January Outings

Casey & Shelby went to the Box Elder campground in Mantua one afternoon and ran into this group of guys who like to get together and dress WW2 style.  What a neat thing to see!

January is all about being cold, attempting to keep the kids mind engaged in something other than a screen, and keeping the cows in promontory fed & alive.  My kids needed to be a part of that!  Luke was in HEAVEN.  He has told me over & over that papa don's cows is his favorite place to be.  All the girls just loved petting the calf that was in the back of the trailer.

Caleb was super excited to go out and shoot papa Don's Ruger 22.  Now he wants one!

Casey's dad, Brad, retired from UDOT.  

We celebrated with a family dinner out to Maddox!

Did you know that on Martin Luther King, Jr day that admission is free to the Dinosaur Park?  It was empty too!  Wonder why?  Brrrrrrr

Casey & I made a spur of the moment decision to go see Three Days Grace & Disturbed as an early Valentine's Day date.  It was amazing.  Dylan was going too, so we bummed a ride in his sweet civic.  I was also lucky enough to go bowling with Jordon before the concert! It was a fun day!  Oh, and David Draiman touched my hand.  Just sayin.  My 18 year old self was FREAKING OUT!

 See Dylan?  He had a sweet seat!!  But, no lead singer touched him.  Boom.

January Randoms

Taylor got a science kit for Christmas.  She wants to do a science experiment Every. Single. Day.  I couldn't pick a favorite out of these pictures.  Such anticipation and shock and awe.

 Caleb was ordained as a Deacon!  The church changed the age of kids entering into the Young Men & Young Women's programs.  They get to start the year that they turn 12 instead of waiting until their 12th birthday.  Where Caleb's birthday falls in December, he just turned around and grew up!  Youngest Deacon ever!  He can barely reach to get the sacrament trays and I really hope there isn't a giant spill one day.  After passing the water he said to me, "Now my wrist kind of hurts."

 Caleb was interested in paratroopers for a while and made himself a backpack full of supplies.  Then he dressed up his little brother as well.  It was pretty cute.

 Luke & Lex had such a fun field trip!  We went to Papa Murphy's and they learned about how to build a pizza and then they got to make their own.  It was so cute watching them and they were so excited to go home & bake their lunch.

The kids got out all of their stuffed animals one Saturday morning and Caleb got them ready for battle!!

Getting ready for the winter dance recital!  This little girl LOVES this stuff.

I signed the girls up for ballet this time instead of jazz.  I think that they learned quite a bit and enjoyed it too!

Grandma Mona came through with their recital flowers again.  They love that!  Grammy & Papa Done came to watch them dance too.

I love the snow.  I despise getting everyone into their snow gear though.  Even after I say, "Go potty before we get ready!!' Someone has to go 10 minutes into playing.

These beauties took the polish off of my toenails one day.  They were so excited!

 I love clearance.  These girls had been practically begging for earmuffs.  It just so happened that they were only $1.99/pair at Children's Place one day.  Wish granted ladies!  Purrrrrrrrr......

December Randoms

Since we have been living in a bit of a constructions zone lately, we have had boxes everywhere.  And my kids hoard boxes & big chunks of styrofoam.  Normal, right?  One evening I could NOT find Luke!  I searched everywhere upstairs, ran downstairs and looked everywhere, was headed back up to check outside and tried to kick this box out of the way - well it was heavier than I thought it would be.  Found him!

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 Snow! Snow! Snow!!

 Entertaining themselves with window markers one morning.  What am I going to do when they are in school all week?  Honestly....I'm excited to get some napping in. 

It's official.  I'm #38andaverage.  Balloons & flowers from Casey!  So pretty!

 Caleb got a USA quarter map from Grammy & Papa Don for his birthday.  He had a good time finding quarters for the slots!  He just needs a handful more.

Luke has been really enjoying the learning part of preschool.  (Alexa loves the social part)  He is a PRO at writing his name on EVERYTHING.  He wrote his name on this one day and brought it to me & said, "Will you write mom now and make a heart?"  Cutest.  Moment.  Ever.

Eva the Diva had a fun birthday party filled with minute to win it games.  She invited my crew & a bunch of her friends.  It was a good time!!  She is such a fun little girl.  I love how she just radiates happiness.

We rang in the new year with soda in plastic goblets & pizza.  Is there any other way when you have little people?  Casey had to wake up for work the next morning at 3:30, so the kids and I made it to midnight, then went to bed.  Bring it on 2019!

Christmas Break Get Away

A tradition that HAS to stick around is our little overnight trip to SLC.  It's funny the things that stick in our minds.  Rylee asked on our way down if we were going to go to Chili's and drink out of the fancy cups.  I didn't know that Chili's even had fancy cups.  But - when they brought her drink out it was just what she was expecting.  There is a little swerve right where her hands are in this picture.

 After dinner there was a light flurry of snow while we were looking at the candy windows at Macys.

 We met Shelby, Malissa, Shayden and MaKayla this year and they went to dinner and temple square with us.  These 3 sure love each other.  Luke always tells me that he wants MaKayla to come over and have 12 sleeps at our house.

 These ladies got new swimsuits for this trip.  They just seem to keep growing!!

 The Freeze 5!  They all sure love to swim.

 Even when they decided on their own that they were done, they still had to be touching the water.

 I was lucky enough to still be able to get a discount at Crystal Inn.  Sharing a room would be rough!  We were able to get a decent deal on adjoining rooms.  I think that the kids love it as much as Casey & I do.

 Before we checked out the next day we went swimming again.  It was nice because we had the pool all to ourselves!!

 Caleb & Casey went outside the night before and rolled in the snow and then jumped into the pool.  Taylor got brave enough to try it before we left.  Crazy people.  I would NEVER!!

Christmas

Christmas Eve has arrived!!  Of course we have to open up some pajamas!  They all know that it's going to happen. 

Something fun about having kids this close in age is that I still get to do this kind of stuff and they don't care at all.  I think they all look so dang cute!

The annual new Christmas pajamas in front of the tree picture!

After we did our family gift exchange we got the cookies and carrots ready.  They kids all gave Eddie a hug & said their goodbyes.  And then it was off to bed!

These kids must've been so good!!!  Santa found each of them and they all got some amazing gifts.  I don't take many pictures on Christmas.  I like to enjoy the moment instead.

Caleb LOVES his sweets!  Luke asked for dinosaur stuff...and got a pretty awesome one!

I am so glad that our cameras captured these moments of shock & joy.  Christmas is so magical through the eyes of all of my cute kids.

Freeze Family Party

We got together with the Freeze's for an early Christmas Eve dinner.  Luke & Alexa enjoyed watching the digital picture frame in the front room.

 While we were waiting for everyone to arrive, this cute picture of Grandma & the first set of twinsies was captured!!

 Logan decided to use a seat cover for a bib.  That boy cracks me up sometimes.

 After dinner Mona had planned a cup relay race game to play.

 Uncle Colby read the Chrismtas story and then we opened our gifts!  Caleb got a Nerf Zombie survival kit/gun and was in heaven.  Taylor & Rylee were so excited to get Heelys!!

 This little boy loves me and I love him right back!  It isn't very often that he lets me get out of his sight.

 Brad & Mona gave Taylor, Rylee & McKenna the softest sweaters!  They all looked so cute & cozy.

 I'm not sure what Caleb loved more.  His Nerf gun or the tasty divinity.  

I consider myself pretty lucky.  Most people have nothing but complaints about their in laws.  My mother & father-in-law are pretty great.