Hello Snow!!

Less then 12 hours ago there wasn't a drop of snow on the ground.  Now, we are covered in at least a foot of snow.  The wind is wild and blowing the snow across the golf course so hard that you can't see a thing! It is beautiful!  Nothing like a fresh blanket of snow covering the trees and ground while I'm in my warm pj's by the fire.  I don't wanna leave, I may not be able to leave! The roads are closed and we are SNOWED IN!!

My car is looking a little snowy!

The Nativity (a little late)

Our ward put on a dinner and Nativity a couple weeks ago and Brody was asked to be one of the wise men. He looked so adorable in his costume that my friend Lindsey let him borrow. Thanks for the pictures Leslie!

The Nativity. Brody is the first wiseman on the left.

Cute Primary kids!

Where's The Snow?

We headed up to the cabin the day after Christmas hoping to sled, build snowmen and possibly hit Sunrise for a little snowskiing. Much to our surprise there is not a drop of snow on the ground. If you remember, last year there was so much snow, we could hardly get in and out of the front door of the cabin! The weather channel is calling for snow starting tomorrow, but I doubt it will be enough for any of the activities we are wanting to do! Even though there is no snow, we are having fun playing all the board games Santa brought us along with riding our new bikes on Sugar's new driveway! I wish we could stay here forever, the thought of going back to "life" makes me wanna puke!

Christmas Day recap 2010

Christmas 2010 was AWESOME, all except Brody and Case waking up at 5:55 am.  Since Jeremy and I were EXHAUSTED, we made them hang out in our room until 7:30!  Santa brought everyone what they wanted which made for a fun morning. Some of the highlights were a basketball hoop, DSI XL's and new bikes. After breakfast with Kunkle, Nicole, Presley and Cave, we put all the kids down for a nap and Jeremy and I zonked out for a good hour!  It felt good until we had to wake up!  We could have slept all day and into the night! For dinner we headed over to Sugar's house which was the perfect way to end the day.  Hope you all had a very Merry Christmas! 

Oh what fun!!

Ledger was giddy when he opened his Ladybug Pillow Pet!    

Brody was so happy when he opened his Crayola 200 piece art kit! 

Miss B. was thrilled when Sugar brought over a Barbie Beetle.  She opened and closed the door 100 times!

Santa brought bikes for the whole family!  Watch out neighborhood! 

Thanks Santa!

We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  We sure did thanks to this guy!

WOW Santa!  What's in that bag?  I hope it's for me!

Hurry Santa!  There's no time to rest!

Merry Christmas From The Felstead's

Hope your day was perfect!

Christmas Traditions

Every year there are a few traditions that we try to accomplish before and even after the Christmas holiday.  One of them includes going to the cemetery.  I realize that going to the cemetery doesn't sound very "Christmasey," but it is a good way for my kids to learn more about their Grandpa Harvey.  In years past, we have had wonderful discussions while at the cemetery.  Included are such things as Grandpa Harvey's favorite candy, favorite color, what he did for a job, some stories about him and I etc. etc. This year however, the conversation was a little more grim.  We talked about mummies, people arising from their graves, how we are glad we are not at the cemetery and it's Halloween, all things spooky and strange.  It was a little different then I had hoped but we still had fun decorating a Christmas tree to leave at the grave site.  I hope that by taking my kids to the cemetery, they are able to learn more about their Grandpa Harvey and the great man that he was and still is to me!   What are some of your out of the ordinary Christmas traditions?

HOT, HOT, HOT, Hot Chocolate!!

Today Brody asked if he could have a hot chocolate stand.  Why not, I thought.  It's cloudy, chilly (yea like 65 degrees) and rainy outside.  We hauled a table to the corner along with hot water, marshmallows, whipped cream, cups and lids.  Brody made a sign and we were set.  Within minutes of setting up, he had half the neighborhood buying warm hot chocolate and hanging out on the corner.  It was awesome!  Half way through it started raining which we didn't mind a bit. After the rain cleared we sold more hot chocolate and decided it was time to head back to the house.  Would you believe he made $22.oo?! It was so much fun and totally worth it!  Now take that money boys and buy your Mom a super cool Christmas present!

Neighborhood friends!

