Speaking of cold...

Everyone else has been posting about the ridiculously cold weather, so I thought I would throw in my 2 cents. I am so grateful for a house with a working furnace! Im sure I wont be as grateful when the bill comes, but at the moment it is a life saver...literally! They cancelled school today because the temp was dropping to a "dangerously" low
-35 degrees. Of course that is with the wind chill, so thats not too bad right? Ryan was out shoveling for only about 5-10 minutes last night, and came in completely frozen! He was complaining how sore his hands were and I was afraid he got frost bite, (yes, he was wearing gloves) so I banned him from going back out to finish. The wind just blows the snow back onto the driveway anyway! So can someone tell me why this freakish weather decides to visit right after we move here? Last year was supposed to be the record in snowfall, and now we are breaking coldness records, on top of even more snow! What did we do to deserve this!? And might I mention, Im sorry to everyone else for apparently bringing this on. Okay, Im not complaining. I love having the kids home where I can listen to them argue all day, and make a mess. No really, I do. I havent left the house, besides church, since Brylee was born. Its just too dang cold! Okay, plus Im a little freaked out about lugging three kids around again. Lets just go back to saying...Im grateful for the warm house...and Ill be grateful for spring. Do not visit Wisconsin in the winter!

Finally!

Katelin is so excited...she FINALLY lost her first tooth. She has been anticipating this for two years! It has been loose for a while, probably because her permanent tooth got tired of waiting and finally started growing in behind her baby tooth! This has definitely posed a cosmetic problem which will require braces down the road, but with our dental genes, we were expecting that anyway. We were a little worried about the tooth fairy, since it got sooo cold (like below 0) last night, but she made it! That is Magic! Katelin woke up happily to a dollar in exchange for her tooth this morning; which of course she already has plans on spending! Right before I pulled it out, she had a massive bloody nose, so she was a little teary eyed for the pictures, but still happy. I figured since she was already crying and bleeding, I would just yank it. (It really wasnt that bad, it was practically falling out by this point!) So now the countdown starts again, waiting for the next one...and the cash that comes with it!

I made this pillow for Madi, and fully intended to make one for each kid, but never got around to it, so they share.

More Brylee

Well, here she is again. I promised I would keep updated pictures on the blog. We can hardly believe she is already 5 weeks old (almost 6). She has already started growing out of her 0-3 month clothes; which makes me very sad since they are so cute and she was only able to wear them a few times. Advice to new Moms...skip most of the newborn sizes and go straight to 3-6 months. It will only drown them for a couple weeks, and it will save you money and heartache! Im doing laundry every other day for her anyway, so she really only needs a couple of smaller sizes to rotate through. You would think I would learn that by the 5th kid right? Some of us (me) are just slower than others I guess. Anyway, she doesn't look a whole lot different to me, other than the size issue, but I see her everyday.

Does anyone know why my pictures keep coming in sideways!?

Finally Christmas

On the morning of Christmas, Madi and Katelin came into our room around 5:45 am. We then proceeded to wake up Alissa and Zack, and head down to check if Santa had come. Present opening began immediately, which included a Nintendo Wii for the whole family. The girls were also happy to receive at least one of the presents they really wanted from Santa. We were a little disappointed that after 3 weeks of trying to keep Zack from opening the gifts under the tree, that by Christmas morning, he had no interest in seeing what was inside for him. He was less than thrilled about he whole event actually. He only wanted to play with everyone elses gifts that had already been opened, which of course made them mad. Even after a peek of what was inside the wrapping paper, he still wouldnt rip it off...instead he just tried to play with it through the opening in the paper. Maybe by his birthday he will get it! After present opening, I made our traditional Christmas breakfast, while Ryan tried to get all the gifts out of their boxes and that frustrating twisty wire off. Even thought there wasnt much interest in eating, we had breakfast and then played the rest of the day. It only became frustrating for a moment when one of the kids started asking for MORE presents! But I think they will have enough to keep them busy...for a few days at least! Thanks to everyone who sent us gifts. They helped make our Christmas special!

The Wii

Zack got a Geo Trax train set, a remote control "bounceback racer", and a Lightning McQueen ride on car. Of course the box is always fun too!

Katelin with her look alike American Girl doll. Santa's elves couldnt make the real version due to copyrights (and they are too pricey to buy), but she cant tell the difference!

The kids got an easel to share.

Brylee had to get her first BYU shirt.

Mom got lots of kinds of games, and Dad got a new coat. Madi got a fashion designer set to prepare for her career when she grows up, and Alissa couldnt wait to get her "Chou Chou" baby.

We always pose with all our gifts for a picture when were done. Here we all are with our stashes!

Alissa also got a sleeping bag, we forgot to put in the picture.

Christmas Eve

The long awaited day, before the longer awaited day was finally here! The kids started out by taking advantage of our 2 feet of snow and building snowmen with Dad. This was really Zacks first experience in the snow. Please dont mind his pink flower boots...thats what happens when you have 4 sisters! They all loved it, and Katelin became quite the pro at snowball rolling! After they came in and warmed up with hot chocolate, we ate lunch and made cookies for Santa. The girls love to frost and decorate the Christmas shaped cookies. Then after watching "Elf", and having dinner, we performed our annual family rendition of the Christmas Story. This year, Mom was Mary, Zack (a neglectful) Joseph, Madison a shepherd, Katelin a wiseWOMAN, Alissa the angel, Dad the donkey and inn keeper, and of course, Brylee was baby Jesus. Zack wasnt having any of keeping his robe on, so he was a Joseph of the future. Then it was time for the opening of the Christmas Eve PJ's. Alissa was the most excited to recieve her new tinkerbell nightgown with matching slippers and a wand. Then finally it was time for baths, scriptures and off to bed. What a long day!

Random Pictures

Here are a few pictures from over the last month. Its been a busy one!

Katelin and Alissa visiting Santa.

Madi during her school music program. (Notice the kid behind her)

Zack sneaking the Ice cream out of the freezer and having a taste.

And of course, Brylee at two weeks old!