Merry Christmas Everyone!

Watching the man cut the Christmas Tree

Caleb on the ride back to Grandma's

Jane and Daddy

Say Cheese

Kate on Santa's Lap

All smiles this time around

Jane not knowing what to think about Santa

Caleb loved being a Shepard, he kept giving me the thumbs up sign and smiling at me during the performance.

Jane at the Children Museum Playing with the Balls

Kate in the Play Kitchen

Jane walking everywhere around the museum

Caleb couldn't get enough of playing in the Kitchen area at the Museum

All tuckered out from the Museum

All three Kids played so hard they fell asleep on the way home in the snow Blizzard.

So this Christmas season was filled with tons of excitement, fun, family and many memories to remember. We had a wonderful time picking out my moms Christmas tree from the tree farm that is just around the corner from her house. Kate and Caleb got to walk threw the forest of trees, watch the man cut it down right in front of us. Caleb got to ride with Grandma on the 4 wheeler home with the tree. What a great memory to have.
This year we went to a lot of fun Christmas parties and got to see lots of Family. Caleb and Kate loved dressing up at Mamaw's Christmas party as part of the Nativity. They even got to see Santa Clause again, this time it went a whole lot better, no frowns this time around. I forgot to take pictures of every party, makes me want to kick myself when I forget. I sometimes guess I am enjoying the moment and time spent together so much I forget to take pictures of it. I still got quite a bit so I am not to upset. The joy of watching the kids open all there presents from all the many families was a delight to see. Thank you everyone for all the generosity and joy you have share with all of us this year.

This year we also got to do some really fun activities together. Kate went Skiing with her Daddy for the first time ever, she loved it, from what I hear she did really well for her first time. We also got to see some great movies, one of the most favorite I think was the new movie Tangled, what great show. Then we also went to the Children Museum in SLC. It was Jane's first time and she loved it. It's nice that she is walking now, I think that helped in her 1st experience. The kids went bowling too, Caleb loved rolling the ball down the lane, he talked about bowling for days after wards. I think the best part for the kids was playing with all their cousins, staying up late ,and spending lots of time with Dad, oh and I can't for get all the present they got to open. This year we didn't get a white Christmas, it was more of a brown color, but a few day later got the biggest storm of the year so far. The kids loved playing in it, I have to say I didn't necessarily like driving in it myself. It made everything looks so beautiful and white. I love Snow! It really was a great time filled with family and memories to remember for a lifetime. Merry Christmas everyone!

A Visit with Santa Clause

So this is this year picture with Santa Clause, It's Classic, one to go back and look at in years to come.  Caleb just ran up to Santa and smiled and said what he wanted, Kate did the same. Then  as soon as I place Jane on Santa's lap the photographer say the magic words Caleb so loves to hear  "SAY CHEESE" he instantly starts to make a stink face and frowns.  He know that when he here those words, someone is wanting him to smile.  I hope this is just a phase, he loves to smile and take pictures if its his idea, but not when you want him to for a cute picture with Santa Clause.   At least I got a picture with all three kids with Santa this year, I guess I can't be to picky what kind of faces they make right.  This was the picture we took at the Elves Gift show in the previous post.

Elves Gift Show

 

So a few weeks ago we went to the Elves gift show at the South Town Expo center, and had a great time looking at the Christmas singers, and Visiting Santa.  The kids loved looking at all the Christmas displays, and posing by all the candy canes and polar bears, I still need to upload those picture at a later time. The kids got a kick out of the Balloon making Lady booth, they all got to pick something out for her to make.  Kate got a swan, and Caleb got a frog and we got our niece a pink flower. There wasn't much there to see just enough for the kids to get out and have a little fun and tell Santa what they wanted for Christmas this year.  They had this fun photo booth you could get into and take silly pictures, the best part it was free.  I loved how it turned out, some of the expressions are priceless. 

My sister had a fun elf hat and shoes, so we had a little more fun elf-ing around the house later that evening.  The kids had so much fun pretending to be one of Santa's Elves.

