Christmas time is here!

Decorating Gingerbread houses, a grandma Marty tradition.  So much candy is consumed during those two hours!!!

Alex got to try his hand at frosting this year :)

Seeing Frozen with Grandma Jaynie, really cute movie.

Ears pierced!  She was super brave and only cried a little bit.  As soon as she saw a mirror she brightened up again.

We have a "secret santa" each year (maybe a neighbor?).  This year they gave Lydia a balloon making kit.  She has perfected the mouse and wiener dog so far :)

Merry Christmas!

9 years old!!!!!

Alex celebrated 9 years of life on thursday, December 19.  Every year this is a busy birthday and this year was no exception!  He had school (a field trip too), cub scouts, and "A Christmas Carol" play with grandparents and cousins.  So, we celebrated his birthday in the morning.  I got up really early and prepared this fantastic pancake breakfast with bacon, etc.  After singing happy birthday and blowing out the candle on the pancake we dug in and I realized I used Baking Soda instead of Baking Powder!  YUCK!  So, we had cereal. Alex was still happy.

For his party he wanted to go swimming.  It was a GREAT choice.  All the boys could swim and so I wasn't nervous, almost all the boys could come, and it wasn't busy on a friday evening.  Alex got all the toys he wanted, and a few toys that we got him for christmas… so we have a little last minute exchanging to do today… boo!  But, he was so happy and I'm glad his family and friends know him so well.

Look at those stud-ly 3rd graders at the swimming pool :)  I love their little bods.

Alex is a joy to be around.  He is such a great big brother to Lydia and he tells me that he loves me all the time.  I'm so glad that I get to see him grow everyday.  We are very lucky to have this little man in our lives.

Christmas catch up

Lydia has lost her first tooth up top, and the hole is HUGE!  I think she's going to get big front teeth just like her mom :)

Dave and I went to Las Vegas for a weekend.  He had a business conference and I just hung around.  It was fun to have all the time in the world, but even better when Dave could hang out with me in the evenings.  It's a fun place, but talk about sensory overload!

The kids were in a nativity play for church.  Lydia was a little disappointed that angel is pretty much the only role she'll ever have (always trying to reach for the elusive Mary).  They both did a really good job.

Alex was a sheep, I was SUPER impressed with the costumes they made for the animals.

This is a terrible picture, but Alex was in a play with his 3rd grade.  He's a bol weevil and an army ant.  He really enjoys being in front of a crowd and performing, smiled the whole time.  It's really fun to watch him as his mom too :)  

 

Now on to cookies, parties, plays, recitals, birthdays, and christmas!

Christmas recaps

For the last three years I've done christmas recaps from our kids' quotes.  I never put them on the blog, but I really wanted to keep them in one place.  So, here are the last three years.  If you don't want to ruin the "surprise" of reading 2013 in the mail… don't read the last one :)

    From the Mouth of Babes – What went on in 2011

“Adios Amigos” – Alex and Lydia, everyday, during our trip to Mexico

“Did you know that I’m gonna have a new cousin named Mason, but we can’t tell you his name”  Lydia, after learning the “secret” name of Daniel and Michelle’s new baby, born in March

“When I grow up I’m going to be a Mechanical Engineer” Alex, kindergarten graduation

“I’m going to stay here and “guard the house” – Alex’s first use of air quotes

“Why do the girls always have to stay home?”  Lydia at the bus stop

“I love you more than Legos” – Alex

“The dog was lickilish” – Lydia, after a dog licked her face

“Please bless daddy to want a dog” – Lydia’s prayer one night

“Cloud, flower, nature, earth, cantalope, oak, curly, bowling ball, felice, pencil, aspen, rolo, ginger, clover” – Name suggestions for our new dog

“Kids, don’t fight”- Kendra

“I’ll fight for the freedom” – Alex

“Oh shin!  Holy freakin’ asphalt!”  Alex’s new words after the first day of first grade

“I don’t have anything in my head, the only thing I’m thinking about is nothing” – Lydia

“Who do you sit by at lunch?” Kendra

“Oh, the whole gang” – Alex

“That song touched my heart” Alex, after singing ‘The Savior’s Gift’, a song about Gethsemane.

