Snow Storm

Well, so much for not getting as much snow as last year. No one thought it possible since last winter was soooo brutal. Nonetheless, I think we've topped last year with the amount of snow we received last week. The high has been ohhhh, 3 or 4 degrees not including wind chill. Oh, and it's supposed to snow all next week:All the snow shoveled off our driveway created perfect sledding hills. Jack was pretty bummed that school was canceled the last two days before the holidays. He was so looking forward to the Pajama Polar Express Party, and all the other festivities. Instead, he got to stay in the house for two days. Poor Jack. He was such a good sport. He LOVES playing in the snow. Adam was so good to take him outside sledding.

Owen is our little mole. He digs, digs, and digs- whether it's dirt, snow, rock, dried peas (@ Green Bluff), sand- he is content to digs for hours! I am so excited for him to visit the Oregon Coast this summer. He is going to be in digger's paradise with that endless amount of sand!
Here are the boys on top of one of a few hills in our front yard. I'm so glad they like the snow.

Merry Christmas!

Jack loses a tooth!

Earlier this month, Jack lost his first tooth! It was loose and out with a matter of two days. Hopefully the rest will come out just as easy. He was so proud of himself. One down, how many more to go?

Don't worry, I won't be blogging each lost tooth. The first one is somewhat monumental, right?

Gingerbread Time!

We invited some friends over for the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, and afterwards we decorated my home-made gingerbread men & ladies. But first, can I just say what a nice mother I am, to let my kids make such a mess on behalf of them having a great time:

Did someone say frosting?
Lucy was all over the table that night:
Those gingerbread were just as fun to eat as they were to decorate. Yum!

Jack's 6th Birthday Party (Friend Celebration)

Four days after Thanksgiving, Jack had another birthday party- but this one was for friends. We invited six boys and it was a houseful! Jack & Owen are really interested in space, so it was a space-themed party. Here's a glimpse into the chaos:

We played musical moons (just like musical chairs, but had cut-out moons instead of chairs), raced "meteors" (crazy balloons) to see whose could go farthest, and made snow-globes with space figurines inside of them. Here is his rocket-ship cake, we lit the candles for "blast-off!"

And here he is opening more presents, as if he didn't receive enough at his first party:Happy Birthday Jack! We LOVE you!

Thanksgiving '08

We hosted Thanksgiving this year. My older sister Robyn and her family, as well as my parents, drove all the way to isolated Spokane just to spend the Holidays with us. Thankyou! They each drove over 10 hours from California and Utah, respectively. Here is my darling sister Robyn, with my lovely Mom.Jack had a blast playing with his cousins, but he wasn't too thrilled about me taking a picture.

Here's my Dad playing games with the kids in the basement. Lucy didn't need any time to warm up:
And who can forget dinner at the kids' table?
Highlights of the holidays included: shopping with my Mom and Robyn the day after Thanksgiving- only fun if you have fun people with you; going to see the movie "Australia," adults only; the boat ride "Santa Cruise" on Lake Cour'd Alene; board games after the kids were in bed; having my family visit me! Thankyou and please come visit again soon!

Jack's 6th Birthday Party (Family Celebration)

Jack turned six on November 25, two days before Thanksgiving. It's a busy time to have a birthday. However, extended family always seems to be in town which makes it extra special.

Three of Adam's siblings were in town, visiting from Texas and Utah. We had pizza (one of Jack's favorite meals), funfetti cupcakes (one of my favorite treats), and way too many gifts. Here is the beautiful birthday boy. I can't believe he's six!

Jack received plenty of help from Owen when it was time for presents:
"Don't forget to open the card first!" Jack heard us say about a dozen times.

Here are the 'crazies' with their cousins, Zack & Hailey, and their much beloved Aunt Coco.
We love you Jack. We hope you realize how much you are loved and cherished. You bring us happiness that we never knew before you were born. You are a special spirit and we feel blessed to have you in our home.

Lucy's Bed Head

Lucy woke up the other morning, with THEE worst bed head I have ever seen. These pictures do not do it justice. It was like a rooster tail- but in front of her head, where her bangs would be if she had them:

Cookie Time

Before Thanksgiving arrived, I promised my kids we would make sugar cookies. It's a huge undertaking because it makes such a mess. However, it's soooo worth it because my kids have a blast. It's something fun that we all love to do together, including me! I just dread the clean-up afterwards. Owen rolls and rolls until the dough practically adheres to the table.
Here is a perfect example of Owen's passiveness. Lucy is grabbing his precious piece of dough that he so diligently worked on rolling out. Check out the grin on her face in the 2nd photo after she successfully stole his dough. Poor Owen.
Despite the mess, the sugar cookies were soooo yummy and so worth it. And eating a cookie put a smile right back on Owen's face.

lucy the fashionista

For some reason, Lucy loves putting my head bands around her chest. Apparently, she thinks she's quite the fashionista.

"The contraption"

The boys recenlty built what they like to call, a "contraption." In case you can't tell, it consists of my black sandal, some rope, a bell, and a cowboy hat. It's meant to be a trap. It works something like this: the animal hits the shoe, then hits the bell, which sends the alarm, and it then falls into the hat where it's trapped . . . . . hmmmm.

He asked THE question

Today my 3 year old asked, "How do persons make people?" Mind you, my eldest child has never asked that in his 6 years. So I was completely taken off guard in the kitchen when Owen asked me that. I turned around to see two pairs of blue eyes staring up at me, waiting for an answer.

Any advice?