My Kidlets

Christmas 2010

There is nothing like Christmas with children.  It’s just magical!  I am always up before my children making as much noise as I can to wake them up.  I love seeing their eyes get wide and excited to see that Santa has come.  It’s a feeling like no other to see my kids open a present they have “asked Santa” for all year long.  I just love Christmas with children.

   

After the morning excitement, we went to the Vandenberg’s for breakfast.  They always make so much yummy food when we come over.  We had scones, eggs, biscuts and gravy, etc.  Pam & Rich had just bought a new tv and go this little remote control car with their purchase; the kids each had a turn going for a ride.  Except Izzy; she wanted nothing to do with the thing. 

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Then it was off the Kari and Michael’s house to see my Mom and enjoy a ham dinner.  It’s so much fun to get my siblings together and our children.  We laugh and laugh.  I usually leave our family functions with a headache from laughing so hard.  Today was no exception.  We decided to do the 12 days of Christmas to my Mom this year as she is enduring some hard times right now.  She absolutely loved it!  Then as she gave each of us a present she told us each of a special memory she has of us.  Yeah, it was a pretty emotional thing.  I love my mom!

 

Perfect ending to a great day!

 

Christmas Eve Party

 

 

 

 

 

 

This was one of the best Christmas Eve parties we have had.  It was soooooo fun.  Decorations were beautiful!  Food was amazing!  Games and Talents were unbelieveable!

Grandma Great bought all the grandkids and great grandkids pajamas and a little toy.  Ellie looked like a little snow princess.  Izzy was rockin’ her green warm ups.  And Ethan was too busy with his cousins to hold still for a decent picture.  My mom managed to get a family picture of us though:

This year Corey and I orchestrated our version of “A Minute to Win it.”  Good times!  We laughed so hard and had a lot of fun trying to involve every age group.

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Locks of Love

 

Baby Caleb is blessed.

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Always Falling!

Ellie is always falling and tripping.  I know it comes with being a child and learning to balance that head on your shoulders as your legs grow twice as fast as the rest of your body; but this child falls all the time!  This particular day she was looking through a Shopko Toys mailer and Izzy was trying to take it from her.  In an attempt to keep it to herself she spun around to jerk the magazine out of Izzy hand and landed face first (nose first) on the front step.  These are photos of the next day.  Ya, it’s pretty funny looking.

 

 

My brother, Danny was commenting on how little kids fall all the time and he remarked that he just wants to say “Stop falling!” to his children.  He then said that must be how Heavenly Father feels when he continually watches His children fall.  Now whenever I repeat the same mistakes and continually stumble over the same weakness I tell myself that Heavenly Father is thinking, “Just stop falling” and then he patiently picks me up and hugs me and kisses it better and let’s me try again. 

Nieces and Nephews!!

Ya know, I realized a couple months ago that I really don’t have many pictures of my nieces and nephews on the Vandenberg side.  So, I have made more of an effort to carry my camera to every event.  

Aren’t they cute? 

These little beauties are Xavier (X), Evelyn (Evvie), Isaac, Shirley, and Brennon.  I have been so blessed to have married into a family that loves little ones and are so cute with them…and they make cute kids!  I love these little ones!

Best Friends: Baylee Funk

Baylee is not only our next door neighbor, but the daughter of our greatest friends.  She is so much fun.  Her and Ethan always have a good time together!  Their latest kick is playing Wii or computer games.  I think their favorite right now is Plants vs Zombies. 

Ethan and Baylee have always been friends and enjoyed each others company.  I think she is like having another sister for Ethan.  The other day he told me that Baylee was his best friend.  He asked if that was weird because she is a girl. I said absolutely not.  I let him know that she makes a great best friend because she likes him for who he is and he like being with her.  Baylee is just wonderful and I absolutely love her!

 

 

 

Ethan and Bridger get baptized!

There's something rather special about watching your first child get baptized. I cannot even begin to explain the swelling in my heart as I watched Ethan descend into the font with his father. I just felt overwhelmed watching the two men I love most in this world share in this sacred event together.

Ethan was so nervous all day. Each time his nerves would get to him, Ethan would ask Corey to practice with him. Somehow that just calmed him. Ethan slowly walked down the stairs into the font and kept close to his daddy. They assumed the position and my heart felt like it would burst with pride. I smiled big as I looked at my little son surrounded by water and dressed in white...adorned with his glasses. Yep, he wore his glasses. Corey said the prayer and Ethan went under the water completely...just like they practiced. When he emerged he let out this big sigh as if to say, "It's over" or "I did it." The audience chuckled and I was beaming and fighting back tears.

After Ethan's confirmation, he walked up to me and said, "Mom, I was really scared until I walked into the water. Then I felt really proud of myself." I told him I felt the same way: very proud of him. Corey told me that the blessing he gave Ethan moved him and touched him more so than the blessing he gave Ethan at his baby blessing. I will let Corey talk about that.

This was a great day! One of the best of my life!

WAX LIPS…need I say more.

E turns 8!

These are the only pictures we got of E on his birthday.  We were just having too much fun to think about the camera.  Ethan loves to go to Olive Garden every year on his birthday.  He orders the same thing:  Zuppa Soup and a Root Beer.  Corey and I bring a bag of presents and E opens them while we wait for the food and after we are finished.  No, there are not a lot of presents…our food just comes really fast. :) 

Ethan is a truly amazing boy!  I am so proud of how hard he tries in school and how he wants so badly to succeed at everything he does.  I am grateful for his tender heart.  I love that he is sensitive to the needs of others.  He is a cuddly boy and loves to give hugs and cuddles.  He always tells me he loves me when he leaves the house…I hope that always continues. 

I can’t believe E is getting baptized!  I am so proud of him.  Heavenly Father has blessed me to be able to raise one of his choicest of spirits.  Love you buddy.

Speechless.

I would love to know what these little munchkins were thinking when they decided to dance around with swim diapers on their heads.  I think I know whose idea it was though.

 

I love watching these girls grow up and discover new things.  They don’t always play together harmoniously but they are ALWAYS together.  Hopefully that never changes…I mean the togetherness part.  I am hoping they learn to get along sooner than later.  :) 

A Good Time at the Duck Park

Kellee coordinated this little gathering at the Duck Park with all the moms and our little ones. We had so much fun. I never knew Ellie loved to swing so much. She was giggling with every push. Then of course we had to feed the ducks. I think Izzy ended up eating most of her bread. Good times!

Favorite Moments of family Campout 2010