“You can’t go trick-or-treating if you’re sick” – Kendra

“That’s OK, you can just take my bucket and get the candy for me!” Lydia

“Santa’s going to give me hundreds of presents, because he’s like a REALLY nice guy” - Lydia

Out of the Mouth of Babes – a recap of 2012 at the Mauger home

“Mom, I think I have a bald spot” Alex

“In high school plays I sang and danced and even played God” Dave

“What?!  You DANCED!?”  Lydia

“Lightening war.”  Alex’s 1^st choice for his chicken’s name.  He finally went with Coyote

“Are you scared of the spider?” Lydia

“Of course not, I’m a man” Alex

“Pain comes before righteousness” Alex

“I had a splinter in my toe that came out, rolled down, and got stuck in my foot!” Lydia

“I’m Jesus’ wife” Lydia

“Jesus can’t get married, he’s a nun” Alex

“Mom, we get brownies at swim lessons!  She said if we do flip turns we get extra brownie points!”  Alex

“Is it dinnertime?” Lydia, after hearing the smoke alarm go off

“Lydia, don’t point with your middle finger” Alex

“Why?” Lydia

“It’s a bad word” Alex

“My finger is not a word” Lydia

“It means I H-A-T-E you” Alex

“I’m the princess, Mom’s the queen, Daddy’s the king, and Alex is the guard.  He doesn’t like to be a prince because they kiss” Lydia

 “Knock knock” Lydia

“Who’s there?” Kendra

“What do you call a horse with stripes?” Lydia

“A Zebra?” Kendra

“YES!!! HAHAHAHAHA!” Lydia

 “Santa is so nice, instead of giving Jesus presents, he gives us presents!” Lydia

2013 at the Mauger home

“I don’t want to fall off the edge, of glory” – Lydia

“Alex, when you get older…” – Kendra

“I’m going to stink in the armpits.” – Alex

“When we die we’re resurrected to our perfect age.” – Kendra

“So, like, 14?” – Lydia

“The USA is called the crock-pot” – Alex

“You mean melting pot?” – Kendra

“Let’s retire and work at Disneyland.” – Dave

“Mom, you CAN’T retire!” – Lydia

“Your basketball coach has some great things to say, but sometimes she doesn’t say it nicely” – Kendra

“Yea, I know, just like you” – Alex

“You’ll play Pachabel’s Canon” – Kendra

“Taco Bell’s Cannon??!!” – Alex & Lydia

“It’s baptism by erosion, Lydia.” – Alex

“When I’m a firefighter I’m going to save the pets first.  I’ll be on the pet team.” – Lydia

“We need to cut your hair” – Dave

“I don’t want to, I thought it was optional” – Alex

“I made it mandatory” – Dave

“I have no agency in this family!” – Alex

“Caught any fish?” – Lydia

“Not yet” –Dave

“That’s OK.  Fly fishing is harder because you’re  standing in the water and the fish can see your legs.” – Lydia

“The boy I will marry will be permanently mine.  Like a mini-helper” - Lydia

Merry Christmas! 

Writing & Released

Dave was in the bishopric for the last 4 years, before that he was a ward clerk so we haven't ridden together to church for the last 6 years.  Except the occasional stake conference.  Last week Dave was released and we got to get ready together this morning, go to church together, sit together, go home together, and feed the kids together.  It was AMAZING!  I'm glad that he got the chance to serve, and I'm glad that others will get the chance to serve in that capacity.  I love that about our church :)

In other news, Alex has turned into quite the little writer :)  Here is his latest paragraph….

"One day, in fall, I decided to take a walk.  The air was crisp and cold.  All of the fall leaves colorfully danced down from their trees.  They also crunched under my feet, like the sound of Pringles in my mouth.  It smelled like someone was BBQing.  That's what I sensed when I took a walk."

