More California

We went to Laguna Beach one day and it was gorgeous weather that day. We walked on the boardwalk and then went to lunch at Tommy Bahama's.

Buddy and Easton
Parker was so bummed that he didn't have his suit so he and the kids could play in the waves.

Parker and Keagan

Oh, California...how we miss you.

At the beginning of this month we were able to drive down to California to visit my sister and her family. It was beautiful weather, unlike the 15 degrees we left waiting for us back home.

In Laguna.

A piano at the park. How cool is that? On the piano is a quote that says, "Without music, life would be a mistake."

Yes, that is the beach right behind the kids.

baby, it's cold outside

After a few beautiful, almost spring days, winter decided to rear it's ugly head.

don't worry, the kids are ready for it.

happy belated birthday to Parker

Parker's birthday was 3 weeks ago....

I was sick with strep.

Easton got sick with strep the next day.

I know Parker was disappointed with the lack of celebrations that week, but still took care of us sickies.

Happy birthday to the best husband and daddy.

We love you.

I will make it up to you for your un-celebratory birthday.

He did get these cool specks on Main in Huntington and he told me they were for his birthday.

Easton calls them his policeman glasses.

and the point is?

I don't know why I bother having Keagan get dressed every morning. She ends up stripping down to her undies to play dress up and is usually that way all day. Less laundry, at least....

family pictures Dec. 2010

We got our pictures back from Aynn and I was so excited! There are so many that I love, but I am picking a few out to put up here. I ordered prints the day I got the cd from her and already have the pictures up on my wall. I love it.

This one I got an 11x14 and I love it.

This was when Parker pulled up. He came a little later than us, after Aynn did the kids shots. As you can see, the kids were excited to see him.

Keagan....

The other night I went out with the kids and my folks to dinner. Keagan was quite sociable and would try to talk to the waitress whenever she came to the table.

At one point she told her, "When you get your clothes on, you can come and play at my house." After the waitress left, confused- I am sure, I said, "Keagan, she has her clothes on." She looked at me like I was an idiot and said, "No, Mom, she has her PIZZA clothes on. She needs her nice clothes on." Ahh, makes sense now.

a few of my favorite....

Here are a few of my favorite Christmas pictures....

We went up to Logan and had a family dinner with my extended family (100+ people). My mom planned a little nativity for her grandkids and any of my cousin's kids that wanted to help. Keagan was Mary and Easton was Joseph.

"Mary" is mad that one of the little kids had her baby doll, aka, Baby Jesus. Still upset.

Don't know what "Joseph" is doing, but it makes me smile.

jammie time

Christmas Eve with their new Christmas jammies.

my sweet Easton

Easton's teacher emailed me a little before Christmas to let me know something Easton said at school. It was so sweet and I don't want to forget it, so I am putting it on the blog. :)

"I have to tell you two of the sweetest things Easton has done in the past week. He makes me laugh with his personality. I will really miss him when he goes to Kindergarten.

"Anyway, today we were talking about Christmas traditions and he said he had a story for us. He came to the front of the class and sat in a chair, folded his hands together, crossed his legs and began: Once there was a baby born named Jesus Christ. Shepherds came to visit him and followed a new star. He added details, but I was so overcome with goosebumps and grins that I didn't catch it all.

"Then last week, we were talking about how some of the kids didn't stand up for the pledge of allegiance and how that is sad because it doesn't show respect. Easton said, "But you forgive us, huh teacher?" He is such a doll!"

EASTON, WE LOVE YOU!

hats are cool

count 'em....

that's five.

she probably would have done more if she could have found more.

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.