Christmas

We decided to spend Christmas day at my parents house this year. I was first thinking of staying home so we could spend the morning at home and then head down to my parents. However, my wise husband had the thought, "well we are going to be living away from family for several years so we should probably take the opportunity to spend the time with them while we are here". So I totally agreed and we headed down Christmas Eve and came home on Saturday. We thoroughly enjoyed our time there. I of course did not get tons of pictures, but I know my sister did. So when I get more from her I will post more.

This is the note and cookies we left for Santa. Bristol is really into learning how to write so she wrote most of the letter. I think you can tell where I finished off.

Hanging our stockings on Christmas Eve.
(this picture was really difficult to get a decent looking one. My sister and I kept trying to get her to smile and look cute, but she just wasn't having it. It probably did not help that it was way past her bedtime.)

Bristol in her Snow White costume she got from my sister. I know she does not look happy, but she is really in shock of the great present she got. She wore the dress almost the whole day.

I know we are pathetic with the pictures taking. I hope to get some more to satisfy documenting the day.

The past few weeks

We have been busy the last few weeks, just like everyone else. So I thought I would share a collage of pictures from what we have been up to.

A couple of Saturdays ago we went to the waterfront to have Bristol ride her new tricycle. It was a beautifully sunny day but it was freezing outside. Luckily we got some hot chocolate and then rode back to the car. It is the perfect place for Bristol to ride her bike because it is flat and open.Just some cool pictures of the morning.

Kali took a stroller ride, but really was wanting to get out and run.
Even though it was freezing out, Bristol insisted on wearing a skirt. That is about all she wants to wear these days. I have to convince her to wear pants when I don't have any of her tights clean.
Nate decided to teach the girls how to build a fire. Bristol was listening to every detail. Hmmm I don't know if that was such a good idea.
Bristol loves dressing up. Kali thought she would get in on the action too.
While we were in the other room we heard laughing. We came in and saw this! They had a ball, but made a big mess.So we discovered tonight that if Kali does not have some sort of pants or skirt on, she knows how to take her diaper off. This is the only time that cellulite is cute. It is probably hard to tell in the photo, but she has some serious cottage cheese buns.

Motherhood

I ran across this quote the other day while cleaning out my bookshelf. I picked up one of my books from my college religion class. I must have needed to hear it at the time because it was right what I turned to when I opened the book. I thought any mother would enjoy reading it and remembering that she is like an angel.

"Motherhood is near to divinity. It is the highest, holiest service to be assumed by mankind. It places her who honors its holy calling and service next to the angels."

Boyd K. Packer

Out of the mouths of babes

So as I sit here today doing my ritual blog stalking while Nate takes care of the kids in the other room. Well let me clarify, Nate watching football while the kids run amok. This is what I hear:

Bristol: Daddy, Kali has a star. (referring to Kali's Christmas ornament from last year)

Pause

Bristol: (A little annoyed sounding) Daddy, Kali has a star.

Pause

Bristol: (more annoyed) Daddy, Kali has a star.

Pause

Bristol: (annoyed) Nate!

Nate: Yeah Bristol.

Bristol: Kali has a star.

The great thing is this is the second time this situation has happened. The previous time she even leaned in front of him to block the TV while calling him Nate.

Another experience we had the other day was I was getting Bristol dressed and was pulling up her tights. She stops me and says, "Mom you gave me a wedge". I quickly apologized while helping her fix the problem and trying not to laugh.I didn't want to end the post without a picture. She is eating an Oreo cookie.

Our Trip to Utah

It started out first by driving Saturday night after my friends wedding up to Reno. We are so grateful to have family in Reno who always so graciously take us in for a night (Thanks John and Julie). We then continued our drive the next morning. We stayed at Nate's dad's house because Nate was doing a rotation at the University of Utah for the two weeks that we were going to be there. So we did a lot of hanging out and seeing family. We were lucky that my sister lives there in Utah too and just had her first little baby. They blessed their baby while we were out there. So my family came out towards the end our trip and we got to hang out all together.Bristol meeting her new cousin Asher.

We watched him one day so my sister could go to work and Bristol was totally into helping me with him. She fed him a bottle and everything.Kali started walking in Utah.One night we hung out with some of Nate's friends from high school. These are all of the kids.Just a little love from Kellen. He also loved feeling Kali's hair. We determined it was because it was curly like his.

Waiting at the restaurant before we went to Temple Square. My sister Lisa, Bristol, and baby Asher.We went to Temple Square to see the lights.My sisters and me: Michelle, Lora, me, and Lisa.The whole fam. Except for Lisa's husband and her three boys.Brrrr. It was a cold night. Kali kept trying to take off her mittens.
Asher's blessing day. Bristol loves her new cousin.Kali getting into trouble.

Bristol's Birthday Party

So I know that I am really far behind, but we went to Utah for two weeks and I didn't bring the cord to download my pictures. Bristol's birthday party was the week before we left. Nate also with in that week flew to New York for an interview. So needless to say I was a little busy. So if you are interested in seeing what we have been up to for the last month then welcome.

Bristol was lucky enough to have her birthday strung out through out the week. We first celebrated on her actual birthday. We then went down to my parents because Nate went out of town for three days to Ohio. So she got to open her present's from my parents since my dad wasn't going to be able to make it to her party. We then had her birthday party once Nate got home and before he left again on another interview. I think she was in heaven for the whole week.Opening her presents on her birthday. She got a princess book.

I think she looks so cute here. She is so excited to see what present my mom and dad got for her.The birthday party day. I really wanted to decorate the ceiling like this. Luckily I enlisted Nate's help; and luckily the whole time he was talking on the phone with his brother so he wasn't complaining about the amount of streamers I was putting up. (Thanks Matt)
Her birthday cake. So I had envisioned an awesome castle cake in my head, but I had only a few hours to accomplish the assemble and decorating. So this is what she got. I think it looks more like Jasmine's castle from Aladin (which was not my goal). Oh well she liked it and there is always next year.Thankfully my sister offered to paint Cinderella and the dragon for some games for the party. I was already feeling super overwhelmed with everything and so it was a major help. Plus they look amazing. You can't see Cinderella's face because we played pin the crown on the princess.Blowing out the candles.Let them eat cake.My sister Lisa and Kali.Opening presents.