Christmas 2011

We went to Utah December 17-20 for Christmas and it was great to spend time with family!  The kids loved being with Grandma and playing with cousins and I had fun shopping and visiting.

Santa stopped in for a visit and Sophie sat on his lap just long enough to get her present.

I love having Christmas at home!  Since it was on a Sunday this year we let the kids wake us up early, so we could get presents done before we went to church.  Sophia didn't want anything to do with her oranges this year- she went straight for the chocolate.

Ben is trying to get his mints back from Sophia by trading her for an orange.  She didn't fall for it.

Brandon was excited to get a remote control beyblade.

Sara got the i-pod nano she has been wanting.

Brandon's new digital camera.

Not a day goes by around here without Sophie sitting in time out.

We got a kinect and everyone likes playing it.  

Here are some funny videos of Ben and I playing Fruit Ninja on the kinect.  We had to try it out after the kids went to bed.  We were both sore for a few days after.

Decorating the christmas tree

We set up the Christmas tree when we got back from Utah after Thanksgiving.  It took a couple of days to set it up, put the lights on and then put the ornaments on.

Here's Ben untangling the lights.

Sophia is fixing her purple tree in her room.

For the first few days Sophia would constantly take the candy canes off the big tree and put them on her tree, then put them back on the big tree.  Now she leaves it all alone which is so nice!  I love all my Christmas decorations, but they create a lot of clutter.  I really like when we can take them down and pack them away until next year.

Orange belt

Brandon tested for and got his orange belt.  It was kind of hard to get a good picture of him because he was always moving!  He did great and I am so proud of him.

15 Year Anniversary

For our 15 year anniversary we stayed in Park City.  Unfortunately there wasn't any snow, so we couldn't do the snowmobile tour I had planned.  Instead we went to the Olympic museum and learned all about the famous Utah snow and the Salt Lake City olympics.

We got to see some skiers practicing their jumps.

We went ice skating, walked up and down Main street, and shopped at the outlets.

We stayed at the Newpark Resort & Hotel and it was AMAZING!  We had our own private hot tub, that we enjoyed every night.

The living room with t.v. and fireplace.  To the left of the couch is a full-size fridge, sink, stove and dishes.  I loved the exposed wood beams.

The bedroom was small, but I didn't mind at all.

The bathroom was so nice!  There was a separate shower and jetted tub and we got our own robes to use while we stayed there.  We had such a fun weekend without the kids!  I am grateful everyday to be married to such a wonderful man.  I love you honey!  Here's to many more years together!

Nativity set

I have been wanting a Nativity set for a few years, but never found one that I love.  My friends mom makes them, but she only fires them in the Spring and I always forget to call her.  I mean who is thinking of buying a nativity set in May?  Anyway, I saw my friend and her mom at a craft fair recently and mentioned again that I really wanted one.  She called me a few days later and she had found a set that was almost done- it only needed a couple more times in the kiln.  Of course I bought it and  I was so excited when she dropped it off a few days ago, so I had to set it up and take pictures.

The three wise men.

The holy family.

All the animals.  Three camels, a donkey and a cow.

Two shepherds.

I'm in love and it makes me so happy every time I look at it!

Back from China

Three weeks was a long time, but I made it and Ben got home safely.  Sophie was kind of amazed that Daddy could hold her and kiss her again.

Brandon got a Buddha that he really wanted.

Sophie in her cute dress.

Sara and Brandon in their outfits.

Brandon trying a chicken foot.  Gross!

Daddy brought Sophie a tea set.

Cute pictures from October

Sophia gets to do chores on Saturday morning with Sara and Brandon.  Her chores are bringing her dirty clothes to the laundry room and putting the shoes away.  As you can see she LOVES it!

Snuggling with Sophie before Daddy leaves on his trip to China.

Sophie "watching baby' videos on Daddy's phone.

Typical morning around here.  Sophie eating a pop-tart, drinking milk and watching Dora.

My new smart phone!  I got this while Ben was in China and I was so scared that he would be mad.  He wasn't after I told him I got two years of free data :)

Halloween part 3

I finally got pictures of Sara and Brandon in their costumes on Halloween right before they left to go trick-or-treating.  Ben was still working in China, so Sara and Brandon went trick-or-treating with friends and I took Sophie out around our house quickly before getting back to hand out candy.

Brandon was a Gryffindor student.

Sophia loved knocking on the door, saying trick-or-treat and thank you.  She was really into it this year and even though the weather was horrible she would have stayed out longer.

Sara was an 80's chick

Everyone came home with lots of candy!

I'm so happy Halloween is over and I can't wait to have all the decorations down and the candy gone!  Bring on Thanksgiving and Christmas my two favorite holidays!

Halloween part 2

The friday before Halloween was a busy night for us!  We started off at the kids school for their annual Halloween carnival.  Sophia loved playing the games this year and getting more candy.

Sophia getting her face painted

Brandon getting his face painted

Sophia loves dumping out her candy and then putting it back in.

We stayed at the carnival for an hour then went over to our ward dinner/party/trunk-or-treat.  Sara had her first middle school social that night too, so after we ate dinner I left Brandon and Sophia at the church and took Sara back to the school.  When our ward party was over I got Brandon and Sophia in bed then went and got Sara from school when the social was over.  I was so happy when that day was done, but unfortunately Halloween was not over.