Looking Forward to 2014

Another year has begun. I look forward with anticipation to this new year. There should be lots of exciting changes in our family.

The new year always starts with the first birthday in our family, mine. I woke up to a gift from Jake ... he's really good at picking out my shoes. On a random side note, he hid these in a fridge outside in our garage! Brrr, they were cold.

 It was an uneventful day. We were all feeling a little under the weather and not in the mood to do much of anything.
I got fajitas for dinner. Jake didn't get around to making a cake so we all went to the bakery and picked out a half round mint chip cake.

 We all enjoyed the yumminess

We pressed forward into January. Everyone got back into their regular school schedule. Jake only has two more semesters! We are excited to be in the senior year phase, although it's going to be a busy 6 months.
This is why you can't nap on the couch when kids are awake:

 Breahna is old enough for church nursery. She didn't get to go the first Sunday since she had a cold. But she got to wear her new Christmas dress (thank you again grandma Scofield!)

She is 23 pounds and 32 inches and was named very well. Breahna means, strong one. She certainly is opinionated, likes to do things herself and for sure doesn't like to be told no.
Mom, take our picture too!

I had a fun opportunity help Alexander prepare for being Super Star at his preschool. He picked out pictures and we put together a poster that highlighted him.

 He also wanted to read his favorite book to his class:

 I got to go to school with Alexander as he shared who he was. It was awesome watching Alexander light up as he talked about himself. He was a great storyteller when he "read" his book. He put a lot of life into his book.
Alexander was born in California
He has 1 older brother and 1 younger sister
His favorite food is a Nutella Sandwich.  He likes Star Wars, Transformers, and Jake and the Neverland Pirates. His favorite color is blue.
Then his friends asked him questions:
Favorite movie? Star Wars with Count Duku in it
Favorite game? Star Wars
Favorite Toy? Light Saber
hahaha - apparently this kid really liked Star Wars.
When a third kid asked his favorite movie he grumbled, I already told you, you're driving me crazy. But then said he also liked Transformers.
He was also asked several times what his favorite toy was. He said, big dinosaurs and then big trucks. Then the kids each gave Alexander a compliment. It was time for breakfast afterward. This day was yogurt, granola, strawberry syrup and milk.
I love how independent the expect the kids to be.. They set the table, serve themselves, clear their place, etc.
Alexander eats breakfast and lunch while at school. I have seen a huge improvement in his eating habits since eating at school. He's still picky but he'll at least usually try a bite or two of whatever we give him.
They also brush their teeth after each meal.
I love having Alexander in our family. He is usually such a happy kid. He is also funny and keeps us laughing. He doesn't like anyone to be sad. If someone else gets yelled at or in trouble, he'll start crying. He loves to give hugs. He's usually the first one to greet whoever wake up. He'll give them a big hug, "good morning Breahna! I'm so glad to see you!" He also eagerly greets whoever comes home. Often throughout the day he'll randomly throw his arms around me or Jake, "I love you!" We sure love you Alexander. I love how excited he is whenever someone comes home or pick him up at school. He comes running with his arms open wide, "you're back! I'm so glad you came back!" Wow, what a greeting. He's usually enthusiastic to start each day, especially to go to school. I am so blessed to be his mom! I am beyond blessed to spend my days as a full-time stay at home mom to such amazing kids. I truly have the best job in the world.
And I'm excited to soon have 4 kids to lighten my days with their sunshine and spirits

marching forth into another adventurous year!

Farewell 2013

I need to do better about keeping up. If I don't get December blogged about it will end up getting lost amid new baby post (that will happen someday, right?)

I haven't posted any pictures from December so this is going to be A LOT of pictures.
We went through a crazy cold spell, especially one week worth.

One morning around 6am we were startled awake by a deathly silence. The no electricity humming anywhere silence. We all sleep with fans on so those suddenly turning off also startled us awake. Power was down throughout the town and surrounding cities. There was nowhere to go to get warm. The university has generators so we could have gone up there if we got too miserable. We dressed in layers and huddled in front of our gas fireplace. With no electricity the fan couldn't turn to project the heat but it still kept us warm. We finally decided to go for a drive to see if we could find any restaurants that were up and running so we could get a warm lunch. About 45 minutes away we found a burger joint. They had electricity but it so happened their heat wasn't working that day. Just our luck. The food was warm and good, that was what we wanted most. We were the only ones there and the restaurant didn't mind at all that we let the kids run around for a bit. The power was out for at least 12 hours, it was a long cold day with temperatures in the negatives.
We're trying to figure out what there is to do in a small college town, especially during the long days of winter.
Alexander and Jake went on a father sons school outing. It was actually called Male Involvement Night. I understand the reasoning, but that name is just hilarious to me. The went to Fat Cats for bowling and Pizza.
Alexander couldn't stop talking about how much fun it was. Kaleb was quite jealous and really wanted to go bowling.
The university has a bowling lane for only $1.50 (includes shoes)
A perfect, inexpensive family outing!

