Happy New Year!

One of my resolutions for 2009 is to be a better blogger. I have been so far behind. The first step was to get caught up - which I am actually now caught up! So keep scrolling down. Here is to more blogging...

Merry Christmas!

Kate was ready to party on Christmas Eve.
Jack was hoping Santa would be at the Christmas Eve Party.
Grandma T. with Kate and Jack.

I acually exist in one picture of Christmas.

Kate, Lacey and Lauren

Harmon and Lace

Mary and Joseph. It was an interesting depiction of the Nativity this year - Mary delivered the baby Jesus right in front of everyone. One minute she was pregnant - the next minute he is in her arms. Don't we wish it was that easy.

Kate was so happy with her pajamas that Santa dropped by. She was really fun this year and was excited and appropriately oohed and aahed over everything she opened.

Halle and Lacey on Christmas Eve just before crawling into bed. I don't know how much sleep they actually got.

Halle was so excited about the guitar Santa left for her.

Lacey loved her new golf clubs. Harmon is excited about the excuse he now has to take her to the driving range.

I think Kate's favorite gift was all the binkies she got in her stocking.

The gift I was the most excited about giving were the blankets I made for the girls without them knowing. They are so soft and they love them.

The girls sleep with them every night.

Kate is girl through and through - she puts on anyone's hats, gloves, socks, shoes - anything she can get her hands on. Jack is just barely figuring out how to dress himself...

Jack and Kate in their new church clothes. Jack was so excited when he got to church and discovered that his best friend had on the same shirt. He took his sweater off so fast so they could be twins. (I thought that was just a girl thing? - I guess not). I just wanted to eat Kate in this outfit that Nana gave her for Christmas.

Happy Halloween!

I think the only reason Halloween is happy is that it is over. Although the kids look so cute all dressed up, at this stage of my life, Halloween is a lot of work. My kids would actually prefer passing out the candy to trick-or-treating. The only happy pictures I could get of Kate were when she had candy in her mouth.
Jack loved being a cowboy (for about 5 minutes).

Lacey the witch - she was born a poser.

Halle was a wicked queen and very proud of the pumpkin she carved.

Halle looked so great in her costume.

The wicked queen and the cute lady bug Kate.

Double-Fisted Binkies

We went camping up Hobble Creek Canyon. Kate scored and found two binkies. There is such thing as too much of a good thing...

Crazy Hair Day Again

Same do, another year, but this time with hair spray.

Lacey had to come up with something else because her hair is shorter this year.

The bus stop was quite a site.

Happy Birthday Harmon!

I made this cake all by myself - aren't I creative and just the best wife ever?
I can't think of a better way to celebrate your birthday at our age. Part of the celebration is the fact that at our age we have been blessed with a great family. Carrot cake and fresh peach pie - it doesn't get much better than that for Harmon. We love you Harmon!

Back to School

The summer went by way too quickly. We managed to pack in a lot of fun and a few trips but now it's time to get back into the swing of things. As always, my kids are excited to go back to school. I think we all thrive on routine.

Jack had to get in on the action. He should have been starting preschool but unfortunately (for me), he didn't get his bowels to cooperate.

I can't believe Lacey is in 5th grade.

Halle couldn't wait to start 2nd grade.

Lacey with some of her close friends - Chelsea, Savannah and Kennidee.

Halle with her friends Avery and Aidyn.

Halle has two teachers this year. This is Mrs. Soqui.

And this is Mrs. Johnsen.

Utah State Fair and Julie

In August, we went to the Utah State Fair to see Papa T. He had entered some of his cattle. Jack loved seeing the cattle, especially one cow named Julie. Julie was about to have a calf. Now, every animal (toy) that he has is named Julie. He talks about Julie all the time and is very concerned that he still hasn't seen Julie's baby.
Harmon was the only one that enjoyed the smell of the barn. I guess because of his childhood memories, he always takes a big whiff around cattle.

Big Haven and Little Haven. They both really love cattle.

Papa T. was so proud of Jack because of all the grandkids that came to visit him, Jack was the only one that really liked it.

He couldn't get enough of Julie.

Go figure - Halle is terrified of every dog in the world, but she could handle petting Julie.

Mr. and Miss Mischeif

So, Harmon and I returned home from a weekend away in Arizona. I went to help out with Creative Escape and Harmon joined me and golfed all weekend. I came back with a project that had a little bottle of crackle paint in it. Well, let's just say that the crackle paint even works on skin. Kate walked up the stairs having been crackle painted by Jack. Jack also managed to paint several walls, Lacey's white board and clock! I couldn't get very mad because I was the one that left it on the stairs to be put away. Jack is proud of his masterpiece.
His innocent accomplice.
The artist himself.

A few days later, I discovered that Jack had found a pair of scissors and chopped his and Kate's hair. I have put off blogging this this long because I am just now able to talk about it. After several months of Kate having a "comb-over," it is mostly grown out. Luckily, she is cute enough to pull it off...