Ferrall's - The Day After Xmas

Each year we try to celebrate Christmas with family and have a nice Christmas dinner. This year was a bit different - it just didn't seem to work out. Since no one was available we skipped it all together and decided to take the kids to Farrell's. We went the day after Christmas (because it was closed). Let's just say.... it's a long wait... and it's LOUD.
Owen (or as we like to call him) "our affectionate child" - is showing his love to me. So sweet. He never runs out of hugs, kisses or I love you(s).
Paige Owen and... where is Brock? Brock was not in the mood to be photographed. He's a bit too cool for the camera at times.
Olive was checking out the commotion... I thought dinners at our house were loud - um... not compared to here. It was nice not slaving away in the kitchen for once, and just taking the kids to a fun family restaurant. But then again, slaving all day in the kitchen... isn't that was holidays are for? The food was good though! I'd go back if I didn't have to wait an hour.

Christmas Day

Christmas day is always a blur. Wrapping paper flying here and kids hopping up and down - it can be crazy. As many of you know I wanted a new computer SOOOOO badly. My old one was so slow it would literally take 45 minutes just to open iTunes. That is one of the reasons I was so behind on blogging. If I couldn't do something from my phone - then it didn't get done.

Well, John did not disappoint. I was so excited when I opened this!

This pictures is funny to me because when I asked Brock what his favorite gift was - he said it was his flashlight. (He is holding it here even though I wanted a photo of him with his helicopter from Great Grandma)

How bad am I? I don't have 1 single photo of Olive on her first Christmas! That sucks! It really makes me sad.

After the craziness of morning - we took the kids to see a movie. They were surprisingly good. It looks like we may have reached a new level with our family.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve John's brothers and their families came over for cookie decorating and a small nativity program. I didn't get a lot of pictures and the ones I got weren't that great. So I fiddled around with them a little...

Here are the kids decorating cookies for Santa.

Skylar and Paige

After decorating the kids put on the Nativity program for all of us to watch. Paige and Fletcher were Mary and Joseph. Kate was the angel. Owen, Brock and Ezra were wise men. Adrienne played the piano and we all sang the carols together. Pictures weren't taken because everyone had their video cameras out.

After everyone left the kids got to open one present picked out by yours truly. Paige was disappointed to find out it was PJs... sorry sweetie. Then we put the cookies for Santa on a plate and take a picture by the fire place - then it's OFF TO BED! Ahhhh....

Ollie Pop!

I feel bad about not taking a lot of photos of Olive - I actually do, they just aren't Christmas related. Here is Ollie Pop enjoying her Bumbo and laughing with sunglasses on.

This girl melts my heart.

Getting Ready for Christmas

Getting ready for Christmas to come is probably one of my favorite parts of the holidays. The holiday parties, Christmas performances and of course seeing Santa. Here are some of our highlights...
Paige and her friend Lauren at their class holiday party.
Owen as a shepard in the ward primary program.
Olive sitting on Santa and LOVING the attention... she had no idea who was holding her - just that we were all making her smile.

Owen is always so loving. He would have layed there with Santa all day if we let him. Brock wouldn't go near Santa. In fact he cried and cried if we even mentioned seeing Santa. On each of my kids first Christmases I've taken them to see Santa and get a photo - then we put it in a frame and it hangs on our tree. Olive was ALL SMILES - so fun! And Paige and her cousin Fletcher and the Barber's house.

Ballerina Photos - by Aynn Thurman

Adrienne scheduled a photo shoot for Ivy's 1 year - we decided to put Sawyer and Olive in it for a couples minutes and try and get a photo of all 3 girls for the guys for Christmas. It turned out pretty cute.
(I made all three tutus and I made Olive's flower in her hair... they turned out pretty good, huh?)

I was also able to get a couple of Olive by herself. She was so good the whole time - just smiling.

This last picture kills me - I can't look at it and NOT smile. Oh, Ollie Pop!

Thanks Adrienne for letting us jump in on your photos.... they turned out great.

Family Photos - by Aynn Thurman

Halloween

Holidays have been getting more and more fun as these kids get more and more into it. I think it is really fun when you can see it through your children's eyes.
My kids tend to have strong opinions on their costumes. Paige wanted to be a "Blue Fairy." This was the first time I attempted to make a costume. I thought it turned out OK. Owen wanted to be Spider Man - and he was. Brock wanted to be "The Gleen Globlin" or the GREEN GOBLIN. Too bad for him they don't make that costume anywhere in at 2T/3T - so after looking everywhere we finally convinced him to be a pirate. He was OK with that. Olive was our precious bumble bee. This Bumble Bee costume has been used every year since Paige first wore it 8 years ago. A little hammered but still cute.

Pumpkin Patch

Each year my kids look forward to going to the Pumpkin Patch. This year they were just as excited.
These kids always have a lot of fun there. Owen loved the swings... just look at the joy on his face.
Brock was a little unsure but enjoyed the ride.
Paige wants to go on EVERYTHING! Seriously, sometimes I think there is just no pleasing this girl.
Ollie Pop was just happy to be there.
Fun times - why does it go by so fast?

Orange You Glad I'm Cute?

Yes, I am... because this guy stirs up trouble. Brock is in a playgroup this year and he absolutely loves it.

Eat! Eat! Eat!

Every mom likes to document the first time her baby eats food... today was that day for Olive. She was taking down the rice cereal pretty well in spite of Brock yelling, "Eat! Eat! Eat!"

Grounded.... not quite.

So in early Spring 2009 some friends planned a fun exotic vacation on a cruise through the Hawaiian Islands... I thought the idea sounded so fun and I wanted in on the adventure... unfortunately in a marriage there is compromise. We weren't able to go... here they are in September in Hawaii.
I thought that since I wasn't able to go on the cruise, I would send them a little reminder of them each day. Here are some of the photos I sent them.

(They had Hawaii... but I had Glee)
(I still had my baby to love)
(I had my own friends :)
(Sick kiddies... no fun)
(How was the food on the cruise?)
(Who needs a pina colada when you can have a Diet Coke)
(so sad... home cleaning up the playroom)
(at home... SO FUN!)

So sad I couldn't go -NEXT TIME FOR SURE!