As if we haven’t been in our car enough lately, we decided to go to SLC again this week. This time we went with some friends, the Teasdales and Madsens, to the Children’s Museum and then met up with dad for some lunch.
We have definetly spent more time in our car this holiday season that I would have liked, but the boys have been so good about it, (it is probably because we haven’t hauled the toys back in that they keep hauling out, so it kind of looks like their toy chest out there…).
Here are a few pics at the Museum
The ball area (or the beehive) is Tuckers favorite place to be right now. We always start there and finish there.
Tucker convinced Truman to get the balls, so he could crank them through the machine. Truman ran up and down the stairs gathering the balls in the bins, It is amazing what an older sibling can convince the younger one to do, but Truman loved every second of it. I look forward to watching them grow closer together, as they get older. I hope they will continue to become better friends.
Tucker also took a screen printing class while we were there, the teacher had the students cut out shapes from the newspaper, lie them on paper, put the screen down and squigey the paint across. I just peeked in at him, but he really enjoyed himself. Who knows, maybe he will invent a robot to screen print now 🙂
And Lunch with Dad at the church cafeteria
Orange mouths
Me ticking Tucker because he wouldn’t smile…
While we were in the parking garage leaving Toph’s work, Truman was walking with his hands in his pockets. I can’t get over how cute he looked. He is so small, but yet looks so big..
While I complain about traveling so much, I am grateful that we are able to travel, and it makes me sad to think about next year when Tuck will be in school 5 days a week… It is hard on mother too as children grow up! I love our little adventures that we have!
Category: Life
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Dallin is a barbie girl, in a barbie world…
Got this funny video on new years.
barbiegirl.mov
What a hoot, this boy is! You’ll have to listen close to hear him singing 🙂
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Belated Welcome to Baby Ava….
A few weeks ago, Emily gave birth to a healthy and beautiful baby girl, Ava Elise.
We met her for the first time on Christmas Eve, and then enjoyed spending time with her again on New Years.
Here is her and Owen:
And another (Not the best picture of me) but it so amazing to hold those little babies, who are so fresh from heaven.
We’re glad she is here, healthy, and doing well, and it is so fun to have our family grow!
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Just found these pictures on my camera!
Thought everyone else would enjoy them as much as we did!
🙂
Thanks for the smiles Ladies!
On Tuckers Birthday, after he woke up (at 6AM), he ran up the stairs, and loudly proclaimed: “I grew bigger, I can reach the sink with out the stool, and I can even see my chin in the mirror!”
One important family tradition, is on your birthday, we all eat doughnuts for breakfast.
This year, seeing how our son is obsessed with Robots and anything mechanical, we suggested a trip to the Krispy Kreme Factory, for his birthday breakfast, and boy did we have a good time!
The only time he left the viewing window was when he ordered his doughnuts (chocolate with sprinkles). He loved watching the machines working!
After about an hour and a half, we decided it was probably about time we headed home, but I am sure he would have been content to stand there all day!
We got the house cleaned, opened a few presents from mom and dad (cowboy guns, one for Tuck and Tru), and we were off to Logan Town!
Where he was surrounded by those who love him, and he was spoiled with gifts!
Mom and Dad gave him his big present, a Robot Dog (mio-pet), which was enjoyed by all of the kids who were there! (Except Truman, who liked it most of the time, except when it was distracting Tucker from paying attention to him!)
The kids watched some of Tucks New Robot Movie
Then we enjoyed our New Years Eve Dinner of Crab, Steak, Artichokes, yum, yum, it was delicious! Not to many 5 year olds can claim to have such a fancy feast on their day!
We sang happy birthday to the birthday boy (the cake is supposed to be Wall-E), ate and off to bed!
The boys went to bed, we played a few board games, then I hit the sack about 11:00, and Toph came down and gave me a new years kiss at 12:00! New Years is not quite the same after you have children… 🙂
On New Years Day, after a good sleep in (thanks Grandma and Grandpa) the New Mr. Bean Show was watched, and I finally saw the old ladies these boys imitate (awesome picture, but could have been a better video opp. Wasn’t thinking…)
Then we headed to the Greene’s, with Poochie strapped in the backseat between the boys…
Opening Presents, and hanging out with Grams and Gramps
Another few exciting days to fill the holiday season!
Today, I spoke in Church. It was the first time since we have been married that I have spoken in church without my spouse. As I sat on the stand with the wonderful ladies who I serve with, I felt an amazing power of sisterhood. But then I looked at my family. I felt an even more powerful sense of love. I am grateful for a husband and boys who love me and support me so unconditionally. I would not be the woman I am today without them.
Tucker has decided on a theme for his birthday party, and of course, it revolves around the passion of his life. ROBOTS.
We spent sometime this week, getting a few of the minor party planning details done, including the Pinata and the Invitations. Let me tell you, if I had know what I was getting myself into, I might have thought twice about it.It was something that I wanted to record, so I can remember my little boy, a sweet memory of his patience and determination.
