Over the hills and through the woods...

Sometimes as I am driving the kids to my parent's house (7-8 hours each way) I question why I make this voyage when Jed cannot come with me (this thing called "work" really gets in the way from time to time!). Then upon returning home I look at the pictures from the time with family and it all becomes clear.

Without further ado here are NINE of the reasons I choose to make this trip over and over again...

#1-We were finally able to meet our newest nephew/cousin David Carter...such a darling baby. Matt and Ashley do good work. This little guy is pure joy with his bright blue eyes and smile that lights up the room.
#2-Great Grandparents: We are so blessed to have my Grandpa and his wife, Grandma Dorothy, living in the same area as my parents. Our kids don't know how lucky they are to have 3 extremely vibrant great-grandparents.
#3-Kids exhausted from good old fashioned (okay so the Wii and movie time don't count as "old fashioned") play. Davis didn't like that I had mandated that it was "lights out" time and moved some pillows and his blanket into the bathroom in our bedroom so that he could read a book without me knowing--little rebel boy!
#4-Nana and Papa have the Wii...the kids love it and I have to admit I love it too! Shhhh...don't tell anyone.
#5-Papa, Auntie Ashley and Auntie Amy--sadly I don't have any pics of me or Amy, but Ash and my Dad humored me with this photo after the kids were in bed. I love this time chatting and eating ice cream.
#6-Nana. How she loves all her kids! My favorite part of the whole trip was going to lunch with my Mom, Amy and Ashley. Wish we lived closer to family...
#7-I get a chance to connect with my nieces and nephews before they change too much! I still can't believe this is my little Emma! She is going to be taller than me soon!
#8-Papa's doughnut runs with the boys...what can I say, it's tradition. When I was younger I could always talk my dad into Saturday morning doughnuts and the boys seem to have the same ability as their Mama. I am so proud. Since the girl cousins greatly outnumber the boys (especially when Chris and Tracy are able to meet us there with their girls) this allows the boys some time alone with Papa and they look forward to it every visit. My boys were disappointed that we wouldn't let David come to the doughnut shop with them. They have so much to teach that little guy!
#9-The Cousins! They sure love each other and I love that.

A couple things to note...

It's raining, it's pouring,
The old man is soaring,
He crashed his plane,
Then went to Spain,
And couldn't get up in the morning!

This is what the boys sing every time it rains. I think it's kind of clever...I like to think of it as clever and not tragic.Today Kate came to me and said, "Mom, I made my hair by myself!" Of course I told her how great she looked and that she did a wonderful job. Inside I am wondering if she is going to be the child that goes to school looking like she just got out of bed because she insists on doing her own hair and dressing herself. Awe, the sacrifices we make to raise independent adults!

It's the little things

I have been thinking about how much the little things that Jed does for our family really mean...

I had to be somewhere one of the weekday nights last week, so Jed met me at our friend's house where we had been playing that afternoon. From there we switched cars and he brought the kids home for their night time routine. When I got in the car the next morning, I was running late and a little stressed because I knew that I needed to get gas on the way to preschool. Then I noticed...Jed had filled up the tank for me the night before. Oh, it may seem like a small thing to you, but for me, it made my day!

Below I am also including a picture of Jed and Kate, headed to their daddy-daughter date last Wednesday. Kate's choice: to the library for new "girl books" and Wendy's for lunch. Can you see how happy she is in the back seat?

Oh yea, I got a good guy in Jed!

Question...

So honestly, have you ever seen anything cuter than this dress (okay, except for maybe the child in it or the ones pictured below)??? I doubt it. My talented friend Carmen made it and I LOVE IT! Thank you Carmen...and don't worry Shelby and Beth...I have not forgotten your request to have it once Gracie has out-grown it. :) Let's hear it for talented friends!

Of course the other kids just had to be in on the photo taking action...I have created picture posing monsters!

Field Trip to the Fire station

Our kids are so lucky...the elementary school where they will go and where Owen already attends is RIGHT next door to a brand new fire station! This is truly our kids dream location. They love watching the trucks go in and out, seeing the giant flag wave, observing the firemen cleaning the engines and now for Owen taking a field trip to the station. He loved the tour and all of the tid bits of knowledge that he brought home. He was even the child chosen to demonstrate "Stop Drop and Roll" with "Firefighter Vinny". Does it get better than that?

Frosty the Fireman

On New Year's Day we woke up to snow! What a treat! We figured we better get out and enjoy it before it all melted away.

Gracie loves the cold as much as I do!

And finally...Frost the Fireman!

Happy New Year 2011!

New Years Eve was pretty low key for us this year...ordered pizza, played games, ate treats, did fireworks (the kids LOVED this part--even Gracie. I love the picture above where Davis is leaning over to protect Gracie from the fireworks. Sweet brother.), watched the ball drop in NY (at 9:00!), did poppers, shouted "Happy New Year!" and tucked some very satisfied little ones into bed. Oh, that our life may always be so sweet. I know that it won't be, but I treasure moments like this.

Milestones for Gracie and Kate

Yesterday was the first day that Gracie was officially able to go into the nursery at church (they have to be 18 months old). She was so excited about the crown on her head (it says "I am a Child of God"). The above expression is the same as how she looked as she was running down the hall of the church to me when it was time to go home...precious. It was also a BIG day for Kate who graduated from the nursery and now goes to Primary with the big kids. She is in the Sunbeam class. She was really nervous about it, but came home saying that she love it. Success.

An ornament for "Jed"

As we were taking down our Christmas tree I was reminded of one very special ornament. While we were decorating the tree Owen noticed that Jed didn't really have many ornaments on the tree, so he asked him where all of his ornaments were. Jed said that he didn't really have any ornaments (we later found that he does actually have two that he forgot about). We continued the decorating (serious chaos with our busy little Gracie and over exuberant Kate). During this time Owen disappeared and when he reappeared he presented Jed with his very own ornament. We thought that it was so sweet of him to think of his Dad's feelings. What a kindhearted boy. I had to laugh a couple of times when he got in trouble over the next few days. He would look at me with his big blue eyes and say, "Remember that ornament I made Dad..." What he was really saying was, "Aren't you going to give me a break after that sweet thing I did two days ago?" Such a sweet/smart boy!

More fun with Nana and Papa

Gracie loved having Papa here. She warmed up to him in no time and was quick to open her arms for hugs and loves.

You can always count on a project or two being done when Nana is around. I helped Kate with these bean bags while Nana helped the boys with Pirate flags for their fort.

They get their cooking skills from me...

There are several things that our boys are completely self sufficient at making...cereal, toast, orange juice, peanut butter and jelly, and Chicken Bakes from Costco. Whenever Jed has a meeting or something that takes him away from us at dinner time I like to turn the meal over to the boys. While my parents were here for the holidays they told us that we should go out on a date...we don't have to be told twice! The boys offered to make the dinner for those staying at home and Nana and Papa thought that sounded great. The got their aprons on and went to work and even made a menu....Chicken Bakes...that was the only option. Cute. Here's to my little chefs! Good job guys!