January Fun

First, I want to say Thank You to Kevin for such a sweet post on my birthday. I cried! I love you, Kevin. It was funny because I've been trying to not get on the computer until I've read my scriptures and done at least one thing to clean or be productive around the house, so I didn't see the post until about 9pm on the 18th. He also took me and invited our friends Kevin and Krissy to see South Pacific at the King Center this past Saturday night. The three of them had never seen the play or movie, but I was so excited and a little obnoxious singing all the songs during the overture. I loved it. (I regretably did not take any pictures of our night out). Thank you again!

So now onto my post. January has been crazy with the weather. We braved the cold another night and went for a little walk around the neighborhood. Jane and Alice stayed warm this time.

What Alice had on under the blanket. That's Jane's coat. It kept her hands warmer.

I signed Jane up for Ballet lessons and she is loving them. I forgot that I needed all the ballet stuff until the week of her first class, so as I hurried to Target an hour before her lesson, this is the ensemble we came up with. I wasn't sure if we needed a short sleeve leotard or a tank top one, so I put a t-shirt under it. My biggest concern was Jane being willing to wear all the things (she's very picky about tight things). She was in heaven though and insisted on wearing it around the house. This is the what she did when I said, "Pose." We'll have to work on that one. Since that day, I've bought her pink ballet slippers, which she loves too.

Our ward had a drive-in movie night at the church building. Here are Jane and Alice previewing the movie Mary Poppins Thursday night as we set up the decorations.

The activities committee did a great job with the decorations and had a concession stand, a little playground up at the front and even little speaker posts to pull your car up to. Each family was supposed to bring a car (cardboard box, blankets, etc) We went with a horse and carriage.

Each year Harris Corp does a family fun run 5k. Here's Kevin before the race.

The girls chowing down before the race started. I pushed them and walked with my friend Stephanie and her little boy Lochlan, while our husbands ran. We also ran a little bit to keep the sun out of the kids' eyes.

Alice at the end of the race. Sweet girl.

Kevin and Jane checking out all the health fair stuff.

Jane getting ready for the kid's run. She even has her running shoes on.

The whole crew. Alice would not let me put her down. One little boy was telling some of the race workers that he was ready for the race since he had just had his massage. And man, was his back tight before that massage. I cracked up so hard. He was only about 5 or 6. They only run about 50 yards, but he was getting ready for that race.

Jane running like a pro

Alice and I bringing up the rear, slightly in front of the other toddlers and their parents urging them on.

I wanted to capture a picture of Alice's perfect ringlets. Her hair directly correlates with the humidity levels in the air. The more humid, the more perfect curls. Anyway, here are the shots I got yesterday evening.

She's eating a granola bar and turned her head right as I pushed the button.

The back bottom left view. I love her curls.

Happy Birthday Jill

Happy Birthday Jill,

We all love you very much and appreciate all that you do to keep our little family running. Thank you for being so patient and kind. I always know that I can turn to you for help when I need it. I trust you more than any other person in this world. How blessed I am to be married to you and I look forward to many adventures in the years to come. Jane and Alice are lucky to have you as their mother.

I love being with you and being able to talk about anything. I know we have a long way to go but I know that we can do it together. My life is better because you are a part of it.

I love you.

Kevin


P.S. Here are some pictures from the past few years


Jane attacking Jill



Pregnant with Alice and loving it



Driving a convertible (someday we can get you one of your own)



Will you marry me?



I am not sure what you are laughing about but apparently you forgot we were taking a picture

I love this picture. It makes me smile every time I look at it. (to see Jill's pose enlarge the picture) Taken at Zion National Park

Walt Disney World 1/2 Marathon 2008. Thanks for always coming to support me in my crazy ambitions.

Happy Birthday Jill

We love you! Happy 32nd Birthday!

Christmas, finally!

Just make sure you scroll down past Christmas and check out Kevin's 1/2 marathon pictures. He did a great job!

So here are the Christmas pictures. They'll be a lot, so just bear with me and enjoy. We had a wonderful Christmas. I told Jane today that I needed to take down the Christmas decorations and she asked, "Why?" I told her we needed to put them away so we could be excited to put them up again next year. She sweetly asked, "Can I keep all my new toys out?" I said, "Of course. Just the decorations, tree, stockings, etc are going away." "Oh, ok, Mom!" We love Christmas!

We had our own personal drummer "girl" this year

Preparing for the nativity reenactment at Gramma's house on Christmas Eve. We were supposed to all be at Kim's house, but a few sick kids prevented us from going there, so we went to Gramma's. Jane was having wardrobe issues. Gramma was very accomodating. It worked out though because when I originally told Jane that we would be acting out the Nativity scene she said she wanted to be Mary. I told her that Mikayla would be Mary, but that she could be a sheep. She wasn't that excited. Since Mikayla wasn't there, Jane got to be Mary.

She made a beautiful Mary!

Riding the donkey (Me) with Joseph (Daddy) helping and Gramma narrating from the scriptures. Alice was checking out the Christmas tree.

At the manger

The donkey turned into a wiseman and Alice took over the manger (she was a sheep, but it lasted only for a moment)

Heading out the door for yet another caroling adventure

Back home to open Auntie Beth and Uncle Cody's presents to the girls: A book and pj's to wear on Christmas Eve.

Getting tired. They loved the books and the pj's. Thank you Beth and Cody!

Alice opening the cute monkey pj's

Alice opening the Night Before Christmas book from Gramma. She recorded herself reading it. Pretty cool. Thanks, Gramma.

Jane sporting her cute pj's as they dove onto the cushions.

Midfall pictures

Good camera work Kevin!

We really are good parents!

Christmas morning!

The Stockings

Jane got all of the Lion King figurines and in this one I love her face as she says, "Pumba"

The Tree

Alice kicked Pooh off the bouncing zebra

Yes, Alice wound up naked (except for the diaper of course) all of Christmas morning

Opening her long asked for Snow White Polly Pocket. Before Christmas we would go to the store and she would say, "I want Jasmine and Snow White and that's all I need."

Alice is saying so many words now, but one of her first (sadly enough) was Cinderella. Kevin loves how her eyebrows raise up as if to say, "Did you see, I got Cinderella!"

Kevin's sister, Kara, made the girls these little flower clips, too cute. Thanks, Kara.

My sister, Kim gave Jane the Care Bear sheet set, which she loves. Finally she has more than just a sheet on her bed. Thanks, Kim.

Gramma's house, Christmas afternoon with Kim and her family too.

Gramma in her festive Christmas vest

All the kids looking on as Alice opened her first present. Such a cute little dress, thanks Mom.

We gave Jane a bike and Gramma completed the package with a helmet and a bell. She is having fun riding around the neighborhood ringing her bell.

Vegging after a day of new presents

Alice kept doing this "oooh" thing and she was too funny

I love this picture of Jane. She looks so big.

As you can see, we had 80 degree weather for Christmas, but what's great about this picture is Alice's face. She is ready to tear down the marvelous tower.

And that's our Christmas. Kevin and Jane went caroling at the hospital Christmas day also, which is always a neat experience. I love sharing my testimony of Christ's love for us through song. Alice and I stayed home because she had a cold and needed a nap. I hope you all are having a great New Year and had a wonderful Christmas.