Jacks Eating

Jackson has the biggest imagination out of any of our kids. He has been playing with his action figures non-stop since he got them. He didn't go to sleep last night until almost 11:30 because he kept playing. I love it, except when it is time to eat. The second he gets his food it turns into something else and he plays the whole time we are at the table. Sometimes it's funny to hear what he has to say, other times I would just like him to eat. 

To Mom, From Beck

For the Christmas gift exchange Beck had my name. When he first picked it out he asked if someone would trade him or if he could pick again. He was so worried to get me something and whether I'd like it or not. He went through a lot of ideas and finally chose to get me some candy and money to the movies. Beck was excited for a date to the movies. It was a fun gift to get, and it just shows how much the kids like to be with us. He had to take a picture with his snack. We usually don't let them get kids packs because it's too much to get one for each kid. He was happy because he knew Cam would be jealous. 

I let him pick the movie. We went and say "Free Birds." It wasn't too bad of a movie. 

Speaking of Beck, I think boys must be born with something in them. We were watching TV the other day on the Disney Channel. It was a mini show of Tinker Bell. They were ice skating and doing tricks. After they did tricks the animals would rate them, so the kids joined it. The last one was the leader of the Tinker Fairy's. I'm not sure if it was before or after her trick, but she took her winter jacket off and had an outfit on under it. The boys said she got a '0' then Beck changed his minds. He said, "I give her a '3' because she took her clothes off." Boys...

Christmas Day

 At 7 we had to wake Jacks up. He wasn't too happy to wake up, but once he figured out what was going on he was really happy to be up. He was a lot of fun to watch this year. Each present was the coolest one and had to have it opened our of the box right away. You can see how happy he is from this picture. 

 Even after 8 years of marriage it's fun to learn new things about each other. I found out that Brad used to do model planes (it didn't surprise me that he liked to do that). So I get him a few this year for him to put together. He is almost done with one already. 

 This was Jacks face all morning. He got lots of super hero action figures.  

After each thing Emery opened she would say, "This is always what I wanted!" She got lots of princess things. 

 I love how the tree looks with everything all set up around it. Thanks to my job, we had a extra money and... well got a lot of things. It was fun though. 

 Beck got lots of Lego sets. He loves to build things and has already done 1 and a half. 

 Brad and I made they boys kits. Beckham loves a game called Diablo and you can fight as different characters. This is his barbarian kit. It was fun to make and he loves finding all the things that go into it. 

Camden got lots of zombie things, spy gear and Just Dance 4 . He loves to play that game. 

 Camden's kit was a zombie hunter kit. Once he figured out what it was he was so happy for it and has carried it around a good portion of the day. This was my favorite one to make

It is so much fun to see how the kids react in the morning. All of the planning is worth it to watch them go so excited. We have had things hidden in our room since September or October, so I'm glad the mess is cleaned up finally. Until next year, and I'm sure it will come by faster than this year did. 

Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve was a lot of fun this year. The kids picked names out this year. They lasted until Brad got home at 12-ish to open them. It was fun watching the kids thing about what to get the person who they had. They also got Pjs from mom and dad. 

 I had Camden's name and I got him a bubble gum maker. He had a lot of fun making it and he thought it was the best he has ever tasted. Beck got a rock growing kit, Emery got play-dough and Jacks got Spider man doll. 

 We had a Book of Mormon Christmas at Grandma and Grandpa Arrington's. Our kids acted out the play from the Book of Mormon. They did a really good job. 

 Then they opened something from a cousin. Emery got skates and has been wearing them almost non-stop. 

This is their play. Jacks did more then he would do when we practiced at home. 

Then Santa came. Emery had skates on, so she didn't move to fast. Jacks didn't get it too much and the boys were slow. They were super excited though. Camden wanted to go and hug him and pet the reindeer. The night wasn't too bad. Someone woke up at 1, but came and looked and went back to bed. Then the kids came out at 5:45 but we had them go back to bed until 7. 

