A Special Ride

The kids all got to spend the night with Kathryn last night.  We were all at my Mom's house for a get together with her family.  One of my cousins who is Thad's age wanted to go to Kathryns too.  She didn't have enough seat belts so Nate offered to drive on of the kids in his cop car.  James jumped at the chance and Nate said he loved it!

Sorry.  Totally got this with his eyes closed. :0)

Some Great Gifts

 So I get a little emotional when I think of my brother Gerald.  I am so proud of the man he has become and the choices that he has made.  When I think of all he has been doing to prepare himself for the life he has chosen, it makes me cry.

When my Mom and Dad and Winni went to Texas for Gerald's graduation and the pinning of his wings, they bought the boys some outfits.  Tucker got a flight suit just like the one that Gerald wears with the same patches and everything.  Thad got a uniform and I have to say that I just loved seeing the two of them together in them.

Gerald said that when he goes back he is going to get name tags for the boys to have on their suits too.

I got some pretty cool t-shirts too.  One of them I was so sad when I saw that Winni had one and I didn't.  I'm his sister too.

This other one Gerald had a really neat story to go with it.  He has just finished his P.O.W. training and he told us about some of what he did and had to do and didn't get to do.

I had to share the story of him telling my mom about how he tried to catch a squirrel to eat.  I laugh when I think about it because I can totally see him trying to catch one.  They were given the one rabbit and put in the middle of no where.  He told us about some of the things they did and I'm not sure if I get to share that.  He has come so far from the boy he was 9 months ago to the man he is today.  I will be sad to see him go because we aren't sure when we will see him again.  But I know he is doing something that he loves and believes in.  I love you Gerald!

Christmas Day

 After a long night of trying to sleep, the kids did really well of staying in bed til 6.  Last year they were up at 3am down stairs looking at all their loot.  This year, we cheated.  We put up the baby gates and told them they were up to keep Eva out of Santa's treats.  Hehehe.

Katy loved her "BABY".  Norma got her asked for Easy Bake Oven and the boys got some really cool scooters with license plates that say, "BOYS RULE" and "2COOL4U"  Bet you can guess who got what.

 Katy didn't want a thing to do with any of her presents.  She just wanted the baby.  She loved that the baby had a "baba" and a binky.  We basically opened her gifts for her and when she saw a new baby stroller she had to put the baby in it.  Then she opened the diapers and wipes that I made for her babies and she had to change the baby's "bum".  She was so cute!

 We managed to make opening presents last for over an hour.  They got to play for a bit and then they ate breakfast fast and we headed to church.

 This is the bed set that my mom gave to Katy.  She is getting better about pictures and was saying "cheese" and showing me her favorite part of Christmas.  She loved putting the baby to bed and spinning the mobile for it.

 After a very long hour of church were Nate and I took turns with Katy out in the hall, we came home, changed and played for a bit before Grandpa and Nana showed up with a few more gifts.  The kids were happy to have the bears that they had gone and made with Grandpa and Nana and loved showing them all the fun things that they had gotten.

There was one up side to having a green Christmas, the boys got to try out their new scooters.

 I think they are going to have a companion come summer when they go riding.  Eva would stay right by them.

They only got to ride for a bit before we were in the car and headed up to see my brother John and his wife Celest.  We took up dinner and had a great time visiting and hanging out.  It was so nice to be together as a family.  We were only missing Jeremiah.

I hope everyone enjoyed their holiday as much as we did!

Christmas Eve

 I am so happy to say that my brother Gerald was able to make it home for the holidays!!!  We haven't seen him since April when he left for basic training.  He just finished his POW training and got a flight home yesterday!  The kids have loved having him here.  And I have too.

He spent the day having to put up with my children but I don't think he minded too much. :0)

 Norma has not left Gerald's side for long ever since he got there.  She has always loved Gerald and they really have a special bond.  I'm so glad that he was able to be here for Christmas.

 The kids couldn't wait to open their Christmas Eve gifts.  Thad bugged me forever about when would he get to open his.  I finally told him a time and he did really good to not say another word til it was time.  But he sure watched the clock.

Katy had so much fun opening her present that before we knew it, she had opened up 2 other presents under the tree.  Oops.

Winni in her jammies from Mom and Dad.  She loves penguins.

 Gerald in his footsy pajamas. :0)  Go Eyeore!!!

 The boys are into the "bunny ears" when ever I get the camera out.

I wanted to get some pictures in front of the tree.  Walle got right in for pictures but it's not the same with out Eva and trying to get all the kids to look at the camera at the same time...

To late Eva.  Now you need to move.  You're in the way now.

 No, Eva.  You are still in the picture.

 Katy!  Sit down!  We just got the dogs out of the picture.

Eyes are closed on this one and a bad glare on those glasses.  One more time.

