Monterey Bay!

My mother and I took the boys and their cousin to Monterey Bay, California. It was a great trip! The boys adored the aquarium! The view was wonderful and the whole trip was quite a treat. Before we arrived we stopped for a tour at the Jelly Belly Factory, it was loads of fun!

 Harrison just woke up from a nap, gotta love the nap-hair!

 Jelly Belly Time!

 The boys were *thrilled* to see the puffins! They remembered them from our homeschool unit on birds!

 Took a break for lunch, Carter couldn't resist trying on Forrest Gump's shoes!

 The kids loved touching all of the interactive aquarium exhibits!

 Sean loved playing with the puppets in the children's area!

 Carter played in the children's area for a few minutes, but preferred being on the balcony (right next to the children's area) and watching the ocean and spotting animals. 

 Harrison merged the worlds- he brought the costume from the children's area outside to join Carter! (He is Nemo, and he is swimming, can't you tell? LOL!)

They loved watching the ocean!

Skate Night!

We had Sean overnight on Thursday, and we wanted to have some fun. We were discussing options in the car when Sean asked if we had ever been roller skating. Our kids had actually never gone, so we decided it would be really fun!!!

When Kurt got off of work we all went to the rink. What a great time! When we arrived, Sean believed he couldn't skate on his own. He soon realized that holding onto Kurt wasn't an option, as Carter and Harrison were *very* new to skating and needed help, and he didn't want to hold my hand because I wasn't skating. Sean was brave and went alone, and to his shock he could skate really well!!! 

Our kids fell a great deal, but they got up every time and they LOVED skating!!! Kurt was an excellent skater (of course... is there anything he *can't* do???) and helped the kids, but by the end of the evening our boys' independent personalities came out to shine, and they wanted to skate alone. What big brave kids!!!!

Happy Birthday, Amelie!

I haven't celebrated my kitty's birthday since she turned two, but since I was feeling pretty good after feeling so icky for so long, I felt like it was a great time to take advantage and throw a mini-birthday party! We picked up some gluten free cupcakes, a few party hats, and we were ready to go! The kids got a *huge* kick out of the party, and we were so excited that Sean got to join us!!!

Happy ninth birthday, Amelie!!!

Christmas!

Christmas! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints

Harrison sang in the Primary choir!

Christmas 2011

Carter and Harrison loved making a gingerbread house.

Christmas is such a wonderful time. I adore that this season celebrates Heavenly Father's ultimate gift to the world- Jesus Christ. Our family focused on having a Christ-centered Christmas by doing scripture readings, a Jesse tree, and attending Church meetings and performances. We minimalized gift giving, and we returned the magic of Christmas to where it should be- on faith, family, and friends.

Kurt and Harrison catch a movie while Carter takes a nap.

Harrison and Carter exchanged their gifts- and enchanged a brotherly hug!

Carter opens his gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Lyle!

 Harrison was thrilled to open Grandpa and Grandma Lyle's gifts!

Carter was thrilled to get a 50 States activity book! He loves getting new things for homeschool! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Lyle!

Does Harrison love Grandpa and Grandma Lyle's gift? YES!

Carter was thrilled to get Legos from Mom and Dad!

They loved their gifts from Santa!

Harrison loves Toy Story! Thanks Grandpa and Grandma Lyle!

Kurt, Abi, and Harrison put together Legos!

 Carter, Sean, and Harrison- Christmas Day 2011

Sean and Carter put together Legos!

 The boys love Legos! Can you tell???

Life is full of sweet surpises

Everyday's a gift

The sun comes up and I can feel it lift my spirit

Fills me up with laughter, fills me up with song

I look into the eyes of love and know that I belong

Bless us all, who gather here

The loving family I hold dear

No place on earth, compares with home

And every path will bring me back from where I roam

Bless us all, that as we live

We always comfort and forgive

We have so much, that we can share

With those in need we see around us everywhere

Let us always love eachother

Lead us to the light

Let us hear the voice of reason, singing in the night

Let us run from anger and catch us when we fall

Teach us in our dreams and please, yes please

Bless us one and all

Bless us all with playful years

With noisy games and joyful tears

We reach for you and we stand tall

And in our prayers and dreams

We ask you bless us all

We reach for you and we stand tall

And in our prayers and dreams we ask you

Bless us all.

-Song from Muppet Christmas Carol

Santa Train!

Recently I have been seeing my parents a little bit. One of the things they requested was to take the kids to the Santa Train. Uncle Brian, Sean, Carter, Harrison, and Grandpa Russ all rode the Santa Train together while Kurt and I had a date! The little guys adored seeing Santa (again!) and they are always thrilled to ride trains!!! After the Santa Train event, Grandpa and Grandma took everyone to lunch at McDonalds and let the kids run around like crazy in the Playland! The kids love being together and it was a good chance for all of us adults to catch up. Big thanks to Uncle Brian for snapping all of the photos of the kids =)

 The boys are so excited to ride the train!

 Cartermania enjoys looking out the windows. 

 I never noticed before this picture, Carter has the exact same smile as Grandpa Russ.

 I love this picture. It captures Harrison's personality so well! 

 Harrison shows off his ticket.

I love Sean's little face! So kissable!

 Harrison and Grandpa are actually looking at Santa. I love how lit-up my father's eyes are in this picture. Christmas with children really does bring back the magic.

 The boys ride the train, eat candy canes, and have a blast!

 The boys pose with Santa! They loved the Santa Train!

Kurt took me on such a nice date- we had a wonderful time! We continued our date after the boys went to bed- we watched a movie and made fudge together!

Christmas Pageant!

This year was the first year my boys were in a Christmas Pageant! Carter was a shepherd and Harrison was a little donkey! The pageant was during the last week of my classes, but that did not stop me from making their costumes! I had such a blast! I loved having an excuse to pull out my sewing machine and being able to make their costumes was truly a dream come true! No... really... it was. I always envisioned what it would be like to be a mother, and whenever a chance to do one of these maternal rites of passage arrives I get a thrill! I did not have the time to do anything very elaborate- but they were adorable nonetheless!

Very proud of their costumes. Harrison shows us his donkey tail, lol!

 This is the entire Primary! 

 Carter with Santa.

 Harrison with Santa.

Sean with Santa.