Glen Ivy

My friend Amy and I went to Glen Ivy just before Christmas.  It was cold and a little overcast on the day we had planned to go but Amy talked me into going any way and I am so glad that she did.  It was definitely a cold day but it was totally worth it.  We had so much fun.  We went in the sauna, natural hot springs, hot tub, took a mud bath and had lunch.  It was pretty cold but we ran around from place to place in our towels and had a lovely, peaceful day. Here we are in all of our muddy glory!

New Year's Eve

 

We were so excited when our friends the Gray's invited us over to celebrate New Year's Eve with them and our friend Heather.  We had yummy food, dessert and even a fireworks display.  The kids loved staying up late and had so much fun playing with their friends.  For the first in years Mike and I actually stayed up until midnight.  Unfortunately, none of our kids had the energy to stay up that late.  What a fun way to ring in the new year!

 

Brendan and Kamryn watching the fireworks.  Brendan always protects and takes care of Kamryn.

Carson, Brendan, Kamryn, Cooper and Mitch.

Cooper just couldn't keep his eyes open any longer and passed out on their ottoman.

Skiing

While we were up in Utah the kids were dying to go skiing.  Last year Cooper went with his Daddy and had so much fun.  Ever since, Kamryn has been talking about going as well.  This year Mike started by having them ski down my parent's street.  Once they had that down they took them over to Solitude.  Our friend Kyle came up to go skiing with Mike and his brother Brad and it turned out he was a ski instructor.  In the afternoon they took the kids out and taught them how to ski.  The kids were amazing and picked it up so fast.  I'm sad I didn't get to see them first hand but I am grateful that I got to watch the videos.  They had so much fun and they can't wait to go again next year.

Kamryn and her ski instructor Kyle.

CHRISTMAS

We had a wonderful Christmas this year.  Cooper and Kamryn were finally old enough to understand what was really going on and were so excited to wake up on Christmas morning to open presents.  Before Christmas, when the presents started showing up under the Christmas tree the kids would go through them daily to see what was new and who each one was for.  They were always reorganizing the presents and constantly asking if they could open just one.  So when it was finally Christmas morning the kids were beside themselves with excitement and joy.  This was also Emerson's first Christmas.  It was fun to see her try to open her presents.  She was so excited to get babies of her own.  Cooper was delighted with all of his new Legos and skateboard. Kamryn was so excited for her new razor scooter, Legos and baby stroller.   

A first look.  Santa came!

Cooper was so excited get a puppy to match his Build-a-bear dog.

Emerson finally got her own baby doll.  She had had her eye on Kamryn's baby that looked just like this one for quite some time.

Hugs for an awesome present.

Cooper trying out his new skateboard and helmet.

Snuggling with Grandpa and Grandma before bed.

Christmas Eve

 

 

We had a lovely Christmas Eve.  We had a delicious dinner, the kids opened their Christmas jammies and one other present and we ended the night by reading about the birth of Christ from the Bible.  We are so blessed to have such an amazing family and the gospel in our life.  

 

Cooper getting ready to open his jammies.

So excited to FINALLY open a present.

Emerson even got into it.

Kamryn was so excited to get Legos just like her brother.

Emerson and her new toy.

Grandpa and Emerson checking out her new car.

Playing in the Snow

On one of the snowy days, the kids went outside and helped Grandpa and Daddy shovel snow.  The kids weren't much help but they sure had a lot of fun.  Here they are wrestling with Grandpa and playing with gigantic icicles.

 

Kamryn and her Grandpa.

 

Grandpa trying to give Kamryn a face full of snow.  Notice Cooper's face? He thought it was pretty funny!

Look at that icicle.

It was taller than Cooper.

 

It sure did taste good:)

Peanut Butter Pinecones with Grandma

When we are up at my parent's house there isn't much you can do other than playing outside in the snow or playing inside.  They live up in the mountains and we usually spend most of our time up at their house.  The kids started to get a little bored so Grandma came up with a fun activity for Kamryn.  She loved making peanut butter pinecones with her Grandma.  Afterwards we hung them out on my parent's deck for the birds and squirrels.  The animals loved them!

Kamryn proud of the finished product.

It was so cute to see Emerson watching all of the birds eat Kamryn's pinecone.

Sledding

 

For Christmas, we went up to Utah to visit my parents.  While we were there the kids did a lot of sledding.  We are so lucky to be able to visit my parent's beautiful house because the kids can literally walk out the front door and sled right down their street.  Here are pictures of some of the fun.

 

Kamryn all ready to play in the snow.

 

Me and Kamryn.

 

 Kamryn and her Daddy.

Kamryn after a ride down the hill.  (This is actually the street leading up to my parent's house.)

Kamryn taking a break to make snow angels.

Kamryn and Cooper laughing as they go flying down the hill.

Kamryn's Gingerbread House

Right before Christmas, Kamryn's preschool put on a Christmas program and decorated gingerbread houses.  Here is Kamryn showing off her masterpiece. 

Cooper's Christmas Program

 

For Christmas, Cooper's kindergarten class put on a holiday program.  It was so cute! They sang lots of Christmas songs and did cute little hand motions to go along with them.  Cooper actually sang all of the songs.  I was a bit surprised because he usually gets shy in front of large crowds.  He did a great job and we were so proud.

 

Our shy boy.

We finally got a smile while on stage.

Cooper, Daddy and Emerson.

SeaWorld

Our elf Buddy surprised the kids with tickets to SeaWorld.  The kids LOVE going to SeaWorld and were ecstatic when we told them we would be going in just a few hours.  While we were there they had an area with snow and sledding.  They kids were so excited to play in the snow, throw snowballs and go sledding.  It was a pretty cold day but it was a lot of fun. 

Daddy and Emerson.

Cooper and Kamryn checking out the snow.

Cooper and Kamryn waiting in line to go sledding.

Emerson patiently waiting to see them go down the hill.

All set . . .

And there they go.  Cooper loved it.  Kamryn fell off half way down and wasn't such a fan.

Kamryn watching the penguins.

Cooper and Kamryn taking a picture with a cute little penguin.

We always have to stop and take a ride on the spinning starfish.

The kids LOVE this ride.

Daddy and Emerson at the shark encounter.

Cooper and Kamryn learning about sharks and their teeth.

Daddy showing Emerson the sharks.