January 2019

Happy 8th Birthday to our Coley-Poley!

Cole is pretty excited to be getting baptized into The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. For his 8th birthday we gave him his very own set of scriptures - a copy of The Bible and The Book of Mormon, as well as a special scripture case that I made for him. He understood how special they are and has been doing a really good job of treating them respectfully and reading out of them.

His other favorite presents were games from Grandma and Grandpa and of course more Pokemon paraphernalia. 

Cole specifically requested a mint Oreo ice cream cake, so that's what he got.

He also had a few friends go to Chuck E. Cheese with him to celebrate. They had a blast. So did Clara and Lexi.

We took a short trip to the Focus on the Family Center in January as well - always a good time.

Macy turned 11 months old too! I don't know how other moms get pictures of their babies on these little mats after they're able to crawl and move. I could not get a still shot of her to save my life! Good thing she's so cute!

And of course Clara wanted to join in on the picture fun. She is still struggling with sharing the spotlight with Macy. Hopefully one day she will get over her frustrations and they will be good friends.

Macy's favorite toy these days is the little piano and microphone. She will sit there and "sing" into the microphone with a huge grin on her face, knowing that she's using it right. Makes me smile every time.

The girls have to come with me sometimes to take Cole to his piano lesson, so we grab the clipboard and Lexi works on her homework in the car while we're waiting. I looked over and she had all of a sudden turned into a teenager doing her high school homework in my mind. Slow down time! 

Then I asked her to show me what she had been working on, and this is what I found. It's a "happy heart". I almost peed my pants laughing while trying not to laugh in front of Lexi. Definitely still my sweet, creative kindergartner. I suggested to Dave that he should frame it and put it on his desk at work.

Clara loves to ride in the front seat when we pick up the kids from the bus stop, and I love our time together just listening to her stories and songs. She definitely has a naturally happy heart and is the sunshine in our family. Isn't she beautiful too?!

Our littles looking out the back window together.

 We had some snowy days in January, but we also had some absolutely wonderful days to be outside as well (usually in the same week). We went on a family walk through the melting snow and the warm weather one Sunday afternoon.

We were playing follow the leader and kids were trying to step in my footsteps and not make any more tracks. I was trying so hard to keep my steps small, but poor Clara had a rough time keeping up with my big tracks. Of course when we turned around to go home she got to be the leader and everyone followed her. She could not have been happier.

Dave had his sinuses dilated and was a pretty happy patient after being drugged. I have never seen him so goofy. Who knew?! 

December 2018

December was a busy month at school, home and vacation!

Cole finished his rain forest biome project, complete with a river, frogs, snakes, bugs, plants, and even a gorilla.

This kids celebrated veterans day in November and Cole made a poster for the halls on his great grandpa Piccard. He was actually 14 in this picture when he enlisted, even though you were supposed to be 17.

Lexi came home with this sweet page - wishing she would stay little longer. I love reading her work.

More of Lexi's work...

Lexi was one of the stars of the kindergarten school play. She got to be the Gingerbread Man! Isn't she the cutest little Gingerbread Man you have ever seen?!

Cole had his very first piano recital in December. Here he is with his angel-teacher, Sandy Howe. He did amazing, and even sang along to the entire song, "Have a Holly Jolly Christmas". I am in awe of his self-confidence.

I often find the older two girls in Macy's crib with her, just playing and giggling together. Macy usually has the biggest smile of them all.

I love Clara's style - messy hair and big sunglasses at the bus stop!

Currently Lexi's favorite hairstyle is pig tail braids combining into one.

Macy turned 10 months old in December! She is still the happiest little thing, has officially mastered crawling, and is entering the wiggle phase where we will never again be able to hold her still on our lap. Teeth and giggles coming out everywhere with her.

One of her favorite poses while crawling is the elevated plank. She thinks its so funny that she can lift her whole body off the floor except her toes and fingers.

Poor baby girl also had a trip to the allergist and many pokes. So far the only thing we've confirmed that she's severely allergic to is eggs. I officially get to carry epi pens around everywhere now!

Happy 34th birthday to me! I got flowers from my sweetie and a couple friends. This was my view while doing dishes. My favorite.

Birthday kisses from the kids. :)

I can't remember the last time I actually opened my own presents. The kids are drawn to wrapping paper like ants to sugar.

Lexi's 6th birthday came next. A unicorn music box, ear muffs, roller skates and a new helmet were the highlights this year.

The giant "6" German chocolate cake tasted delicious, despite the frosting having some issues staying on the side of the cake.

Lexi also had a friend birthday party at the house of bounce, where they jumped and climbed and slid on bouncy houses for hours. 

Lexi stuck to the giant Velcro wall.

It's pretty hard for such a little girl to jump very high in those heavy Velcro suits. It was quite entertaining to watch.

Clara just being silly.

Between their birthdays and Christmas both Clara and Lexi got new helmets and roller skates. They have been practicing around our kitchen island.

We still find Lexi is some of the most precarious sleep positions. This night she decided to go to bed wearing her new ear muffs. Who doesn't sleep with their earmuffs on?!

We decided that this was the year to take the kids on the polar express train. They got to ride the train, have hot cocoa and cookies, and meet Santa and a few of his elves. Let's just say that Macy wasn't as happy to be on Santa's lap as the others were.

Here are a couple pictures of the train we took. When we went, the river was icy and frozen around the edges.

We also ran into Santa in Wal-Mart.

Clara chose to decorate Santa's sleigh and reindeer this year instead of a gingerbread house. I was surprised at how much of the candy actually made it on the gingerbread. It didn't last long though.

Lexi is always the most attentive to detail and takes the longest to get everything just right. Love her faces that she makes while focusing.

Pretty sure more of Cole's candy (and frosting) went in his mouth than on his gingerbread house. He we enjoying himself though.

We opened a few Christmas presents from family before heading to Utah to see the Beutlers for Christmas. Between birthdays and Christmas we must have opened a present a day.

Christmas Morning 2018! St. George, Utah.

We got to be there with Joe, Kaela, Melissa and James.

Baby girl with her Daddy.

Lexi's face when she realized that the giant box she just unwrapped was supposed to be a replica of "The Great Wolf Lodge". Grandpa Beutler gave us a night's stay at the water park hotel down the street from our house.

Cole was thrilled to get more Pokemon cards and books. I'm counting down the days until we are done with Pokemon...

Clara is still very much into dress up and dolls. She was thrilled with her mermaid costume.

Our little mermaid digging under the tree for more presents.

Lexi wearing her rainbow unicorn purse doing beads and bows with Aunt Kaela.

The end of December we took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge. They had a BLAST. Clara was barely tall enough to ride most of the bigger slides, and that girl has no fear. Her favorite was the face-first toboggan race slides.

Aside from the water park we also checked out a little pup yoga and a few arcade games.

Clara was not so happy to be leaving.