January 2018

Primary Pancake Picnic

The kids had fun at the Primary Pancake Picnic at the beginning of the year to meet their new teachers. None of Graham’s class showed up so he sat with the new Sunbeams and Paxton and Chloe were the only ones that showed up for their class. But there were lots of other kids that they got play games with!

Movie Date

I took the kids to a movie during winter break, it was fun being there just me and the kiddos. Although the theater lights were on pretty much the whole movie even after I went out and asked them to turn them off. It was pretty annoying. 

Student of the Month

Paxton got a student of the month award for all his reading he’s been doing! I’m so proud of him! He’s come a long way since last year!

Remodel

We are committed now to re-doing the kitchen! I can’t wait!

Snow!

Trying to enjoy the snow while we have it!  We had a pretty mild winter this year. 

Happy birthday cousin Lucy!

Graham dressed up as a knight at the princess party. My boys mostly were invited because I was going to help with the party. I got to do all the little girls hair. The boys kinda went off and did their own thing for most of the party.  I had fun doing all their hair, such cute little girls in their princess dresses!  Lucy seemed to LOVE her party!

December 2017

That darn elf is back!  The kids sure love searching for Buddy the elf each morning.  We haven't hardly any snow so our elf made some paper snowflakes.  Graham then had fun using all the scraps to color and make fun shapes with them.  I love watching this boys creativity.

Festival of Trees

Graham goes to a dance preschool and they had a Christmas dance performance at the Festival of Trees, so we made a night of it. He was so cute up on stage, the only boy and one or two steps behind everyone.  I’m so proud of him though for getting up on stage and performing!  While we were there the kids did some crafts and even got to see Santa!

New jammies!!

I decided to make the boys jammies this year along with my sister and sister-in-law so all the kids could have matching jammies. At first I was regretting the decision, but I’m so glad I did it. I love how they turned out!

I like to give them there jammies at the beginning of December so they can wear them all month long. It was so cute when the boys opened them.  Pax read the shirt and then starting singing it and was cracking up! He loved it, they both did!  It was a huge hit!

One of Graham's (and dad's) favorite things to do in the winter is lie over the heater vent and enjoy the warmth.  Here Graham is showing Elly what he likes to do.

Molly Mouse fieldtrip

I got to go with Graham and his preschool to this cute ballet. 

The Big Give

Every year we get to help my family out with a service project. This year I chose to help out kids that don’t get much to eat over the holiday break. There were a few schools in our area that were a part of this and we signed up to do so many bags. There was a list of food so all the kids basically got the same thing. 

We called our neighbors to help us out. We first went to dinner and then went shopping and then back to our house to separate the food into bags. Later that week my boys and my sister helped me deliver the bags to the schools. What a wonderful opportunity to be able to help out these kids that are truly in need. 

Annual Gingerbread House Contest

This is one of our most favorite traditions that we started when we were first married. This year Rem and I made the Griswold home from the movie Christmas Vacation. It was a huge hit and we won first place finally!!  

We had a few new people to the party this year. They always come a little more prepared the next year because they realize how much of a comparison it is. 

I kind of feel bad sending my kids away for this party so I made it a tradition for the next day to let them make their own gingerbread houses or creations. This year we invited some friends over to enjoy the fun! 

Aquarium

We had to get in one last aquarium visit before our pass expired. We brought my brother and his cute family with us. 

Ward Christmas Breakfast

Our ward always does a breakfast for the ward Christmas party. After a yummy breakfast we had an awesome magician come do some tricks with the kids. He had everyone laughing!  Graham got to hold the bunny and even a bird on his head! They loved it! Afterwards Santa came! 

Star Wars Hockey Game

We invited our friends the Kapp’s to dinner and a Grizzly hockey game.  Some of our other friends also met us at the game.  It was a special Star Wars night and there were a ton of characters all throughout the halls so we got a few pictures with them. The kids loved it!

Mall Day

For Paxton’s mall day at school we made geodes again like we did last year since they were a huge hit. He sold out again!  It’s fun being with Pax at his school. 

Desert Star Play

We had some free tickets to see the Christmas show because Rem made a life size nutcracker prop and the snowy roof top on Santa’s work shop. So we took the kids, they loved it!!

Soderberg Christmas Party
 The Soderberg party was a lot of fun this year! We've been having it at the Salt Lake Tennis club lately and this year they got it remodeled. It looks so awesome now!  I had fun helping Jamie out with an awesome backdrop for Santa Claus, so the pictures turned out really well. It was cute to see all the kiddos get excited to see him.  After seeing Santa, we had a fun gift exchange, one for the kids and one for the adults.  I love seeing this side of the family. We don't see each other often enough!

Graham helped me paint the cookies with colored evaporated milk. We brought these to the Sorenson Christmas party.

Sorenson Christmas Party

It’s always fun getting together with the crazy Sorenson crew!  I was sad to miss my grandma Moss’ Christmas party as it was on the same night. But I love seeing my kids spend time with all their cousins.  The Sorensons have switched up Christmas dinner to celebrate like another country. This year we had Chinese for dinner, it was really yummy!  I made wontons and brought some pre-made orange chicken. 

I started the tradition of singing the Nativity Song with pictures that the kids hold up.  

And of course we got another visit from Santa and even Mrs. Claus! 

Goodbye Buddy

Our elf always leaves us on Christmas Eve so he can go help Santa. It is the only night the boys get to touch him and his magic won’t go away. Graham gave Buddy lots of hugs, but Paxton was nervous to touch him and didn’t want to. 

