Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year

Christmas was perfect this year.  Kaitlynn and Jack woke up early and woke up the rest of the house.  The only real problem though, was Ryan.  He was on call at the hospital and didn't get home until the late hour of 7:35 a.m.  I wouldn't let the kids go down to the living room until he got home.  They thought they were going to die.  Kaitlynn even grab my phone and sent Ryan an urgent text telling him to hurry.  It was kind of fun to have all the kids bouncing in our bed waiting for their daddy.

These pictures are in no real order.  I didn't want to spend the time making it chronological.  I am just pleased with myself for getting pictures up here, period.  

Jack kept going back to his book about super hero's in between opening presents.

Classic playing in the box instead of with the toy picture.

Hannah needed a turn in the box too.

 The mess once everything was opened.

Jack with his presents.  He got a football, Mizzou jersey, pants, shirt, Marvel Hero's book, fleece blanket, camera and piano lessons. We found it is ridiculously cheaper to by a real camera rather than a kids play camera. 

Kaitlynn in her christmas sparkle outfit. She got a fleece blanket, American Girl book series of Carolyn, and the Target My Generation Doll (the cheap version of American Girl Doll), a rainbow loom and piano lessons.

This is Ryan's big present.  He went for a year without any candy, pop, ice cream, cookies or really anything delicious to earn this beautiful saw.  He was pretty giddy about it.

This pretty little girl got a new outfit with boots and looks stinking adorable in them!  She also got an elephant toy that shoots balls out his nose.  

Olivia got a fleece blanket, princess stuff, and a teacup set from the thrift store with matching gloves. We have been playing tea party at our house a lot so I knew I wanted to get her some teacups but refused to pay $20 dollars at wallmart for some tacky plastic stuff.  Now she has a real cups that make a real clink sound.  I am sure they will break but for the price I payed I am okay with that.

Hannah especially liked the clink sound from the cups as she stacked them again and again.

I am really happy about something.  I was really spoiled this year.  Ryan got me an electric tooth brush (the top thing on my wish list), a jewelry box and a Fitbit band.  I love the fitbit band.  It tracks so much info even my sleep habits.  I average about a mile and a half and go up the stairs about 20 times just walking around my house in day!

I just love his face here.  Family gifts were some board games and a year zoo pass.

I love my little family.

Random picture taken on the last day of the year.

New Years was super exciting. We had dinner with our neighbors; pizza for the kids and cheese fondu for the adults.  It was delicious! 

Then we went over to our house to let the kids have a sleepover.  Well kind of, we put them to bed and their parents took them home when our party was over.  To ring in the new year we played clue and settlers.  I know, wild night! This may be the first time in our marriage that we have actually made it to midnight. The only reason we did was so we could end last years new years resolution.  As mentioned earlier Ryan went without anything yummy for the year, I supported him only by saying no to candy and pop for the year.  That was enough for me. 

So at midnight I ate the candy I missed the most, swedish fish.

Ryan had cookie dough ice cream and reece's pieces.  We both enjoyed our warm root beer.  I forgot to put it in the fridge earlier.  Oops!

A few days before New Year's Kaitlynn made some comment about how it wasn't fair that the only the adults got to stay up so I off handedly said if she could stay awake that long then I would let her stay up.  I never thought she could do it.  She had no problem staying awake and most of the night she just sat on the couch reading a book! I think she was waiting for a party to happen.  The most exciting part for her was the root beer floats.

Christmas Eve

While we are very happy with Ryan's job, he is still the low man on the totem-pole.  Meaning he had to work the Christmas Eve call shift.  He ended up working 22 of the 24 hour shift!  Not much was scheduled that day but there had been a bad ice storm two days before and many people had accidents while out visiting for the holidays.  The two hours he had off happened to be right at dinner time so we went to the hospital and celebrated with Ryan.  

  I really didn't want to try and pack four kids, a diaper bag, Christmas Eve presents, a home cooked meal and eating utensils by myself.  Not to mention the ridiculous amounts of ice everywhere.  It just seemed more prudent to eat at the Subway at daddy's work.  I know nothing says Christmas Eve like Subway but the kids loved it and it made the whole event a little more possible.

