ToothLESS!

Recently Payton has been busy getting new molars and has had 2 sort of wiggly bottom teeth for a while now, but TODAY...he lost his first tooth! It has been funny watching his reaction to this new phase. He has said "I look different now", "Now my tounge has something to play with", and is already dreaming of things that he will buy with the $$$$$ from the Tooth Fairy! Cute even while missing a tooth!

Christmas 2011

Well it is hard to believe that we are just finishing up yet another Christmas Season. It is always so exciting while counting down the days until Christmas...but then when the festivities are all over it is a little sad at how fast this time of year flies by. The kids have been loving listening to Christmas music and are always finishing my sentence when I say "It's the most WONDERFUL time..." then they all yell, "Of the year". It truly is and we look forward to many more Christmas memories together! Here are a few we shared this year...

Making our Gingerbread House! Some were a little more helpful then others and some couldn't help but sample the candies as they worked! The kids loved every minute of one of our Family Nights in December and have been begging to eat it since.
I love these moments when everyone is having a great time together, (with no one having a Meltdown)!

Our piece of art!

Fun at School

Then Payton had a Pajama day, while learning about the Polar Express, for the last day of school before Christmas Break. He also had a small party at school and McKenzie got to join in on the fun, while Taylor and Brielle were at a friends. Payton was so happy to show Kenzie all around and introduce her to his school buddies! I love that they are such good friends.

Having a great time making doughnut snowmen in their PJ's!

More fun!

This day got a little more stressful as I went to pick up Taylor and Brielle. I wanted to make it quick and told both Payton and Kenzie to stay in the car while I grabbed the other 2 kids. In the back of my mind I remember thinking (I should take the keys), but I pushed it off because I really was planning on being fast. I guess in the meantime another group of kids showed up from our ward and my kids thought they would get out and say hello. It really wouldn't have been a big deal if they had gotten out of the sliding door they usually do, but instead they got out my door (the only one that happened to be unlocked), and ended up pushing the lock button on the way out!!! We were locked out of the VAN!! This seems to happen all too often! I noticed that the door was left open a crack so I ran back inside to ask my friend if I could borrow a hanger, I messed around for a few minutes and couldn't be luckier to have been surrounded by friends who were willing to do anything to help me out in this situation. One friend ran to my house to see if a package had arrived from Mckay's parents. We had left our spare keys in Montana during Thanksgiving, just in case this were to happen there, so the extra keys were in the mail somewhere between Kuna, ID and Fairfeild, MT. She arrived back with the disappointing news that there was no such luck. NOW I HAD TO GET IN! I had gotten close to the unlock button several times but the force of the hanger was just not strong enough. Payton by this point was so worried and was fighting back the tears. I know he understood that we would not have been in that situation if he had only listened. Kenzie took full advantage of the chance to run inside and play. Taylor was begging me to let him in the car. And Brielle was starving but trying to hold off with my friend inside. I was starting to worry too and wanted to call Mckay to tell him my bad luck, but my cell was in the car too. I was trying not to get mad at Payton, because I already knew that he was very disappointed in himself, but then he said what I had been thinking as well, "We should say a prayer". I told him to say it and as he was praying I realized once again what a sweet little boy I have. He was emotional and even though he is 6, he is still so innocent and wants to do good and not let me down. Minutes after this prayer, I heard the wonderful sound of the door unlocking, as I saw relief wash across Payton's face. We were in and all was well!! I know I had great friends who would have done anything to help me out and a loving Father in Heaven who answers all of our prayers, if we take the time to ask. I think this was a great experience for Payton and me on the power of prayer.

Christmas Morning

Taylor opening his stocking!

Payton was so excited and fun this year. He thought it was so funny that Santa ate most of the cookies and drank the milk they had left out!

McKenzie still trying to wake up while looking in her stocking.

Brielle and Dad, playing with toys.

Opening presents! Taylor was in his PJ's until he opened his new Cars 2 shirt and had to immediately get dressed!! He was funny this year because he would play with his toys until we told him he could open the next one. Taylor was really having fun with each gift he would open, before moving on the the next.

Sweet little Brielle loved playing in the wrapping paper.

It kept her entertained for the longest time!

Merry Christmas kids! Payton loves his new watch and InnoTAB. McKenzie shares the InnoTAB with Payton and likes her coloring things and other gifts too. Taylor was all Cars this year and couldn't be happier. Brielle got a few toys and things she needed, but loved the paper! Mckay and I are enjoying our gifts too but mostly soaking up spending time as a family!

After a fun morning of opening and playing with our gifts we had a nice breakfast and got ready for Church! Then after Church we headed to my parent's house for a family party and to hear from my brother Daniel who is on his mission. It was great to hear his voice and spend time with family. We had a nice dinner, exchanged presents, visited, and played games.

Taylor chilling in his new chair!

Happy little Brielle!

Brielle's 1st Christmas

Payton enjoying his own Popcorn tin!

Kenzie having fun!

Mckay with the Wii

Got food!?

Recently Brielle tried rice cereal. Actually, I am not sure how much she kept in but we will keep trying even though it is super MESSY!!

It has been a fun and exciting Christmas Season!

The Many Faces of Our Kids

Brielle has recently seemed to be growing up a bit. She is not much of a roller (meaning that she has only rolled from her tummy to her back a couple of times). In fact she really doesn't like tummy time for very long at all. On the other hand if she is laying on her back or propped sitting up she is happy for quite a long time just watching all of the action from her silly siblings around her. They all are quite good at making her smile and giving her attention. The other day McKenzie was putting chap-stick on Brielle's little lips and Kenzie thought it was so funny when Brielle was licking away. She fits right in with the family and we already can't imagine life without her in it!

