A Very Merry Christmas!

It was a very Merry Christmas! I just love celebrating this holiday with young children . . . it's magical!

Let It Be Written

Ashlyn can write the names of everyone in her family!

Let it Snow!

Although our winter here in Utah started out quite mild, we have still enjoyed a good deal of snow. We've had it light and we've had it medium and we've had it heavy!

Here are the kids outside playing in the snow on a light day. You'll notice that they are just wearing jackets and boots with their normal clothes (for Ashlyn that would be a dress). They've made quite an impressive little snowman, haven't they?


Here are a couple of pictures of them outside on a medium snow day. To me, this is the perfect snow. Fluffy, plentiful, but not on the sidewalks or roads.

Then there are the heavy snow days where even Brad can't resist going outside to play. Here he is building a snow fort:

And here is Juston's snow fort:

Ashlyn is digging with Daddy's shovel trying to find her shovel buried under the snow somewhere. I guess that's what happens when we leave our toys/tools out.

Carter enjoyed the mountains of snow too.

I don't think I'd like snow like this too often, but once in a while it's pretty fun!

Deck the Halls

I've wanted to have a real Christmas tree for several years now, but we have a fake tree so it hasn't been easy justifying a tree purchase. But . . . this year we were at Lowes the day after Thanksgiving looking at kitchen appliances and we swung by the live Christmas tree section and discovered that they weren't really all that expensive. So, we went back the next day and bought our first live Christmas tree! I must admit that I am truly in love!

It is big (to us) and smells marvelous! We don't have quite enough ornaments to do the job and we had to buy more lights, but I think it looks pretty good.

I used some of the cut off branches to make a little swag. This is about the height of my creativity.

Here's a little picture of our nativity. It is surprisingly still intact. Carter will climb up on the piano to look at it while saying, "no touch."

The only other decorations we have are some stockings hung downstairs in the family room. I definitely want a few more festive things, but I'm not sure exactly what. It is, however, beginning to feel a lot like Christmas around here!

The Kids Met Baby Tyler!

Last Friday Lorie, the kids, and I drove up to North Salt Lake to visit Kari and baby Tyler. Ashlyn was so, so, so excited to meet him and hold him. She insisted that we take a picture of the two of them together.

Our attempt at a picture with all the kids. Professional . . . I know.

Tyler and Audrie are exactly three months apart.

I think you can tell by these pictures that Tyler is an easy-going kid. We were with them for hours and I didn't hear him cry once! It might also be that he is just really well taken care of!

Aren't babies just the cutest when they're sleeping?

Audrie: 3 Months

Tuesday of this week was a momentous day. First of all, Kari and Bryon welcomed a precious baby into the world. My mom put pictures that Kari's sister, Alisa, took on her blog. Check them out: http://cheneychitchat.blogspot.com/2010/11/announcing-tyler-aaron-cheney.html. I think that he is an absolute doll and we all love him so much already!!!

Secondly, Audrie turned 3 months old!

I'm so excited that Audrie fits in this outfit. Tracy gave it to us when Ashlyn was born and I was so sad when Ashlyn grew out of it! Isn't it adorable?!

This girl is always so smiley. All you have to do is look at her and she breaks into a huge grin. We recently discovered that she is pretty ticklish too and gives us some adorable giggles when we tickle her neck. She is also strong, strong, strong and can roll from her stomach to her back and hold her head up like a champ. She likes to suck on her fingers or fist and can often be found with it in her mouth. We love our sweet Audrie!

It was a Graveyard Smash!

Saturday night we got together with my siblings for a little Halloween party. Everyone was supposed to come in costume and everyone did!

Can you tell who each of us is supposed to be?

What about Bryon and Kari?

Michael?

Lorie and Mason?

We ate good food, enjoyed great company and even did a little pumpkin drawing and face painting!

It was a great night and hopefully something that will become a family tradition!