"Dora do do Dora do do Dora..."

 Getting excited for her birthday party! I started setting it up on her birthday(the night before her party). She requested a Dora party so we invited some friends over and the adventure began!

 Each friend brought their own backpack and we loaded them up with toys for the quest to get to Kelsi's party! I made a very homemade looking map for each kid. 1st we had to get through Spooky Forest and use our imaginary mists spray to freeze the spiders and the witch's black cat! The kids were amazing with that! Then we went to Troll Bridge. Everyone needed to make some loud music noise so the troll would let us cross. Most of the kids crawled under all the yarn rope, but Kelsi really didn't want to attempt it at all so I lifted her up and some of the others. They were always on the lookout for Swiper who was watching from a nearby bush.

 Next was Crocodile Lake. The kids used their mirrors to blind the crocodiles so we could walk safely through the lake without being seen! This turned out to be somewhat dangerous because the kids thought of trying to shine the sunlight in their own eyes or others...oops! Luckily no one was harmed. Meanwhile Swiper was getting closer and closer all the time! He eventually swiped Kelsi's backpack and threw it over the rock wall which was our next spot to go.  Once everyone climbed over the rock wall (our backyard cinderblock fence) we were at Kelsi's party! Finally the backpack was recovered and safe from Swiper!

 It was getting a bit hot outside even though it wasn't even 10 am! I love Sailor's face!

 Here's the friends we invited minus Jake who's 10 months and Seryn who took off as soon as I said smile for a picture with Swiper! I loved watching how aggressive or not each child was with trying to break open swiper! Spencer got out his big muscles after everyone had had 2 rounds of hitting on it without success and broke first his legs then arms and finally nose. Once swiper because limbless and noseless some of the kids were feeling very worried about it and running over to the broken limbs wanting them to be put back on somehow! It was so cute and funny! Inside were bags with 6 pieces of candy for each person.

 Sweet Seryn!

 Ella so focused!

 Brooklyn was probably the fastest pinata hitter! 

 Ava cracked a leg!

 Sailor put a lot of strength into it!

Spencer couldn't wait to contribute massive hits. Swiper didn't stand a chance!

 Kelsi at the very beginning. After Spence had broken it up a bit and Kyle had made a weak spot in the middle Kelsi got to be the official pinata breaker. 

 Kelsi had asked me the day before when she could open her presents and I told her at her party so now's the big moment and she's one happy girl. Her opening method was very unusual which consisted of grabbing a bag and dumping it upside down picking up the gifts looking at them for a sec and moving on to the next gift bag. Thanks everyone for being so generous and getting her some new things! She really loves all of them and it has been fun to have new toys to use!

 Her new Dora phone! Thanks Brooklyn!

 For dessert we had ice cream cupcakes with whipped cream and M&M Mini's on top! Kelsi isn't much of a cake fan but likes ice cream. The crazy thing was she only ate her M&M's and whipped cream. Everyone else seemed to enjoy it especially Bryce.

 chowing down!

The only way to get a picture of us together was bribing with her favorite treat M&M Mini's. Happy 3rd Birthday Kelsi!!! P.S. One of your major accomplishments lately is learning how to pump on the swing! You could swing all day and sometimes do until you get too hot. I am so glad you learned that skill too:)

OH

 We went on a small hike with Uncle Roy! It was super fun to have him come along! He even got to sleep over the night before and we had a blast going to Peter Piper Pizza with the kids and letting them play some games for prizes:) Kyle picked this hill to hike up because you can check out the progress of the temple in the background. It should hopefully be up and running this time next year! Thanks for coming Uncle Roy!! oh, btw, Kelsi just LOVES Uncle Roy so much everytime she realized she could be holding his hand instead she would and only he could get her out of the car and hold her when she got tired! I think Uncle Roy got some quality Kelsi time!

Last week for playgroup we made ice cream in a bag at the park. It was super tasty and held up pretty well. The kids sure enjoyed it. YUMMY. 

FANCY NANCY...

 This was just minutes before loading her up to go to the party. Kels was Super excited!!!

 Kelsi got invited to her first girl party! She LOVED it so much and thoroughly enjoyed getting dressed up for the big event at Sailor's(Sailor is in the middle) house. It was a Fancy Nancy party based off the books and my friend Kiya let us steal the pics off her blog; to see the event fully check out: ckjacksonfamily.blogspot.com. She is amazing and had the party so fancy and exciting for the girlies.

