Long Post

Update finally. It has only taken me a couple of days to edit the pictures and get them on the blog. I just haven't felt much like updating the blog until now.

On Halloween we went to This Is the Place for their little haunts. Luke wasn't very happy to be there and I made Zach come even though he wasn't feeling too great, so it was mostly fun. The kids had fun riding the ponies, doing crafts and trick or treating. Luke was Thomas, Emmy Johnny Appleseed, and Haley a rock star. Luke loved riding on the trains, as always.

Because Zach wasn't feeling very good that night I took the kids trick or treating which turned out to be kind of a mess. Luke was getting sick and didn't really want to be out there. So Zach came and picked him up and I kept going with the girls. Haley and Emmy's costumes didn't change but Luke decided to be a dinosaur that night.

We celebrated my birthday the beginning of November. Someone forgot to buy candles and/or they ones we had were put somewhere but no one knows where exactly. So the candles are kind of interesting, a two a five and a nine. Now figure out how that adds up or makes it work for how old I am...
Emmy turned seven on the 21st. She was so excited to get her doll from Grandma and Grandpa. She had a few friends over on her birthday for pizza, bracelet making and nail painting. She's not a big cake eater so she had peanut butter rice krispie treats for her "cake".

Thanksgiving was nice. We were with my family this year. I stayed over at my mom's so I could go shopping the next morning with everyone. While I'm out shopping Zach and the kids are usually getting the house all ready for Christmas.

I decided to take Luke to the festival of trees. He wasn't too happy about it. we got to the point that we were taking pictures of all the trains. When he saw this reindeer blowing a trumpet he yelled, "Moroni mom, that's Moroni." So we had to make sure to get his picture by it. The volunteer standing by the tree got a huge kick out of it.
On the first Sunday in December Luke came home from church and told us he needed to go potty. I looked at Zach and said ok and took him. He has been using the potty ever since. It has been so nice to not have to change diapers anymore. He is so proud of himself and usually the first thing out of his mouth is that he uses the potty now. Doesn't matter who he is talking to.

I met my sister at the mall one day and we got to see Santa. Every time Luke told Santa what he wanted it was always trains.
Emmy lost her second tooth. When they get loose and are ready to come out it doesn't take much time. Which is good cause I don't like loose teeth. They gross me out.
We got together with cousins to decorate ginger bread houses and cookies. It was a fun night but I wasn't feeling too hot.

We went to This Is the Place once again for Candlelight Christmas. We had to ride the train first. The kids were able to see Father Christmas and the reindeer. We danced in the school house and made lots of fun crafts. We are so glad we can go up there with Grandma and Grandpa.

On the 18th we went down to JoAnn and Craig's for their Christmas party. While we were eating dinner Santa showed up.


Then came my family's Christmas party and gift exchange.


Christmas Eve was a busy day. We started the morning off with Zach's family at our house for breakfast and gift exchange. The food was yummy and we had a good time having everyone at our house.

After the breakfast we delivered the rest of our neighborhood gifts then headed down to Provo. We stopped in Orem and had an early dinner at Chili's and then went down to Ingrid and Norman's for Bethlehem. On our way home we stopped to see the lights at Thanksgiving Point. When we got home the kids all got to open their new jammies from Grandma and Grandpa. Then Haley made sure to set out a cup and a cinnamon roll for Santa and left him a note that there was milk and carrots in the fridge. Luke and Emmy had no trouble falling asleep but Haley had a hard time.

We told Haley she could get us up at 7:15 because that is the time they get up for school. Sure enough the girls were in our room waking us up right at 7:15. We told them to go back to their room and we worked on waking up and getting Luke up.
The kids had fun opening all of their presents and we were opening for about an hour and a half. Luke was so excited for all of his new trains. The girls were excited about all the stuff they got for their dolls. Haley loved her new camera and Emmy her new mp3 player.

On Christmas we went to the Grand America. We stayed for two nights and came home Sunday morning. We didn't have as much fun this year. The kids wanted to be home playing with our toys and our room wasn't as nice as last year.

Luke didn't know what to do with two forks at his place setting so he had to use both of them at the same time.

We enjoyed some time in the pool swimming.

We rode the train to see the lights on Temple Square. It was too cold for that and we didn't enjoy it too much. But Luke loved the train ride.

I don't think we'll go to the Grand again on Christmas. We thought it would be better to use the two nights together but I think it would have been better to separate them. So this might not be an ongoing tradition.

So how's that for a long update. Now maybe I'll keep on top of it a little better. Probably not but I can hope.