Old, but awesome...

This was way back in September, at a nearby outdoor mall. It has fountains that shoot up from the ground.  Bear was saying "Come on waterfall!"  This is after about 30 min. of coaxing him to play (and some ice cream).

Visit to UT

As I've mentioned before, I got the very best Christmas present- EVER.  My parents flew me to UT for 5 days kid-free to see my favorite people on the whole planet.  It was so nice to spend time with all my siblings and spoil all my nieces and nephews.  It was also great to sleep in, not change diapers, feed anyone, or break up any squabbles. I could just sit back and bask in the awesomeness that is my family.

The highlight of the trip was, of course, these guys!  Kate, Matt and Mia came from London (which was why I came to UT, too).  My favorite part of the whole trip was bowling with Mia.  We went to the Bowling Alley for a burger and fry sauce (Dear TX- why can't you get on the fry sauce bandwagon- please?) and she was so cute saying "I'd like to have a go at that game."  We cheered each other and generally were goofy. She is a doll!

This girl was another highlight- I have only seen her twice in her whole life and she is so adorable. She also looks like Lu's baby twin. I loved smooshing her cheeks :)

I can't tell you how cool it was to hang out with all the nieces and nephews at once.  Sure, we missed my kids (well, everyone else did) but I loved the opportunity to just be an aunt.  Also, don't you wear mardi gras masks and crowns at all your family parties? No? Sad for you...

I remembered my deep love for sitting in Cyndi's kitchen, eatin' stuff. I plan to spend a solid week this summer parked at her counter while the kids run feral in the cul-de-sac.  That was the thing that made me most homesick (and it wasn't just the awesome chocolate and TJ's cookie butter and toe nail polish- I miss hanging out with Cyndi, too.) Plus, Sis is SO big and cute. We played Strawberry Shortcake together!

I miss Beto's steak and egg breakfast burritos SO much.  A lot of these pics are crappy, because they are from my phone. I took a lot of pics to send to the kids back in TX.  This one was Birdy's favorite of all the ones I sent.

I am eternally grateful to Kim who picked me up from the airport, took me to delish Indian food, put me up for the night and THEN drove me to Heber.  Also, her girl is so adorable, I just want to eat her- look at those lips!  I think I'll have to settle for an arranged marriage between her and Bear.  I think Kim and I would be awesome co-Grandmas.

I can't get over how big and beautiful and smart these girls are. Their Mom's are doing a great job with their newly-minted teens and it give me hope that maybe we'll survive the teen years.  I got to have a sleepover with them and it was fun talking to them about their interests- Muppets (Abby) and 1D (Lauren).  I'm glad my girls have such great cousins to look up to.  Also, I'm super, super bummed that they are too far away to babysit. Maybe this summer?

Last but not least, these two and Grace (and Cyndi's boys, who wouldn't sit still for a picture even when I bribed them) Norah cracked me up with her long, blond fake hair and she played so cute with Mia. Cubby knows the whole Gagnam dance and is energetic and hilarious.  Grace is sweet, and squishy and funny. 

Super big thanks to Mom and Dad for bringing me in for all the fun. I really had the time of my life and it was so, so nice to have a break from being Mom and RS Prez for a bit. I came back energized and ready for the new year! Also, I read TWO long books in 2 days. That is unheard of people!!

Second Christmas

The kids were spoiled to have Second Christmas when I got back from my visit to UT. Grandma and Grandpa K sent me home with a huge suitcase filled with mostly stuff for them. (Don't worry, DMP got new headphones, which he loves, and I got a TON of Real Salt- we are salt snobs and I can't buy it anywhere around here anymore!)

The kids took turns opening their gifts while Grandma and Grandpa joined in via Skype. Ain't technology neat?

Bear got loaded up with all things Thomas- two DVD's, a book and a lunchbox.  EJ got books, Shrinky Dinks and a mini desk aquarium.  Birdy got some clothes for her Hannah doll shrinky dinks and other fun stuff that I can't remember.

We also got to enjoy some real British sweets thanks to Aunt Kate and Uncle Matt. These kids LOVE Kindereggs.  They even liked those yucky UFO things.  I kept the double-decker bar to myself (I might have shared a bite with DMP...)

