Playing in the Snow!

With all the snow we have had lately we decided we would stop complaining and just enjoy it! The wind was really cold at times but still a lot of fun! We learned we will need a few more layers for next time! Kourtney and Kaitlyn decided to jump on with Uncle Matt and later realized his fun and enjoyment comes from making/watching people eat snow and face plant:0)! JK! Once they figured out Janette was a much "slower/better" driver they jumped on with her. Makell loved riding with Aunt Janette and even through those wind kissed cheeks and lips we still heard several little giggles! We realized Matt and Adam were the biggest kids of all!! They thought hitting snow banks full speed and flying 10-12 feet through the air and face planting was great fun! Us girls would define "fun" totally differently!

Christmas Morning!

I guess Santa thought everyone had been good this year! Our morning started off with three little whispering voices at 4:30 wondering if they could go see what Santa had left?! Of course they were sent back to bed! Another wake up call with whispering voices at 5:30 and again sent back to bed. A third wake up call at 6:30 with everyone gathering in mom and dad's bed to snuggle and giggle with excitement wondering what Santa had left everyone! Everyone was lucky enough to get what they asked for! I love the excitement on Christmas morning!!!!

Getting Ready for Santa!

The girls getting things set out! No one can go to bed without leaving a small snack for the "jolly old fellow"!
The girls put a little snack together for Santa and the Reindeer! They left cookies and milk for Santa and reindeer feed with a carrot for each one!

















Every Christmas Eve Santa delivers one early present (P.J's) to everyone so they can get ready to head to bed so he can come back and make his stop! They get sooooo excited!!!

Acting Out the Nativity!

On Christmas Eve we reenacted the Nativity scene. We started off by Adam (aka dad) reading the Christmas story from the scriptures to everyone. Although we are few in numbers we tried our best to reenact the night the Savior was born. Makell absolutely insisted she was first to play the part of Mary with the baby Jesus. Everyone else of course wanted a turn so we ended up doing it about four times! It was soooo much fun and it really brought the Christmas spirit into our home!



Makell as Mary and Kaitlyn as Joseph.





Kourtney playing the part of a wise man.
Mary great with child riding the donkey and Joseph asking if there was any room at the Inn. The Inn keeper telling them there was NO room! The kids really got into it!
The three wise men bringing gifts to the baby Jesus.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it Snow!

I can't believe how much snow we have! I stopped measuring after the first ten inches and it is still coming down! The kids have absolutely loved every minute of it!

As Adam was clearing the driveway and sidewalks he piled it up so the kids could play and slide down it. Later Adam was told his snow hill was lame and soooooo "little" compared to the neighbors! We told him he should takes lessons on "how to turn your mole hills into mountains" from the neighbor! Adam wasn't as interested as the rest of us! It sure would be fun Adam!!

The snow flakes were so big! Adam would shovel and a few minutes later you couldn't even tell he had done anything!

The girls sledding together. Their cheeks were so red and so cold yet they still didn't want to come inside. You can say we are living up to the phrase,"The Greatest Snow on Earth"!

A visit with Santa!

I am a little late posting but we finally were able to meet up with Santa! I have to say he was a little hard to find this year! He must be really busy!! Kaitlyn reminded us with the letters that they sent snail-mail there is always a chance they will not arrive in time. She wanted to ask in person to make sure he had been informed! Kourtney is asking Santa for cookbooks, littlest pet shops, and webkins.

Kaitlyn asked Santa for littlest pet shops, a scripture bag, and webkins!

I guess Makell will be surprised with what Santa brings. She refused to talk with him. She just sat there in silence. Her letter to Santa included a game boy, littlest pet shops, and her own Corvette. Like I mentioned earlier I guess she will be surprised with what Santa leaves! Merry Christmas to all!

Gingerbread House in the making!

Decorating a Gingerbread House! We have made this a yearly tradition in our family. Makell favorite thing is to sneak candy without her sisters noticing! Fun memories!