Alexander had the highest score! I think Jake was 2nd then Kaleb? I was lucky I had bumpers or I wouldn't have gotten over 100 :-)

Amidst all the fighting and screaming it's nice to see the tender moments between the kids. It touches my heart to see how much they really do love each other.
Alexander and Breahna love it when Kaleb gets home from school. They eagerly wait by the window watching for his bus.

Christmas festivities kicked off with the local shopping plaza having a free family event.
Camels ... in Idaho?

You pucker up like deeesh

 Horse drawn sleigh rides:

 hot chocolate and donuts:

Santa and The Grinch. Alexander was the only one who wanted anything to do with the grinch:

We kicked off Christmas decorating by going out to cut down a tree:
We had a fun time, a few scary moments when we weren't sure we were going to get out of a bad snowy, icy spot but in the end, we found a great tree and enjoyed the day:

 Alexander getting his Christmas spirit on:

We live in that 2nd floor apartment, do you think our tree is a bit too tall?

One of the fun things we experienced throughout the month was The Twelve Days of Christmas. We are so grateful to whoever the kind neighbors were who chose us. It really brightened out holidays:

these are bagels (I was really hoping for donuts, hahaah)

rice krispie treats

We never did figure out who our secret elves were. It was fun anticipating what the next drop-off would be.

We made donuts for a family activity:

maybe using a plastic pasta spoon to dish donuts hot out of the fry oil wasn't the best idea. But it sure worked great!

We decided it was time to start our own family Christmas traditions. This included staying home for Christmas eve.
We went to a friends house for Christmas Eve dinner.
The kids each got to open a present Christmas Eve:

new pajamas - yeah!

getting some help from big brother:

warm snuggly pajamas

We then put in a new rented movie, popped some corn and ate special treats.

Christmas morning was quiet and quite meager but we are so grateful for all that we are blessed with:

This is one of those silly answered prayers. We were only able to get the kids 2 presents each. Breahna's main gift was ordered online. Shipping was delayed several weeks. It came down to the Friday before Christmas and the seller was finally able to get the present sent out but was doubtful it would arrive before Christmas. I was really stressing. What am I going to wrap up for Breahna so she has something to open? It may seem silly but it was important to me, I wanted my baby girl to have a magical Christmas morning. Please let this ship quickly and get to me in time. The morning of Christmas Eve Jake was running something outside when an unknown truck stopped in front of our apartment. A gentleman stepped out and said he had a bag for Kristen. In it was an outfit and socks in Breahna's size and a doll. No idea who this stranger was or why they would have dropped off gifts for Breahna (we have never solved the mystery!). A few hours later, a package arrived, Breahna's gift I had ordered. I can testify that all things are important to our Heavenly Father. It may be something small and seemingly insignificant but he cares and loves for us in all things.
Breahna loved her gift and it truly made the day to see her face when she spied that pig in her stocking:

She was just as excited about getting an orange in her stocking:

Poor kids look miserable. Alexander had an ear infection, Kaleb was at the end of a cold and Breahna had gooey conjunctivitis eyes:

aside from the pajamas Breahna got her pig and a latch board thingy. Alexander got a bathtub toy, a Jake and the Neverland Pirate boat, and binoculars, Kaleb got a big rig truck and Phil! I was feeling bad we were short a present for Kaleb. Laying in bed Christmas Eve I suddenly remembered we had taken his cow Phil away several months ago. It was up in our closet. I grabbed it out, wrapped it up, and it was the favorite present of the morning.

We then had breakfast. I got a the kids each a favorite cereal that they normally don't get:

Soon as breakfast was over we dressed, settled down in the car and headed South to see family:
Grandma and grandpa Scofield had stockings stuffed full for all of us and fun presents

Kaleb was super excited about his trucks and school bus. Grandma sure knows her grandkids!

Breahna got a dress and a fun animal puzzle

Alexander got an art supply kit

After a few days we headed back north to see Jake's family. Spread throughout 5 rooms we all stayed in a hotel (thank you mom and dad!)
The first thing we saw when we got into our room was a row of pigs occupying the bed:

One for each of the kids. I was so confused, staring at the pigs, I kept counting them; 1...2...3...4 - why are there 4? Oh yeah, we have four kids (even if one is still growing in my belly)

The kids loved the view of the city out the large window. Especially how close the temple was:

Just down the street was a museum to interest all ages. The Union Pacific Museum showcased trains, classic cars, John M Browning guns and other exhibits:
The kids all loved the train section, there was lots to see and lots to play on and around:

daddy taught them all about coal:

Kaleb was grinning ear-to-ear the entire time he was in the museum. He loved exploring all the trains.

Upstairs was Jake and Alexander's playground; guns!

Outside was more trains:

10 adults and 8 kids ... it was a lot of fun all being together.

When we got home we got to try out another gift from my mom, Star Wars pancake molds:

The kids love their piggy banks and have spent countless hours dumping out the pennies and putting them back in:

35 weeks and all is well

New Years Eve we went to our Norwegian friends house for dinner. The Gundersen's shared a yummy Norwegian spread. We all enjoyed the kjoett kaker -- uh, meatballs and gravy.
Jake had the kids light some sparklers before they went to bed

HAPPY NEW YEAR!
We are excited for this year and all that it will hold. Many adventures are waiting.