Christmas Morning
The kids woke up first and came into our bedroom.  I think they were trying to see their presents, but they're not allowed to cross the ribbon of bells until mom and dad are ready.  After I got up, I went an put breakfast in the oven, got the Christmas music started and turned the lights on while Rem read the boys a little Christmas book on the true meaning of Christmas and then it was time!

It was so much fun to watch the kids faces on the presents Santa brought them.  Neither one of them got exactly what they asked for, but they still loved what they got.  Graham had been asking for a robot and he got a Tiger that moves and makes sounds and Paxton was asking for a remote control nerf gun on wheels, instead he got his own set of wheels and a nerf gun, so life size!  They both loved what they got!

After presents we had a yummy breakfast of sweet rolls and bacon and sausage.  Then we had the majority of the day to just play with all the new toys before getting ready and going over to Grandpa and Grandma's.

Christmas at Grandpa and Grandma Moss'
At my parents house we had a delicious dinner, spent time with the family and got even more spoiled with more presents!  I love just watching the kids get spoiled, but my parents still spoil us adults also.  So grateful for them and all they do for us kids, sure love them!

Paxton got Pokemon legos!

Graham has been super into art lately so he got a ton of art supplies!!

Then we had to end the night with all the kids in their matching pajamas.  They looked so cute, although it was very hard to get a picture of them all looking and smiling.  This was the best we could get, the rest of them are a little crazy.

Ice Skating
My boys love to go ice skating, especially my Paxton.  So we took them during Christmas break.  It was busy, but we still had a good time.  The more we take them, the braver they get.  I need to take just Paxton a little more often so he can get better.  I sure love this activity with my family.

Even Graham was getting brave.

Clark Planetarium 
Also during Christmas break we went and visited the Clark Planetarium.  It was our first time going.  It was fun and there were a lot of interesting things to look at, but we might not come back for a while.  The kids got a little bored and just wanted to buy something from the gift shop.

Merry Christmas GG Hughes
We always make an effort to go visit Rems grandma during the holidays.  She used to hold a big party, but the family just got too big and it was hard to find a time to get together.  So now she just asks for a visit and she is so sweet to always have chocolate milk and cookies and a small gift for when you come to visit.  She is so full of love for all of her family, what a sweet lady!

New Years Eve Party

We celebrated with my whole family (minus my parents) at my sisters house. We ate yummy food, the kids played dance dance in the basement, and we played a few board games. Then when it was almost the New Year (in New York), we had some drinks and shouted Happy New Year! Then we had a wicked awesome dance party where we followed the leader around the island. It was so fun! Goodbye 2017! Hello 2018!

November 2017

Graham

This is Graham's preschool picture and he had crazy hair week!  We did some searching on Pinterest for ideas and these are some of the ones we chose.  He thought it was pretty great!

Food Bank shopping

Every year in November we go shopping with my dad's side of the family for food to donate to the food bank.  It's always a lot of fun seeing my cousins all around the store and being able to stack the cart as high as we'd like.  We always take the opportunity to teach our kids why we do this and how blessed we are that we are able to do this.  

After the shopping we load it all into trucks and cars and head over to the Food Bank.

Family Fun night at Classic Fun Center

Paxton's school always does one or two family nights at Classic.  It's always fun to go and run into other friends from school.  The kids have a blast!  They even got to see some Star Wars characters.

Pie Party

Rem's extended family on his Dad's side holds an annual pie party at his aunts house the day before Thanksgiving.  She always provides some soup so you can have a little bit of dinner and then try all the pie you want!  It's always very busy with tons of kids running around, but fun to see everyone especially since we don't see them on Thanksgiving anymore because the family has gotten too big!

Aunt Kennie also always has mugs for everyone with hot chocolate.  She is kind and thoughtful and loves to have family around!  But I sure do have a lot of mugs in my cupboard ;)  

Happy Thanksgiving

We sure have a lot to be grateful for!  I'm grateful for this holiday to take the time to reflect on how blessed we are.  Throughout the month of November we always talk with the kids about what we are grateful for.  Sometimes we even make long lists.

This year we had such beautiful weather and the kids got to play outside.  We had dinner at my parents house.  My parents are really good cooks and it all was super delicious!  

                                                                                                   I made a pie to share, but there were lots of other yummy pies as well.  I had to try a thin slice of each.  The kids definitely approved!  It was fun to be together with my family.  We missed Trevor and Sandee this year as they were in Texas visiting family and Erika and Ben were with Ben's family this year, but we did get to see them towards the end of the party.

Christmas at the Dentist
Thanksgiving is over and we jumped right into Christmas!  It's always hard to hold off on Christmas stuff, so the very next day the tree usually comes out.  We went to the dentist and they even had their Christmas stuff out.  Both boys were cavity free!  I'm proud of them for no cavities, but also for how well they do at the dentist

Temple Square lights

Nate Egan called us up and wanted to go see the lights with us so we invited him to go with our youth group.  Rem is in the Young Mens and they planned to go with the Young Women, so we decided to join them.  Otherwise I don't think we would've gotten Rem to go a second time.  It was really fun to join them, because after walking around looking at the lights, we met up with the big group at Zion's Bank where one of the leaders works and we got to go all the way to the top floor and have hot chocolate and donuts while overlooking an amazing view!  Afterwards we walked past the Macey's windows and saw their cool displays.   It was fun to have Nate around with us, he's always so happy!