15!!!

We always start the new year around here by celebrating Kayden's birthday. He is always pretty easy to please and doesn't want to much. 

We started with his birthday breakfast.  I made him cowboy cake and scrambled eggs. His favorite foods are breakfast foods and he pretty much ate them all day. Then we opened his presents. All he wanted was cash to get a new DS. His old one was stolen at school and he wanted a new one to play while he is on the bus. He spent the rest of the morning on it.

 His choice for his birthday dinner/breakfast #2 was IHOP. They had all you can eat pancakes. He can really eat quite a bit, but I think he only made it through 3 pancakes. Of course that was in addition to his bacon, sausage and eggs.

Then for his 3rd breakfast, he wanted doughnuts this year instead of cake. We picked some up and went home to finish celebrating with the rest of the kids. 

 

I just kept thinking that only a teenage boy could put away that much sugar and be okay. But he loved it all. Good thing his birthday is only once a year or he might go into a sugar coma.

He had a good day. He definitely keeps us on our toes, and are so glad to have him in our family.

Our Holiday

We spent our holiday together at home. On Christmas Eve, Corey and I took the kids to pick presents for each other, that was the only shopping I had not gotten done. Then we came home and made cookies for Santa. We had already made, decorated, and delivered several batches to friends, but we needed some just for us.

I love when I can get all the kids together involved in the same activity. It is so rare anymore.

We ate homemade chili with cornbread, read Christmas stories, and opened our new pj's.

Santa came in the night. And I'm glad he got my note about keeping things small this year. We have enough stuff around here anyway.

Christmas morning came and, of course, the kids were so excited. Surprisingly though we did get to sleep until after 7 before the chaos began.

 

I always have to make them wait a little longer and take a picture before I let them go downstairs. 

Emery was at the best age this year, she was just so excited, and all she wanted was Barbie stuff. That was a first around our house, but she has loved them so far.

 Hailey asked for an art kit, the movie "White Fang" and a stuffed wolf. Santa came through and then some. The only thing she didn't get was some seaweed (?). It was a late addition to her list though. Santa was probably already done with his shopping.

 Kayden was simple this year. He asked for a game and a back brush. Santa also brought him some shirts since he always seems to be growing out of his clothes.

 Carter wanted some headphones and was thrilled with his new Miami Heat shirt and hat too. Santa always brings some great surprises.

 Some new clothes that hopefully she won't fight to wear because Santa brought them.

 For Brendan, it was a Lego Chima Christmas. His new Diary of a Wimpy Kid book has been a hit with everyone too. I heard Kayden giggling in his room while reading it last night. 

Corey and the kids surprised me with a new Kindle Fire HDX

This is my 3rd one. It even says at the top, "Lindsey's 3rd kindle." My first one met an untimely end when I left it on the bumper and it fell off a couple blocks away. (Yes I left it on my bumper while watching the kids outside, and yes it stayed on there for a couple of blocks until it fell off and it was actually fine until another car ran over it.) My 2nd kindle is just fine and I loved it. We had been thinking of getting one for the younger kids to use. Corey just decided to get me the newest one and let the kids use my other one. I am just glad I get it to myself without someone constantly bugging me to use it.

Another great Christmas. I love having the time to spend together as a family and build memories together.

"Best Day Ever!"

Right before Christmas, we took the kids to Enterprise to visit some of Corey's family. We had missed the family Christmas party a couple of weeks earlier because it was horrible weather in Utah so we needed to go and deliver presents and see everybody before the holiday. There was still a little snow on the ground and the kids were begging to play in it. This was Emery's first time in the snow. 

We decided to take them sledding. Well our idea of sledding for the day was pulling it behind the Gator in the field behind his parent's house. But it was a blast. The kids were in absolute heaven. They could not stop grinning.

I couldn't miss it either. I rode in the back of the Gator to take pictures. I took close to 300 pictures, but I was bouncing around so much that only half actually turned out. I was holding on for dear life with one hand and taking pictures with the other.  I should have had a picture of me taking the pictures, it was quite the ordeal. But it was so worth it to catch their facial expressions and see how much fun they were having. Emery proclaimed it the "best day ever!"

 

 Aunt Sherilyn was good to keep Emery off the track. She wanted a turn every time Corey came around.

I caught some cute pictures of my nephews too.

 Carter had a couple of good wipe-outs. Once he lost the sled and kept going and ended up with his rear end covered in mud. And once he came up with an earful of snow.

 This picture was the only one I really wished had been in focus as Kayden caught some air.

We will definitely have to go again. Next time we will have to be a little more prepared with the proper attire though, the kids were pretty wet and frozen by the time we were done. They all agreed it was worth it.