:)

What do you do in the winter time when there is so much snow everywhere and you freeze your hinny off every time you step out the door?  you make your own fun. For Allie that has been running around crazy and dancing in different dress ups. This particular day she couldn't find a shirt she wanted to wear, so two skirts did the trick.

Madison is turning 12 this spring..gasp..so she was introduced tot he Young Women's program during New Beginnings.  She is really excited to go to YW's especially since most of the other girls have had their birthdays and are 12.

I am the Beehive advisor in our ward so I am just as anxious as she is to have her there with me.
On a side note.. see the balloons in the back, do you know what happens to balloons when you take them outside in freezing cold? They shrivel up!  As I walked  into the warm church they went right back to normal.  It was the craziest thing. Someone should have their child do a science fair project and figure out why that happens.

I have never had a child that wrote on the walls or on themselves, well at least to this extreme, this girl does it on almost a daily basis.  She told me that she had to put on her lips and cheeks,

but she was very upset when she found some on her hands.  She always has to have clean hands.

We have been doing puzzles like crazy. Madison brought Allie this puzzle on day and we have puzzling ever since.  If you come into our house at any given moment you will find completed puzzles all over the hard wood floor.  Allie has gotten really good at them.  She can do 50 piece puzzle all by herself in no time at all.

We stole Madison from school and went to lunch.

We celebrated love day in all its glory.  Emma was the only one that had to make a Valentine's box this year. She was more than happy to use the one that Madison made last year, which made it really easy on me.

The hit of the day around our house were the cute mustaches cousin Jainie gave to the kids with their Valentine.  I have about 30 more pictures like the ones below.

They both look very dignified I say.

Now wer are just waiting for a few more days like this.  When we can go outside without a jacket and not worry about our balloons shriveling up. We all have a major case of spring fever.

She is 9

 I can not believe that this girl is 9 years old!My New Years baby is growing up way to fast.

 She had fun celebrating with a polka dot cake.  I always feel like her birthday is squished into the holiday season, but I hope that she still feels special on her day.

She celebrated with a fun party at the bowling alley. Gotta love those shoes.

 She had to wait a few days to get the gift that she really wanted because this American Girl doll didn't come out until Jan. 1st.  Her Sage doll fits Emma to a T because she loves horses and art.

We love the smart, sweet, beautiful girl of ours! Happy Birthday Emma!

New Year 2013

We rang in the new year with festive horns, hats, and noise makers.

We opened our resolution cards for 2012 and realized the accomplishments we had made and some that we still need to work on.

Allie decided that she LOVES sparkling cider and donuts dripping in chocolate and colorful sprinkles make celebrations that much more enjoyable.

We always start off the new year by singing Happy Birthday to our new years baby. How is 9 already?

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Christmas Morning

Bright and early on Christmas morning...  Santa came and everyone was delighted with what they received.

I have said that I can't wait for the year that Emma doesn't ask for a horse, but in truth that will be very sad for me, it will mean that she is getting older. This year she told me that most of her friends were asking for electronics, she still asked for toys and I am so glad she did.

Grandma and Grandpa Bogh gave each of the kids their own special journal with a special message inside, they absolutely love them.  They write and draw in them, they are a treasure for sure.

This picture is what Allie would do before she opened each gift, she would hold it and pose until I took her picture, she would not open a gift without her picture taken holding her, She has been trained will.

This i what Christmas is all about love and giving, and tired parents soaking it all in!

 Favorite gifts: Madi's is her i-pod touch     Emma loves her cowgirl boots

 C.J. loves his paintball gun as well as his remote controlled helicopter.

Allie would be happy with anything, but her slide and Minnie Mouse doll are at the top of her list.

Christmas Eve 2012

We opened up our Christmas Eve gifts, which the kids have now learned will always be pajamas, but they didn't care they were so excited that the traditions were starting and that Christmas was almost here.

Allie had just been awakened from a long winters nap and was not sure how to feel about the whole thing.

A Christmas eve family photo, Tom looks like he is about ready to rob a bank, but I assure you that it has just been really cold, and layers are a must.

She was still not amused...

This years nativity with all of our Thalman cousins our family provided a wise man, a shepherd, and an angel that is hiding behind the other angels.

Thanks to grandma for providing all the organization and fun costumes, we also had a Holy Supper which is always wonderful and a great reminder of why we enjoy this season so much.

All ready for bed, the plate of cookies and carrots was set out and ready, and as hard as I tried to get a decent picture of everyone it was a failure, the excitement in the air was so thick it could not be contained.

Let it Snow

 The Saturday before Christmas we decided that we need to go and play in some of the fresh snow.  The kids had been plying in it all week at home, but they were ready to go real sledding. So we bundled up and went.

 I did take other pictures with my phone, but I still need to put them on the computer.

That night we drove up the Temple Square to see the lights.  We hadn't been there since Madi was a baby, so it was fun to take the kids.  It was crazy busy, but it wasn't as cold as it had been, and I will take more people over being cold every time.

 It was so beautiful, and when you go with cousins and grandparents it makes it even more fun.  I don't think that I had ever looked so close at the door knobs to the temple, but they are amazing, C.J. totally agreed.

 The lights were beautiful as well as the Nativity, and the reflections pools. It was such a fun trip and a great reminder of the reason we celebrate this wonderful holiday.

The next morning we headed off to church in new Sunday duds, this picture wasn't taken until after church, so they kids look a little frazzled but still as darling as ever.