Merry Christmas!

Photo by Aynn Thurman

gingerbread house, year two

So, apparently I have been spoiled all growing up with making gingerbread houses--real gingerbread houses. My aunt, JoDee, would make the gingerbread and we would gather at Grandma and Grandpa's house, or later the aunt's houses and make gingerbread house with the real gingerbread and real icing. Last year was the first year our little family did graham cracker houses--which is what most people do. :)

We did it again a couple of weeks ago. The kids loved it and were so excited to decorate the house.

I thought last years was ghetto--this years was much more ghetto. I think Parker lost his architectural artistic ability--or he was too tired to care.

I heart you too, Easton.
"Keagan--look at me and make a pretty face."
So, she did and sang as she did. (probably the Ariel song)

Watch out--if you don't pay attention, Keagan will try to sneak the frosting off the spatula.

crazy eyes

The finished product. It was so hard to get the kids to look at me and stand still, so this is the best picture I got.

O Christmas Tree....

We decorated our tree the day after Thanksgiving and this, oddly enough, is the first year we have had a proper star for the top. Easton got the honor of putting it on, with Daddy's help. The kids loved helping put the ornaments on and I noticed that the "ring of ornaments" (where the kids can reach to put them on the tree) is a little higher this year. On a non-Christmas note: today I cleaned out the toy boxes while Easton was at school. I dropped Keagan off at my mom's in hopes of avoiding the tears that come along with DIing old toys and trashing broken ones.

I picked Easton up and had a load of stuff in the trunk to drop off at the DI. I got out and got the stuff to the DI shelves and one of the helpers took a toy and put it on the shelf near Easton's window--not on the shelf behind the car like the other helper was doing. I got back in the car and Easton's chin is quivering and he says, "Mom, why did that man take my toy?" ("Crap." I think) "Um, it was broken..." (which it wasn't) "But, Mom, that was my favorite toy." (He hasn't played with it in months...) Joy.

ARGGHH!

Good thing little sister has a lot of PIRATE jewelry.

Park City

We went up to Park City right before the huge "blizzard." There was already quite a bit of snow up there and the kids had so much fun playing in it. Keagan didn't last as long as Easton and Max, but she still had fun.

Easton and Max
Making a snow angel

Eating the snow

After the kids came in and were hot-chocolated up, we looked out the back door and saw two big moose on the golf course. They were fighting each other with their antlers until the dog next door went out and started barking at them.

long month

We put up the Christmas stuff yesterday and this morning when Keagan woke up she asked, "Did Santa leave presents for me?"

It is going to be a long month if she thinks Santa is coming every night.

what he MEANT to say....

Easton and Keagan were in the kitchen coloring pictures. Easton says to Keagan, "Mom is going to like my picture so much more than yours." I was in the other room, but said, "Easton, that isn't very nice. I am going to like both pictures." He was quiet for a minute and then says, "Oh, I didn't mean to say that."

I think he MEANT to say, "I didn't mean for you to hear that."

a quick trip out west

Right after Parker got home from Florida, I drove out to California with my mom to help take care of these two cuties. They were two weeks old in these pictures. So adorable and cuddly.

Kasen was always pursing his lips, you couldn't help but kiss them.

Remy is about a pound smaller than her brother, but so strong and she is the clock when it comes to eating.
Sweet Remy

My dad hadn't been out to see the babies, so he flew out on Wednesday and I have to say, he is smitten.

Kasen cuddling with Buddy.

Remy

I love this picture--Shelley and Kasen crashed.

Kasen

One night Kasen was being fussy, so I put him in the Moby wrap and he loved it. I walked around with him and he fell right asleep.

Kasen cuddling with his daddy.

Remy

My mom is out there again, I am jealous. :) They are beautiful babies and I can't wait for Easton and Keagan to meet them. Keagan has already named all her baby dolls Remy and Kasen and she will tell me all day, "I am Shelley, Easton is Deven, and this is Remy and this is Kasen. I am the mom." Then she will go and put them down for naps and wrap them in blankets. Honestly, her dolls are about the size of little Remy. So, sweet.

a quick trip back east

Parker's grandma passed away early in October, so he was able to take a quick trip back east for the funeral. It was good for him to go and see his family, without kids or spouses. It was the first time in 15 years that they have been together without kids or spouses.

a drive-by shot of the Orlando temple
his grandma's funeral
His grandpa is a Shriner and in a Jazz band, so some of the band members played at the funeral.

Parker's sister, Abbey, is buried in Orlando, so they got to visit her grave. It is only the second time he has been to the grave site since she passed away eleven years ago.

his sweet grandpa

Thankful...

Today I am thankful for Curious George. He keeps my kids company while I am feeling yucky. Thanks, George. You are the best.

BE WARNED!!

You are about to see the cutest Little Red Riding-hood and the scariest Zombie you have ever seen!!

Hee Haw's part 1

We went to Hee Haw Farms with our friends this past week. It was the first time I have taken the kids there and it was fun, perfect for little kids. We got there right when it opened and so there wasn't a crowd either.

There was a blow up haunted house that Easton loved and wanted to do over and over. It was so funny, he would act brave and then once we were inside, he would clutch my hand so tight and make me walk in front, but he still wanted to do it again after we were done.

We did this big slide a few times. Easton loved it and kept running up the hill and going by himself.

The animal part was fun, unless you are Keagan. She clutched my leg the whole time and anytime an animal came close to her she would whimper. She is not an animal person, unless the animal is far away.

Easton, however, loved the animal part and held a rabbit, fed a goat and a pig and pet any animal that he could.

There was also a trick-or-treat hayride that we did, a pony ride that Easton did, a corn box (sandbox, but with corn kernels), and a corn cannon.

Hee Haw's

riding the little train

just chillin'

the pony ride

The corn cannon, this was by far Easton's favorite part--and the haunted blow-up house.

He shot the corn over and over and over.

Cornbelly's

We went to Cornbelly's with Easton's preschool. It seemed a lot better this year than it did last year, more for the kids to do.

Drew, Ali, Keagan, Easton, Katelyn
Easton, King of the mountain

We found this little maze near the end of the field trip. The kids were so funny and would hold hands going in and come out giggling.

Since Keagan did summer camp at Easton's preschool she loves his teacher, Mrs. Stephanie. She wanted to sit by her on the hayride instead of by Mom.

Katelyn, Macie, Keagan

Keagan wanted to hold Macie's hand so badly and after the hayride she and Macie and Katelyn held hands back to the cars.

the prayer of a four year old....

Tonight Keagan fell down and cut her lip...during prayers tonight Easton said, "Please help Keagan to not be so clumsy and please help me to be funnier so I can make her laugh when she is sad."

Pretty good things to pray about.

Happy Birthday, Keagan!

Dear, sweet Keagan. I can't believe you are three! You are such a joy and so much fun to have in our family.

You are a sweetheart and a pill, and we wouldn't want it any other way.

Home from the hospital, Oct. 2007
Dec. 2007

Feb. 2008

July 2008

1st birthday - Oct. 2008

Jan. 2009

May 2009

Aug. 2009

2nd birthday - Oct. 2009

Nov. 2009

Feb. 2010

May 2010

Sept. 2010

We love you, Keagan! You keep us on our toes and in smiles.