St. Patricks Day @ The Childrens Museum

Wednesday, March 17th was a "thanks to the community" free day at the Childrens Museum, so I encouraged Neil to take the kids. I had a full schedule at work and was not able to take the day off to attend with them.

It is also standard practice at our house for me to pull out the next day outfits for the kids to make things easier on Neil in the mornings. So "green" it was for all of them.

Taking the three kids out is a challenge in itself, but to take them to a public place on a free day and to dress them in the same color as everyone else -- made it an even bigger challenge. I was impressed that they all made it home and no one got lost.

Daddy is our Valentine because he ...

Julie has a birthday and turns .....

Neil has set a tradition of getting me gerber daisies for my birthday / valentines day. He sometimes has them delivered or he brings them into my office for a surprise treat to lunch. This year he decided to have the kids (with his help of course) make me some gerber daisies.

The day before, Neil asked if I was free for lunch on Wednesday (my birthday), and I told him I was. So on the day of my birthday around the lunch hour I could hear them coming down the hallway towards my office. As they were getting closer I saw each of them carrying a "homemade" flower each.

The flowers were made out of museum board (really, really stiff paper) and each of them colored their own petals. The middle of the flower stuck out with a picture of each of their faces. The stems were made out of wood poles (I forget what Neil calls them) with leaves glued on as well.

The flowers were in a glass vase with hershey kisses for the water.

Cutest, cutest flower arrangement I have ever seen. I couldn't quit looking at them all day. And Teegan told me I could eat one kiss each birthday. This means that they should probably last longer than me, but I only give them a week or so.

Neil then surprised me later that night with Brian Regan tickets for March 13th. Any grandma's out there who want to babysit? (smiles...)

Christmas 2009!

We had a house full on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Grandpa and Grandma Smith (along with Antonia) spent the night to enjoy Christmas morning with the kids. Teegan was so excited for them to get here that he just won't stop asking for them. We had a nice, quick and easy dinner before we enjoyed each others company. Kendi stopped over and we gave her her gift. We read Christmas stories and put out some cookies and milk for Santa and his reindeer before turning in for the night.

Christmas morning was very hectic, but so fun. Teegan was the first one awake at 8:00 AM. We got the twins up and went to see what Santa brought. Teegan got a big kid bed (full twin loft bed with a desk below). He refers to it as a bunk office. When I told him that is great that he now has his own office for homework he changed the name to bunk play. He also got several transformers, Star Wars stuff, lots of different remote controls and clothes.

Ryton and Jaida got a good size walk-in play kitchen with over 100 play pieces. I have no idea what Santa was thinking. Ryton got a tool box and some remote controls of his own plus many other things. Jaida finally got some girly, princess stuff.

We spent the entire day at home while many family members stopped by to visit.

Happy Birthday to Cousin Anna

Anna turned 11 this year and we celebrated her birthday at Chucke Cheese! My kids loved it...

Happy Birthday Anna.

We love you!

Visit with Santa

{I know this post is way late, but I am playing catch-up.}

Every year we visit Santa Clause in his small house in the middle of Sugarhouse. Teegan was so excited to go see the big guy in red and tell him all about what he wants for Christmas. His list included transformers and remote control cars. This was also the first year that Teegan wrote Santa a letter. Santa replied to the letter and that was awfully exciting as well. The letter hung on our fridge for weeks. Ryton also seemed very excited to see Santa, but I'm not quite sure why because I think he is still a little too little to really get it. And then Jaida, scared to death, which is why I am also in the picture.

Building a Snowman (Winter 2009)!