Christmas is in the air!

So its the day before Christmas and I just realized I haven't put up pictures of the kids decorating our tree yet...its only been a month, but I guess better late then never!

This year we went to Salt Lake for Thanksgiving. I love, love love Christmas and if I could I'd have the decorations up all year...seriously! So I was a little bummed to be coming home to a fall decorated house. But a few days before we left for the city Kevin told me that if I did all the decorating then I could go ahead and put up Christmas stuff (he didn't want to have anything to do with it that early). So you better believe I started that day!

When he got home from work we went to Lowe's and picked out a tree. One of these years we'll do like most people in this town and go chop one down ourselves...this year was just a little busy.

Kaylee and Kollin starting the ornaments.


Kev helping with the ones up high.




This picture really doesn't show the lights very good but its gorgeous all lite up!


Something else we did recently was go to Kollin's Christmas Program at school. He did AWESOME!! He knew every word to every song. There were a few moments that I just laughed because he was sooo into the song...check out the video below (taken from our new LOVELY video camera!!!). "I want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" is one of our absolute favorite Christmas songs and he was ecstatic when he got to sing it in his program!




Also, twice a month the kids and I go to Lowe's for their "Build and Grow" free workshop. the kids get to make lots of funnnn things. They get goggles and aprons (that they can keep) and get to use cute kiddie hammers! Its fun watching them hammer and literally "build" crafts!

All decked out before we started...


Kaylee hammering away!


Tonight we were invited by some really great friends of ours to join them for a night of chili and dessert and participate in a Christmas Nativity. Us girls were angelic angels, Kevin was a Shepard, Kollin was a Lamb and Koop was a King. It was a lot of fun and a great way to get away from the hustle and bustle that Christmas sometimes brings!





Kollin started as a Shepard but decided to be a lamb instead.


The Angelic Angels:)


Tomorrow is filled with making treats for Santa and spending the evening with Tim and his family. Wow...I cannot believe that its finally here! I'm so grateful to have such great friends and family around to spend the Holidays with! I probably wont blog until after all the excitement so until then...

East and West Coast Snow

For those of you who know me know that I'm an East Coast girl...I love love love the beach. Honestly love really isn't a strong enough word. I could live FOREVER at the beach. I love the green trees everywhere, I love the history and amusement parks, I love how driving down the interstate I can only see 1 mile in front of me because there's so many trees, I miss seeing my extended family who all live in Virginia. I always look forward to visiting there each summer.

Anyways living in Utah I've had to get used to cold cold winters with snow and ice and ohhhh such cold air. I'm okay to admit that I'm a flat out baby in the cold. The past few weeks we've had a few storms come thru leaving quite a bit of snow on the ground.


This was about 4-5 inches that fell a few weeks ago.


This was last Sunday Morning...


We went over to the Golf Course and took the kids sledding. We were the first ones there that day so at first it was tough getting down the hill. Kev and I had to dig a trail with the sleds and ride it a few times so it was slick enough for the kids to go down.












The kids are all much bigger this year and could trek back up the hill on their own (thank goodness!!!). The snow from that weekend has stuck around all week and seeing how we cant get out of the 20's I'm sure it'll be here for a while. The only down side is how dry the snow is here (or wet...I don't know the difference) all I know is its IMPOSSIBLE to make a snow man. I sat out front and tried and tried with the kids and I must really be bad at it because I couldn't even make a ball:( Sad huh.

Anyways so my Mom called me yesterday and told me that they were expecting around 20 inches of snow...in VIRGINIA (remember all that talk about it being my pretty green trees and beach state)...well, she wasn't kidding - check this out...

This is in Salem, Virginia where my Mom lives. 19 inches at her house! Good Grief!!!


I sooo wish we could have been there to play in all that powdery fluff with them! And my crafty cute Mom made the most awesome snow lady I've EVER seen...
Ohhh I just. love. it!!!


Guess what...Christmas is in 6 days!!!

My Favorite Things...

Ohh how I LOVE Christmas time!! I love everything about it...decorations, crafts, activities, the songs, houses all lit up, children's excitement, Santa and Reindeer stories, and ohhh the smell of our "mistletoe" scentsy...mmmm just like pine!

