Girls Weekend!

The girls all headed out for an over night in SLC.  Our plan was to find things for Jodi’s wedding.  We had some of the little girls with up so we had to have some fun too.  Since we were in SLC we had to eat at the Training Table a family favorite and and tradition when we are in SLC to eat there.  One of the malls that we were in had a carousel so we let the little girls ride it because they had been so good while we were shopping.  I got an outfit to wear on Jodi’s big day and we were able to finish up all the other odd and ends too.

Adam’s B-day

We love to celebrate so when a birthday come along it is a great time.  This year we went out to dinner and them had cake and ice cream at our house.  Adam loves chocolate so his cake is all chocolate you can not see it very well but Little A drew a picture for his daddy on his cake with the green frosting.

Silly Kids

Miss M is already figuring out how to undress herself.  Little A did not ever really do this so this is a new experience for us.  I love the stage my kids are in they are really staring to get along better and Miss M still things that Little A is the best.   Little A always wants Miss M to cuddle with him.  Some times I really worry that he may turn on her and push her off the couch so I do not stray far.

Little A loves to roll up in all the different blankets and have them all different directions and then try to get out of them.  Sometimes he daddy wraps him too tight and she can not get out.

Octopus

Little A loves any of type of toy that grows in water.  the little form/ sponge things and mostly this animal like things.  As you can see below this one started out little like his hand a grew so much that we even had to change the bowl it was in.  It took two hands to hold it in the next pictures after a few days and it was not done growing then.

Miss M 7 months

Miss M is 7 months.  She is moving and as you can see with the pictures starting to pull faces, stand with little help and get into everything!

The Big 40 for Lance!

Lance turned 40 on his birthday!  It is crazy to think that my oldest brother (noticed I did not add wiser) brother is that old!.  In true fashion we had to celebrate and make a big deal.  So during Donut Brake at my dad’s shop we surprised him with 40 black balloons, and over the hill sign, and 40 different black things (Ores, Dr. Pepper, and etc..)  Miss M even wore an onies that said “My uncle Lance is… then on the back a big 40).

T performance!

The kids and I went to listen to Tay play in her concert with the ambassadors.  She is in a selected group from the whole valley it is amazing what she has learned in 2 years.  She is playing the violin.

Miss M Favorite Place!

Miss M hair is long enough to do a cute little ponytail on the top.  I love how it just is a little bop up there.  Also she loves this bouncer she loves that she can make noises with it and that she is safe from her brother when she is in it. (Jan)

Pillow Horse

Little A loves it when his dad is home.  Almost every day when he wakes up he asks is it a day dad is home?  One of his favorite things it to build a horse out of the pillows and cushions.  Below you can see what his dad get to do with him over and over.  Build the horse, Get on, Bucking horse, and then Bucked off the horse!!!

New Year Year 2010

Holly Cold is the only way to describe New Year Eve at the Ranch this year.  We still braved the cold and went sledding and ice fishing.  Little A loved the snow and out lasted me by a long time.

I decided that it would be fun to put together some minute to win it games to help pass the night.  We had three teams with players of all ages and then we competed against people in our same age group which did not mean anything about ability.  The kids had to stack Oreo on their foreheads. Move a gingerbread man from their eye to their mouth and many more.  Some of the adult games for knocking a pencil over with a marble Kim, Lance, and Jeff were the competitors in that game and Lance won and had to have a picture with the winner podium. 

The best was the Cheto toss. Jodi, Adam and Shea were good sports and covered their faces with shaving cream and let their teammates toss Chetos at their faces.  The kids thought it would be fun to put some shaving cream on their faces too.

Dattage Christmas Party

On Sunday we gathered together with my whole family and finished trading gifts with those who could not be there on Christmas Eve and the kids got their gifts from Grandma.

Pictured below:  There is always way to much food at my family get together but still Ry thinks that he still lives in Ghana and eats the marrow from the bones of the meat.  T just loves Miss M!  Little A just could not stop hugging the box that grandma and grandpa gave him.  It is the cutest Fire Station and Police house.  The boy version of a doll house.  It comes with furniture, vehicles, and everything needed!

Christmas Day

This is Miss M first Christmas she is 6 months old and it is the first Christmas that Little A really understood what was going on and was able to be excited which make it so fun for us.

Frist we opened stocking and then gifts from Santa and then from Mom and Dad.  Little A has been asking for a Crane and a Sub for a long time and Santa came though with both.  He also got some games and other boy toys.  Miss M got her first doll and a lot of other little girl things so she does not have to play with truck and balls with Little A.

