Snow fun - Dec. 26-27

We spent a lot of time playing in the snow during Christmas break.  The temperature was cold enough to keep the snow from melting so the kids spent endless hours outside.  We had fun playing on the hills at the park up the street from us.  I enjoyed using my new camera to take some fun action shots. 

Bradley and Johnathan rolling down the hill together.

 Bradley

 Tanner

 Carter

 Parker

 Carter and Parker going down holding onto each other's sleds.

 Johnathan, Bradley, Tanner, Parker and Carter

This cute guy makes me laugh.  Instead of watching TV like the rest of us, he is busy doing things.  He got both of the banana chairs and put them on top of each other on the couch.  He continues to make our life fun and interesting:).

 The next day the kids made a little slide in our back yard.  Here Tanner is having fun going down it. 

 Johnathan taking a turn.

 For lunch we went to McDonald's so the kids could spend the gift cards they got from Grandpa and Grandma Beck.  They were all so excited to get whatever they wanted up to $5.  We also had fun just hanging out as the younger ones played in the play set.  Parker - tan, Carter - blue

 Another day in the life of Bradley - making yet another mess :).  Byron and I got a new computer screen with the Christmas money we got and the filler inside of the box soon became a fun toy for Bradley.  It was nice how many hours he was entertained, though.

Grandpa and Grandma Beck's house - Christmas day

We headed up to Grandpa and Grandma Beck's house early that afternoon.  We had so much fun being with Eric, Melissa, Grandpa and Grandma Beck.  The kids had fun telling them what they got for Christmas.  Then we played games together.  We had fun trying out Telestrations for the first time and were in for a pleasant surprise.  We were laughing so hard!  It was a riot playing with everybody.  We also had fun playing scum.  The kids always look forward to playing games when we mention Grandpa and Grandma's house.  We had a great time with them.

 Johnathan, Tanner and Carter showing Uncle Eric what they got for Christmas.

Christmas morning

The much anticipated day finally came.  The kids didn't need much coaxing to get up as they were at Byron and I's door right at 7 a.m. (the time we told them they couldn't come before).  I think Camille was the only one they had to get out of bed.  Each kid was so excited walking into the living room.  Parker got a motorized scooter, Johnathan and Carter got an I-pod touch, Tanner got a kindle, Camille got clothes, and Bradley a wing razor scooter.  All the kids were so excited.  The hardest part was looking outside to see snow falling all over and my two boys with outside presents.  Parker was so cute - he went outside and started shoveling all of the sidewalks down about two houses to try to clear a spot where it could dry for him to ride his scooter.  It ended up not working out as the sun didn't dry it after all.  We had snow on the sidewalks for quite some time after Christmas.  The first time he was finally able to ride his scooter outside was on December 29th at the church parking lot.  Him and Bradley were so excited to finally get to use their Christmas present.

Byron and I got the kids their own towel - I am so excited about this as they have the same towel to always use so hopefully we don't have loads and loads of towels like we have in the past.

I was so excited about Byron's present.  He has wanted to have an I-Pad mini for quite some time.  I decided that I wanted to save up my money to buy him one for Christmas.  I went on KSL classifieds to see if there were any that were unopened being sold.  I was looking for a black 32 GB one and found 64 GB one being sold for just a little bit more.  I was so excited.  I travelled up to Bountiful to get it.  I have a hard time keeping secrets and this was definitely not easy.  I was extremely excited to see his reaction when he opened it.  He was so excited and then I told him to look at how many GB as he assumed 32.  He was equally surprised.  I love pulling off big surprises:). 

 Parker shoveling down to the Linton's house so he could ride his scooter.

Snow and Family Gift Exchange

We got quite a bit of snow right around Christmas. Bradley above having fun playing in it.   I got such a kick out of Tanner - he was out shoveling in shorts.  I think he has my California blood in him:). 

This year for our family gift exchange, Byron decided that each person would pay out of their own money for their gift.  In the past Byron and I have paid for them.  I couldn't believe how much more they seemed to mean as the kids thought out so much more about what they were going to buy.  Byron went with half of the kids shopping while I went with the other half.  I took Bradley, Camille and Johnathan to Hobby Lobby.  Johnathan was so cute.  He had the perfect gift planned for Carter, but it was too much money. He ended up going through the line two separate times using the 40% off coupon so he could get it down to a price he could afford (under $10).  The kids were all so cute as they wrapped them and put them under the tree with great anticipation for Christmas Eve.  We all opened them up and it was so cool to see how excited both the giver and receiver were.  It was pretty much priceless! 

Bradley got some bobble head pets that he could paint from Parker.  Byron gave Parker a mini soccer ball.  Johnathan gave Carter a "How to Draw Mickey Mouse" book along with a sketch pad.  Carter gave Johnathan a "Paint your own animals" and some gum.  Camille made Tanner a hat with some bright yellow yarn - the same color he has a jacket.  She put three balls on the top to match Tanner's fun personality.  He was so excited.  Tanner gave me a small ladle.  I got Camille some earrings.  Bradley gave Byron a flashlight.  It was a pretty fun night.

Seven Peaks - Ice Skating

The kids have been talking about going ice skating for quite a while, especially Camille.  We decided to finally go on Christmas Eve.  We arrived at the arena and it was pretty packed - too bad everybody else also had the same idea as us :).  It still was really fun.  Byron chose to sit this activity out, but was our photography instead.  None of us really feel comfortable on the skates except for Camille who has been quite a few times.  She was doing laps around the rest of us.  All of the kids caught on really quickly.  I realized after skating for about half of the time that the key is tightening your shoelaces so tight you think your feet are going to fall off.  I was hurting my ankles and was about to call it quits when I retied my shoes and realized the trick.  I was so much more happy the rest of the time when I didn't keep having my knees and ankles buckle and almost break something.  Bradley was being taught by Camille most of the time and was getting really good at letting go of the sides for about 5 seconds at a time.  After about 3 hours we decided to call it quits.  Some of the kids were sad to leave.  Bradley has been talking ever since we went about going again.  We all had a great time.

 Parker kept on falling, but kept a smile on his face while he got back up.

 Parker, Tanner, Camille, Bradley, Johnathan, Byron, and Carter drinking hot chocolate.

I wasn't sure where to put this picture.  Cute Bradley tried on his cooking stuff that he had gotten the previous night and was so excited to make something.  Camille helped him cook and he was one very happy boy.