New year! **UPDATED**

Brady had to work a very long 14 hour shift so the rest of us partied at my friends house with her family of 5 boys. While there Zenock pulled out his first loose tooth. Another tooth will probably fall out tomorrow too! Then he'll have all 4 front teeth gone at once.
 

 

***UPDATE***

 

 

 The story about the older boys staying up until midnight: I knew Gideon wouldn't go to sleep unless his brothers were in bed like normal. So I told them they had to wait until he was asleep before they could come out and stay up with me. I kid you not, five minutes later Zenock comes running out excitedly saying Gideon's eyes were closing and he wasn't moving. So he proceeded to beg to stay up until midnight so he could see the new year. I caved. Ammon fell asleep the same time as Gideon...but I told him if that happens then I would wake him up just before midnight so he wouldn't miss it. At 11:45pm Zenock couldn't stay awake any longer. At 11:55 I woke up Ammon and he said he was too exhausted from playing so much today so he didn't want to get out of bed. The next morning I told him about it and he was surprised he said anything because he didn't remember me waking him up at all. Zenock was really bummed he fell asleep right before midnight. Although I didn't get to spend my night watching the movie I was planning on, it was still fun to watch Tarzan and Jane with Zenock and just hang out with everyone else was sleeping.

 

 

 During New Year's dinner with our friends and the missionaries, Zenock informed all of us that he ate his tooth. I knew that was going to happen because it was SO loose last night, but he refused to let me pull it out. The tooth fairy left him a note saying that she thought it was gross that he ate his tooth. He was happy he still got a quarter even though there was no tooth for her. He now has all four front teeth missing and he has a lisp...it's adorable.

Some quotes I found....

Some quotes I found while preparing for my talk on Sunday about how to build a Zion people....not necessarily material I used, but still good things to remember.

Elder Packer, Oct 1998: There are things vital to the well-being of a family which can be found only by going to Church. There is the priesthood, which empowers a man to lead and bless his wife and children, and covenants which bind them together forever.

 

I have studied much in the scriptures and have taught from them. I have read much from what the prophets and apostles have spoken. They have had a profound influence upon me as a man and as a father.

 

But most of what I know about how our Father in Heaven really feels about us, His children, I have learned from the way I feel about my wife and my children and their children. This I have learned at home. I have learned it from my parents and from my wife’s parents, from my beloved wife and from my children, and can therefore testify of a loving Heavenly Father and of a redeeming Lord.

 

Presiding Bishopric member Keith McMullin, Oct 2002: Principles of love, work, self-reliance, and consecration are God given. Those who embrace them and govern themselves accordingly become pure in heart.

And HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my Dad!!!!!! We all love and miss Grandpa!

Trying out the fun stuff

Playing their Skylander Giants game during naptime.

First Foodsaver trial was some leftover lettuce. I wonder how long it will stay good in the fridge?

Christmas Part 4

 

 

Opening the gun safe from me...but I get to use it too :) Brady got me a massage, gift certificate to See's Candy, a hoodie with all the kids handprints painted on it, and a gift card to PF Changs. My parents gave us the hand truck in the photo, an air compressor with all the necessary accessories to use it, some Prepared Pantry food storage stuff, and a few kitchen gadgets. Thank you so much!!! As of today the hand truck has been used three times and the air compressor twice :)

Christmas Part 3

The tail end of Gideon, shared presents for the older boys, and Zenock.

Stocking surprises are awesome!

Zenock's loot from Mom and Dad, Santa, and Grandparents.

And....HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO KACEY!!!!

Christmas Part 2

Gideon



For some reason the camera turned off twice while filming Gideon

His present loot from Mom and Dad, Santa, and Grandparents.

Checking out the stocking stuff. Look, it's a reindeer chocolate sucker!

Christmas Part 1

I'm sharing Christmas at our house with you so all my far away family can see.....since we all miss you very very much. Each kid has a starring role.

Ayla's present loot from Mom and Dad, Santa, and Grandparents.

The prized zebra we forgot about in the garage and found later in the day. Grandpa picked it out just for her, and she LOVES it!! Video is below.

Christmas Eve

Brady's mom has a bunch of singing animals. The little kids went nuts playing with all of them. Gid had a goal to keep all of them moving at the same time, so I kept pushing buttons for a while. We did a white elephant game, had some awesome pizza, opened gifts from each other, and played with the cousins!

a can of nuts!

 

Pearl bead thingys. We also came home with popcorn, soap, gladware bowls, and something else...I forgot.

Gideon played with the camera, insisting he take my picture. I had no idea Brady got in there too

 

Ayla cuddling her new pillow pet from Great Grandparents. Zenock and Gideon got sleeping bag/blanket/pillow things, and Ammon got a brain teaser puzzle set. From Grammy and Jerry the boys got gift cards to the rec center and Ayla got a cute pink jumper set. All the adult couples got a Food Saver!! I am so thrilled to use it...and I expect to use it so much I wear it out in the many years to come. We had a really fun time hanging out with Brady's family!