I was sitting at the table the other day talking on the phone and began looking around our house at all the decorations and lights that are up and kids playing and I had this moment of peace and honest happiness as everything around me just made me - well, happy! So of course I wanted to share a few of my most favorite things about this time of year...

This was about a week ago when I got to share a night with just Kaylee and me at her pre-school Christmas Party. I loved that time I was able to spend with just her!


The kids with Santa at our wards Christmas Party.


The week of Thanksgiving Main Street is totally transformed into this (and I'm not kidding) Winter Wonderstreet!!! There's lighted garland around EVERY light pole, either a tree -snowman - or Santa at the top of every pole AND lighted snowflakes on EVERY pole. At Cobble Rock Park you get as close as you'd like to the beautiful decorations. This is where we took our family picture this year.

This is what each pole looks like right now...


The trees they set up during Christmas time make such cute back drops and the 5 inches of snow we got the day before made it just perfect.


Our awesome neighbors brought these cute, cute wiggly headbands for the kids that brought lots of smiles...




And these are just a few of my FAVORITE decorations around our home...


(whoa these tedious stockings were such a pain to make, but just beautiful hanging by the fireplace!)


The top of my cabinets are full of some more favorite Christmas decor but I cant show those until I post our kitchen refinishing project! Soon, soon...

These I. Just. Love. Cindy has been helping me collect these for the past few years and when we bought our townhouse last year we were able to bring the piano that Kevin's lovely sister Kristin gave us to give these beautiful houses a new home for Christmas time!


Such a easy and quick decoration but Oh. So. Cute.!!!!


Our lovely wreath that we won at Kevin's work party.


And to try and explain this dark, blurry picture you'll just have to go to Lowe's and buy these Incredible, Awesome and the funnest EVER glasses (only for $2) that turn EVERY light into a snowflake. Yea - you heard me right:) These glasses are the coolest thing. We leave them in our cars glove box so when we're driving around at night the kids can look at all the decorated houses turn into a million snowflakes!! I tried to capture a picture of our tree thru the glasses...you'll just have to go buy yourself some to see the real thing:) :)!!!


And along with every activity this month I've had some fun crafts I've been busy with...
A Joyful Countdown to Christmas...


...and Kay and Khloe's bows have totally taken over our upstairs bathroom so I've been trying to figure out a way to organize them better. Well one night at Tim and Brittany's house I saw this canvas striped with ribbon that she had bought at Pottery Barn...really really cute, but soooo far beyond my budget. So...I headed over to the DI found an old cork board, covered it with some old fabric I had and used some ribbon to make strips to attach the bows onto.


...after most of the bows are on it. I'm workin on another.


And of course after you enjoy all the fun this season brings...I love. this. part!! Sweet Dreams:)

What do U do when your baby turns 2?!

Ohhh it brings tears to my eyes just re-living Khloe's little Birthday Party last Thursday where we celebrated her turning 2!!! She has grown so much this past year, I honestly don't know where its gone. And those terrible 2's that so many people talk about geezzz...she caught onto that really quick! Many times each day she's either in time out or getting her little lips (lightly I'll add) popped for screaming, "no'in" me or talking back (yes...she's already living the nightmare that my mom cursed me with years ago about my daughters having the same attitude as I did. I was just hoping it didn't happen until I knew how to handle it. Urrrr...thanks mom!).

Through all those frustrations she's still absolutely hilarious, smart, silly, creative and is still my little baby!! Her and Kaylee are such sweet sisters as they can already share clothes (yes - Kaylee is incredibly petite and Miss Khloe has those grab and squeeze type thighs:)!) and are constantly playing dress up and doing makeovers on each other.

Here's my sweet 2 year old on her Birthday!


I'm not sure who's more excited...Kooper or Khloe. My kids are at that age where EVERY party we go to their practically on the birthday kid opening their presents for them. SoSOssosSOSO frustrating. Yep, same thing here...Koop opened it for her.


And her obsession lately...

She LOVES babies. We probably have every one Walmart carries except for Baby Alive. She cuddles them, feeds them and LOVES pushing them around the house.

