I guess we'll stay inside...again...

The thing that gets me most about winter is the having to stay inside all of the time because it is too cold outside to go play. Boo! I grew up in sunny Southern California. Winter? What is that? We get rain...sometimes. And we could still go outside and play in it. I NEVER remember a day that I really wanted to go play outside and I couldn't. Anyway, not to complain, it is just weird to me! And I feel like I am depriving my kids. Poor things. Well, anyway, we live where we live, and we try to make the best of it. So we put up a tent and brought outside inside. They had fun with it. Any more creative fun ideas from all of you winter champions would be highly appreciated. :) Movies, play dough, cutting paper, coloring, water coloring, ring around the rosie, duck duck goose...fun, but...

(and check out Kara's PANTY bum!!! Yes, we started potty training during our snowed in days...more on that later...)

One of Zach's favorite new things to do it try on the girls dress up clothes! He puts on all four shoes and then runs around the house clipitty clopping like a horse. He uses their necklaces as dragon traps too. At least he does boyish stuff with them, right?? Something to do anyway...

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We found Kate behind the couch with the ENTIRE BLOCK OF CHEESE!!! She was just taking bites out if it! Hungry??

POTTY TRAINING!!!

The girls pretty much are forcing me to train them. It has been a long month...but I haven't changed a poopy diaper for a long time! I love their little undie bums. Especially with little leggings on too. Anyway, they are doing very well, when I stay in training mode and give a few reminders and encouragement. Kara has even had a few dry diapers over night. What a rock star. ANYWAY I hesitated to post this next picture, but the story with it is disgustingly hilarious. So, the first couple of days I potty train I don't put any diaper, underwear, or pants on them. They have accidents, yes, but this makes the whole process go quicker. ANYWAY, this isn't about the process. The kids were all sitting in their chairs watching a movie. Kara ran over to me in the kitchen for a snack or something and then ran away. This is what I saw...

That is her baby doll's (the one in the bottom left of the picture) rattle stuck in her bum! It must have been sitting on the chair that she sat on and when she got up, it just came right with her! AH! So sick I know. And yes, I washed it. Very well.

We also love to pull our pants up high and ride bikes around the house. :) We do have several inside ride on toys...another really weird thing...but the kids love to race around the island in our kitchen. So if it's ever really snowy outside and you want to go for a bike ride, come on over. We can hook you up. :)

When we do venture outside to play on the now icy snow this is what happens. Sledding accident. Poor girl. I am so glad this was all that happened. What bad parents we are. Anyway, sorry Kara. You are still really cute.

SOOO much Snow!!

It's like shoveling while it's still snowing...oh wait. He did, because there was so much snow that it was just too heavy to lift if you left it! He has been the MASTER SHOVELER this year. Good work hon.
Winter hit us hard this year...CRAZIEST I have ever seen and the most snow Edmonton has seen for at least a decade. It just didn't stop!
I got out to take these pictures halfway through the dump. THERE WAS EVEN MORE THAN THIS!!!!

By the end of it all, the toys on the left of the play house were completely buried, so that was about another 9-12"! It was crazy.

Malia the Model

My sister took this picture of Malia in her little girly get up I crocheted for her. She makes them look even cuter. :)

Crocheting and Sledding!!!

So here it is! Here is the cute little project I made for little Malia, my sister Carrie's newest. The lighting is horrible. I'm no photographer, sorry, but they were gray, with a light pink flower button holding them on with pearls in the center. Soo cute. I wish I could see them on her.

And here are the girl's hats I crocheted them.

Kate's not so happy, but aren't her pouty blue eyes still pretty!

That's better!

SLEDDING!!!!

It was warm enough to go, so one night after Justin got home we went sledding on a hill here behind the park.

I was just taking the girls on the gentle slope side. Confession: I am a pansy. I am not a fan at all of fast things that I have no control of or anything that can potentially injure me because I am an injury prone person. I have had knee surgery, back surgery, broken my wrist and ankle and elbow (when I had 2 month old twins and an almost 2 year old at home waiting for me), and just recently hurt my shoulder. If some one's going to get hurt, it is going to be me. Therefore, I am scared. I only go behind the boat at Echo Lake to push myself, make my husband think I am cool, and to prove that I can do it. I don't even think it is that fun.

ANYWAY, all of this was to say that I am trying to pass this trait on to my kids, to keep them safe. BUT IT'S NOT WORKING! My kids love to do crazy things!

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I just love this picture of her. She is such a sweetheart.

Luckily Zach helped me out and pulled Kate up the hill. It didn't last long, but I was happy to get any help. It was a hard hill to get up!

Eating falling snow.

She has her father's tongue.

Holiday Happenings and New Years Eve/Day

Just played in the Hill Spring Bloodbath--I mean tournament. It is usually very physical. Actually wasn't so bad this year, for the one game I saw. His team got 2nd place. Justin felt old and tired, but had fun playing with Ryan (Joanie's extra tall hubby!) and his buddy Skyler. Ryan got an all star! Woo hoo!!

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Going to Cardston this year got me a bit more into the idea of moving south. It was warm!! About a 10-16 degree difference. Snow was actually melting and we could go outside! I know it isn't always like that, but man it was nice to have a bit of a break from hard core winter and take our kids for a walk. Kamry snapped this picture of us in front of the temple on a walk to go visit great grandma and grandpa (who have this view directly out of their front window. Everyday. Pretty cool. In fact, Karen's old room even had a temple view. Beautiful!

