Newest Members of the Family

No way, we didn't get a pet!

Part of our gift for the kids for Christmas was taking them to Build A Bear. They had a great time! While we were at the mall, they also rode the train, which was a first that they all really enjoyed.
Train ride.

Cole with Grave Digger.

Jayda with Rainbow Blush.

Sadie with Star.

Watching their animals getting stuffed.

The kids ready for bed with their new animals.

White Trash

We are officially white trash (for a couple days until the garbage truck comes), complete with sink and toilet in our front yard...

We are completely remodeling one of our bathrooms this week. Bart is such a work horse! He can do every part of the remodeling, which is totally awesome! We'll put some after pictures up once it's complete.

Christmastime

We have had a great Christmas together. It was so nice not to have to travel. The kids were super excited to run downstairs and see what Santa had brought. Even Jayda was totally into ripping wrapping paper off the gifts. :) Bart and Cole both have this week off, so we'll continue to party! We are so grateful for our children, families, friends, health, job and mostly, our Savior.
Bart surprised me with this gorgeous nativity!

Jayda feeding her new baby doll (notice Cole's tongue in the background. He does this when he concentrates)

Cole playing his new DS

Sadie's new jewelry/make-up box (she got lots of chap sticks)

The kids in their new pj's

Cole and Mom in our plaid pj's

Jayda lounging in her new panda pj's. She LOVED them!

More Snowed In Day Activities

On Monday, Bart was snowed out of work and Cole was snowed out of school (they canceled the rest of the week of school). We made donuts and lots of snowflakes. Jayda colored alot while we worked at the snowflakes. It was so fun to spend another day together!
Everyone working hard

Cole's first snowflake

Sadie's snowflake

Bart decided to make a bird instead of a snowflake

Enjoying the donuts!

Choirs of Angels

Yesterday when Sadie woke up and saw all the snow, she was super excited. She turned to me and said "Mom, look at all the snow! I can make choirs of snow angels!" And that is what she did. She moved from place to place make several snow angels at a time. I love that kids can get so excited about simple things.

By the way, the reports say we got 21 inches of snow! School is canceled tomorrow! Homemade donuts might be in order.

Snowed In Day Activity

We pulled out the gingerbread house kit yesterday. Bart was awesome and put it together with the kids.
Jayda building her own tower

Just starting

Finished Product

Let It Snow...and Snow...and Snow!!!

Friday night started a huge snow storm... bigger than anyone around here has seen in many years. It started snowing Friday night and didn't stop snowing until the wee hours of this morning. SO much snow! The kids had fun playing in it for a bit. Sadie and Jayda were done after 20 minutes. It was to deep and soft to do sledding, so mostly they just played while Bart tried to shovel. He eventually gave up because it was snowing faster than he could shovel. This morning, you couldn't even see our Honda! We are snowed out of church today. Bart is out with the neighbor's snow blower, working on both driverways, trying to see if we'll be able to get out by tomorrow.
Jayda and Sadie ready to head in.

The beginning of the snow storm...

the middle...

This morning....

Gymnastics

Sadie's last gymnastics class was Monday. She had a really great time. At the last class, they have each child come up for a ribbon. Little Sadie's undies are hanging out, but she is so cute in her leotards! Jayda loved watching Sadie each week.

O Christmas Tree!

Since we are staying here for Christmas, we decided it would be fun to get a "real" Christmas tree. Bart, Cole and Sadie headed out last Saturday to find the perfect tree.... and they found it!

Jayda's First Hair Cut

Jayda had her first trip to the salon last week. She did a great job. I had Sadie go first so Jayda could see what was going to happen. She wasn't to sure about everything once she got put in the chair, but by the end, she was happy.

Yummy Cookies

Cole had an early release day today so we made some gingerbread cookies. Of course, the best part is frosting and decorating them. Cole and Sadie had a great time... made a nice mess, used to much frosting and candy... you know how it goes. It is fun for them to make these memories... I can't wait for Bart to come home and see the cookies that Cole made especially for him. I'm sure it weighs at least a pound with all the frosting and M&M's. :)
Jayda excited for the cookies to be frosted

Hard at work

Some of the finished product

D.C. Temple Lights

We met our friends, the Ferrels, at the D.C. Temple last night to see the Visitor's Center and the Christmas lights. It was freezing cold, but definitely worth going. There were hundreds of nativities, from all over the world, set up in the Visitor's Center as well as several fabulously decorated Christmas trees. The lights outside were gorgeous and they had a life-sized nativity scene outside that had a recording telling the story of the birth of Jesus. Jana had brought chocolate milk and sugar cookies that were divine. We had a great evening together. It was so wonderful to be reminded again of the "reason for the season."

Winter Wonderland

It started snowing yesterday morning. Of course, the kids were completely thrilled! After a trip to Target, we had everything they needed to fight the cold weather and play outside. Poor Jayda...she was a marshmallow person and if she fell, she couldn't get up by herself and would whimper until someone helped her up. Bart was a super great Dad to pull them around on the sled and help build a snowmen.

Our front yard

Teamwork!

Proud of their finished product!

The cute kids!

Vacation to the Outer Banks, NC

We had the best trip last week. We were able to spend a week in N.C. with two other families. We had such a great time. Our beach house was super close to the beach and we loved the sunrises and sunsets. Everyone got along really well... the kids were all the same ages and had such fun together. We visited lighthouses, played in the sand, enjoyed the hot tub, visited Ocracoke Island, ate at some fun places and relaxed alot. We had planned on foregoing Thanksgiving dinner and just grilling, but the grill was super yucky, so we threw together a last minute dinner that was super yummy.

On the way home, we stopped at Kill Devil Hills, NC and visited the home of one of Cole's favorite monster trucks, Gravedigger. The driver, Dennis Anderson, happened to be there signing autographs. Cole was in heaven! There was a garage there that had Madusa, Taz and El Toro Loco as well. I think it was the highlight of the trip for Cole.