Year in Review

Every year on new years eve we go through our "Good Times" jar where we write down every fun thing we did through the year.  It's a good time to review what we actually did, and be reminded of all of our blessings.

January - Daddy Fixed his schedule so he could go to Taekwondo and Brain Balance.
January - Ben and Hannah Started piano lessons with mommy.
January 2 - Santequin cousins came over and went shopping at Toys R Us.
January 9 - We went to the Provo City Center Temple open house and out to dinner with family.
February 3 - We spent 4 hours at the Treehouse Museum.
February 12 - Daddy Daughter Hoedown.
January 13 - Hannah earned her reading medal!
February 18 - Hannah and Daddy went swimming at the Rush.
February 20 - Rachel, Ben and Daddy went to a BYU basketball game.
February 26/27 - Mommy's overnighter by herself.
February 26 - swimming in a hotel.
February 28 - Isaac started crawling!
March 9 - Benjamin Started Taekwondo.
March 17 - Benjamin tried to catch a Leprechaun.
March 20 - Hannah had her Kindergarten program.
March 27 - We celebrated Easter and Bunny day at our home only this year.
April - We finished the edging around the Patio and got a fence installed.
April 2 - Picked up PJ in Heber Utah.
April 11-22 - The kids took swim lessons.
May 13 - Benjamin had his belt promotion test and earned his yellow belt.
May - 13 Girls night, Rachel and Hannah were introduced to Ann of Green Gables.
May 13/14 - Father and son campout.
May 30 - 7 mile hike to Elephant rock.
June 4 - Isaac celebrated his 1st birthday with cousins and swimming.
June 6 - Rachel's spring piano recital.
June 12 - Andrew was fully potty trained - day and night!!!!!!!!  (in just over 1 week)
June 13 - Andrew slept with no white railing on his bed.
June 19 - Fathers day.
June 24 - Last day of school!!!
June 27/30 - We took a trip to Island Park ID with our cousins!
June 28 and 30 - Spent the day in Yellowstone.
June 29 - Went swimming in Island Park Reservoir.
June 30 - We went to Grand Teton National Forest and walked in the water.
July 1 - Benjamin Turns 8 and starts cub scouts!
July 2 - Benjamin gets baptized by Daddy.
July 5/8- Rachel and Benjamin took a RAD's kid class
July 9 - Glenn Eagle Golf Tournament.
July 9 - Mary Poppins play in Herriman.
July 13 - Isaac has surgery on his right eye for clogged tear ducts.
July 16 - Activity days day camp.
July 25 - Rachel, Benjamin, daddy, uncle David, Caleb and Jacob did the Temple to Temple 5k.
August 6 - Benjamin had a Demo Team performance.
August 12/13- Father Daughter campout.
August 12/13 - Boy's night with mommy and 2 star wars movies.
August 16 - Rachel turns 10!
August 17 - We celebrated 11 years of marriage.
August 19 - girls get their ears pierced.
August 20 - Grandpa John and Grandma Levis were sealed in the Temple.
August 24 - BACK TO SCHOOL!
August 26 - Hannah turns 6!
September 2 - Mommy's birthday!
September 3 - Stimpson reunion at our home.
September 6 - Andrew's first day of preschool!!!
September 7 - Rachel starts Taekwondo.
September 9 - We dressed as Pirates and got doughnuts.
October 14 - We took a hayride at J&J's and got our carving pumpkins.
October 17 - Mommy's Halloween orchestra concert.
October 18 - Andrew had his preschool field trip to Black Island Farms.
October 20 - Hannah had her 1st grade field trip to Black Island Farms.
October 22 - We went hiking up Adams canyon and found a little waterfall.
October 25 - Ward Halloween Party
October 27 - Isaac has his 2nd surgery and had a tube put in the tear ducts of his right eye.
October 27 - Rachel had a Reflections award and got 2nd place.
October 28 - School halloween Parade.
October 29 - We carved and painted pumpkins.
October 31 - Daddy gave a presentation in Provo.
October 31 - Trick or Treating with cousins at Grandma and Grandpa Anson's.
November 11 - Belt promotion test.
November 24 - We had Thanksgiving with cousins after an ER trip with Isaac for croup.
November 25 - Cousin Sleepovers!
November 25/26 - Hines Mansion for mommy and daddy. (Yummy ice cream and food!)
November 27 - Daddy's birthday
December 3 - Temple Square lights.
December 6 - Andrew's first Dentist Appointment - he did awesome!
December 9 - Mommy's Christmas Concert.
December 9 - celebrated Andrew's birthday with Grandma and Grandpa Anson and Grandma Dorothy.
December 10 - Ward Christmas Party - we sang Ragnar the flat nosed reindeer.
December 12 - Andrew's turns 4!
December 14 - Rachel got 2nd place in the Science Fair.
December 20 - Preschool field trip to the mall for a train ride.
December 20 - SANTA VISITED US AT OUR HOME!
December 22 - Rachel's piano recital.
December 22 - Decorated Christmas cookies.
December 25 - Christmas with cousins!
December 25 - Christmas with Grandma Dorothy and the Adams.  We had waffles!!! YUM!
December 28 - Birthday lunch with Grandma Dorothy.
December 28 - Museum of Natural Curiosity with Grandma Dorothy and the Adams.


PHEW!!!  No wonder I'm so tired!  What a blessed, busy, EPIC year we have had.

Snow Fun

With our significant snow fall we received for Christmas we have been able to have some fun playing in the snow.  Even PJ enjoyed himself.

        

 

Balloon animals

One gift that Rachel received from Isaac was a ballon animal making kit.  She was super thrilled about it and broke it out the day after Christmas.  Everyone is having a blast asking her to make them animals, swords, hats etc and she is more than happy to do it for them.  She even designed a balloon viola for me.

