Opening Presents

We picked the best time for Sophie to open her presents-she was so happy and very into unwrapping. She was actually very good at opening presents but that didn't stop her siblings from trying to open them all for her. Doesn't she look cute in her birthday onesie and tutu! I can't believe she is one year old!!!

Since Sophie really did not need anything I had Maddie and Garen go through their own things and find something they wanted to give to their baby sister. They were actually very excited about giving one of their things to Sophie. They wrapped them all by themselves and couldn't wait for Sophie to see what they picked out for her. Maddie gave Sophie one of her care bears and Garen picked a board book to give her.

after all those presents she just wanted the remote-

Gingerbread Houses...

okay they are grahmcracker and frosting houses, but the kids loved making them. It was even funner because Grandma Jann and Grandpa Boyd were here to join it!

Andy making strange face at me as usual. He likes to mess with me as I take tons of pictures, but what he doesn't realize is that I post these pictures on our blog for all to see.

The kids love the Christmas tree! Ornaments are taken off and then put back on several times a day. Let's just say the tree is a little uneven with no ornament near the bottom because Sophie likes to stick them in her mouth.

Garen has already tried to see if one of the round ornaments could bounce of the wall. I think he learned there is no bouncing just an ornament in 1000 pieces!

The kids have loved picking a wrapped Christmas book from under the tree every night to open and then read. We've also got to pick a special scripture out of our countdown calendar every night. Each scripture tells a different name for Christ and we've been writing them all down on one of our ornaments. Maddie really enjoys reading the scripture and trying to remember all 13 names we have written down so far.

So pretty much we are loving Christmas time!

Girl Scout Flag Ceremony

My little Daisy troop did the Flag Ceremony last night for a leaders meeting. They were so cute as it took 4 girls to carry one flag and they worked very hard to walk it to the front and not let it touch the ground. This was quite a task since they are so short. Maddie did a great job being respectful and quiet (this is an accomplishment for her).
After the flag ceremony I had to stay for the meeting which lasted an hour and a half. I spend my time chasing Sophie around while I tried to listen and I hoping my kids were being good in the library's kid corner.

Parade of Lights, Very Cold Lights

I rode with me Daisy Girl Scout troop on the float in the Rock Springs parade of lights on Saturday. And lets just say, I will never do that again! It was about 15 degrees outside with wind and snowing!!! I felt so bad because by the end of the parade a few of my girls were in tears because they were so cold. All I could do was huddle them closer together and tell them we were almost to the end. Whoever came up with the idea of a parade in December definitely did not live in Wyoming!!

Luckily I piled about 5 layers of clothes on Maddie including warm leggings under her pants, two hats, scarf, warm gloves, etc. But she was ready for some warm PJs and hot chocolate when we got home! I think from now on we will stick with the Summer parades!

Here comes Santa Clause

Our ward Christmas breakfast party was this morning. The food was great, they read the kids a fun Christmas story, sang some Christmas songs, and then Santa came bearing gifts of candy. We missed having Andy with us since he had to work but the kids loved running around with their friends, and Maddie enjoyed see Santa.
Towards the end I did get Garen to walk up to Santa and get a treat, but he would not sit on his lap or stand by him for a pictures. Although he did make progress, since last year he went running straight out the doors crying when Santa arrived.
Sophie checking out Santa-

She liked walking up to him and touching his fuzzy clothes-

Maddie-

I tried to get all 3 of my kids in, but Garen wouldn't have it-

So I took a picture of them when we got home-

Learning Basketball by Maddie

Andy was pretty proud of this piece of school work that Maddie brought home:
It says:
I tried my best and learned how to play basketball
First, my dad taught me how to shoot.
Next, he taught me how to dunk it.
Last, he taught me how to shoot from way back.
Clearly, I tried my best and learned how to play basketball.

Flashback Friday-first married Christmas Edition

Our first ever Christmas together was after we got married in 2002. We didn't even know each other the Christmas before and here we are married almost 6 months and 4 months pregnant. The first of many wonderful Christmas's together!

Our second Christmas (2003), Maddie was 6 months old. Kids make Christmas so much more fun!!! It was all about Maddie that year. I think she got more presents than we could fit in our house!

Garen's Preschool Field Trip to the Fire Station

Garen's preschool class went to the fire station on Thursday. Garen refused to get close to the firefighters that is why Andy is holding him in the above picture. But he loves seeing the fire truck, laughing with Carter, and watching the Sparky video.

Garen's Preschool Fun

I am so glad I get to be Garen's preschool teacher! He loves coming every week and I love being a part of it! Here are some pictures of Garen at preschool from the last few weeks:
painting pumpkins-

cooking turkeys-

in the reading corner-

painting-

building mini snowmen-

Sophie's New Happenings

Yesterday we ran out of formula and with less then two weeks till Sophie's 1st birthday I wasn't about to buy another can. So we switched Sophie over to whole milk. She didn't seem to mind one bit! Now we need to ditch the bottle. :(

Sophie's two top front teeth have also appeared in the last week-that makes 4 teeth.

She is growing way to quickly!!!

Maddie's Girl Scout Fire Station Trip

I took our troop to the fire station on Tuesday. We were worried when we first got there because the building was all locked up with no one in sight. But about 5 minutes later the fire tuck pulls up-they had been out on call and made it back just in time for our tour. The fire fighters did a great job with the girls; showing them all their tools, their living quarters, and showing them the Sparky the fire dog movie. They left with coloring books, bookmarks, little fuzzy firefighters, pencils, and fire truck cards.
watching the movie in the fire station classroom-

checking out the heat sensor-

Oh, Christmas Tree

We got our fresh Christmas tree yesterday. The kids were super excited and did a great job decorating it even while Sophie pulled the ornaments off.

Shoving it in our van/truck. :)

picking out the tree-