Flying

Grandma Lynie and Papa Mike bought us plane tickets to make sure we made it down for Christmas this year. They didn't want to chance that winter weather might keep us away. It also turned out the Papa Mike was ending a business trip up in our area and was able to fly down with us. Our flight left bright and early on the Thursday before Christmas. We had to be at the airport by 5 am, so we decided to spend the night in Reno. That way we were minutes away from the airport instead of an hour.

I was surprised at how easily the kids woke up and got dressed. Sitting on the couch in the hotel room, waiting to go to the airport.

Waiting for our plane to arrive. Notice how the sun isn't even up yet. I can't believe my kids are still so awake.

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Some funnies from the trip to LA.

Just before takeoff, Zoe pointed out the window, at the engine on the wing and exclaimed how she wanted to ride on that plane!

During the flight, Noah asked us if we were at the North Pole since wall he could see was white. We explained how we were flying above clouds. He then asked if the clouds would be jealous since we were higher than them.

Arriving at LAX...the captain announces welcome to Los Angeles.

Noah's response: "Dad we got on the wrong plane. We didn't want to go to Los Angeles, we wanted to go to L.A."

Arriving at LAX...Zoe wakes up from her drug induced sleep. She gets carsick, so we didn't want to chance airsick and gave her Dramamine before we left. She looks out the window, at the engine on the wing and announces..."look mom that plane made it too!"

The flight went pretty well. Zoe stayed awake long enough for the plane to get in the air, then she slept the rest of the flight. Jack was sleeping before take off and slept the entire flight. Noah managed to stay awake the entire time. I think the craziest thing was getting through security. I was so glad they let me through with the minor name mistake on my ticket. I think it helped that I had a lap child and we were traveling as a family and that we all had the same last name. The ticket agent was surprised to see that, it's sad how uncommon that is these days.

Christmas Round 2

The next set of gifts to arrive were from Auntie Lori and Uncle Rod. The kids had fun tearing into them. We tried to put it off, but since they opened gifts the night before there was no talking them into waiting. It also didn't help that we had just been and Grandma Sandi and Papa Tim's hotel room and received Christmas gifts from them. Unfortunately I didn't get any pictures of Grandma Sandi's gifts. She made each kid a cute little travel kit for the next time we visit her. Each child got a blanket, a puppy neck pillow, some videos to watch, and a gift card for McDonald's. While visiting with them we got to go swimming and out to dinner. It was a fun filled afternoon and evening. Auntie Tiffany, Chelsea, and Trenity came with them this time. Oh how we love our cousins.

A cool shirt from Auntie Lori. How did she know we loved Toy Story so much? A perfect shirt for our upcoming trip to Disneyland.

A cute little Kitty...
Jack trying again...
Look at his big eyes, hopefully one of these days he will get used to the flash...
Modeling her new snow gear.
Thank you for all the cool stuff! We can't wait to put it to use.

Forecast: SNOW!

I didn't know they forecast called for snow. Or that it was possible for it to snow inside the house. However, this is what I woke up to.

I guess that is what happens when you don't take the packing peanuts out to the garage from the night before of present opening. I was back in my room feeding Jack when I heard Noah coming up with this evil plan. I shouted from my room. So loud that it startled Jack and he was hysterical, but obviously not loud enough for the other two to hear me in time. I came running up to the front room and realized I was too late to avoid the mess.
At least they were eager to pick up the mess. Especially since I told Noah he could use the vacuum. Just goes to show kids will be kids and that they truly have good imaginations. It is going to be a long winter break.

Christmas Round 1

Christmas was a little different for us this year. We knew we weren't going to be home for Christmas morning and we knew we couldn't take all the presents with us on the airplane. So then the question was, what to do? Do we let the kids open their gifts early, or do we make them wait until we get home? If we let them open them early, how early do we do it? The night before we leave or sooner?

Dan and I didn't really come to a concrete decision. So, it kind of happened at the spur of the moment, or should I say on a fluke. We had the opportunity to go Christmas Caroling with the members of the Bishopric and Presidents of the Auxiliaries on the Monday before Christmas. The kids had really wanted to open their gifts for FHE, so Daddy said if they cooperated during caroling we might be able to open them when we got home. I didn't think he was really serious until the kids were in their PJs and passing the gifts around. To tell you the truth I think he was a little surprised how it happened too.

