Christmas Morning (That lasted all day!)

Here are a few of the pics from our wild Christmas Day! It was so fun to spend time with family, we are all just a little tired now.

Next, Hillbilly New Year!

Christmas Time is Here!

It was so fun to have everyone at our house this year for Christmas Eve. We had yummy french dip sandwiches, salad, cheeseballs, lots treats and a funky egg nog punch!

My mom was so great to get lots of pictures, but here are just a few.

Pretty sure Carli was singing or something!

Carli couldn't be more thrilled to be in front of the treat bar!

Everyone but Michael. We were so sad that they had to miss our party due to snowy weather conditions.

Nate being so nice; sharing a crumb with Grandma!

New PJs by the warm fire!

The Simple Joys!

It seems almost every night at the dinner table a bomb goes off! Carli can't sit still, Nate up and down from the table 5 times, looking for his 3 blue forks, and Kyle only wanting to eat whatever the rest of the family is eating!

Tonight when Chad got home from work, all 3 kids were in their rooms in time out (all for various reasons I wont go into). So while the 2 of us finished getting dinner ready and talking about your day, we decided to start reading from the scriptures while I got everyone dished up. So we started, the bomb was starting to go off, but we kept reading...Nate sat still and ate his whole meal and then some! (That was the simple joy!) We only got a few verses in before Chads phone rang and Kyle couldn't stop screaming.

So that was it! We read, ate dinner, and listened to some screaming and crying, but thats just how it is! Its our crazy family, and I love them!!

The Happy Couple!

What a beautiful day we had with Angie and her fabulous husband, Ryan! Here a just a few pics from my camera.

Such an "Angie" look. Love it!

Faker!

Very accurate picture of my family!

Congrats Angie and Ryan! We love you.

6 Years!

My how time flies! I cant believe that today marks the day Chad and I were married 6 years ago.

Love you biggest!

Scott

We found out today that my brother Scott will be returning home from his mission on Monday. He has a tumor on his arm, that needs to be removed. I will continue to post updates on his blog, from him and my mother. www.elderowen.blogspot.com

Thanks for all your prayers and thoughts.

We are happy that he will be here for Angie's wedding next Friday!

Pumpkin Party

Tonight was our Pumpkin Carving Party! We made tortilla soup (YUM!), Dipped Carmel Apples (YUM -O!), worked on Angies wedding treat boxes (DARLING!), and carved 3 great pumpkins! (Well, we (Chad) just carved the 1, Evan and Mark carved their own!) What a fun night with the family! Carli insisted on those big kissie lips, and big eye lashes! So funny.

No Training Wheels!

We have spent a lot of time outside lately with the weather being so great and all! Carli saw a friend ridding her bike with no training wheels and we thought we would give it a try. She was really excited, and then very nervous. She did great, for seconds at a time, and then had enough.

(Since then, its been raining nonstop, of course!)

Halloween Party

A great family in our ward, put together a very fun Halloween Party. We all had to dress up, and as you can see, Chad and I took the easy and free way out! My mom was kind enough to bring home the scrubs!

We were sent on a scavenger hunt all around town. Needing to take pics on things, collect things, answer questions and do a hand full of puzzles.

(Notice Im not in this one!)

How cute is my husband?

We had such a great night with friends!

Popsicles in the Bath Again!

The best place in the world to eat popsicles!

Holy Cow!

Tonight my parents were so great. They offered to take Carli for the whole afternoon! It was such a nice break. Carli told them a great story, and if I don't write it down, it will be forgotten.

Out of the blue Carli starts telling my mom that she is not allowed to say, "holy cow", only at the park. (I'll explain later.) Then Carli says, "sometimes I go up in my room for quiet time and say holy cow a whole bunch of times so my mom and dad can't hear me."

Seriously? Where did we get this girl? (oh yea, Target, according to her!)

Carli has started asking me a lot about what words she can and can't say. So one day when she asked me if she could say holy cow, I said, "I guess", not knowing she had already asked dad the same question, but he said No. So when we got home from the park one night, she told Dad that I said she could say holy cow. Chad and I both looked at each other not knowing that she had asked both of us and I said, "I guess, only at the park!"

She doesn't forget a thing!

The Pet...Frog!

Chad found a frog in the yard, and it quickly turned into our pet. His name is Kermit!

Pedicures!

Angie being such a great Ant!

Pedicures in between conference sessions.

Getting so big!!

Oh my word! Kyle is amazing me everyday. This past weekend he grew up big time. He has mastered the crawl, can crawl, sit up, and crawl again, and can even start to feed himself. Right now he loves baby goldfish, cheerios, and pretty much anything that can be cut up and is not 'baby food'. I can't believe how fast he's growing up.

