Happy Birthday Kyler - this is for you

Time to Party

The kids were counting the days and couldn't wait until New Year's Eve.  They wanted to do countdown bags again... so we did. 

The kids were spending the day at the farm, so I had to improvise and change the bags up a bit (they didn't want to come home when it was time to start).

Bag number 1 - Clue: Nickels and Dimes (7 nickels and 11 dimes - to be exact)

I had to do this bag myself.  I ran into town, picked up pizza (for a different bag) and special drinks.  When I got back - they were all home and ready for the next bag.

Bag number 2 wasn't nearly as much fun.  They read a clue that told them to clean up and get things ready for the party. I will admit, this was my favorite - having the kids clean and straighten up before we started.

I can;t remember what was in each bag...we had one contained decorations, a clue to eat dinner, a new board game, a new wii game, movie and popcorn, and of course celebration glasses. 

Each year, the kids fill out a paper that describes them and what they liked to do this year.  On the back, they made a few goals / resolutions.

And, each year - Steve and someone fall asleep early.  Last year, it was Jake.  This year it was Kyler. Kyler woke up though when it was time to celebrate... 

 or maybe we woke him up.

Happy New Year!  Hope ya'll have a wonderful 2014!

Country Livin'

Here's a few pics of the kids at the farm today.  Kyler and Jake built a porch on their fort (it was Steve's new chicken coop - for about a day).

We all know Mary had a little lamb... but did you know that Kyler had a little dog?  Every where that Kyler went, the dog was sure to go...

Chester

Here ya go daddy - pictures of Chester.

The kids loaded up and took off to the farm with Chester this morning.  They spent several hours up there today just playing around and building forts.

 They were all tired, exhausted and hungry when they got home.

Christmas 2013

Steve and I have compromised on family traditions - we open Higgins presents (Nana and Papa's) on Christmas Eve, and everything else on Christmas morning.  Maybe once Nana and Papa are here I can convince him that if we really respected our elders we would go with their traditions and go back to opening presents on Christmas Eve and stockings on Christmas morning. 

Anyways, we have kept the Higgins tradition, we read the Christmas story before opening gifts. Since the kids are now all old enough to read (and i can't remember who did it last year or the year before) we decided to start something new... 

Kyler read Samuel the Lamanite on Christmas Eve.

Jake read the Birth of Jesus Christ

Followed by MaKenna reading about the Signs of Christ's Birth

Christmas Morning was full of chaos and fun.  The kids were very good - they didn't get up until it was "in the 6's".  6:02 AM to be exact.  They did their chores (dogs and chickens) and helped me get the monkey bread in the oven. Once that was done, we sat down, read and started opening.  I think it was a pretty successful time.  They each seem to have gotten the thing they have "always wanted".

Here is the yearly picture by the Christmas tree.

"Just add some sass"

Audrey (Hair stylist):  Hi MaKenna, how are you? What are we going to do today?"
MaKenna: I want a bob!
Audrey: No, I don't think you do.
MaKenna: OK, just add some sass to it then."

When you add sass to MaKenna - this is what you get:

Here is a before and after picture of her new haircut.  She has typically always had a strait cut. This time we went with layers - she LOVES it.

Before

After

A couple more...

Nov / Dec 2013

Well, Thanksgiving came and went... before I could blink it was Christmas Eve.

For Thanksgiving - the kids and I baked - baked - and baked. We made lots of rolls, pies, cookies, salads, etc.  We have a great time with friends on Thursday and then had a low key family Thanksgiving on Friday (after shopping of course).

MaKenna was not impressed with "Lard" in the pie crusts

Kyler making salad

I refuse to do much towards Christmas until after Thanksgiving.  Usually that is not a problem - this year however, things were all squished together and I was running behind.  We did manage to get a couple packages sent.  (If you are wondering about Christmas cards - Maybe Valentine's Day)

Life moves fast - next year I will try to keep up, but for now, please enjoy the December recap in photos. (Christmas post and pics coming tomorrow...)

Frozen Big T river

Kyler and Chester

MaKenna - Choir Concert

Sea Container - Storage 

Surprise Snow - 3.5 inches!

New Chicken Coop for the Farm