We took the kids swimming in Lethbridge one day. THEY LOVED IT! Especially Kate. I have got to get this girl lessons. She was jumping in and dunking herself like it was nothing. A total water baby. We really need to watch her.

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They had these floaty things there, but man were they dangerous. I took my eye off Kate for a second. She leaned over trying to get out and almost flipped right over. I was so scared and SO grateful that I looked over and acted quickly.

Kate with Joanie's little cutie Jaxson.


I tried so hard to keep my eyes open under this thing. Blink..blink...blink blink...

Family! It has been really fun taking our kids places and doing things with them I like having older kids. Not that they are old, but they are older than little babies. It is just fun to watch them experience and enjoy.

NEW YEAR'S EVE!!!

On New Year's Eve Robbie, Brian, Justin, and I all went cross country skiing to Cameron Lake. It was WINDY and cold, but we were bundled enough to enjoy ourselves.

Most of the path is a beautiful tree lined view. When you look up, it's gorgeous. Oh, and I do have to say, I didn't fall once. Justin fell twice. Both trying to show off. :)

I wish there was more scenery in the background than the bathrooms, but that's what you get when a stranger takes the picture for you!

Now that is scenery. Cameron Lake.

We made it! We're out on the lake.

This looked way cooler in person, but if you look at my gray hairs on the left... they were frozen. I tried to break them, like on Cool Runnings, but it didn't work.

Another ice hair shot.

Us after it all down at Cameron Falls.

THIS WAS SO COLD AND WINDY!

Saying goodbye to 2010!!! Bring on 2011!!!


NEW YEAR'S DAY!

They're just cute.

We met up with Skyler and Briley to go sledding. There wasn't really a good hill, so they just pulled them behind the quads. After all of this they went to a good hill, but I took our tired girls home to nap...which they didn't. Uggggh. Another story. I am really sad I missed him sledding though. Justin said he LOVED it and wasn't scared at all!!

I love it when they get all bundled up.

Going to look for a decent hill.

No hill. So the girls went on with Justin. They looked SO cold.

Is this dangerous? I don't know, I trust Skyler! :)

And of course the annual trip to see the chickens. They always get louder and smellier every year. And yes, I was afraid my head was going to get pecked in this picture. "Quick. Take it Skyler!"

The PACKED van on the way home. Isn't this crazy?! We ended up leaving the big box in the back at home. Just in case it fell and corked Zach. Plus, I guess it is a good thing to be able to see out your back window while on a 5 hr road trip.

Time to go home to have a vacation from vacation. I was exhausted. Why don't kids sleep in on vacation? Actually, why don't kids sleep at all????

Christmas!!

Merry Christmas Everyone!!!

This picture was taken on Christmas Eve after we all opened our Christmas pjs. My mom made the girls cute little night shirts. And Zach loves his dino pjs mom. Thanks!

The girlies in their Christmas nightgowns.

I had to put this one in. Kate's expression cracks me up. Kara looks a little lost there too.

Kamry took a couples picture of everyone in their pjs too. :) Well, I got new loungey pants and a cozy teal hoody, does that count?

THIS was the ultimate moment of the entire vacation I would say. Look at Cynthia's face. That's how good it was... For the last couple months Julie compiled a book of pictures and memories that we all contributed to. Every person was supposed to shoot for 50 memories. I think I got to 48! Pretty good! Anyway, they ended up with this incredible memory book with old pictures and all of their kids memories. PRICELESS! Almost every night after we put the kids to bed we sat around, read memories, and reminisced. THAT was my favorite memory of this holiday. So special.

Everyone checking out the coolest present ever.

Arranging all of the gifts. Christmas for 21 people in one house!!!

AMAZING!

Isn't that incredible!!!

CHRISTMAS MORNING!!!

Of course all of my kids decided to sleep in on Christmas morning. I was so excited to see their excitement. I wanted to wake them up! Christmas definitely is more magical with kids around.

Kate got a new hat and had to wear it around. :)

Zach has wanted a clown jack in the box for a LONG time. Doesn't he look thrilled?

Grandma gave him an electric guitar!

Love the rocker faces.

Yah!!!

This was probably the most popular (aka most fought over) toy. A Handy Manny Tool set.

Santa brought Kara a Jessie. She loves "Yessie!!!"

And Kate got Woody...

And Zach got a WORKING BUZZ WITH WINGS! Just like he's waited and asked for. He loves Buzz. It really is a cool toy!

See...he LOVES Buzz Lightyear.

BOXING DAY!!!

Grandma put the girls on the counter and gave them some chips.

Kara thought she'd feed her sister. I tried to capture the sweet, cute moment...

...but then Kate accidentally bit Kara's fingers!! SAD!!! Kara looks betrayed. Crushed! How could she?!!

We did a lot of this while we were there. Leslie is a master crocheter. I made 2 hats with flowers on them for the girlies, and soon for me, and something else that turned out SOOO cute but I can't post a picture until its recipient receives it. :) Curious?

And man I wish I got the front of this. Jason was helping his mom out. Whatta guy. He was wearing the manliest apron. Purple flowers, ruffles. Gotta love it.

This is how you go in the hot tub in Canada. :)

This picture is awesome. With all of the family around we did a lot of THIS over the holidays. Basically everyone got some form of belly bug. Barfing and pooing everywhere. So much fun. At least we didn't gain tons of weight!