One of the many things the girls did was dress up and I was told Kelsi went straight for the Minnie outfit which includes dress up heels:) She looked like this when I picked her up. I love that she got to have this neat experience! I'm sure she'll never forget it! THanks again Kiya!!!

Bryce!!!

 This is the life! Bryce long boarding with Grandpa Mitch in the cold. Usually it's not too cold on the Hobble Creek trail. This was a couple days before he turned one! He loves riding down the trail:)

 Present time! Bryce had much assistance when it came to learning the art of unwrapping! He's admiring his new swing.

 stacking cups are one of his favs these days. When we can find all of them. Kelsi loves to run off with some to use in her toy kitchen as she mixes and stirs her different concoctions and passes them out to all of us warning us that they are "hot!" Thanks for the cups Mom!!

Kelsi was an expert at teaching Bryce how to unwrap. Kyle made him a monster blanket with a silky edge. I don't know why I haven't gotten a pic of him with it, but he sure loves it! The rest of Bryce's 1st birthday is on a video. He didn't understand how to blow out the candle so Kyle did eventually. He didn't like his peach cobbler either. He had fun opening gifts and mostly liked playing with the wrap. Kyle's parents drove from Ogden to Spanish Fork so we all could spend a little evening with Bryce on his birthday! I love having Bryce in our family! He's so easy going (except at church), happy, and quick to try and talk and smile! He loves following his siblings around and most especially playing outside with them. He likes to use a shovel to scoop up rocks and dirt. He loves his new swing and every once in a while gets really sleepy from swinging. Happy first birthday Bryce!

afraid, not afraid (Kelsi)

Here's some random catch up. Bryce back in November starting to stand up to things. He would use his tip toes a lot at first!

 Kyle's family hides a pickle in the Christmas tree each year and whoever finds it gets the "bonus" gift! Spence found it this year he was soooo excited and got the game Taboo as the bonus gift!

 We went bowling as a family just by ourselves for the first time. Spencer loved it! He bowled soooo much all kinds of styles, but usually ended up with the same results. He throws a curve ball to the side every time!!

 The kids doing the Nativity at G & G Jackman's it was so funny to have Kelsi as Mary. She didn't want to leave poor baby Jesus alone and he got smothered a dozen times:) Levi was a shepherd (or a wiseman?) and Jared was Joseph. Spence didn't want to participate, but agreed to be a wiseman with Grandma! I wish I had gotten a pic of Nora as a wiseman because she drew with eyeliner a beard all over her face and the best part was hearing Grandpa (Scott) have a heart attack and Spence say to me, "Mom, do you notice anything different about Grandma?" I couldn't stop cracking up!!!

 At the Mesa Temple lights! We sure missed having Uncle Roy and Aunt Merrie there with us!!  There was a very interesting choir there that reminded me so much of any church group in Argentina singing:) It was unforgettable to say the least!

 We had some of our good friends over to decorate gingerbread houses that we had made from scratch! It was very labor intensive for some reason and I will gladly purchase a set next yr if we do it again! Sure was a blast watching/helping/eating it together!

 We had a free admission to the Phx Children's museum and Kelsi just had to stop and make herself an ice cream! She LOVES playing with toy food!!

 Since all the kids had matching christmas p.j.'s with capes we made a cape for Grandpa too! It was so fun to see them all running and flying through the house with their capes on!!

 Kelsi discovered how much she could dance and jam out to the loud music at the bowling alley so we danced a lot (mostly because there weren't many peeps there). Spence took most of Kelsi's turns because she didn't like bowling for longer that 15 minutes. Spencer didn't mind one bit! Bryce slept most of the time, luckily!

 We went for a little mini hike to the top of a hill. The kids loved being outside! It was so nice to spend some family time together. I think we did this in January.

 Kelsi got Spence a Creepy Crawler set for Christmas and they both really wanted to play it but too bad i forgot to buy a lightbulb for the little oven.

 Kelsi had been wanting a piggy bank for a long time. She loved all of her gifts this Christmas a was so happy just playing with the things she got.

 Spence wrapped up her baby carseat in this box. Once the wrap was off Kels started shouting, "Diapers, diapers!" Seems like she would have been happy getting diapers for Christmas. She loves the little carseat and baby that Spence picked out for her!

 The kids' finished houses! How much candy was consumed? Who knows, but it was sure fun!!

