Talk about fun with a new camera. I love how each picture looks. I can see I am going to enjoy this new camera. Thanks Honey!
We went sledding today, and had lots of fun with the new sleds we got the kids for Christmas. We went to the big hill at USU which is really big and well, it can be dangerous. Ray took the kids up the hill a bit, and then sent Jake down and I wasn't able to get to him quick enough and he hit a parked car going backwards. We quickly decided to go under the big pine trees where there was not as much snow, and the kids would be stopped by grass instead of parked cars. It took Jake a little bit of time to get over his fear and then he enjoyed going down the hill as much as Ellie who was a pro at it from the beginning, and was quick to learn how to steer with her rope. I think we are going to have lots of fun with these sleds while the snow is here. :)
We made them uncover them on the count of three, that way they wouldn't spoil it for each other. Jake had asked for Woody Cowboy boots, and once he opened them he really didn't care to open anything else. Ellie had asked for Pet Shops, and once she realized that is something she was getting, we could have stopped unwrapping gifts for her as well. 
Both kids were overjoyed when they uncovered the blankets to see that they had received motor scooters, and are excited for a clear day to come along so that they can learn to ride them. Ray received a cocomotion which we quickly used for some delicious hot chocolate, and Ray got me the ultimate gift.
He has been bugging me for some time about the fact that I said I wanted to start saving up for a bit nicer camera. Well Christmas morning he gave me a box to open which when I did I found two new pillows which I was overjoyed because we were in need. He them told me to open their plastic covering, and when I did I found a Cannon Rebel T1i EOS.
I was so excited I started to cry. The kids quickly turned their joys into major concern over why their daddy would make mommy cry on Christmas morning. Ray had to quickly explain to them that sometimes people cry tears of joy.
I love my new camera, and am excited to start excepting more photo jobs, oh what fun I am going to have learning all the things this camera has to offer.
Well, so much for surprising Ray Christmas morning. He came home from work early this morning, and the kitty was crying up a storm. Jake came running up stairs letting me know that dad's gift was meowing really loud. (lol) So, I told the kids to sit their dad down and entertain him, and then I quickly wrapped up the special gift, and then brought it up for Ray to unwrap. Of course by the time he was handed the gift, it was crying and smacking around in the box so he knew what it was. He was still excited to see what his gift looked like, and that I actually caved and got him a kitty when for the past several months I have been pretty adamant on the fact that we were NOT getting another dang pet. He named the kitty Pillow, and we all love him already. I think this kitty will get along well in our family. Ray assures me he had no clue, despite the noises that came from the kitty, and the slip ups from the kids. :)
We had lots of fun snapping photos out in the cold for our 2009 Christmas card. The kids were up for the idea of doing pictures on this day, and I was thrilled to get some decent shots of the two of them. It will be nice when spring comes however just so I can get some pictures to hang on my freshly painted walls.
Ellie and Jake went with the Boys and Girls Club and sang Christmas Carols for the Senior Citizens at the Care Center. The were so cute, and did such a good job. They have both decided that they want to start visiting the old folks home once in a while starting in the new year.
Ellie was given an award at school during the December Assembly for being a friend to all. She was so excited for this award, and we are so proud of her for her kindness to everyone she meets. We love you Ellie, keep up the good work sis. Corby the cougar makes sure to make an appearance at all the assemblies during the year, and the kids really love having him come.
A son who writes all over his body in hopes that you will stop what you are doing long enough to notice he was bad, and then spend the rest of the day holding him, and cuddling him, and worrying only about him, and not his dad. 
When these two are sick they compete for my attention, which is quite often a task, and most often quite humerous. What about me? NO, what about me? NO, what about me, no me, no me, no ME.....
For Halloween, we decided to skip the door to door trick-or-treating, and instead headed to the park where our ward was doing a trunk or treat, or park-n- treat as I called it. They made this big circle on the lawn, taped it off, and had the kids walk around the inside of the circle while the adults stood on the outside of the circle handing out candy to each kid as they passed by. After the treats were all handed out they met under the pavilion for donuts and hot cocoa. It was lots of fun seeing what each kid in our ward had chose to be for Halloween, and I think my kids ended up with more candy than they would have had they gone door to door. 
This year Ellie decided to go as a hippie chic. She was so cute in her decked out costume. I made her head band, bracelet, necklace, and earrings. I wanted her to wear tie dyed leggings, but she chose to go with the polka dot ones. But I still think she made the cutest hippie I have ever seen.
Jake went as batman. I found his body costume at a thrift shop for a dollar, and he was so excited that he was able to add it with his cape and mask to make a full costume. When we got to the park there was this little boy who was dressed in a cape and mask who kept following Jake around saying look, look. It was so dang cute. Jake finally turned to his mom and said can you tell him to stop following me. I explained to Jake that this little batman thought Jake was the coolest kid in the whole world. Jake thought about this for a moment and then said ok little batman you can follow me around. Little batman's mom thought it was so cute. 
After we got home from the park we headed to the store and rented the new Ice Age Movie, and came home and had ourselves a Halloween party.
We carved pumpkins for family home evening. I got online and let the kids pick the face they wanted to use, and then I cut open the pumpkin, and then let the kids gut their own and then I carved their faces. Our school does a pumpkin walk every year, and each kid is asked to bring a carved pumpkin to school for their class table. Each class is given a theme, and the kids are supposed to decorate their pumpkin accordingly.
Ellie's classes theme was witches, ghosts, and goblins. This was her interpretation of all of the above. She was sad the evening of the pumpkin walk because we could not find her pumpkin. We had taken it to school the morning of, and when we got to her classes table that evening her pumpkin was not with her class. The next morning we found her pumpkin and it had been put in the back of the stage cause someone had broken it. She was pretty sad. I told her of all the pumpkins in her class hers was my very most favorite. 
Jake's classes theme was happy, sad, grumpy, mad. This is what he chose. His pumpkin looked so cute sitting with his class table, and I think his turned out the cutest. Of course I am the mom and it is my job to think that anything my kids do outshines what any other kid does, right?