Christmas Projects

We didn't do projects during the month. We were all busy with school, work and life. We waited until the kids were off school and just did a lot of projects at once. One day we made ornaments, reindeer faces and we also made candy ornaments, but I left the candy in the oven too long and they didn't works. When we were done we ate oranges and watched "The Christmas Oranges." We haven't watched it yet and it was a really cute story. The kids actually sat and watched all of it. 

 Christmas Eve we made sock snowmen. I think they turned out pretty well. Jackson didn't want his picture taken, so Beck is kind of holding his. It was a good beginning of the Christmas Break.

Camden

 Camden has many sides to him. He can be really happy and imaginative. Here he is pretending he is hurt... not sure why, but you have to love the imagination. He colored toilet paper and taped it to his head and hand. He wanted to wear it to school but I wouldn't let him. 

 Or Cam can be well not so happy. If he gets mad you have to let him calm down before you can talk to him. He used to hide under his bed, but we figured that one out and so it wasn't a good spot to hide. The other day we couldn't find him. It took a while and once we did, this is where he was. Good thing he is so tiny, not everyone could hide in their shoe box and not be found. I'm pretty sure this was over Beck farting on Cam's bed... ugh boys and their nasty body noises. 

Weird Party

One 'perk' of Brad's job is he works with a lot of doctors, and when one retires there is usually some sort of party. That was the case this week and Brad was lucky enough to have to take part in it. Apparently the doctors favorite movies has to do with drag queens and so Brad had to dress up like one. Everyone in his department had to do something, this was the one he got stuck with (not his first choice). He was not too happy about having to do it, but now it's over and he looked.... well, I'll let you decide. 

 You have to love the duck face. It took him a while to get the makeup and fake eyelashes off. 

Boys Christmas Prgram

The boys had their Christmas concert last night. It was fun to watch. They were so excited to go and do it. This is as good of smile as we get from Beck. 

 Good thing about Camden is he is usually on the front row, so he's easy to find. It's crazy to thing that this time last year Camden had broken his arm and had surgery on it. Thankfully that didn't happen again. 

Here is one of the songs they sang. They were supposed to dance a little but Beck wouldn't. He's a little more reserved like I am. 

Just Like Mom

I love making lists. Not sure why, but there is something so great about a good list. Just ask Brad, I tend to be a little OCD with them too.I have been known to re-write a list is someone writes on it and messes it up, or if I mess it up, but only like once... or twice (or every time, it's bad I know). Emery's favorite thing is shopping day. Every other Friday we get groceries and she looks forward to it for the two weeks. This week she decided to make her own list. I love that she is doing so well with her letters and that she loves to write too. So I'm not passing on my OCD list making, I'm teaching her to write. 

Her list consisted of a nacho Lunchable, Goldfish and a treat at Winco. She wanted a toy at Costco. 

She was prepared and ready to shop. I however don't carry my bag and list that way, but she looks cute doing it. She did get the Goldfish and Lunchable. We traded the toy and treat for new boots, since the ones she has been wearing are 2 sizes too small. She loved them and didn't want to give them up. 

 OK last thing about my job, well maybe. The only bad thing is the weather. I got off at 1 A.M Thursday and it was 15 out. So cold. Last night, or I guess this morning,  it was snowing, and I hate driving in snow. I had to do it because sleeping at the hospital isn't as nice as it is in my own bed. It may be cold, but I still don't turn the heater on, it keeps me awake until I get home, which is very important. 

First Snow

I'm not sure if the amount of time it takes to put snow stuff on is worth the amount of time they actually play in the snow. As you can see it snowed last night, and Emery couldn't wait to play in it. So after the boys went to school we got dressed up, taking like 20 min to do all of it. They played outside for maybe 20 min. Jacks got cold and gave up first. 

Emery just had to make a snow angel. She asked all morning when she could do one. 

 I love them all bundled up. They look like puff balls with all the layers on them. 

 Jacks was happy to come inside and get warm. He freaked out though then he saw snow on his sleeve. He had to change his shirt. I have a feeling this is going to get worse before he just gets over it. Jacks is a really clean baby and hates getting messy. 