Blowing out the candles. Great picture huh...Urrrrrr. On a side note we finally purchased our video camera so the pictures will get better!!!


Enjoying some yummy ice-cream cake.


Our traditional popping the balloons with a fork. Aunt Brittany and Uncle Timmy got her this super cute dress up that she insisted on wearing to bed that night.


Awe how I love you Khloe. Happy Birthday!!!

The same night was Kevin's work Christmas Party. A huge Thank you to my sister-in-law Brittany for watching the kids so Kevin and I got to enjoy a night out.

Holly Days 2009

For so many reasons my favorite season is hands-down Christmas time! The day after Thanksgiving they have a big shin-dig here in town with activities ALL day and a parade and fireworks at night. Its such a fun way to start the Christmas season!

Kevin had to work this year again so the kids and I headed out for some fun. During the day we went downtown and got to do crafts and sidewalk chalk and even ride some ponies. It was a ton of fun so I'm sure you can imagine my frustration when my camera's batteries died! (Urrrrrr!!!)

Well that night we met up with Kev for the parade and some free hot chocolate and churros!


Mr. and Mrs. Claus being pulled in by a Motorcycle.


They had FREE hot chocolate and churros to warm us up.


You could even get some free marshmallows from the Hot Chocolate stand and roast them by the fire...


Then, our other favorite part is over at one of the main event buildings each year they set up about 8 HUGE bouncers for the kids to slide down. Of course my camera wasn't working again (I'm not kidding its REALLY time for a new one). But my amazing husband saved the day and swooped in there with his awesome work phone and took pictures of the funnest thing ever...

...Kaylee riding the bull!!! It was SOOOO cool seeing the kids up on this thing hanging on for dear life!






Kollin...


And Koop Dog... (he thought this was just the coolest thing...you can kind of see him smilin' behind the helmet!)


Happy Holidays!!!!!

Stand aside David Beckham...

This was Kollins second year playing soccer. Last year was interesting. I could never loose track of my kid...he was the one with his arms out like an airplane making flying noises as he ran back and forth. Kevin and I are extremly competitive so it was tough just letting him have fun.

Anyways, this year it was incredible how much he's grown. Kollin is soooo quick. He had a great team but was easily one of the fastest. It took him a few games to get aggressive but once he figured out that he could be that way...he was unstoppable!

His coach is also in our ward so Kollin loved talking about soccer with him every Sunday.


This season Kollin made about 3 goals. Of course no picture of it but this is him getting pretty close.


So our camera is shot...I dont think any camera can keep up with how many pictures I take:) My Christmas present this year is a video camera and it's times and activities like this that I get sooooo excited about it.

Excited to be playing defense!


His last game...He's #8 right in front.


Our Super Soccer Star. I wanted a happy picture....


...Kevin wanted a mean one. This is the meanest face my sweet Kollin could give:) We'll have to work on that one!


We're so proud of you Kol! I cant wait for the next round of sports to begin! Him and Kooper are starting Wrestling in February!!!!! Who-hoooo - they sSOOsososO need an outlet to all that crazy energy! Congrats Kollin on an awesome soccer season!

So much to be Thankful for!

We found out that Kev had to work the day after Thanksgiving so we took a super quick trip to Salt Lake to spend Thanksgiving with Kev's family. It was so nice seeing his distant cousins and having all the little ones play together.

This is Matt and Nicole (Kevin's cousin) daughter Olivia and Stacey and Kyle's son Rylan. Their about a month apart. Ahhhh - I love how their staring at each other:)


A few of the guys went out back to play some Thanksgiving tag football. Sweet Kaylee got in on some of the action too.






I was so excited to be able to spend Thanksgiving with Kyle and Stacey again and it was even better this year because I got to hold Adorable Mr. Rylan. He makes the cutest and funniest faces...here's another:) Its almost like he's holding back a laugh or something:)


Kaylee and Rylan.


Dinner was INCREDIBLE...we ended up having over 30 people at Kevins Grandparents home.
Khloe, Kaylee and cousin Sara eating at the "Girls" table.


I only wish we could have stayed longer but Im so greatful that we live near family whether it be 3 hours or 3 minutes.

