Henry Cleaning Up.

December 2012

Someone decided to get a little dirty.  

A Bit of December

December 2012

We received an early Christmas package for Caroline.  I was so excited to see bows from Aunt Rachel and Uncle Jared.  Parker was excited too because he wanted us to put them all in her hair right away.

We go some of our first snow and just had to try it out.  It was a Sunday and church started at 9.  Don't worry though we still made it to church in time but we just had to play in it for a few minutes.  

 Our Thanksgiving tree.  I took a picture so I could throw it away but we wanted to remember some of the things we were thankful for this year.

 Our family home evening where we learned about the Shepherds coming to see Jesus.

 A special day.  Here's what the kids looked like on 12-12-12.

Brotherly Love.

December 2012

Lincoln was so funny on this day.  I have some good video of Caroline laughing but I just can't get it to load. She loved having Lincoln put his pj pants on her face then lift them up quickly.  They played for a little while, laughing the whole time.  They are great siblings.  Lincoln can really entertain Caroline well.  

Meet Todd.

December 2012

Meet Todd.  He's our elf.  He kept the boys behaved this year.  Todd himself was not too obedient.  He always made a mess of some sort.  He did clean up after himself though.  At first Lincoln was unsure of Todd.  He didn't know what to think but by the time Christmas came around Lincoln had always talked about Todd.  He even thought that Todd hid some of the toys once saying 'Hanry did Todd take your Frantricycle?'  We love Todd and can't wait for him to come to our family again next year.  

 If you have ever read 'Dinosaurs Love Underpants' then you may enjoy this one as well 'Aliens Love Underpants.'  It's fun for Christmas time.

 We took a one day trip and Todd was with us.  We were glad that he could come along on our journey to make sure we were okay.

Finding the Perfect Tree.

November 23, 2012

We found out just a little late that we could cut a tree in the mountains.  We needed a permit to go on the specific day we wanted to go on. I also learned later that trees in the forest droop a little more than trees at the 'farm.'  I really miss our tradition of cutting down a tree at Hunter Tree Farm.  I miss the red tractor, seeing Santa, getting cookies and hot chocolate, taking a hay ride, making ornaments, and riding on a horse. This time we didn't know where to go so we found a tree farm close by.  At first I thought we would get to saw our own tree but then found out that they just had them staked up.  We looked around for a nice soft one that was a good size.  The day was beautiful but a bit windy at times.  We walked around for a little while then decided on a nice one.  Lincoln had some hot chocolate that could burn your tongue off.  We had to wait awhile before he could drink it.  They also got to have a small treat and a candy cane.  Not too bad but maybe next year we will go to the mountains.

 Our Christmas tree.

 The folks at this place put the tree on our car for us while we paid for it.  It was a fun time.

I put this picture on just because it's funny.  Parker and Lincoln always want to sit by dad.  They crowd around him on both sides leaving very little room to use his arms.  They love it.  I love it.  These days won't be here forever so it's good to enjoy them while we have them.

Thanksgiving

November 22, 2012

With all that we have experienced over the last four months we decided to keep Thanksgiving to ourselves this year.  We were invited by a family in our ward to join them but we just wanted to have a casual low key, stress free time.  We have been busy busy busy with this first semester of school.  We had a nice little turkey, yummy dinner rolls, veggies, potatoes and stuffing.  Oh how I love this Thanksgiving meal.  In fact I had to make a Thanksgiving dinner in September or October because I was craving it's deliciousness. 

 One fun thing is that we pulled out some plates that have been in storage at my parents for five years.  I had a little thing in high school where I wanted to have a fifties kitchen with red, black and white with the checker pattern and red barstools, etc.  Coca Cola products fit into this little dream of mine.  The boys were way excited to use the cool plate and silverware.

 Caroline did well hanging out while we all ate our meal.  She is one happy kid.

 For dessert I had planned to make pie, but we had so much cheesecake left over from my birthday that we just decided to eat that instead.  Yum Yum.

There are so many things to be thankful for.  This year I am thankful for education, jobs, family, friends, homes, church, and so many more blessings.  I'm grateful that I have a Savior and that He lives.  I'm grateful for the knowledge I have gained as I study the scriptures.  The list could become a novel so I will leave it there knowing I have more blessings than I recognize.

My Real Birthday Day.

November 19, 2012

My actual birthday celebrations were great fun.  I planned with the McLean girls to go the Denver Museum of Nature and Science for a free day.  As an extra bonus Parker was out of school for the day due to Thanksgiving being that same week.  For an hour drive and to see Georgia friends and do something for free it was fabulous.  I wish I had taken a picture of the guy dressed up like a dinosaur skeleton.  He was walking around outside when we showed up and Lincoln was ready to leave because he didn't like it.  

 We ventured into the space area where they had some videos about Mars.  This intrigued the kids for awhile.  We decided to pull them away so that we could see other exhibits.

 There was a nice guy right when the boys and I arrived that offered to take my picture with them.  I agreed because I figured it would be the only picture with me and the kids on my birthday.  It was true, it was the only one with all of us.  I dressed the boys the same so that I could find them more easily on a busy day.

 Lunch time.  PB & J.  We sat by one of those things where you put your coin in and watch it go around in a funnel until it drops in the bottom.  I had a coin for each kid but many kids had come by to put their coins in and my boys loved watching it.  One girl was even so sweet to give up her own coins so that Parker and Lincoln could have a turn.  Just before we were getting ready to leave a guy and his older son gave Parker a couple of coins to put into it.  Very sweet and kind.

 After lunch we went to the children's area.  We listened to story time and played a piano, did puzzles, played with scarfs in a thing that blew air up so you could see the scarves fly up in the air.  There were many things to do in this area and the kids really enjoyed it.  Everyone got really sleepy and we had a drive ahead of us where we wanted to avoid traffic.  So we left pretty early.

 For dinner we used gift cards from awhile ago and went on a night where the kids got to eat free with an adult entree.  Pretty much a free dinner.  They also had a balloon guy there who made these balloons for the kids; we didn't have to pay (we could donate though).  This was a really fun inexpensive birthday for me.  I'm glad I had my family with me.  Henry picked a penguin.

 Parker had a butterfly.

 Lincoln had an alien in an airplane.

 Thanks for the fun birthday.