Ice skating and Kollin's Volleyball

Since Kevin and I are completely obsessed with volleyball, usually playing 3-4 times a week, we had an opportunity for Kollin to be on a youth league and decided to coach his team. We were called the Passers and had the funnest time! At the end of the season we ended up only loosing 4 of 13 games. They did awesome!!


It was fun watching Kollin progress. At the beginning he could barely serve over the net but a few weeks later it was one of his strong points. Here he is serving...


We were so proud of him trying a new sport.

There's lots of reasons why we love Vernal and one of them is the Ice skating Rink that opens in the winter. They had an opening night that was free admission, and if you know me you'll know that I wont pass that up for ANYTHING!
This is how most of the kids started...(Khloe stuck to the wall)


...but you can tell by Kollins determined face that eventually they became brave enough to go faster and faster.


Even Khloe ventured off the wall...


Kaylee.


Kooper did soooo good, he went around that rink probably 100 times.


Hanging out while they resurfaced the ice.


Kevin and Khloe.


Me and the girls. Its not so bad when you have one kid holding your hand but its a real challenge when you've got one on each side! If one goes down you better believe we all did:)


Even though Ice Skating reminds me of ice and snow, I love that we've been able to enjoy Fall this year. Last year it went from Summer to Winter. We've loved seeing the Foliage and enjoying drives up the Mountains to see the seasons change.

Our Christmas Holiday...Part 1

First I have to post this because its such a beautiful picture! While we were down in Salt Lake for Thanksgiving all the Ashcrafts got together and finally got a family picture.


I am just sooo sad that Christmas is over!! Its that one Holiday that we get soooo overly excited for all year long and then its over:( I downloaded the pictures from my camera and realized just how many pictures I took...really I think I have a little obsession (or sickness!).

On December 10th we celebrated our little girls 3rd birthday! I shed quite a few tears multiple times that day just watching her and realizing how big she is getting...its such a sweet sadness to know that my baby girl is 3!


That morning we helped her make a special Birthday shirt and played in the 150 balloons that were spread around the house. the kids even made this awesome thing on the wall (just excuse the non centered tiny picture...we were moving some things around). Kollin figured out how to rub the balloon on the couch to create static and then stick them to the wall. He soon had all the kids helping him and ended up with this...


That afternoon Khloe chose Macaroni and Cheese for dinner (not to fancy huh...but she is her momma's kid! Mac and Cheese is our favorite!) We enjoyed cake and ice cream and opened some presents.


The one thing she wanted to do was go to the rec center and swim...so in 30 degree weather we walked in ready to swim. But she was so happy the entire time!


That night she got the present she has been waiting for...
a new bike!!

Happy Birthday Khloe...now STOP growing so fast!! We love you!

A few days later we got some AWESOME snow! I only say that because the last two years we've had a hard time making a snow man because its soooo dry. But this year the kids and I were successful!!
Meet Mrs. Frosty the Snow woman!


Kollin also participated in his Holiday piano recital. He played "Up on the Housetop" and of course played it from memory and did amazing. Sometimes he simply amazes me at his talent!!






Also Kevin had a work meeting in Denver Colorado and I was able to go with him...I dont have any pictures (crazy huh!) but it was such a relaxing and awesome 2 days. They put us up in the Ritz Carlton and there are simply no words for the amenities we had included and awesome service we were given! My amazing sister Stacey came out for Monday and Tuesday and played taxi while taking the kids back and forth from school and other activities. Its exhausting taking care of these 4 kids sometimes but she did amazing all the while taking care of her 2 little ones also. We owe her big time! It gave Kevin and I a wonderful few days off together!

When we got back the kids and I drove her back to Salt Lake City and spent a few days playing with her and Grammy (my Mom). My Mom took us to this Fun Center which is frankly all it is...a center full of FUN!! It had rollerskating, bouncers...that ADULTS got to play on (yea!! We acted like a bunch of 6 year olds!!), lots and lots of arcade games and a huge jungle gym to climb thru.


My Mom jumping with Khloe and Kooper...


Kollin and Kooper in complete fun heaven!


Stacey taking Rylan down a huge slide...doesn't her face just say how much fun it was;) Rylan of course I don't think took a breath the whole way down:)


He he...Grammy and Kaylee loosing their stomachs down another slide. MAN it was a blast!


Khloe playing in the ball pit...


The kids and Grammy playing some arcade games...


In the same building they have a rollerskating rink where you could rent scooters. The kids and I...


Grammy and Kaylee skating around the bouncers...


The night before the kids and I headed back to Vernal we got to go down to Provo and attend my cousin Cameron's Missionary Testimony Meeting. He was going home to Virginia that next day after serving his two year mission all around Utah. We are sooo proud of him and were sooooo excited to see him before he left!


Think that's all the fun...nope! This past weekend we had Stacey and my Mom come out for Christmas and had such a great time spending those two days together. I'll get those up soon. I hope everyone had a wonderful wonderful Christmas and if I don't get back before then have a Happy Happy New Year!!

Toothless!!

