Festivities

Here are a few of the things we have been up to...

A few weeks ago we went down to Las Vegas to go to the Magical Forest with my Grandparents and Uncle Richard. For the first time, ever, it wasn't icy cold and windy. We finished off the night with fresh baked cookies, and hot cocoa.

Last Saturday we went to see The Nutcracker. It was fabulous. Tyler's parents were Party Parents and waltzed around on stage, and Tyler's Mom was the best Mother Hubbard ever!

My cute Sister-in-law was in a number of dances and her solo made us all teary. She is a beautiful dancer and we cheered so loud for her the entire time - Hope we didn't embarrass you Meg!

Sunday, after choir, our favorite Carter fam (Sister Carter is the Primary President I serve with) gave me a gingerbread house for the kids. We did that as a family that night. The kids were so excited, and we she stopped by a little bit later that night they ran to give her hugs. (Ava talks about her all the time and always asks if we can go to her house. I am her Visiting Teacher also, and she always plays when I sing in church so we are over there pretty often) I just love that lady!

These kids crack me up!

Then yesterday was Nathan's class party and each kid got their own gingerbread house to decorate, and we had cupcakes and hot cocoa. I have had to hide lots of candy and treats... shh don't tell.

Now all I have left to do is bake, bake, bake! Oh and snuggle my cuties!

ps I just realized Nathan is making a different face in every picture. That kid is such a goof. I love him to pieces.

Breakfast With THE Baby

Yesterday we had our Primary Activity. Our hubbies made pancakes for the kiddos, and we had a backdrop and costumes for the kids to wear. I brought one of Ava's babies to be Jesus and the kids all got to take pictures while holding the baby. The activity started at 8 AM! We were supposed to be there at 7:30, but I had to heat 5 gallons of water for hot cocoa, and that took way longer then I thought. Anywho we were all super tired, and Ava was not happy about letting other kids hold her baby. She didn't want to wear a costume either, but somehow they got her to take a picture with Baby Jesus. I was cleaning up so I missed it. (I was too lazy to scan these)

Look at that FROWN!

Nathan did a lot better with the photo shoot.

Oh, only 11 kids showed up- 5 belonged to the Secretary, and 2 were ours....at least we were all up early and were able to get lots of errands done.

P.S. It is SNOWING!

Thanksgiving!

We had a great Thanksgiving! We spent the day with Tyler's family in Hurricane. Everyone was there this year so we all got to be together, ate lots of yummy food, and took family pics. Here are some of the pictures Tyler's Dad took:

After the festivities we went home got the kids ready for bed, caught up on some shows, then headed to Target at 11pm. Yep, we were crazy people. We had never done anything like that before, but since my brother was here- so we could leave the kids at home, and it is MUCH easier to stay up a little late then it is to get up early we decided to go for it! For those of you who live around here we had to park at Olive Garden, and when we got to the end of the line we were standing outside of Lowe's Garden Center. Some kid was counting the people in line. We were numbers 852 & 853. I am pretty sure there were at least 300 people behind us. By the time we got to the front of the line it was 12:45 ish and the store had been open for 45 minutes. I started getting really discouraged thinking the things we had been waiting in line for would be gone. We were just getting a few (awesome) things for the kids, and luckily they had lots of those so we walked right in, grabbed them and hopped in line- which zig zagged all the way through the store, and took over an hour. I was super nervous that we would get trampled, or something crazy like that, but Target was way organized and it was smooth sailing! I was so glad Tyler braved the madness with me!

ps Scroll down to see Nathan's Award Winning Art!!!

Nathan participated in a coloring contest a few weeks ago and WON! They picked a boy and girl from each grade. He won a candy bar and 2 movie tickets! WooHoo! I loved how he added his own drawings to the picture, and made it his own. We were so excited for him. That boy loves to color and draw so it was nice for him to be recognized.

Just in case you were wondering....

...we put up our Christmas tree on Sunday. We aren't totally done with it yet. I planning on having the kids make some cute snowflake ornaments over Thanksgiving break.

Halloween Re-Cap

We partied it up this Halloween. The kids got to dress up a ton (Ava was a different princess for each party), and loved it. The week before Halloween we decorated our pumpkins for FHE . We only carved one, the rest we just cut vinyl out for on my Cricut- they turned out really cool!

