Winter

Just a quick recap of our winter fun!  We were lucky enough to get a couple of different snowfalls that were deep enough to go sledding!  We never know how much snow to expect in a winter season and there are years when we don't get a whole lot of fun out of the snow, so we were happy to make the most of this winter.

Abby

The kids had enough snow from the shoveled driveway to make a mountain of snow.  Let me tell you the joys of having a sledding hill in your front yard -  

1. Hours of fun for the kids shoveling your driveway. 

2. Hours of fun for the kids making the snow hill. 

3.  Hours of fun sledding down the snow hill.  

4. And hours of "alone time" for me:) (Not counting the massive mess that comes with snowy kids running in and out of the house all day) 

Jace

Brooklyn about to brave the man-made snow mound in front of the house.

Jace

Colby

Brooklyn

Do you wanna build a snowman?  Because we did!  This was a different snowfall and trust you me, every time we thought there was enough snow to roll into a ball we were headed out to build a snowman.  "We" meaning everyone but me, that is.  Although I did get enlisted to help put the big balls of snow on top of one another.  

And just look at that masterpiece!

And then tragedy struck......

Seriously.  It was tragic. Can you tell by the faces?  Such drama at my house.

But we lovingly patted his face back together.  And lifted him back up.  And he lived to see another day!  Phew!

This was a day that we walked on over to the park to sled down a real hill! Jace was trying his hand at "snurfboarding".  His own invented word.  It was really much like snowboarding as you can tell in his picture.  I was actually quite surprised at how long he lasted before bailing each time he tried.  He had loads of fun until he hit a patch of mud. That threw him off and planted his face on a different patch of ice.  He wasn't happy.  But he did get back on the "snurfboard".  For that, I was grateful.

It was also the day that Brooklyn got very upset, with life in general, but specifically upset that Jace got to try his hand at "snurfboarding" before she did.  And then she had to watch how great he did and hear all about it.  She wasn't happy.  I think her own words were "I'm just so sick of Jace and all of his awesomeness!  It's just so annoying!"  

I guess being full of "awesomeness" is a tough burden to bear, but Jace is managing just fine.  

And that brings our snowy season to an end!  Until next year!

Colby's 2nd Birthday

Somebody turned 2!!

In celebration of Colby's 2nd birthday, I decided to give him his heart's desire - a basketball cake.  He didn't exactly ask for it in words (although he could - it was one of his very first words ((I kid you not - balliball)), but it is his very favorite pastime.  So I knew he would be thrilled.  And then I autographed (or forged really) his name on the basketball.  With his number (2 of course).  I thought I was ingenious. Which I was;)

But then Colby wouldn't even smile at his basketball cake.  I couldn't believe it!  This was as good as it got.  Before the party started that is.  It got a little better down the road.

Here's Colby opening his presents.  Helpful sisters by his side.

He didn't get anything really fantastic.  He is the 4th child after all and gets all his hand me down's from Jace.  He's pretty set as it is.  

Here Colby is starting to warm up.  A little bit.  He's at least pretending to look at the camera...

Then we added the candles!  That was exciting!

Here's the whole crew.  I decided I'd better start getting out from behind the cameara every once in a while so posterity knows I existed.  Which means Darren is missing.  Oh well.

And look.  A real, happy smile!!  And cute too.

Brooklyn decided to help out with a little tickle of her own.  

Colby is sizing up the flame situation.  He knows he has to blow.

Blow Colby, blow!  

He ended up have lots of help.  Including a big spit from Jace.  That's in the video we took.  Well, what can you expect?

I was just thrilled that he LOVED his cake.  Because I didn't know what to expect about that.  You never know from Mr. Colby.  He has what we call a picky palate.

Some things about Colby at age 2:

-he loves basketball and is quite amazing at shooting (on his little tikes)

-even loves to watch basketball

-he is loud

-he loves to wrestle and give neck hugs

-he ends up in bed with us nearly every night (none of our other kids did this!)

-he is a super picky eater - and I'm blaming it all on the Robbin's (and I think I'm justified)

-he loves all fruit

--will not eat most meat (every once in awhile will eat popcorn chicken or chicken nuggets)

-climbs everything and gets into trouble with most of his climbing - the candy cupboard is a favorite

-still takes a 2 hour nap (sometimes longer) but then is up until 9:30 or 10 at night

-cries at the end of every Sacrament Meeting (as soon as the prayer is said) knowing he's going to nursery

-is a mama's boy and is always asking where I am

-hates getting his hair washed but loves a bath

Happy Birthday Colby!

Merry Christmas 2013!

Merry Christmas!!

This was what my kids walked out to on Christmas morning!  Santa presents and stockings.  I snuck out first so that I could capture the scene before there there was no scene.  If you know what I mean.

