Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas everyone!!

We certainly had a white Christmas this year.  My parents came to stay the night with us and we're glad they got here before the storm did.  We ended up getting almost a foot overnight (Ok, like 10 inches, but that's still a lot).  The kids were very excited for Santa to come this year.  It's such a fun age.  They put cookies under the tree Christmas Eve morning and were getting all ready for Santa.  I didn't even think about the cookies being there early until Matt squealed "SANTA CAME AND ATE HIS COOKIES!!! He must have needed a snack already"  I then looked over to see a very happy and quite content Sophie Bean....silly Sophie :)

 We had matching jimmies for this wonderous event.  Getting a good picture was a different story.  The kids started playing with the wrapping paper tubes and they were the coolest thing ever.  This is what we got this year as far as the Christmas tree and cute kiddos under a tree.  We'll just pretend the crazy arm extensions aren't there.

I took Megan and Matt to pick out a present for Norman for Christmas.  When I asked what we should get daddy and Matt proclaimed "A Snuggie Tail!!" then he began singing the snuggie tail jingle.  I'd never even heard of them.  My mom and I went to Walmart randomly on Christmas Eve and I happened to see them after we'd checked out.  Something said to grab them, so back in line I went.....they were a HIT!!! So glad they got them this year!  Megan's other favorite gift was her fairy door.  It's a fabulous pink door you attach to your wall and it allows a fairy to come visit you and leave notes....so lucky!!

 Andrew didn't need much for Christmas.  he was content with the wrapping paper :)

 More Snuggie Tail fun

 Christmas was on Sunday this year.  We didn't have full services, but we did have Sacrament meeting.  The choir was over the program and the primary kids sang a couple of songs as well.  Megan sang a solo on Away in a Manger.  She did awesome!!  I forget that she's only 5.  She just is so mature for her age.  When she started to sing Matt started cheering for her "Go MEGAN!!" oh geesh....only Matt.

This year we even made a gingerbread house.  The kids had a blast.  They did a great job in my opinion.

 Merry Christmas everyone!!!

Jetted Tub

 When we moved in I was slightly excited to have a jetted tub. I'd always wanted one so I thought I'd finally gotten my wish.  Well, it ended up getting unplugged and the dryer was in front of it.  We'd used it as a tub for the kids when the other tub was being remodeled, but it's not been used much.  I finally decided that I needed to hook it up.  It took a while to clean up behind the dryer, but I got it and plugged this thing back in.

I told the kids there was a big surprise at bath time and boy were they ever surprised!!  At first Matt was afraid of the jets and he just sat on the side, but once he got in it was all fabulous and he loved it. There were many squeals of glee and Megan asked "Mom! When did you discover this did this??"  Oh how I love her!

I walked around the corner to do laundry (I turned the jets off to do that) and I could hear them playing.  I peeked back around and they were standing on the side of the tub....they'd walk along the back and then slide back in on the back slope....LOL! Those two!!

Sister Love

Megan truly is a great big sister.  She has been drawing pictures of her holding the baby before I even had Andrew.  Today I was needing to grab something to help Matt really quick.  I asked Megan if she could be really careful and hold Andrew for a min.  The amount of glee on both of their faces.  They love each other so much!!

 Earlier in the day Matt and Megan shredded a TON of documents for me.  It was so nice to leave that to the kiddos.  They had a great time and it saved me a lot of time.

Happy Birthday Matt

Today was Matt's fourth birthday.  I can't believe he's 4!  We started the day by opening presents at home.

 After presents we headed up to Grandpa and Grandma Petersen's and the Box Elder County Fair.  It's so fun to get out and relive some of my childhood fun.

 They had this steer there and he was soooo tame!  Matt ended up being really interested in him and even hopping on the fence trying to crawl up to pet him.  The picture doesn't do his horn span justice. They were huge!!

 The kids went to ride the flying saucers and last minute two kids went in front and each hopped in their own.  I figured my kids would come back, but instead Megan hopped in one with a random girl and then Matt followed along and hopped in with a random boy.  I love that my kids are so social!

 They could have ridden alone, but they chose to ride together.  I love it!!

 This train ride was fun as well.  The guy put out his hand to take the tickets from Matt and Matt just thought he wanted a high five.  Matt giggles and smiles and slaps the guy's hand and then skips on in and hopped in the train.  Luckily Meg was right there with the tickets for both of them.

 They wanted to go on the "Pirate Ship" and I was incredibly nervous.  It was high up and I was worried Matt would freeze.  I told Meggie to wait for him and she totally did.  I was so proud watching them go through.  Matt got hung up climbing up the net and Meg cheered him on and waited for him.  They actually ended up going through this one twice because they had so much fun.

 Matt was barking like a dog until I pointed out he was in a pig...LOL!

 Matt insisted on Cheesecake this year.  Happy Birthday Buddy!

Water Day on the Farm

Norman's been working a ton of hours because every time we have a baby he goes into crazy work mode.  He blames work, but this is the third time this has happened and so I don't know who's to blame.  Anywho, so he's been doing 70+ hour weeks and I've been trying to keep 2 kids and a newborn entertained.  Yesterday we decided to go play at Grandpa and Grandma Petersen's.  I'm amazed I've gone this long without going up there for help, but my mom's been coming here or we've had things going on if I really think about it.  We did have a couple of weekends where we just stayed home and chilled, but we've kept pretty busy.  We had a bit of a late start, but by 11:30 we were pulling into grandpa and grandma's driveway.  When we pulled in the first thing I noticed was all of the water...it was irrigation day. I have fond memories of irrigation day from when I was a kid.  We LOVED running through that disgustingly dirty water.  The day started with some minor playing in the water.

 There's more water in the backyard.  Look how fun it is to run.

 Grandpa had to go turn the water off so out came the four wheeler.

My dad thought it was hilarious to splash me.  This is my favorite picture.  The look of glee on Meg and Matt's face is priceless.

 The four wheeler was tearing up the lawn, so the lawnmower worked better.  This sled has been a blast to be pulled on.

 Round and round they go

 Andrew wasn't forgotten.  He got this cool bed we made out of an old couch cushion, a chair cushion and an blanket.  The weather was perfect for being on the front porch.

 Hot dog rolls in the remaining water.

 Oh the mud.  My dad said to them (teasing of course) "stay out of my mud".  Matt replied "No, it's not your mud, it's our mud" and Megan added "We made it, it's our mud!"  Oh these two!!!

 They'd cover themselves in mud and then run and "wash off" in the dirty water

 Time for a ride in a cart behind the four wheeler.  Oh...we're so clean.

 I was watching them ride in the field next door when I looked in the ditch and saw the moss growing.  I remember as a kid I LOVED this moss.  It was so slimy and fun.

 Riding in the field.

 We actually had them take a bath at my parent's house.  Grass was caked to their cute little bums.  It was so funny as they pulled down their swimsuits to see the grass all over, I didn't expect that.  I also gained a new level of respect for my mom.  When I rinsed the kids off it made a HUGE mess in the tub.  I rinsed it a little, but anything we touched got messy (tub, sink, floor).  I used to make those messes constantly as a kid.  No wonder my mom would get frustrated with our messes.

The kids (Meg and Matt) came home and went to bed and Andrew and I chilled for a bit longer together.

 He was so happy to be home and in his comfy jammies!!