Saturday, January 29, 2011

Pictures of January

Well the month is almost over, and we don't have much to show for it. I have a love/hate relationship with January. I like it because the kids keep themselves entertained with the new toys from Christmas, and our schedule is back to normal. I don't like it because, well, it's kinda boring. The only thing to get excited about for the month is Ben's birthday (big 29 this year!).


Abigail got some new dress ups for Christmas, and now she had design creativity flowing out of her. She loves to come up with new outfits. She especially loves to use blankets. She wraps them around her and ties them, then practices walking down the stairs, daintily holding up her dress like the princesses on movies.


Carly is such a fun little thing... she keeps us laughing all day. She's a mimic, a tease, and a huge flirt. She's growing up so fast, she's been potty-trained since a week after her 2nd birthday, and she talks non-stop.
The other day I was talking on the phone, holding Hailey on my hip, in my slippers. I saw Carly rush from the room, then come sauntering back in with Dolly on her hip, slippers on, and having a funny conversation on the phone.

One morning I found Luke with a little back message thing, reading, in a pile of books.
This kid loves to read! He just won an award for being 'top reader' at school. He came home with a medal, a certificate, and a new ball. He was SO excited!

Hailey is figuring out how to get around the house. She just rolls and rolls until she gets to the toy that she wants. It looks like she's considering crawling, but so far so good (I say that because I'm fine that she doesn't stray too far yet)

One night, Abigail wanted to sleep in curlers. She we put them in... repeatedly throughout the night, she kept waking up because they were uncomfortable, and falling out. One time she cried at 1 in the morning because one fell out and she wanted me to put it back in (I didn't). So needless to say, we won't be doing that again. Which is a shame, because I thought her pigtails looked so cute curled. Can you tell she didn't want her picture taken?
Luke's a little sweetie. He's always taking care of his sisters. He thinks that just because his sisters want some candy, he's justified in getting in the cupboard with the leftover advent calendar candy, and doling it out.
happy girls!

Abigail was particularly proud of this creation. She said, "Mom, look, I'm Grandma Ruth, at the cabin!" You would have to know Ben's sweet Grandma Ruth. In the summer, she's always wearing visors, especially when at the cabin.

Wednesday, January 5, 2011

Chargers game in Denver


This is Ben's 3rd year to go to Denver for the Chargers game. In the years past, he has gone with just the guys. This year I got to go (as long as I didn't turn in into a "chick" trip). We invited Brent and Blake to come with us... but Blake's plans were a little different. Due to some amazing events, Blake is now serving his mission in Tampa, Florida! He left Monday morning, we can't wait to hear from him.

Okay, back to our trip... we tried to get a fourth person to come with us, but nobody could do it. So us three headed down to Denver, it was a great drive. We had a great time hanging out with Brent.
Here we are Saturday night at Casa Bonita. My fifth grade memory of this place was a lot cooler than it really was. It's supposed to be like the Mayan. Only one guy dove in the water, twice. But even though the entertainment was a little lame, the food was good, and the sopapillas (I don't know how to spell it and neither does my spell check) were delicious.

My brother, Jed, was on his way to Texas and luckily got to come to the game with us! It was awesome timing, he got to Denver with a few minutes to spare. It was an awesome game, Ben was really happy that the Chargers won, and I was really happy that we didn't get beat up for wearing Chargers stuff. Not that it would really happen with these three big guys. Jed might have been a tad dissappointed, because he's a Broncos fan.

The weather was pretty good, except towards the end it got cold. I also had a steady drip of water landing on my leg the entire game.

On the way home we stopped in Cheyenne to see the Ranch. We lived on the Wyoming Hereford Ranch for 5 wonderful years. I have some of the best memories growing up here, and it was fun to go back.

The only thing I don't miss about Cheyenne of course, is the wind.

Me and Brent... Ben told us to pretend we were playing like we were kids again...but we chose to just stand by the sign.
We also went through Rock Springs and went passed our old house there. We lived in Rock Springs for 5 Wonderful years. We could have made the tour of our old houses in Wyoming complete, but we weren't about to drive all the way up to Casper.


Friday, December 31, 2010

Best year ever!


Christmas just keeps getting better every year. I hope it continues to go that way. We had the best time with these 4 little kids. On Christmas eve, we went to G & G Dawson's to get some cute jammies, then over to G & G Jenkins for some delicious dinner and games. I loved watching the kids open their gifts on Christmas morning! They got excited about the littlest things. G&G Dawson, Eli, and Grandma Ruth came over to our house for brunch. Later in the day we stopped by both Grandparent's houses for more party time. It's nice that we all live so close.

let the fun begin
New Christmas jams

her first dress ups!

hanging out, digesting our dinner

some delicious homemade apple pie

Christmas morning... Hailey's a little lost in all the craziness

bustin' out some Star War moves

I love the look on this girls face

Carly's taking care of their new babies in their new cradles (made by Ben (barely finished them in time... we're talking the wee hours of Christmas morning (still not painted(we like the excitement of flying by the seat of our pants))))

playing with Grandma Ruth


sleeping beauty and Grandma Sharla
Christmas morning bubble bath


showing off her new bottom teeth

Grandma Barb made the kids a little playhouse to fit over a card table. The kids love it! I love the steam on the window from Abigail's nose.Now they can go to Grandma and Grandpa's whenever they want


Lisa and Carly playing beauty shop.


Friday, December 24, 2010

December

Like all of you, we've been too busy enjoying life to post much. Here's what we've been up to this month.


making sugar cookie trees with Grandma Barb
They looked great, and tasted even better

cheesin' it

playing bingo at the Carruth party with cousin Jenna



happy girl, she had her first taste of jello.

having tea parties that apparently require suit jackets

playing with best buddies

we watched a Christmas special at the planetarium for the Smith party...so fun!

'shaving' her legs- you can't see it that well in the picture, but she's got her little leg up on the ledge. I asked her what she was doing, and she bashfully said, 'just like Mommy"

snuggling with my sweet baby

Now I'm ready for the real fun.... can't wait for tonight and tomorrow!

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Christmas Village


We took the kids to the Christmas village, they of course had a great time. They were excited about the houses... they were really really excited about the playground. I kept telling them they can play on one any old day, they didn't care, it was their favorite part.
I love this picture of Abigail, taking a peek at baby Jesus.
It was a fun, cold night. I love my little family!