Teach them while they're young....

and it becomes one of their chores when they're older.

Dan found these great little kid snow shovels that the kids have been very anxious to use. So the first really chance they got to shovel the walk, they were out there and they did a great job. Dan said they really did a lot of work.

I think they actually cleared most of the whole sidewalk between the two of them.

Little mommy

Jonah just needed someone to cuddle with while I was unpacking groceries and getting dinner ready. I thought it was just too cute. She really got a kick out of it.

8 years ago

So I thought I'd post a little tribute, since this is our 8 year anniversary today. As you can tell, it was a beautiful sunny day, short sleeves, no snow. We were married in the L.A. Temple and had our Christmasy reception that night. After three weeks off of school and work (that's why we got married on the 16th) we packed up all my stuff and headed for Provo so Dan could finish school. Now 8 years later, here is our family. Three adorable children and lots of fun.

Decorating the Christmas Tree

It was late and he was tired, but he still got to put his two ornaments on the tree.

Megan with her antlers. She wore them all night while decorating the tree.

Who needs a ladder when you have a daddy?

We had to tell the girls to put ornaments on the back of the tree because they kept wanting to put them all on the front where everyone could see them.

It wouldn't be Christmas without Catherine having a Strawberry Shortcake ornament. It even smells strawberry. I'll have to post a picture of the finished tree later.

Antlers

We got these antlers at the store the other day. Megan saw them first and wanted to wear them around the store and then Jonah took them from her and wouldn't take them off his head (which he usually doesn't like stuff on his head). They were so cute that I had to buy them. And if you buy one for one kid, you have to buy one for the others.

I guess this picture should have been first. I went shopping at Macey's one day and they had Santa there. I expected Megan to be shy, but no. She asked to sit on his lap, walked right up and just chatted with him. I was so proud. Jonah only wanted the candy cane. When Catherine heard Megan got to sit on Santa's lap, she asked her, "where you a little bit scared?" She then told me she had to sit on Santa's lap also and kept asking when we could take her to the mall. I must admit though, I am throughly disappointed with the mall Santa's I've seen. No hat, no coat, just the red pants, and some Christmasy turtleneck, and very bald. Then Albertson's announced Santa was going to be there on Saturday, so we went and Catherine got to sit on his lap and tell him what she wanted. Of course, Megan got all shy and wouldn't go near him and Jonah still only wanted the candy cane. Wouldn't go anywhere near him either.

Should I be worried?

Today, while driving home from Target, Jonah was in a very grumpy mood, until Grandma Got Ran Over by a Reindeer came on the radio and then he just started laughing like it was the funniest thing he'd heard. Then when the song was over he went back to being grumpy. I guess I don't have anything to worry about yet but it sounds like his grandma's might.

Shepherds

Our ward had a cute Christmas party where everyone came as shepherds and they had a potluck dinner then the Christmas Nativity play. These are my two shepherds. Catherine was so excited to dress up as a shepherd but was also the first one to take her costume off during the dinner. Megan kept hers on all night. Catherine also was bored because all they had was just singing. Megan sat there singing or just watching the whole time. They were very cute.

Grocery Shopping with Megan

This has happened to me a couple times now and I thought it was funny, though being the mom, I can't laugh when she's around. As I've taken Megan with me grocery shopping (thinking two kids would be easier than three because Catherine's at school) I'm finding I'm spending more. One reason is, when I get home and I'm unloading the groceries there are items that I did not put in my cart. I've found out it is Megan who is the culprit and I think she sneaks stuff onto the conveyor belt when I'm busy unloading the cart and not looking really carefully. Sometimes, as we are walking around the store, she'll ask me for something and if I tell her no, she'll try to hide it until we get to the checkout. She knows that if it gets home, I'm not going all the way back to the store to return it (unless it was really expensive, which I hope I'd catch at the checkout). I've gotten pretty good about catching her early. It's just really funny. I've definately got to watch her.

Misc Pictures

Ok here's some pictures. Catherine & Megan eating snow in our first snowstorm. That's what they love, to build snowmen and eat snow.



















































Dan & I at the football game. This is the first game I've been to since 2001. I'm just not as much of a fan as Dan. I'd rather watch the game comfortable at home, usually. It is fun to go to a game once in a while.








Catherine's swimming lessons.



















Catherine dressed up as a pilgrim for their Thanksgiving feast at school.












Catherine, Megan & Jonah setting up the Little People Nativity. It's great because it's a Christmas decoration they can play with and I don't have to stress over it.

Catherine, Megan & I on the day we decorated for Christmas. Yes, we have to be all Christmasy to decorate the house.