Obviously they are working on descriptive words… but I was really impressed :)  That boy is definitely going places!

And now, a picture to reward you for reading :)

Halloween & Wolf

Alex officially became a Wolf this week!  He really enjoys scouts and has a good group of boys that he hangs out with there.  I even got a little pin to show that I helped him :)

We were lucky enough to have a BEAUTIFUL half day off of school.  So, we went to Anderson Farms and picked pumpkins, got lost in the corn maze, petted goats, and went on a tractor ride.  It was gorgeous.

We have a friend who grows giant pumpkins!  Here was his PR, weighing in at about 1200 lbs.  They decided to get it professionally carved, and it looks awesome.

Dorothy and the Scottish man got to dress up a little early for a church party this year.  Alex was very much in character using his best scottish accent.  

Happy Halloween & Happy Fall!!!!

Kids

I love my kids :)  Dave and I would love to have more... not just because we love holding little babies, but because we absolutely and truly enjoy being with our kids.  They are fun to be around and make us laugh all the time.

Alex has been sleepwalking lately.  He does it around 9:30 or 10 every night (that we know of).  Usually it consists of him getting out of bed and coming downstairs (to where Dave and I are).  He tells us he loves us and then we help him get back into bed.  He doesn't remember anything the next day.  Last night he never came down, so when Dave and I went up to bed we found him totally asleep on our bed.  It was so cute!  I almost took a picture :)

Lydia wants to be a rock star or a teacher when she grows up.  She has been practicing singing and making up her own songs.  I will NEVER tire of those made up songs!  She usually sings about us or how much she loves her family.  A lot of times she sings about God.  I should probably record her songs so that she can show her millions of fans how she started :)

Italian quinoa football

Festival Italiano!!!  Alex was singing "O Sole Mio!" all day (his unique version :).  We love this festival, it was a REALLY hot day so we waited till evening to go, but we still made the grape stomp.

"O Sole Mio"

After the HOT week of 95 degree weather, we had a HUGE rainstorm.  It rained monday night through friday morning!  I didn't go outside for four days (unless I HAD to).  On friday afternoon I went outside and noticed that we had some sprouting quinoa on our back porch! (backstory - we grew quinoa this year and harvested it on our back porch because it was MESSY!  we must've missed a few grains)

Alex is also playing flag football this year.  He really likes it (it helps that it's fall and colorado is crazy over broncos)  I've been impressed with his throwing and aggressiveness.  They all think they play just as well as the broncos.  I even saw one kid do the "finger shake" after he made a tackle (like "not in my house")  I died laughing!

Because it's YMCA football everyone plays every position.  Here's Alex as quarterback :)  What a stud :)

Camping

We went camping this weekend at Dave's (and mine) favorite camping spot.  We invited my parents and my sister, but at the last minute my sister couldn't come, so luckily a friend from Dave's work came.  The Phipps were able to join us for the night and my kids were in heaven (the Phipps have 5 kids :)

My parents brought the canoe, and although the fishing wasn't good... we got plenty of time with a pole in our hands

My parents brought my sister's older two girls, so we had 8 kids total.  My dad would paddle them all around :)

These rocks were the favorite place

First day of school

School started today!  I usually love the first day of school, everyone is excited and we always get up early.  This is my first year with both kids in all day school, and it was fairly bittersweet.  I'm excited for them, and hopeful for some new opportunities for me.

Alex, 8 years old, has Ms. Ehrhart for 3rd grade.  Alex is really smart and good at making friends.  His best friend, Torin, isn't in his class this year, but he'll still see him at lunch.  Alex loves to play with legos still and is started to get into science creations.  He still is the best big brother ever and plays with Lydia.

Lydia, 6 years old, has Ms. Vanlandingham for 1st grade.  She was a little nervous about lunch this year, not sure that she'll sit in the right spot.  Her best friend, Piper, is in class with her.  Lydia really took off in reading this summer and she's excited to have her own desk this year.  She's a great combination of princess and sporty, and she has no fear.

