Traveling with Kids

Need I say more?

Fishing with Grandpa Guy.

First catch of the day!

Cierra catching her first fish of the day!

What a cheeser.

Cierra wanted to touch every fish.

We all had a really good time. It was perfect weather too.

Raice being patient for once.

and it payed off!

Maybe in another year we'll get Autumn her own pole.

What a cutie!

At the Wheeler House...

Building domino towers with Dad

Playing animals

Raice wearing is "fider man" (as Cierra would say) shirt.

Autumn in a good mood!

Cierra! Where's your makeups?

 Enjoying the heater!

              We finally got the cable on Raice's bike fixed! He was doing a good job riding in sand.

Raice's 5th Birthday!

The Cake! We spent several days on this, freezing in between each step. It turned out alright, I guess. Next time I'm buying "professional" cake decorating tips. Raice really loved it. We had a "pizza party" Spider man theme with cake and ice cream. Raice's Grandpa Jody and Grandma Marcie traveled down for the party.

Turning 5!

The decorations.

The dinnerware

and of course presents

Cierra and her treats! She can't wait for her party.

 

 

 

 

More presents!

and Autumn sitting on Dad's lap, playing with the balloons!

Getting Ready For Horse Riding Lessons

Cierra began riding horses almost before she could walk! Her first ride was literally at 14 months old! I didn't even get on the horse with her that first time- and she had absolutely no fear. She loves horses (any animal really) and is very excited for the weather to warm up so that she can start riding again.

We decided to go feed Nina some carrots.

Isn't she cute!

Ode to Grandpa Darwin!

Christmas Vacation in Garrison

Raice is taking music lessons that will eventually help him to be able to pick up almost any instrument and play. Grandpa Darwin helped Santa get this real electric guitar and amp! Thanks Grandpa!

Presents and Presents Galore!

 Part of my ploy to become the "coolest" aunt and mommy was to make cookies for Santa with the kids. Who knows if Riley remembers it, but Cierra still talks about it. "Haf ta bake cookies for Santa huh mom?"

Here are the presents Santa left. I remember as a kid the presents looking much more glamorous. I think my mom must have worked overtime for this. As it was Tyler and I didn't get to bed until 2:30!

Raice opening his "Pillow Pet" at Grandma Jeanie's

Autumn enjoying their presents too!

Christmas Eve Dinner

Christmas Eve Dinner at Grandma and Grandpa's

   Autumn, Cierra, Coby, Ryen, Raice, Riley,and  Britley. They all had a really good time opening presents. It was my goal to be remembered as the "coolest" aunt by getting the "best" presents. In reality though, I'm sure only a month later, they don't remember what I got them! It'll be the overall feeling throughout the years that they remember about me. So... I'll keep on trying!

 Cierrra, opening her Tinker Bell table and chair set that Grandma and Grandpa gave her.

 Raice and his singing machine.

 Autumn is content *only* because she is in the midst of all the commotion!

Here's Britley with her "Santa Baby" dress on!

...and these two are really cute! I can't wait until Kari has her next baby in May!

FHE 12/6/10

Yesterday, we had fun decorating the tree- Raice and Cierra helped out start to finish. I feel like its all for them anyway, so that is why the decorations are very simple and kid friendly.

Today, for our family home evening we made sugar cookies. It turned out to be an all day event. Cierra enjoyed making the cookie dough with me- probably a more accurate statement would be eating the dough while I wasn't looking. I once turned around to see grab a big chunk and then make a break for it. After letting the dough chill the kids cut out their cookies.

 After baking they frosted them...

Autumn kept herself entertained by eating cheerios. The other day I let her suck on a Ritz cracker and before I could pull it away she bit off nearly half of it. I tried to fish it out of her mouth with my finger, but if you know her personality she was determined to swallow it, as much as I was determined to get it out. I could see I was loosing as her little tongue had thrust it towards the very back of her throat, in my last desperate attempt I tipped her upside down and forward... Nope it was gone. Great, here goes the Heimlich wait, wait she is still breathing... whew! So I figured if she could swallow half of a Ritz cracker in one gulp, with out choking, then she could handle a few cheerios!
The final product...

The big ginger bread man was for "daddy." Raice and Cierra were so proud and excited to give it to him. Poor Tyler hates frosting and doesn't really like sugar cookies, but he ate it with a smile.

Here is a little clip of dinner time. Enjoy!

Christmas just around the corner...

This past weekend was pretty busy. The kids got to sit on Santa's lap. Raice asked for a sling shot, Cierra was along for whatever, and Autumn only wanted to pull his beard (after all, through a baby's eyes, what else would beards be for). After Santa we ate a "free" hot breakfast, for a non-perishable food donation. So far so good -everyone was happy.

Next, we went to our wards annual Creche show. The Creche show has become a community event, where Nativities from all over the world are put on display. This last year there were over 600 people who attended. After seeing Santa, we asked Raice why he thought we celebrated Christmas he responded by saying, "to get presents." So we headed over to show our kids the "true" meaning of Christmas.

There is a "hand on" room for the kids where they can play and color.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some of our favorite Creches...

From Jerusalem

From Haiti

From USA

Then just as Tyler and I were about to sit down and enjoy some yummy treats, Cierra began throwing a huge fit over the fact that she no longer had her binkie, and almost simultaneously a mother told me that Raice had pushed down her daughter. After making Raice apologize, we joined Tyler and Cierra in the truck. I think the only person not yelling was Autumn (surprisingly). So much for teaching the true meaning at least its only the 4th.