The weather in Las Vegas doesn't vary too much. It is usually hot, warm, or hot. This past week we have had some nice little rain showers. My poor kids haven't had the opportunity to experience the different kinds of weather, so when I saw the opportunity for some puddle jumping we took it.
And, guess what we had for dinner???
DOUGHNUTS!!
It was the first dinner in a long time where no one complained!
We're back.....
from another great Utah Trip. This was actually our last trip home until we move to Milwaukee. We had a great time and the kids were spoiled with all the grandparent and cousin love. We did lots, but I really just enjoyed our time and didn't take a lot of pictures.
The kids couldn't get enough of the snow. They would run outside all the time without shoes, coats, hats, or gloves and didn't even care.
The Discover Museum was fun.
We rode the frontrunner into Salt Lake and the kids thought that was cool.
My younger sister, Brooke, lives in Israel. She sent my twin sister and I each a scarf from Jerusalem. They are beautiful and we wanted to send her a picture of us with our scarfs.
Don't want to forget Shawn!!
My mom has been asking me for a long time to take some pictures of my brother, Mike. She kept calling them Senior pictures, but my brother is 22 and graduated high school a few years ago. So I told her if she stopped calling them senior pictures I would do it. It was so cold, and this was the fastest 7 minute shoot I have ever done. Isn't he cute?? Ladies, he is single :)
We had a great Christmas. Santa did well and the kids were all very happy with their presents. Ethan even said he got more than he wanted! The boys got remote control jeeps, cars, wii games, movies, cars, motorcycles, and more jeeps. Liv got dolls, barbies, a doggy named Lumpy (not a real one unfortunately for Shawn), and girly stuff. I don't really care much for playing the Wii like my boys do, but we got the new Super Mario Brothers and I have become addicted. It has brought out a side of me that I don't think Shawn has ever seen. I never realized how competitive I am. Shawn and I stayed up playing way too late and our thumbs had blisters to prove in the morning.
It's fun having a girl. Liv got lots of girly pink stuff.
The boys have been talking for months about getting remote control FJ cruisers. I looked everywhere and couldn't find them. One Sunday afternoon I was cruising the web and found some from a random store. I couldn't help myself and I bought them right on the spot. I know, shopping on Sunday, but for all the effort I put into finding these jeeps I figured it was divine intervention :) Either way, the boys got what they wanted and were SOOO happy. Cole's even has a custom paint job.
We continue to add to the masses of matchbox cars. This is just a small sample of the collection we have. I really don't think there is a matchbox car out there that we don't have at this point. I find them all over my house, in the cupboards, in the tub, all over my kitchen, in the car, and everywhere else in between.
Every morning Liv sits on the counter while I get ready. We pretend a little and she puts make-up on, I do her hair, and we spray perfume. It is our morning girly routine. My mom got Liv this little set of pretend hair and beauty stuff. While I was getting ready on Sunday Liv came running in carring her curling iron and blow dryer. She climbed right up and new exactly what to do. She was so cute!
We have had a nice holiday weekend. We did lots of relaxing and eating.
Cole had a Polar Express Party for preschool and got to wear his PJ's.
Liv wanted in on the pictures
This was her own pose.
Ethan made the honor roll (who knew 1st grade has the honor roll). We went to a little program for him.
Today was the last day of basketball.
and one last one of Liv
When Ethan was three months old we moved away from home, and haven't live there since. We really like living away, but we miss our families. This time of year we especially miss them!! The one perk of living away is the frequent visits of the mailman with fun surprises, packages, and letters from grandpa's and grandma's over the holidays. Today was a good mail day!!
We survived November and have had lots of fun getting ready for Christmas. Tonight was the ward party followed by Santa. I have been preparing Liv all week to sit on Santa's lap. Last year she just cried. Liv told me all week how excited she was and that she was going to ask for a puppy for Christmas. But when Santa walked in the room, she lost all her courage. She tried so hard not to cry, but in the end she just couldn't help it.
(Santa needed a little help with his beard, don't you think?)
a few more christmas pics
Cole had his last game of the season today. He was very excited to get his bobble head trophy.
just a random picture of Liv. She was helping me set up my studio and was really loving the attention. Liv loves headbands. She wears them all the time, but this is how she wears them. If you try to put it on right she just pulls it back down.
