Happy 2010

Happy New Year! On New Year's Eve our fridge/freezer stopped working and since it was a holiday and a weekend and our fridge is on warranty so we have to go through them, we don't get it even looked at until Tuesday. So it's been a fun few days of buying ice and atleast 2 more days to go! We really take modern conveniences for granted!!!

The kids love Spike and Barry!

It was a really fun 2 week break. I feel like we had fun, relaxed, and got some stuff done around the house as well. It was sad to see the Christmas stuff go but our house sure feels bigger now. Jaxon is so funny! He got 2 toy tools sets and a toy chain saw for Christmas because he loves tools so much. Well, he really liked them on Christmas day and he still plays with them but he totally prefers the real thing which he can't have, silly guy!! He was having a blast fixing the sink with his daddy. We also painted an old dresser black for our room and put up a shelf in the girls room.

I forgot my camera for the new year's festivities but we went to my parent's on Christmas eve and ate and played and the kids had an early new year's celebration that involved snaps and way too much silly string!!! And then we had breakfast back at my parent's house.

Today was Kyla's first day as a sunbeam so I took a pic of her to remember that day and then Maelie wanted one, too, so I took one of Jaxon as well, so these pix are all of them after church today. But Kyla did awesome in primary! I was really surprised and kinda worried about it because she likes toys and snacks and also because I am Maelie's teacher this year and I didn't want her looking back and seeing Maelie sitting right by me thinking she would come back but she waved and smiled at me several times but stayed right where she was. Her teachers said she did great. And Jaxon is still in nursery for 2 more years. His teacher said he was laying down on the floor at the end, ready for nap time. And I am kind of amazed with my new class. Last year my class was so much fun but they kinda wore me out. This year the class is smaller and a a little on the calmer side I think. But I love having Maelie in my class and I think she likes it, too. Happy New Year!!

A Boxing day hike

We had a fun morning in the chilly desert with all the fam. Playing, hiking, and a picnic!

Christmas

Christmas was a lot of fun this year! On Christmas Eve we went over to my parent's and had mexican dinner, hot chocolate and marshmallows, had a live nativity that was WAY cute - you can see it HERE!, and went to see the temple lights. I forgot my camera but hope to get some pix from someone soon! On the way home, I knew the kids would fall asleep and we wanted them to stay awake to open their Christmas Eve present - PJ's, we tried to keep them awake but failed! Kyla was pretty funny opening her Pj's... asleep on the couch with her present, Jonas opened them and showed them to her, and then she was happy to put on her dino Pj's - the only ones I could find were boy ones, but she looked cute anyway! Maelie absolutely loved her Princess gown and Jaxon couldn't care less about clothes. Jonas got Mario ones and I got Rudolph ones. :)

We really want our kids to understand what is really important on Christmas. We had prayer, watched the little Nativity movie and then we each decided on a gift we would give Jesus this year and put it in his white stocking. I think it started the day out great. The kids were actually really patient and kind and EXCITED!!! Then we did stockings, it is so fun to watch their excitement on their little faces - LOVE IT!!

for gifts we would get a gift from under the tree and give it to the person it was from so they could give it to them. I think it helped them understand about giving a little better... A really awesome girl in our ward who Maelie pretty much idolizes surprised Maelie with a set of such cute little houses, furniture and people. It was such an unexpected gift and the girls have loved playing with it. After finding their Santa presents, we surprised the kids with Spike, a robotic dinosaur... we have all had a blast playing with it. And then we headed over to my parent's for breakfast and presents over there. All the kids love the giant dino that Kyla got from Grandma and Grandpa. We went home for a few hours and then came back for Christmas dinner. It was such a great day and we were all wiped out when we got home!!!

Funny how scared they were of Spike when they first saw him!! Now they treat him like their pet and Jaxon even rides him!

gingerbread cookies

My brother Travis and his family are in town for Christmas, it's been great having them around!He just graduated (way to go Trav!) and we sent him and Kristin out for a date while we watched their kids, it was great fun having them over!! We made gingerbread cookies, played and watched a movie. The kids had lots of fun together!