Christmas 2010

Waiting in the hallway until Mom has the camera ready to go.

Jace awoke at 6:30 and was ready to wake his sister up.  Just my style...I always LOVE getting up early.  Brett on the other hand would love to sleep until 8 or 9. 

Jace got a Bumble Bee blaster and helmet from Santa.  Santa had to work really hard to find this one, since they don't make either of them anymore. 

Thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Eggett, Jace is the proud owner of a Buzz Lightyear with wings. 

Mckelle was spoiled She received this big wheel from Santa and is so excited to have her own and not have to ride Jace's motorcycle anymore.

Overall, we had a WONDERFUL Christmas.  We were very spoiled and we feel so blessed to have all of you in our lives.  For me, I feel like every year I learn more and more about the story of Jesus.  This year it really clicked for me and was very apparent to me that Heavenly Father does have a plan for each of us and puts people and things in our life for a purpose, just as he did in Jesus' life.  The wiseman brought him gifts, just as we can, and those gifts were part of the plan so that they could flee before King Herod carried out his plan.  Without those gifts (which were of great monetary value), who knows if Mary, Joseph  and Jesus could have fled to safety.  I know that there is a God, that Jesus is real and not just a story, and that as we draw closer to him, we feel his love and peace for each of us.  I hope that all of you enjoyed your Christmas as much as I did mine.

Painting Christmas ornaments

I don't usually do "messy" crafts with my kids, because I am too worried they will ruin my stuff...silly I know.  But our neighbor made them some ornaments and even let us borrow the paints (since I don't do that kind of stuff).  They painted them on Christmas eve as part of the festivities.  They really enjoyed themselves and it made me think that I ought to let them express their artistic side a little more.

The next pictures are just some festivities that we did on Christmas eve day and evening.

Brett pulled out his guitar...at Jace's request!  The kids loved it and Brett actually remembered quite a bit.

Mckelle playing with the nativity before we went through the story.  I LOVE my new nativity (Thanks to the Wollenziens) that the kids can actually touch and engage with.

They were beaming with excitement as they waited to open their gifts...I was so thankful that they were paient enough to let me get a picture.

The mess after...Mckelle is and always has been OCD about a mess...it has to be cleaned up right away in her mind.

Brett, Mckelle, and Jace with their new Pillow Pets...a unicorn and a dog.

Discovery Gateway Childrens Museum

Since Brett had the 23rd off this year, we decided to go and spend it at the museum with the kids and some friends.  They played and played and played some more, but finally it was time to leave...all were tired, but it was definitely a day to remember.
A few of their favorites from that day were the helicopter...

Jace and Tate...on a mission to fly this thing.

Mckelle and Brylee (their passengers) were a little concerned.

This is where the majority of their time was spent...in the construction zone...notice the tired parents.  This really is a place for the kids.  We were so glad to have good friends with us for adult conversation.

The boys building...that is what they do best!

A few of my other favorite photos in no particular order...

It was a day full of fun and PLAY...what kids do best!



The things that Jace will say!!!

So, this blog post is more for my memory than anything.  Jace has said some really funny things lately and I just want to remember them.

First,
I had decided to clean early one morning and so I pulled my bangs and hair back and just stayed in my pajamas.  Now I did get the kids bathed and dressed, but it was a working day for me and so why shower and get dressed if you are just gonna sweat up a storm.  By about 3-4pm that afternoon, Jace started to look at me funny and questioned me as to why I was still in my pajamas.  I replied that I had been cleaning and reminded him that he had been helping me.  He continued to educate me, "Mom, it is good for our bodies when we shower and get dressed everyday!"  I was not sure of what to think, but I do know that he is definitely learning in preschool because they just finished up there unit on taking care of our bodies.  Not sure if he was trying to be funny or if that was just his nice way of telling me that I just looked "frumpy"!

Second,
While Jace is staring in my chest area...he asks me, "Mom, can I touch your bumpies?"  I was shocked and said, "What did you say?"  I was really thinking that he has no idea what he was saying or I that I was not understanding.  He repeated what he had said, but started to reach for the chest area, when I realized that "bumpies" were the jewels on my shirt. I was wearing a shirt that has jewels on the front in the chest section.  Both kids seemed to love the sparkle and dazzle of it.   It was so innocent, but quite hilarious.

He also is moving into a new phase where he is testing his limits of obeying and being honest.  Really, this is not one of my favorite phases.  He has already had to make a phone call to apologize to someone for lying.  Who knew it would be so hard sometimes as a parent to teach honesty and respect.  No wonder the kids out there are so "messed up."  (Brett could tell you stories about how slacker parents affect their children).

PARENTING TAKES WORK....HARD WORK!!!

Setting up the Christmas Tree!

