Christmas with Nana and Papa

Finally getting around to posting this. We were excited to share Christmas with Nana and Papa (Lindquist) this year (well...last year now). The drove down from cold Indiana to enjoy the spring like Christmas weather down here in Georgia with us, and it was wonderful. One of the super lame things about living so far from family is that our kids don't get to hang out with their grandparents or cousins very much. So this trip was really awesome for them to be able to have fun with them. And fun it was!

Pops played all kinds of games with the kids and even taught Brody how to play chess and checkers and the huge 4 person chess board he built. They loved every minute of it and we loved to see them all together.

Me and my sweet mom tried to make some sweet treats in the kitchen. I've had this idea that candycane and white chocolate chips would make awesome cookies. So far I can't seem to perfect the recipe to make reality match my imagination, but Mom and I had a great time experimenting to tried and get it right. The were good, but I'm hoping for excellent next Christmas!

Of course the first thing, the last thing, and most things between those that the boys wanted to do involved some type of climbing on Grandpa. I'm so glad that he has the health and strength (and the willingness) to get on the floor with the boys and wrestle with them. They love it! They are never happier than when they are wrestling with papa. Even little Penny joined in this time and had a good time jumping on papa and chasing him around.

For Christmas Eve we tried something new since the weather was so nice - we went out to the backyard and roasted marshmallows after dinner! The Winn family came over for dinner (which was excellent) and then we all spent some time in the backyard talking and eating treats and s'mores. It was a good time and we especially loved the cool temperatures we were blessed with. Luckily Bridger escaped the fire with only a minor burn. You'd think kids would remember by now that those metal roasting sticks get hot when you put them in the fire!

The boys used some of their own money to buy gifts for Nana and Papa. This year Bridger got Papa a very cheap pair of hillbilly teeth which he thought were very funny, but had trouble keeping in his mouth. Nana was gifted with a whoopee cushion, which she used as a scapegoat and we all used for a good laugh. Brody and Bridger were asking everyone as sneakily as they could (which is to say not at all) to stand up for a second so they could see how tall they were. Low and behold, every time I or someone else sat back down after being measured some unknown pressurized gas that must have been secretly building up expelled itself! I just don't know how that happened! Excuse me!

Since the weather was so wonderful we went on a few walks along the trail and in the woods near our house. The boys went exploring all over the place, threw rocks in the streams, crossed under barbed wire, and trespassed on private property. What more can you ask for in a good adventure? Penny wanted to show Nana everything she found interesting, like bark pieces and big leaves and fallen trees and the stream she'd fearlessly get close to.

It was a good Christmas with family and friends and we all gave and received good things. The best gift was to have my parents here. A close second was the remote control Helicopter from Jess. Now that Bridger and Brody have their personalities more developed it was easier to get them good gifts. Bridger has been silently dancing all over the house with the use of his mp3 player and headphones and Brody has spent hours putting together various contraptions with his knex-like building set we got for him. Bridger has also been learning to read much more with his Hooked on Phoenix kit. Penny has not taken to riding her new little trike, but would love to push around anyone else on it. Jessica is working out with friends 3 times a week with her snazzy new Skechers and yoga pants. I'm sure she'll be able to run circles around me and beat me arm wrestling in no time.

We are looking forward to an awesome new year full of surprises and changes! We are glad to announce we are pregnant with twins!! And we are moving to Utah!! And we just bought new couches! Okay, well, one of those is true anyway. (hint: its the couches.)

Catching Up On December

December always seems to fly by and be extremely busy.  This year I thought I had kept things simple enough to not be as busy.  Turns out I hadn't.  We had stuff going on every weekend, school parties, baking, shopping, and the usual business of cleaning and laundry and keeping my children alive.  It's not a bad busy, but it makes everything go by so quickly.

Every year since we moved here to Georgia in 2005, we have gone to Lights of the South.  It's a huge light display that you take a hayride through to see.  It is beautiful and amazing and we love it.  The kids get to sit on Santa's lap and play on a playground and we stand by the fire to stay warm.  It's a magical place.

Brody and Bridger each told Santa what they wanted for Christmas, although by then they had changed their minds multiple times and after this they changed their minds a few more times.  I don't think Santa ever figured out what they wanted.

This is what happens when you try to bring Penny near Santa.  She's a little dramatic, it's true.

Aaaaand back to happy.

 

We also built and decorated a gingerbread house together.  The boys did all the decorating themselves.  I love to watch their creative minds working together.  The first year we did it I was anal and wanted the house to look perfect.  I'm glad I let that go.  

Penny contributed too.  Any candy that fell off of the house or was left unattended for more than 1.5 seconds quickly got stuffed into her mouth.  Side note- I'm sure most kids like candy, but I've never seen anyone like her before.  She will do ANYTHING for candy.  Even if it includes pain.  She'll eat food that she hates. And if she sees candy and doesn't get to eat it, watch out.  She will cut you.

More December catch up to come....

Better Late Than Never..... Merry Christmas!

This year I was too lazy to do Christmas cards.  During the week of Christmas, I slept in, took naps, and lazied around all day with the family.  We did get up and get dressed for church on Christmas and here are some pictures of my good-looking offspring.

We had a good Christmas and a good Christmas season.  We love to see our children as their understanding of Christ grows and they begin to understand the true meaning of Christmas.  We are grateful for our family, our friends, and our Savior. 

