March Weather in Las Vegas and the Loudest Snorer in our House

 One of the best times to ever visit or live in Las Vegas is March.  When everyone else is still trying to thaw out from their winters our weather is usually perfect.  The boys were busy in the backyard enjoying the weather while Kimball was at school.  Here's some of the more classic moments caught on camera.

Have I mentioned how Tod needs to be in gymnastics?

Jack testing his balance and playing King of the Slide.

 

Before.

 After.

I actually managed to get a pic of Danny without him running at the camera. Must be because he was transformed into an angel with sun beaming off his hair.

Jack just being happy.

Danny coming to get the camera.

 Nothing like a delicious apple and a friend to eat it with.

Jason and I have determined that Kimball is the loudest snorer in our house.  It is crazy.  We can hear her when we are downstairs and she's up in her room.  So, we figured we had to capture this to black mail her later.

Tod turns 3 years old!

What can I say about this cute little guy.  He sure is growing up fast and so is his sense of independence and determination.  He does everything he can to keep up with his big brother and sister and can get frustrated when things don't go the way he wants.  He needs lots of hugs from me when things are going right, even if I'm the one who is making him mad.  When he has to go to the sad corner for not listening, he actually cries and says "I need to hug you mom."  He's never afraid to get a hug from me, even when I'm mad at him.  I can't help but love a kid that is never too afraid of "mean mom" to get a hug.

Really, how can you not love this face?

Birthday day morning surprises waiting on the table.

Too cool with his new sunglasses!

Tod's cousin Alia, was born the day before, and her mom let me piggy back on to the AWESOME party that she had planned.  It was a "How to Train Your Dragon" party and the kids had a blast!

Tod practicing his dragon fighting skills.

Jack was busy taking on one of Alia's cousins.  I'm pretty sure this little girl was feisty enough to take down Jack.

My awesome sister-in-law planned this amazing party, and all I had to do was make a dragon cake.  Pretty cool, huh?  Who know fruit roll-ups could make such awesome dragon wings.

Tod checking out the cake.

I can't believe Tod is 3.   If I tell him I love him, he is always the fastest to respond with "I love you too mom!"  And he has the cutest sing-song/cartoon voice.  Also, he is our gymnast in training.  When we go the park he loves to swing on the bars and always has his legs together and toes pointed.  My mom is always so impressed.

Cool Kid and Bath Time

 Kimball got the Cool Kid award for January for her class.  It's the all-round award for just being awesome.  At least that's how I'm going to describe it.

Kimball with the other kids from her class and their "most improved" or "best speller" awards, and with her teacher, Mrs. Orr, who Kimball loves!

She was very excited to take a picture with the Treem Bear.  All the kids love him.

The post bath time picture.

How do we manage to get all 4 kids clean?  Here's how it works, with Kimball giving us an extra hand in making sure the boys were really clean.  Danny loves the camera and decided to ditch the bath and come and attack me.

Two Christmases

MERRY CHRISTMAS!  Our very fortunate kiddos got to open presents twice so it was really like having 2 different Christmases.  A friend from Jason's work, Jo, loves to spoil our kids.  She had told Jason that she got them a present or two, but we had no idea what she had really done until Jason came home with all those lovely presents under our tree at home.

Thanks again Jo!  Our kids have never been so spoiled!

Can you feel the anxiousness as they wait to get started?

Finally, they got to start opening!

Even Danny got pretty excited once we showed him how to tear into the wrapping paper.

Then, it was time to head up to my parents house, where we got to have a WHITE Christmas.

Danny just getting used to this stuff.  I love going to my parents house because they know us "desert dwellers" don't usually invest in snow clothes, but my mom always tries to provides something to let our kids not get too cold.  We don't mind the pink!

Tod doesn't mind what he's wearing either, as long as he gets to play too.

Jack getting a good lesson on how to make a snowman.  He just got done rolling out the body.

I love Jacks pose, always so cool. 

And what's a trip to Nana and Papa's, without a ride in Daisy with the cutest kids and husband EVER.

Every Christmas we attempt to put together the Nativity.  This year the characters were played by our kiddos and Cally and Nates kids. With Baby Evey as the Baby Jesus.

Danny had too much fun trying to be the inn keeper.

It will be a sad day when Kimball has to share the role of Mary.  She loves being Mary, and totally plays the part.

Tod was all about the "Good tidings of great joy!" As the angel.

Finally the real Christmas morning arrived, and pictures of the some of the joy and craziness!

Jack with his crazy faces!

Tod getting excited over toothpaste and a toothbrush from his stocking.  Our kids really love getting a new toothbrush from Santa.  I wonder if it confuses them with the Tooth Fairy?

Happy times with anything princess for Kimball.

Jason, I mean Danny has some of the most random facial expressions.

And, more fun with these two!  I swear Tod and Danny share a brain sometimes.

And more fun outside!  Anything to burn some energy to lessen the effects of "cabin fever."

I finally went outside to join in the fun.  Jason pulled us around in a tube behind Daisy, and managed to cover me in snow.  Thank goodness it was pretty warm, so it melted off our faces quick.

Danny harnessing his cuteness.

And our fabulous chauffeurs that drove around the back yard all day!

It was a very fun Christmas this year with good times with some of our family.  Aside from the presents and good food and company, during the Christmas season, it's always amazing to think of the "reason for the season."  My testimony of Christs birth is very special to me as I think about Mary and her experience during the Christmas season, especially as I just found out I'm pregnant with baby #5.  I'm grateful for my Savior, for His birth on this earth and for all that His life, death, and resurrection means to me and to my beautiful growing family! 

Hiking the Mesa and a Family Photo Shoot

 A new park was just built that has a couple of different trails that lead to the top of the mesa behind our house.  I got brave one day and took all four kids up one of those trails.  Up at the top was a nice little sitting area where we ate our snacks.

Tod is trying to figure how to far down the path he wants to go.

Enjoying snacks and the view from a top the mesa.

Kimball telling me to save the boys as they are heading down a path that leads to the edge of hill.  Always the older sister looking out for her little brothers.

 A self-portrait of Danny and I.

My fabulous sister-in-law Kim and my brother Abe found some time to do a family photo-shoot of our family.  They were awesome, and got some great shots.  These pics, do not give them justice because these are the funny outtakes that I wanted to put on the blog.  The nice pictures will go on the side of the blog on a more permanent spot.

 Love this boy!  This is one of the faces Jack willl make if he's trying to trick us, or if I ask him if he's done something he doesn't want to admit to.

I saw a cute picture of a family posed  with the parents laying down and their cute little kids sitting very cutely on top of them.  This is as close was we got.

Tod looking very concerned before we got a good smile out of him.

So glad to have this little girl as our oldest.  She sure keeps me entertained and is the best big sister!  

Harnessing her inner "free-bird."

When we told Jack and Tod to come climb on top of us, to try and set up a pose, they decided a flying leap was the best approach.

Danny caught mid laugh or snarl... can't tell which!

Thanks Abe and Kim!