We set the Christmas tree up the other night and Jace wanted to wear the Christmas tree skirt so that he could be Santa.  This was the two of them awing at our work.

About as normal as a photo we could get with the two semi smiling!

But really this is how most of them turned out...what cheesers!!!

Snow!!!!

Our first snowman of the season!

While we were in Cedar City for Thanksgiving, I took Jace and a few of his cousins sledding. It was a blast!!

I love the smile on Jace's face. He was cold as you can tell from his red cheeks, but he didn't mind a bit.

A few weeks before Thanksgiving we had the Huffingtons (my sister's family) over and they got all dressed up to go and play outside.  I love how they look like big marshmallows.

Mckelle and Aubree 

I just LOVE the snow...which is such a change from even 2 years ago...when I dreaded it.  But I am learning to just go play in it by shoveling and sledding and hopefully some skiing while I am not pregnant this winter, but we will see how that goes.  I still don't love driving in it, but who does.  Bring on the snow...if it is gonna be cold, we might as well have something to do in it!

Halloween 2010

My two cuties!!!

Just waiting to go to the trunk or treat!

For Halloween we went to Judee's and Dave's house so that the cousins could be together.  Aubree is the "pink" dragon, Jace is Darth Vader, Daniel is a Storm Trooper, and Mckelle was a tiger.

Judee and I ran a 5k race that morning and we chose to dress up.  Let me tell you that I won't be running another 5k with a box on my shoulders.  We still had fun even with the mile long hill...at the end!!!

We went to a neighborhood Halloween party with a few of Jace's friends a couple days before hand too. The kids did a pumpkin walk, pin the nose on the jack o lantern, and painted, and then we had lunch.  It was good times!!!

Once again I add my disclaimer...better late than never!!!!

Pre Halloween Happenings!

Stansbury Park's Pumpkin walk was a much smaller scale compared to Logan's...but we still enjoyed it.

She was a little hesitant to go by herself...and she did NOT like the feel of the hay

He on the other hand, had no qualms about it...he LOVED it!

HAUNTED HOUSES

For FHE this past week we combined with the Wollenziens and had a lesson about the wise man and the foolish men and then built haunted "houses" out of graham crackers, frosting, and lots of candy.  The kids loved it!

Good job Tate and Jace...you did a great job decorating!  Thanks to the Wollenziens for hosting!



Trip to Cedar City

Whenever we go to Cedar City we usually make a trip to the Discovery Park.  It is so fun for the kids and the best part was that Brett was able to come with us.  Grandma Eggett was working and Grandpa Eggett stayed at home...which made it just the foursome.  I swear I was there...I was the one taking all the pics.  The weather was gorgeous!!!

 She does smile when she is with her Dad...just not very often.

What a tough little guy!!!

She is just the right size for the Lions outside the Eggett's house.

We had a great time and can't wait to see them again in a couple of weeks for Thanksgiving!

Painting our "PRETTIES"

The last couple of times I have painted my toes, Mckelle has been beyond interested.  The last two times she has actually sat still enough for me to paint hers.

So what did we do this time...

Orange for Halloween with Sparkles! 

I am loving that we are bonding by painting our toes...Yeah for "pretties"...that is what we call them anyway!

A week full of fun with JerBear!!!

We got to enjoy a whole week with my Sister, Jereelyn.  Let's just say it took me a couple of days to recoup and I am still going through withdrawals.  We shopped, played games, barbecued out at Grantsville reservoir, went shooting, ran a 5k together, made some crafts, fed the ducks, and had lots of great conversation.  Enjoy some pics in no particular order.

She enjoyed eating the bread instead of feeding it to the ducks. 

Jace said he liked the pistol better than the rifle! 

This one is just cute, because she actually does have the strength to push her brother around...we have always said she is one tough little girl.

While Jereelyn was here, I surprised Brett with an early birthday gift with action passes to the Dew tour.  He was surprised because I actually was able to keep a secret and because it was like a month early.  We left the kids with Jer while we went and enjoyed the day and evening watching skate verts, bmx, fmx, bmx verts, playing some Nerf catch the flag (which we totally smoked the other team...guess our anniversary gift a couple years ago paid off), riding a mechanical bull, and then to end the evening with a concert with Neon Trees and Paper Tongues.  It was so needed.  We haven't had that much time to ourselves in a very LONG time.  Especially since we have no family around, I was sure to take the opportunity.  We had such a blast and we were so thankful Jer was there to take care of the kids.  Enjoy all the pics!!!

The VICTORS!!!!

This was my very first time on a mechanical bull and I was sure to tell the guy to be nice...and he was.  Neither of us lasted very long.

Not sure about my face there.

Doesn't he look like a natural?  I sure do love that guy! Happy Early Birthday to Brett...the big 33!!!