After our yummy meal we went to Ryan's call room.  The kids thought that this place was the ultimate.  He even has his own bed, t.v., and bathroom.  Such luxury! 

We opened up Christmas jammies from Nanny.  

  

Hannah had a very frustrating time with this chair.  She kept trying to climb up it to get to the chips, but the darn thing kept spinning around.  Not great for someone with limited gross motor skills. Eventually though, she concurred and ate all of Kaitlynns chips and most of Jacks. 

We had a nice little Family Home Evening together and read from the scriptures before Ryan's pager went off and the party was over.  Though our time with him was limited we are so very grateful for the time we did have together as a family.  The children thought it was a great adventure to hang out with daddy at his work.

Olivia did have a hard leaving Ryan there.  She didn't understand why he had to stay.  She cried when  we got in the car. She cried when we got home without him.  She cried when I put her to bed. She even woke up in the middle of the night worried about him then.  It took a lot of convincing her that daddy was ok and that he wouldn't miss Christmas.  That girl loves her daddy.

First Day Of School!!!

Summer has officially ended and school has begun.  Kaitlynn started second grade and Jack became a kindergartner.  How did my kids get so old?

They woke up bright and EARLY.  They were dressed and ready by 6:15.  

 There was lots and lots of begging to go outside and wait in the bus line.  We made them wait to go outside until 7:45.  The bus comes at 8:10...  They were first in line.

 I have a cute picture of Kaitlynn standing on the porch on her first day. So I wanted to get the same one of Jack.   I guess the sun wasn't so bright two years ago.  He wasn't having it.

 I tried to get one of them by the tree.  Jack was more concerned about getting in the bus line.  

 Finally I let them go.  

 They were so eager to get their back packs in line and save their spots.  

 BUS!!! when the bus comes around the corner all the children yell and run to get in line.  It is really fun to watch.  Jack got a little nervous at this point but he did it. 

He was the first one to lead the kids onto the bus for the new school year.  

 Meanwhile we spent the day mudding and taping the basement in our attempts to finish it.  It was good for me to stay busy all day. I was so anxious for Jack. 

 The night before school started we all went to Back to School Night where Olivia fell in love with school.  She was so disappointed in the morning when she found out that she didn't get to ride the bus and play with teachers.  So she played school with Hannah.  

All my nerves for Jack were unwarranted.  In his words "School is Awesome!" so lets hope it stays awesome all year long!

Seven!

I am going to attempt to document our lives.  Hopefully I can get it all down.   May eleventh my baby turned 7.  How!?  She is beautiful and kind.  We are so very lucky to have her.  Luckier still to have her as our first born.  She sets a high standard and good example for her siblings.  

First thing in morning on their birthdays, the kids get to choose one gift to open then have to wait for the rest.  Here is kaitlynn with her gift.  Her little sister was super excited for the gift too.

Until she realized it wasn't for her.

So before Kaitlynn even put on her birthday princess crown she shared it with Olivia.  

Finally getting a turn with her own gift.

Birthday breakfast.

She made breakfast for everyone.  Pancakes and scrambled eggs are her favorite.

Another one of her favorites is Little Caesars bread sticks.  She doesn't like the pizza but she can down a whole bag of crazy bread.  So we picked up pizza and headed to penguin park for lunch.

Our gift to her was a camera.  It turns out that you can buy a real camera way cheaper than you can buy a kid play camera.

This gift was from grandpa Hylton of course.  She has spent many hours pouring over this book.

Feats of strength at the park.

Did you know May 11th is national train day?  Yeah, we didn't either.  We stumbled upon this fun on our way home. Not far from us there is a little park that has a train you can ride around a field for fifty cents.  We decided to go do this only to find out that it was national train day and the park was filled with bounce houses, face painting and live entertainment.  Super fun.  Kaitlynn felt like it was a giant party just for her!

Riding the train.

So after a fun day of parks, pizzas and parties we headed home for cake and ice cream.  Unfortunately  I only have video of that event. I love watching her grow up.  She is truly a blessing to our home and each year shows us that more and more.

Someone wants to be bigger

Hannah started a little trick this week.  Anything she can pull herself up on she will.  I love how happy she is with herself.  Look at that beautiful smile!