Las Vegas Trip

This is a photo montage of the fun and very warm vacation we had to see Grandma, Grandpa, and Justin in Vegas.  It was a great trip!

Traveling:

Train day:

Spending time outside…this is the life!

How many soda’s can 5 kids drink?  Justin gave them an endless supply :)

Wetlands park:

Not fond of the mud, Bridget keeping her dress safe!

But the boys went straight for the mud…to win the muddy contest!

Finally out of the stroller…

…and in the mud too!

It was a hard adjustment for Sterling to be home.  He wants to go outside…but is very disappointed with the cold.  The kids all traveled so well, we should vacation more often :)

Shoes

Sterling loves to walk in other peoples shoes.  It is amazing how well he can walk too.  He loves to find and put shoes on all by himself.  Bridget’s shoes are some of his favorites, he is especially cute in the princess dress up shoes.   He makes quite the clicking sound walking on the hardwood floor in heels!  The pics are goofy looking, enjoy our silly boy.

Party!

This week has been filled with parties.  Christmas eve, Christmas, Kathy’s birthday, Bridget’s birthday, and New Year’s eve.  Hooray for today…a day to stay home and relax!

Happy Birthday Bridget.  She is our fabulous four year old.  Only a pink cake would do, and I wanted to make it a giant cupcake…but in the end the store was out of the cupcake pan I wanted, so we made the cake in a large glass bowl and created our own idea of a cupcake!  The pink frosting and sprinkles over a pink cake was all she ever wanted :)

Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas.  Logan was the first to wake up, just before 7…so not too early.  We had to wake Dad and Sterling at 7:30, we were anxious for the fun to begin!

Logan checking out all the presents.

Bridget getting in on the excitement.

Sterling still trying to wake up.  The candy was enticing, but opening presents was a bit much to get excited about.

Wow, Presents!

We opened almost all the presents…and then the kids were done.  We just waited 10-15 minutes while the kids played with their toys, until someone finally said, “let’s open the family presents”  a new PS3 and game “little big planet.”

Calvin with his Bakugan and traps all put together…so cool!

Kimball playing his new games.  He got a Didj (said like fridge).

Sterling posing for the camera after a fun bubble bath.  Bridget got a bath time Dora castle, so Logan, Bridget, and Sterling all needed to play in the bath.

Logan’s marble racer creation.

Logan building his Lego snowman.

Sterling cruising around the house in style.

The kids played so well all day.

Bridget with her bling…all ready for bed.

Merry Christmas and good night.

Christmas Eve

Feel the excitement, the children were bursting with energy here at our home.  Grandma and Grandpa Rowbury came for a short visit and some fun presents.  We had dinner time followed by acting out the Christmas story, and getting ready for bed…nobody went to sleep very fast.

Mary (Bridget) and Joseph (Calvin) gazing at the baby Jesus in the manger.  Kimball, Logan and Mom filled in the other parts, and Dad was narrator.

After the nativity play, the kids got to open their pj present.  Say hello to the pirate pals and their pirate princess.

Now off to bed so Santa can come!

Mid December Activities

Here’s some of the pre Christmas fun we enjoyed.

Saturday fun decorating gingerbread houses at Driel’s home.  The candy was very yummy.

Harry Potter Ball at the Library.  Kimball and Calvin at Quidditch practice.

Logan gets a turn at the action.  Bridget and Sterling were not interested in Quidditch.

Enjoying a snack and listening to the orchestra.

Santa Logan all dressed up for the preschool pals Christmas party.  Logan thought it would be fun to dress as santa…suit, hat, belt, boots and all!

The preschool friends were pretty excited to see Santa.

Sterling even needed to join in the fun.

Sunday before Christmas, Sterling all dressed in new Sunday best…and talking on his cell phone!

All dressed for Church…wishing all a merry Christmas.

Last day of school was Tuesday Dec 22.  I put together a Rowbury Christmas party for the grandkids and all who could come.  We made personal pan pizzas, played games, ate treats and had a great time.  I think the favorite was passing the wrapped present to Rachel playing Christmas songs on the piano.  When the music stopped, that person got to open one layer of the present.  Everyone joined in singing to the music and we had great fun.

Family Pictures

Why is it so difficult to take a few simple family pictures?  Not even professional, posed, all dressed up…just casual family pictures???  Why when kids turn about 7 years do they start making strange smiles and goofy poses?  Enjoy the attempts at a family picture!  There are some fun faces, but I won’t be hanging any of these photos on the wall :)

What a great family, we are happy, healthy (please let us stay healthy), and warm!  Life is good, even if pictures are goofy.

Thanksgiving

We had a fun Thanksgiving day.  It was a first for us….gathering with family, but not traveling…we had a 5 minute drive to the Rowbury festivities at Michael and Laura’s home.  I enjoyed spending the day together, eating too much delicious food, and having fun.

Kimball, Calvin, Logan, Bridget and Sterling wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving…but please no more pictures!

Sterling taking a turn in Grandpa Rowbury’s arms.  This is the first time, that I can remember, that Sterling has snuggled and let Dad hold him.

Snow

Last Sunday it snowed a bit.  Sterling was entranced with the white stuff.  He had no desire to touch the snow but really loved walking around pointing and saying “dis, dis.”

Sterling’s tricks

Sterling is not a little baby anymore!  He is growing up.  The past few weeks he has discovered dangerously fun deeds!  He is a climber…climbing on the table is quite common…I found him eating yogurt, oh what a sticky mess.

Just yesterday, he braved going down the stairs on his own…he was fairly careful and quite pleased with his bravery.  He chose to sit and scoot down, one stair at a time.  He also enjoys climbing on chairs to turn lights on and off, or play the computer (oh so many buttons), and if he could just get the phone life would be really fun, he thinks.  He is so busy he has lost most of the baby chunkiness.  What a big boy.

Happy Halloween

Meet the family…

Luke Skywalker, Ben 10, Frankenstein, man carrying twins, army guy and fairy princess!

and don’t forget mom, dressed as a baby!

How did we get such a beautiful day for Halloween?  It was so cold, windy, and snowy all week.  We woke up to sunshine on Saturday…and it even stayed decent until the sun went down…just in time to end the trunk or treat and go home :)

Sterling really got into the trick or treating.  He really liked carrying his own bucket and choosing handfuls of treats from people…which by the way the neighbors thought it was so adorable they let Sterling take whatever he wanted.  He knows how to charm.

Oh no, I can’t see Logan, where did he go?

Phew…Bridget fluttered on over and found him.  Yummy candy!