The boy and his balloon

Once there was a snowman

Max and Kate took advantage of the little snowstorm and made some snowmen. Kate's was Rapunzel and Max's was an alien on his phone with a bird on his shoulder.

lately....

I really don't like January and February, they are both so LONG and COLD and I just want SPRING to come! Here is what we have been doing to stay busy.

Late night Friday nights watching movies and sleeping on the couch

Valentines

The kids both had a very fun day at school and getting Valentine cards from their friends

Playing with Nick, he keeps us entertained



Max started scouts and piano at the beginning of the year. He received is Bobcat badge at his first pack meeting and he is doing so well in piano. I am so proud of him, he got his music for his recital in April and it is a hard piece but he is practicing hard and will do great!



I think every virus has plagued our house. Max had strep throat, Nick had a double ear infection
and Kate got the left overs..sore throat, fever, cough and congestion. Poor Nick looked like someone had punched him in the eyes. In 2 wks we spent $100 on copays and antibiotics.

Max's reading has improved so much this year. Kate loves that he will read to her and he has really started to enjoy reading. I love that I don't have to tell him to do his reading every night! I am so grateful that he has a great teacher this year that has helped this happen!

A few nice days to play outside. Kate got a bike for Christmas and her little midget legs finally reach the pedals!

Nick is growing by leaps and bounds! He is such a fun age, he loves to mimic what you are doing and his laugh melts my heart! This boy LOVES FOOD!! I have not found 1 thing he does not like. His fine motor skills are developing quickly and he wants to feed himself! He was eating pizza crust and shoved the entire thing in his mouth and would not give it up!

Iron Man Nick. He is so strong and wants to crawl so badly. He gets up on this hands and knees, rocks and pushes backwards. He does push ups and plenty of what looks like yoga moves. He still gets to what he wants it just is in a round about way. I remember this stage is so hard they find everything they should not. Like Barbie shoes, Lego's and money!

6 months already?

Nicholas is 6 months old and went to see Dr. Arnold today. He weighs 17 lbs(35%) and is 26 3/4 inches long(50%). He is growing well which is very important. He was diagnosed last month with Choanal Atresia and he will need surgery to open his right nasal passage. The Dr. at Primary Children's Hospital wants to wait until he is a year old unless he starts having problems or is not growing but so far he is doing great! We love our little Nick knack and can't imagine our family with out him.

6 month Milestones

He is rolling both ways

He sits up by himself

He loves to growl and jabber

He is very social and not afraid of anyone

He is so ticklish on his neck and back, I love to tickle him so he will giggle

He loves to eat solid foods, OK he loves to EAT

His little fat rolls tell his love for food! He has fat rolls on his knees and top of his feet.

He loves smoochy kisses on his cheeks and jowls

He loves his feet rubbed and if he is upset take off anything on his feet and he will chill!

He Love Love LOVES his big brother and sister

He is a Mama's boy and that just melts my ♥

Look who turned 8

I can't believe that my baby boy is 8 years old and what a special age! He chose to be Baptized and Confirmed and today was his big day! He was so excited this morning getting ready! It was really fun talking to Max after and him telling me about how he felt!

He is all dressed and ready!

Max and his Uncle Jared.

Jared Baptized and Confirmed him, what an amazing blessing he gave Max!

Mom, Dad & Max


My very grown up, handsome boy!

Max, Nick and Kate looking so cute!

I am so proud of Max! He is such a wonderful boy and I am so proud to be his Mom!

These are 8 great things I love about Max

1. His mischievous smile

2. His giant heart filled with love

3. He is a hard worker and never gives up

4. His big brown eyes

5. His ability to always make a friend

6. How much he loves his little sister and brother

7. That anyone that has ever met Max never forgets him.

8. That he chose to be baptized and receive the gift of the Holly Ghost!

We Love You Max!!! Happy Day!!

We had a very merry Christmas!

I think Santa crashed his sleigh and dumped his load here

I think Jake was more excited than the kids, he was up and down all night. Nick woke up first at 7 am and then Kate and Max came in around 7:30, not too bad!

I love the kids expression on their faces!





Kate got the Rapunzel barbie she asked for!

Her new Pinkalicious bike


Nick got his exercise saucer and a new hat! Pure excitement. He really loved watching the kids go crazy!

Max got his Whiplash scooter he asked for, I am glad Santa found one!

Max showing off his goods!

Kate and her loot!

Nick playing with Uncle Kurt, he really like his new relatives he just met!

Graham playing Dance Central on the Kinect! He had some great moves!

So fun!

Graham and Kurt

Molly, Abby and Kurt. They came up and had breakfast with us and just enjoyed the fun Christmas Morning!

The aftermath......

And now all is calm.......
The traditional family picture by the tree

I asked the kids what their favorite thing about Christmas this year was and they both said it was having the cousins here! I would have to agree! That is what it is all about being with family and friends that you love and celebrating the Saviors birth!

Christmas Eve

We started a tradition a few years ago with our little family that we go out to dinner and then see a movie on Christmas Eve! It is fun and low key, besides us their were only 2 other families in the theater. We went to Dickie's BBQ and then saw Yogi Bear! The kids really enjoyed it and really loved having their cousins join them!

Max is getting ready for bed and making sure to leave the

"magic key"

for Santa to unlock our front door

We don't have a chimney so Santa uses the front door and the "magic key" to get in!

Kate putting out the reindeer food! They were hungry reindeer this year it was pretty much all gone the next morning...and yes Kate and Max checked!


Sporting their new jammies the Elves left them. Buddy the Elf makes the best Pj's!

They opened up the gifts they had bought for each other and Nick ate the paper. Max got Kate a new barbie and some barbie clothes. Kate got Max some Halo figures. It is fun because they just open that on Christmas Eve and it does not get lost in chaos of Christmas morning so they really know what they each picked out for one another.
Santa's little Elves had a late night this year. We are usually more organized but the biggest elf did not have a cable he needed for the new TV!!!