  

Christmas Day

   

Christmas Day was on a Sunday this year which meant we had the opportunity to attend Sacrament meeting as well as all of our other Christmas celebrations. We told the older kids they needed to be dressed and ready for church before they could open gifts.  I was expecting a lot of complaints but there were not.  I made Benjamin a teakwood belt board and Rachel got a camera that she was asking for.  They also got iPod mini's that they can put their own music on for our vacation this summer, woopee cushions (for fun), paint by number sets, legos, Pokemon accessories, paw patrol characters and SO much more.

After church we attended church and shoveled the driveway for the second time we decided to head down to Grandma Dorothy's and Grandma and Grandpa Anson's to take part in the Christmas shenanigans down that way. We received a lot of snow over night which made driving slow but it really wasn't bad at all.  We had a great time eating waffles, singing, laughing, visiting and being with the Adams and Grandma Dorothy.  Then we enjoyed more fun and food with cousins.

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve this year I decided to try out three new things I would like to make traditions - but only if they went well and the kids enjoyed them.

The first one was for the kids to create a Lego nativity - together without fighting.  This one went over really well, I was slightly surprised to be honest.  I have tried to get them to do several things like this but it always ends in tears.  This time they didn't fight but a a lot of fun doing it.  We even set out the nativity for a while and of course left it out for Santa to see.

A second thing I tried was Christmas pizzas complete with snowman cheesy bread.  It was a raging hit!   There was plenty of pizza to go around and enough for a second meal the next day - bonus!

The third tradition we did was technically something we have already done for years but I decided to revamp it.  Instead of wrapping everyones Christmas pajamas individually I put them all in 1 big box, with a new movie and treats to have during the movie.  The kids exclaimed that this was the BEST way to get their new Christmas Pajamas!

Everything we did was a hit, I expect we will be making them part of our Christmas Eve traditions from here on out.  

 
   

Christmas Recital

Rachel had her Christmas recital on December 22nd.  She played 2 amazing pieces from memory:
Ukrainian Carol of the bells and I saw three ships.  Grandma Dorothy was able to come on the train and listen to her play.  We are all amazed and proud of the hard work she has been doing to learn the piano.

Santa Visit

Santa knew that we weren't feeling well for a long time so he decided he needed to come to our home for a personal visit.  He showed up one evening after baths and surprised the kids with a big "Ho Ho!"    Hannah literally about jumped out of her skin when I answered the door.   He spent individual time with each kiddo, asking what presents they were hoping for and then gave them each a candy cane. Isaac walked right up to Santa and sat on his lap without any problems.  Andrew didn't want to go any closer to him than necessary but he communicated (through me) what he was hoping for - a tank that shoots darts that suction to things.   Benjamin asked for socks and underwear which surprised Santa, but don't worry he also asked for about 5 other things.  After visiting with the kids individually he had them sit down where he taught them why we celebrate Christmas, Christ's birth.  Then we all sang a song together and he was off on his way.  The kids LOVED it!

       

Preschool field trip

 

For Andrew's Christmas field trip they went to the mall to ride the train around and do a visit with santa.  Andrew wanted nothing to do with Santa (not super surprised) but he was all over the train ride.  Marc was able to go and was a good sport about riding on the train with Andrew and Isaac.

Science Fair

Rachel had her Science fair on December 14 and received 2nd place.  We are beyond excited for her.  She worked hard (as did we) for weeks before hand.  She decided to test our toilet seat to see when you should clean the toilet seat.  She learned that you should clean it at least every other day.  I learned just  how disgusting my toilets actually are.

4 Years

   

Our Andrew turned 4 this year.  He was SO excited to have a birthday.  He has changed so much this last year.  He is working through his anxiety and has way more good days than bad days. He is learning simple math and  is reading simple words.  He is my sweet helper and perfect snuggler. I think he will always will be. 

How old are you?   4

What makes you happy? Playing with somebody else downstairs, but not by myself. 

What is your favorite animal?  A dog

What is your favorite thing to eat? Cool Ranch Doritos

What is your least favorite thing to eat?  Soup

What is your favorite thing to do?  Play with someone, being outside and doing puzzles.

What is your favorite TV show?  Paw Patrol

What are you really good at?   Glueing things together and helping mommy.

What is your favorite movie?   Trolls

What is your favorite color?    Green and then blue.

What is your favorite song?   Sunshine in my Pocket

Who is your best Friend?   Jaden and Kyler

What do you and your mom do together? Play, bake cookies, read books and snuggle. 

What do you and your dad do together?   Play - that's it.  Because he only has time to play for a little. 

What is your favorite sport?  Taekwondo 

Where is your favorite place to go?   To the play place and to Wendy's for a hamburger!

What is your favorite book? Paw Patrol books!

What do you want to be when you grow up? An airplane or helicopter flyer because then I can stay up in the air!  

Temple square lights

 
 

On December 3rd we rode the train down to Salk Lake to see the lights on Temple Square. We missed going last year so it was a special treat to make it this year.  He spent a prefect amount of time walking around, seeing the lights and lanterns. Everyone was in a good mood, listened well and enjoyed themselves - both on the train and walking around.

Service

These two, Benjamin and Hannah.  They are trouble when they get together.  They are also good friends.  They also make me crazy most days. So when I sent them outside to finish shoveling the driveway but couldn't find them a short time later I figured they were off causing more mischief. Well t omg surprise I found them each shoveling 2 different neighbors driveways - after they finished ours. This moment proves they are straiten to get it.  They are learning to care about others and think a little bit less of themselves.