Christmas 2013

When I was a young adult, I remember feeling sad that Christmas didn't seem "magical" anymore. I usually knew every gift I was getting & the early morning excitement wasn't really there since everyone (including myself) would take their sweet time getting around to opening gifts. The past few Christmases though have brought all the magic though! I get so excited FOR my kids. Christmas with young kids is just the best. Minus the whole up-at-the-butt-crack-of-dawn part. Which Asher so thoughtfully did for us. :)

Not even a little bit light outside!

Most of Asher & Collin's gifts this year were joint presents since they both are WAY into Star Wars & Angry Birds.

Seth's big gift was his Thomas the Train (electric) set. I loved hearing giggle & yell, "Go Thomas! Go!"

Post-present breakfast of French Toast Casserole...mmmm! Some of their presents this year (from extended family too): gumball machine, microphone/amp, fart blaster gun, BYU football, stacking blocks, Angry Birds GO! and Angry Birds Star Wars telepods/sets, magnetic drawing board, Transformers, LEGOS & the list goes on. They are seriously spoiled. Not by Nate and I- the grandparents outspend us easily!

Road Trippin'

Thought I would post these gems from our 10 hour drive to Cali...

Let me explain this white-trashy looking picture! We were an hour late getting on the road & Nate just started chucking things in the car before I could actually pack them. And then Seth consumed too many beverages within the first few hours of driving, so when we pulled over he had peed through his clothes. While everyone went into the gas station for snacks & pee breaks, I changed Seth's diaper & went to the back of the van to rummage through his suitcase for clothes. When I came back, he had helped himself to Asher's beanie & some cotton candy on the dash. :) (Who knew it would take so long to explain that?!)

We brought my niece, Mary, along to help us with the kiddos & I am so happy we did. In the evenings, she would stay at the hotel with our sleeping babies so Nate and I could go run errands, go for walks, do laundry & even go on more rides!

After our long drive, I expected the kids to sleep-in a bit. But little miss lady decided to wake us all up at 5:30am (6:30am Utah time.) Naturally, a pillow fight ensued.

Sunday we went to the California Science Center in LA, so that we could see the NASA shuttle Endeavour and an IMAX film about Hubble. We even got to do a space shuttle simulator, which the boys loved. On a sidenote, when I told the older boys that we would be visiting the shuttle during our trip to CA, they went nuts! They were so excited!...

I couldn't have asked for a better baby...Eden was a breeze this trip. Even on the long car rides. Her favorite part of the Science Center was the aquarium.

 After we were done here, we headed to the beach (see previous post) & then out for Sushi. Can't wait to post our Disneyland pics!

Asher turns 6!

The day before Asher's birthday I was driving him to Kindergarten...it was quiet- the other kids were back home with Nate. I happened to glance in the rear-view mirror and catch his sweet face & I just started crying. He is just getting so BIG. And he is acting OLDER- a new maturity is emerging, for good and occasionally ill.

I tried not to make a big scene, but Asher is very observant & he noticed. He asked me why I was sad. When I told him, his respnose was "Mom, I'm turning into a grown-up, but you will still be my mom." He melts my heart.

For his birthday, he wanted an Angry Birds Star Wars Han Solo cake. That was beyond my expertise, especially when we would be leaving for Disneyland the next day. So, for the first time ever, I hired out one of my kid's birthday cakes. Totally worth it! We decorated with yellow balloons, ate funfetti pancakes for breakfast & had some family & neighbors over for pizza, presents & cake. So fun!

His birthday gift requests: A Star Wars lunchbox, an electric toothbrush, Angry Birds GO yellowbird telepod, Han in Carbonite LEGO, LEGO Jabba's Palace.