Utah Day 4

Monday we played around the house and went ice skating during the day. 

 At night we went to Texas Roadhouse for dinner with the whole group and then got on the train to Salt Lake and checked out the lights on temple square. Jacob fell asleep on the way there.

 After walking through temple square we stopped in the Joseph Smith Memorial Building for some hot chocolate. But seeing that the line for the hot chocolate was a mile long, we went through the food line to get soup, pie, cookies, ice cream and oh yeah... hot chocolate. Much better plan.

 I ran into a couple distant family members on the train home from SLC. Janelle, Debra and Marie Depew were up there checking out the lights as well. It was a wonderful coincidence.

Utah Day 2 & 3

We went to Evanston for a family photo shoot on Saturday and attend Halon's blessing on Sunday. 

The photo shoot was done at a Renovated Mechanics Shop where they used to fix trains. It was a beautiful room and the boys kept themselves occupied for hours while we took pictures. Lots of pictures. 

 They got creative with their activities because we had all the time in the world and a completely empty room. Lots of room to run, though it was prohibited to avoid facial wounds. So they made a game out of climbing the garbage cans instead. Jacob is Superman here.

 Alex really enjoyed holding baby Halon. He was a great helper while the adults got their pictures taken without kids.

 Alisabeth was a natural at holding little Halon. He just stared at her. 

Utah Day 1

The first thing the boys wanted to do when they woke up on our first day of being in Utah is play outside in the snow.

 We went to Lowes Xtreme Air for the afternoon which was super fun! They have every gymnastic, aerial, trampoline, play thing known to man. They are even building a parkour course. The boys could be there all day.

Christmas 2013

We enjoyed dinner with friends on Christmas Eve. 

 Grandma sent superman jammies to the boys to be opened on Christmas Eve. They loved them!

 Santa delivered some awesome things this year. Craggars commandship for Aaron, video camera rc tank for Alex and a Batman Imaginext world for Jacob.

 Of course Jacob snagged a tablet somewhere between his bed and the living room so he was more interested in that than the wonder happening around him. Maybe next year.

 Aaron got a Star Wars belt in his stocking. It goes perfectly with his superman jammies.

 The first thing that caught Jacob's attention in his stocking was the gummie life savers which he had for breakfast.

 Alex made gifts for us all this year. And a pop up card for dad.

 Hungry Hungry Hippos are the best!

 Uncle Brandon got our family a telescope! It was so wonderful. The first time we took it out the boys could see Jupiter and its moons (with the help of dad and uncle scott)

Christmas Eve Excitment

Getting ready for Christmas

Getting ready for Christmas has been so fun this year. The boys really know how to decorate a tree, Jacob can read the names on gift tags, and the have enough will power to not eat all the candy off the gingerbread house. (on the first night at least)

 Aaron still loves to set up the nutcrackers and play with them. 

 We remembered Andrew's birth on December 9th, thought about his life and how much we miss him.

 I decided it was much better to decorate one room with all the Christmas decorations and call it the Christmas room than to decorate the whole house. We are loving the overwhelming warmth and hominess happening in that room.

 The Google Christmas party held at the Legion of Honor was so much fun. It was a masqerade and our painted on masks did us well all night. Fine art and live music. I was in heaven. Best party ever.

 A pop/tribute band Pop Rocks rocked the house. That dance floor was not empty for long. 

 Jacob and I were so excited to open my Christmas present early. Our Dyson vaccum makes me so happy. Its a keeper.

 Alex and Aaron rocked their Christmas piano recital. Alex with Jingle Bells and Aaron with Let it Snow.

Family Triathalon

We had our first family triathalon. It was a total success. In the end of course, after quite a bit of moaning "This won't be fun!" from Aaron. All the boys surprised themselves and exceeded our expectations for sure. 

 Because it was really cold we started out with the run, then did bike and swim. To start we just let them run nonstop for 15 minutes around the elementary school track. This way each age group could finish at the same time and all get a good run in. Jacob suprised us all by running .8 mile without breaking a sweat.

 

 Time to hit the bike portion.

 The ride was about 3 miles long and inluded some moderate hills. The big boys flew through this part. 

 We ended at the YMCA pool where we were all glad to get in the warm water. Alex swam 4 laps. We were all very tired at the end.