Happy Birthday, Indie & Scott!

Indie's Birthday was Wednesday. It was very low key...just us. It was kind of nice that way. I do like to entertain, but I had a cold and wasn't up to having lots of people over anyway.

Indie was our first child who really got into his cake without any coaxing. Annicka we had to coax and Park wouldn't touch it, even with the coaxing.

What a handsome and messy one-year-old!

Indie got a fun present that I think Park and Annicka got more into than he did.

And today is Scott's birthday. Happy 35th Birthday, my love! You know how much you mean to me and to the kids. I'm so grateful for a loving and patient husband. And thank you, Rolyne (and Ron), for doing such a fine job of raising him! You've done an amazing job with all of your children, but I am especially grateful for Scott, for obvious reasons. Happy Birthday to my favorite husband and my favorite #3 child! I cannot imagine life without you!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Merry Christmas to all! We love this time of year and the time we get to spend with our family and thinking about the birth of our Savior!

This girls was made for hats!

Getting ready for the Nativity play!

Park has the best reactions to presents! Everything he opened was like this.

You know Park's red pants? Well he has some blue shorts too, that he absolutely loves. The kids got new PJs and Park got all excited when he opened them, when asked if he wanted to put them on? "NO!" He agreed to the shirt but wouldn't put on the pants.

Most of the grandkids with grandma and their new hats.

Mister over stimulated cranky pants! He makes a cute cranky pants, though, right?

Getting into the Holiday Spirit!

It finally got warm enough for the snow to make a good snow man. We decided to make a girl.

Last night for FHE we made a gingerbread house and train.

Park wanted the train and Annicka the house.

Aren't they beautiful?

And of course I had to get a bathtub picture of Indie in. He gets so happy and crazy in the tub.

So, Annicka and Park got some crayons and coloring books from Aunt Maureen. I thought they were coloring in their coloring books. Apparently not. I went into their room and saw this on Annicka's sheets. I called Annie in and asked her, "What happened here?" her response?..."Park did it." "Annicka," I said, "Park, doesn't know how to write, let alone spell your name. What really happened?" I'm sure Park may have contributed to some of the coloring, but really? Your name? Part of me wanted to giggle at her very sorry attempt at lying. She came clean and her consequence for lying was that I didn't read "A Series of Unfortunate Events" that night while they were going to bed. Thankfully they were washable crayons and all I can hope is that she is always this terrible at lying.

Happy Birthday, Park!

For Park's Birthday we decided to go bowling. This was Park's first time actually going (you know, besides Wii bowling) and only Annicka's 2nd. We had a GREAT time!

We had someone in our ward who is trying to start her own cake business makes Park's cupcakes, they were delicious and it was totally perfect for Park!

Can you tell that Park liked his cupcakes?

And for his birthday he got a carpet to drive his cars on, along with a few new cars.

Happy Birthday, Park, we LOVE you! You are so happy and cuddly and you always make us laugh. You are so mellow, except for that stubborn streak, don't ever stop being stubborn! Use it to learn to be stubborn in good things. We are so happy you are part of our family!

Hallelujah and Praise Be!

As many of you know, Indie is not a good sleeper. He was sleeping through the night by the time he was about five months, and then he started teething. We then went on a trip to Arkansas, which really threw him off and then I had to go to Girls Camp about a month later and when I'd come home at night all he would want to do is nurse all night long, which just ingrained his bad sleeping habits. I've spent the last three months trying different sleep training techniques, none of which have worked. They worked for Annicka and Park, but not for Indie. I finally got desperate enough to let him cry it out. Last night he slept for 10 hours! From the time I put him down at 8:20 until about 6:20 this morning! HALLELUJAH!This is my favorite Indie face, he makes it quite often and it cracks me up!

Indie also took his first few steps a couple days ago. He's far from an official walker yet, but he is getting there.

Park's favorite thing to do with his pants is to roll them up to his knees so they are like shorts. He has a favorite pair that are red with elastic ankles. I hate them, he LOVES them. He can push them up himself without relying on mommy to roll them up. Well, today, like most days he kept asking me if he could wear his red pants. They are dirty and in the laundry at present. I've told him so several times already. Right now I can hear him calling, "Wed pans, where ah you?" (red pants, where are you?) in the same sing-song voice he uses when he's looking for Annicka when they play hide-and-seek. !Ay de mi!

Happy Birthday, Annicka!

Yesterday was Annicka's fifth birthday. We can't hardly believe that she is five years old already! We started the morning out with a trip to the Dinosaur Park in Ogden. We had free passes, otherwise we wouldn't have bothered driving that whole way.
The kids loved all of the dinosaur statues and the playground they had there. They even got to feed the fish and ducks in the pond.

After the dinosaur park we stopped for lunch at McDonald's and then we stopped to see Grandma and Grandpa Minson in Layton on our way home.That evening we had cake and ice cream with family that was close (Grandma Chamberlain, Rob and Lori's family and Ross and Emily) and the next door neighbors.
Annicka was so excited for her cake that while we were waiting for everyone to get there she just sat and stared at the cake, even though there were plenty of cousins and friends playing all around her.
Park had a good time, can you tell?

And of course we had to include the funny picture of Aunt Lori. HA HA HA HA!

Annicka was especially pleased with her Tinkerbell outfit from Grandma Copple and Papa Jim.

All in all it was a great day! Annie, we are so glad you are part of our family. We love you and your smiles and silliness and we wouldn't be complete without you!