Snow Days

Even though we haven't gotten as much as some places (Bountiful for example), snow is still a given part of our everyday lives now. Somehow I have not only handled, but actually enjoyed the snow storms we have gotten (however, I realize it is only January and I may not feel the same when it is still snowing in April). The kids love to help shovel the driveway and clean off the cars. They haven't quite caught on to how fun sledding is, but Kaia is ready to go some more now that she has some goggles to keep the snow out of her eyes and Talmage now has waterproof snow pants and gloves. Lately, Kaia just stays out long enough to get "cold" so that she can come back in and have some hot chocolate! I can't say I'm not on her side if it weren't for all of the bundling and unbundling. Hmmm... where did I put that industrial size can of cocoa mix?!

Silly Dad

We're so glad when Daddy comes home... We have enjoyed having Dallin at home for over three weeks! As you can see, he keeps us entertained and having fun. We love Dad!

Big Boy's Toy

Talmage thinks he is a big boy now and loves to do big boy things- like drive Mom's truck!

Somersaults

Talmage has learned how to do somersaults (by watching his big sister of course) and he LOVES it! He just strikes this pose and waits for me to roll him over! So cute!

Santa Parade

Yes, from Halloween to Christmas. Don't ask me why Scranton has a Santa Claus parade before Thanksgiving; just add it to the list of all the things that make Scranton "unique". (You may laugh at "The Office" because you think the characters are nuts and "out there", but Dallin and I laugh at "The Office" because we know it's what people are really like back here!) I've always disliked how the stores jump from Halloween straight to Christmas and Thanksgiving gets the shaft. Should it really be that hard to find socks with turkeys on them this time of year? I mean, come on. Anyway, we thought it would be fun to take the kids yesterday to see the parade and Santa Claus. However, whose idea was it to hold this parade on THE coldest day of the year. It was honestly only 15 degrees out AND it was windy! (Have I mentioned I hate being cold?) We attempted to survive for quite a little while by hiding in a building alcove but the parade kept stopping for five minutes at a time and the kids couldn't last any longer. So we headed back to the truck but then Kaia started crying because she didn't get to see Santa Claus. Never fear, SuperDad figured out we could drive down an alley that led straight to the parade and we could watch it from the comfort of our heat-blasted truck! (Talmage had even more fun playing with the steering wheel and blinkers.) Sorry about the bad picture but Kaia was so excited that she stuck her hand out the window to wave to Santa just as I pushed the button. Then we came home and had hot chocolate and whipped cream. (I think I'm going to need to stock up. Anyone know where they sell 25# bags of the stuff?) Everyone was happy.

Halloween

I know I'm way behind, but I have some cute pictures from Halloween that I still wanted to post (Hey, at least its not past the next holiday, yet.) The kids had a great time at the ward trunk-or-treat. Talmage was a lion and although he can do a great lion roar, whenenver we asked him to roar it was always a whisper so he was more of a timid lion.
Kaia was very focused on everything she did and wanted to do it all by herself.
Half the time I didn't even know where she was because she has made friends with all of the young women so they took her around to each of the booths. She loved these vampire teeth from the fishing booth.
Kaia is certainly NOT a timid ballerina. At the end of the games they had everyone in a costume parade across the stage. Kaia gleefully pranced her solo across the stage. I hope she is just as bold when she has her part as a snowflake in the ward christmas party's Nutcracker in a couple of weeks.


Kaia was also invited to a friend's birthday party before Halloween. Although she didn't know anyone besides the birthday girl she soon joined in what everyone else was doing and had a fun time. (By the way, Riley is older than Kaia. Kaia is in the 99th % for height!)
They even had pony rides. Kaia always asks to ride my horse but then she wants back off soon after. She only made it halfway down the route when she decided she wanted off, but then she did make a full loop a little bit later. Crazy girl. I would have loved to ride the pony considering I haven't ridden a horse since I was pregnant with her. She doesn't know how good she has it!

Where's the SUN?!

This picture was taken a week or two before Halloween and I think I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen the sun since. Although it hasn't "really" snowed here at our house it will flurry off and on. I don't think it got over 35 degrees today. Can I just tell you how much I hate to be cold? And I'm always cold even when everyone else is not. I keep tucking my hands in my legs as I'm writing this. Maybe I should just go make some hot chocolate.... with marshmallows.... and a candy cane.... OK, maybe winter's not so bad after all :)