Sugar, Aunt Missy, Big Jake and Cole stopped by for some hot hot hot, hot chocolate!

Silent Night, Holy Night

Yesterday afternoon Brody had his Christmas piano recital.  He performed Silent Night with his teacher.  It was kinda a duet type song.  It sounded beautiful.  He played it perfect while Jeremy and I were beaming from ear to ear. I hope Brody will continue to love playing the piano the way he does now.  He is so passionate about playing and loves showing off to anyone who stops by our house. Way to go Brody.  You ROCK on the piano dude!

Miss Brooke is the best piano teacher ever.  We are grateful to her for all she does to make piano so fun.  

Christmas In Kindergarten

Being in kindergarten during the Christmas holiday is the BEST!  The month started off with reindeer day.  The kids read all kinds of reindeer stories and did lots of reindeer projects.  They even made reindeer food for Santa's reindeer. So fun!  Next came Polar Express Day. Case and his classmates wore their PJ's to school and got to go on a magical train ride.  Case was slightly embarrassed wearing his pj's and robe to school.  He came right home and changed into his shorts and a shirt.  He is waaaaay to cool for pj's at school!

  After polar express day came a cookie party at his friend Cori's house.  His mom made all the kids Christmas cookies and then let the kids frost and decorate them.  It was fun for Case to get to be with his friends outside of the classroom atmosphere. Can you just see the focus and concentration Case has in his posture?  He way so into making the cookies look 

Today was part 1 of Gingerbread Day so on Monday  I got to help the kids in his class make gingerbread houses.  Since it was only part 1, they didn't decorate them, only make them.  It was fun and messy and I can't wait untill he brings the finished product home tomorrow! What a lucky boy Case is to have such a fun Kindergarten teacher.   

15 Months

My baby girl is 15 months old today. WOW!  The time is sure flying by! She is unlike any 15 month old I've ever raised.  She is waaaaay more busy and active then all 3 of my boys combined.  Some of her favorite things to do are:  play in the toilet, drag toilet paper all over the house, empty her dresser drawers (I've NEVER had a kid do this!!), empty the kitchen cupboards and drawers,  drag the clean laundry all over the house, throw Legos from the Lego bucket ALL OVER THE PLACE.  She is absolutely non stop!  On Tuesday, she ripped 2 keys off my laptop (thanks Darren for fixing it!) How does that even happen?  She totally loves to bug her big brothers by breaking their Legos and scribbling on their art work.  Don't even try opening the refrigerator when Miss B. is around because fast as lightening she will rip all the straws off the Capri Suns that are housed in the fridge door.  Not only that but she loves to throw anything within reach out of the fridge.  It's truly amazing how fast she is!  At her 15 month check up yesterday, Dr. James noticed that she hasn't gained any weight since her last appt.  Then he observed her BUSY behavior and realized there was nothing to worry about!  As of yesterday, she is 30.5 inches (54%) tall, weighs 20.3 pounds (14%) and has a head circumference of 17.8 inches (33%).  She screamed the whole appointment as if she knew Dr. James was gonna give her the MMR, Hep A, and varicella shots. While super busy, here are some amusing and funny things about my baby girl at 15 months.  She can wave "bye bye" and YELL, "ELLO" (hello) to everyone she sees.  If you ask her a question, she says, "mmmmmm" like she's thinking of the answer or doesn't know how she'll tell you the answer. If the boys start laughing about something, she will too.  Her laugh is loud and squeaky.  I looove it!  She loves to sit on my lap in the morning while I put on my makeup.  I hand her powder brushes and eyebrow brushes and she uses them like I do. I've waited YEARS for that one! She can out eat any one of my boys.  She is ALWAYS hungry and wanting to eat (is that not a true girl?) When she wants something she yells "MAAAA, MAAAAA" until I get her what she wants. She is addicted to her binky but since I'm not a very nice mom, I only let her have it at night. She has done pretty well with keeping her sticky hands off the Christmas tree ornaments. but loves to rip them off Ledger's little tree in his room. When she eats a pancake for breakfast, she insists on using the fork by herself.  When she is finished eating, she uses the fork as a comb and runs it all through her clean hair.  She looooves to show you her belly button but still gets a little confused on where her nose and ears are. She is a smartie pants! 

