Preston's 1st Birthday!!!

This month is such a special one, it's birthday time for you!  On Thursday, a special boy had a special birthday.  It's crazy to think it has been a whole year already, but the calendar doesn't lie.  So, of course, we had to celebrate.

Here is the birthday boy!

Some fun decorations!  We decided to theme the party around race cars, since one of Preston's favorite activities is to have a car in each hand, lay on the kitchen floor, and drive them around while making "vrooming" noises.   It is pretty cute.

Preston was pretty excited about his cake, but even more excited about everyone singing to him.  I think that was his favorite part!

Here is a little play by play action as he dove into his cake.  First, he took the car off.  Then he actually drove the car around the top of the cake, until he realized that the cake tastes good and was all his.  Then the car was forgotten!  Towards the end, I caught him trying to suck the frosting off the car as well.  It was hilarious!

Anyone want to kiss him?  Hugs?

Then it was time for presents...  He really enjoyed that part too.

Doesn't he look so small compared to his gifts?

After he unwrapped everything, Oliver spent ample time trying to convince me that Preston's gifts were really for Oliver, and that Preston's stuff was still at the store.  It's a really good thing that Preston only turned one and doesn't know any different.  I'm happy that they are sharing well.   I have a feeling next year will be a little different.

Preston is an amazing little guy.  He can't walk yet, but he sure can climb.  He pushes the bench all over the kitchen, allowing him to walk around with it.  He is also very mischievous.  He likes to sneak into the bathrooms and play in the toilet water, which, of course, is not allowed.   He also likes to get into the kitchen garbage.  (yuck! and yuck!).  Preston loves to play with his siblings, especially when they crawl around on the floor with him.  Noelle can make Preston laugh, no matter what his mood is!  They are kindred spirits!  Preston doesn't say any words yet, but he is a man with a million sound effects.  He is SO much fun, and we love him, dearly.  Happy Birthday, Preston!

Some January Subtitles

January is almost at a closure, and I thought it would be fun to do a recap... but going through my pictures, it is clear that we did a lot of things.  So, here is the month, in review, subtitle style.

"Don't eat yellow snow... but green snow is safe!"

"Seriously, mom... do I really have to wear all this?  I can't move my arms!"

"Making donuts with Grandma Smithson is just too fun for words!"  (Side note, we were blessed to have Brandon's parents up for 1 night.  It would have been longer, but the weather caused their plane to turn around and head back to Arizona.  We were happy to get the time we did get with them though.

"The best spot is in Grandpa's arms"

"Who needs a sled, I'll just slide down the hill!"

"Wait for Me, Melanie!  I want to slide too!"

"Dad, I want to pretend to be Mary, but that doesn't work unless you are Joseph"

The annual New Years Picture just wouldn't be the same if Oliver were in a good mood.  This is year 3 for him, and he has definitely kept up the tradition of refusing to be happy.

"Mom...  this is the beginning of the end...  I can climb!"

"One boot is better than two"

"Basket full for love"

This box of butter makes me smile.  It was picked out, especially for me, from my father in law.  See... my mother in law asked him to pick up 4 boxes of butter to add to the boxes of produce (oranges, lemons, grapefruit, and zucchini), and some other things that she was sending my way.  He brought this box home, with the opinion that it does house 4 cubes of butter inside.  He is absolutely correct, and I will never look at butter the same way again.  It is just too funny.  On a side note, I can't express how loved I felt when I got this packaged of goodies from them.

"Back on the saddle again!"  (Preston is riding the saddle my dad used when he was a kid.  He had it refinished and gave it to the kids for Christmas)

Isn't this what all weather forecaster's wear?  Melanie was dressed and ready for action at the Museum of Natural Curiosity.

I am a blessed mom.  Seriously... could he be any cuter?

Melanie's 100 day of school piece of art.  She painted it and then embellished it with 100 pieces of dyed rice.

Look who is reading book #9 of her readers!

Noelle is a Whole Hand!

 Someone turned 5 on Christmas this year....  yep, it was Noelle!  She is so excited about being a whole hand! Here are a few pictures from her birthday.

Noelle had her whole day planned out, including activities.  I was happy that I was able to deliver on some of the things she requested.  For example: ginger bread houses! I made them out of graham crackers, and each person got to decorate their own.  The kids were in 7th heaven.

Here are the finished houses! Melanie's, Oliver (and Dad's), Noelle's, and then Preston (and Mom's).

 Another big request she had was for a My Little Pony Cake.  This is what I came up with:

I think she liked it!