Before we left Kyle and Kevin duked it out over a game of Fusbol! I only make a point to mention this because Kevin rarely gets beat...but Kyle won:)!!!


I hope everyone had a Happy and safe Thanksgiving. Now onto the FUNNEST Holiday EVER...Christmas Time!!!!!!

Lots to do...So little time

Man, do I have some blogging to do:( The past month has been crazy fun, but busy busy busy! Kevin has started a new job, the kids and I have been involved in a ton of activities, we've been busy doing projects around the house and hello its the Holidays so my to-do list is out of control!!

So whats to come...Kollin finished soccer, pictures of our refinished kitchen, Thanksgiving with Kev's family, Holly Days, and a few projects that I've FINALLY finished. Tomorrow will be my post for 1 or all of those...but today is too special to think about any of that. Today Kev and I celebrate 8 years of marraige bliss!! Happy Anniversary Babe!!



Lots to do...so little time. Happy December!!

Happy Happy Halloween!

Good Grief! Finally getting these up!! I just added all the pictures and whoa - there's a lot!!!

First, everyone is HEALTHY again!!! Yea!!! Minus a few coughs here and there and Kevin's voice is a little girly still :) but at least we all feel better! Some how in this crazy world Khloe and I got out of it with just a small cold. So - now onto the fun stuff!!!

About two weeks ago we took a really fast trip to Kaysville to visit Paul and Cindy. While we were there we got to visit with his grandparents and Kyle and Stacey.

Sweet Koop holding his cousin Rylan.


Kooper and his Great-Grandpa roasting marshmallows.


Kevin and Khloe by the fire.


Kyle, Stacey and Rylan. (I took the picture thru the smoke so its a little discolored.)


And my ABSOLUTE FAVORITE picture of all...Rylan smilin by the fire:) :) :) Oh just check out those squeezable cheeks!!!


O' Hallo's Eve!

The load of pictures I have coming up needs its own introduction! We did so many activities for Halloween.

Every Wednesday the kids and I go to a great Storytime at the local Library. This week it was a Storytime Trick or Treat. The Library is attached to the county offices so they let the kids get all dressed up and had employees passing out candy throughout the building. Its really simple but super exciting for the kids. And...here's a little preview of what ours were for Halloween:)



Then on Thursday Kollin and Kaylee had their Halloween parties at school. On Friday we went to Kol's school for his Vocabulary Halloween parade! Each child wore a sign with a new vocab word explaining their costume. Such a good idea and fun for everyone!!

Here's Kollin with his word "Transform".


Then on Friday night Timmy and his family came over to carve some pumpkins. I've been wanting to try this recipe that Cindy found and thought this was a perfect time! We also made some spiders with the Halloween Oreo cookies...

My Halloween masterpiece...A Pumpkin Cake (inside and out!) Using Reese's Pieces for the colors and a Snickers that I kept my eye on all night for the stub. Look at Koops glare -He was drooling just looking at the thing:)


Jaxon diggin in.


Kaylee made me a little nervous with that little knife, but she was determined to cut it herself!


Then mommy stepped in with my crazy knife! Watch out Kol.


After pumpkins Brittany did some braids in my hair to get me ready for our AWESOME costume!!


Now for the costume REVEAL...

Kollin chose Bumblebee Transformer, Kaylee was a Punky Witch, Kooper was GI Joe, and Khloe was a sweet Lady Bug. Kevin and I actually dressed up this year too! Brittany talked me into being a witch with her and I wasn't letting Kevin get out of it so he joined in with Koop! I think we all look pretty cool:)

The Punky Witches...(Kaylee, Me, Madison, Brittany, and Brooklyn)


Our 'Witchy' shot.


Check us girls out!!! I'm so glad Brittany talked me into it 'cuz I had a blast! Those tutus took me 2 days to make, but turned out soooo great!


And our Handsome GI Joes... (Kooper, Kevin, Tim, and Jaxon)


Our Home Away From Home a.k.a the Rec Center had a big Shindig for Halloween. They had a big walk around it where you could trick or treat from vendors around town. And after that you could go inside for a carnival and Haunted House.

Kooper and Jaxon playin dead in the grass outside the Rec Center.


