Fish Tank

Jason asked for a fish tank for Christmas thanks to Grandma, my mom and Aunt Jenny we got it done. We have a 10 gallon tank we bought three fish originally, but we have already had one die. However the others are doing great. We still have three fish because we bought another Platy because the other two were chasing each other around the tank it was weird. Here is Clifford and Sunny our new fish is named Rainbow. All three different types of Platy the one that died was a fish that ate Algae.

Christmas Traditions

We had some new Christmas traditions this year Aunt Lori sent us an advent Calendar and we were able to read segments of the story of Christs birth all month long, we were able to record our voices reading Frosty thanks to my mom, I already love it. We decorated Sugar cookies with Holly cause we miss her so much.

They ask if they can do it again

very focused

it wasn't very pretty

Hanging out at the nativity

We love Holly

They turned out okay

Watching the garbage man

We had some old tradition looking at Christmas lights, Christmas Jammies, going to Aunt Janet's on Christmas Eve, Skyping with family (or google hangouts), Christmas Breakfast with Jason's parents, eating Christmas omelettes in the evening. Apple pie and playing games. The kids had a lot of fun opening presents, and love everything they have, I loved all my gifts as well I have been adjusting to all of our new things in our house. Thanks to everyone who helped make our Christmas amazing. My favorite memory of the evening is Michelle laughing as I took a giant bite of his apple pie because he was annoying (family is awesome). Calvin's favorite thing was the orange in the stocking, Emily loved everything I have never seen her so happy, Aunt Jenny the tents are now their homes they visit each other with the tunnel. She draws and colors with her new art kit. Max loves his fish game until he loses, he loves his new super heroes and loves all of his books. Grammy got him legoes that he is loving too he plays with them a lot hopefully Calvin doesn't eat them.

They look adorable

Love the Christmas tent

showing off her Barbie Clothes

Catching fish

Already to be destroyed

Christmas Eve gingerbread houses

Decorated for Christmas

We decorated our Christmas tree right after Thanksgiving and then I made Calvin's stocking. The best part was Calvin did not care about the tree, it smacked him the face a few times and then he stayed away, up until 3 days before Christmas then he was ripping off ornaments left and right. It was all fun and games though.

set up the tree

decorating the tree

our stockings

Christmas Party

Our ward Christmas party was at night, it was Christmas around the world. We had Tacos and saw Santa then we walked around to the various booths and learned about how other countries celebrated Christmas. They built gingerbread houses, made Chinese lanterns and tried some new food. Overall it was fun, but late so we left before it go too crazy.

Who is that guy?

Making a gingerbread house with Celeste

We also were able to go to the Christmas parade down the road we  walked down with Aunt Debbie, Uncle Jim, and his grand kids. it was a lot of fun we saw some cool floats my favorite was the tiny house. We ran into one of Emily's friends from school too.

the gang minus Calvin and Uncle Jim

Jason felt I didn't put a heavy enough coat on him

Hugging the firehouse dog

We also went and had donuts with Santa at Emily's school it was all fun in games until Mom forgot the tickets (they still gave us donuts the very kind folks they were) Then Max had a melt down, Started off nice but I was glad to be home.

Hanging with Santa

They were huge donuts

Aunt Sandra is in town

Aunt Sandra came to town and my kids were so grateful to see her it probably doesn't help that she spoils them rotten. Max truly has a special place in his heart for her he is always concerned for her well being and asks questions about her all the time. He still talks of Tom when we went and visited him before he passed away. We attended Tom's thing in Alexandria I enjoyed myself because one of the guys who spoke truly spoke of the Tom I remembered. I really do miss his long talks on the phone he always knew how to make you feel good. Aunt Sandra came over and hung out with my kids spoiled them with gifts  and took them to their first movie. Max did not get off Aunt Sandra's lap for the whole movie and pretty much any time they were together.

