Easter 2010

We had a lovely Easter this year. Since it was the same Sunday as General Conference, we had a nice relaxing weekend at home. We dyed Easter eggs, always a fun time. Notice the basketball on top. That is Mike's. He always does something creative.

The kids enjoying candy from their Easter baskets before breakfast.

The Easter bunny brought Maya a very cool jewelry box. She loves it.

Haley got a fun window mosaic that looks like stained glass. She has already completed it and it is hanging on a window in her room.

Caleb got a tool box book, but was much more interested in his candy.

It also wouldn't be Easter weekend without an Easter egg hunt. All the kids had fun and gathered lots of eggs. Maya got the cash again this year. Haley was quite jealous. It was cold and windy, a little miserable, but at least the sun was shining.

Happy Easter everyone!

Happy 34th Mike!

On Sunday, March 28th, Mike had a birthday. We had a really fun day. When we got home from church, there was a surprise for the kids. My parents were at our house. They were flying home from Utah, and had a long layover in Denver. They only got to stay a few hours, but we enjoyed every minute. Mike opened his presents, we had cake, and the kids showed off for grandma and grandpa all afternoon.

Mike opening the homemade card from Haley and Maya (with a blow pop - lucky guy!)

The Grandparents and Haley

Caleb did most of the unwrapping

I love it when you capture crazy expressions with your camera.

Happy Birthday Mike. We love you!

Christmas 2009

We had the best Christmas this year. We were able to go to St. Louis to spend time with my family. We had a total blast, but neither Mike or I are very good photographers, so we didn't get many pictures.

We started out the trip driving to Lincoln, Nebraska to attend Mike's sister Laurie's wedding. The kids loved staying in our favorite hotel, the Embassy Suites. There is nothing better than an awesome free breakfast, swimming in the hotel pool, and a door between the kids' bed and the parents' bed. The wedding was lovely I'm told. I wouldn't know as I spent 95% of it in the hallway with Caleb. We had a great dinner at the reception and the whole family enjoyed dancing. Maya proclaimed it the best party ever.

From Lincoln we drove on to St. Louis. We did so many great fun things while there, but only got pictures of one thing - sledding. The weather in St. Louis while we were there was very cold and snowy, totally opposite of the usual weather when we come for Christmas. Usually we get some super freaky warm days where we are playing outside in short sleeves and and bare feet. Not this year.

It was so cold we had to have hot chocolate!

Haley and Caleb

Maya

Grandma and Haley

The boys (Mike, Caleb and Uncle Joe) played snow football.

When we weren't sledding we did lots of other fun things. We went to a play of The Christmas Story (you'll shoot your eye out), the Magic House, the Science Center, the Butterfly House, on a horse drawn carriage ride to see Christmas lights, Ted Drewes and more Christmas lights, saw Avatar, Princess and the Frog, and New Moon, made a gingerbread house and rice krispie house, made sugar cookies, and played tons of games. It was great to see Uncle Steve (aka Uncle Stop it), Uncle Ryan (aka I have a full time job), Uncle Joe and Auntie Ann, and Grandma and Grandpa. We sure love you guys!

Happy Halloween!

Here are the cute kids in their Halloween costumes. Caleb's helmet is just a little bit too big!

And our attempts at carving pumpkins this year. From left to right: Alien (Mike's), Pumpkin face with bat mouth (Haley), regular old pumpkin face (me), cat on tree limb (Maya).

Crazy snow storm!

If I am counting correctly, this is the 4th time that it has snowed this October. That is crazy enough, but this storm has been wild. We measured this morning and we had about 12 inches and it has just kept snowing all day.

Mike took the kids outside this morning, and they didn't last very long. It is very cold and windy, plus it is still snowing. We put goggles on Caleb because he kept crying about snow getting in his eyes.

Our poor pumpkins that we haven't even carved yet!

We haven't even brought our chair cushions inside yet! That looks like a nice soft seat though, right? Look at that pile of snow on the table!

Fall Fun

Last weekend we went to a pumpkin festival at our local garden center. They had lots of fun things for the kids to do. When you first walked in there were several model trains set up that mesmerized Caleb. Then we headed over to the petting zoo. Caleb also loved that. Haley and Maya kept there distance from most of the animals.

They cornered this cute bunny.

There was also face painting, which the girls could not pass up. We also enjoyed a kids musician that sang lots of great songs, entertainers making balloon animals, and an inflatable obstacle course. The kids also got to decorate a pumpkin. We had a great time and spent most of the day there.

A couple days later we made caramel apples. Of course the kids ate mostly caramel, not much apple.

Happy Fall!

Caleb turns 2

My baby is now 2. No longer a baby. We had a very low key birthday celebration last week - cake and presents. I made him a cake that was supposed to look like a big Oreo cookie. It was pretty delicious.

Mike took some pictures of Caleb at the table after we ate cake. I think they represent his current personality so well.

He got some great presents. The biggest was a train table set, which Caleb and the girls have really enjoyed so far.

Haley and Maya made Caleb a little sign with Legos. We had a great time celebrating our little man. Sure love you Caleb.