10 Going on 20

Now that Sydney is 10 we have started introducing her

to the joy's of babysitting.

We first began with little jobs like for 30 mins while

Mom and Dad walked around the neighborhood

or

when Mom had to take a kid to a friends house down

the street.

Now she is ready for bigger jobs.

We explained that when Mom and Dad go on dates

she will be paid.

But if we have to go to a meeting for church

or an errand it is called "being a part of family"

and those jobs are free.

Her first two times Sydney did wonderfully.

Both times we had older, experienced

people there to help but ONLY if she needed it.

We knew Sydney was ready when she brought

us a box of special toys she collect from

birthday parties, school rewards, etc and

made it her "babysitting box".

She only lets the kids pick 1 thing out of it

when she is babysitting!

We are so happy to finally embark on

a new journey / freedom for our family!

Emma's Reading Corner

Sometimes having a lot of people

in a house makes it hard to find

quite spots to think, read, or

be alone.

For some reason I am NOT

thinking that sitting on the kitchen counter

is one of them!

Silly Emma.

Bringing in the New Year 2013

Got cider?

Got twinkies?

Got fireworks?

Then you must be celebrating the end of 2012!

Dan is getting his drink on!

We celebrate in style!

With our friends the Brown's

we set off fireworks in

front of our house.

 

Dan is still a little frightened by the sounds.

Especially with all the neighbors doing

their own fireworks show.

Maddie came with her sparkler supply.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

A Case of the Yucks

There's nothing worse then being hit with

the 24 hour flu!

A few days after the Grandparents left the

flu went through 5 of the 7 of us.

They had fevers, stomach problems,

the aches, the shivers.

It was not fun.

But at least it didn't ruin our Holidays.

Poor Keira was the first to get it.

Did Santa Come?

Before bed time on Christmas Eve

the kids get new pj's

to sleep in.

Time for lots and lots

of present opening pictures!

+

The kids go through their stockings and find

mini boxes of cereal for breakfast!

Ben (and Daddy) love Star Wars!

I think I enjoy photos of my kids

patiently waiting and watching

their siblings opening presents

the most!

Hugs of thanks to her Mommy!

 

Keira gets her own My Generation Doll.

Mommy uses all her muscles to 

open the box.

Sydney and Emma get a certificate

telling them mom and dad will help

pay for an American Girl Doll!

Dan opens his stocking!

Keira convinces Grandma to play

a princess card game.

 

The next day we took a special trip

to the American Girl Doll Store

and picked out dolls that matched them.

Homemade Nativity

Every year we remember our Savior,

Jesus Christ, by reenacting the

nativity together as a family.

Once again, having Grandma & Grandpa

here with us made the evening extra special.

With our costumes on and our song books

handed out we started our

Christmas Eve program.

The Angels.

The animals.

The Wise Men.

Ben and Daddy were the Shepard's.

Ben and Keira were Joseph and Mary.

The Angel comes to tell the Wise Men of the star

and Christ's birth.

Ain't he the cutest kid ever!

Dan shares his gift with baby Jesus.

Grandma shares the Thomas family tradition

of reading from the story book

Donkey Daniel.

All the kids listen.

Emma follows along in her own book.

Present time!!

Grandma picks who gets their present first.

Rachel gets expensive pizza cutter

and a gift card to Michael's.

Larry receives a tablet

from the Grandparents and Rachel.

The Grandparents get a photo book.

With a collection of photos from the family

reunion as Aspen Grove,

special family photos and

our trip to the Salt Lake LDS Temple.

They love it!

Dan loves his letters.

Especially the alphabet letter song.

Ben gets a scooter with light-up wheels.

Now he can cruise to school in

style just like his older sisters.

Keira is just one step closer

to confirming that she IS

the princess of the family.

We saved the best for last!

The girls got $25 gift cards to make it

one step closer to getting their

own American Girl Dolls.