Christmas jammies for everyone!




Kids opening Christmas jammies, then the Nativity story in Luke, a bedtime story, "The Christmas Carol" and off to bed with all of them :)

Driving trains

That body shake he does at the first of the video is his way of saying driving. So whenever he talks about something going somewhere, he shakes his torso and arms from side to side, sometimes mimicking putting his hands on a steering wheel at the same time. It's the funniest thing.

Random things before Christmas

Zonked out mid bite of grilled cheese.

Ammon's first big school project. He did a poster on a landmark, Craters of the Moon. He was so thrilled to find out it was in Idaho. I tried to help him be more crafty, but he wanted to do it this way...which is fine by me. He did most of the work by himself.

Trying out Daddy's finger guards for his bow.

 

Ammon took an archery class this fall instead of doing soccer. He loved it, and shot pretty good for his first time! The above is getting ready for the class, and below is the final shoot.

 

We drove to a neighborhood in Henderson that had almost the whole street decorated for Christmas. They had a Disney theme going and each house had different painted stories. I remember Alice in Wonderland, Nemo, Princesses, Mickey, Shrek, Charlie Brown, and some more that I can't remember now. Santa and Mrs. Claus were there hanging out on the sidewalk. Zenock was the only one that would get out of the car to go say hello to them. We are definitely making Quiver Point a frequent stop next year.

#10!

It's so awesome that we started out as the above, and now we are as below. It's been a wonderful 10 years of marriage!! I'm so happy I get to spend eternity with this wonderful man and these cute kids!!

Mystic Falls

A longish video of us at Sams Town. They have a Mystic Falls light show thing and in the winter it "snows". I think it was just small bubble type stuff, but the kids loved it. It was a really nice show, not too long for the kids, and they all loved looking at the animals that danced along to some of the songs. I love free family outings!!

Grandparents and partying

My parents and sister came for a visit Saturday. The kids LOVED having other people to play with all day. And when Grandma reads a story, it's extra fun. They left Sunday morning, and we all miss them already. It's so fun to have family come visit us, even if it's only for a day.

Our church Christmas party was Saturday night. My family joined us. Ayla was doing a funny face, refusing to eat even one bite of pumpkin pie.

In the Nativity presentation by the kids Ammon was a soldier and Zenock was a townsperson.

Ayla didn't mind sitting on Santa's lap until I made Gideon come over for a picture while he was crying like crazy about being near the bearded man. I think Ammon does a great photo bomb face almost every time we take a picture of him.

Sleeping and fighting

 

One of Brady's nieces came to sleep over on Thanksgiving night. Gideon crawled into bed with her. I think a good caption for this picture is "Turkey Hangover."

The next day these two were fighting like crazy. I had enough of it and made them wear one of Brady's shirts at the same time. They were so mad at me for doing this. I tried so hard not to laugh at their increased frustration. It wasn't until Brady made them face each other and basically hug that they were able to stop being mean and get over it.

Funny kids

Here is something really funny Zenock told me tonight. The scenario is me putting our fake tree together and discovering half the lights don't work, even after changing fuses.

Me: Dang it, the lights still don't work!
Z: Call Cox, Mom.
Me: No, I can figure it out. It's okay.
Z: Mom, call Cox. Not the Cox's in our ward, the electricity Cox. (What he doesn't know is they do phone, cable, and internet, not electricity).
Me: No, I don't need to call anyone.
Z: Mom, CALL THEM! Sometimes people need help. CALL THEM!

So there you have it. Sometimes people do need help, and calling someone....even if their specialty is not exactly related can be helpful according to a seven year old.

And, Gideon is finally beginning the word explosion phase. Yesterday he said park and Grandpa. Today he said Bethany, beads, bath (the right way), and back (pointing at the back door to go outside). He used to do about one new work a week...and now we have 6 words in two days! Speech therapy is working!!

Ethel M. Chocolate Factory lights!

We had family home evening on Tuesday since Brady was home that evening. We took the kids to see the lights at the chocolate factory cactus gardens. Ayla's coat is 18 month size, and it's ginormous! I love my purple marshmallow.

They were both running around and didn't want to come back by Daddy and the stroller. They both melted on the sidewalk. Gideon got up before Ayla, obviously, but he looked just like her a second before.

The penguins in the igloo behind them popped up and down. Ayla was freaking out with excitement about all these inflatables, as seen in the picture below.

No, she's not mad...quite the opposite. I think she would have loved to get on the other side of the fence and give all those inflatables a big cuddle.

These two pictures were my favorite part. I love peacocks. I have Ayla's room in peacock colors...and I just love it.

Gideon was SO excited about this huge polar bear. It must have been 8 feet tall. He was shouting, "WOAH!!" And he also found a rock to stand on so I could take his picture. He likes to look at pictures of himself in the camera. Now he will even smile for me, if it's his idea first.