I can't believe this baby GIRL is mine.  Although she is VERY active, she is fun and entertaining. Even though I can't take her ANYWHERE, I still love being at home watching her "explore" (a nice word for DESTROY!) and learn about the world.  She is amazing! Love you Busy Miss B.!

So pretty on the scale at Dr. James office.  Is it just me or does she look longer and thinner then last time we were here? 

This picture cracks me up.  She was a bawling mess the whole appointment and I was right there snapping pictures of it all!  

Rudolph Goes To Preschool!

See, I told you so!

Miss B. and I had fun helping at your class party on Tuesday.  Thanks for letting us come Ledger (and Miss Jody, Ashley and Tauna).

"Jingle Bells, Batman Smells"

Yesterday I got to attend the play, "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells" with Brody and his second grade class.  The play was at the Tempe Arts Center and boy was it awesome!  The theatre is on Tempe Town Lake and is beautiful inside and out! Although I didn't get to go on the bus, I had fun hanging out with Brody before the play began. I think his favorite part was the McDonald's lunch I picked up for him on the way back to the school. Being a stay at home mom is the best!

Hunter, Mason and Brody

Brody and Jackson

Who says "Oh Oh Oh?"

Santa walking backwards!

Did my joke make you happy?  It's been a favorite around our house these days! Anyway...Saturday we attended the annual Santa Christmas party at John and Sheena Rang's house.  It is such a fun party filled with cookies, candy, singing and Santa.  The big guy himself stopped by and boy were the kids happy. I always think it's funny that they tell Santa something totally different that they want for Christmas then what they tell me.  It's like the minute they get on Santa's lap all kinds of things start coming out, unless you're Miss B. and all you do is scream your head off! Is it mean that I think this picture is funny?  

Sugar and Miss B. beofre Santa arrived!

Jaden and Miss B. just stared at each other.  She ran fast as lightening when his parents told him to give Miss B. a kiss (in Spanish).  I'm not sure how she knew what they said but man she was outta there!

I love these guys!

We love you Santa!

Brody told Santa he wanted an art kit.

Case told Santa to bring him a DSI XL.

Ledger wants a blue Nintendo DSI XL with Super Mario Party, Super Mario Bros and Mario Cart.

My cute brother and his family.

Why? Why? Why?

Why do I torture myself each year with trying to get family Christmas pictures at the last minute?  Every year I tell myself to start earlier, make sure the kids have clothes/shoes that fit, make sure my roots aren't black and that I have the perfect spot picked out.  But every year around the second week in December I start to panic and then stress that I haven't sent out my Christmas cards.  Why? Why? Why? I know better.  I know how hard this task is.  I know how time consuming this process is.  Why do I do this?  

So this year we headed out to The Pecans in Queen Creek for our last minute, hope something turns out, Christmas card.  What an experience!  As usual, my kids were hating that they had to hold still long enough to get 500 pictures taken.  They wanted to play on The Pecans community playground.  They were hungry.  They were mad I took them out of school 30 minutes early and they missed the big canned food reveal at the assembly.  Miss B. wouldn't hold still long enough to do anything.  Case pushed Ledger down in the dirt and got his shirt dirty. Ledger was bawling his eyes out which never looks good in pictures.  Jeremy pulls Case aside and gives him the lecture about pushing his little brother down during a photo shoot and Case starts bawling.  It was just one thing after another.  I was so frustrated at my family that I wanted to leave them all in The Pecans for the night! 

Oh family, I love you bunches, but I hate taking Christmas pictures with you!

This little lady was having major wardrobe malfunctions all afternoon.  Her flower refused to stay on her head, her cute furry white boots were 2 sizes too big, and her clothes just weren't fitting right. She was a MESS!  

I Love To See The Temple...

...LIGHTS! Last Sunday night we jumped in our car and followed our friends, the Reis Family to see the temple lights.  They were beautiful as ever and it was fun to be bundled up in our warm clothes in the cold night air.  Thanks for the invite Reis Family!

One of the Nativities at the Temple.

Mallorie, Mason, Pete, Jeremy, Miss B. and Ledger

Miss B. was in heaven with all the pretty lights.

Madi and Ledger

The gang!

We love this cute family!