We spent Christmas day with Adam’s family.  Little A also received a first a way cool toy gun and hunting hat.  He spent most of the day playing as a hunter and Uncle Blake with the deer.  Miss M got a ways cute Tutu and hair bows.

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve is always a day full a great fun and lots of Family.  In the morning we have breakfast and go bowling with Adam family.  I am not a bowler so I always go for fun and not to win.

By the end of the game the little kids were tired and Little A and his cousin had moved on to the video games, and of course Little A has the orange Gun.

That night we spent the evening with my family.  Every year Santa come to check in on the kids one more time.  Little A was so excited to sit on his lap and we were lucky he stuck with wanting a Crane and a Sub.

This year Santa brought a little something for all the couples too.  You are never too old to sit on Santa’s lap.

Miss M’s first Christmas and I was shocked how well she did with Santa.  She was an attacker of his beard.  I love the picture of the new 2 babies on Santa’s lap, Grandpa had to assist Santa because Miss M was too wiggly and he was afraid he would loose her.

Every year we have a little Nativity program.  The same box of costumes come out that came out with I was a child with a few new things added.  This year Miss M was the Star and Little A was a Shepard.  All kids are a part either dressed up or the older boys take turns reading the story from the scriptures.

Most of my family has season passed to Beaver Mt to ski.  While Aunt Jodi’s wears a purple ski outfit so Hayden came up with a great idea to haul a big box in on a dolly and inside was a Barney DVD.  Now she is know Aunt Barney!

Gift time the cousins always draw names and trade gift.  I love watching the kids sit and watch their cousins open their gifts and be excited for everyone.  Little A loved everything that he received.

My mom has always done Christmas PJ she did it for us when we were kids and now she does it for the grandkids.  This year Little and and K had matching dump truck PJ and Miss M had cute snowman PJ.  I tried to think of something I could do that my kids could open on Christmas eve and would go along with the PJs so I decided that I would make Pillow cases for my kids and before they have a pillow a little blanket.  Little A loved his Mator pillow case. and Miss M is really too little to get it!

Elden’s Shop Party

Every Year we are so lucky to get to attend my Dad’s shop party.  Almost everyone that works for him have been there for over 15 years and some are soon to cap 30 years.  One great addition in the past few years is their awesome secretary Gayle (seen below).  She always plans great food, entertainment and gifts for all.  I just love the picture of all the grandkids hanging all over Grandpa!

Christmas Church Clothes

I love Christmas Sunday every year.  All the little kids in new fun Christmas clothing.  The little girls feel like a princes in the dresses and the boy are mad that they match their sisters.  This year Little A did not want to smile unless Miss M was in the Picture with him.  I love Miss M smile in the picture with just her and her look of fear in the picture with her brother!

Christmas Lights

As a child one of the traditions we had was to go and look at the Christmas lights in Preston.  We have taken that tradition and made it our own but instead of Preston we head to Willard Bay for the light show there.  Little A loved getting to sit on his dads lap and help drive.  Little A and I even got out and saw Santa but did not have our camera with us.  Little A asked for a Big crane or a Sub!!!

Dryer

Today I told Little A to go out and get this coat on and when I went out the little picture is what I saw he had gotten his coat, but then got into the dryer I has left open and was playing.  So of course I had to go and get my camera and take a picture and then even go further and have him pose of a picture too.

SLC Trip 2010

Once again our family Salt Lake shopping trip was a hit and a blast.  Every year the first night when we get there the kids have to swim.  This is such a great time for all the grandkids, and men and grandpa get to act like kids too.  We always over take the pool and most everyone that was in there leaves!  I just love the picture of Miss M. Mr K. and grandma.

During the day of shopping we always have to take a break and eat.  We meet at the food court in one of the malls so everyone can get what they want.  Little A thought he was so funny and kept going over to this corner and acting like he was in time out.  Since the day Miss M was born Tay and she have had a special bond.  She just naturally fits on Tay’s hip!

After shopping we ate dinner, some went to the lights at Temple Square and other headed to the Hotel to swim again.  Little A just wanted to go to out room and play with his new toys.

Nutcracker and Christmas Tree

The girls we all lucky and got to go to the Nutcracker this year.  Before it we all went to dinner at the Coppermill which is always great.  Since Miss M is so young we only attended the dinner and then we went home and off to the show for the girls.

Here is Little A and Miss M checking out the Tree.  This is always one of my favorite nights setting up the tree, nothing else really makes it feel more like Christmas and the holiday season then the tree