Opening gifts from Sister Egbert. She got them these cool felt books. Noah's was Noah's Ark and Zoe's was The Miracles of Jesus. They have sure made for some good quiet activity during Sacrament Meeting.

Then it was time to open the gifts from Grandma Mona and Grandpa Kyle.

Cute singing puppets...

Some needed new clothes. They managed to find pants that fit Noah perfectly. Long enough for his height and small enough for his waist. They are lifesavers. They are always good about sending things the kids need. It helps our budget go so much farther.

They are also good about sending them something educational. We've had fun using these books. It was very fitting that they were Disney.

Jack's first Christmas present. The box was almost as big as he was and he really didn't know what to do with it. But his older brother and sister sure had fun helping him figure it out.

He sure doesn't like the flash.

In the end, I think it happened the best way possible. The kids had a lot of fun kicking off the Christmas week and celebrating all week long.

The Nativity

Our friends the Egberts have a life size "Jesus' House" (as Noah and Zoe put it) in their yard. The rest of us refer to it as a Nativity. Noah and Zoe had so much fun getting up close and exploring it. If I had been more on top of things, one of these pictures would have been our Christmas Card this year. But it just wasn't meant to be. I guess there is always next year.

It truly is an amazing sight to behold.

Riding the camel...Zooming in a little...Up close...The whole family...Zoe loved the camel...Noah with the wise men...You can't help but ponder the true meaning of Christmas when you see it.

We are so thankful to have the Egberts in our lives. They are such an amazing family and have helped us out in so many ways.

Sleep Over

We got a chance to see what it would be like to have twice as many kids. The kids have been begging to have a sleep over for months now and we were presented with the perfect opportunity. It was our friends' (Jalyssa & Erik Christensen) 9th anniversary and he was deploying after the first of the year. They wanted to do an over nighter before he deployed, but don't have any family that lives close by. We were honored that they would trust us with their children for the night and asked us to help them out. To tell the truth, I think Dan and I might have even been a little more excited about the whole thing than the kids were.

So, we had 2 sets of twins: Noah & Erik (5 years old), Zoe & Kysha (3years old). An 18 month old (Kambrie) and a 3 month old (Jack). Everyone survived and we all had a good time. We ate pizza for dinner. Watched the Muppet's Christmas Carol while eating Peanut Butter Popcorn. Noah & Erik slept on an air mattress in the living room by the Christmas Tree. Zoe and Kysha slept in the big bed in Zoe's room. Kambrie slept in the boys room. We had Banana Foster Pancakes for breakfast. The big kids went to Lowe's with Dan to finish building their Holiday Train. We had hot dogs and Slurpees from 7-eleven for lunch. We made cookies, Erik and Jalyssa got home just in time to sample them hot from the oven.

Kambrie eating her pizza. This little thing managed to eat 3 pieces.
Watching the movie and being goofy... (Kysha, Zoe, Erik, & Noah)It was such a success and so much fun, we can't wait to do it again when he returns in April.

Snow!

We finally got our first snow storm of the year. I love the snow as long as I don't have to go out in it, or drive in it. This time around I wasn't so lucky. I had a kid who needed to get to school, so we all bundled up and faced the storm. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. The van handled pretty well, the tires only spun a little after sitting at a dead stop on Farm District Road for what seemed like forever. We left at our normal time, but just barely made it before the bell. I don't know if it was the storm, or the fact that it was the day before winter break that made everyone drive their kids to school. The traffic was horrible.

Jack bundled up for the storm. However, he wears this most mornings on the way to school.
Zoe played in it all morning while Noah was at school. She then went back out with Noah when he got home.
I was so thankful that Sister Bostwick picked Noah up from school and dropped him off. I wasn't looking forward to loading the car up again and getting back out on the road.

The kids and I got off pretty easy, Dan wasn't so lucky. He left for work at his usual time of 7:15 am and didn't make it to work until after 9:30am. I guess there were a few Semi Trucks stuck on I-80 at the interchange with highway 395, so he had to go the long way around. Needless to say he purchased Snow Tires that afternoon so he could make it back home.

I guess the problem with this storm is that it rained so much and then froze before the snow started falling that there was a layer of ice underneath it.