Sierra is 10 months old!!

I cannot believe how fast time flies by. Sierra is already 10 months old. She weighs 20 lbs and is 29 3/4 inches long and wears 12 month clothes already! So much for my little bitty preemie.

Happy Birthday Aarron and Family Pictures

Happy Birthday Aarron!!!! I made a big dinner for Aarron's birthday, Ribs, Salmon, Baked Potaotes and Salad, and I made the jello cake that he loves with strawberries and coolwhip! We also celebrated Mom's birthday and everyone had a bite of Rice Krispie House. It was very good!

Earlier today we braved the snowy streets and had our family pictures taken. They turned out great!

And Sierra's 10 month pictures.

Merry Christmas!!!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas!!! We had a great day. First of all it SNOWED AGAIN this morning!! So we had a very white Christmas. All the adults planned on the kids waking up at 7am (their usual time) so we got up and ready before 7am. Then Sierra woke up about 7:15am and finally we went in and woke the boys up at 7:30am. They came running in to find out what Santa had let them. Ted got the I-Dog Dance that he asked for, Alex got the Radio Control Car that he wanted and Sierra got a play and learn table. They were all so excited, even Sierra. They played with those toys for a while and then they got their stocking and opened up the presents and found the candy in them. Ted got the pokemon cards he had been asking for, Alex got the Star Wars action figures he wanted and Sierra got a small purple Care Bear stuffed animal. The rest of us opened our stockings while the kids played with their new toys.

Then we had breakfast; Green Chili and Sauasage Egg Casserole, Sticky Bun Pull-A-Parts, fruit, coffee, tea, lattes and juice!!!! It was wonderful.

After we cleaned up breakfast the baby went down for her nap and the rest of us opened up our presents. The boys took turns opening up their presents and we opened up the presents that they made for us. They were so excited about all of the gifts that they received. Sierra woke up after we were done and she opened a few of her presents. (She ended up opening presents up over the next two days, she actually tore open the paper and pulled out tissue paper from the bags!) Ans Sierra got her very first haircut!! She had "wings" on the side of her head that needed to go, so Grandma cut her hair for us. She looks adorable!!!

Then we let the kids play with their gifts while we started making dinner. Then we all relaxed, played games and the kids took naps.

After naps we had dinner; Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, glazed carrots, peas, corn, Ham, scalloped potatoes, angel biscuits and carnberry salad!! We were all soooooo full after dinner. We watched some tv, played some more games and then we had dessert. Brad made Apple Dumplings and I made a pumpkin cake bar "Thing". It was wonderful!!!

Christmas Eve Night

After play hard all day Alex and Aarron settled down and played the guitar...

Then the Ted, Alex, and Aunt Jennifer made Christmas cookies for Santa Clause (made, frosted, ate, licked, snacked on; yes I know they ate more than they frosted!)

The kids open their one present on Christmas Eve; matching PJs.

Even Sierra tried to open hers, okay she tried to eat it. LOL!

They all have different colors, but the pictures are the same. I get them matching jammies every year from A Children's Place (the only place that has bigger kids matching jammies).

Then it was time for a Christmas movie, after the movie was over, Dad read Twas the Night Before Christmas and the boys put out the cookies, milk and carrots and went to bed. I wish I was in bed right now too. But now I have to wait for them to fall asleep.

Christmas Eve Day

This morning Brad gave me my present early......I got a new camera!!!! It is the Nikon Coolpix S60. I got it early so I can read the manual and get used to the camera before Christmas morning. I have been playing with it all morning and so have all the "geeks" in the house. Mom, Jen and I have been wrapping presents and premaking some food for tomorrow. It is great having them here!! Brad, Ted and Alex played outside this morning; they built forts, had snow ball fights and built a snowman (with a mustache and goatee), and sledded down the small hill in our backyard. They stayed outside for over 2 hours, they were exhausted when they finally came inside (Brad too)!!

Jen and Aarron have made here too!