Well, this one will have to do. :0)

Finally we read our "Night Before Christmas", had our last Advent chocolate and sent the kids to bed.  Then I remembered that we hadn't set out Santa treats and had to call them back down to get out the Coke and the Mountain Dew cupcakes we had made.  Then we got them back to bed.  Nate and I sat up to watch the news and Thad would sneak down.  We wouldn't hear him til he was at the bottom of the stairs.  Poor kid couldn't sleep.  After the 5th time, I walked him back up stairs and he was just so sad.  He told me, "I just want tonight to be over so it can be tomorrow and I can go down stairs."  Nate and I ended up going to bed and setting the alarm to get up before the kids so that "Santa" could come.  What a long night. But so worth it.  I just love Christmas!

Katy and her baby

She is so stinking cute!  I caught her putting her socks and shoes on her baby.  She is going to love Christmas this year!

Family Pictures

 We had family pictures taken with the Powell's back in November and we just got ours.  Enjoy!

Christmas Break Has Started

 What a great start to the holiday beak!  It started when Aunt Kathryn came to spend the night last night.  We had a ward Christmas party this morning where the kids got doughnuts for breakfast and then Santa came and read us a wonderful story.  Then home to do a bit of cleaning and then games, hot cocoa and lunch.

I truly have some wonderful kids!  The are amazing and the best helper.  The tend to know when their Dad has worked all night and has to sleep all day.  They get a bit noisy but for the most part, they are good and quiet.

I had to show you these mugs that my sister Becky gave us for the Powell family gift exchange.  I love them!  Each one has our names on them and something that is just for us.  They are perfect and we love having them in our window seal.  It was pretty funny though, when we brought them home and Norma saw the one that said, "Nathan" she was worried that we had taken one of the cousins mugs.  She didn't remember that her dad and her cousin share the same name. :0)

"Thad's Shoes!"

 Katy is talking so much more!  She is also discovering much more too.  She found Thad's snow boots and thought it was a hoot to walk around in them.  The morning after I had taken these pictures she was walking around saying, "Thad's shoes.  Thad's shoes."  But it kind of sounded like she was sneezing. :0)

 She just loves her Thad.  She says all her siblings names very clear but you have to know what she is saying because their names sound like other names.  "Thad" sounds like "Dad" but she says "Daddy" for Nate.  When she says "Norma"  is sounds like "Mama" but she calls me "Mommy".  "Tucker" is the only one you don't get confused with. 

She is growing up so much.  Last night the kids slept down stairs and Kate just had to be with them.  She climbed right in Thad's snuggie and scooted right down in it and laid there with them.

Katy is saying, "Ho, ho, ho" a lot too.  When ever she see's a picture of Santa, "Ho, ho, ho" comes out but she see's a man like Santa and she can't get away fast enough.

Big Girl

I feel like I haven't taken very many pictures of the kids lately.  Its all the dogs and crafts I've been doing.  But Katy has been growing up on me.

She was so excited to sit at the big table with a big bowl and a regular cup of milk.

She is liking the camera more.  She doesn't really smile but she loves saying, "Cheeeese!"

Crafting, sewing and baking

I have been doing all this and more and if you are interesting in seeing most of it you can go here. :0)

Another Dog Post

So my parents bought a dress for their dog and it was too small.  It wouldn't fit around her "winter weight".  I thought I would try it on Eva.

Pretty funny huh. :0)

Bad Dog

Nate noticed Eva being really good just laying next to him last night and looked to see what she was chewing on.  It was this.

I am so MAD!!!  Thad said that she had chewed on it when it was in his backpack and instead of telling us just put it back on the bookshelf.

It is so bad.  I'm so upset.  It will have to be replaced with a brand new book. 

This dog needs to quit eating everything.  Books and socks included.

Chirstmas with Grandpa and Nana

For Christmas the kids asked Grandpa and Nana to go to Build-A-Bear with them and help them make an animal.  It worked out that we got to go today.  The kids got to stay out of school and we met Grandpa and Nana at the mall.  I was very impressed with my kids for not saying anything to the worker without a hand.  Thad said in the car later that it was creepy but I'm so glad that he didn't say that to the worker.  It was cool to watch him do everything.  Katy was scared of the fluff machine and went right to Grandpa to save her.
The kids had a blast and I think Grandpa and Nana did too.  Now the kids have to wait til Christmas to get their bears.  It might be a long month for them. ;0)

Cleaning Up

I had asked Norma to clean up her room because I couldn't see the floor.  I went in to help and couldn't put anything away because nothing was where it should go.  So EVERYTHING went on the floor and we all helped put things away.

Can you find Thad?  He's in there.  Somewhere.

Now we can see the floor and I can say that I have gotten her room ready for Christmas.  Next on the list... the boys room.  Oh no.