We're Back!!!!

We got back and are trying to put out small fires and organize the chaos.  We had lots and lots of fun and besides Luke, Kathryn, and my Mom getting sick and Seth breaking his wrist while we were gone we did well.  Hopefully we will have pictures up soon!!

Thanks 

so much Mom we are so grateful you came and helped with the kids.  The kids keep talking about all the fun they had!!!

Happy Birthday Luke!!

Luke is 4!!  I can't believe my baby is that old.  Time passes much too quickly lately!

 Luke saw this cake on a friend's blog and wanted it for his birthday.  He talked of it constantly and was very happy with the results.  It was my first time using fondant and it turned out great!

 For dinner that night Luke wanted pigs-n-blanket for dinner--he looks kinda stoned but he really did like them.

 His friend Abbie came over to help eat cake and open presents.  The above picture is him so excited to see his cake!

 Opening his presents.  This was the first year he really got into his presents.  He oohed and aahed over each one and got so excited to open all of them!

 Seth helping Luke put together his fire station.

Luke is so full of himself lately, so independent, and so sure of himself.  He loves watching "Bob the Builder", "Monsters, Inc" (and he has to say the full word too--Incorporated and it's so cute), and "Bug's Life".  He watches one of these three movies everyday after lunch just like clockwork.  

He loves to go to preschool.  Everyday when he comes home he makes me close my eyes so he can surprise me with what is in his backpack.

He still loves to help me cook.

One of his great loves is to have Seth draw him semi-trucks.  He will ask at least 10 times a day to have you draw him one.

He also loves to have Seth build him Lego creations.  He is very attached to his first set of Legos he got for Christmas.

He also loves to be in front of a crowd, be the jokester, and act super silly.

We love you Luke and are so happy you are in our family!!

Seth Playing Basketball

 Seth is almost done playing basketball.  He is on a great team with lots of his friends and has a great coach who has really worked with him and helped him get better.  Here are some pictures of his last game!

Fun Weekend

 We were able to head up to my parents this last weekend for the blessing of my two new nieces, Ezra and Henley.  (I forgot my camera at Henley's blessing so I have no pictures of her)

My parents with Beth, Brian and Ezra.

 The guys that helped bless her.

On Saturday though we hung out and played a lot.  It was a beautiful day so Grandpa took off with all the grandkids and showed them dairy cows and some of the adults headed into town to eat lunch and cruise some fun shops.  Afterwards, we took a hike.

My parents and all their neighbors raised money to put a flagpole up on this butte by their house.  The wind is terrible up there so the flag has to be replaced constantly.  This time we decided to help.  This is some of us heading up the butte.

Sam and the kids looking over the edge.  Isn't it so pretty!

 The kids "helping" and making sure the flag didn't touch the ground.

The group with the new flag.

 Emily and Kathryn.

 All the kids with their "hiking sticks".

 The rest of the day was spent playing "Just Dance 2" (don't we look awesome :) and going to my sister Natalie's play--forgot the camera there too, but Natalie did an awesome job and my kids loved watching it.  I was quite surprised.

Luke really loved playing with his cousins.  The older he gets the better he is with his cousins and it's so fun to see him have such a great time!

 Sunday we had some free time after church so we played outside some more.  Sarah was pouting about something so she decided to hang out by herself, the rest of the kids were kept quite busy wrestling for the ball.

 We had lots of fun and now it's time to get ready for the cruise (5 days--here we come!!).

What We've Been Doing...

 I can't believe that it's already the 7th of February.  It seems like we just started this year!!!

We have been busy around our house, mostly getting ready to leave.  13 DAYS till our cruise, I can't wait!!!!!!!!

But that means a lot to get done.  We have been having some fun though.  Seth has been playing basketball.  He has a great coach, lots of friends on his team, and is improving.  Seth and Kathryn got to go skiing with their school last Friday (Sarah goes this Friday).  I really wanted to go but me on skis is a little scary by myself!  Luke is loving preschool and loving helping me at home with lots of projects.  

We have been working on two main ones:  food and a valentines party.  We made homemade marshmallows and he was a huge help cutting them out and dusting them.

Then we made a banner to hang from our mantle.

Last Saturday we hosted a Valentines Party for Kathryn and Sarah and their friends from school.  I realized that they had had maybe one Valentines Party their whole lives (our school does not do traditional holiday parties) so we decided to plan one ourselves.

We made fun invitations:

Invited lots of fun friends:

And had super cute decorations:

And lots of yummy food:

Now it's on to a party for Seth and his friends, the baby blessings of my nieces Ezra and Henley, parting with family, packing and off or our cruise!!  I can't wait :)