Random Thoughts

So our microwave broke this week and we had to replace it. It couldn't have happened last month when it was still covered by our home warranty. It had to happen this month. Kade and Jack helped Tom install the new microwave.

We figured out how to change light bulbs that are really high.
The boys had fun doing this puzzle of the U.S. They were so proud of finishing it in 2 days.
We made chocolate dipped strawberries for Valentine's Day. The boys and Grace loved them.

More Snow

Here is another one of our snow days we had. The kids love them so much because they always cancel school for snow.

Josh and Grace tried making snow angels but they didn't really turn out. Perhaps we needed more snow.

The snow was melting pretty quickly this time even though it was cold outside. Josh tried forming a dam in the gutter so the water would pool. Grace thought it was the perfect puddle and kept splashing around in it. Thank goodness for water-proof boots.

Jack took a ton of pictures around the yard to show how much snow fell. I'm just putting one in but I know Jack would have liked to see them all on our blog.

Kade's School Performance

Sorry these are blurry. We recorded Kade's school performance with our camera. It was a very cute program.

Here is Kade singing with 1/2 of the 2nd graders at his school. The picture is so small it's hard to see him, but he is in the first row standing directly above the lady conducting.

This next video is my favorite. Kade learned how to dance a jig. He is on the end on the right. I think he must get all his awesome dance moves from me!!!

Pinewood Derby

This is Josh's last Pinewood Derby in Cub Scouts. I can hardly believe how fast time flies. He really wanted his car to do well since this was his last time. He ended up having the fastest car on the track. He was so happy!

Here are all the boys in our pack that participated.

Snow Day

We had another Snow Day but there really wasn't enough snow to sled so the kids piled up some snow at the base of the slide to make a ramp. They worked on it for quite awhile, but in the end they were making little jumps with the sled. Unfortunately, they cracked the sled, but they still had fun.

Grace loves the snow. Every time she looks outside and sees snow, she begs to get her boots and gloves on to go outside.

Lela's Birthday

We were still in California when Marcela had her birthday. Chad threw her a surprise party at Dave and Busters. My kids loved it. So many video games to play.

Kade, Lela, my mom and Lydia.
Ingrid and Kade.
Mimi and Ezra.
Chad and Josh

Christmas

Okay, so this post is backwards. Sorry. You would think I could get it right after a year, but no. So here is our Christmas backwards. I didn't take a single photo of Christmas night. We went to my Grandpa Jesse's house. My Aunt Jill rented a bounce house. I had a hard time getting Grace to come out of the bounce house - she loved it. We had the best roast beef ever. My aunts always make this for Christmas dinner and it is so yummy! I had fun visiting with my cousins and seeing all the babies. I'm sorry I didn't get any pictures.

Christmas morning was at Grandma Pammy and Grandpa Greg's house. It was very crowded with everyone there, but it was fun. The hit toy this Christmas was Kade's Beyblades. Even Tom, Chad, and Jon played with them. They had battles for hours. Who would have thought that tops could be so exciting.

Grace loved her Jessie doll.
Chad
Lela and Mimi had fun holding the babies.
We had so many presents that they didn't all fit under the tree. Here are the rest lined up down the hall.
Dallin and Lydia are so cute.
Grace loved Chad's fake glasses.
Pam and Kade
Kim and Jon with my mom.
Here's my dad taking pictures.
Jamie and Kevin with Dallin and Olivia.
Grace got a doll house from Santa. Grace has an obsession with putting objects into bags or boxes. We lost the mom to her doll house right away. I'm sure she put it in a trash bag or box that got taken out. We never did find it.
Josh loved getting a pocket knife.
Jack and Kade

Here is the family shot before going out to see what Santa brought.
The kids were dying to go out to the living room.
Here is Christmas Eve. We went to Chad and Lela's house this year. We ended up having a hula hoop contest in Chad's living room at the end of the night. It was pretty funny to watch. Kade, Josh and Lela were pretty good.

Look at Tom's moves.
Jamie's pictures were blurry but she was entertaining.
Lela
Josh
Kade
We did our traditional white elephant gift exchange this year. We call it grab and growl in our family. Here is Grace with her treasures - soap and a Christmas wreath she decided looked better as a belt.
Kade and Josh playing grab and growl.
Tom, Grace and Josh.
We had a lot of fun on our trip to California. I wish it had been longer.