Its been an exciting week around here. Mainly because we've hit a new era with my darling kiddos~Kollin lost TWO teeth last week! Ohhhhh I remember when he was 1 and getting all excited because his teeth were coming in - its so sad when I realize how quickly the years are going by:(

Anyways a few weeks ago Kollin told me two of his teeth were loose. Then a few days later he had a dentist appointment where we sadly found out he was cursed with my terrible gums. I've had the worst dental problems and even though we floss and brush his teeth everyday - Kollin had his first cavity. He went in on Wednesday to have it filled and the dentist asked if he could just pull the two loose teeth...

He got Novocain in two spots and I took a hilarious video of him trying to talk with half his mouth numb but I cant seem to get it off my phone. Soooo here's him right after the dentist pulled the teeth...(he has one of those cotton balls in the place of the teeth)


And our toothless Kollin! I think its crazy how he has actual holes in his mouth. I know I know when your teeth fall out it leaves a hole but these were like craters!


I took this close up to show why the dentist was persistent to pull those two teeth. If you look hard enough you can see two adult teeth that had already broke thru his gums and were behind his baby teeth.


What he was MOST excited about....the Tooth Fairy came!!! And brought him $6 bucks! He's such a smarty-pants and figured out that it was $3 per tooth!


Thanks for being sooo tough Kol!!

And Kollin also had his first wrestling meet last week. We started him in the Tiger League here and its been exciting/emotional/frustrating and stressful. He loves the practices mainly because he has about 5 friends from school wrestling with him. His first meet was really hard on him and I think its because he didn't know what to expect. I know I wouldn't do well if someone was wrestling me in front of a big crowd. But he made it thru...I'll add with a few tears at the end...but all-in-all he made it thru.

This is him in the gray shirt.




After this meet we had a long talk with him and he explained to us that he loved practicing but doesn't enjoy actually fighting someone (totally understandable) so he wont be doing anymore meets. He only has 3 more weeks of practices and then starts soccer in April.


Also last Saturday we went Ice skating with Timmy and is family.
Tim and Allie.


Me and Khloe. Notice Kooper in the background. Kollin, Kaylee, and Kooper all were able to get out on their own this time not even touching the wall! It was awesome how much they improved from the first time.


We tried to get a picture of all of us...Sweet Jaxon couldn't stand straight without his feet slipping from under him.


Kooper and Kevin. And Madison and Kaylee in the background.


I think Khloe had wayyyy toooo much fun! She fell asleep in my arms and didn't budge for almost 2 hours after!




Even though we live in a small town we still have managed to find exciting things to do and wonderful family and friends to do them with. But the kids and I were absolute Giddy when we picked Kollin up from school today and noticed that we could see the ground at our favorite park!!! The snow is FINALLY going away!!! Giddy-Giddy-Giddy!!

Fun in February

Once again its taken me almost two weeks to post something new. I always thought life would become easier the older the kids get but its exhausting the schedule I've gotten myself into. Not anything hugely exciting has happened, just every day life...

Kooper just finished 5 weeks of Itty Bitty Ball (that'l be its own post) and starts outdoor soccer in April, Kaylee is doing great with preschool and is excited to start Kindergarten in the Fall and is also starting gymnastics (she's in tumbling right now but I'm excited to have her be more challenged!), Kollin wrestles Monday and Wednesdays and starts outdoor soccer in April and sweet little Khloe just goes along for the ride. I've tried getting her into some Mommy and Me classes but their all booked until May. Along with the kids schedule Kevin and I have been busy playing on a Volleyball League at the Rec Center and enjoying Kev's BBall games on Thursdays.

Also Kooper is now bald. We like to keep things interesting with him so after a bombed haircut we decided to just shave it off. He loves rubbing his hair and has told me over and over how excited he is to have spiky hair.






This past Valentines day we had lots going on. Kevin and I went to Salt Lake with some friends and got to spend two whole days shopping and walking around KID FREE! The sister of our friend offered herself to watch all the kids (6 total) for the weekend so we could get a way for a couple days. Really, Really nice!!! We got to see Stacey and Rylan and enjoy some Outback with them. It was a fast but truly exciting and incredible trip. Also, I had play group at our house with about 10 kids where they got to decorate a bag and exchange Valentines. This year the kids and I made their Valentines.

Here are the girls...


Here is Koopers...


And Kollins....(he was sooo excited to be able to make his own. I helped with the spaceship ones but the others he wrote and drew all by himself).


Khloe passing out her Valentines.


Valentines Day was simple and relaxing. The kids woke up to balloons, new slippers and a puzzle or game.








Oh and heart shaped donuts (with fruit for a healthy kick!).


This past Monday Kevin had off so we went to the Ice Skating Rink here in town. It was a little rocky at first but once Kollin, Kaylee and Kooper realized they really could do it and got over the fear of falling it was a lot of fun! Even Khloe got to use these Ice Skates that you put over your shoes so she could join us. (Some of these pictures are soooo bad. The lighting was terrible.)

Kevin and Kooper.


Khloe, me and Kaylee.


Kooper, Mikey, and Kollin.


Kaylee using a chair to practice balancing.


Khloe and Kevin.


Khloe so proud to be standing all by herself!


Oh man..is it spring yet??? Have a lovely weekend!