Temple Square

We've been going to Temple Square every year since Alli was a baby (and probably even before). But last year we started something new that I love and want to make a tradition. After freezing in the cold winter air looking at the awesome lights on Temple Square, we head home and build a fire in our living room fireplace and make hot chocolate. Last night we spread a big blanket on the floor and had donuts and hot chocolate and told Christmas stories and our favorite memories and Christmas traditions. Matt and I told the kids our favorite memories of Christmas' when we were young (which our kids love hearing stories of our childhoods). It was so fun and I defintely want to keep this one up! Owen definitely had the best (and warmest) seat!

Dad and the kids!

Mom and the kids!

Owen trying to climb over Matt who was acting as a barricade from the fire! He is a little pyro (just like Matt!!!)

Cheers!

Gingerbread Houses

This is another one of our favorite Christmas traditions. It sure makes a mess, but it's well worth it!!! Don't be fooled by this picture....Matt is sitting in front of MY masterpiece!!!
Owen loved eating the m&m's!

The mayhem and the fun!

The finished products!

The kids did these 100% by themselves. It's really fun to do these kind of things with your kids when you're not doing it for them!

Tis the Season!

After our fabulous Thanksgiving feast at Matt's grandparents house, we headed home to deck the halls! We usually decorate the day after Thanksgiving, but we got home so early on Thanksgiving that we decided to get it done that night, and go see "A Christmas Carol" the next day. We love decorating together...blaring Christmas music. It's such a great way to start the Christmas season!!! I love that our kids climb the stairs to reach the top of the tree!

This (and a hotwheels) are Owen's contributions to the tree~ Love that he wanted to help!!!

Merry Christmas!!!

Vampires, mummies, and ninjas...oh my!!!

We had such a fun Halloween. The kids seemed to have lots of opportunities to wear their costumes this year. Here they are...

Our little mummy.

This isn't the cutest picture of Owen, but he wasn't being very cooperative! So it's the best we got!

Our "red ninja." (Taylor)
The picture turned pink :( I'm afraid our camera is dying!

Our "blue ninja" (Caden)

Our very scary vampire. Alli really enjoyed playing the role of a vampire...as you can see!

Trick or Treating with our friends (the Wrights)

Last but not least...trick or treating at Matt's work. This is such a fun tradition and since Halloween was on a Saturday, we got to go the day before Halloween which gave the kids 0ne more opportunity to dress up. It worked out perfectly because the kids didn't have school because of a teacher comp day (or something like that).

We had lots of fun...now on to Thanksgiving and Christmas!!! Yay!

pumpkins PuMpKiNs, PUMPKINS!!!

Last week we made our annual trip to Pack's Pumpkins Patch in Farmington. The weather was PERFECT for just such an outing! The kids had lots of fun (and so did Matt and I). We decided that this year was the best yet for pumpkin carving. The kids did most of the work themselves (minus Owen) which made it a lot more enjoyable for us! I love this time of year!!

Picking the perfect pumpkin

This is another reason the carving was so great...the garage. This is the first time we've done this, and honestly, it made all the difference. We were much more relaxed about the mess!

The finished products!! We actually had a neighbor call and say she was walking by when they were lit up and had to look closely to see if they were fake. My kids were pleased with that compliment!

(not real sure what Alli is doing in the above picture...ever the poser!!)

It's hard to believe Owen was a newborn last time we did this! It's so fun to have him a little bigger this year!

He's 1!!

Last year at this time I was in LDS hospital holding a perfect little newborn! I know I ALWAYS say this...but I just have to. I CAN'T BELIEVE MY BABY IS 1!!! By the time my first child turned 1 I felt like she was so grown up (maybe it was wishful thinking since I was pregnant!!), but with Owen I feel like he's still a little baby! Words cannot express how much we love this little guy! We are so grateful he is a part of our family!!! Opening his presents

His leapfrog drum (it even teaches him the abc's in spanish :)

Helping me make his cake (his favorite part of the cake)

Before...

After the big moment! And it was only a moment!! He stuck his fingers in the cake, tried to flip the frosting off, got mad that it was still there, then cried and rubbed his eyes with it. That was it! A little disappointing, but what can I say...maybe he will be a clean boy! There's wishful thinking!

New Pictures

My cute sister in law came to our house last night and took these adorable pictures of our kids. She is such a talented photographer. If any of you need pics taken, check out her blog and get in touch with her! http://www.kimberliewilson.blogspot.com/

New Family Room!

Matt asked me what I wanted for my birthday and I told him I wanted to paint our family room. So after trying several paint samples and asking my friend's professional opinion, we found this cute yellow paint. Then this same awesome friend and her husband got a babysitter and came and helped us paint until 1:30 in the morning! Amazing!!! We got the entire room (ceiling, hall, and trim included) done in one night! It would've taken Matt and me a couple days, at least, to finish by ourselves. Then came the fun part of shopping for decor! We just had our family pics taken too, so we were able to print those and have a fun place to display them. Matt made the comment that we really didn't need one more excuse to spend more time in the "T.V. room", but we sure have one now! We love our new room!!

Spooky Spiders

Last night during the Priesthood session, the girls and kids went to Matt's parents house to play. The kids each got a mini pumpkin and painted them black to make these adorable pumpkin spiders. Unfortunately we didn't have time to finish them last night and by the time we got home, most of the paint had chipped away. So today we spray painted them black and stuck the legs and eyes on...and voila! Spooky spiders. My kids love making halloween decorations and these were super fun and easy! The finished product.

Alli and her spider.

Caden and his spider.

Taylor and his spider.

The spiders final resting place (until Halloween is over and they go in the garbage!)

I love the holidays and decorations!