Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve started out with dinner with the Olson Family. The kids acted out the nativity to us.

MacKenzie our princess angel, Devyn was Mary, Ethan was Joseph, and Jacob was our shephard.

(Missing Kyle our wiseman)

We finished the evening with the Strong cousins. After a night of remembering Jesus, the kids exchanged gifts.

I don't know why Ethan is pulling this face, maybe because he had to wait until the whole night was almost over because he wouldn't eat any food.

Edris & James

Our newest family member

Letley Jane Lotomau Strong

Isn't she the cutest?

Cousins in Christmas PJ's

Christmas Day!

When the kids woke up Christmas morning this is all they saw. They were excited but just wanted to go to Grandma's house so they could play their wii games.

Devyn noticed found a box of orange sticks which made her pretty excited

Jacob just couldn't wait to play his hunting game.
And Ethan got a race car came.
Devyn got wii sing it.
Then we opened up presents and she got her a webkin and barbie style salon that she was so excited about. (I hope I don't regret that one)
Later Devyn put a couple movies away that we gave the kids (Up and Robinhood) that is when she noticed the Wii all set up and starting yelling that everyone MUST COME NOW! They haven't stopped playing wii since.

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Then we went to the Olson Family's where we got to talk to Elder Matthew in Brazil. And wish the Olson's Merry Christmas!

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Grandpa brought everyone back some real Belgain Chocolate

brought straight from Belgium.

Ethan got a box of Bakugan's now him and Jacob can trade and share

Then we went to the strongs house and got to talk to Auntie Brookie on her mission in California. The kids opened up a few more gifts and then we fed some of the kids chocolate covered bugs, because Grandpa was too afraid to try them himself.

Here is a video of Ethan eating his bug.

Olson Christmas Party!

Last Saturday the Olson Family got together for a little Christmas Party. The kids had fun sledding and roasting marshmallows. Then we headed up to the house for lunch. The kids exchanged gifts and the adults had a white elephant exchange.

Roasting marshmallows

Mischele and Aeri

Group picture of the Olson grandkids

Only Three years old?

Ethan: Mom how does your head move?

Me: You just move it like this (me showing)

Ethan: But how does it do that?

Me: You say you want to move it and then you do.

Ethan: But how do your legs move?

Me: Well if you want to move them you move them.

Ethan: Oh, but I don't know how my arms move?

Me: Well in our head we have a brain and we tell our brain that we want to move our arms and so our brain helps our arms move.

Ethan: Oh! Both of them?

Why does my three year old ask me questions like this? Can his little brain really think that deep about how his little body works? Amazing. I think most of us don't think twice about it until our body doesn't work like it should. I wonder what he will be when he grows up

All I want for Christmas . . .

Is my TWO front teeth!
So I was driving in the car with the kids yesterday afternoon when Jacob and Devyn started messing around with a cloth headband Devyn had had in her hair. Jacob put it in his mouth and Devyn ripped it out to get it back. Then all of a sudden Jacob noticed his tooth was gone! It really is kinda funny, it has been loose for a while but he was saving it until Christmas Eve and that is when he wanted to pull it out. Luckily after searching all over in the car, Devyn found it!

Jacob came home and put his tooth in a bag of water to clean it really good for the tooth fairy. He said he forgot to brush his teeth that morning.

Love this kid!

Ethan is my little helper all day long. With all the snow we have had I'm glad he is so willing to help me out, or at least keep me company outside.

I don't know if this was the second or third time I shoveled on Monday, but he beat me outside this time. I love the snow on my lawn but I think I will cry if we have another snowday like Monday. I only want to shovel once a day! But If I don't keep it cleared it turns into a sledding hill, turns into ice, and then I can't ever get it off since it never gets any sun.

Ethan is such a good brother that he will play Twister with Devyn when no one else will. I thought it was so cute of him all twisted up.
And when I tuck him in at night and his dad isn't here to sing him the Thomas song. He will sing me the song before bed. I'm slowly learning it, but I need his help to sing it through.

I think Dan is so happy to soon have three boys to help keep up with my honey-do lists. They really never end. And I think I will be glad too!

Our Christmas Tree

Well, this year we decided on cutting down our own Christmas tree. (Yes, we killed a tree) But I have to say it was a lot of fun. It was fun walking around in the snow looking for the right tree. There were many to choose from and I love the one we decided on . My mom and dad came with us and they got them one too. I would actually love to make this a family tradition.
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Here are the boys looking for the right tree

Devyn, while she was still happy and warm
Jacob, loving every minute of it!

Ethan, running and climbing on everything.

The tree we want to bring home

The boys helping dad to saw it down

Mom and Dads Charlie Brown tree

(It is the cutest tree)

The tree all decorated at home

Chopping down the tree

( Turn down the volume so you don't hear my timber)

10 Years!

Well, it's sometimes crazy to think that I've been married for 10 years. Just like it's crazy how fast my kids have grown up. Well Dan had been out on a trip and he has another long one coming up too. So we thought it would be fun to take the kids with us overnight and do something fun with them so they can spend more time with us.

(After thoughts, maybe we will leave them home next time)

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But no really, it was a fun time. They were just so excited to stay in a hotel. They had fun drinking hot chocolate swimming in the pool and sleeping somewhere else other than home. I think their favorite part was breakfast the next morning when they got to make their own belgian waffles, eat as much yogart, donuts, juice ect... as they wanted.

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We went to the Church visitors center, The Joseph Smith History Museum, The Beehive House, and saw the Conference Center. They had fun, Devyn thought it was cool to see REAL things. (Note to self: Ethan is too young.)

Before going home we went to the Clark Planitarium

Devyn had her dream come true when she could forecast the weather for us. I have video of her doing this years ago. She would love to do this when she grows up.
And my little ones walking on the moon.
This was fun for the kids, they loved all the scientific things inside. Wish we had more time, next time maybe we will stay for a show.