Christmas!!!

We had a rough night on Christmas Eve with Connor coughing and not being able to sleep. But we still enjoyed ourselves Christmas morning...and took naps later.

First we opened stockings. The 3 older kids all got a Webkinz stuffed animal.Connor got a lightsaber that flashes all different colored lights. He was in heaven.

Then the kids went on a hunt for Santa's clues to find their present from him...

Hauling the loot to the family room...

Savannah got her pink pony!

Connor loves anything that makes noise...

Jacob got some Star Wars legos from Santa, and Zach got some Planet Hero guys. The rest of the pictures are just random shots from the rest of our present opening.

A smile says a thousand words...

Jacob hugging his Bakugan toys...

Savannah got a doctor's kit...

In the evening we had a nice Christmas dinner just with our little family. It was nice to be able to relax, although we did miss being with our families.

Christmas Eve

We had a wonderful Christmas Eve this year. After looking at Christmas lights for a little while we met up with a group of other families to sing at the nursing home. The kids really enjoyed it, even though they didn't sing much. Zach loved waving at everyone as we passed by their rooms. Connor cheered "Yeah!" after each song was done. I think we'll do that again...

The boys by "Santa" in the foyer of the nursing home (Savannah was too scared to go near it).Singing in the hallway...

When we got home Zach hurried and set out his "reindeer food" (oats) before going to bed...

Capitol Visitor's Center

Today was drizzly and freezing cold outside. We had 4 kids who really needed to get out of the house. They love the capitol building so went and saw the visitor's center today. We pretty much had it all to ourselves. It's free, with free parking. Gotta love free.

Dallin & Savannah chatting on the old-fashioned phone...
What the inside of the dome looks like...

"Ride 'em cowgirl!"

A couple of dudes in front of the cowboy gear...

Connor rockin' out...

Pioneers Zach & Jacob...

Jacob checking out the top of the Capitol Building through the telescope...

This light-up grid map showed the Texas territory at various times in history I think...

Winter Parties

Today was the boys' "Winter Parties" at school. I guess you can not call it a Christmas party, or even a holiday party anymore. Dallin came home from work early so I got to leave Connor at home. Savannah had been looking forward to it all day so I brought her along.

Zach got to decorate Christmas trees out of sugar cones (and then licked all the frosting and candy off). He's wearing his Christmas light hat (I know, it kind of looks like feathers). Savannah always likes visiting Jacob's class because he's such a nice big brother to her, even in front of all his friends.

...eating all of the leftover frosting

Freedom!

Yesterday Connor learned how to take off his shirt. All of a sudden he comes running around the corner with no shirt on, his hands up in the air, screaming "YEAH! YEAH! YEAH!"
The funny thing is that most of the time he can only get one sleeve out...so he played like this for at least half of the afternoon.

Candy train

On Wednesday Savannah had her music/craft class. They made candy trains and she had a blast! I need to do that with my kids next year. She loved the gumdrops best to decorate with...

Singing "Jingle Bells"...

After her class we went to Walmart to go grocery shopping. You know you go to Walmart too much when the lady who works at the bank inside the store (that you don't even bank at) comes over to help you bag your groceries each week and chat with you. She loves my kids and is the nicest lady. This week she gave the kids a balloon. Connor was entertained for the entire day. He also learned a new word..."aiy-oon"!

9 years!

Happy Anniversary to us! I always wondered where we would be by this point. I think we've been pretty blessed. I love you Dallin!

Zach is 6!!!

Zach is 6 years old!!! He had a very, very fun day. He started out by opening one present before school...a Ben 10 sticker book "with over 400 stickers!!!" as he told everyone.At school I got to visit for a little while with Savannah & Connor. We read a story to the class and hung out for a little while.

Then I came home to decorate. Zach loved it when he walked through the door.

Zach had a little birthday party right after school. They had cupcakes, played, and had a little Scooby-Doo mystery to solve.

They had to do something to get each clue...pop balloons, tape the bone in Scooby's mouth, etc. Here is the whole crew (Zach invited 6 friends besides Jacob). My friend Erin helped me out and kept me sane during the party...she also brought her daughter along to keep Savannah busy.

Here we are filling in a Scooby-Doo Mad Libs to get the next clue...

They solved the mystery and found the presents. Each boy got a "doggie bag" to take home too. It was a fun, crazy, and noisy party.

After his friends left Zach got to open his present from the LeSueur grandparents...a giftcard to Amazon.com.

This castle was not actually a birthday present. Zach has been saving for a castle since July. When my mom came in November I used the giftcard she gave Zach to order this from Amazon.com (I was afraid they'd be gone because of Christmas). Then we wrapped the gift card back up. Today he gave me the giftcard and the remaining money he'd saved and got the castle! Great job saving your money Zach.

When Dallin got home we got to have cake...

...and open presents. These Star Wars legos were a hit!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY ZACH! WE LOVE YOU!