911

Fire Station Field Trip

Rebekah has been learning about safety.

Part of this lesson always covers when you should and shouldn't call 911.

Should: Report a crime, fire, or a serious injury.

Shouldn't: When mom is resting (because she has a bad chest cold)

and you're dying of boredom.

Rebekah punched in a bunch of random numbers today and guess what they began with?

9-1-1

I remember Emma doing the same thing when she had the safety lesson in preschool too.

It Just Makes Me Smile...

Wearing it or eating it?

Who cares...it just makes me smile.

She's so cute!

I just want to pinch those chocolate covered cheeks!

Book of Mormon Stories

This will make you chuckle:

We've been reading the Book of Mormon with our children, (for over a year now) and we're finally into the book of Alma. This has been a wonderful and trying experience for us...

Wonderful when our children ask us meaningful questions and we can expound on things of a spiritual nature. It's amazing to watch their testimonies grow and shine forth! I love how easily children grasp gospel principles.

Trying when we have to stop every 2 minutes to remind them to sit still, be quiet and just listen for one measely chapter! Trying when we have to nearly shout the scriptures over Mo's screaming. Trying when they slump down and ask if we're done yet.

Here's the chucke:

The other day Bekah asked me how much more we had to read in the Book of Mormon. I showed her, and then she went over to the other books of scriptures (Old Testament, New Testament, Doctrine and Coveanants) we have sitting on a cabinet downstairs. She boldly declared, "So after the Book of Mormon, we'll read all of these...and then we'll be dead!"



Yes Bekah, at the rate we're going you might be right. I think we'll save the Old Testament for last.

2011 - The Boring Tree

I guess we'll remember Christmas 2011 as the year of

The Boring Tree! After Moriah tipped over the tree 3 times and after we discovered unscrewed light bulbs all over the house, we decided to take down the lights.

We then also felt justified in our decision to skip putting up our very expensive and extensive collection of Hallmark ornaments.

Every year we take a special picture, it's called the "Loot Picture"& it's purpose is to document the fun things the kids got for Christmas that year.

After having to replace many appliances this year, car repairs, and an unexpected cat/vet bill we had a more modest Christmas than years past. I hope we've managed to convey to our children that Christmas is not about getting, but giving. And we had a wonderful Christmas.

(Mike wouldn't call it a modest Christmas,

he would call it the Christmas we finally stayed in our budget.)

Emma's Loot

Aaron's Loot
Bekah's Loot

Mo wouldn't hold still for a "Loot Picture"

So I'll just post this one instead,
She's a beautiful baby!

Merry Christmas to all

& to all a goodnight!

Gingerbread Houses and Sugar Cookies

Our "gingerbread" houses are actually made with graham crackers...but you get the point.

We packed a lot of fun into Christmas Eve.

A party at Grandpa's house, gingerbread house building/decorating, and then we made cookies for Santa. It's a good thing Santa was pre-wrapped this year because he and Mrs. Claus were exhausted after ALL the Christmas activities. We normally don't pack so much into one day, but the stomach flu hit Mo and Mom before Christmas. And then the nasty bug made an ancore preformance for the other members of the family the day after Christmas.

What's that old saying, "It just isn't Christmas unless someone's crying or pukin'!"

Our super cutie didn't have the attention span to decorate a house,

in fact if you check out the next pic, you can tell how she spent her time:

...looking for any candy that may have fallen onto the floor.

The finished product, (antlers included free of charge).

Mike made an pretty incredible igloo this year.

I LOVE Christmas!

Christmas Festivities

These kids are not excited for Christmas, nope, not one little bit.

It's not as if you can literally see the anticipation shining forth like search lights from their very eyes, with smiles that seems to speak aloud, "Presents, presents, presents are coming!"

Aunt Coco & Bekah

Daddy & Aaron

Mommy & Emma

Christmas at Grandpa Russ and Grandma Kae's house.

Gail & Co...doesn't my sister look awesome?

You look gorgeous Colleen!

I am so proud of all you have accomplished!

It wasn't easy, in fact I'm positive it was "in your face" hard and sometimes you probably wanted to quit, but you didn't! You look great! I love you!

The 1st grade gingerbread houses:

The Preschool Christmas Program:

Seven

Aaron is 7! Where has the time gone?!

Here are the highlights of his birthday:

Our Family Tradition - The Birthday Rock!

Chasers: Another family tradition.
A treasure hunt (with clues) for your birthday presents!
The kids LOVE it.

Blow 'em out Aaron!

Happy Birthday Bear!