Noelle's Birthday questionnaire:

Favorite Color: Pink!

Favorite Movie: My Little Pony

Favorite Book: Pinkalicious

Favorite Song: Let it Go!

Favorite Animal: Horses

Favorite thing to do on her own: Play with her ponies

Favorite thing to do with her siblings: paint.

Favorite thing to do with Dad: go to work

Favorite thing to do with Mom: play games

Favorite thing to do with Grandma and Grandpa Smithson: make a quilt

Favorite thing to do with Grandpa George: gingerbread houses

Favorite thing to do with Grandma Traci: sleepover party

Favorite Book of Mormon Character: Nephi

Favorite Subject in School: Science

Favorite Food: Tortellini

Favorite Snack: Fruit Snack

What do you want to be when you grow up: a baker

What is a goal for this year: learn to decorate a cake

Happy birthday, my beautiful Christmas present.  I love you more than you can imagine!

Christmas Eve

In Oak City, the entire town comes together on Christmas Eve for a program.  Well...  the entire town that is IN town for the holiday, but still, it's quite a turn out.  The program consists of a nativity, a play put on by children ages 3-13, some Christmas carols, and then a visit from the busy man himself... Santa Clause.

My kids were really excited about participating in the play.  They had small parts, but by time we actually did the play, the had the entire production memorized... in fact, I'm typing this 2 weeks later, and they are still singing the songs and saying people's parts constantly.  Here are my little actors before the production:

Melanie, as "Mistress Mary"

 Noelle, as "Jill"

And Oliver, as "Jack"

Here they are singing the closing song.  So cute!

All the children did an amazing job.  The play was about dolls in a dolls hospital that were putting on a show for a girl who wanted a new doll.  She wanted Raggedy Ann, but not Raggedy Andy.  The dolls were trying to change her mind by putting on their best performance.  My kids were Mother Goose dolls.  There were also dancing dolls, a bride doll, soldiers, clowns, and a lot more.  It was fun.  I was blessed with the opportunity to help with the play.  It was a lot of fun to get to know the kids.  I also really appreciate seeing some of the older kids take to my little ones.  Oliver and Preston have several older girls looking after them.  That makes my heart swell with joy.

After the play, we sang songs until Santa came.  Then my kids waited their turn to tell the big man Merry Christmas and make their last minute pleads for something special.  Here are some pictures:

Thank you to everyone that put this wonderful program together.  It was definitely enjoyable and I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to participate.  Merry Christmas!

Melanie Turns 7

On December 15th, 2014...  Melanie turned 7!  7 years old!  Really, she did.  It was a fun day.  I surprised her with friends that were there when she got home from school.  They played and played.  Then we ate her favorite dinner (enchiladas) and had a party!  The dessert of choice was "Oreo Cupcakes", so I tried something fun and different for her.

Here are some fun pictures from her party:

After we sang to her, Oliver insisted that we sing to him.

And then, of course, we had to sing to Noelle.  It's a good thing Melanie didn't mind one bit.

And surprise!  There were Oreos in each of the cupcakes.

Melanie's Birthday questionnaire:

Favorite Color: Pink

Favorite Movie: Frozen

Favorite Book: Dazzle's First Day

Favorite Song: Do you Want to Build a Snowman?

Favorite Animal: Zebra

Favorite thing to do on my own: Draw

Favorite thing to do with Dad; Go to work and scare the cows!

Favorite thing to do with Mom: Play Games

Favorite thing to do with my Siblings:  play their favorite games.

Favorite thing to do with Grandma and Grandpa Smithson: Play Games

Favorite thing to do with Grandpa George: Go out to Eat

Favorite thing to do with Grandma Traci: Princess Sleep Over

Favorite Book of Mormon Character: Jesus

Favorite Subject in School: History (and learn about other countries)

Favorite Food: Enchiladas

Favorite Snack: Granola Bars

When I grow up, I want to be an Artist
Something I want to learn this year: about my Savior.

Happy 7th Birthday, little Ms. Red.  We love you bunches!

Subtitles

Here are a sampling of some pictures I took in November, and some subtitles to go with them.

"Ready to be mailed to grandma...  only Noelle isn't certain she wants to share the box with such crazy siblings."

"Mom...  if we are going to walk to the post office, expect to stop at every pile of leaves... "

"First Snow"

"Once there was a (mini) snowman"

"Pedro comes to visit" (the neighbor's dog)

"Mom's dish washing helper"

"Teen Aged Mutant Ninja Oliver"