Kidnapped!

During Christmas break, I wanted to run away from the video games, movies, and the mess.  I kidnapped my kids for the whole day and it turned out so great.  We hopped onto trax and rode downtown SL right to temple square.  (We did see some intereting people while riding the train.)  We were there with 10 minutes to spare to see the joseph smith movie which I hadn't seen.  It was really wonderful!   

Next we ate at the cafe in the Joseph Smith building.  Really cheap kids meal prices but all you really need is some big fat cinnamon rolls!

We walked all over temple square and the kids did so well!

Kyler saw a sister missionary with a flag from Brazil on her tag and impressed her with all his Portugese words he's learned from uncle Justin.

We had a tour of the conference center and my kids were the guides helpers.  It was cool all the things we learned!  Then we went to the church history museum and finished up before riding home!  A great day was spent by all.  

ps, we missed our daddy, maybe next time!  (I sure do love that Layne Liston boy!!)

Jenn's Gift

My sis Jenn gave us a great present.  She made a disc for our family from her camera of any pictures we were in.  Here are some of my top 5 fav's!!!  

The photographer nerds!

Zach really stressing baby Kenzie out!

Riding with a road hog!

The tooth pulling nazi!  Why does Kenz looks so scared?

And my fav, the baby snuggly!

(rated pg-13) hee-hee!

Princess Paige and Queen Joleen!

Every Christmas night after all the fun and excitement, I lay in bed and instead of thinking, "I can't believe it's all over" I think, "I still have tomorrow!"  My birthday has always been the day after Christmas, as I've never known anything else, I love it!  My very best present will always be Paige born 4 years ago.  I'm so happy we get to celebrate together!  I was taken to breakfast by my fun friends and it started the day off just right!  I like to pack everything in, so we tried our best!  Paige had a fun princess party with all her little friends and loved the cake aunt Becky made!  
The girls danced, made wands, colored, painted their nails and did make-up.  It was kinda crazy but she's been talking about a party for a year!   
This is Paige and I getting our own pedicures later in the afternoon, then we rushed to a movie.
Thanks Layne!
My mom made dinner and had gifts but the best was she was taking my kids the next day so I could have a day off.  They left at 10 and were gone until 6.  Layne and I had a lunch date and I went shopping and then took a nap!!!  I had the best birthday ever!!!  

Princess

Christmas!!!

Christmas morning is all about little kids and they sure made it fun!  Here's Zach with his Ripstick.  He said he got everything on his list!  I especially loved how they wanted to give each other their presents before anything else!  It was sweet!
Paige loved everything and she is such a girl!
Here's the dollhouse we updated  from my own childhood. I hope she has lots of good memories too! 
Kyler loved his drumset but they are already downstairs because of the noise!
We all had a great day!  We talked to Uncle Justin in Brazil and had a christmas breakfast at my mom's.  Later we had lunch at the SL and spent the rest of the day playing.  The excitement was too much for Layne as he got violently sick at about 7:00.  I think Santa's busiest Elf worked himself to death!  We let the boys stay up and put themselves to bed that night.  You just don't want it to end!!!   

December 24th!

We started the day with the Bishop's breakfast which we love!  Then to get the kids wiggles out we went with friends to the gym and played.  I think I really used to be able to climb the rope but no more!  Those gymnists really know what their doing, I tried everything and found out I'm a wimp and not very strong!



Christmas eve was really nice with our little family (and Jess and my parents came for a bit) We had a delicious dinner with candle light until Zach nearly burned his arm when he reached over the flame.  The highlight is Layne's video he shows of pictures from the year.  It's called the "Year in Review"  but Jess calls it the "urine review".  It's all put to music and basically is lots of pictures of our kids.  When it's over I think, "Hey, we really are a happy family and we've had lots of fun!"  (music videos can do that!)  Then we read the night before Christmas as always and the Christmas story out of Luke and it was time for bed.  Paige kept looking out the window and opening the door to see if Santa was here.  The boys followed Santa's flight on the internet and tracked him until he was in North America.  I really love the 24th!!  

December fun!

December sped by!  We were able to do alot of things, here are a few;  I thought it might not snow but it finally came and never stopped!  We definately had a white Christmas!  The kids liked playing with the 4-wheeler and sled, building a fort, and sledding down hills!  
Paige and Eliza had their dance recital,  they mostly just looked real cute!  The kids had fun at theire school class parties and the counting down to Christmas vacation!

We made cookies and made a mess, but had fun.  The kids didn't even noticed I've thrown all the hardened cookies away.

Lots of fun parties like the Liston family party, (is that Santa or Scrooge?)