The Stocking were Hung...

 Merry Christmas everyone! After 2 years of transition, and barely decorating, we are officially ready for Christmas this year. We haven't started wrapping any gifts, but the decorations and festivities have begun. We baked some this weekend, and we have watched plenty of Christmas movies already. Esaias can't get enough of the influx of new kid movies to watch. He is super excited to take part in all that Christmas has to offer! Oslin is pretty good with the tree. We didn't put to many ornaments toward the bottom, and he doesn't spend much time in the living room, so that helps. We like our traditional fireplace. It adds a nice ambiance to the whole theme!

Oslin has his own little stuffed nativity, and Esaias has the Fisher Price one to play with. They love looking at, and talking about the baby Jesus. I am so grateful to know that He lives, and that He gave us the greatest gift of all. We all need His atoning sacrifice. I pray that we will all take time to remember the reason for the season. Love to you all!

Aztec Dancing!

 Isaac and Marina had there first Aztec dance performance this weekend. We had short notice on the performance day, and I had to scramble to make their head dresses on Saturday morning. I was feeling pretty pleased with my efforts when they were done.

 Marina started dancing with the group after Danny found out about it through one of his Latina students on his Diversity Board. The group performs Aztec, Columbian, and Mexican traditional dances. Marina was a natural! Recently, the group was needing boy dancers, and we convinced Isaac to join. So, both of them are participating in this great opportunity. Marina loved watching "Living Legends" the BYU dance group that performs similar cultural dances. Now she gets to learn them for herself.

 Isaac's costume was at the church for him, so we didn't get a picture. They performed at Saturday afternoon's Mass at Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was exciting to do their first performance, and a good learning experience to visit a catholic church.

 The feathers on the headdresses are based upon hierarchy, how long you've been dancing with the group. They are just starting so their feathers are short, but in time they will grow to be the large peacock size feathers. When the weather gets warmer and they perform outside again, we will post the video.

 We had to throw this picture in. Today for church we braided Marina's hair. She's been wanting me to do this for quite some time. It actually turned out quite pretty. She has the best hair. It was a fun "do!"

Papa Joe's Birthday

 What better way to spend your 68th birthday, than surrounded by 11 grandchildren?

 Have you ever tried to get 11 children all under the age of 13 years old to smile and sit still? Hahaha.

 Here's one of the cutest!(No biases of course)

 Oslin, Matao, Greyson, and Esaias trying to hold still for the photo shoot.

 Oh, poor Ryan, just can't catch a break, can he?

 Only 4 out of 11 are girls!

We love you Papa!

Thanksgiving

 This is how Oslin ate his Thanksgiving dinner, and the twins below. We had Thanksgiving at Marisa's new house. There were a lot of people there! The Sandoval's, Purcell's, Maldonado's, Uncle Jason's family, Mortensen's...It was a good thing that she had all the open space for all of us...especially all of the kids. I should have taken pictures of the upstairs. Her house is gorgeous, and it was super nice to finally be able to stay with her. We got in a lot more time together.

 Mara & Ryan & Baby Emma & Baby Ryan shared in the festivities!

 Sarah & Clayton too!

 And this cute guy...Tristan!

 The "Kid" table!

 Say Cheese!

 These 2 (Oslin and Emma) like to play together!

 And adorable Miss Emma loved the girls! Bracelets, necklaces, bling, bling...what more could a girl ask for?

 And this cute boy (Ryan) loves to play with BOYS! He was up running around...the padded walls to run into were a big hit (pun intended)!

 Bigger cousins Lilli and Marina played with the little ones and helped out a lot!

 Oh and did I say BOYS! Trying to catch a picture of these boys together was impossible! They had so much fun just running around and being crazy. Esaias, Tayvin, and Ryan. The big boys Isaac, Kai Noa, Jaedyn, Lafai, and Tristan kept busy outside playing football, and hanging out.

With everyone chipping in with food, we had plenty to eat, and lots of fun! All and all it was a good Thanksgiving Day!

Oslin's 1st Bday

 It's been almost a month since this fun, loveable, little guy celebrated his 1st year birthday! I'd better get caught up before he's 2 years old. We celebrated his birthday in Denver with family on November 9, 2013. Yep, Grandma Layne was kind enough to share her special day. I forgot my camera in Grand Junction, so the only pictures I have to blog with are the ones we took eating ice cream cones on his actual birthday weekend a week after Denver. In Denver, we had cupcakes and presents at Grandpa Joe's and Grandma Chris'. Uncle Gabe & Family, Uncle Luke & kids, Auntie Marisa, G&G Mortensen, & G'ma Layne all came to celebrate with us. Even Jen & Heidi were there. We had to have plain cupcakes because Oslin had an allergic reaction to Kraft Macaroni and Cheese a week previously. We are not sure what caused the reaction, but we are speculating at the food dyes. Grandma Mortensen has an allergy to yellow 5 & 6. Oh boy, what fun...not!