This was at Savannah's birthday he was attached to her the whole time

She came to spread some Christmas Cheer and they didn't want her to leave

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving was fun, we started off the morning by running the turkey trot. I had my best time since having babies, still not fast but  not to bad. Then we headed home showered changed cooked food and headed to Jason's parents we ate and hung out before we headed home.

Emily got to dress up as a Native American to celebrate Thanksgiving

2 trunk or treats and a trick or treat

Halloween was crazy this year. First we attended our ward trunk or treat. We played games and got a bunch of candy. However because it was late at night Max threw some giant fits it kind of takes the fun out of somethings.

my green haired witch

Getting ready to trunk or treat

masters of the cake walk
The next night we went to Jason's parents ward Trunk or Treat. Max and Emily dressed up as minions with the family. They had a chili supper and then we headed home we couldn't handle to late nights in a row.

we have little minions

Saturday we went to the zoo and then Sunday we were going to carve pumpkins but Jason got sick so we just survived that day and went to church.

Monday I carved pumpkins with Max, Emily and Calvin then we met up with some neighbor hood kids and went trick or treating. Overall it was a lot of fun. Jason was disappointed that he did not get to go trick or treating, but we figure it was better then getting more sick.

He wanted his pumpkin to cry

the intention was a C, but now it looks like a moon

Emily drew hers on and then I carved what she drew it even had eyelashes

Calvin is 9 months

Guess who is 9 months old. Yay for Calvin we got a check up he is coming in at 22 pounds and 29 inches. He is pulling himself to standing, cruising on furniture,  crawling normally, make himself sit to stand and then standing to sitting, he loves dropping and things and then staring at them and most of all screaming mamama. If I could have anything I would love to be able to sleep more but I love little Calvin. He loves being with people so if he wants your attention and you leave the room he will scream and scream until you come back. His favorite food is sweet potatoes and butternut squash.

Max is 4

Max is four years old and to celebrate that amazing day we went to the National Zoo. It was a lot of fun we saw as much as we could in the amount of time we had. Holly and Grammy came with us and we squeezed into our van. Max loved the panda bear. Grammy gave him a panda bear puzzle that he loved dearly. He picked out a tiger from us and Emily picked out a flamingo. Holly had already been awesome by giving him iron man. I wonder why he likes her more then me. I enjoyed seeing all the animals we watch them feed the beavers that was cool, and we were also attacked by birds while eating lunch that was also fun. Calvin did pretty well he only cried a little bit, but Holly was awesome and carried him. I am so grateful that these wonderful people were able to celebrate my Maximus turning 4. As far as his stats his is average height a little heavy, has awesome eyesight, but the doctor was the most impressed with his eyesight. Max is trying to convince me he is ready for Kindergarten, but in the mean time he is loving Grammy school.

Look at the beaver

oo looking at a seal

the attack of the birds at lunch

Check out the panda

flying with the birds

Holly is amazing

the crew

Hanging out at the potty

Better late then never

We kept family traditions alive by going to the pumpkin patch. This year we had more company with us, We went with Mark and Kathy's family and Adam and Aprils kids as well as Jason's mom. Overall lots of fun. We went on Max's actual birthday after Emily has soccer. We drove down there found an awesome parking spot thanks to Mark and Kathy went to the front of the line and straight to the pumpkin patch. The pumpkins were smaller this year, but none the less we each picked a pumpkin. Calvin didn't really care a whole lot, but he was there. Jason carried nine pumpkins, but this is the first time Jason broke some pumpkins. So we came home and cooked those so they would not go bad. After picking pumpkins we ate some donuts and then wandered around to see all their Halloween and Christmas stuff. Looked at some fish and then headed to dinner.
It was awesome it was police night at the restaurant and they sang to Max overall he had a pretty awesome time. I am so proud of  my four year old.

Calvin the cool guy

looking for pumpkins

we found some

at the pumpkin patch

the gang

I am this tall

I am this tall

I love these kids

Max's Birthday Dinner