.

 Easton, Keagan, Brecken

 Keagan

 Easton

 part of the group

 at the Bean museum--the reptile show

 the kids got to pet a real snake at the end.  both kids did it and were so proud of themselves.

a few minutes....

Easton has been "sick" this whole week, so no school.  He woke up Sunday morning with an ugly rash on his forehead and after me giving him children's benadryl with no help, we trotted off to the pediatrician Monday.  They tested him for strep (sometimes strep can come in a rash...who knew?), negative (yay and huge sigh of relief), and came to the conclusion that he has a bacterial rash that is contagious.  So, off to the pharmacy to get antibiotics and to set up the house to be quarantined.  I am hoping that he can go back to school tomorrow.  The rash is looking better and he has too much energy to be pent up in the house for 4 days straight.

The kids are watching Labyrinth right now and I think that is the only time it has been quiet in my house for several minutes at a time.  Sigh.

randomness

Keagan told me the other day, "Sometimes I have bad dreams about someone stealing my ice cream."

Easton has his 1st loose tooth!  He was complaining about something being in between his bottom teeth.  As we were brushing his teeth I asked him which tooth it was that something was stuck.  He showed me and there was nothing there, so I wiggled it, and sure enough, it is loose.  I was so excited!  He seemed a bit nervous along with excited, but has since become very excited and tries to wiggle it all the time.  I think it still has some time before it is loose enough to come out, but still, a momentous occasion.

I have the January/February blues.  These months seem so long.  This year seems worse than last year--even though the weather is warmer.  Maybe because my kids are older and want to be out and playing more.  I usually love the winter and the snow, but with no snow, winter is gray and yucky.  I am looking forward to warmer weather and park days.

Easton is getting better and better at sounding out words with reading.  It is so exciting seeing him figure it out.  He brings home a little book every day from school and that is his homework.  We read it three times and then I sign it off and send it back for a new one.  At the beginning of the year the first book had 2 words in it, "see" and "Sam."  Now, he is reading books with an actual story line.  It makes a momma proud.

happy birthday, parker!

happy birthday, old man!  we love you and your weird, blue snuggy ways.

Christmas

So, as I was looking through my Christmas pictures, I realized I don't have that many....but I do have a lot of  video, which is fun.  I usually save those for our family use other than put them on the blog.

Christmas Eve, we went to my parents house for my dad's Christmas Eve buffet.  Yummy.  The kids got to open up a few presents from Grandma and Buddy and Aunt Ashley.  

Then we went home to open new jammies and put out cookies for Santa.  Parker had to wrap my jammies real fast, so the kids and I did reindeer dust outside.  I am not quite sure what happened, if she was 'pushed' or just fell, but as I was grabbing my camera inside Keagan started screaming and bawling.  I run outside and her mouth is bleeding. She bit her lip when she fell and was quite traumatized.  It stopped bleeding pretty quickly, but swelled up HUGE.  We put a baggie of ice on it to diminish the swelling, but it was still so swollen.  I felt so bad.  She cried during our whole Christmas Eve routine.  And when I was putting her to bed she was so upset and kept saying in-between tears, "I don't want to go to bed with this big fing."  (the lip)  But, she was so tired, she fell asleep as I was stroking her hair.  Poor girl.

Reading "The Night Before Christmas" on Christmas Eve in our new jammies.

 Christmas morning....see Keagan's lip--still swollen

 This was all she asked Santa for--butterfly dress-up wings.  She was SO excited.

 All Parker asked Santa for was a Forever Lazy.  I didn't know if he was kidding when he asked for it, but Santa got it, just in case.  :)

 He looks happy.

 showing off the bathroom flap....

Easton asked Santa for a light saber that lights up--he got the red one he is holding.  He was so excited.

Merry Christmas!

Easton's Christmas program

Right before school let out for Christmas break, the Kindergarten classes had a Christmas program.  It was so cute and Easton was so excited.  He would sing snippets of his songs while walking home from school, so I knew a few of the ones they were singing.  I went like 15 minutes early to get a good seat, but the auditorium was already packed, so my seat wasn't too good.  

Easton got to wear the reindeer antlers.

 After the program, getting hugs from Mom and Dad.

gingerbread houses...complete with captions

"Love you, Mom."

 "Love you, times two, Mom."

 "What?  I can't have any more candy??"

 "I am cute, so I think I will take more in hopes you won't get mad...."

 "Mmmm, frosting."

 "Why can't I hold the frosting?"

 "Whoa!  Look what Dad is doing for the windows!"

 "MMM.  Looks good."

 "Wait!  Mom, take a picture of me!"

 "Our house is AWESOME!"

 "I totally want to eat it!"

 "It was good!"

the end.