The best thing I brought home was this super-soft, ultra-fuzzy blanket. It has been named the "Grandma Hug" blanket, since Grandma told me to tell the kids that when they are wrapped in it, it's like she's hugging them. Say it with me- awww!  I can't tell you how much family strife this one blanket has caused- everyone wants to use it all the time.  Also, I just want to point out that this is the first picture in FOREVER where Bear isn't making the Cheese-face.

Santa Came!

 I guess the kids were good enough because Santa came and brought presents to all of them!  (Also, that looks like a ton of presents, but it isn't, really- we just spread them out so they look impressive- it's all part of the Christmas magic!)

Bear got exactly what he wanted from Santa- a blue present and candy canes!  He was even happy that the blue present had duplo blocks inside for him to play with! (Also, note the basketball in his hand. We couldn't get him to put it down the whole time we were unwrapping...)

Santa came through on EJ's wish for her own bow and arrow!

Birdy got her very own Our Generation doll that she named Hannah.

Mom and Dad got Nerf guns. A mighty battle ensued and I may or may not have used one of my kids as a human shield in order to gather more ammo. Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

The easel the girls got was quickly re-purposed for target practice of all kinds. DMP also created a cardboard box shooting gallery in the garage playroom. Fun, cold times!

Birdy got another wish for a real tea set that she can drink out of. We had a little pre-breakfast (herb) tea party with Hannah and Bear.

Bear got a Thomas set where the trains run all by themselves! He and DMP have had so much fun making elaborate tracks for them for weeks now! Thanks Shellie Rabner for selling us the hand-me-down trains!

We got the best Christmas suprise- SNOW!  I wish we would have taken a pic later in the day- it really came down. We probably had an inch or so, which is a big deal in TX. The funny part is that we didn't even wear jackets the night before when we left to look at the Christmas lights!

This pic was taken about a week after Christmas, but EJ is thrilled with her new knitting loom set. Our friend Allie came and gave us lessons on how to make things. She has already made a hat for Birdy's Hannah doll with plans for many more knitted gifts to come!

We had the Elders over for Christmas day. It was fun- we had biscuits and gravy, because one of them has a family tradition of eating that on Christmas Day.  It was really good. We topped dinner off with even more chocolate fondue.

Christmas Jammies

We didn't actually open Christmas jammies this year as a present. The girls kind of picked their own (seriously, they wanted the feety kind!) and Bear didn't really care. Aren't they cute!

 After everyone got decked out in their new jammies, we went out to drive around and look at the Christmas lights. I don't know why we didn't do it earlier in the month- it was so fun!

When we got back, it was time to leave cookies and milk for Santa.  We did not have anything for the reindeer, but we lucked out because it turns out they like raisins!

EJ wrote this note for Santa.  It says "Dear Santa, if the reindeer get thirsty, there is water in the fridge on the top shelf. It is filtered.  Try not to make a mess, my Mom thinks it is rude. Love, EJ. P-S tell the Reindeer they have to share."

In my defense, I'm not a crazy person who thinks Santa is going to mess up my house.  EJ was just hoping and thinking he'd leave a sooty boot print or something like that, and I said "I hope not- that would be very rude for Santa to come and mess up our house".  He didn't heed her warning, though. He knocked some of the fireplace sand out when he came down the chimney.  As for the reindeer sharing, that goes wayyy back to a couple of years ago when we left carrots and Santa left a note in return saying that one of them (Dasher) liked them so much he didn't want to share. Now he gets an annual reminder from EJ to share with his buddies :)

Christmas Eve Party

Boy, I'm really tired of Christmas posts. Lesson learned- next year keep up with them better. Let's finish Christmas up quickly, shall we?  I know you, dear readers, don't care, but I like to have the record and I'll be happy I did next year!

We were so lucky to have some of our TX "family" join us for a Christmas Eve party this year. Our friends, the Z family joined us, as well as Miss Kayla, our friend from Church.  We had lots of good appetizer food- meatballs (need to make double next time!), sausage Bisquick balls, chips, salsa, queso and guacamole, and I  forget what else!

