Snow Days!

Mackenzie was all bundled up after climbing off the school bus.

We have gotten a ton of snow this winter. They were predicting the "storm of the century" and we did get a big one. They canceled school last Wednesday. The girls were so disappointed. They didn't really want to miss school. I'm sure that will change as they get older. :0) The quickly found all their snow gear and headed out for some fun. We'd had snow and rain off and on for the last week. Can't believe how early it hit. We may actually have a white Christmas this year!

Decorating the tree

Last Sunday, Nov. 28 we started decorating for Christmas. I have to admit, I finally just finished this morning. We did a little bit at a time, so it wasn't really overwhelming, but it wasn't fun having all the boxes out for more than a week! I don't know what it is, but I just wasn't too motivated to decorate. I love my decorations, and the ones I don't, I decided not to use and will donate so they can bless someone else. I love this time of year; it just seems the decorations and everything can be so overwhelming and I don't want it to be all about the "extra" stuff. My kids LOVE to decorate though and the girls were in charge of the tree. In fact, when the two of them put all their ornaments up they covered almost the whole thing, except for the top where they couldn't reach. Ha! It stayed like that for a few days. I finished the top with a few of mine and a few of Josh's. We put all his Bronco ornaments on the mini Bronco tree downstairs. Emma helped me do that this morning for a little mommy and me time before Little J woke up. We also put a few K-State ones on a mini table top tree I let the girls have. So, we're spreading the purple and blue/orange love around our home, along with the traditional red and green. This year Jayten is big enough he wants to help too. I do love watching my kids work together and get so excited about what they are doing. And MJ gave Emma the honor of putting the star on top this year. She said it was Emma's turn. So sweet!

Time with family

Jayten tried to play Wii. He just picked up a couple remotes, one being for the window blinds and was looking up at the TV and pointing.

The girls decorate a cake for dessert.

Josh had to take his turn at it too.

J and cousin Mya playing together.

Playing foosball with Aunt Stephanie.

Hanging out with Grandma Carla

My boy

Yes, that is my boy in his sister's princess slippers. He just wants to do everything they do. I'm sure he'll die when he sees these when he's a teenager, but until then, I think it's so cute!

Behind again

Yes, I'm behind at posting again. Please forgive me. :0)

MJ-She was selected as "Student of the Week" in November and got to eat a pizza lunch with the principal. That was a highlight for her. She has also earned 40 AR points and continues to receive recognition for her reading. She is drawing and starting to spell a lot. She just loves school and was totally bummed when we had our first snow day this week.

Emma-She is also enjoying school. She's been playing house and Barbie's a lot lately. She loves to help around the house, and especially if I've ask MJ to do something first. She loves to dance, sing, draw and play playdough.

Jayten-Such a busy boy-always smiling. Such a sweetheart. Learning more and more every day. He points to his body parts, loves to get bread and peanut butter out of the cabinet for a snack, loves to eat anything really. He loves to play with the barn, horses and cows, push trucks around, but can also be found with a baby and blanket. (That's what you get when you have two older sisters.)

I attended our annual cattle convention for three days in November for work. Josh and the kids stayed here. They seem to do just fine without me, so that was good. We had Katrina and family out for Thanksgiving dinner, then went up to Mark and Carla's later that night to see all of them. That Friday, we also went up to M&C's to watch the BSU game. Last Saturday, Josh and I helped Jared and Stephanie move. It was nice to get some time to visit with them even though we were working at the same time. I've been busy finishing the last of my photography sessions for the year. Will be taking a break until 2011, as I have three publications coming out in the next couple months.

We've decorated the house for Christmas and will begin making goodies soon. We received a ton of snow this week. They canceled school on Wednesday. We had one day of rain, but have at least 12 inches still in the yard and it snowed more today. The girls and I went out to play in it today. Tonight we went to the local tree lighting, saw Santa, had cocoa and cookies, rode in a fire truck, played at the park in the snow and listened to some big band music.

This season always seems to fly by, so I cherish the time we stop the busyness and just enjoy the little things.

Some photos from this fall

Emma made this spider hat at school for Halloween.

MJ was a cat again this year. She had fun at her school Halloween party, playing games and getting lots of treats.

We attended the Fruitland/Homedale game. Uncle Zeke coach's Homedale. Jayten was really intrigued by the game.

We attended a Halloween party at Karen and Richard's Oct. 30. The kids had a great time playing with Austin and Isabella, and the rest of the kids. Jayten got lots of comments on how cute he was as Pooh bear. All the three of the kids have worn that costume. Emma even got into digging out the guts of a pumpkin so Uncle Matt could carve it for her.

On Halloween night, our family went to Trunk or Treat at our friend's church. It's our annual tradition. The girls take turns handing out candy and walking around collecting it.

MJ lost her top two teeth! One of them became loose after she bit into a cookie on Nov. 15. She lost it Nov. 17, then the other one came out shortly after that. We thought they would never come out. It's probably been over a year since she lost four of her bottom ones. Her class is singing "All I Want for Christmas is My Two Front Teeth" at the school Christmas program. She thinks that's so funny!

She turned Seven!!

I realized I had put these on my photo blog, but not on the family one. We had a lot of fun during her seven-year-old photo session. I'm excited to turn these all into an album!

Oh man, it's hard to believe our MJ turned seven in September. She is just growing up so darn fast. She really seems wise beyond her years, and each day I see something new in her. She had a great parent teacher conference last week. She's doing well in school, learning all of her subjects, and being a great friend and helper in class. She reads every day at school and at home, and we see a lot of progress. Her vocabulary continues to amaze us. Her teacher said she loves math and science and remembers everything. The other day she used the word predicament and correctly! She's very responsible and takes care of E and J. She and E have a love/dislike relationship-I guess typical sisters. The days they play well together, it warms my heart. Other days they go at each other like crazy! She still loves mommy time, and I try my best to get her one-on-one. We are very proud of the young lady she's becoming, but it's happening way too fast! We love you Mackenzie!!