Carson's 6th Birthday

On December 29th Carson turned 6 years old. Normally we have a big family party since Carson and two of his cousins all have birthdays in the last week of December, but this year we opted to do our thing. So we decided to give Carson his first birthday party with friends. He was so excited. Lately he's been really into dinosaurs so he wanted to have a dinosaur themed party. He's so smart and knows a lot of the names of the dinosaurs (don't ask me...I'm just the Mom). We were going to have it at our house but the day before his birthday Austin got sick and was throwing up so we made a change and had it at our church so the germs wouldn't spread. We played all kinds of games like "Sit on the Dinosaur Egg until it hatches" which is sit on a balloon and pop it, "Hot Dinosaur Egg" or Hot Potato and Pin the Skull on the Triceratops. Mostly they all had fun just running around the gym. It was crazy but fun! Then we opened presents and had cupcakes and ice cream.

For our family gifts he got three Transformers...

A Nerf gun, which is good because at Grandma and Grandpa Nye's they have Nerf Gun wars...

His own scooter so he doesn't have to ride his sister's purple and pink one anymore...

And then finally clothes, but who wants to see clothes? It was a good birthday for him and he said he couldn't wait until his next one!

Tub Time!

For Christmas Grandma Moon gave Austin some tub toys. Here he is enjoying them and having a grand ol' time in the tub. He loves bath time!

Christmas

So on Christmas Eve we went to Grandma and Grandpa Nye's house for our traditional Nativity party. While all the kids were downstairs playing and the grown-ups were in the kitchen talking I soon realized that there were little clinking noises over in the TV room and suddenly realized that there were bowls of M&Ms on the tables that I forgot to sit up. I told Curt to go get Austin and as soon as he walked around the table there was Austin with a mouthful of M&Ms and chocolate and "hard, candy shell" all over the carpet and his clothes. As soon as Austin saw Curt he spit them all out on the carpet which just added to the mess. Isn't he lovely?

I was in charge of the Nativity this year. I can't remember who everybody was (simply because I said, "Whatever you want to be you can be as long as there are no fights.") In our family Kaylee was Mary, Shelby was the Angel, Carson was a sheep, Austin was a camel and Curt and I were shepherds. Do we look like we stepped out of Bible times?

For Christmas the girls got some Heely's from Santa and Carson got Optimus Prime.

I got some work out stuff for my Wii Fit Plus that I got for my birthday.

Curt got a new watch.

The family got a tether ball pole and Kaylee was so excited because she has wanted one since the school year began.

Austin got a ball since his last ball, the one he got for his birthday got popped by his older brother.

After all the presents Grandma Moon came over and had breakfast with us. Then later on Grandma and Grandpa Nye came over, too. I forgot to take pictures of them with the kids but I promise they were here. It's always fun to have the grandparents over.

Curt's Birthday

Two days later it was Curt's 35th birthday. His favorite cake is cheesecake so we had cheesecake with raspberry topping. We were going to go out that night but our babysitter (Grandma Nye) got really sick with bronchitis. So we stayed home with the kids and enjoyed the night with them. If you notice I got him back with the candles on his cake!

Kirsten's Birthday

Well this year I turned 34 although I still feel like I'm 25. I often think, "I can't be this old," but I am. It was a fun birthday and at the end I had the best present. Shelby was in her choir concert at school so we got to go watch her sing. It was so fun! Then we came back and had cake adn ice cream. Curt got the sparkler candles that don't blow out. It was good times!

A Griswold Fun, Old-Fashioned Family Christmas!

Well normally for Christmas we put our nice fake Christmas tree the day or two after Thanksgiving but this year some friends from our ward asked if we wanted to go on a search for our very own Christmas tree and cut it down. We decided that since that's an experience we haven't had before then we would venture out and have a "fun, old-fashioned family Christmas" just like the Griswold's but we DID bring our saw. We went up through Wyoming and then back into the Wasatch Mountains. It was a long drive but a good time.

His first snow experience. We couldn't find any snow pants by the time we went so we really couldn't let him get too much in the snow because I didn't want him soaked!

This was a lake that was frozen over and all the guys are riding the 4-wheelers and sliding on them. It made me nervous so I just didn't watch. I guess boys will be boys, right? All in the name of fun!

Halloween

Well for Halloween we went to Grandma and Grandpa Nye's (tradition) for our family party. We had homemade root beer and soup in bread bowls. Grandma goes all out for this party and I love it because I love Halloween! After dinner the kids were able to bust open a skull pinata. They had a ton of fun, as always. Thanks Grandma.

Shelby was a spider witch, Kaylee was a vampire, Carson was Optimus Prime (Transformer) and Austin was a skeleton (again).

The kids made these pumpkins at Grandma's.

On Halloween we have a traditional party with our neighbors where we eat dinner and then go trick-or-treating. This year we added bobbing for apples. It was hilarious. Here's Curt and the kids getting their apples. I was behind the camera so I was exempt - whew!

Austin's 1st Birthday

On October 23rd Austin turned 1! I can't believe we have had him in our lives for only a year. It seems like he's been with us forever but yet it seems like only yesterday we brought him home from the hospital. Isn't he the cutest ever...but if you look closely you will see a little bit (well maybe A LOT) or mischief in his eyes. He gets into so much trouble for a 1 year old.

When he woke up

His birthday cake. I made it and it took a long time. I tend to get in over my head sometimes.

This was his to eat by himself!

Opening presents!

Let's eat cake!!!

I want more!!!

That was good!

When he eats cake there is no body part untouched!

After his bath and riding on his 4-wheeler!

His first taste of cake...HILARIOUS!!

Funny Austin

This is a funny video of when Curt gave Austin a taste of some sour candy and his reaction to it. It cracks us up every time we watch it! He's so cute!!!

4-Wheeling Trip

On October 2nd Curt and I and a bunch of our friends including Curt's Dad, Steve, went on a 4-wheeling trip to Avon and up to Inspiration Point. As you can see it had already snowed and in this little crevice there was still snow on the ground. It was very pretty to go through...but very muddy!

This is me!

Our friends who got VERY MUDDY! They would have competitions of whoever got the muddiest would win! I think it was a toss up.

The view from Inspiration Point.

Curt and I.

All of our group at the Point.

My handsome husband!