Sweet Baby Brielle

Little faces make my day!

On November 30th, Brielle had her 4 month check up, so here are her stats:

Weight: 12 pounds 9 ounces 18%

Height: 24 1/2 inches 48%

Head: 40 3/4 cm 33%

The other night we were watching a movie as a family and I guess Taylor had just had enough and fell asleep snuggled up in daddy's warm fluffy jacket. It was too cute not to take a picture.

They are always so sweet and innocent at the end of the day, when they are fast asleep!

Oh, and the other evening we invited some friends over for Family Night and Brielle was making the funniest little face that had us all laughing. Then it seemed like she knew that we were loving it so she just kept doing it to see our reactions. We actually got some of it on camera (but she has not done this much since then).

Now the kids are counting down the days until Christmas. This time of year is so much fun!!

Deck the HALLS!

Oh how we LOVE putting up the Christmas decorations!! This year we put a few things up right before we headed up to Montana for Thanksgiving. Actually when the kids were sleeping I put the tree up so they would be surprised the next day. They were so delighted to see the Christmas Tree with lights on when they woke up in the morning. Helping put on the decorations!
Payton loves this time of year, well they all do, but who can blame them...Mckay and I do too!
Brielle was there too but wasn't much help this year, although I am sure she has been a little entertained by all the pretty lights.

Mckay likes to get in on the action with the kids too.

Taylor was so excited.

I love McKenzie's expression here.

After the kids finished, they put on a show of their own.

Then it was time to head to Montana for a much need break with family! The kids always get so excited to go to Grandma and Grandpa's and always are so disappointed when it is time to leave. They have great memories in Montana. This year we even enjoyed more time outside due to nicer weather. So these are the only pictures I happen to get while we were there: the kids riding on the horses! This riding 3-way thing didn't last long. McKenzie started slipping and therefore pulled the boys off too. Good thing Daddy was there to catch them.

It did make for a cute picture though!

While in Montana we also enjoyed time relaxing, playing a few games, the kids played all day long and felt right at home, ate good food, went Black Friday shopping, rode the 4-wheelers and golf carts, and just had a great time hanging out with family. Grandpa always likes to toast glasses with the kids at mealtime and taught them to say "To the good life", time in Montana spent with family, really is THE GOOD LIFE!

BEWARE

Last week Payton finished his 2nd season of playing SOCCER. He had such a great time and has improved so much in just one year! I think he really likes playing defence and getting the ball from others. It was really fun to watch him this year, his face lights up on the field when we would cheer for him when he did something good, I think he was really having a great time. It is kind of nice that it came to an end because it is starting to get cooler outside and it is also nice to have some more time that is not spoken for. It seems like we have been so busy lately and have had something almost every single night.

Going after the ball (he is in white this game).
My handsome guy!

I think this was his favorite thing to do. Wait for the other team to come down the field and steal the soccer ball!

Running hard, he was the smallest kid on the team this year.

Go get it Payton!

Then it was time to carve our Halloween pumpkins! It seems like Mckay and I do most of the work, but the kids were eager to get involved for a little bit.

Dig in!!

Taylor was not too sure if he really wanted to touch that stuff!Kenzie did a pretty good job!

Payton was loving every minute of it.

Breille was happy in her Bumbo.

Payton actually got to do a lot of the carving this year and did a fantastic job carving the face on Taylor's pumpkin with minimal help. (His own choice of Jack-O-Lantern face was a little more difficult.)

The finished Jack-O-Lanterns!

Now on to HALLOWEEN!

Then Payton was so excited to have his Halloween Party at school. He decided to be a Transformer at the school party. I was able to leave the other kids with a friend and join in on the fun! I like to go to Payton's class to get to know his teacher and the kids that he talks about from school. He is loving Kindergarten so much and has made a ton on little friends already, a few of them were hugging him goodbye when it was time to go home. The other day when I volunteered in his classroom I overheard a few of the kids arguing, "Payton is my friend" and the other would say. "No, he is my friend!", the funny thing was that Payton was no where near this little conversation and had no idea what they were saying about him. He is usually a good friend to everyone...no matter if you are a boy or girl (although when he sees the girls outside of school, he seems to act a little shy around them).

Decorating Sugar cookies is the BEST! Having fun with friends.

Brielle is growning so fast and has been such a good little baby! All cute on Halloween!

When Mckay returned home from work we took a few pictures of the kids all dressed up and ready to go Trick-Or-Treating! They were so excited at this point and it was hard to sit still. McKenzie (Repunzle), Brielle (Bee), Payton (Mario riding on Yoshi), and Taylor (Buzz)

Kenzie loved her long hair and make-up!

Payton loved his outfit as well!

Taylor had a blast being Buzz and Brielle was a pretty calm little Bee! We headed to Paul's for a Trunk-Or-Treat and 50 cent hamburgers at Artic Circle. Then while the kids ate in the car we headed to some nice houses in our ward and the kids could have gone Trick-or-Treating all night long if we let them, even though it was a little chilly! Payton was the door knocker. Kenzie got a little nervous at the really Spooky doors, but would brave up for a piece of candy. If given the choice Taylor would always pick a Reese's. I even heard him tell someone that was his "favorite", "more please", and when one lady handed him something not so great he said "not that one" GREAT!! Then we worked on a few manners, but he is a 2 year old after all! He was not shy and would strike up conversations with strangers.

It was a great Halloween and it was even more fun to see our kids having a great time!