Aspen walks them to and from the bus each day (with me, she's not THAT awesome :).  We're glad that school is here, and a little sad that we can't have summertime play anymore.  Last friday they both tried to waterski for the first time!  They didn't get up but boy are they getting big!  I love these kids.

Color Me Rad

Lydia wanted to do a color run this year, and we are so glad we did it!  It's a very slow race, if you're serious about running you shouldn't participate :)  We ran some and walked some, and I'd say 75% of the people did the same.

Here is our before picture... so fresh and clean! (notice our RAD tattoos)

After... not clean at all!  Lydia wanted her hair to be totally dyed for the first day of school, but it washed right out...

Starting line

Lydia after the race

Alex close up.  My mom came and took pictures, we couldn't touch anything... too messy.

  Overall it was super fun and we'd definitely do it again.  Lydia could have stayed dirty all day, and Dave couldn't wait to get it off :)

North Carolina!

We visited Papa Gary and Grandma Christine in North Carolina this past week.  It was so nice to relax by the pool every day!  I found out that if we had a pool I'd never see Lydia... and I probably wouldn't get much work done myself :)

We went to the NASCAR hall of fame.  It was really fun.  I don't know anything about NASCAR except for what I've seen from the disney CARS movie.  Which is surprisingly accurate (except for the talking cars :)  The hall of fame made me want to see a race though.

We took a quick trip to Myrtle Beach, it was fun to be in two oceans in one summer.

There were also rocking chairs all over the place, airports, museums, etc.  I guess it's a southern thing.  At the children's museum they had kid rocking chairs.. pretty cool

Before our trip we dyed our tongues with snow cones at the zoo...

And celebrated pioneer day...

4th of July

Happy 4th!  A wonderful neighbor organized a kid parade for the afternoon.  Lydia and her friends planned it for two days... Alex jumped on a baby tricycle about 2 minutes before (the difference between girls and boys).  The little girl in green was throwing out candy :)  There were about 10 kids in the parade and about 10 spectators... 

We had a family BBQ at my parents.  My brother and his family are living with them now and so my brother smoked his famous ribs, they are really good!

A little backyard firecrackers before we headed to Stenger to see the BIG fireworks

California road trip (part 2)

Disneyland!  Dave loves disneyland and always plans a great trip for us.  Alex's favorite ride was Star Tours, Lydia's was the Matterhorn or Space Mountain!  I love it all, and Dave does too.  My parents were willing to trek around with us for most of the morning, which was really fun.

We ate lunch at the Blue Bayou, it's a restaurant inside the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, and it's wonderful.  Calm, cool, dark... and mint juleps...yum!

At California Adventure we rode the Tower of Terror.  We didn't pay for the picture after, but we did take a picture of the picture :)  Alex is scared of heights, so this was a tough one for him.  Lydia barely screamed.  I, however, screamed the entire time.  

We also went to a princess lunch, and there are so many pictures I couldn't pick one.  It was fun to see all the princesses, and the food was really good too.  We stayed later and watched the water show "world of color".  I was taking a great picture of the kids when the announcer said that the show was going to start and both kids could care less about me from that point on :)  It was a cool show.

I know this picture is small, but this is what got us out to California.  My father's family has a big reunion every four years... this is the picture from the party.  I only know about half of the people, but they are all so nice and it's fun to meet so many great people.

After leaving California we went to Vegas and stayed at the Golden Nugget Hotel.  This is the giant golden nugget.  It's real, and was found in the dirt behind someone's trailer home.  He wanted to remain anonymous, it's a cool story.  The pool there was awesome, with waterfalls, a swirly slide, and a giant shark tank in the middle.  Unfortunately, it was also 115 degrees, so the pool was crowded and you didn't want to be anywhere else.

Finally, we stopped at Zion National Park, it was probably 113 degrees.. so we only did one hike.  It was the river walk, right before the narrows hike.  It was beautiful, and maybe we'd like to go again when it's about 80 degrees :)

That's the trip!  We had so much fun and I feel like we're much closer as a family now.  Now back to the real world.