Magic

Bentley got a magic trick set for Christmas.
It turned out to be a great gift as it kept all the kids entertained. Bentley was so excited to put on shows, and the girls where happy to be the audience. Sometimes they play so cute together.

Christmas

We spent Christmas with Gram and Papa and the whole fam!
We arrived on the twenty-third and were able to stay until Sunday!
The trip started out a little rough as Emma was complaining of a stomach ache as we were loading the car. She threw up on the way there and was one sick girl for the next two days.
Ali was sick as well, but recovered quickly and was able to enjoy most of the fun.






















On Christmas Eve we usually have family pictures taken, but we postponed until Christmas Day because of the sickies.


We did have the traditional Jerusalem Supper,

















Nativity,























and had fun just getting to sit and visit with everyone.











It was so fun to have everyone together, something that doesn't happen too often.


Christmas Morning was, well, Christmas Morning. It was magical. The kids were so excited and even though Em missed the Christmas Eve fun, she was feeling well enough to come downstairs for the present opening.




















The kids were excited to discover that Santa hadn't passed them by.













They each got some fun things, with some highlights being
an air soft gun for Bentley,












a bike for Ali,












and a Bitty Baby bathtub for Em.














We managed to get a picture of all the "kids",


















and the traditional "swim" in the paper.


















The babies of 2009:
Coby, Abigail and Camden











Daddys and their baby girls









What a fun Christmas celebration!

Santa Baby and Deer

I just couldn't keep from singing, "Santa Baby, Hurry down the chimney tonight" as I got the girls dressed for church today. Abby sure looked cute (as did Ali and Em), but she promptly spit up all over her dress just as we were leaving, so she spent most of her time at church in her spare sleeper from the diaper bag... I guess that's how it goes sometimes.






also...

We have some deer that seem to like our back yard. They spent most of the day there bunking down under our pine tree, but when they started eating the trees, Tom threw some snowballs at them, and they got the message and moved along.

Bentley is comin' to town...

The second grade at Bentley's school put on a really cute Christmas program. They had try outs for the part of Santa, and Bentley was picked! He got to sing a solo and did a great job! Way to go Santa! I mean, Bentley!

You're a mean one

Little Miss Grinch...
Emma made this cute mask in Kindergarten. Doesn't she look cute, I mean scary;)

Gingerbread

We decided to do more with gingerbread this year. We made gingerbread boys and decorated a house for them. The kids were so excited to do it, but I found out that we had very different expectations. All they really wanted to do was eat the candy while I wanted to display our creation. I think we all had a good time in the end, but I'll definitely do it a little differently in the future. The two things I'd change for sure would be:
1) Less red sugar all over the floor (we had red spotted feet and socks after we were finished)
2) Small houses they can do themselves and eat if they desire
Still, we had a fun time and ended up with boys to eat and a cute house to display.

Reading Club!!!

The kids are always coming up with new games they love to play. From "poison baby" to "hot lava"... I think that this most recent one would have to be my favorite. Tonight they decided to make a "reading club." They built a club, made a sign, and then they get to read in it. If only all their games were this calm and beneficial.

Three months old

Abby at three months!
10 lbs. 11 oz.

















She is such a sweet baby; she is now eating a lot better and doesn't require the pumping/bottle/supplement anymore. She is still a good sleeper which has turned from a worry to a blessing. She is smiley and interactive, loves her siblings and is very much loved by them as well.

Blessing Day

Abigail was blessed on December 6. Tom gave her a beautiful blessing. We were so grateful to all who were able to come and share this special day with us.

She wore the same dress that both Emma and Ali were blessed in.

Ali Marie, turning three!

Ali has been so excited to have a birthday after witnessing the fun of her older sister's and then older brother's within the last few months. Finally, its her turn. Three years old! It has flown by, but we are so grateful to have our sweet Marie!

These pictures are so Ali. She goes from smiley/cheesy to I'm not going to smile for your picture even if it is my birthday in a matter of seconds. She finally came around, but this girl cracks me up.















She got some fun things in the morning including a barbie that she and Emma kept "sharing" with Abigail. It seemed that every time I'd turn around there was Abby with a barbie tucked carefully in her arm. The girls thought it was hilarious.










For lunch, Ali got to pick the menu. She wanted homemade mac 'n cheese. However, she ended up eating mostly pickles and chocolate milk.










And there's Abby with that barbie again...











Then, that evening my dad stopped by on his way home from a meeting in Salt Lake to visit and bring a few surprise gifts. Bethani gave Ali the cutest Little People Nativity! I was probably as excited as the kids about that one. Ali was thrilled with the baby stuff from Gram and Papa, and she even got a Barbie Jeep.






















Yeah for Birthdays! Happy 3 Miss Marie!

Gingerbread bears

As part of the December first gifts, this year we got this fun gingerbread bear kit. It came with the gingerbread mix, white frosting, and edible paint. The kids thought it was the best.