In stark contrast to the last post......

A local YWCA has an indoor 'waterpark' pool that is a wintertime favorite among my kiddos. It has fun fountains and things, plus a zero degree entry. Our friend, Alexis, organizes great playgroups every Friday (that we don't attend often enough) but we definitely had to go swimming today. My mom suprised us by showing up to help out (and take pictures!) and Morgan's dear friend Mary-Clark (who is also homeschooled) and her family came- which is fun for M since she's always the oldest at playgroup stuff.

I just love this picture. Both of them are doing mischievous things. Jack is trying to undo the rope and Raelyn trying to pour water on his head.

Gracie was a little unsure of the whole thing- but warmed up eventually- just like a big bathtub.

Raelyn was rockin' the kickboards

The bigger two under the 'mushroom' waterfall

Jack was such a daredevil -I'm a little afraid of what he's going to be like this summer!!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow.......

We woke up today to a light dusting of snow.....but that didn't stop the kids! We headed down the street to play with our friends- the Giffords and the Klass' and then when Gracie got too cold we came back home- where the older three played for even longer!!! The biggest two were outside for about two hours!

Jack man (and yes, he's wearing a pink and navy snowsuit) He would throw a 'snowball' at anyone who would come close enough - and then didn't mind getting them thrown back at him

The older three

Jack

and the only one I have of Gracie- because I was holding her the whole time

Raelyn LOVED the snow

Morgan and her friend Allie

Raelyn made several snow angels- and got covered in snow

Raelyn is 4!

Raelyn has officially been four for a week now, but this past Wednesday she got to have a little party with a couple of her friends. Normally we have pretty big family parties but with all the traveling, etc this year we took it 'low-key' and let the girls have their first friend parties.

Raelyn invited two little girls in our neighborhood (both girls are also in her church class) and it was the perfect size! Jack participated as well (what you don't see in these pictures is him sporting the sparkly pink crown- I'm saving those pictures for blackmail when he's 15)

Raelyn blowing out the candles on one of her little heart shaped cupcakes

The little party-goers (Morgan, my helper, and Gracen were at the kitchen table)

Opening presents

I can't believe my sweet little princess is 4. She was a very alert, but very relaxed baby. She was also my very wonderful first VBAC. I arrived at the hospital at 10 cm and she was ready to arrive and make her entrance 1 1/2 weeks past my edd on New Years Day!! ( at 6am!) She is her daddy's 'sweetheart' and is such a motherly thing. I am really enjoying getting to see her grow!

Oh yeah....the getup she has on is very ballerina princess meets Laura Ingalls Wilder. But why interfere with one's style? ;)

Christmas Day 2008

Our Christmas festivities certainly don't stop on Christmas Eve. Every Christmas Eve each person in our family gets new PJs. Of course all the kids match and Josh and I get each other some too. We also drew names for filling stockings. It was so fun to see what each person got for their 'buddy'.

Christmas morning we woke up and got to business. The girls each got some form of an American Girl doll- Morgan got Kit and Rae got the bitty twins. SO CUTE!

Jack's bigger present was a spiderman scooter

And Gracen had the most fun with her stocking! (filled by Morgan)

After that we went to brunch at my parent's (where Meggie and Mike had returned from their honeymoon and Taylor was visiting from Spain - Garrett still lives there) and ate ourselves silly then lounged around. For the afternoon we went home and hung out- it was so warm that Josh washed the van. Later that evening we went to my paternal grandparent's house. I enjoy seeing all my cousins when we go over there.

Like I said earlier, we feel so blessed.

Christmas Eve 2008

Christmas is a particularly busy time of the year with most of our family living within an hour of driving.

We spent Christmas Eve lunchtime with Josh's maternal grandmother and all his cousins,etc. After that we headed up to his parent's house for some snacks, presents and gun-shooting. That evening we were at his paternal grandparent's house for some more yummy food, presents and lots of laughs. We always say we're too busy- but we really do feel blessed to have our family close by.

Here are our children and their first cousins at Josh's parent's house.

Josh's granny and her great-grandkids

Josh's granny, her two kids, their spouses, six grandkids, their spouses and all the great-grandkids. It's amazing to me how a family can grow!

Utah or BUST!

On the plane......Josh didn't love this. I think he thought I was dumb to have the camera out on the plane- but I was bored. Yes, you heard me right- BORED on an airplane with all the kids. It's because they were incredibly well behaved. No fits, sat still, ate peanuts. (Jack was watching a show I downloaded onto my IPOD. He liked that.)

It was COLD and snowy the day Meggie and Mike got married. Here is Raelyn waiting outside for them to come out of the temple.

Mr. and Mrs. Stohl!!

And to show Gracen and I were really there. MY uncle Mark took this picture.

And one Mark took while the photographer was getting everyone set up for group pics.

Have you ever flown cross country with four kids just to turn around and fly back home two days later?

We totally did!

My little sis Megan got married in SLC, Utah RIGHT before Christmas so we trucked out there on a Wednesday, she got married on a Thursday and we flew back on a Friday. Didn't Megan make a beautiful bride?? And don't her and Mike make the cutest couple?? I feel so blessed to have been able to make the trip. I love my sister Meggie- she's such a good example for our family.

More pictures can be found on her photographer's blog HERE. Of course there were even more, those are just a sampling.

They used Simplicity Photography in SLC and she was amazing! I wish we could've stayed longer and had her take indvidual pics of my kiddos.

And she wanted to do a pretty dance....

Raelyn's dance studio does a Nutcracker performance every year. We had already been to the 'real' Nutcracker by the time her performance rolled around so she was VERY pumped. She wasn't pumped about being a mouse. She wanted to do a 'pretty' dance. (I thought her dance was very pretty!)

Megan and my mom went to the dress rehearsal

Raelyn and a few of her mouse buddies

7 and 4

Yes, I now have a seven year old. And a four year old. I feel old.

I was sitting and thinking about Morgan and it struck me- She thinks on her own!! Everything that she thinks is no longer shared with me- my opinion isn't the only opinion anymore. I guess that's why our church considers age 8 the age of accountability. By the time she's eight I can't even imagine how thoughtful she'll be! It's getting pretty fun to be able to converse with her about books and other thought-provoking subjects.

Raelyn is 4. And wants to be 40. At least twice a day she'll ask if she looks like a mom doing whatever she is doing. On the airplane to UT she told my mom that she wanted to be the mom of a little baby on our flight so she could take care of her and change her diaper. Raelyn has one goal in life- to be a mom. That makes me very happy! :)