Happy Birthday Jane

Happy Birthday Jane, you're a big one years old now. December 1st was the big day! We sure have loved seeing you grow this past year.  You are doing so many things and are such a Joy to have in our family.  We celebrated your birthday with a ladybug theme.  You were dressed up in your lady bug dress all ready for the occasion. You looked so cute, you were all smiles. We had your favorite food right now to eat which was Bread Sticks and fruit, the rest of us ate pizza with it.  You loved all the balloons and decorations, you kept talking in your usual baby talk.  You had your Aunts and cousin join us for the party.

After we ate we opened up presents.   You seemed to really want to try and open the presents, you liked ripping the paper.  I think everyone had the same idea to get you something that plays music because you always love to move and dance.  You got a baby doll from mom and dad, a Music Giraffe from brother and sister, Lion piano from Julia's family, a dress and monkey rolling ball from Grandma and Poppi.  Aunt Amy got you some very cute boots and a white hat with a very adorable flower on it.  Aunt Kasey and Uncle Royce got you a cool card with a dollar for how old you are this year.  You were especially excited to see the money, go figure.  The big present was, your very own Winne the Pooh Push and Ride Car. Jane you have been wanting to ride your brothers ,but he has a hard time sharing so we got your very own.  You were so excited to open this present, and you knew it was yours from the moment you opened.  You pushed it all over the house.  Thanks everyone for all Jane's gifts she really loved them.

After presents we got ready to eat Cake and sing Happy Birthday to you.  We stripped you down to your diaper and put a cute bib that said Birthday Girl on it.  We sang to you and helped you blow out your candle.  Mommy made your Lady bug cake all by herself.  She had a great time making it and think about you and reflecting on the passed year and all you have learned.  Your mom thought this was one of the easier cakes she has made, maybe it is just she has had lot of practice with your brother and sisters Cakes.  You seemed to not know what to do with the cake at first, but soon discovered how good it tasted and went to town.   You had a wonderful birthday and we are so happy for you Happy Birthday Jane we Love you so very much and are so very excited for you on this special day.

Getting ready for some cake

Jane not sure what to think

Still in shock thinking I get to eat that, to funny.

Yummy, Yummy!

Our attempted at a group shot with the self timer, not to bad of a pic.

Just to give you some updates on what Jane is doing now and what she loves.

Physically: Has four teeth almost 5 two top and two bottom ones, is 20 lbs and straight as a bone fine hair, brown and very blue eyes.

Foods:

We have finally graduated from the baby food jars and are on to real big people food.  She loves to feed herself. Her favorite foods right now are...

Peaches, Pears, Mandarin Oranges, Bread Sticks, Oatmeal with Fruit, Crackers-Ritz and Gram.

Activities:

Jane is officially Walking, she took her first 4 steps on Thanksgiving day, but really started walking on her birthday.She is still not really steady but she is getting better everyday, she still enjoys crawling more than walking.

Jane loves to dance every time she hears anything with a beat she just can't help herself she has got to dance.

Jane loves to wave at everyone she see, if you get a double handed wave you are extra special.

Jane is really good at playing Hide and Seek, she often times giggles so much she starts to almost cry.

Language: Jane is said her first word two weeks ago, she said "Uh Oh" and now says "ma ma", and Hi.  

She still uses sign language a lot.  He say all done, more, eat and her new one is Dog dog, she tries to say Dog with it to.  She almost has the sign please done, not quite.

Things she is into right now: 

Eating by herself, playing with brother and sister and laughing with them. Bath time and splashing.  Giving everyone hugs, she gets that from her daddy, I think he has some competition in the hug category. She love to talk to the animals she goes nuts when she see the dogs on our way to the bus stop, she has to talk to them, she has such an excited look on her face and so serious at the same time.  She gets louder and louder until you agree with what she is saying.  

Things she has trouble with: Sleeping through the night on a consistent basis.   She has trouble putting herself back to sleep.