After eating and eating and eating, it was time for DMP to read the Christmas story to his very reverent and attentive audience... They paid enough attention to participate in the next part- the annual Nativity play.  We bustled about to put costumes together for everyone.

Bear came up with his ensemble all on his own. It's a little bit Hef and a little trannie.  Nice.

Here we have the Wise Men and Angel visiting baby Jesus (played marvelously this year by Soccer Ball Team, the Cabbage Patch).  Joseph is rocking a beard and sippy cup.

The full cast of our merry play. It was our best yet and a lot of fun!

Then Miss Kayla entertained the kids with a mad-libs-like game while we prepped the dessert- we had amazing pumpkin dessert, soft ginger snap cookies, and chocolate fondue (courtesy of the 10 lb Chocolate Bar).  It was so, so, good.

We ended the evening with a bang (or a crack, rather).  We have started a family tradition of doing Christmas Crackers on Christmas Eve. We had fun reading the jokes and wearing the fun paper hats.

We were so happy to be able to have our TX family join us for Christmas Eve! It was super fun.

Baby's Firsts...

I just wanted to document two very important "firsts" for Bear.  Above, we have "Baby's First Licking the Beater"  He wasn't too sure about the process at first- I had to get some dough on my finger for him to try it. Once he got the idea, he was very, very enthusiastic!

Here we have a very important "first" in our family- Baby's first Fondue!  He loved dipping but was kind of hit-and-miss on the eating :)

This is just a bonus Bear picture. What else do you do when you have a giant, basket-ball-size noggin and a new basketball hoop?

Best. Gift. Ever (for a while, anyway)

Imagine our curiosity and delight when a mysterious, heavy package was delivered to our door. Inside was the biggest chocolate bar we've ever seen!  And it was GOOD chocolate- not like those giant 1 lb Easter bunnies that are mostly wax. This big guy is good-quality Guittard chocolate!

Look at the first picture- it is seriously almost as big as Bear!  EJ loves chocolate more than anything so she was super-duper-extra THRILLED!  We were also able to amaze and delight our friends and neighbors with it's awesomeness. We have had fun thinking of ways to use it. Some of it got melted and molded for our cookie plates. It is really good drizzled over rice krispie treats!  We also melted it down (twice!) for Christmas chocolate fondue.  It was so good we didn't need to add cream or anything!

Bear likes to steal chunks and eat it like a little squirrel. I didn't get a picture of the chocolate goatee that always follows.  Thanks Bek for the Best Christmas Gift Ever (at least until Dad and Mom bought me a ticket to fly to UT....)

A visit to Santa!

This year, we went to visit Santa at Bass Pro Shop and it was so fun!  We spent time in the lobby waiting for Daddy to join us and warming our hands by the open fire. (side note, the girls look all bundled up, but it was probably only 50 degrees- we're wimps these days!)

We cruised around and looked at the dead animals, including this Coca Cola Polar Bear.

Can you guess Bear's favorite part?

After a little wait, we got to see the big guy himself. He even brought some, er, retired reindeer :)

EJ asked him for a Bow and Arrow set, or an Easy Bake Oven (she likes to give Santa options...)

Birdy asked for a Monster High doll and an Our Generation doll.

We thought we were smart to have Bear go last- he is sometimes scared of large, bearded strangers. The good news was that he wasn't scared at all, but the bad news is that he saw where Santa got the candy canes he was handing out and was totally focused on getting them (they are in the green bucket with the red/white bow).  This was the best pic we got!  He was very certain that he wanted Santa to bring him a "blue present" and a candy cane.  He didn't care what was in the present, as long as it was blue!

After we talked to Santa, it was time for the girls to practice their target skills.

We topped off our visit to Santa with some hot chocolate (with peppermint marshmallows) and PRESENTS from Aunt Jeane that we got to open EARLY!  I think it is funny how the bows match each kid's jammies- we didn't plan it.  The presents were three new Christmas books.  Bear's favorite was the Micky Christmas Carol. My favorite was the adorably-illustrated Night Before Christmas.  The girls loved the silly Mrs. Claus book.  Thanks AJ!