Stop #2 and 3...Logan and Coalville

We spent a few days (from December 28th - January 1st) in Logan with Dave's sister, Melinda and her family.  They were such great hosts that we stayed longer than planned. :)

Dave's parents were visiting in Logan too and Dave's brother, Mike and his family came up too.  It was a full house, but fun to be with family. 

Here's some of what we did...

Played at the Logan Family Fun Center

 

 Saw Tangled in the theater (I missed the end, since I dropped Ty's binkie and had to spend the last 20+ minutes out in the lobby).

 Cleaned the candelier...

 while Mike held (a.k.a. shook) the ladder...

 cuddled on the ottoman watching...

Toy Story 3

Shopped at Sam's Club for some yummy cheesecake and food  -- (Ben and Ty were being so cute during this picture and then Ben hit Ty on the head -- Ben is older, you know...) Cute boys...

 Watching more of Toy Story 3 at Sam's Club (can't get enough of that movie)...

Avery and Kate loved their matching pjs...

I didn't take many pictures when we were in Logan.  The kids were so happy playing together that I forgot to take pictures of them.  Thanks to Melinda for sending me pictures that she took on her phone.

After spending New Years' Eve together at Melinda's house we headed to Layton to attend my niece, Aubrey's baptism.  I hadn't seen my sister, Lissa in over 3 years, so it was fun to see her and her cute family.  Jack and Alex (5 years old) were shy for a minute and then disappeared to play with boy stuff.

Then we spent the night at Mike and Maggie's new house in Coalville.  It was fun to see their house and their new town.  It'll be even more fun next time we visit since they'll have furniture and toys and pans.  They were still great hosts even w/out all their belongings. :)

Christmas Vacation Trip Stop #1...Arches

On Monday, December 27th, we started our trek to Utah.  We drove to Moab and spent the night.  Tuesday morning we went to Arches before continuing our drive.

Park Avenue

 By the time we got to the Delicate Arch viewpoint many of us were melting down.

 Someday we'll hike to Delicate Arch, but not without a baby backpack.

 We loved seeing the snow capped mountains in the background behind the red rocks.  So pretty!

After spending a few hours at Arches, we headed to Melinda's house in Logan.

Christmas 2010

When we woke up on Christmas morning we found that Santa brought...

Kit (an American Girl Doll) for Kate

 an electric train for Jack

 Geotrax for Ty

Then we opened presents...

 (Ty was more interested in helping Dave open his presents than opening his own.)

 Then we ate some cinnamon rolls (our Christmas breakfast tradition).

 Then we played...Kate dressed Kit (and herself).

 Jack broke out the lightsabers...

 Ty tried to work the stomp rocket...

 Kate painted her toenails and did Perler Beads.

 Jack and Dave made some lincoln log tunnels/buildings for the train and watched it go around and around and around and around...(Ty liked the train too, but he got run over a few times by it, so he was a little scared of it).

The day after Christmas, we did more playing w/Christmas stuff...

I made this amazing Geotrax train track.

 Ty can say "choo choo" now.

 Then they played a little lightsaber...

 Jack gave Kate a coloring book and a Junie B. Jones book.  That kept her busy for a while.

Good times!

Christmas Eve 2010

We had a very low-key Christmas Eve this year.  Kate had the stomach flu and spent the day throwing up.  I didin't feel all that great either.  Ty had the stomach flu a few days earlier and shared his germs with us. 

Kate spent the day watching movies while I cleaned the house and got our Christmas treats ready (cinnamon rolls to bake Christmas morning and macadamia nut cookies for Santa).  Dave spent the day with Jack playing basketball at the church, going grocery shopping and to Walmart. 

We let the kids open one present each before we read the Christmas story from the Bible.  (Kate fell asleep during the reading, poor girl!).  Jack wrote a note to Santa and left him a cookie.  Then all the kids went to bed pretty early.

Jack was excited to help Ty open his present.  Ty liked his Cars slippers, but refused to wear them.

Jack loved his Toy Story Buzz Lightyear Rocket slippers.  They made him run really fast.

Sweet Kate had to open her present curled up on the couch.

She's photogenic even when she's sick.

I didn't get a picture of the kids together with their new jammies and slippers.  They wore them that night though.

Sleeping Boys

Tonight Dave is at the church for tithing settlement.  Kate went to sleep right away, but Jack was scared, so I let him cuddle with me on my bed for a little while.  Ty didn't want to go to bed either, so he yelled until I let him join Jack and me on my bed.  After a few minutes of very quiet cuddling both boys fell asleep.  Then Ty wiggled a bunch until he got comfortable.  This is where he stopped.

Snowman

Dave and the kids made this snowman yesterday afternoon.  I love how it made most of the snow in the backyard disappear.  When I walk past the patio door I see the snowman out of the corner of my evey and think that there is someone in the backyard. 

The kids wanted to have a photo shoot with the snowman.  They planned these two poses: crazy faces and then look at the snowman.

 Ty was happy because I didn't tape his gloves to his coat, so he got them off.  It was pretty warm out, so I guess it was okay.

Santa Visit

Santa sent one of his "Santa helpers" to the ward party on Friday. The kids were excited to sit on his lap. Oh wait, Ty was NOT excited to sit on his lap.





Stockings Hung With Care

On Friday, I finally sat down and made Ty a stocking.  I've been meaning to do it ever since he was born, but kept putting it off.  Hopefully it will hold up for a few years (I don't make the sturdiest stockings).

Ty's favorite drink is...

HOT CHOCOLATE!

Ty loves hot chocolate so much!  He asks for it several times a day (and he doesn't talk much, so it's hard for me to turn him down when he actually says something)

We have a routine down to make hot chocolate.  Here are our steps:

1. Ty asks for "ha chacha"
2. Set Ty and hot chocolate mix on the counter.
3. Get a spoon and hand it to Ty
4. Heat up whole milk in mug
5. Spoon a small spoonful of chocolate mix into the mug
6. Let Ty stir.
7. Pour into sippy cup
8. Enjoy!