Our Special Visitor

Meet David. He was our special visitor from the north pole this year. Every night in December he would hide in a different spot and watch the kids during the day. They weren't allowed to touch him or he would loose his magic. They could talk to him and tell him what they wanted for Christmas, but he couldn't talk back or he would loose his magic, and he would tell Santa. Every night he went home to the north pole and came back in a different spot. The kids loved getting up in the morning and seeing who would be the first to find him. Mom really loved him because everyone was on their best behavior!

PS. If any of you want to sign up for your own elf from the North Pole just go to www.theelfontheshelf.com

Black Friday

This year for our traditional Day-after Thanksgiving shopping weekend everyone met in the great city of Chicago. It is one of my favorite traditions, which my mom and grandma and aunts started years ago, when I was just a kid. It is a weekend filled with everything from good food and shopping, to great movies and fun---well I guess I should say almost everything because it is definitely NOT filled with good SLEEP! And this year was no different. Seriously, I think Allison and Kylie flew in from Utah and landed around 10:30 p.m. and we were off. We heard Gurnee Mills Outlet Mall was open all night. And it was quite the adventure I must say. There were definitely some questionable people hanging out and we later found out there was a gang shooting incident that night. Luckily we weren't near it, but scary. I know you all are thinking was it worth it, and I have to say I think it was---we got some great deals. So when the day finally dawned it was off to hit the "door buster" stores, which is complete and utter chaos. we literally shopped till we dropped that night around midnight. The next day we ventured into the city, which is always fun shopping on the Mag Mile. We got to go to lunch at the famous Walnut Room in Macy's on State and got to see their famous windows. Thankfully Sunday came and we finally got to rest. I truly am so thankful we are able to do this and I got to spend time with some of my best friends, my mom and sisters. Just as a side note we took my mom to go see the movie Twilight and I am not sure she was impressed, most of the time I looked over and she was sleepin away! We told her she should have read the book!

In the Walnut Room they have a multi-story christmas tree they decorate and you can sit under the tree and eat your meal. It is so beautiful.

If you are ever near downtown Chicago near Christmastime, definitely stop by Macy's to see the window display. This picture doesn't really do them justice, but they truly are amazing!

Here come the Swiss!

Grandma and Grandpa Jeppsen and Aunt Jen visited Switzerland and they brought back these Swiss flag shirts for everyone. They said they had a great time and even got to para-sail off of the Matterhorn. After about a million tries this was the best picture we could come up with. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa!

Funny Parker Pictures

We had pizza one night for dinner and apparently we weren't fast enough serving Parker because we looked over and saw that he had helped himself to the rest of the pizza!
Parker in the morning with some major bed-head going on. He must get it from his sister, cuz Caitlyn wakes up with some pretty wild hair too!

Happy Birthday, Brandon!

Brandon was also having a "off" year, which means no friend birthday party. He picked to go to McDonalds for dinner and then back to our house for cake and ice cream and presents.

Brandon chose an iron man theme for his birthday this year. Again, maybe I should invest in some cake decorating classes, yes? Although, they really only care about the action figure on top, right?

Brandon got this cool birthday crown from his kindergarten class celebrating his birthday

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Jensen for the "boy" scooter. Now he doesn't have to ride Emma's girl scooter.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Jeppsen for the cosmic catch game, it is sooo much fun!

Happy Birthday, Cait!

Caitlyn was having a "off" year, which meant we celebrated her birthday just with our family. She picked to go to Burger King for dinner and then we had cake and ice cream and presents at our house.

She was really into High School Musical and I did my best to give her a High School Musical cake. Let's face it though, cake decorating really not one of my best talents. Sorry kids.

Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Jeppsen for the Ken Barbies...now my princess barbie dolls finally have someone to marry!

Lovin her new dress up.

This is her new make-up pouch.

Parker loves his ice cream.

She was sooo excited about the Barbie in a Christmas Carol movie...Thanks Grandma and Grandpa Jensen.

Happy Halloween!

We had a special treat this year for Halloween. TT and the boys were here and got to come trick-or-treating with us. And then Grandma threw her traditional Halloween party, which the kids love, love, love. Thanks Grandma & Grandpa and TT!

Pumpkin Patch

Since it was getting so close to Halloween we made a trip to the pumpkin patch. Which now a days can be quite the outing, with the pony rides, carnival rides, cotton candy etc...what a production. This time Matt and I decided to try an experiment---just go to the pumpkin patch and just get pumpkins--nothing else. We didn't know if we could pull it off, but surprisingly our kids were great about it. We just told them in the car before we got out that we were just here to pick out pumpkins. They had a great time, granted they asked a couple of times for a ride ticket, but all in all they didn't really care. In fact, I was the one who was feeling guilty for being so "tuff," but honestly they had fun without all the extras. So, moral of the story, yes kids can appreciate the simple things in life if we just give them the chance.

PS.....thanks for letting me vent.

October in Ohio

It was fall break and time for our annual road trip to Ohio to visit Rob and Tara and Carter and Cannon. My mom, and Amy and my kids and I drove over and spent the week with them. We started with a trip to the farm with Carter's preschool class. Everyone had a great time, but poor Aunt Amy got stung by a bee---Ouch! I think it was her first time being stung, but luckily she isn't allergic. Everyone got to pick out pumpkins that we took home to paint, which is always fun. And Aunt TT had a special surprise this time. We got to make haunted houses, just like gingerbread houses, but with chocolate graham crackers and halloween candy--YUM! And of course the kids just loved being together and playing, playing, playing. And thanks to Uncle Rob, we got to go do a little shopping without our little helpers. :)

Fall Fun

Me and Brandon at his first kindergarten field trip. We walked to the fire station from his school. He loved it and it was fun to get to go with him.

Caitlyn giving Parker a ride in the jeep. He loves it!

We Got Talent!

Our primary put on a talent show and the kids all participated in their own way. Good job guys!

Brandon made some lego pictures.
Caitlyn did sommer-saults.
Emma did a jump-rope routine with her friend.

Apple Pickin

The annual preschool fieldtrip to the apple orchard was a great success this year.  It was kinda funny though because we thought her little apple outfit would be fitting to wear that day,  but when we get there there we find out that the bees are attracted to the colors RED and yellow---oops I must have missed the note that came home from school specifically telling us not to wear red and yellow.  Oops...luckily she made it out without a bee sting.  Actually we learned an interesting fact; if you count the number of seeds in your apple that tells you how many times a bee visited the apple blossom--cool, huh.

Here we are on the hayride riding out to the apple trees where we get to pick our delicious apples.

Caitlyn picking some juicy ones!  Remember you don't pull, you twist the apple off the tree.

I think there favorite thing is getting to play on the toys after our picnic lunch.

Of course a train ride is always in order.

A Day of Firsts

Caitlyn's first day of Super Seniors!

Brandon's first day on the bus---he loves it!

Brandon's first day of kindergarten--notice the spiderman wristband--awesome.

Emma's first day of 3rd grade--she was so proud that she bought her first day of school outfit with her very own money.

Do You Have To?

Yes, all good things must come to an end. Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for an awesome time!  We miss you all and can't wait until next time!

Spray and Play

For one las hurrah before everyone had to leave we took the kids to a spray and play.  It really is just like a glorified running through the sprinklers party.  But it was perfect because you didn't have to worry about anyone drowning and the kids get their swimming fix.  In fact I think we only had one little mishap; out of the blue a little girl came over and dumped a bucket of water over Parker's head.  Oops.