Temple Square

Last Thursday we all went to Salt Lake to pick Catlin up at the airport. Or that's what we were supposed to do. Turns out their flight was changed and they ended up missing it and had to fly in later. So, while we were waiting, we went ahead and looked at the lights on Temple Square. It is a lot warmer in Salt Lake at night than it is in Vernal, but we still had to bundle up. The kids were nice and cozy in their stroller...Mom was jealous :)Waiting at the cross walk to get to temple square. The kids loved the adventure...
Mom (Isn't she pretty?) and Kenny (And Kenny too) in the Visitor's Center...

Derrick and I...

Our little family...

Every time I look at the lights here, I am amazed at their beauty and the detail they put into everything. These red and gold trees are my favorite. They were right outside the tabernacle...

All of us...Jeff, Jayk, Dad & Brody, Kennedy, Shelbe, Christy, Mom, Me, Derrick, Zadie and Romeo

By the time we got back to the car, the kids were tuckered out. I love that Zadie has her arm around Romeo and he's snuggling her. He was starting to get pretty honery since we got to the temple at his bedtime...They are so precious! (I say that in almost every post, I know, but I'm their Mom-I can't help it!

Derrick had never seen the lights up close before and neither had the kids. I'm glad we took the time to go their. I wish we could have gone to the airport to get Cat, but she didn't fly in til after midnight so we had to head home. Zadie was so disappointed, but she made up for it by staying the night with her at Grandma's the next day when Cat made it home. We are so glad you are home safe!! We love you!!!

{Just Foolin' Around}

Sometimes Zadie will ask me to get my camera out and take pictures of her and Romeo. Sometimes he will cooperate, sometimes he won't. This night they were both pretty playful...and a little silly.{Precious...}
{Zadie has been teaching Romo how to make silly faces...}

{One of my FaVoRiTeS}

One night Romeo was having a hard time going to sleep and when Derrick went to check on them, this is what he found...Isn't it precious? Zadie is such a good big sister.

{Lookin' pretty cozy...}

Miss Zadie May being silly...

GiNgErBrEaD cOoKiEs

Monday for FHE we decided to bake and decorate gingerbread cookies. I had never made them before so this was all new for me too. (Thanks Jess for the recipe. They're great!) We gave each of the kids their own wax paper and rollers to roll out the dough and cut out the shapes they wanted. Derrick helped Romeo a little, but he did a really good job cutting them out. We all had a lot of fun...

Making their masterpieces...

Derrick insisted that he take the pictures so I could be in them with the kids. Thanks honey!! I'm usually the one taking them. Look at Romeo's face...he's so silly!

Mom, Dad, Yaeger and Kennedy came over and helped us decorate after the cookies cooled. The kids LOVE when they come over! Romeo did really well decorating the cookies, with Derrick's help of course. We caught him sucking the frosting out of the tubes a couple times...

The finished product. Beautiful!

Mom, Kenny, Yaeger and Dad's cookies (I think Dad decorated one:))

And of course, you can't decorate cookies without the kids getting messy. Here's Romeo showing off his dirty little fingers. He got into the glitter and frosting...and loved every minute of it.

So this was a new family activity that I think I'd like to turn into one of our traditions. I'm grateful for my kids and my wonderful husband. He is always so willing to do family activities and he gets right in and helps with the kids, and we always have fun together. So...gingerbread cookies again next Christmas for sure!!

Snow, Snow and more SNOW!!

Last Sunday we woke up to about 6-8 inches of snow...and it was still going strong. Derrick went out and started the attemp to clear off our driveway before church, and Romeo and I bundled up and went outside with him. Look how deep the snow was on the driveway-CrAzY!!

Romeo loved being outside in the snow. He was outside for about 2 1/2 hours and if Derrick hadn't come in to get ready for church and brought him inside with him, he probably would've stayed out there even longer. He was traipsing all over...he even walked on the neighbors grass where the snow was almost up to his waist!

I think one of the things he loved the most about the snow was being able to eat is. He kept saying, 'MMM, nummy nummy!"
Oh so good!

Derrick got all the snow off the prowler so he could take Romeo for a ride. The neighborhood had so much snow in it that he couldn't resist spinnin' a couple cookies! Naughty Naught! :) I can't believe how cold it's been here, but we are all geared up. Even I have snow boots and snow clothes. Derrick can't wait to take the kids sledding...I think we are going the day after Christmas with the cousins and we have plenty of snow to play in . I guess fun in the snow makes the winter a little less dreary!!!

*Dance Recital*

Last Saturday was Zadie's first dance recital with Miss Rachel's class. I was so excited to watch her, but I was a little afraid that she wouldn't go out on stage and perform. (It was held in the high school auditorium on the big stage) They had 2 extra practices, plus a dress rehearsal, so she had time to get used to the other girls her age from the other class and got to experience the stage beforehand. I think what excited her most was the pretty purple dress they got to wear and the fact that she got to wear eye shadow and lipstick to the performance. Doesn't she look beautiful!

