Snow Day!

We got snow! Last week we actually had a snow day, we couldn't believe it...

There was about an inch and a half of snow covering everything. It was so pretty.

 

Clara kept trying to run out in the back yard, she didn't understand that snow was cold! Mom finally let her go out, just so she would see that is was freezing outside. She walked right out into the snow barefoot and stuck her hands in it, she stood there for a minute and then she came right back in. Of course as soon as she was warmed up she wanted to go right back out again the little stinker.

 

Looking up our street

 

Aaron got to have some fun scraping the snow off of the cars.

 

 

Brrrr!

 

It was so cold Clara wanted to share the snow with Daddy.

 

Pretty front yard

 

Aaron and Sally playing in the snow in the back. Aaron likes this picture because he says Sally looks like a demon dog.

 

We were cold but it was sure fun!

Emma's Baptism!!

This last weekend was very special for our family, we got to go and see Emma get baptized! It was a wonderful day. In the morning we all went to the stake center for the baptism, and then afterwards we got to celebrate Emma and Jared's birthdays.

Our beautiful girl

 

*Emma was a little nervous before the baptism. She was worried because there were so many people there.

 

All ready to go

 

*Daddy got to take Emma earlier in the week to get their baptism clothes. Em thought it was special that she got to spend that time with her Daddy.

 

Emma and Mommy

 

*Mom was very proud of Emma. She had been trying really hard to prepare for her baptism day.

All the family, that is except for Aaron. He ran off to go potty and there were so many other people waiting to take pictures we couldn't wait, but he was there too of course!

 

*After the baptism Emma was so happy. She said she felt good. We all felt good too! We can't believe she is already 8 years old.

 

 

 

After the baptism Meema and Peepa took Emma out to the church bookstore while the rest of us ran home to get a surprise birthday party ready.  We rented a bounce house! The man came and set it up in the back yard.

All the kids were so excited. We couldn't wait for Emma to get home so that she could see it.

 

Even Daddy was excited. He went in and jumped around just like the kids.

 

Emma's friend Marissa came over for the surprise too. When Emma got here she couldn't believe it. She's thought we'd forgotten her birthday so she was very happy.

 

Here's Emma trying to hit the piñata.

 

All the kids got a turn, it was harder than it looks in the pictures because Daddy was moving the string up and down while they were swinging the stick.

 

After the piñata we all sang "Happy Birthday".

 

 

Blowing out the candles...

 

The birthday girl opening presents

 

After the party the kids went home with Meema and Peepa so that Mom could take Daddy out for his birthday surprise.  Before we left though he had fun in the bounce house without all the kids.

All ready to go! Mom took him to a country western concert! Which was a real surprise for Daddy, especially since Mom doesn't like country.  It was an awesome end to a truly wonderful day :)

 

 

 

Throw Up

Hannah was in the kitchen this morning when she started coughing and trying to clear her throat. After a couple of minutes she was finally ok. She cleared her throat once more and then said, "Man! I almost throw up a coyote!"

Ouch!

Jared has been teaching Sally to run with him while he's on his bike. She's been doing great so it's been fun for both of them. Unfortunately today didn't go quite so well. Sally stopped suddenly and Jared took a dive...

We're adding this picture to our collection of Jared's horrible wounds. That way he can go back and remember where all of his scars came from. Which weirdly enough, is something that he and Aaron would love to do. 

I'm adding this one because it's just so darn cute. Here is Miss Hannah in another one of her style creations. 

*Hannah was "reading" me a book. She said, "And this guy is really dumb." Then she covered her mouth and said, "Oops! I said the "F" word!"

Morning at the Duck Park

We went to the duck park this morning...

We weren't there 5 min when poor Clara bit the dust. She fell face first on the cement walkway going down hill. As you can see it totally scraped all the skin off her poor little nose. 

Here is Aaron sitting on the tree "throne" with Sally. 

Hannah felt very grown up because she got to bring the old camera and take her own pictures. 

Of course she made sure to pose for some too. 

Cheese!

Clara wanted to touch the duck so bad! She kept trying to run into the pond to get them. You can see Mom's shoe as she goes running after her. 

Someone made a great big heart out of rocks in the bottom of the dry pond. The kids could all fit inside. 

Our gorgeous girl. 

Our little mischief maker. 

Close up of Clara's skinned nosey. 

I tried to make all the kids pose before we left, but it didn't work so well. 

Last of all a picture of the bur smiley face Aaron stuck to Mom's jacket. 

Bye for now!

Science Fair

Last night we got to go to the 4th grade Science Fair and see Aaron's science fair project. It was so much fun, Aaron didn't win a ribbon, but we all think he should have.

Here's Bub with his awesome and amazing board. His project was on phosphors, he tested all kinds of things around the house to see if they would glow under black light. It was a lot of fun. 

Aaron has been having a blast running and playing and being a boy. Almost everyday he comes home with a new scrape or bruise. The other day Mom commented on it and said, "Gosh Bub, you're always getting hurt, there are scrapes all over you!" Aaron calmly replied, "Mom, the wounds make the man. So just think of what a fine young man I'm growing up to be!"

Daddy had a special event at his work this last week. Here are the kids all dressed up and ready to go to the event. Aaron was mad at me for making him do his hair. 

What made it extra fun was that Grandpa came to visit us, and he got to come too. Here are Daddy and Grandpa, wearing their matching shirts that the kids made for them. 

We did lots of fun things with Grandpa. We got to play Twister...

... and Monopoly!

Clara wanted to play too, but only because she wanted to eat the little pieces. Instead she sat behind Daddy and pretended he was a horse. 

Here is our Hannah Bean sporting a super stylish outfit of her very own creation.

Yesterday at the science fair Hannah had to go potty. So Mommy took her to the bathroom. While we were in there Mom stood by the sink to wait. From inside the stall Hannah said, "You know you don't have to be in here Mom, I'm fine, there's no zombies or monsters in here."

This morning on the way home from walking the kids to school Hannah wanted to pretend that I was the Mommy hawk and she was the baby hawk. She made a hawk noise and said, "See, that means I'm hungry for ice cream!" I replied, "I don't think hawks eat ice cream." Hannah said indignantly, "Yes! After dinner!"

Here is Emma holding up her new Faith in God book! She is so excited because soon she will be eight years old and she will get to be baptized! Then she gets to go to Activity Day Girls at church which she is convinced means that she is now officially a grown up girl.  

The other day it was time to do chores and homework. Emma was extra good for Mom and did everything without complaining at all. Afterwards she said to Mom, "Don't I get a treat for being so good today?" Mom replied, "I don't think you get treats for doing what you're supposed to do, but I'll give you big hugs, because I'm very proud of you." Emma snorted and said, "Well that's the last time I'm gonna be good!"                            

Last of all here is our Clara. As you can see she's sitting on top of the table trying to get a banana. This is how Mom found her when she came back from using the bathroom. I'm torn between being horrified that she could have fallen off and cracked her head open, and proud that I have such a smart, resourceful little stinker. 

Clara has learned a new word! Guess what it is... that's right, it's NO. This is now her favorite thing to say to all of us, even the dogs. No matter what you ask her you get a great big, "No!" Mom and Dad are hoping she learns some other words soon, it was only cute the first 10 times we heard it. But the older kids think it's hilarious, they spend lots of time asking her questions just so they can hear her say "No!", then they all crack up together. 

Love you all and we'll see you all next time!