 One of her favorite gifts!!

 Spence took this picture of us in Yuma. We were visiting Mama and decided to go rock hunting. The kids had a blast. Bryce had a rock, but didn't swallow any.

 Our neighbor gave us their grill since they got a new one for Christmas and boy is it wonderful to have! We haven't used it that much, but we sure love it when we do! This was our first time using it!

The Easter Bunny at Albertson's! This was just after the egg hunt in the hay. The kids found a bunch of eggs, but no prize tickets so Spence was totally devastated and I feel like the egg hunt brought out the worst in him with tantrums and all. Kelsi was rather content with the whole thing and loved waving to the easter bunny. When it came time to snap a pic she was terrified to go near, but when i assured her that she didn't have to touch him she was relieved and sat distantly away. Bryce loved the Easter bunny and began petting his face after the pic was taken! 

HHHHALLLLLLOOOWWWWWEEEEEEEEENN '12

 Bryce was a Monkey just like Kelsi the yr before and Spence the yr before that! He sort of fit into it even though he hated it and it's a size 24 months(he's 7months)! I'd say it was worth the $20+ we spent on it. His Halloween night was spent sleeping on my shoulder (or Kyle's) as we walked around the neighborhood. He had a rough time going to sleep after we arrived home at 8pm. This is his smile after being awake for a few minutes.

 Kyle had Saturday off so we got some free culture passes to the zoo and went. It was a LONG HOT adventure, but the kids loved it. Spencer hates his picture taken still and refused to look at the camera every time. Spencer's favorite animals are the monkeys!

 close up Kelsi!

 Every yr at Midwestern there's a halloween party with tons of kid things to do. The fav for both kids is the fishing booth. They got some fun prizes.

 bath time fun! They insisted on having a picture taken with these potato head glasses. (not Halloween related)

 The kids were so antsy to get on with the halloween fun they didn't want to ever have a picture taken! these are the best ones we got.

 Spence wanted to be Santa and Kelsi didn't really seem to have a preference so she was an elf and loved it! Maybe even too much since she pulled off all the jingle bells Kyle had sown on. Kyle made the hat and shoes. I did the vest wtih the help of one my friend, Cim! Thanks Cim!!!! I love how it turned out. I also made Spence the Santa beard from spiderweb stuff and it was a terrible mess.  He was a good sport though and kept it on.

 standing in front of one of the neighbors awesome decor! it was so tastefully done! Spencer's Halloween experience was pretty much the same 5 phrases again and again...people would always say, "Who are you?" "Christmas is here early this year!" "What are you going to bring me for Christmas?" "There's Santa!" and "I've been good this year!" He wouldn't ever say a word expect an occasional thank you. He also stayed at the door extra long until Kelsi got her candy and she was leaving. He didn't care to run from house to house and after about an hr he wanted to get in the stroller. We had walked a long way and his bucket was getting heavy!

 the Loot! I helped the kids sort their candy. Then Kelsi and I counted it. 79 pieces here! I thought, "Oh, man why did I count it...I don't want her eating that much or me...That's way too much!" I lost interest with counting Spencer's. Help us! Kelsi is smelling her candy. That's what she does if we tell her not to eat it.

 Kelsi had a great time trick or treating. When she said trick or treat it sounded more like, "ik er eat" Her elf shoes were a little too big so it was hard for her to walk fast. I felt like we were taking centimeter steps most of the night unless we put her in the stroller, but that was tricky because she couldn't get in with her bucket by herself...There was one super scary house that i took Kelsi to. Spencer refused to go. When we walked past the creepy people outside and decorations and loud music to the disguised person with the candy Kelsi couldn't take it anymore and with all the courage she could muster she buried her face into my leg and wanted nothing to do with the candy from that house. I helped her raise up her bucket and then felt terrible that maybe that place was just WAY too scary for her 2 yr old self...I hope she's not scared for life!

Spencer and Kyle created this face and Spence looks just like it! He's a big fan of carving pumpkins! I think Spence would have carved pumpkins each night if he had his way.

Kelsi told me the picture she wanted and i drew it on there, but she really didn't care much for carving or cleaning the guts out. She just wanted to see it done and lit and then to blow out the candle:)

Happy Halloween! Some of you already saw this... This was just after getting home on Halloween! I love having kids to do Holidays with, but I also see how exhausting it can become:) Can't wait till next yr!