Christmas with Nana & Papa

Nana made a special blankie for Danny (as he requested many times!) and I wish I could have captured the GLEE when he opened it!  She also made special pillowcases for each of the boys.  Later that night, Danny lamented that it was too bad for everyone else that he got the best presents - super hero pillowcase, the special quilt, AND a spider book.

Skyler has figured out the "presents" thing this year.  He was moving kinda slow so Daddy encouraged him to bite it open - he still listens to his daddy... 

Cole got a super slime-making kit.  The next morning he was mixing up "top-secret" and "rubber" slime - a perfect gift for our scientist!

Hunter got the complete series of 39 clues - He's almost finished a book a day!  I'm constantly finding lights left on in my car (cabin lights) because he's reading every chance he can get as we go to family events every night this week!

It's a good thing my parents spoiled Danny - we sure didn't do a good job of that (details later!)

Overalls

I've been wanting to do this post since this summer - but December is better than never.

Here is a picture of our nephew and nieces - I think this was in 2000.  They're all teenagers now.

Here's my youngest wearing the same overalls.  All my boys have worn these overalls (I think we have two of them!)  We've enjoyed a good amount of hand-me-downs through the years - most show the wear and tear, but these still looked new!  And even 13 years later, they are still adorable.  I just had to show you the picture to prove it!

And here is Skye with Brooke - she was on the far right in the first pic!

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE!

Traps and trapped

Danny has been building "traps" everywhere.  He'll tie ropes, elastics, anything at his disposal to door knobs, stair railings - etc - all to make a "trap."  The other morning, I was in my room getting ready.  Danny came in the room asking about a special bag he was going to take to preschool that day and when I told where it was, he ran off excited to get it.  Then there was screaming and wailing.  This little guy had set a trap upon waking up - across our hallway between the two closet doors.  When he ran out to get the bag, he clotheslined himself - across the face - and got himself REALLY GOOD.  I tried to take a picture that night of the line going across his nose/face.  I know I should have been sad with him, but I was laughing.  He honestly had done that only MINUTES before coming into my room.  I guess it was a good trap!!

He's TWO!!

It's hard to believe that my baby is 2.  He's growing up so fast.  It's cliche, but I swear I only had this kid a couple months ago!  And now he's talking, has opinions, and is even getting louder to compete with the noise level already in our home.  

We took Skyler shopping for fish for his birthday.  I think daddy had the most fun picking out the fish - I wish I had captured him in action.  Skye loved all the animals.

He kept pushing this little ladder around to be able to peek in at the rodents.  I couldn't get him away from that area!

At home, we made the yummiest lemon cake ever.  We had a little birthday party for just our family.  He loved blowing out the candles.  So, we did it again.  And again, and again.  He was singing the birthday song to himself as I put him to bed that night! 

A few days later, Grandma & Grandpa brought over a gift for Skyler - it's a Fart Gun.  (yup!)  I guess it plays a role in the Despicable Me 2 movie.  Well, you should have heard the giggles Skyler had with Grandpa playing with his gun.  I absolutely adore this pictures - you can almost hear the laughter!  Thanks Grandma, Grandpa and Cherae for the giggles!

All about Skyler:

He loves, adores, and loves even more all his blankies - but there is one with priority (Thanks Aunt Martie)

Every morning he comes to our room, sho (show) pease, ceral (cereal) pease!

He likes to fix his hair while I do mine.  I put in mousse and he has to have some too, we both pat it into our hair and go about our busy day

He sings in the car with the radio

His run is adorable

Loves slides and being outside

Loves his big brothers.  He especially loves to have "snuggles & snores" with Cole.  They'll cuddle up on the couch together and make little fake snoring sounds and pretend to be asleep

Loves the Waterford alphabet videos

Loves fish, doggies, and especially chickens (bawk-baa's)

He screams "a-pillar" as we walk through the dairy section until Mommy figures out he's trying to get a can of whip-cream to make a "caterpillar" on his finger

He makes everyone smile around him - you just can't resist loving this little boy!

Our southern get-away

Shayne had a conference to attend in Vegas - so we made it a family affair.  We played in St. George the first day, then went to Zion's National Park (no, I did not hike Angel's Landing during this trip) and then we went to Vegas for a few days.  It was nice to be warm.  It was even harder to come home to the snow.

Zion's National Park
Emerald Pools Hike - we went all the way to the third pool (which is a feat for these little feet).

He managed for a little bit of time with Skye on his back - not very long though.

Vegas
I didn't take pics - we were just chilling and using the hot tubs.  But we did make it a point to take the kids to the famous Pawn Shop (from the History channel).  That was neat to see in person.

I did that!

Angel's Landing - Zion's National Park

This was definitely one of my most favorite things I've ever done!  I'm not ready to take my kids on this hike yet, but someday I hope I will be able to go with all my boys to this AMAZING place - it was spectacular!

"Fall"ing fun!

Creative writing assignments by Cole

(typed exactly as written by Cole)

#1
BLOOD!
      It all started when we went to trafalga on the bowling alley.  "Hay my tum!" Right as I said it my finger got smashd! "Yooow!" I howled.  "mu, me, ca, fa, piapl, pab, pub, paoa." I cried with a whisper.
      I fell down unconscious.  "Oooo" I complained. "Yow!" I howeld.  Soon I was wide awack.  "What was that for?" I exspand.  "Sorry I gave you a shot." said the doctor.
     "I see a light, should I go toward it?" I said.  "No!" Siad Danny my little brother.  "Wow we almost lost you!"  Danny expland.  "I cant feel my body!" I said.  "Wow his actions are huge!" said the doctor.
      "Hmmm." I said in my mind.  Soon I went to sleep. "zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz" I snord owl lawde.  We whent to bed. "Yiye!" Ha ha! it was a dream.  Aaa! It was real!"  Sooo....I playd video games all night! O! I hade two stitches.
      Three days later.....I found out I had a broken finger.  I had to wear a splint for tow or four weeks.  "Noooooo!!  I cant play video games!"  I siad.  And from that day four weeks on my life was horrible.
THE END!

#2
When I grow up...
I want to be a sicintise.  Makeing mashinggs and poshons.  I all so want to g to BYU college.  I also want a famly and maby a baby!  I want to have go nise howse.  And 2 yrs of a job, then make a bisnis of my owne.  My companys name will be Cole la teck.  Ill hire peple for my coumpane.  And blld a vlig calld stown creck.