Horse back riding

My friend, Anika, boards horses at her house. She allowed us to come over and ride Blondie. The kids had a blast! Thanks, Anika! I am allergic to horses now (I didn't know) and didn't last long. Yep, I am a wimp! 

 What a lovely face.

 Katie and Kellen both got to steer the horse by themselves after going around the lot a couple times. They bonded with Blondie.

 Tom hopped on with Katie.

Fun pictures

Kellen and Katie's friend, Kamree. She and Kellen hug everyday at school. I think he might have a little crush.

 Our next Broadway star, Katie!

 We are grateful that Grandpa Lyle, Grandma Lyle and Uncle Scott came to support Katie.

 Funny faces!

Lovely :)

Rockets and plays

This year, Santa brought Katie and Kellen a giant rocket to color. Katie and Kellen invited their favorite friends Reese and Reaghan to help them out.

 Kellen and Reaghan

 Reese

Katie

Katie's fourth grade play was superb! Katie is in the back row, third one from the right. My camera has terrible zoom so this is as close as I could get. She played the part of the teacher and also sang a solo at the end of the play. Sometimes she is quiet but once you get to know her she is super talkative. She also loves to sing and perform. She did a wonderful job!

Here is little Katie watching the other classes perform.

Christmas Morning

Look what Santa left.....

 Toys and books and teddy bears. Katie and Kellen were spoiled rotten by Santa this year. They are wonderful little people, they deserve it.

 Kellen asked for a whoopie cushion for Christmas....he got it! He has been trying to trick everyone ever since. He even invited Grandpa Everett to sit by him at dinner. Here we all thought he was being so sweet. Turns out he had his woopie cushion ready and waiting. Sorry Grandpa!

 Katie got the coolest marker holder. She loves to draw and color. She and Kellen can sit for hours drawing pictures together.

 Happy Birthday, Nani! Nani turned 91 years young on Christmas Day. We went over for cake and ice cream that night. Sadly, Tom was really sick and missed out on our celebration. We love Nani! On Christmas Eve she brought over Nani's Grab bag. She gave everyone a present for Christmas. We all love when Nani brings her grab bag!

 Nani and her sister, Laverne.

Notice Nani is holding a hat for Tom. The hat belonged to Tom's Grandpa, John Russon. He was a wonderful man. Nani knew that Tom would like the hat and might even wear it.

Away in a Manager 2012

This year for Christmas we went to visit Grandpa and Grandma Everett in St. George, UT. Katie and Kellen were the only grand kids this year and played the part of Mary and Joseph. We read Luke 2 and watched Katie and Kellen act out the manager scene.  

 Katie as Mary holding baby Jesus and Kellen as Joseph kissing the lamb.

 Kellen really liked to give the little lamb a kiss.

 My beautiful little Katie.

 Finally, a picture where Kellen is not kissing the lamb.

My camera was really acting up for me that night. Even with the blurriness, this picture is so sweet.

Snow day in Pine Valley, UT

The kids were so excited about going to snow for Christmas. So, we packed up the sled headed to Pine Valley, UT from St. George. It was a short drive to some really beautiful snow. We thought that we packed really warm clothes for the kids...well, I have been out of snow for too long. I should have packed three outfits for each child, along with 5 pairs of gloves. By the end our snow day, Kellen was wearing my gloves and Katie was wearing Tom's gloves. Either way, we had a lot of fun.

 Look at this handsome man ready to go sledding.

 Kellen got right out of the car and laid down in the snow.

 Katie followed Kellen and laid down in the snow right away.

 Snow ball fight!

 Katie loved to eat the snow.

 Kellen working very hard to make a snow man.

 Here she goes!!!!!!!!!!

 Katie got a little tired and tried to take a nap in the snow.

 We borrowed a sled from Ted and Ann. The sled was either outside or in the garage but either way was exposed to the sun in the summer. It lasted long enough for each child to take a run down the hill and then it died. As you can see there are large pieces missing from the sled.

 Katie's is making her snow man nice and warm with dad's scarf.

 Tom and the kids.

 I am usually the one taking all the pictures. I had to get a picture with each one of my kids.

 On the way home I had to take a picture of the scenery. This was taken from our car as we were headed back to St. George. It was so pretty that day.

Kellen rode most of the way home like this. He's kind of a silly guy!