Merry Christmas!

In preparing for our drive to Utah, we let the kids stay up as late as they wanted (which turned our to be about 12:30) and I woke them up about 7ish and NO NAPS all day, until we got in the car and left about 5pm, after Matt's work meeting, finishing packing, and a ton more stuff I don't even want to type that we had to do to get ready. Our air mattress broke, so we pulled out mine and Matt's bed mattress and everyone sort of slept on that the night before we left:

Then, once we got to Utah, we were busy with making cookies and fudge with Grandma:

Decorating gingerbread men:

Who wouldn't want to eat these:

and decorating gingerbread houses:

Falling asleep on Christmas Eve:

and opening presents on Christmas morning:

Mike's missionary picture, I really wanted them to go with this one:

but they went with this one:

Visiting Santa

We tried to take the kids to see Santa in Colorado with some friends at the mall, and when we got there, they said there was a three hour wait, you couldn't take your own pictures, and you had to order their picture sets...the cheapest one was $17 for 2 3x5s. I called all around because I had promised the kids we would see Santa and Mikelle really wanted to give him the letter she 'wrote' and tell him what she wanted (which was a bike, a mermaid doll, purple hello kitty socks, and lipgloss in case you were wondering), but it was the same thing anywhere I called. Isn't it so sad that it seemed there was no place I could take the kids to see Santa without paying? So we left to Utah and I hoped it would be better there. And it thankfully was. We only had to wait in line for 1 1/2 hours and we got to take our own pictures. Santa was so nice to the kids. He took the time to open and read their letters (probably why it took so long in line) and he gave the kids a sucker. All in all, it was a good trip to the mall and visit to Santa...until next year Mr. Claus!

Waiting in line, don't you love Mikelle's face!

Chuls and Jonah

Santa reading their letters, I was SO surprised Jonah actually sat on his lap with out screaming; and Santa is in his 'toy workshop apparel' in case you were wondering.

Santa with the kids and I

Of course Chuls and I had to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what we wanted: which was every season of Smallville and a mini van, I'll let you guess which one of us wanted what.

Four Months!

Tyrel is now four months! He had his doctor appointment and his stats are:

weight: 17 lbs. 13.5 oz. (95th percentile)

height: 66 cm (87th percentile)

head: 42.5 cm (60th percentile)

He is seeming more and more like a little kid than a newborn. He is holding his head up pretty well. He laughs and smiles a ton now. He loves attention and is starting to demand it. He never wants to be put down and is starting to refuse formula. He will however take pumped breast milk in a bottle. He is getting interested in toys now and grabs them and tries so hard to put them in his mouth. He was sleeping pretty good through the night, until we got to grandma's house, and then some strange thing happened where all the kids need to sleep with grandma. Tyrel loves to be sung to and loves watching the kids play. He is such a cutie and I love having a baby around again, even if he does weigh almost the same as Jonah.

kid pics

Mikelle and Jonah - changing their babies diapers...

...and Mikelle and Jonah - breast feeding their babies

Isn't this just the saddest picture.

Getting the kids ready for bath time, I just couldn't resist taking a picture.

This is what they do everyday now. Grab every blanket and every pillow and couch cushion and book. It's quite the mess, but very cute.

I thought this was super cute, Jonah reading to Ty

The BIG 5!

Yesterday, Matt and I hit our 5 year anniversary! It has gone by so fast. Can't believe we have been married 5 years! In that time we have had 3 kids, moved 7 times, gone through 6 years of school (combined), lived in 2 states, gone through quite a bit of jobs, seen each other through the good and bad...and we STILL love each other! We went out to the cheesecake factory for our five year, but in five more years, it's the BAHAMAS! (we hope). Here's to a great five years!

On our Honeymoon is San Diego

Reception in Boston

First anniversary

Five year anniversary

coming home from the hospital

So we purposely took these pictures so the kids would all have one the same; and I realized I never posted or emailed them to anyone; and I think they are so cute. I also think it is funny that with each kid, Matt is dressed a little better than the kid before.

Mikelle: Feb. 2006

Jonah: July 2007

Tyrel: August 2009