Kousins in Kolorado

Today after going to my sister's ward in Colorado Springs, my cousins came over. They live in Denver, and I have not seen them since I was a kid. It was so great to see them all again. We spent a few hours just catching up, visiting, laughing, and playing with the kids. I love spending time with family!

Patrick, Donny, Molly, and Susan Freeman

Patrick and Molly were so good with all of the kids (which are there 3rd cousins I believe, since they are my 2nd, and their parents are my first.), and Kade just loved them.

Patrick and Molly letting Kade show off all his favorite new Christmas gifts. This laser top was a huge hit!

My cousin Donny holding Kade who is holding his jumping beans (mighty beans as he calls them)
Molly was amazing with all of them, and Maggie who will hardly go to anyone gravitated to her.

Love you all, and so glad you took the time to come see us while we were at Tiffany's house. We missed seeing Nick, and Emily, but will have to next time.

Kristmas 2010

My phone rang at 7:04 a.m., it was Roger telling me the kids were up and getting ready to come down the stairs to see what Santa had brought. I hurried up from the basement with my camera, just as Kade came around the corner. His eyes lit up when he saw the stockings all filled and sitting on the couch. He was the first to make it to his stocking. His face says it all. I love seeing him so happy!

We started the morning off by doing stockings...

...so all the kids dumped them out to see what all they got.

Kade was super excited about his candy Santa's
...his glow sticks

...and all his favorite stocking treats and toys he gathered up to cary off

Maggie enjoyed playing with her harmonica ...and then the boys had a blast playing with their growing creatures. You put a capsule in water and watch it grow into a sponge sea critter or circus life.

Then we all ate cinnamon rolls and our traditional egg sausage casserole for breakfast, before moving on to presents.

Michael and Kade played in the sled from my parents

Kade's top 3 gifts were...

1. His dragon Pillow Pet. It's a pillow and a pet lol

2. His garbage truck (when he could get it away from Briggs lol)

3. His laser top. You press the top button and it spins lights up and plays music. It even projects lights onto the ground.

They all enjoyed the top

They also all enjoyed Maggie's awesome ball pit. You throw balls up top and they spiral down into the pit. so fun!!! Michael got an awesome Nerf Machine gun that fires 3 rounds a second. Even us adults enjoyed it.

Pop got a beautiful hand painted glass Colorado ornament

Tiffany and Mom

Goofy Roger.

Kade lifting my weights. We can work out together little buddy.

He also got a super fun Real Construction Workshop kit, where he gets to saw, and hammer foam wood and make projects.

Then after all of our fun opening presents, Kade laid on his 2 favorite gifts as we watched Despicable Me.

I would say Christmas was a success!

It was so nice being with family. Colorado is a blast!

Kristmas Eve 2010

Kristmas Eve is always fun, however it is even better celebrating traditions with the ones you love. This year Christmas is being celebrated in Colorado Springs with Tiffany, Roger, and all the kids.

We of course started the evening out with playing games. Here are Brigham, Kade, and Michael.

We then all went outside and sprinkled reindeer food on the ground so that santa and his reindeer would stop at our house and have something to eat. (It's just oatmeal and glitter=))

Here is Kade sprinkling reindeer food

Kade, Briggs, and Michael spreading all their reindeer food. Rudolph is eating well tonight!!!

Maggie had a blast, and emptied her entire bag all by herself with a huge smile on her face.

We then put candles in cupcakes and sang Happy Birthday to Jesus. He is after all the reason we celebrate Christmas, and it is a nice reminder to the children of that!

Kade enjoying his cupcake

We then all sat and watched How the Grinch Stole Christmas (which is one of Roger's family traditions).

Maggie and Pop made the breakfast caserole

... and then all of the boys got to sleep in the same room together on the boys new bunk beds. They had so much fun "trying" to wait up for Santa in their room. In fact several times, we found them all standing at the window whispering about Santa and when he and his reindeer would arrive. I guess sleep was not a priority tonight!

The stockings were hung with love and care...

...and Tiffany tried out the kids new sleigh. I think we need snow for this one LOL!

Can you spy Tiffany in all of these presents? We put most of the gifts under the tree tonight so the kids would wake up and be surprised at all that "Santa" brought them. This was so much fun.

The finished product!

Merry Kristmas Eve!!!

Kold White Stuff?: Kade's 1st time seeing snow

My parents, Kade and I left Sierra Vista for Colorado on Wednesday the 22nd so that we could stop overnight in New Mexico and split the trip into 2 days to make it there in time for Christmas Eve.

Kade made it the entire drive without taking a nap, but at the very end he finally gave in and fell asleep.

Thursday morning we got up and headed the rest of the way there.

Kade has never seen snow before, so I snapped a picture out the window of our first snow sighting. See the little patches of white everywhere!!! =)
Kade looking out the window for snow


He was so excited to see the pretty white stuff.

We stopped in N.M. at Wendy's for lunch, and Kade got to play in some snow for the first time!!!

Gotta love this KOLD white stuff

Pop did an AWESOME job at packing the Cadi. Way to go Pop. Without you none of our presents, clothes, or makeup would have made it to Colorado.

Kountry Pride: Celebrating Veterans Day W/ My favorite Vet.

Today has been a wonderful day! Kade and I are down visiting my parents for the week in Sierra Vista. Lucky for us we get to celebrate this Veterans Day with my dad, who is a retired Lieutenant Colonel in the Army (which he served in for over 20 years).

Pop & Kade carrying our flag pole so we can fly it high to show our pride in this wonderful Kountry!

Kade was holding the flag up for Pop so it would not touch the ground as he put it in the ground. What a BIG helper!

Pop raising our flag in honor of all our Vets. and Active Duty Soldiers.

Great work you two! Our flag is a wonderful reminder of all those who have served, and are curently serving in our military, to ensure our freedom. After setting up our flag, we jumped in the car and headed up to Tucson for a fun day in wonderful weather. We ate lunch at In-N-Out and then headed to Tucson's Reid Park Zoo.

Kade and I visiting the elephants.

Kade and Pop at the Giraffe Encounter. It was so cute... Kade called them Gur-affs.

Kade next to the Aldabra Tortoise. Can you spot him in the background?

What a lazy Tortoise:)

There was a small toddler play zone with this adorable empty tortoise shell. I thought it would be super cute to get a picture of Kade inside with his head poking out, however he did not really cooperate so well.

Kade sitting between two large rocks in front of the Anteater. He called it his protector because a week ago he was attacked by ants all over his poor little legs. So anything the gets rid of "evil" ants Kade becomes a huge fan of. Kade and I in front of the Jaguar. She was absolutely beautiful... She even had black spots. I never knew Jags had spots!!!

It was a wonderful day! We made it through the entire zoo to all of the exhibits. That is a huge feat with a three year old.

Thanks Dad for spending your Veterans Day with Kade and I! We love you to the moon and back!