We hope you all had a good Christmas and that you felt loved and blessed!

Brody's Piano Recital

Brody started taking piano lessons in September.  It was a rough start.  He kept saying he didn't want to keep taking the lessons but when he went to them, he would come home happy and excited.  I think it was just overwhelming for him to spend all day at school and then have to keep using his brain when he got home.  Eventually he started getting used to it and now he loves it.

His first recital was last Saturday and he played Jingle Bells.  His teacher asked him if he wanted to play a duet with me and he said yes so we played together.  He practiced a lot and did a great job!  When we got to his teacher's house, he said he was feeling nervous and his face was red when he was done but he did awesome.  I'm so proud of him.  

 Here he is with Sister Jenkins and all of her other students.

We Are Thankful

We didn't take any pictures on Thanksgiving Day.  I'm not sure why.  Probably because we were busy cooking, eating, talking, socializing, and being thankful.  Obviously.  We had a good day.  We have such good friends.  They are more like family.  We had the Winns, Rhodeses, Calls, and 3 service members who are in training on Fort Gordon.

For Family Home Evening the Monday before Thanksgiving, we talked about all the blessings that we have and made a thankful tree.  Everyone wrote a few things they were thankful for.  Some included family, friends, chocolate, Halloween, clothes, Jesus Christ, humor, and binky (thanks for your contribution, Penny).  We have so many things to be grateful for and we hope to try harder to be thankful every day of the year.

October

Not a ton happened in October.  It was Adam's birthday but he kind of had a lame day.  He worked the night before and the night of his birthday so he just slept all day.  He had picked out his gift earlier in the month so he didn't have any gifts to open from us.  Oh well- they can't all be amazing right?

 

 This year Halloween was pretty low key as far as costumes are concerned.  We went to the ward trunk or treat on Friday and it was over in like 17 minutes.  Kids move fast when they are working for candy.  Also, no more costumes that require masks.  My boys refused to wear them so it just looked like they had oversize leotards with pants on.

 

 Our good friends the Glovers moved to Texas so we had a little barbeque to say goodbye.  Trying to get 12 people to smile at the same time is ridiculous. 

 This is Jaren Glover.  They don't have kids of their own yet and so they love helping us with ours.  Penny stayed in nursery for the first time ever the week Jaren took her to class and stayed with her for a little while.  Our kids call Jaren "tickle monster" and only recently realized he actually has a first name. With Adam in the bishopric at church and me playing the organ, the Glovers have been so helpful sitting with the kids while we were both on the stand.  We're going to miss them...and not just because they babysit for free.  They're pretty cool.

Jaren and Emily with the kids who LOVE them!

For drug awareness week, the boys' school had a different fun day every day.  One day they wore their shirts backwards, one day they wore their hats and sunglasses.  One day was crazy sock day so we got some fun socks at Target and decorated them with buttons and pom poms.  I promise- Bridger was thrilled.  I don't remember what he was whining about but it was most likely something really stupid.

Summer gone again

Here in Georgia it has cooled down quite a bit and we are moving into one of the nice months of the year when we don't have to run AC or the heater. Before we say hello to nice cool weather though, lets say goodbye to the scorching heat of summer.
Looking back on the pictures from this last month it doesn't appear that a whole lot happened to us, but I'm sure that is not the case. 

I went on a temple trip with some friends. We packed a car full and made the trip to Columbia, SC.  It was so fun!  Lots of good conversation, a nice temple session, and then Frosties from Wendy's on the way home.

Bridger started school at the beginning of September.  He is in the Georgia lottery funded Pre-K at Brody's school.  His teacher is so sweet and he loves it!  He was more excited about riding the bus with Brody than actually being in school. I was a little worried about how he'd act in class (he is really active and has a lot of energy), but he has been great.

Getting on the bus for the first time!

Have you ever seen a happier face? I love this picture.

This is when he got off the bus in the afternoon.  I think I was more excited to see him than he was to see me. I asked him about his day and asked him to give me every detail and he said, "I don't remember."  So I'm just assuming that he had a good day.

Adam took Penny to Indiana to see his little brother and it was my turn for our babysitting co-op.  1 adult, 8 kids, 1 movie, lots of quesadilla = a really fun night!  It was so easy- we have such good, obedient, and happy kids in our group.  Love them.  They watched Rio and went to bed like champs.

We took a quick trip to the beach with my friend Alexis and her 3 kids.  Hilton Head was beautiful and all the kids had a great time.

 

I found these boots for Penny and decided it didn't matter how much they cost, they had to be on her feet.  Good call, right?  I love them- and she loves them too.  I could eat her she's so delicious.

My dad came for a few days last weekend to ordain Adam a high priest.  It was a last minute trip and we were so grateful that he could be here.  My kids love him (Penny loves the Mike n Ike's he always seems to have with him) and they got to go for a day at the park while I had a baby shower here at the house.  I love this picture- Penny's little hand resting on Grandpa's lap.  She doesn't take to strangers too kindly but she always warms up to my dad so quickly.

I love this- his little bulky body and his happy face.  He reminds me so much of my brother Mikey.

If you saw the progression of photos for this one, you would see that Penny ended up looking like an angry elf.  We are posting just the happy one for your benefit.