We had fun making the invites,
Tucker helped me make the words look like Robots, I think they turned out pretty cute. He has a good eye, and we had a good time photoshopping together.
The first dilemma came when we began our search for a Robot Pinata. Not the perfect Robot Pinata. Just A robot pinata. In the back of my mind, I knew we could make one, but if you have ever made a Pinata, (especially in the winter months) you will know why I was anxious to find one. It can be a huge Mess.
I called 10 stores, they all said No, they didn’t have one.
With no success there, we then began our search, driving from store to store to see if we could find a pinata that looked similar to a robot, similar enough so that we could “Tweak” its appearance.
After 6 stores, we came across this at the Mexican Market:
The only similarity (in my mind) that makes it look in any way robotic, is the color, a gold metallic wrapping paper on the outside, but Tucker really liked it. I was just happy the Pinata hunt was done.
Of course, Tucker does want to take off the Sponge Bob Plate and put on a Robot Sticker, and he is thrilled about it!
Right now, it is hanging in our office, which everytime I enter, get scared because I am not used to having such a large object in our home.
And when I say large, I mean HUGE, it is seriously, as big as Tucker–the kids are going to have a hard time NOT hitting it, because it is so gigantic 🙂
But the bigger the Pinata, the more candy right? The kids aren’t going to be complaining!
One of our traditions that we do at Christmas time, is prepare a baby manger for Jesus.
Every time a good deed is done, by yourself, or you notice someone else doing something nice, you get to put a piece of straw in the manger, to make it nice and soft. Our goal as a family is to fill it completely, helping us keep a Christ Centered Holiday.
This tradition began as a child for me, and I mentioned it to Christopher a few years ago, and he surprised me one Christmas Morning 4 years ago with a beautiful manager that he built.
As I was taking down the Christmas decorations, Truman found the manger, from my childhood, and put it next to the manager Christopher built.
As I have need for only one manger, I thought I better take a picture with the 2 of them together, before I pass off one to my Brother, so I can remember the Manger that started the tradition, and the manger that will continue the tradition.
(As you can see, there is quite a size difference, Toph made the big one, I guess he just wanted to make sure I was extra good during the hoilday season.)
It doesn’t matter that I am not in school any longer, and that Toph has returned to work, forever in my mind, the time between Christmas and New Years, will always be celebrated in our home as vacation, holiday fun time.
I have NOT caught up on Laundry, I have NOT gotten my children back on their normal nap/sleep schedule, I have NOT made our beds everyday, I have NOT prepared and eaten’ nutritious meals, I have NOT sorted out toys, “recycling” the old ones to find room for the new ones, I have NOT kept up with the housework or the BLOG, and lastly I have NOT felt a bit bad about it!
But let me tell you, I HAVE played toys, built robots, made blankets, played card games, read childrens’ books, napped and slept in, gone to the children’s museum, eaten’ chocolate until I should look brown, partied, baked treats with the boys, played Planet Heroes, read a novel, and enjoyed myself immensely.
This is the part of the Holidays I truly do love!
Here are a few pictures from our “Holiday”….
The Robot Museum with Grams and Gramps:
Tru and the bots:
Playing on the computers:
The Robot Ride, (notice the matching goofy shirts from Gramps, they HAD to wear!):
This time they had out Robots for the Kids to play with, Tucker enjoyed these:
Lounging Tucker:
Grocery Store:
Funny Gramps:
Plinko with the Balls:
Water table with grams and gramps:
Cooking:
Playing Cards (picture taken by Tru):
The robot blanket we sewed:
The Rock Tumbler that Toph and the boys set up:
(by the way, if you husband ever tries to convince you that setting up a rock tumbler inside of your house, is a GOOD idea, don’t be fooled. It sounds like a vacuums is running ALL THE TIME! And you can’t stop it until the cycle is done. Definetly a BAD idea.. Just FYI)
Christmas Day was spent with My side of the family, the Hunsakers and The Greenes. I love living close enough to see our loved ones around the Holidays. It just makes everything better to share it with the ones whom you love.
(for some reason our Red Eye Fixer isn’t working…. sorry for the red eyes!)
We had Brunch, Christmas Story and a gift exchange with the Hunsaker Side at the Condo:
Grandma:
Grandpa:
The Group:
Opening the present from the Great Hunsakers:
Me and Tru:
Tucker and Cooper (the Greene’s Puppy):
Tru and the Great Hunsakers:
Then back to Grams and Gramps house for the rest of the festivities:
Since I missed Christmas Eve with the My Dad’s side of the family, and I didn’t get to see my Cousin Heather who is in Town from CA, she came over to visit on Christmas Day with my Aunt Sue. I am so glad they came over, it is so much fun to see them!
Exchanging of the gifts:
Grams:
Gramps:
Tucker:
The boys got aprons, but they didn’t want to put them on, so Toph and I wore them:
Tru with his new puzzle book:
Crockpot Kiss:
The Grandparents:
Tru and Ace:
Heather and I:
Afterwords, Tuck adn Tru got a little guitar hero in:
What a fun day!