Preparing for Christmas

Since mom (Babi) now works at BYU we were able to go to the annual family Christmas Party. They had some great set ups, but it's really hard to get both kids looking at the camera and smiling at the same time:) This was our best picture of my cuties

Next we waited in line to sit on Santa's lap for 1.5 hours! Jack told him everything he wanted, and also what Annabelle wanted (supposedly a lots of snakes according to her Christmas letter) because as you see, she was quite scared of Santa) The second Santa is after Jack's Preschool program, we tried getting Tink to sit on his lap, too, she grabbed the candy cane and got out of there as fast as she could:)

My kids are a hoot:) Jack is always in costume. Annabelle HATES anything girly and pretty to wear. I was changing her clothes after she had an accident, and thought a skirt and panties would be easier for her to go potty with, well, she ripped it off with great frustration, so I put a diaper and pants on her, she stormed into Jack's room, put on not 1, but 2 pairs of his shorts, his elmo pj top and his jacket, then the monkey was finally happy because she was just like Jack:)

Jack's Christmas Recital at Center Stage Preschool

Jack on Santa's lap at the Center Stage Preschool Program

The Karate line up - the program again was great this year, loved every minute of it! It is so fun to see all the kids have learned so far, Jack did awesome:)

Karate Demonstration

Jack's Christmas List: a humtruck, like 2 scooters, a firetruck with an eagle on it

You Better Watch Out Dance

Silent Night in Sign Language

Merry Christmas Letters

We Wish You a Merry Christmas

Weddings So Easy Cover Shoot

I had the wonderful opportunity to partner with Kim Bullock Photography again the other day and make this beautiful vintage winter bouquet for a covershoot of Weddings So Easy Magazine! I decided to perfectly capture the essence of winter it would be best to use soft ivory and brown hughes incorporating roses, calla lillies and scabiosa, making it modern with a touch of lime tulips and top the season off with the silver seeded eucalyptus.

Welcome Frosty

First snow this year and we proudly introduce: Frosty

She liked the snowman, but really didn't like the snow:)

Big Two Wheels!

My big guy wanted to try his bike (or motorcyle as he calls it) for the first time with no training wheels on Thursday, November 17th. He's only fallen once and taken off like a star! So proud of him! And at 4 years old!

Sweetheart

This little guy of mine is such a sweetheart, he really makes me smile all the time. Lately, he has another persona (we have our imaginary friend Grandpa O.B.D. who is the coolest person ever and has done everything imaginable, even fought the dinosaurs) but now, when Jack has done something, or doesn't want to do it, it's not his fault, it's his brains. For example, the other night, while playing musical beds, I went to cuddle with Jack. He asked for some hot chocolate milk, while I was getting it, Tink woke up and I was making her a bottle, too (so the process took me 2.5 minutes instead of 1) I came into his bed, with milks and the baby.

Jack says to me: "Mommy, I love you, but my brain is REALLY mad at you right now."

me: ok, but can we still cuddle?

Jack: Hold on a sec, I'll ask, brain, I want to cuddle with mommy

Brain: NO! I'm mad at her

Jack: I really want to cuddle, I love her

Brain: No, that's not ok

Jack: To bad, you deal with it, I'm cuddling with mommy. Love you mommy.

Trick or Treat

Last night was so much fun! We all had our costumes on, Vader, 5's, Yoda and Ohsoka.

Annabelle did so well her first time trick or treating, miss independent, she walked by herself and kept sticking up her bucket for everyone. Jack was sure to say please and thank you each time, too.

Half Marathon and Halloween Party!

Ran the Halloween Half Marathon this Saturday! Finished in 2:02! And had the best support, Jack even ran the last 2 minutes to the finish line with me, and made me the best card when I got home, love that sweet heart! And Annabelle thought it'd be fun if mommy carried her all the way to the car afterwards, because I wasn't tired;)

Our ghosts for the party

Checkout zombie, pioneer and super baby. This years party consisted of feeling monster guts, the cake walk, freeze dance, and a haunted scavenger hunt. Plus yummy pretty food. Success!

We had a haunted scavenger hunt for the kids. Complete with hung monkey, broken mirror, haunted forest, ghosts and graveyard

Dave hid in the mirror, if you look closely, all the kids spooked from the front while Jack went around the back with fists of fury to 'beat up the bad guy':) Good thing Dave's a Marine!

The clue on the ghosts, seconds before a ghost flew down the zipline at them

Lastly, the tombstones, the dead zombie moving through the leaves really got them good!

Center Stage Preschool at the Hee Haw Farms

Friday we got to go with Jack on his school field trip to thee Hee Haw Farms. When we got to school we found out best buddy Brennan is going to ride in our car, the boys had so much fun together! These faces really show it well:)

Annabelle looking on as the kids slid down the slide, she loves that big slide, also.

Jack zoomin' down

Ducks and Chickens! She kept trying to catch one

While Jack and Brennan chased the goats and piglets

The girls buried Jack and Brennan in the corn bin

Jack diving off the hay bales

Singing 'Old McDonald' on the wagon ride

Pumpkin Patch!

Aren't they cute?

Thanks to Aunt Patty Annabelle is really loving to pet and feed horses now

My tractor girl

The boys swingin' away:)

Farewell Markowka

On October 1st we closed on our home. We packed all our boxes away and now our beloved Markowka belongs to someone else. It is a good thing, but you will be missed. All our childhood memories, riding horses, running through meadows, falling into pot holes, collecting fall leaves and Easter Eggs. Shoveling snow, sledding, snow shoeinng and cross country skiing. You were truly a home not a house and we will always love you. You were where Jack took his first steps and learned how to swim. Where we learned about Rattle Snakes, Elk, Deer, Moose, foxes, and wild turkeys (not to mention 100's of other animals). Where all our Christmas' and Birthday's took place. We love you!