Snow???!!!

Well I have seen the day that is 'snowed' in NW Arkansas. Yes we get our occasional 1/2 inch and sometimes ice--but last weekend we got a full 6 inches. My kids and I were in heaven. Our area isn't as prepared as other though and the schools are still not back in session. We took our kids sledding (in their swimming tubes) and I didn't know how it would go over--they LOVED it. Annie and Jackson went up the hill and down the hill over and over again all by themselves. After Rachel went down twice she was done. She was more interested in the small snowman that someone had built.

Who says January is dull?

My kids have been having a blast this month. I thought that after Christmas they would be bored-but we have kept busy with toys, games, friends, and swimming--mom is definitely not bored. I wonder if Jackson will ever regret this picture? He really loves the wings.

Words from my kidos. . .

Jackson:
mom is tomorrow my birthday? no
when is my birthday? June 4th in 6 months
How old will I be? 4
Than do I get baptized? No, you get baptized when you are 8
Do I get a spinner ring? you get that when you get married

Annie: (in response to Jackson questions)
Our whole family will get spinner rings when we get married when we come for Christmas
I am going to get married at Christmas time

A week later I did a Family Home Evening on getting baptized. They had just seen their cousin Grant get babtized and some friends from church. I used a bottle of water and talked about making bad choices. Every time we mentioned a bad choice I would add a drop of food coloring. I told them that when we are baptized the water washes away our bad decision and makes us clean again like Jesus Christ (I told them this while I poured bleach into the water bottle). I asked the kids after the water turned clear again if they would like to be baptized when they are 8 years old--both Annie and Jackson looked at me with an awed face and said "no".

Great Pics!!

Thanks Aunt Tori for these great pictures of my kids!! You always do such a great job!

Rachel 2 Years Old

Jackson 3 1/2
Annie 3 1/2

Wow what a sight!! All of my family together!! I know dad really wanted this, but I also love having a picture of everyone together--helps the kids know who is who.

Christmas in Utah

We had a fabulous time in Utah-as usual. We feel so lucky that all of our families are home for Christmas. The only family member we were missing was Andrew-and he has a pretty good excuse being on a mission in Spain. Our days were filled with bowling, parties, Rockband, treats, fondue, movies, shopping, Don't eat Pete, story times with grandma's, bed times with cousins, snow men, jazz games, and just great times!! We are so grateful for these experiences and memories.

I usually pride myself in doing a good job with taking lots or pictures--well not so much this Christmas break-I did a horrible job-I totted my camera around in my purse and didn't take any pictures so I took it out. Than when there were things I wanted to take pictures of I didn't have my camera--no excuses I have learned my lessons. Thanks to Grandma Kris for these fun pictures--

The Magical Morning of Christmas

Of course-Rachel's favorite gift was the M&M's in her stocking.
Thanks Grandma Julie for the bikes!! Annie and Jackson are wearing out our floors.

This was my wish-a White Christmas. Growing up in a place where it snows all winter I always long for a wintry Christmas Day--Snow is a double edged sword however. While I got my beautiful chilly white morning, I also got a white knuckled crazy icy drive to Tulsa.

Christmas spoils-thanks Santa!

I have been running a lot this past year--most of that running happens in the wee hours of the morning in the dark-While encouraging me my sweet husband is also trying to keep me safe-now I will glow in the dark! I also got something else shiny-Thank you Spencer for my beautiful earings!

A few days before Christmas Jackson was telling us the Santa was going to bring him anything he saw anywhere. Any whim he had was solved by the comment, "that is okay, Santa will bring me one." He told us that Santa was bringing him a fire truck one that would be outside. (He thought he was going to get a REAL firetruck. What can I say it is our fault for telling him Santa would bring him things.) Santa being done with his shopping decided that the firetruck hanging in the garage that had never really been played with that was donated from a neighbor years ago would be a great gift---This is our little secret!

Twas the Night Before Christmas

After watching my kids enjoy Christmas so much I think that Christmas may be more fun being a parent then a kid. Annie and Jackson were so excited--counting down minutes, asking where Santa was, asking to go to the church to tell Jesus Happy Birthday, singing Jingle Bells, flying to Utah. . . .and on and on and on! We were able to have Christmas at home and at home (in Salt Lake) this year. What a blessing to enjoy Christmas as our little family, sleeping in our own beds and enjoying being together on Christmas Day. After a morning of opening presents and sleeping in we packed up the car and headed to the airport to go to Utah--my kids have been asking to go to Utah since October. Both mine and Spencer's families were all home for the holiday and we spent a couple of weeks having fun and being spoiled!!

This is the kids ready for bed in their new pj's. Well Jackson didn't want to wear his new ones-so he has some old ones on. When Annie first opened her she told me she just got blue pajamas-when she unfolded them she started jumping up and down yelling Ariel, Ariel!! Our friends who were also home for Christmas Eve joined us for yummy food, games, and of course the kids nativity. Believe it or not-Jackson was a wise man-he just wanted to wear the jingle bells on his head.