My sister, Jennifer, and her new husband and our good friend, Aarron, flew into Seattle this morning. This morning Brad and my Dad had to shovel the van out of the driveway and street so my Dad and I could go and pick up Jen and Aarron. We all made it back home safely! Now everyone is here and the party can start!!! The kids are so excite that Aunt Jennifer, Uncle Aarron, Grandma and Poppi are all here. Sierra can't stop looking at Uncle Aarron and the boys are so happy to have someone else to play with! And I am so happy and grateful that my whole family could be together this year!

Dad is here!

My dad flew into Seattle this morning. We could barely get out of the neighborhood to go and get him. Brad had to put chains on the tires, to get out of the neighborhood and side streets. Then he had to take them back off again once he made it to the freeway. Seattle is soooooo not prepared for this much snow. We have not seen a snow plow in our neighborhood since it first started snowing over a week ago. We are so glad that he made it here safe and sound.

More Snow!!!!

So we have been dumped on again. Yes, that's right MORE SNOW!!!! So we sent the boys outside again to play in it. They had such a good time. The built a fort and had a snow ball fight.

Rice Krispie Houses

When I bought the foam houses for the kids to make I realized that they would not have frosting and candy to eat this year if I didn't buy a gingerbread house kit. But every year they eat the frosting and candy and we throw away the house and the kids are sad. So this year I bought a Rice Krispie House Kit. It came with everything to make the rice krispie treats, frosting, candy and a house mold. I made the houses and the kids decorated them and then they were able to eat a little bit of them. The whole house was edible which was great! Alex saved his house for Grandma's birthday party, so everyone could eat it.

Santa House and Gingerbread House

This year instead of making a real gingerbread house and then having to throw it away after Christmas I bought foam houses. Alex made a Santa House and Ted made a gingerbread house. They loved them!!

Snow Angels

SNOW ANGELS....

Alex's Snow Angel

Ted's Snow Angel

And last, but not least Grandma's Snow Angel!! That's right Grandma's!!

And yet another snow day....

So it snowed on Sunday maybe a whole 2 inches and the schools started two hours late on Monday AND Tuesday, because it might be icy. Then on Wednesday the schools closed because it was supposed to snow...that's right it hadn't even started snowing yet. And it didn't snow until 3:30pm. We had maybe 2 inches of snow this morning and they canceled school again. Through out today it has continued to snow. We have maybe 4-6 inches total out front and they have already canceled school for tomorrow. So the kids are getting a REALLY long Winter Break this year. The kids went outside to play in the snow today and Grandma went out with them for a minutes.

Visting Santa Claus

So it was time for our annual Santa Claus vistit. I know, I know we already saw Santa on the train, but when we see him the kids are all bundled up and you can't see them very well and we only have our camera for the picture. The Santa at the mall is wonderful and the one here by our house dresses like the one in Utah that Ted and Alex used to go to. So we have pictures of Ted, Alex and now Sierra with the "same" Santa every year. And when we go to the mall I can dress them up really nice. I think this years picture turned out great!! The boys have wonderful smiles and Sierra is looking at the camera and she is not crying. Works for me!!

Letter From Santa

This is the fourth Christmas that Ted has received a letter from Santa. Each year there is a special note to Ted and a PS to Alex and this year a PS to Alex and Sierra. We look forward to getting the letter from Santa every year.

Here is Ted reading the letter....

Snow Day Number 1

On Sunday December 14th we had a little bit of snow fall. The kids took advantage of it and had fun playing in it.

Report Card Time!!!

Ted brought home his report card yesterday. He is doing wonderful!!! He is doing to well in school. We are so proud of him!! He is exceling in almost everything and his citizenship is doing so much better. And the best part is.....he is happy with the report card too.

Stair Climber

We have never let Sierra go near the stairs before because they are hardwood and very scary for me to think about. But yesterday morning I was letting her crawl around the hall while Alex and I were getting our shoes and coats on. And during her time in the hallway she found the stairs, took one look at them and started to climb them.