Here they are dancing off stage with their ribbons. They performed to The Little Drummer Boy, with Miss Rachel ringing her chime and hitting the drum. She performed like a pro-

and smiled the whole time!

Zadie and and few classmates...Keyloni, Kaisha and Lauren. I got to help backstage with Lauren's mom and that was a totally new experience for me. I've never been involved in anything like that before. What a production!!! But the girls did so well and it went off without a hitch.
Zadie, Mariah, Ryan, Keyloni and Kaisha after they were finished performing. They were posing in a shape like they have been taught. (Zadie is a triangle shape)

My beautiful princess, Zadie...Look at that smile!

Zadie and Mamma

It has been so fun the past four months watching Zadie gain more confidence and skill from Miss Rachel's class. She is such a good teacher and Zadie loves her so much. She loves dancing even more and is a natural! Good job sissy!! Mommy is so proud of you!!

Santa Claus is coming to town...

Mom and Dad invited us to their ward Christmas party a couple weeks ago and the kids got to sit on Santa's lap. Shelbe was excitedly waiting in line, and Zadie was telling me she wasn't going to sit on his lap...no way!!! Guess who won? Anyway, here they are anxiously awaiting their turn.

Romeo, Zadie, Brody and Shelbe

Shelbe and Santa
Romeo and Santa

Zadie, Mommy and Santa...notice she is NOT sitting on his lap. She would hardly look at him!

Brody and Santa

So it wasn't too bad, and they definitely couldn't complain about their treats. I am so excited for Christmas day...having kids is so much fun!!!

**Snow Days**

Last Monday and Tuesday we got snowed on-a lot!! I kept looking out the window and wondering if it was going to stop. But, we took advantage of it. I bundled the kids up and we went outside to play...and it snowed on us the whole time we were out there. Derrick was jealous-he wanted to come home from work and play with us. :)

Zadie wanted to help me shovel the driveway. She did a good job. Such a helper!

Mr. Romeo on his little firetruck. He was lovin' playing outside!
Axel even got to come out and play. He was so excited he just kept following Zadie around and trying to get her down in the snow.

The kids couldn't resist the swing set. It was a little slippery, but good for pictures!!

I love my kids so much. I'm glad I took the time to play with them. I don't do that often enough and I've decided I need to do it more. We had a lot of fun together.

I showed Zadie how to make snow angels, but she was getting snowed on the whole time. I love this picture. It is priceless to me to see her smile. I love you Zadie!!

Romeo loved eating the snow...he couldn't get enough!

Catching UP!!

So while my computer was done, we still took lots of pictures and life went on. I just wanted to catch everyone up on what has been going on with us...before Halloween!:)

Here is Zadie (With Romeo) on her first day of preschool. She loves Miss Dana and her and Jaren have a great time together. I'm glad they have each other!

I can't believe she is old enough to go to preschool!

Derrick got Zadie a little german short-haired puppy for her birthday so we had to take him to Altonah with us. He was so good to let the little kids hold him on their laps and just chill. Zadie loves Axel and is so cute with him!

All the kids love to play on the swings and teeter totters at Altonah and Romeo is no diferent. He love the bigger one the best! Isn't he cute?
Zadie turned 4 this year and I still can't believe it! She is so beautiful and such a great daughter and sister. I am grateful to have her in my life. I look at her every day and am amazed that Heavenly Father blessed me with her. I still see the little baby I held in my arms not so long ago and my heart fills with so much love that is feels like it will overflow. I love you Zadie May!

Zadie wanted a princess cake for her birthday so I did my best!

We decided to take the kids to the zoo while we were in Salt Lake for the fair. It was a lot of fun, hot, but fun. The kids loved seeing all the animals and eating sno cone and kettle corn!

Zadie and I on the carousel (she still hasn't outgrown them!)

One day Romeo got into trouble and had to go to his room (this was before the bunk beds). Anyway, he crawled up on Zadie's bed and cried himself to sleep. When we went to check on him he was out cold!!

Kenny was babysitting for us and when we got home, this is what we found. Don't they look cozy! Romo loves Aunt Kenny!

Zadie and Romeo were crawling all over Derrick the other night and they both fit on his lap and legs when he is laying down. So precious!

While the kids were in San Diego I decided to redo a wall in the living room. Ricci came over and showed me how to antique the wall with a glaze and a paint brush. What a long process!! It took me from 10:00 to 5:30 with only a little lunch break. My wrist, thumb and index finger were so sore for a couple days!! I'm not sure I'll do that again. Ricci also gave me the idea to have Derrick build a frame for a mirror and then put textured wallpaper over the wood and paint it to how I liked it. It was a fun project for us to do together, although it was a little harder and more time consuming that we first thought. Here is the finished product up on the beautiful wall!

Here is my new decorated wall...I love it!