Emily's New Year's Resolution Wednesday, December 31, 2008

The other day, Emily brought me Lisa's cell phone and a ribbon and
asked me to tie it shut, saying "that way I won't call 911 anymore"

Night on the town Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Dinner and a movie with 5 under 10 is no small feat. Dallin says we
should go straight home because it's getting crazy

what holiday is it anyway? Sunday, December 28, 2008

We were watching some home videos tonight from christmas morning with the kids, and Emily was adding some commentary. While watching this clip of the babies with their stockings and funny facial expressions, Emily said 'James is like, What holiday is it anyway?'

happy 1 month birthday

to james and henry (or henderie as sylie would say)... time to bust out the dolls and have a party..


update: new background music added since karenin was scared of the old one

First Christmas with all 7 Friday, December 26, 2008

Before Christmas, the kids and Reid stayed busy with sledding and swimming while I stayed home with the babies.

On Christmas Eve, we started out the celebration with a Prime Rib dinner. This is now the 3rd year we have done a Prime Rib dinner for Christmas. After melting my new meat thermometer, we decided that it was done enough.

After dinner we let the kids open their Christmas PJs, and we read the Christmas story from the Bible. Then we had pie and hot chocolate while I read them the last Christmas book (from the 12 we wrapped).

The kids went to bed and Reid and I stayed up with the babies. Neither of us got to sleep until almost 1 in the morning. Christmas morning Dallin was up first at 6am. By 6:30, all 3 kids were up and ready to see what Santa brought. This year Santa brought Dallin a remote control car that can drive on walls, Emily a baby Cho Cho that can grow teeth, and Amanda an ipod (we all know what that can do:))

Emily was funny this year. She was very into presents in every way. First she looked around and asked where her potty doll was that Santa was supposed to bring her. We told her that Santa brought her a doll that grew teeth instead because she already has a doll that goes potty. She was so excited to open every present and she would tell you if she liked the present or not. She also loved giving presents. She kept all her presents a secret, but she couldn't help but whisper in my ear a couple times a day what she got everyone.

Amanda and Emily got a lot of presents that they both enjoyed, so Emily has been sharing her polly pockets and Amanda has been sharing her Barbie.
It was a great first Christmas with all 7 of us. We are so blessed to have 2 babies to share all of our love with.

wipe out Wednesday, December 24, 2008

the kids really want you to see their super cool sledding movie

slow portrait

here's a harry potter style moving photograph of amanda

visiting the polar ice caps Tuesday, December 23, 2008

Our friends had some extra tickets to the polar express, so we all braved the snow and drove to heber to catch the next train to the north pole:






The kids had a blast... Cookies, hot chocolate, hyperactive elves, story time, and lots of Christmas caroling


And of course, Emily's favorite part was getting to see Santa:

"Is that the real Santa?" she asked.
Although she was pretty bummed that she didn't get to sit on his lap.


And here we are, all together (minus Lisa and the twins), after getting off the train:



Meanwhile, Lisa and the twins held down the fort back home:






(artwork by amanda, notice the jaundice on henry..)


And a few other recent twin sightings:

wishing you some holiday cheer Sunday, December 21, 2008

...and a sassy new year.

3 weeks Thursday, December 18, 2008

the twins are 3 weeks old tomorrow... time for some new pictures:

yawn. boring..



new outfits


amanda +2


guess who james is holding. i mean guess who is holding james

hello helicopter cameo

white stuff Saturday, December 13, 2008

as jeremy and jamie leave for christmas in the islands, we're getting dumped on here. but it's still pretty fun here.. gearing up for a white christmas


snowing shoeing in the neighborhood








making a ginger bread house (the kids were impressed with Lisa's icicles


and some quiet time with the babies

em's

 

Emily had her christmas program yesterday at her arts & dance preschool. 

They started off with some crafts 

And then some dancing


and story time.



And then the grand finale: Tree Tales, a preschool musical
inspired by the books: The Snow Tree (Caroline Repchuk), The Tree Angel (Remy Charlip), and The Christmas Promise (Lark Carrier)..






Sorry, no video this time. (Although emily did ask if she could watch it afterwards)

Emily came up with a story during craft time, and this is how it goes:

Once upon a time, there was my brothers, my sister, and me, and we played together with cars, and our babies were having fun in their baby swings. And then they were having so much fun that all of us played together. And then we were having WAY funner than that. And then it was Christmas so we opened all our presents. And Christmas was really fun at least. Then they lived happily ever after. 

The End.

That night we took the twins on their first dinner outing... Their first outing anywhere except the hospital and doctors office..  Dallin had flown to Canada by the time he was 2 weeks old. 
Grandma & Grandpa Gardner invited us out to a new Red Robin in SLC.

Emily hitched a ride with Grandpa. 

It was my first time eating at Red Robin.

The place was a zoo... well, a cross between a casino and a zoo.  Which was good because we were able to go pretty much unnoticed. 

The twins did great.  In fact, they didn't even know they left the house :)

dallin's turn Friday, December 12, 2008

ok, here's a video worth watching.  it's dallin's school christmas program, and he did a great job.  but on top of that, there are  few little where's waldo things going on in the background... for example, see if you can find the boy flipping us off behind his back.   It's pretty subtle, but still rated PG.  I'll refrain from any diagnostic impressions.  Oh.. and check out the little 4 yr old who shall not be named in the brown skirt, crawling up towards the stage.  I would guess by her attention-seeking behavior that she has had a major life event at home.. perhaps her mother had a baby.. or 2. 

top models Sunday, December 7, 2008

Jer & Jam came up for a major photo shoot with the twins. Jer has a pro lens and a photo blog, and jam was a certified photographer at age 16.
Check out the fruits of our labors.

Here's little James staring at the sky


and Henry


Henry with a little drool


Both together (James on the left, Henry on the right)


Same with this one


Henry on the left, James on the right




Holding hands (Henry on the left)


Wrinkly arms... (James in the foreground)


Here they are in the womb (don't ask how)


They were good sports....
then Henry said 'Yay, we're all done.. finally'