Other January Stuff

   Here are the random pictures I took in January that pretty much sums up the month.

Emery loves to pose for me when she sees the camera come out.

It ended up snowing on New Year's Day, and unfortunately this was only the opening act in our snowy winter.  This snow took over a week to completely disappear in our neighborhood.

Luke and Emery making themselves cozy.  I'm pretty sure there was an argument over the pillows too.

Mom celebrating her birthday with us.  We put the numbers on her cake that we had on hand that were nearest her actual birthday.

Logan looking cute, and Daryl throwing away trash.

Harper's Sixth Birthday

   Harper actually had two little birthday celebrations in January.  Her cousin Reagan was visiting a bit before her birthday, so we had some presents to open while she was in town and had some cheesecake too.  Then on Harper's actual birthday we made sure to have cupcakes, and she got even more presents.  Our Harper is quite the girl.  She loves Kindergarten, and pretending a lot.  She is also becoming quite good at Super Mario Brothers, and often helps Emery play video games too.  Harper is a funny girl, and a very good helper.  If I need some help I often ask Harper first because she is so reliable.  We love our Harper.  We are so fortunate that she is part of our family.

Harper with her birthday crown from school.

Avery made this sweet birthday card for Harper at school.

Harper with her birthday cupcake.

New Year's Eve and the Dregs of 2016

  It's been a while, but here's what you missed.  Our New Year's Eve celebration was pretty low key since we have four young children.  The extent of our celebrations was buying two bags of chips to eat, and letting the kids pick out their own sodas.  They were ecstatic.  We were also able to convince them that midnight in New York City was midnight here, so everyone was in bed early.  It did try to snow on New Year's Eve, but didn't stick.  Unfortunately it was a mere shadow of things to come this winter. 

I went to take the decorations of the tree and found that a spider had been busy at work.

More of the spider's handiwork.

Luke smiling.

Snow on New Year's Eve.

Playing Minecraft on New Year's Eve.

Christmas Day

  Since Christmas was on Sunday this year we waited to open our gifts until after we were done with our nine o'clock in the morning Church.  Also since Christmas was on Sunday we had a shortened version of church, so you could spend more time with your family.  The kids were okay with that because they really don't wake up very early anyway.  Luke woke up with enough time to get dressed and ate his breakfast during Church. 

  Luke wasn't really in to opening gifts.  I opened them for him through out the morning.  Once I got his toys ready to go he loved them though.  The girls of course are all at an age that they love ripping into their gifts.  Later on in the day my parents came over along with Adam, Angie, and Logan, and Brad and DeAnna.  Unfortunately I was not as good about taking pictures on Christmas day, so there are no pictures of all the cousins together.

Our tree on Christmas morning.  You can see the remnants of the cookies and milk that got left for Santa along with a note from Harper reminding Santa she wanted a Peppa Pig house.  She had a minor freak out the night before that she hadn't told Santa she wanted  a Peppa Pig house.  Fortunately she had told me. The giant badly wrapped present in front of the fireplace is a Barbie doll house for the girls.

Avery on Christmas morning with Emery and Harper in the background.

Luke dumped his stocking candy on the floor and it ate right there.

Luke playing with his tool box.

This is by far Luke's favorite Christmas gift.

Emery and Avery doing some art projects.

They were actually having fun.  Avery and Harper were just annoyed at the moment that Emery sat on them.

Daryl and Harper playing My Little Pony Life.

Brad got a Nerf gun for Christmas and the girls were lining up to be shot by him.

DeAnna gave Luke this awesome man bun.

Christmas Eve

  Christmas Eve Daryl's brothers and his sister were able to come over to celebrate with us.  Dinner was great and so was our company.  Also our newest dog nephew, Oscar, came along with Karl and Aimee for the first time to our home.  Once we safely had the cats in hiding things were okay.  It was a great evening.

Tyler looking ridiculously tall on the Scoot N' Zoom

Aimee and Ayva hanging out.  

A large portion of the evening was spent playing Rocket League on the X-Box.  Here is Daryl, Kyle with Luke on his lap, Harper, Kyle, Thomas, and Avery.

Here are all the cousins.  Luke, Avery, Emery, Ayva, Tyler, and Harper

Ayva approves Emery's Christmas gift.

Luke looking cute.

Here I am helping Luke open up his Christmas gift from Aimee and Karl.  It was two balls, so he loved it.

The rest of the family watching the kids open gifts.

Aimee's nieces did her hair, so we documented the good hair day with her and Karl.

Karl, Ashley, Daryl, and Kyle

Daryl telling Kyle that he's been a good boy this year.

Aimee and Oscar

All Decorated for Christmas

      I like to document how my home is decorated for Christmas, so here' a a pretty honest portrayal.  Everything was pictured like I found out which is mostly not the way I put it out if it was accessible to children.  It makes me wonder why I put thing out where they can reach them.  Enjoy the scads of handmade Christmas decorations from my children. 

This is a nativity set.  Going with a felt nativity set was the right choice I see.

Avery made the little wreath.  Harper made the snowman and the gingerbread man.

Luke made the big cut out Christmas tree.  Emery made the little trees and the wreath.  Avery made the Christmas tree on the red paper, and Harper made the giant gingerbread man.

Harper  made the penguin, and Emery made the picture of Santa.

Luke made the gingerbread man, and Emery made the bejeweled Christmas ornament.

Here are some more nativities that I have on display.

Avery painted this little nativity set herself and is very proud of her work.

Avery made the Christmas light garland.

Here's my Temple Square village with my German pyramid.

My Mom made me this beautiful stocking quilt for my birthday actually and it just came back from the quilter.

Here's my fireplace.

Where no Paper Plane has Gone Before

    This week the girls were flying paper planes off the landing and I told them to stop because one was going to get caught in the chandelier.  Indeed my words were prophetic.  Fortunately I was able to extricate it with my eight foot ladder and my grabber.  Here are some other pictures I freed from my phone documenting the random happenings of the month, and maybe a little from last month.

Who could guess this would happen in a million years.

Emery happily blow drying Harper's hair.

Luke and Emery on my bed like they own place.

Emery pretending these wrapping paper tubes are her robotic arms.

Luke and Emery in their Amazon box boat.

Luke and Zander eyeing each other right before Luke decides the step isn't big enough for the two of them and pushes Zander off.