A Surprise Visit!

Santa made a surprise visit to our house one night when we went out for ice cream.

He had to bring the presents we couldn't get on the plane.

I HAVE NEVER SEEN THE KIDS SO EXCITED!

He left a card on the door with some window stickers of santa and 3 jingle bells.

K said, 'mom, if I didn't have any bones, I would have melted to the ground'

He also said, 'i was so excited, it felt like my heart was going to pound out of my chest'

G just went in the house and started turning circles on the floor

It was hilarious!

so excited to open presents

k digging into a dinosaur egg

I thought this was funny, J was using her leapster case to put all her stocking treats in

He got the pox

That's right, my poor little G man.

Vaccine after vaccine, and he gets the chicken pox... from what you may ask...

his vaccine, of course!

I woke up one morning and got the kids breakfast (Dec 4th), I looked at G and saw little bumps all over his face. I further examined his little body and he had them on his legs and arms, back and chest. I asked if they hurt and he said, 'no, but they itch like crazy!'

I knew what it was.

I called the doc and they said he had gotten his booster vaccine less than 28 days previous and that's what caused it.

I then researched on the internet and it said there is a less than 2% chance that you could get the chicken pox from a vaccine and if they did, it would be a VERY mild case.

Well, it was the opposite. G's was a full blown, body covered case.

I took these pictures on the first day thinking that was it, and they doubled the next and then tripled on the third day.

I wish I would have gotten a picture when thye were in full bloom.

Poor kiddo, he handled it like a champ. He never complained. When I looked at him he always scratching or itching but he never whined. He loved being covered in calamine lotion, he said it made him look like a ghost.

Let's say good bye to one childhood disease. We hope you don't visit again.

Gingerbread

We made our annual Gingerbread houses for Christmas.

We bought one, thinking it was pretty big, little did we know, it was tiny and already put together. The kids still had so much fun.

I had to put this picture of J in, only because it makes me laugh, she had a huge chunk of frosting hanging down off her cheek.

Soccer Boys

We started the boys in soccer, much to their dismay. The only reason they kept going was because they knew there was a trophy at the end. We signed them up with their little buddies, and that helped.

It was so funny to watch them play. They played just like their personalities. G was right up there, even though he was the youngest, always trying to get the ball, giving me thumbs up as he ran down the field. It was so funny. K on the other hand just kinda hung back, waiting for the ball to come to him.

It was great entertainment.

CONGRATULATIONS!!!!!!!!

I wanted to congratulate C for his last of clinicals today and for finishing school!!!!!!!!

The past 3 years have been full of fun, stress, dedication, joy, laughs, hard work, happiness, prayerfulness, craziness and thankfulness!

Congrats on finishing your masters degree!!!!

I am so proud of you and so grateful for you!

Love you!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing All of you a marvelous Thanksgiving!

I hope you are all having a wonderful day with thankfulness, food, family and friends, and a great day of feasting!

i love it

Where do kids come up with their funniness?

C had G in the car with him the other day.

G, who is 4, was lamenting over how he can 'get' some money

( I believe he is 'saving up' for a dog).

C, trying to encourage him said, you can help mom and you can do little jobs.

to which G quickly replied, 'there's no jobs in this town!'

beads

Sundays tend to get a little long around here.

J asked me to make her an anklet.

I made her one and put it on her.

Then she said, no mom, all the way up pointed up to the top of her leg.

We did it, she was so pleased.

I think she only left them on for 5 seconds.

oh the little joys

Niagara Falls

We have been having some gorgeously sunny days around here lately. We took advantage of them and went to the Falls.

So pretty!

On the Canadian side

We always take the kids over the canadian side at the other side of horseshoe falls and let them pick a treat. Usually they pick suckers. We went and they were 5 bucks a pop! I coaxed them into buying something else.. we got to the check out and they too were 5 bucks a pop

We always walk from the american side to the canadian side. The kids enjoy it and there are some great views. For some reason, probably no stroller, this time it took forever and we were exhausted. We ended up carrying J and G on our shoulders the entire way back. Next time, note to self, bring a stroller.

kids

Don't kids just honestly say the FUNNIEST things?

G the other day was giving me great chuckles all day long.

We have been singing the latter day prophets song with our kids lately

(they started learning it in primary and we have just kept going with it).

He was saying family prayers the other night and he said, 'thank you for president Monson- and then a little pause, and he added- and George Albert Smith.'

I looked at C and we both were trying hard not to laugh.

He was also putting together a puzzle of the states the other night. He asked where Utah was and where New York was. Then out of the blue he asks, 'where's New Orleans?" I start laughing because, really, what 4 year old has heard of new orleans. He looks at me and says,

'ya know, mom, it is a REAL place'

J cracked me up the other night.

She has had a runny nose and proceeded to wipe her nose on her shirt. then she looks up at me and says, 'mom, you need to wash this shirt, there's nose all over it.'

Family Pictures

I can honestly count on my hand the amount of times that we have had family pictures taken.

The reasons being;

2 boys who insist on running and not holding still

a husband who grumbles about it

never quite sure what to wear

and a little girl who goes absolutely stoic in her face

(No amount of bribery seems to help any of this)

ps it was FREEZING

BUT

a huge thanks to MEGAN for being so patient and capturing our family

(I really love the kids indivdual shots!)

she found a great little spot in Buffalo

I love this family picture of G.

He had been praciting his smile all morning long and this was his best ever!

This is J, a little sassy and really sweet.

I think this is the only picture she is actually smiling in.

it is her

I love this of G.
this sparkle in his eye is just his personality

I can't believe how big K is getting.

He is such a great little man

I'm not posting my favorite family picture because I'm putting it on our Christmas card,

we gotta have some new material for December.

Thanks Megan for being so patient despite the craziness and freezing temps!

You did a GREAT job!

Happy Halloween

Ward Halloween Trunk or Treat-G decided he no longer wanted to be a pirate, but a dinosaur

J was also suppose to be tinkerbell, but she decided to be a princess, I think she looks great!

G getting ready for Pre-K

Nothing is better than a doughnut on a string

The trick or treating gang

In keeping with Halloween tradition, G gave up after 2o minutes of trick or treating. He sat on my shoulders while the rest of the kids got candy. He has no desire for any more, perfectly content!

Two Halloween cuties

Eating one of the few pounds of candy J got and making a mess

The funniest thing about Halloween is what my kids choose to 'discard', this bowl is what they didn't want. They keep the dum dums and smarties and throw out anything chocolate.

Love it!

Great Pumpkin Farn

One freezing night this week, we took the kids to the pumpkin farm. We already had our pumpkins, but the kiddos just wanted to go and play

Playing around in the gigantic tube

The best part of the night was hot chocolate and doughnuts and Tim Hortons! Delicious!

Pumpkin Carving

The only reason K has his hands scooping out seeds is because I dared him to do it.

In keeping with family tradition, my kids refused to scoop the guts out.

Except for J.

She was a little timid, but she did it still and giggled when she did.

Making spooky faces for the camera

The final product and they are so pleased!

(G and J opted to carve the small pumpkins G got on his field trip to Becker Farms.

Thanks! That would have been a lot of scooping!)

J's 3rd Birthday

Pictures from J's Birthday

We always have the tradition of putting streamers down from the kids door for their birthday, they love it
Three years old!!!!!!!!!!

Opening presents

Loving her princess dress

What birthday isn't complete without a trip to chuckee cheese

Blowing out candles

such a fun day!