Christmas 2016

My sweet dad worked with Jaxton and Rodrik to make us this cute robot for Christmas. It was super darling. I love them.

 

  
Jaxton loved his joke book right away. We have a a very healthy supply of jokes being told around here, and to any listening ear. :)
Some good presents this year included robes and slippers. My kids love having them, and they are so soft. I should have gotten a picture of them all in them. They just get too excited for posed pictures on Christmas. Jaxton got a motor scooter, (it was quite the fiasco getting it) he has been asking for one for years. We made him wait until everyone had opened all of their presents, and then we let him open his. It was super exciting, we filmed the whole thing. So fun! We didn't realize, however, that it had to be charged for 12 hours before any use. So he mostly just had to just stare at it...but that's okay. He loves it.
Rodrik got a Maui toy, it talks and comes with a giant hook. It makes him very happy. He also got a "Crabber Nabber" which he has been wanting for about 4 months. Its this big plastic crab (I think it's actually a sand toy...) that you pull the giant trigger and it's huge pinchers can grab things. Happy Rod.
The kids all got a little plastic sucker holder, Calvins had the Hulk on it. He really liked that.

 

Calvin loved his balance bike! Also his cars slippers, and Batman robe! Those are his favorites. And his big Dusty Crophopper Plane! He loves that. So fun to see kids excited!

 

Rod has been asking for a giant lollipop for as long as I can remember. He finally got one! He was excited! We ended up throwing like 97% of all of them away. I was so hoping that would happen! Merry Christmas to me! Ha! They are more for show... :)

  

We always go over to Debbie and Preston's house during the day. It's always so fun and relaxing. The kids have such a great time together. Debbie always kind of spoils everyone..! ;) There is always some good food and good family. Always a good time.

 

Rod loved his bow and arrow! Jax and Ethan got that cool Perplexus! Jax loves it!

 

Cal got this awesome little plane he loves, and a really cool Lightning McQueen Car! He was so excited!

 

Look at these happy kids!

 

These two are BUDDIES!!

 

We came to my parents house around 4 to make sure we got to talk to Chanel!! She is so beautiful!! I was trying so hard to hug the computer and the TV...It didn't work very well... It was SO good to talk to her and see how good she was doing!! Next Christmas she will be BACK!!

 

Happy people with our cutest little Chanel!!

My parents got us this AWESOME utility/recreation wagon! We will be using it a lot!!

 

Look at the cute books my parents got my kids! My mom also made all the kids these soft cute sharks sleeping bag blankets (for the boys) or mermaid sleeping bag blankets (for the girls) They were a huge hit and I don't know where the pictures are...I think the kids wouldn't hold still, so I couldn't get one--but I think Natasha has some...

  

 

Happy happy Christmas.

Later in the week it was "free" day at Hogol Zoo, so we went with Jason and Brooke! 

It was seriously the coolest zoo experience I've ever had. Which actually isn't saying much, but anyway. It was FREEZING and we thought we wouldn't see much, but we did! It was really fun! I don't have many pictures because my hands were frozen...

I have some videos that are so cool, but only a couple pictures. The lions were a highlight, they were so big and right by the glass. And they peed on the glass right in front of the kids! On video! Haha!

Then these monkeys were just sitting in the corner, and when Calvin got up to the glass the monkey came all the way over to him and just stared right at him, right in the face, right in front of him. It was so cool. Calvin was saying "Hi, Monkey!" over and over, waving. Then the monkey's baby came over and the monkey sat back and held him. It was cute.

We saw so many animals. The tigers were really cool too. We saw them nice and fairly close as well. Happy fun Zoo Day! Thanks Jason and Brooke!

 

We also got the kids into the dentist during the break. We have such a good dentist. Dr. Lund. I'm so lucky, the kids never have cavities. Anyway, Calvin is just getting better and better, less screaming at every appointment! Look at him just sit there without screaming! He let them take pictures of his mouth and everything! I had to hold him for the cleaning and the exam--but no big deal. It was great!

 

And here is Calvin in his new favorite outfit...:)

We had a super fun time at the Haight family sledding party at Rock Canyon on New Years Day! There was tons of snow and Grandma made her yummy chili, and Gord brought hot chocolate! It was so SUPER! Again, my hands were freezing. So no pictures except this cute one...! We love those Haights! Such a fun time!

 Jax has recently started writing us little notes. They are darling. Here are a couple. He tapes them different places for us to find. I got one on my bed that said I was "the best". It is so nice! These ones say we are the best at the "cuputr" and that he loves justin's "vediyo" game. It is so cute. I love him.

 

Rodrik was Spotlight Student in his class at school all week last week. I don't really know ALL that it entails, (I actually didn't know he was Spotlight Student until Thursday night..!) but I found out it is because he is doing good things in school, academically and otherwise. He is a great student. Also, it meant I could got read his favorite book to the class, it was a big book about dinosaurs, it was too long to read the entire thing, so I just read the "Giant" Chapter. He got to sit in the front by me. He also can bring a show and tell, he brought his little stuffed rainbow tiger. :)
Here is his teacher (Mrs. Sarkady) asking him what his favorite things are. He felt so important. I loved it so much.