Finally, some girl toys!

For the past 1 1/2 of Liv's life she has only known boy toys (trucks, balls, Jedi's, Lego's, guns, etc.), but this Christmas she finally got her first doll and a few other girl toys. She is loving every minute and can hardly put the doll down. Today she brought me her doll and said "poop". Next, I watched her get the wipes and wipe her doll-it was so cute. She feeds her baby constantly, takes her for rides in the stroller, and puts her to bed. She insists we all take a turns with her doll and I have walked in on Shawn many times rocking a doll in his arm (something that I was not sure I would ever see). It's just priceless. Here are some pictures I took of Liv with her doll on Christmas morning. All this girl stuff is really starting to grow on me.

Temple Square

We braved the cold weather and walked around Temple Square. It has been years since I have been there and it was so beautiful.

Snow and more fun

I was really hoping for some good snow when we got to Utah, but I had no idea what we were in for, and after driving all the way to Utah we ended up getting snow in our own backyard in Las Vegas.

We had the Annual Nielson Nativity program while we were home. My family got to be the Wisemen this year.

We also played the chimes, which is Shawn's favorite part :)- sense the sarcasm

We took a trip to the Hansen Planetarium.

They showed a really fun movie called Santa vs. the Snowman. It was shown in 3D and Ethan kept getting out of his seat to touch things that he thought were coming his way. Cole was scared at first, but then he liked it.

Candy Trains and more Utah Fun

Your probably getting sick of all the Utah pictures, but we seriously run non-stop when we go home and do so many fun things. We got together with the Reese family to make candy trains. Liv just ate the frosting, but the boys had fun.

We attempted family pictures, but just as we got out of the car Cole slipped and fell head first into the snow. He was so cold and sad that he cried the whole time.

We also has another chance to see Santa, which didn't prove to be any better experience for Liv than the first time. Even my boys were scared this time, as you can tell I am in every picture coaxing the kids onto Santa's lap.

And we had fun bowling at the Rudd Christmas Party....and just for the record I won (I even beat my dad 131 to 130).

Home Again

We just got back from spending a week in Utah for the Holiday! We had such a great time and already miss everyone. Here is a pic I took of Liv and hopefully over the next day or two I will get the rest of the photos up.

Life without kids

Sometimes all I want is five minutes without someone crying, begging, yelling, whining, and touching me-is that too much to ask? At times I wonder what my life would be like without kids... I don't know, maybe full of sleep and actually finishing things that I start. But, is that really what I want..... The kids keep me laughing all day long, like when Ethan prays that his food will cool down, that our car will not run out of gas, or when Cole tells me that dinner was so NASTY-all of which happened yesterday. Cole told his preschool teacher this morning when asked what his dad does for work, "he get's Coke." Ethan informed his primary teacher that his mom isn't getting anything for Christmas because she is poor. I just love the innocent, tender spirits in each one of my kids and despite the fact that I might like to have some peace and quiet every once in a while, or even catch up on sleep, or maybe if I am lucky go out on a date with my husband-I wouldn't change anything!!! Who would tell me that they love my earings and set the table for breakfast to surprise me (ethan), who would give me the best bear hugs and want to help me cook(cole), and who would get my slippers every morning and hang out with me while I get ready (liv). When it comes down to it-I love being a mother, I love my kids, and I really I love my crazy, sleep-deprived life. How grateful I am to have three healthy kids. Shawn comes home with all kinds of sad stories of kids dying and it is so tragic, I couldn't imagine my life for a second without my kids. How grateful I am to be their mother.

Also, as of this morning Shawn got offered his first interview for a Neonatology Fellowship. His interview will be at the University of Rochester in New York, which I know is far away from home, but we love the program and area. A bit of an extreme weather change, but we will see. Hopefully there will be more interviews to come, but we are excited!!

Santa Visit

This is what Livy thought about seeing Santa last night.

Cole was just relaxing and kicking back, Ethan was a little unsure but excited, and Liv was just screaming! I thought Santa was supposed to be someone who kids could not wait to see???