Kit-Kat

Weird and Random, but someone needs to teach this kids how to eat a kit-kat right. He loves chocolate, so he doesn't care, as long as he gets 

December Has Begun

Well December has started. That means a fun filled month for the kids. They get a visit from an elf in their socks every once and a while (only if they have been good), they get to do an advent calendar at Grandma and Grandpa Arrington's house and we do two Christmas projects a week. 

The first night the elf brought the kids these, a way to count down to Christmas. There was also a letter from Santa telling them to be good and once of his elves will bring a prize. 

Today this is what the elf brought. Jacks was freaking out when he saw it. I think he'll be fun on Christmas morning. 

 Emery and Jacks put their stickers up this morning. Jacks loved putting them up but said the stickers were nasty. 

 We took the kids to see Santa at the mall last night. We didn't want to pay for a picture, so hopefully the kids just have the good memory. We figured Jacks would freak out if we tried to get him to sit on Santa's lap, but he went right to him. I guess he really wanted to tell Santa something. 

Christmas Time

It it that time of year again. I think it came too fast, but it's here. The kids are so excited for Santa, and thankfully Santa is done shopping. We set up our Christmas stuff the other day, and the kids love it. Since we have the bookshelf now we have a place for stockings. Not sure why, but this is my favorite thing. 

 We set the tree up and getting 4 kids to all smile and look at you isn't easy.  We almost had it with this pictures. We got new ornaments and all the ones that grandma and grandpa Arrington. I think our tree looks pretty sweet. Now to keep the 2 year old away from it... not likely.  

 I had all of the kids looking at me and just as I pushed the button I saw Emery. Ah so close. Good thing she is so cute. 

The boys are at an interesting age. They still believe but there are kids in their class who don't. Beck told me that someone said Santa wasn't real! I told him that kid was crazy. Camden asked when Santa would leave little things in their stockings. Last year I would put a toy in their socks maybe once to twice a week and left a note from Santa. Looks like Santa will be returning with that again. I also need to figure out Christmas projects to do like we do every year. Although we'll do one every other day. I love December, there is so much joy in the month. 

Few Small Things

I am finally getting on my regular work schedule, so I'll actually have time to do other things besides sleep. I am so glad I only did part time. I love working. It's so nice to get out a few nights a weeks and I love more that it's at night and not during the day. When I am driving home and I see people coming into work I think to myself how much that would suck. I would rather stay up late then go to bed and have to wake up early.  

The boys keep asking me to eat lunch at school with them. For one, school lunch doesn't look or sound good and two, I don't want to take Emery and Jacks into the lunch room and have to deal with them there. On Tuesday I decided to surprise them and take them to lunch. Out of all of the places they could choose they picked McD's. Ugh. I remember my mom taking me out of school for a surprise a few times, so it's something I want for them too. They had a lot of fun. We even went and got ice cream after. 

 Jacks isn't the only one who sleeps with toys. This is how Brad found Emery the other night. She had two babies in her shirt. She never really did give us a reason why. 

 Beck lost another tooth. He was hoping it would fall out at school, I guess they get a little bag or something for it, but there wasn't any way it would have lasted all weekend. Now I know how my parents felt when my teeth fell out fast, all I see is $ for braces. At least Cam's are falling out slow. 

Jacks

Since it's been colder we moved the kids rooms around so they are away from windows. None of the kids cared, except Jacks. The first few nights he wasn't having it. He took his pillow and blanket to where he wanted to be. 

 Now he at least will sleep in his bed but the bed is right under the light switch, so he turns the light on all the time and plays. He has been falling asleep with the toys he was playing with. Now he freaks out when we turn the lights off. We put a night lights and that helps. The only good thing is once he's tired he will lay down and go to sleep even if the light is on. 

My few weeks of full time work is over and I survived! I am so thankful for the job and even more thankful it's only part time. It will be a good amount of hours. No way I could do full time right now with the kids at home. We are usually so busy that the nights go by really fast. The kids don't really notice anything at all. I have taken more naps, but that';s about all. They know I go to work, but are asleep the whole time. It has really worked out so well.