New Years Eve

For news years, we spent it at Scott and Jenny's with both our families, Jenni & Brickley and the Moody's.

We ordered outback takeout for the adults and pizza for the kiddos. We played games all night. I put together bags with crafts and activities for the kids that they got to open each hour. 

The last bag had hats, poppers and silly string. 

2013 was a great year filled with many ups and down and we can't wait to see what 2014 brings us! 

First Time Skiing

Dad took the girls to ski for the first time. He had never been either so they all took lessons the first couple hours then spent the day on the slopes. They had the best time!

A Very Merry Christmas

Christmas morning Dad had the flu but we all still had a great time opening presents. Kade got a huge crafting kit and tons of Angry birds and legos. Bailey & Kylie got a Monster High doll & Frozen Barbies. Jaxon got a Mickey Mouse clubhouse and playdough.

Christmas Eve

In the morning we went and saw Santa.

We had an early Christmas Eve dinner. We did an Olive Garden copycat meal. It was fun. That night, Paul's colleagues put together a service opportunity for their families on Christmas Eve. We went to a shelter and gave out presents to children. It was a great opportunity. Afterwards we came home, made cookies and opened our gifts. First they opened their new jammies.

Then their sibling gifts. Bailey and Jaxon exchanged and Kade and Kylie exchanged gifts. 

Then, they put out the milk and cookies for Santa and headed to bed. 

Merry Christmas

Our Christmas Cards

Choir Performance

This year kade really wanted to be in their school choir. It meets before school so I told him the only way it would work is if he could convince his sisters to be in choir too. He was successful and they have been going to practice every week and in the last few weeks twice a week. Because their big performance was at 9am and neither mom or dad could get out of work, the three of them did a private show for us the night before.

We're very proud of their hard work and dedication. 

Band and Orchestra Christmas Performance

This year Kylie has decided to play the flute. She is even playing the flute I did when I was her age. She is playing in her school band. 

Bailey wanted to try something different and chose to play the violin in the orchestra. 

They had a little trouble getting teachers so weren't able to have a full performance but had a mini one at the same time. I was running between them both but luckily got to see a little bit of each. They've been working so hard and it was great to see how good they are doing. 

I'm so proud of them both! 

Heros

While Christmas shopping we found this little fun sign. Kade didn't realize he was a "girl" superhero.

School assembly

Every year the high school choir (the one I teach at) comes and performs an assembly for the kids. Kade was chosen to come up and help. The girl next to him was a former student of mine and asked kade if he was my son. He told me after school "Mom it freaked me out. How did she know you were my mom?" Lol. Then I showed him this picture his teacher texted me and he now thinks I have spies at school. Haha.

Snow Fun

The only time we love snow is in December. There's something special about snow at Christmas time. This was our first real snow the kids played in. They had he best time!

Decorating for Christmas

Every year decorating for christmas is a big deal in our house. The kids ask over and over when we can decorate the trees.  We play Christmas music and they love getting the boxes out and putting up all the fun decorations. This year we went very simple. We hired a company to put up our Christmas lights outside a few weeks ago (its ridiculously dangerous to do them ourselves and completely worth every penny).

We spent Friday morning while Paul went into work putting up the small decorations, then put up/decorated the main tree Saturday night.

Santa arrival to City Creek

Thursdays are busy days for us. The girls have band/orchestra then they plus Kade go to children's choir until 530. While Jaxon and I were waiting, I saw online that Santa was coming early to city creek mall. So when the kids were done, we drive to city creek. We needed up eating at the food court where each kid was able to choose what they wanted to eat (they LOVED this) then we ran over to H&M for some gloves since it was freezing. Paul met us right before it started. There were elves passing out glowsticks and the whole crowd started singing Christmas carols. Then Santa showed up on the roof tops and confetti went out over the crowd. It was such a fun time! 

Family Pictures

This year we decided to get our pictures taken at Fotofly.

A quick snapshot while we were waiting

It's been busy and it seemed so easy. I loved how quickly we were able to do them and how they turned out. We ended up having to change our original appointment and had to change to the only slot available on a Tuesday night at 8 pm. I thought the kids would be tired and it would be a nightmare but they did so well and we had so much fun. Our photographer was great with them especially Jaxon. He had a blast and is still using the phrase "turkey booger" and laughs.

Single pictures

Group Shots

Lunch Date

Because we got home so late last night from the Bahamas, I took the day off to get us caught up (laundry, bought food, etc). One of the perks was I got to go on a lunch date with Jaxon before dropping him off at preschool (which may or may not have made us late for school oops). Love getting to spend time with this little guy.

Bahamas Vacation for Two

Paul has an amazing job and he works very hard at it. At the beginning of the first quarter, there is a competition for sales reps and managers to hit 100% quota AND be in the top 3. Paul was the only manager to qualify so we got to go to the Bahamas for a paid vacation for 3 nights and we had the best time. We swam with dolphins again and got massages. We swam, laid out, walked in the ocean, and spent time with fun people he works with. It was a much needed break and we had the best time!

A Real American Hero

Today our oldest nephew, Ken, came home from a year long deployment in Afghanistan. We're so proud of him and so grateful he's home safe and sound. We met Ken at the airport with a sign I made.

Happy Halloween

Halloween is always so much fun but so busy. Paul had the day off and got the kids ready for and taken to school, took Jaxon to his preschool dressed up.

This was Kades first holiday with diabetes and I wasn't sure how it would be but was prepared. It honestly wasn't a big deal at all. For his Halloween party, I volunteered to bring treats (so I knew what he was getting) so Paul (had the day off) and I took treats to his class any gave him his shot of insulin. Then we went to lunch. 

That night, the kids got all dressed up. 

Scott, Jenny and their kids and Keith, Autumn and her kids came over for the trunk or treat and then to trick or treat. We love cousin time. 

We always go to the trunk or treat with the Barons and trick or treating. It's become a tradition the kids look forward to. 

California Trip

Great Grandpa turned 90 this week and Nana and Aunt Carol planned a party for him. We wouldn't have missed it for anything. Since it was fall break, we left on Wednesday after school. We stopped in St. George for the night.

The next morning we ate continental breakfast before leaving to California. 

We arrived Thursday afternoon. Jaxon got a bear from Nana that was Aunt Andas. He named it "heart apple bear" and adores it. 

The next morning, Poppy chases the kids around dressed as a crazy person.

Then we went to the beach. 

Then the next day went to great grandpas 90th birthday. 

School pictures

This is the first year all four kids were old enough to get school pictures. And they all turned out so cute! 

Jaxon 4 Years Old

Kade 7 Years Old

Kylie 10 Years Old

Bailey 10 Years Old

Soccer Season

This fall, Kylie, Bailey and Kade are all playing soccer.  Kade's practices are Tuesday nights, the girls Wednesday night. They have games all morning on Saturdays: Kade's 9 and the girls 10:30.  We've had the most fun watching them and they've loved playing. We can't wait for spring soccer!