Water Park Fun

We had a ton of fun at a water park hotel last weekend. Our friends from Mason City came for a visit. Dallin and Isaac had the time of their lives playing with their friends Cheyenne and Leo, and swimming and sliding. Landen and Jared could've done without all that water and commotion. Jared was actually amazingly well behaved, which was great since Landen was not a water bug and wanted to be held most of the time.

This is the only hotel room picture I got. Landen laid there and talked for quite a while.

Here are some pictures of just the facilities.

The kiddie slide - Landen did go down once.

This is called the lazy river. The water flow pushes your tube around and around a big loop. (it really wasn't this crowded).

Notice the huge bucket near the ceiling. It fills with water and then dumps over a huge area.

You can't really tell by the picture, but it is quite a site when the water is being dumped out!

Cheyenne and Dallin in the lazy river

The tube slide. Definitely the favorite ride. You ride down in tubes. It is pitch black and very fast. I was amazed at Dallin and Isaac. They wanted to go by themselves and loved it!

the stairs to the top of the tube slides

Me and Cheyenne coming out.

Dallin trying to cross the lily pads

Isaac getting drenched in the lazy river

this was a really cool tree in the lobby. A fire place sits in the trunk. Landen is sitting at the bottom.

The babies hang'n out. Sydney and Jared

No School!

Mid-Winter Break. A whole week off of school. The kids were ecstatic. I was, well, racking my brain for lots of ideas to keep them busy and not at each others throats all week. After all, it's winter, we're all inside, all together, all the time. I had to have a plan to keep my sanity, and theirs! Is anyone else excited for spring?

We painted, built, and raced race cars! This was my favorite activity. They loved creating their own car. and the best part - they were $1 at Michales.

We played at the play place at the mall to release some of that boyhood energy. Notice I said "some." I've realized it is an impossible task to release it ALL. They seem to have an endless supply.

A special thanks goes to Bass Pro Shop, for being a totally awesome store for little boys. The fish, the animals, the airplanes, the guns (real ones!!!), the water, all free of charge!

We celebrated the Olympics with some yummy "Olympic torches" (orange sherbet, with red sprinkles on top, on a cone)

Landen didn't quite get the concept.

Of course, played in the snow

Landen would not move a muscle. He didn't think he could move in his snow suit, but he didn't want to go inside either. So he just stood.

Landen is excited for spring.

We created snow flakes to decorate our window.

And most of all, we played with trains! Dallin is back to loving trains (he took a two year break), and therefore Isaac as well. We have started a life of no t.v. or video games. It has been amazing to me to see how it has affected their type of play.

Wheeew! Next is spring break, I'm guessing it will still be cold. Anyone have any more ideas for me? I am definitely open to suggestions!

Funny Landen

Here is my silly Landen boy. We were just shooting pictures for the fun of it. This is before I cut off his cute curly hair. I miss it so much, what was I thinking?

Featuring Jared

Here he is at 4 months

5 months

and 6 months

He hasn't changed too much - just gotten fatter. He weighs 19 lbs. is 27.5 inches long. He is a happy boy. We love having him around.

I love this Video

I'm guessing most of you (probably all of you) have never seen this side of Isaac.

We turned on the video to record Jared's laugh. It was the hardest laugh we had heard from him yet. He actually had calmed it down some by the time we got the camera rolling. Sorry you can't see Jared, I'm holding him and the camera.

This is now a regular occurance around our house. Jared cracks up at his brothers all the time. And each one of them loves being the entertainer.

A Bit of Our December

We started the month off with "One night in Bethlehem," an amazing production our ward puts on on every year for the community. When you arrive, you sit in the chapel and listen to musical numbers performed by members of the church while you wait for a tour. The tour is takes you to different rooms in church telling the story of Christ's birth. First, the shepherds' room, Jesus. Hundreds of people from the community attend. It is always very neat. This year our Jared played the role of Jesus.

The wise men room

Joseph, Mary, Jesus (Jared)

I am the room mom for Dallin's 1st grade class this year and get to plan and coordinate all the classroom parties, with the help of other parents. This video is a game we played - two teams. You have to put on the santa hat, gloves, unwrap the gum, put it in your mouth, take it all off again and put it in the bag and pass it to the other person to do. Which ever team finishes first wins. The kids were so hyper and excited, couldn't contain themselves, except for Dallin of course. I had to take this video because he was cracking me up. So calm, among all the chaos.

3-D Polar Express with friends (Landen wanted to wear glasses too, but we only had four pairs so he got stuck with the "Magnifying glasses" He didn't know the difference and looked hilarious!

And hot chocolate

Santa!

Dallin and Isaac got what they asked for. Landen didn't ask. He was very silent and careful not to look at anyone, especially Santa.

Christmas Morning - Santa presents

A marble race for Landen

Darth Vader Lego ship for Dallin

Lego tank bomber (or whatever it's called) for Isaac. I wish I would've videoed this. Isaac jumped up and down at least 30 times .

We had a wonderful Christmas. The only thing missing was family. We love you and miss you all so much!

World's Largest Christmas Store

In Frankenmuth, MI, about an hour north of us, is the world's largest Christmas store. We visited here while Grandma Jeanne was in town for Thanksgiving. It was a really neat place. One of the best things about it was it was very centered on Christ and his birth, and also had the fun Santa stuff.









It was a magical place. Worth the trip.