December 2013: Family Pictures

Here are a few of our favorites:

December 2013: Cole's Debut

Cole's preschool has a Christmas program every year (I love that he goes to a Christian school), and his class learned and performed a couple short Christmas songs for us in December. I can't say that I was able to understand them while they were on stage, but Cole knew every word and is still singing "Happy Birthday Baby Jesus" to us. One of the cutest moments of the evening was in between their two songs when it was really quite Cole leaned into the microphone and said "Merry Christmas!" in his sweetest little voice (without being prompted) - it was adorable!

We were also able to take a quick trip up to Salt Lake City for my brother Russell's wedding. He and Katie make such a great pair! The kids were such troopers for a while, but Cole didn't really get the cause and effect of playing in the snow and then getting cold, so needless to say we had a few meltdowns along the way. It was his first time every really being cold. Our friend Nadia and her son Moroni, who live in Salt Lake City, were gracious enough to watch the kids for us during the actual marriage ceremony in the temple.

My major accomplishment for the month was finishing my very first quilt. It only took me four months to finish it. :) Hopefully Cole will appreciate it in his big-boy bed in a little while. If you can't tell from the pictures, there's a dinosaur print in the quilt that I used and it's backed with the dinosaurs as well. What more could a little boy want?!

Cole's Preschool Picture 2013

What a stud!

Happy Halloween!

This past weekend was our ward trunk-or-treat, and I think this is the first time Cole has really enjoyed dressing up. The candy was a big incentive too. ;-)

Cole was a Sully from Monsters, Inc., Lexi was the most adorable little owl (the pictures don't do her justice), Aubrey was a fairy and Dave was a hippie.

Here are a few of Cole's best "ROAR"'s. You can almost hear him through the pictures...

This is Lexi's model pout face. We try and get her to pose for a picture and this is what she does. 

Cole and Dave had a great time carving pumpkins as well. Cole especially loved the Mr. Potato Head Pumpkin. He must have spent 45 minutes putting the face and arms in and taking them out and putting him back together again, and he could not stop kissing and hugging it. We have to keep an eye on Cole when friends come over or they will get a little extra lovin' that they didn't bargain for.

Lexi wasn't so interested in the pumpkin carving this year, but she sure did love her BBQ Chicken. It's hard to get pretty much anything past her iron-clenched jaw, but for some reason this is one of her favorites.

Fall Fun

This past month has been filled with lots of wonderful weather, long walks, zoo trips with friends, and park days once again! Lexi and Cole are learning how to play with each other better and I can see their love for each other growing every day (at least Lexi's love for Cole - he's still trying to accept the fact that he has to share his toys, but getting there). Lexi is crawling around like a pro and walking with her little walker toy, almost ready to do it by herself. Cole is LOVING preschool, making new friends, and learning new things each time he goes. Here are a few recent pics:

Backyard Water Slide

Dave surprised Cole with a fun new pool for our backyard, and he loved it (yes, still swimming weather here in Phoenix - 105 degrees outside when these pictures were taken). What he loved even more was turning his backyard slide into a water slide and doing crazy jumps into the pool. Lexi had even more fun watching him and laughing at him with her daddy though. Gotta love family time on a Saturday afternoon!