My mom said, he's a stinkin' genius! I have to agree!!!

Happy Birthday Carli Cakes!!

Oh my beautiful Carli cakes!  I still am not sure where we got you, but I wouldn't take you back for a million bucks.  You make me laugh every day and are such a joy in our family.  Happy birthday biggest girl.  

Carli with her very fancy, Fancy Nancy doll.  She believes she is Fancy Nancy!  (I kinda agree!!)

Crawling & Teeth!

Kyle is 6 months old today and FINALLY got his 2 bottom teeth yesterday!  He has been the latest of my kids to get teeth (Carli and Nate both had some by 4 months).  Poor boy, Poor mom.  I have been saying for the last 2 months, that if he doesn't get them this week...I don't know what, they have to be close!  

He's now back to his happy self, and busy learning how to crawl.  For now, its a little more of a rock, rock, face plant kinda crawl...but he's getting there! 

Carli's Girl

Here is Carli on her 1st day of Preschool!  She was excited to get back to see her friends from last year.  She has grown a ton, and is ready to learn!  We had a great time working on her 1st project of the year!  She was very particular on what was going to be on her girl.  She had to have a dress!  Not a skirt!  And there was NO WAY I was going to cut up one of her necklaces to glue on the girl.  And check out those goggles.  Too funny.  She makes me laugh.  Its so Carli in every way.  Love you girl.  

"Dang It"

Carli has been my best helper lately.  Her favorite thing to help with is emptying the dishwasher, but for some reason she wasn't in the mood for it today.  When I told her to come get to work, she walked on over and asked, "can I say, "dang-it"".  It was all I could do to keep from laughing.  "No, Carli, you cant say that!"

No Pictures...

Its true what they say...I have for sure not been as good at taking pictures of Kyle as I was with Carli.  I'm so sad about it.  I will try and make up for it over the next few months.  

In my defense, we haven't done anything too exciting, the last few weeks.  :)

Happy Birthday Nate Dawg!

I went Potty!!

Call me crazy, but we have begun the first attempt at potty training Nate!  I know he wont be 2 until next week, but if he can learn how to swim at this age, don't you think he can learn this one too?  So far he is doing fairly well.  Just a few mistakes and a few major fits, but thats to be expected I guess.  Here are some pictures. 

(Because every picture has to be taken on the fireplace)

I'm sure he will appreciate that I cropped out the princess shoes he was wearing in both pictures.  He makes me laugh.  

Who looks like Who?

My 3 beautiful babies!  I can't believe how big they are all getting.  Before today I thought Kyle looked so much like Carli, but I don't know anymore!  

Carli

Nate

Kyle

Infant Swim Resourse

2 weeks ago we started Nate in the ISR program, a highly intensive, drowning prevention program lasting up to 6 weeks, Monday - Friday for only 10 minutes a day.  I was desperate.  This boy is totally fearless in the water (as you saw from my post a few weeks ago).  

Last year right after our pool was finished, we were all outside cleaning out the car, when Nate went to reach in the pool to get a ball, and fell in after it.  If it wasn't for Carli coming to get us to tell us what had happened, it could have ended much worse.  I am so thankful that he was ok, and so thankful Carli thought to come get us, I don't know what I would do with out this crazy boy in my life.  

I of course got more concerned as the weather warmed up, how I was going to be able to handle all 3 of my kids outside by myself?  Then I got an email from his teacher (who I had contacted a few years ago) saying she had a few more openings.  I had no choice.  We signed him up the next day!!  The first 2 weeks were rough.  He cried the whole time.  I had to hide behind the wall so he couldn't see me, and he pinched and fought his teacher really bad.  

Today it clicked, we had a complete turn around!  He did so great!  He was happy every time he went under the water, wanted to find her hand and was was ready to jump and do it again every time.  He was even kicking (something she hadn't yet worked on).  Ohh I was so happy.  What great progress just after 2 weeks.  I will try and video on Friday and post it!  Im such a proud mom.  

Needless to say, I highly recommend the program, and if I am not trained to teach next year, I will happily do it all over again with baby Kyle.  

Giggles

How can you resist this darling little baby?

1st Swim of '09

Summer is about here and we are ready to swim!  I am sure the kids would have been in a few weeks ago if I would have not been so chicken.  Dad is much more brave and had a great time catching Carli and Nate as they took turns jumping off the waterfall! 

 

Looks Cold!!

Swim diaper, I know...we hadn't planned on swimming tonight!

Can't forget about our darling Kyle!

While I went to help wash Carli's hands from dinner, Chad held Kyle as he was trying to ease into the cold water.  When I got back, I found them both covered in spit up!  At least I didn't have to clean it out of the carpet!