All the kids at the beginning of the Trick or Treat walk. The Rec Center has an outside track (sort of thing) that circles it and that's where they did the Trick or Treat.


While in the Child Care one day the kids got to decorate pumpkins. Kollin entered his pumpkin into the contest they had...I don't think the kids placed but he was pretty excited to see it there!


One of they vendors passing out candy...yeesh check out that spider!!!


Our kids with some of their favorite friends...Grady, Khloe, Kooper, Kollin, Porter, Bryce and Kaylee.


Khloe picking a duck in the carnival inside.


They had a ton of fun games inside. This is Kaylee picking a door. If she picks the one with a witch behind it she gets some candy. Cute!


Kooper playing Pin the Wart on the Witch.


Kollin getting his palm read. She said "Lots of fun and lots of candy are in your future". He was pretty excited!!


Kaylee playin' some bean bag/ghost game...


...and Koops playin a spidery/eye-ball game.


We took most of the kids thru the Haunted House. Kaylee and Kollin refused to go but we got Koop and Khloe inside. Don't judge me...it was kid friendly:)

After the carnival we headed to our wards Halloween Table 'n Treat. Ward members set up tables around the gym that you could snatch some more candy.


They had a few games there for the kids to play. Our little Witches goin' fishin! Check out them witch shoes!!


Then, last we went to a neighborhood and let the kids do some real Trick or Treatin. It started getting chilly so we only did a few.

I got a shot of this one because this only happens in my dreams....this guy was passing out BIG CANDY BARS!!! Not the snack size, not the medium size, but the BIG ones!!! Sweet Khloe gettin one for her awesome Mom that's standing out in the cold just for her;) :) :)


This is not such a good picture but its all of us Trick or Treatin.


Khloe getting some candy at the last house of the night...


Whoa...what fun!! I love blogging about it because its like living it all over again:) Okay so Halloween is done, Thanksgiving is on its way...now when is it too early to put up Christmas Decorations????? Yea!!!!! Happy Halloween!!!

Just a few goodies...

First a little update on the flu thing...All the boys are good and healthy - Kol goes back to school tomorrow (YEA!). Kev doesn't have a voice but is feeling a lot better and us girls are still hanging on. Unfortunately Kaylee tested positive for it yesterday morning and I've really had a tough time with her temperature. I think the worst part is how sensitive her gag reflex is - Uhhhh....just thinking about it. As soon as I get that antibiotic or Motrin in her mouth everything comes right back up. That sweet thing tries to get to the toilet or sink, but every time has missed. Khloe seems to be okay...I load her with vitamins every morning just praying we'll be able to go trick '0r' treating as a family on Saturday. And me,well I started getting the aches yesterday but thanks to my Mom reminding me of my new BFF "Zicam" I think I might get out of this with just a head cold.

The past few days haven't been that bad. We've done playdo, crafts, movies and Kollin got a crap load of papers from school to keep him busy. One thing we've done a few times over the past few weeks is make these super-duper cute Halloween bags that the kids have given to teachers and cousins.




Kollin started a BBall clinic a few Saturdays ago and is really enjoying it.




Also, a few weeks ago we had Tim's family stay with us for about a week. We had a few cold nights and their heater didn't work in their trailer so they bunked with us. I LOVED it because Kev was gone so I wasn't by myself...Anyways - got off the subject there...while they were here Brittany taught me a few ways to do the girls hair. I'm lovin seeing them all dolled up. Kay has her issues with sitting still, but I'm gotten faster over time so its not as bad anymore.

Before of Khloe (I wish I could leave her hair in curlers all day....soooo cute!):


After of Khloe (the little bum wouldn't stay still for me so all the pictures were blurry of the back):

And my darling Kaylee before:

And after: (sweet little curly kay)


This one is by far my favorite because she doesn't have bangs in her face! Its an upside-down braid. Its taken a few weeks but I've finally got it down on my hair too. Cute-Cute-Cute!!!


So thanks Brittany! We took a quick trip to the city about 2 weeks ago, got to visit with Kev's family and also got to see Kyle, Stacey, and adorable Rylan. I'll get those up soon.

Holy Crap - ITS SNOWING OUTSIDE!!!! Oh my I'm so not ready for the cold again:(