January and Rachel's Birthday Celebrations

Rachel is 4! Chocolate cake with chocolate frosting was the pick this year.

Rachel turned 4 this year, and got her first friend birthday party. Jase and I decided that we would do parties for the kids when they turn 4, 8, 12, and 16 (and probably for graduations, etc. when they get older), just to spread things out, and do lower-key family things the rest of the time. We spent her real birthday just with family and enjoyed all her favorite foods. The Elliotts came over and we had cake and ice cream that evening. We got her a one big present this year, a dollhouse, which she really loves, since we knew she'd get a few things from grandparents and from friends at her party.

Rachel chose a "marine biologist" themed birthday party, and if you know her that probably doesn't surprise you. Rachel loves animals, but especially dolphins, sharks, whales, and fish. We kept things pretty simple with just a snack and cupcakes, playtime, present opening, and some games. We played "shark attack" with a hammerhead shark puppet (essentially hot potato to the Jaws theme) and pin the tail on the fish. Our crowd was mostly 3-5 year olds so simple was great. I'd call it a success, and since it was the first "drop off" birthday party for most of the kids in the group they all talked about it for weeks. I did learn one thing, and that is to never do chocolate cupcakes with chocolate frosting for preschoolers. It was Rachel's request, but it was So. Very. Messy.

Place settings for Rachel's first real birthday party.

Pin the fin on the fish.

We are under the ocean!

Blowing out candles with friends.

For one family home evening in January we decided to capitalize on the new year with the kids and set some family and personal goals. Both kids are old enough to make a few simple and realistic goals and see improvement in themselves. We talked with the kids about what they would like to learn and be better at this year and they had such great answers!

Rachel wanted to read her scriptures (with help, obviously), say her prayers (she does this without reminders or help now), be kind to Alden, learn to write her name (she can do this as of March, after lots of practice!), and pay her tithing. Rachel started getting a $1 allowance per week last fall to teach her about saving and paying tithing. She has so far (as of April) saved her money diligently and bought herself a Rudolph stuffed animal (around Christmastime), and a Barbie that she wanted.

Alden chose to work on saying his own prayers (he sometimes asks for help, but  very often expresses himself quite well on his own), be kind to Rachel, and learn to go potty this year and wear underwear.

January finally brought the first snowstorm suitable for sledding (and now that it's April, it was one of the few of the season). I took the kids to the local park. We were the only ones out there and although I was having a lot of fun pulling the kids around they didn't share my joy as long. After two or three rides down the hill they were done. I remember as a older kid staying out forever building igloos and forts with friends in Colorado, but I suppose when you are a toddler it's just not the same. Someday maybe I'll get them to build an igloo with me. They sure were cute though. We've also spent some time doing "winter crafts" since it's been pretty cold.

Rachel put her snowman together all on her own.

Alden's snowman (I helped him with the hat and face he wanted, but he drew the arms and glued the "snow" in the right order).

December 2012

December 23rd, Sunday before Christmas in their Christmas best for church.

December was a great month, one of our best Christmas seasons. Both kids are old enough to understand the deeper meanings of Christmas and to enjoy traditions. We did lots of baking, delivering goodies to friends and family, watching Christmas movies, making lots of crafts, and coloring Christmas pages.

Christmas Eve began eventfully with Rachel, a fever, and a stomach virus. Poor Rachel is the best sick girl around. Rachel seemed to just wake up feeling rotten that day and just cuddled with us on the couch. She seemed to be doing much better that afternoon, so we decided to go ahead with our plans of an Italian dinner out with my cousins for the night. We got to the restaurant and things just went south for my poor girl, culminating in an episode of stomach virus right there at our table. Luckily I had packed a vomit-appropriate bag just in case (that morning she had been complaining of stomach pains) and she had let me know in advance what she thought might happen. I was actually surprised at how quietly and discreetly it all happened. I don't think the people next to us even knew what had happened, gratefully. Obviously after this we left and didn't get to do a Christmas program with family like we had hoped.

Instead we headed home to open pajamas and at least do the traditional pictures in front of the Christmas tree. We read a little from Luke and put the kids to bed since no one was up for much after that. Luckily there weren't too many episodes of stomach illness after that, but we could tell Rachel was not herself all through Christmas. She made the best of it though and really enjoyed cuddling up to watch her new movie the next morning.

Christmas was lovely with the exception of Rachel not feeling well. Her fever was gone by late morning and she seemed to perk up. Our friends, who we had invited over for Christmas dinner previously, decided to still come over that evening (even at the risk of stomach flu), so we had a full house for dinner with all the trimmings. We had the Harmans and the Blacks over, and my friend Tanya even brought the most delicious homemade tamales that we enjoyed for days afterwards (we are talking the real deal here--true Mexican goodness). I've got to learn to make them.

Our anniversary is the 28th, just after Christmas, so it's usually a bit of a trick to get a date in unless we are with our parents for the holidays. This year my cousin Joani offered to take the kids for a few hours so we could go enjoy ourselves for our anniversary. Since Les Mis had just started playing in theaters we decided to grab some good deli sandwiches and sneak dinner into the theater. We loved the movie and were so grateful for generous family. This was our happy 5 years to us anniversary, and we big-time celebrated a little later in March with a trip to NYC (post to come).

A few days later Alden (obviously) caught whatever it was the Rachel had. Luckily none of our friends or family that were around our children caught it though! Alden's version wasn't quite so bad, only lasting about 24 hours, but he was still out for the count for New Years Eve. You know you've reached toddler parenthood when you go to sleep with sick kids at 9 pm on New Years Eve because you just know they'll be up early the next day, if not throughout the night.

I just can't get over how beautiful she is, but also a little sad at how grown up she looks in this picture.

Christmas Eve tradition of opening up new pajamas to wear for the night. 

Yearly pictures in front of the Christmas tree. 

Poor Rach looking a little sick still, but happily holding her baby penguin from brother Alden.

Ollie gets in the picture too!

Had to include a note about all these books. My Mom sent a package with each of these books wrapped and a date on  them so we could open one per day for the whole month of December. I'm a huge book lover (especially good children's lit) so this was a wonderful surprise. We loved reading our new book every day.