Here are all the stockings.  Filled to the brim with things like rubber duckies and battery operated toothbrushes!

We make our kids wait until everyone in the family is awake before they get to go out and see presents.  And we also tell them its no bueno if they are awake before 6:30.  Go back to sleep.  On this particular Christmas Jace decided to sleep in.  I finally caved in and woke him up right before 7:30. So here are the other kids trying to stay busy and keep their minds off of the gold mine that awaits them.  Darren is the big lump by Brooklyn:)  You really wouldn't even know he was there!

For this picture I made them walk backwards until they got to the living room and then say cheese.  Aren't I awful?  The kids were going crazy!  Everyone except Jace that is.  And he's still just trying to figure what's going on.

Alright, let's be honest.  Jace has major problems keeping his eyes open for pictures.  Especially if its sunny, or windy, or if it's dark and I'm using a flash.  Or basically anytime.  Unless he has a hand to shield his eyes.  Then he's fine.

Colby couldn't be happier with the girl's new scooter!

Jace got a cool Spiderman fishing pole and Spiderman toothbrush.  Again with the eyes.  

The girls ended up with an MP3 player and Colby was nice enough to get off the scooter so we could take a picture.

Colby got tired of presents and disappeared to find a banana.

Jace got new cool blue cowboy boots which he picked out himself on a special outing with Uncle Philip.  Unfortunately, he doesn't believe these were the same ones he found (they were the exact ones he tried on) and they didn't feel so good.  So after trying to convince him to wear his new boots and getting nowhere, I finally took them back.  It's hard to beat the broken-in pair he already owns.

And we switched tradition up this year and decided to head to the bowling alley for Christmas afternoon.  My brother bought the bowling alley last year so we have special connections to get in on a holiday!

The kids love bowling but love the video games!

Jessica, Colby, Travis and my dad

My mom with Pippa and Grandma Lu

And finally Darren bowling.  Obviously I didn't quite get pictures of everybody but you get the idea!  What a great way to spend Christmas afternoon!  We had a blast!

Merry Christmas!

Pictures with Santa '13

 I have been such a slacker mom about getting my kids to visit Santa that I thought this year is a must!  I don't even know when the last time we sat on the big guy's knee.  My kids thought it was great (he happened to be visiting a bank) and were so out of their element that they couldn't even come up with anything to ask for!

I should have prefaced this by saying my kids thought it was great - except for Colby.  Thank goodness I was ready to go when Abby ran Colby over to Santa because this was the only shot we got.  There was a split second of Colby screaming on Santa's knee (which I was ok with but Santa wasn't) but I couldn't back away fast enough to take the picture.  So I sent Abby with him and here we are.  I did get one other picture of Colby truckin' away from Santa as fast as possible.  Oh, alright, I'll post it.

I even gave him a candy cane for bribery.  It didn't work.  

Ho, ho, ho!! Merry Christmas

Abby's 9th Birthday

Happy Birthday to Abby!!

Abby is now a big 9 years old.  And did you know that you know pretty much everything at 9?  It's almost like what's the point of continuing.  You already know everything;)  This was our conversation this week. 

 Me:  "Where did I put those forks?  I know they're flying around here somewhere. "

Abby:  "Idiom!!"  

Me:  "Huh?  Ok."  (trying desperately to remember my junior year in Mrs. Jackson's  class -aka Stonewall.  I couldn't.)

A few days later I was talking to Abby again when I hear - in the middle of our conversation- "Idiom!!"

Me:  "Geez, Abby.  You should be an English professor or something.  You really like..." (as I'm searching for the proper description)-

Abby (totally cutting me off): -"Figurative Language?!  Yes.  I do."

When did my brain become so muddled?  I can't make it work right!  So then I asked Abby the definition of an idom.  And now I know.

Abby wanted an Angel Food cake with white frosting and candy all over it (much like Brooklyn's but it couldn't be just like Brooklyn's).  Then she was hit with inspiration and decided she needed a rainbow cake.  It turned out perfect for her.

Grandma Lu is photobombing and she doesn't even know it;)

Abby is lucky enough that her birthday nearly always falls during the time Ed and Dena come out for the big hunt.  And we still had Uncle Philip around.  And now Uncle Travis and Aunt Jessica live here so they get to hang out with us too.  So we had quite the party!

So exciting!!

Abby blowing out her candles.  She had some extra help there in the corner!

Presents!

Abby with her birthday haul and Brooklyn kindly helping model some of the new items!

Things about Abby at age 9!!

-loves to sing - especially the songs from Frozen

-made it past 2 rounds of the Hoop Shoot this year

-doing great in school

-loves playing with Colby

-loves playing the iPad 

-very competitive

-still loves Blue Bear

Happy Birthday Abby!!