The Friday before Halloween my brother and sister in law had a party. It was really fun. They had a fog machine, lots of dry ice, yummy food, and a photobooth. The first two are ones I took of the kiddos before we left.

This was after Tyler had to leave to go tutor :(

Just like real life- always praying for my brothers, haha

I was trying SOOO hard not to laugh!

You can see more of my brother's photography HERE

Saturday, after soccer, we had our ward Halloween carnival. The kids did each booth at least 5 times in the hour we were there.

Monday afternoon was Nathan's school party/parade. I am a room mom, but now that I am working I mostly just help out with parties. Their party was so fun. The official room mom is awesome! I love working with her. We were Achievement Day leaders together and she is just so full of fun ideas. The kids went to different stations and did a craft, a couple of fun games, and then we had donuts, rootbeer, and they had to eat fruit snacks out of whipped cream without using their hands. It was so funny to watch. 

Ava got to walk in the parade with Nathan. All of his classmates love her....there are twins (they played baseball with Nathan) that always go out of their way to talk to her, it is so cute. 

After school we came home, ate dinner, had FHE, and headed out to trick-or-treat. In our neighborhood the houses are all on acres and pretty spaced out. The houses aren't close to the street either so you have to walk a lot. Tyler opened up the back of the van and I sat back there with the kids so we could hop out easier. It is funny to go trick-or-treating up here. There are people on flatbed trailers, little kids on four-wheelers, and there aren't any street lights, so it is kind of nerve-wracking.... ahhh country living, haha. After about the 5th house Ava was asking if it was time to go home yet. The kids got lots of yummy treats, and had a great time. I am so glad the freezing weather held off this year!!!

Dear Oxi Clean,

I love you so much. This week you made me a hero. When our sweet Ava had a reaction (throwing-up) to the Nasonex the doc gave her in the middle of the night, and she had grape juice with dinner and brownies for dessert, I thought her brand new favorite princess pajamas would have to be thrown away. But before giving up I used you in the handy spray form before throwing the pjs in a bowl of HOT water and Oxi Clean Powder. In the morning, after doing a quick hand wash with Felsnaptha, I threw them in the wash and they look good as new. Ava was so happy, but she is never have grape juice for dinner again.

PS Nathan got sick the same day with a fever and aches. It has been an eventful week. At least he was able to keep his food down.

Party Time!

This week my baby girl turned 3! Seriously, where did the time go?!? Ava keeps me on my toes. She is a total girly girl, and super snuggly. She is also quite the diva, and can throw a tantrum like none other- luckily it only happens once in awhile. She is so smart and funny, and we just love her to pieces.

On Conference weekend we celebrated with the Murset crew for our October family lunch. I have been meaning to post these cakes that Lori made-WHILE IN LABOR . She is so awesome! Ava has a thing for princesses, and loved them! I was super impressed at her skill. Decorating cakes is hard enough without having contractions! Lori had cute little Jack that same day...

I didn't end up working on Ava's actual birthday, so we just snuggled and hung out (I was sewing and making her cake for a chunk of the day) while we waited for Nathan & Tyler to get home. When I asked what she wanted for her birthday dinner she said "Chicken Nuggets!!" so we had that, a pink ruffle-y cake and strawberry ice cream for dessert.

Today she had her friend party. Tyler helped me make these awesome invites on my Cricut.

The dress folded up and all the party info was inside.

I had been up to my eyeballs in pink tulle and tissue paper this past week making tutus, and pompoms. Are so sensing the theme here- My baby LOVES pink! She says, "Pink is my best color" haha, so cute!

 Her cute little friends got here and each got their own  tutu. Then we had little PB& J sandwiches, strawberries dipped in white and pink chocolate, grapes, pink lemonade, and cute pink cupcakes. After lunch the girls made bead bracelets and we painted the their nails. My two Sister In Laws, Maria & Lori, SAVED me by helping out with all the girly stuff.  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! After presents and cupcakes the girls each got a cute princess crown and pink lollipop. It was such a fun little party, and a first friend party for almost all the girls. Ava got so many awesome gifts. 

Miss Em

Cute Girls

(please excuse the toys in the back...)

I feel so blessed that our kids have such great cousins and friends...I just loved that after we got the plates all served that Ava said, "We need to say the prayer" And they all folded their arms and bowed their heads- 2 & 3 year old little girls! How precious is that?? It was such a fun day for our princess and I am so glad it went well!!!