We Love Snow

These are the pictures from our first play in the snow, about a week ago. The snow was absolutely beautiful-powdery and sparkly. The kids begged us to put on their snow gear (which took forever) so they could roll around outside in the snow for what seemed like five or six minutes. Isn't that always the way? Ben and Sylvia had lots of fun building up a snow hill with Nate, and then he would toss them into it. Loads of fun!

A Fun Weekend

Two hot mamas

Aren't Cami and Amy cute?

This hat is freaking awesome.

December is so much fun! On Friday, I rounded up my go-to choir and we went to the Messiah Sing-In at the Alpine Tabernacle in American Fork. Aunt Betsy and uncle Ellis, cousins Cami and Amy, cousin Lora and great uncle Bob, and aunt Barby and uncle David and cousin Grace. We were quite a crew! Afterwards we went to Los Hermanos for some fried ice cream and mexican hot chocolate.

Today, Sylvia and I headed over to the Beehive Bazaar in Provo to look at all the handmade crafts for sale. I love going to the Bazaar for crafty inspiration, and this trip I was looking for unique Christmas gift ideas. Sylvia saw the hat in the picture above and flipped out. She NEEDED to buy this hat, so we compromised and I took a picture of her in it. Aren't I a nice mommy?

The busy weekend will continue as I continue preparing my Relief Society lesson for tomorrow. Seriously, pray for me.

Happy Thanksgiving

The kids table is where it's at.

Our Christmas List

Dad: Ben, what does Sylvia want for Christmas?

Ben: Dollies.

Dad: Ben, what do you want for Christmas?

Ben: Blocks.

Dad: And what does Dad want for Christmas?

Ben: A Superman.

Dad: What about Mom? What does she want?

Ben: A grasshopper. (We think he's heard me asking Santa for a Cricut!)

BYU Football

We left the kids with our friend Nancy and went to the BYU vs. Airforce game today. Our first real date since our 7 year anniversary, believe it or not. It was very cold and windy, but we bundled up and had a really fun time. And surprise, surprise, I actually PAID ATTENTION to the football game and didn't play on my Blackberry! This may be a first for me. Nate is an avid BYU football fan, and I couldn't care less who wins. But Nate is in a pretty good mood since BYU won the game.

Plain Old Weirdness

Way to be inconspicuous.

Thanks. Alot. Sylvia.

(Those are MY sheets.)

A Wedding Day

Sylvia at the Salt Lake Temple

With Grandma & Grandpa Great

Sylvie and Melissa posin' for the camera

(And Sylvia's doll in a matching dress. So cute!)

Amy and Melissa

(Notice Crazy Uncle Rick behind them? It's the only reason I'm including this pic!)

Ben to Mom: "Please Take Me Home!"

Yesterday, we went to Nate's cousin Amanda's wedding at the Salt Lake Temple. The ceremony was beautiful, and the sealer was very funny (a plus in my book). We all had a very nice time, except for the cold winds waiting for the bride and groom outside the temple! Later we went to the reception in Layton, and had lots of yummy cheesecake and other treats. Sylvia spent most of the evening staring at Amanda and her "beautiful dress." Amanda looked so pretty! And besides Ben, I think we all enjoyed ourselves.

The Last Year (They Say It's My Birthday)

So, today I celebrated my 29th birthday. To me, this means that I am now living the very last year of my young life. In my opinion, one's 30th birthday is the official beginning of adulthood. Not technical "we'll trust you to vote" adulthood of course, but real mature adulthood. I think it means that the shenanigans are over, and a new set of expectations are put into place. Needless to say, I'm very glad that I have one more year to act immature and irresponsible.

I want to thank my mother for giving birth to all of my "crazy". And a thank you to both of my parents -- for raising a person capable of continuing the cycle. I think that can raise my own children with relative confidence because of them. I love you and I miss you.

Happy Halloween!

What a fun Halloween! We had a full day. After we attended Sylvia's piano recital, we went to Trunk or Treat at the church, visited grand (and great grand) parents, and then did some neighborhood trick or treating. To finish off the evening, we snuggled on the couch and watched Edward Scissorhands. Now it's time to relax and enjoy the candy!

Sylvia's 1st Piano Recital

Sylvia performed at her first piano recital today. She totally nailed it! We are so proud of how Sylvia is progressing at piano. She has only been playing for two months, and she is making huge strides. Our teacher (cousin Amy) is amazing with her, and gives us really good tips to help Sylvia play at her very best. Sylvia really likes when she gets applause. Even at home, when she finishes practicing, she'll turn to me and say, "Mom, aren't you going to clap for me? Did you forget?" She is so awesome! Since her recital was on Halloween, Amy had all of her students wear their costumes. It was really fun!