 Oslin was beginning to walk before he turned 1 years old, and I was sure he'd take off before his birthday, but he actually decided to start talking, and slowed down on the walking. He is really mobile, and so I don't think there is a strong enough necessity yet. And Dad and I haven't actually encouraged it too much. Child #4, we're no dummies, there is no going back after they start walking.

 Oslin is still tons of fun. He has only his 2 bottom teeth, and his 2 fang teeth up top. It makes it pretty challenging to eat, so he's on baby food longer than my other kidos. He has easily given up the pacifier, and is moving off a bottle pretty easily.

 He likes to move around like this, one leg up and bent, the other kneeling. He will actually move around just like this. He's one funny boy!

Oslin loves cars and trucks and balls! A true boy. He does have a major crush on Josephina American Girl Doll. It's quite funny to watch him get excited to see her, and can't help but hold her and kiss her. We are in trouble.
Esaias is still driving him nuts, but Oslin is starting to figure out how to get back at his older brother. It's only a matter of time!
He is still a Daddy's boy. He loves to have Danny carry him around all over...probably another reason why he hasn't walked yet. But he has taken to cuddling with me in bed. He will sleep laying right on top of me. Although it's not the best sleep for me, I can't help but indulging a little now and then. He is my baby! Id' like to enjoy him that way for as long as I can!

October Comes and Goes

 Wow! This cute skeleton is 11 months old. Can you believe it? I think I am just not ready to accept it. He crawls all over the place, stands alone...with a little encouragement, he'd be walking. But we are no dummies. We have not encouraged it. So, instead he is the fastest crawler ever!

 Esaias loved getting the house ready for Halloween. The ghost lights were one of his favorites....accept he then tells me, he's afraid of a shadow down the hall.

 I had parent-teacher conferences, and was very busy with report cards too, so Danny had to hang with the kids on his own a lot this month. He's a great Dad! But I am sure glad to have that all behind me now.

 Isaac claims our brown recliner as his own. It's not his, but somehow he thinks it is. Maybe he is a little Martin after all. (I definitely see signs of Grandpa & Grandma Martin here!)

 This is the first night of dress up! Thank goodness for 4 totes of Halloween costumes, because with Mom so busy at work, costumes didn't get bought or made this year. This was all pulled together in about 30 minutes before our Ward Fall Festival. Woo Hoo!

 Woody from Toy Story makes another appearance at our house 10 years later!

Pocahontas and the Gandalf puppy made another appearance as well.

 Oh yeah, this one is totally new...Victor Krum from Harry Potter! Made up from many other peices of other costumes. It actually worked quite well. And the personality fits well too!

 And what better than Uncle Eric, Auntie Lindsay, Davis & Baby Jace going with us to the festival? That was fun!

 Black frosted cupcakes...yikes!

 And for a kid (Davis) who doesn't like candy...he sure doesn't shy away from cookies and cupcakes, or trick or treating for candy for that matter. He was all over getting those goodies from the trunk or treat in the parking lot.

 Here's a much tinier skeleton. Isn't he cute....yeah Eric's alright, but that baby....oooh he's yummy!

 2 peas in a pod. Maybe that should've been their costume!

 Love this skeleton...he's pretty yummy too!

 Big brother thinks so too!

 The creme filling posing for a picture before trick or treating on Halloween night!

Marina wore her costume to school all day, and got lots of compliments. Esaias cried for 20 minutes about not being able to wear his costume to Timi's (daycare). Thank goodness he recovered. He was an absolute angel trick or treating. He walked and rode in the stroller, and was very pleasant to be around. I think he is finally showing signs of getting past some of this 3 year old stuff.

If you can't beat them, join them! Isaac decided that if he had to go trick or treating with the family, instead of being able to go with friends, that he'd join the party, by sporting his cowboy get up.

 Oslin was not really a fan of this costume. If he could have gotten the hood off, he would've. At least it kept him warm while trick or treating. He was very cute in the car on Halloween morning. We were listening to Halloween music. When the song from the Wizard of Oz came on, "The Wicked Witch is Dead" he started clapping and laughing. It was very funny and cute.

"Reach for the sky!" Esaias also kept calling himself Buzz Lightyear. I guess to him they are always together. His special bedtime blanket has Buzz and Woody on it.

Oooh, and the joys of digging in and staying up a little late to eat candy! Doesn't get better than that! Sure love these kids!