Bear Lake 2015

Such a fun week at Bear Lake this year!

 The first day always involves getting right in the pool.

 This is Matt being the engine for his cousins and siblings.

 Grandma brought advanced coloring book which were really fun. Then we had a fantastic day at the beach,  lots of time on the jet ski and perfect weather. So I guess I didn't take pictures, I was too busy playing. 

 The second day was a little cloudier so we broke out the kites Grandma got from the dollar store. Who would have thought we could have so much fun with such cheap kites? 

We decided the family that flies kites together stays together!

 Brittany and Abby even took one out in the raft!

There was a cool storm that came up for a little while but it didn't last!

We didn't make as many sand sculptures as we usually do but these are the beauties that Uncle Nate and  Brittany made. 

Goodbye Bear Lake we love you! 

Until next year!

Valentine's Day 2015

Well its been a few days but I feel like I should post some of the fun that we had here for Valentine's Day. Josh finally got the chance to make a big fancy Valentine's Day box for school. He wanted to make Iron Man. Of course his big sister helped, and we discovered spray paint was a much more fun way to paint such a big thing. It turned out awesome! 

For Valentine's day there were lots of balloons and heart-shaped treats! I think Valentines Day is such a fun day to show everyone how much I love them. And I received a note from Josh, apparently I'm covering all of his important needs!

Christmas 2014

Such a fabulous Christmas we have had! This last week with the kids out of school has been great! We snuck a few extra holiday things in. Like walking around the light displays at the Laytin City Park. The kids had complained that we always drive through but never get out and walk around. So this time we did get out, and it was fun! But cold!

Then we had Christmas eve at Grandma's house. The kids we sitting so cosy on the loveseat I had to take their picture. Not that they cooperated. And had scary eyes.  Then we came home to our beautiful neighborhood. Two families prepped luminaries for everyone and it was so pretty!

Christmas morning! So fun! That blur is Matt running for his victory lap in the basement, he was pretty excited about the tablet Santa bright him. His siblings were pretty happy too.

That top left picture is the kids opening a family gift together. Like a Tazmanian devil got it! Brittany always makes a present fort around herself. Then we had a great, lazy day playing video games, putting Legos together and eating.

Such a lovely, beautiful day. It even snowed giving us a white Christmas! I'm so grateful for my fantastic family and my knowledge of my Savior's birth and sacrifice, especially on days like today.

Christmas Breakfast at The Grand

This morning was the day for one of our very favorite Christmas traditions, breakfast at The Grand hotel.  It is always so delicious and beautiful. 

We go with the Butler family and it is so fun to be together! 

This year we got to see Mr. and Mrs. Claus, all of the gorgeous windows, and the biggest gingerbread house ever.

 It was a beautiful, wonderful morning and we are so grateful to these two beautiful people for making it happen!

Halloween 2014

Another great Halloween has come and gone. We love Halloween! Not so much the scary or the gory but we are big on imagination and pretending to be someone else.

 

I got to help in Josh's class this year where his two buddies had also draws up as Avengers.
 

The next day, on Halloween,  we had no school! I wish this could be how Halloween worked out every year! Because there was no school some of the neighborhood girls planned a fun party. Again, the Avengers struck together.
 

That afternoon we all got ready for the annual Halloween party at the Dopps' house.

We love this party every year! It is laid back and fun, just like the Dopps! Lots of candy and seeing people we love, plus it is a fun place for us all to go dressed up! This year we again judged and presented the awards Brittany made.
 

This is where we get a shot of the whole family. Brittany was the Winter Solider, Matt was Star Lord from Guardians of the Galaxy, Josh was Captain America and William and I were the Marvel parents supporting them. This year we again judged and presented the awards Brittany made. It was so hard! Then we went home and Josh trick or treated with the Avengers. Matt went with s friend and Brittany went to a party

I can't believe how big my kids are getting but I an really grateful they still like to hang out with us!
 

I took a few pictures of some of our Halloween decorations before I put them away, just for posterity!

Annual pumpkin carving 2014

 

The Monday before Halloween we always carve pumpkins so that is what we were up to tonight. The kids have developed some great skills!

 

Josh had Dad's help creating a puppy 

 

Matt created a cool Spiderman. Brittany created a new form of Jack-o-lantern that involved wire and paint.  Then she tackled a second pumpkin covered in Mavel comic,it was so cool I wish it had been a fake pumpkin so we could keep it. We are ready for another Halloween!

The First Day of Fall Break

 We are so lucky this year because the Sorenson gang has Fall Break the same time we do! And they came to stay at Grandma's for most of it! So to start things off we all went to Station Park and had lunch. Love that these two have such a great time together.

 These adorable three have a lot of fun too!

 There was a lot of shopping and trying on of crazy and cute things.

On the way out Matt found a Tesla, had to take a picture of course! I love breaks in school, do we really have to go back?

Another fun day

Today for our second big day of Fall Break we hung out with the Sorenson's again!

 

 

We started with making a gingerbread Halloween village, ate some lunch,

 

went miniature golfing at Scary Hill,

 

where the kids were constantly under attack.

And then went to a pumpkin patch.

 There was even a mini-carnival with balloon animal/guns and cotton candy!
Whew! It was a day packed full of fun! It is so much fun when the Sorensons have a break at the same time we do! But tomorrow we are doing absolutely nothing!

Temple Day!

It seems like so many of our friends and neighbors have already been to tour the newly remodeled Ogden temple. Well today it was finally our turn! To make it even more special we got to go with the whole Butler clan plus Aunt Gloria who was visiting from Minnesota.

 

The kids wanted to take a picture of their feet all together. I thought I was super clever coming up with the hash tag "standing in holy places". Love these feet and the amazing kids they are attached to! 

Josh was my only child who would let me take his picture in front of the temple. I'm sure this means he will receive extra blessings! 

After a wonderful tour of the beautiful new building Grandpa took us all to Chuck-a-rama, or kid heaven as it could also be called. I don't think the kids have had this much fun at a meal together since the cruise. There was a bit of a wait so Abby and Brittany used Matt as a pillow for a little nap. 

Love these crazy people! 

It all ended with all kinds of crazy desserts, the craziest created by Matt. Yes those are French fries he poured ice cream over. He swears it was delicious. It was a fantastic day. One of those perfect ones you wish you could stretch and make last forever.