I Love This

I'm missing how fun and kind of ridiculous Polaroid photos were back in the day. And then I was reading a favorite blog (what up, cjane?) and saw this. It's a great website called Rollip.com, and you can upload any picture and the site will turn your photo into a digital looking Polaroid! I love it. Beware though, it will crop your images quite a bit, so pick a picture where your subject is centered. Anyway, totally fun. I want everyone to try it!

www.rollip.com

A 4 Year Old's Request

Sylvia informed us today that it is imperative that she take a ride in a hot air balloon in the near future. So if anyone would like to help us out with this, let me know ! :)

The Halloween Parade

Today was the Halloween Parade at Sage Creek Elementary School. Sylvia and I drove over to watch the parade, because Ben's preschool class got to participate. Ben was so cute in his little pirate costume! (His hat is on backwards, but whatever. Still adorable!) Ben loves his preschool class so much. He waits at the window for the bus to come, and runs as fast as he can to get on as soon as the bus arrives. Ben's class had a Halloween celebration today, and he had way too much fun!

We Love Fall

I really enjoy Fall, and like a lot of people it is my favorite season. It just smells so delicious! I have bought our pumpkins, made a couple loaves of pumpkin bread, and raked up lots of multicolored foliage for the kidlets to jump in. I can't wait until Halloween, and Thanksgiving, and all the other Autumn activites that I get to share with my kids. I love Fall!

Really?

Since I put the kids to bed a few hours before I turn in, I usually check on them before heading off to sleep. I thought they were still up and playing in their room, because the light was on, but no. They were sleeping together on Sylvia's bunk, side by side. They make us laugh so hard! These two little buddies can't even be apart long enough to sleep through the night.

So Delicious

When Sylvia asks, "Mom, can we make cookies?" I almost always say yes. Today is rainy and wonderfully gray, so it is the perfect day for cookie baking. And we saved a few for Ben to destroy when he gets home from preschool. Delicious pumpkin cookies!

Good Eats? Maybe.

I am attempting to flex my culinary muscles. I actually went to the library without the children the other day and checked out some cook books to give me some much needed inspiration. This has been an area of my life that has been lacking in both creativity and purpose. But I want to do better, and I guess that the will to improve is the first step to actual improvement, right? Right. So, off I go in search of interesting recipes that will actually draw my family to the kitchen table to eat with me. And even more importantly, off I go in search of techniques that will really help me earn my cooking chops.

Oooh, Kitties!

The other day, Ben escaped into the back yard and I ran out to catch him before he destroyed the neighbor's garden. We were making our way back to the house when we heard the faint tinkling of a bell. We went to investigate, and we found two little kittens under the bushes beneath the kids' bedroom window. One (in the pics) was orange with a fluffy white belly, and the other was dark gray with little brown patches. They were so cute! When Nate saw them, the first thing he did was get them a bowl of water and a few cans of tuna (why did I not think of that? I've never had pets, I'm seriously pet retarded.) I was worried, because I can barely take care of my little family without losing my mind, let alone two kittens. I knew the kids would want to keep them, and Nate was all for it, too! Luckily for me, before the day was out the owner of the kittens came looking for them. And I don't have to worry about buying cat food any time soon.

Ben is Officially 3

Ben has left the terrible two's behind, and officially embraced the even more terrible three's!!!! (There aren't any other synonyms of bad that I could find that started with the letter T, so we'll stick with terrible.) We invited the kids over for a wild rumpus in the back yard, and we had a really good time! Ben received lots of great gifts, and we want to say thanks to all the friends and family that were so generous. Ben is such a big boy now, and he's so sweet. He really has a tender heart, even though he's a bruiser! We're excited to see what this next year brings for him.

1st Day of Preschool

Ben started his special Preschool on his birthday, which was this last Wednesday. He loves getting picked up by the bus each day. He runs as fast as he can to the bus aide, and usually doesn't even wave goodbye! He goes for two and a half hours each day, and he comes home completely exhausted. He has so much fun! I don't know if it is coincidence or not, but I swear his speech has improved immensely in just this short time at preschool. On Saturday, he sang entire verses of "The Wheels on the Bus." That is incredible for him! I love seeing him grow and learn so much.

The Many Faces of the B Boo Boy

Happy

Annoyed

Sad.

Dinosaur Train!!!!!

I can't believe this kid is going to be 3 years old on the 30th. It's a good thing he's cute, because he is by far the naughtiest child I've ever encountered.