Here are some things we've done this winter...
December
Cedric gets scared easily and has a hard time being alone in his room. For the past several months, he has to go to bed with some sort of weapon. He also listens to music on the iPad as he falls asleep. I love this picture of him, holding onto the iPad with his Hulk hand and gun. He's such a cute boy!
At our Young Women in Excellence night, the girls got to dress up in formal dresses. Lily borrowed a prom dress from our neighbor and looked so beautiful.
I was in charge of the decorations. Our theme was Cruisin' through a year of excellence and we decorated everything like a cruise boat. I even made towel animals.
December 5th, Tom was out mowing the lawn for the last time of the season. Utah has crazy weather!
The boys wanted to sit with the bishop for tithing settlement. Future bishops, maybe?
Lily is the best babysitter right now and we love having her help with the kids so much. She's such a good helper.
Lily and I had fun seeing her friends perform in Seussical the Musical one night. I love doing stuff with my oldest.
Right before Christmas, my step brother, Caleb left on his mission. He's serving in Bakersfield, California.
We had plenty of snow this winter! The kids never complained, they love the snow!
We've proven that a house divided
can stand. BYU vs. Utah game day.
We enjoyed going with the three oldest to see the New Star Wars movie, "The Force Awakens". We saw the IMAX 3D show, and because it was on a Tuesday, (when movies are only $5), I had a Fandago gift card, refill mugs and a coupon for a free popcorn, it only cost us around $10 to go see it!
We celebrated our 16th anniversary on December 30th.
Here's our engagement picture. We look so young!
My sister, Aimee took our four kids overnight and Tom and I got to enjoy a 25 hr long date! That afternoon we did sealings at the temple, and that night we went to dinner at Red Maple (my favorite restaurant), and then went to the movies. We enjoyed sleeping in, going to brunch and shopping the next morning. I love this man more today than I did 16 years ago. I'm so blessed to get to be his bride for eternity.
I got a megaphone for Christmas, and I loved it! I could tell the kids to come upstairs for dinner without having to yell. Unfortunately, it fell and broke only a few months after Christmas.
At the end of December, our niece, Savannah left for her mission to the Sacramento, California mission. Unfortunately, due to a car accident the day before she left, Savannah developed very bad back pain and returned home from her mission after a month. Regardless of the length, we are proud of her for going.
January
Sophie loves when I take pictures of her hair after I do it each day.
For Christmas, Cedric got a bunch of Avengers stuff for his room. So Tom and I painted it, Zombie Gray (Cedric's choice of color), and decorated it with his new Avengers Decals and bedding.
One day, we thought it'd be fun to buy a cheap goldfish and feed it to Jeff's pet turtle, Tank. It was pretty entertaining watching the turtle and fish swimming around the bin as fast as they both could. Eventually, the turtle won.
At the end of December I became a great-aunt. Our niece, Brooklyn was due with her first baby at the end of January. However, do to some medical complications, she ended up having him a month early. Baby Bruce was born a healthy baby and Brooklyn was able to get the help she needed. The best part was, Brooklyn and Jacob live in Oceanside, CA and were visiting for Christmas, so we all got to meet Bruce at her baby shower before they headed home after the new year.
My new years resolution was to make a more organized job chart for the kids. So far, it's working out really well. The kids know what they need to do, and I feel like I have to worry less about when I'm going to get things done or what jobs to come up with each day. The kids don't complain (as much) because it's more fair.
One night in January, I met up with four of my old roommates from Rick's College. It was right around my cousin, Alana's birthday, so we had a fun little party at her house.
One night in January, we had my dad over for dinner and games. Suzy was out of town helping some family and we never get one-on-one time with him, so it was a special treat. I love my family!
February
Sophie's reaction to the car wash...
Preschool selfie. This is my office and my co-workers...
On February 5th we drove down to Provo and toured the new Provo City Center Temple. The kids were so excited and really enjoyed it. After, we went to Golden Corral for dinner.
The Super Bowl party this year was at Tom's parent's house. We had lots of yummy food and seeing the Bronco's win was nice.
Valentine's this year consisted of sugar cookies, frosting and candy.
Jeff made a Valentine's box that looked like an oven.
I helped in Cedric's class for the party. I was in charge of the games. The kids love the game "Don't Eat Pete".
Sophie was begging to go swim in her kiddie pool for about a week. So I let her try wearing her swim suit outside to show her how cold it really was. This picture just cracks me up!
Sophie started speech preschool in January, but when she was going through the screening test, she didn't pass the eye test, so I took her to the eye doctor. Sure enough, she needs glasses.
After the nearly two-hour doctor visit I took her to her favorite restaurant, Noodles and Co. (I look like I'm crying, but it's just the spicy Indian dish I was eating.)
The kids love to have friends help them with their jobs. Sophie seems to have at least one friend over every day.
I was trying to be "cool" and take a selfie with a duck face and peace sign. Lily was just laughing at her dorky mom.
Sophie got to pick up her new glasses a few days after the doctor appointment. She looks so cute in them and now I'm so used to her with them, it's weird to see them off.
Lily performed a solo theatrical song in her school talent show and was a hit! She did such a great job singing "My New Philosophy".
Our good friends, Steve and Nisha lost their five month old baby boy a few weeks ago. It was such a sweet funeral and graveside ceremony.
We were even more heartbroken to find out Nisha lost her youngest sister only two weeks later.
Jeff's been growing his hair long. I have a love/hate relationship with it.
We enjoyed seeing my nephew, Marcus in his school musical "The Lion King'.
Sophie got to dog-sit our neighbors dog the other day and loved taking Winston for a walk.
It's now spring, life stays busy and the adventure's continue!..
