before christmas

I just realized that these pictures are all backwards. Oops.

I didn't get any pictures of the awesome snowstorm we had because the camera was lost (aka in Nate's car). So these snow pictures are from before that. Colin and Nate went outside to shovel and build a snowman. Kate and I watched from the safety and warmth of the kids' room.

Can you tell she was excited to be looking out the window?

Aww, he's so cute all bundled up. I had to take him to DI to buy some boots because he insisted that he needed boots (which was true) and he really really really wanted to go play in the snow. We had a great time at DI, just the two of us. We scored 2 awesome toys for 25 cents each and Colin was thrilled.

Ha. I love her.

I had a birthday! Now I'm old. The funny picture was supposed to be first. Big thanks to Stacey and Steve who came all the way from Provo to celebrate with me. I made a coconut cake for myself because even though no one else likes it, it was my birthday so I could have whatever cake I wanted. I also made nut brownies for those weirdos who didn't want my cake.

I'm pretty sure Colin wanted me to take a picture of him juggling. Pretty sure.

Kate with her pigtails. She does not like getting her hair done! This was my first attempt at 2 pigtails on top, and they were not symmetrical.

I dressed Kate in the cute sweater dress her aunt Kelli gave her for her birthday. Kate was most pleased with the purple shoes that she got to wear for the first time. She wouldn't look at the camera for the longest time because she was so transfixed with these shoes. She's like this any time I put something new on her feet.

I thought Kate's hair might be long enough for real pigtails in the back. I was wrong. And Nate wouldn't let me take her to church with her hair like this. He didn't even want a picture of it.

This would really be better coming after the other pictures. At the beginning of the month Colin discovered the blanket closet in the hallway. He started pulling blankets off the shelves and throwing them on the floor. I was about to get upset and tell him to clean it up when he said, "Ooh, this is FANTASTIC!" He said that about every single blanket he pulled out. Nate and I laughed and laughed and all thoughts of punishment were gone. I took some video of it. I'll try to load that some day because it's hilarious. Kate threw herself on top of every blanket Colin pulled out. And once the closet was empty Colin decided to take a nap on one of the shelves.

Is it just me, or do their faces look the same?

I don't care what you say; her hair is awesome.

Like the scratch running through Colin's eye? Wonder how he got that? Well, his kind and loving mother was trying to stroke his face and ruffle his hair when an out of control hangnail came out of nowhere and sliced his poor face. I felt so bad!

Kate loves her beads.

And Colin loves wearing my shoes. I think he was mowing the lawn in this picture.

I can't remember why I took a picture of her beautiful, messy face. Probably because it was beautiful and messy.

don't know where the camera is

but here's a little something that made me laugh so hard I squeaked. Keep in mind that it was written by someone not so religious.

kate's photo shoot

Here are some shots from Kate's birthday portraits. I'm pleased as punch with how they came out. Nate's not a fan of her "antennae" but I like her crazy hair. Enjoy!

happy birthday baby kate!

Today my baby is 1. What the what?! I asked Nate last night if he could believe Kate was already a year old and he said, "Yes," very sleepily and matter-of-factly. But I can't believe it. It feels like she's always been part of the family, and yet I can remember bringing her home from the hospital like it was yesterday. Strange how that works. Here are some things about Kate:

She is awesome.

She loves to run and be chased.

She has the widest, most beautiful smile.

She signs please, more, all done, and waves hi and bye.

She loves to clap and dance.

She loves to pull clothes over her head so she looks pretty.

She always has pretty beads around her neck.

She has the prettiest big blue eyes in the family. (Also, the only blue eyes in the family.)

She doesn't say much, but she does say "mama" when she wants me, which is often.

She has eight teeth and almost a full head of hair.

She likes to take a bath, but she does not like getting ready for bed afterward.

She loves her brother, but she also plays very well on her own.

She knows where her hands and ears are. I haven't asked her about other parts.

She loves her dad and wants to go to him as soon as he gets home.

She is starting to mimic sounds in a hilarious way.

She gives snuggles and kisses on demand.

She has lost some of her stranger danger-ness. She now loves her granny, aunts, and cousins.

She loves frozen peas and green beans from the garden. Those are probably her favorites.

She also loves noodles, spaghetti sauce, bread of any kind, bananas, pomegranates, grapes, yogurt, and potato soup.

She wants a bite of whatever you are eating, and if you don't give it to her she will be displeased.

She is a joy.

Kate on her original birthday.

Kate one year later with her Granny, wearing a dress that her Granny made for her.

Kate in her new pajamas (which are probably the cutest things I have ever seen in my life).

the past few weeks

These pictures are all kind of random until you get to Thanksgiving. I haven't taken a lot over the last 3 weeks or so, sorry.

This is Colin taking Mickey Mouse down the elevator. The elevator is the space between the crib and the dresser, or occasionally the space behind the door.

Cheese!

Kate's hair was super crazy one day. I spent like 10 minutes trying to get a good picture of it, but she kept running away and turning her head.

Nate took the car in to get the interior fixed a few weeks ago so the kids and I had to drop him off at work like 3 times. To make it more fun for us I stopped and bought Krispy Kreme doughnuts one morning. Colin came home and got right to making some doughnuts in his Doughnut Hat.

Awww. Hugs.

Everyone loves to brush their teeth! Also, Kate, you're doing it wrong.

The kids thought it would be fun to take turns looking up every time I tried to take a picture. Grrr.

Kate giving some love to my old bear from when I was a baby. His name is Bubba.

Colin was jealous that I was taking pictures of his sister so he told me to take some of him. These are the faces he made.

Colin's imagination cracks me up. He filled the back of his truck up with clothes and told me that he needed to put gas in before he could drive the truck. The clothes slowly fell out and then he would have to fill up the tank again.

Kate is a climber. She can get up in the play chairs and turn herself around. She is so proud of herself when she does that. She recently discovered that the chairs are also nice for looking out the window.

For Thanksgiving we went to my brother Grant's house this year. We ate later in the afternoon so my kids could take a nap, but they didn't cooperate so well with that. I was in charge of desserts, and thanks to my friend Marie, I didn't have to work very hard. It was awesome.

Kelli is very good at making things look nice. The tables were beautiful.

Kate was the happiest when she was on Nate's shoulders.

Yes, this is my brother Grant. Not my uncle, my brother. He's wearing a sweater he got in Afghanistan, his Marine glasses, and he shaved his head just for the occasion. It's okay, you can say "yikes." Goodness knows I did. He says he is going to do this every year.

Kate didn't take much of a nap that day, so she was pretty sleepy. And cranky. And her eyes were crazy and red.

Everyone who was there to eat: Grant, Kelli, Mom, Colin, Nate, Kate, Heather, Seth, Kenny, and Teresa. Kenny and Teresa are the strays. Their parents live in Kentucky, so we were kind enough to take them in.

We played some games. I beat Grant at Smarty Pants and did a superior dance in celebration. We also played Bang, but I lost so I don't want to talk about it.

Heather likes to read and not be fun. Just kidding, Heather.