'Tis the Season!

I love the Holiday Season! These three little girls bring so much love, joy, and laughter into our home. These past several weeks all three of them have been very anxious and excited on the giving part of the Christmas Season. They continue to ask my opinion on what they should give one another this Christmas! This is a time when you would think they would be totally focused on themselves and what they would want to receive, but in fact it has been the total opposite! It has brought so much peace, laughter, and a stronger closeness between our family. I love their unselfish acts and desires to think about others! I have been reminded many times that I can learn so much from my children! I tend to get a little stressed out with all the hustle and bustle. I am grateful for the reminder that Christmas can be "simple". I have thought a lot lately about becoming like a little child. They are so pure, meek, loving, thoughtful, caring, unselfish, and giving. If only the world was more like this. Can you imagine what it would be like?! I am grateful for the Christmas Season and the opportunity we have to focus and celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. May you all have a wonderful Holiday Season!

Thanksgiving

I have been a little slow with the blogging thing lately! I figure better late than never!! One thing we did before the Thanksgiving celebration was discussed with the kids what it "really" means to be thankful. Being thankful is more than a celebration once a year. It's a way of expression. It's how we treat others. It's a choice we make everyday. It's heart felt. We are such blessed people! I hope that we can truly have a thankful heart everyday!
While Caleb and Mubeen's family were here we did some fun activities and took turns sharing two or three things with each other about what we were thankful for. (the lists could have gone on and on!) Here is what everyone said: Analice- family, blessings from the temple,and the gospel. Kaitlyn- family, food, angles, Jesus & Heavenly Father. Kourtney- Heavenly Father, Jesus, family, & friends. Makell- friends, family, and cousins. Adam- Analice, family, and the gospel. Madyson- Zayn, house, and nursery. Caleb- Mubeen. Mubeen- children, gospel, and Caleb.


We have had a very FUN and enjoyable Thanksgiving Holiday! Caleb, Mubeen and the kids came to stay and visit with us before we all made the trip down south to spend Thanksgiving with the Heaton Family! It was wonderful to see everyone and the girls absolutely loved playing with their cousins! Once again they didn't want to leave! Grandpa Shawn, Grandma Kim, and Logan (we missed Kali) also made the long trip from Texas to join everyone as well! It was great to see them! I love this time of year and it makes me even more grateful for family! I am so grateful for Grandma and Grandpa Heaton. They make things so fun and enjoyable for everyone! They don't even seem to mind when 70+ people invade their home! These are times our children will never forget! (Memories in the Making!!) Thanks to Aunt Maria the kids got to participate in the annual treasure hunt! Boy did they get spoiled! Thanks Maria!!


The day after Thanksgiving all the wives hit the stores at 3:oo a.m. to experience Black Friday's great deals!! Adam thinks we are all totally crazy! I made Adam go with me one year and he has refused to go again ever since! I thoroughly enjoy it and look forward going with all the Tonioli girls and Mubeen! Man do they know how to shop!! It was soooo much fun! We all did our best to help stimulate the economy! I am already looking forward for 2010!!
(sorry no posted pictures. I am totally disappointed in my self. I really thought I had taken more pictures than I did. For those who can check out Mubeen's blog. (the official picture taker!)

On to the Christmas Season with a continued thanks and heart felt gratitude towards all!!

All Dolled Up!

Kaitlyn and Makell spent an afternoon playing house and dressing up. Aren't they so cute?! Kaitlyn is such a wonderful big sister! Kaitlyn is so sweet and willing (most of the time) to play with Makell! Makell just adores her older sisters! Makell walked up to me and asked me if I thought she was gorgeous?! Of course was my replay as my eyes were drawn to the EARS!! OUCH!! ARE YOU KIDDING! Since Kaitlyn is the joker in our family I assumed she probably "helped" Makell put on the earrings to get a good chuckle, but to my surprise it was all Makell's doing! I volunteered to help fix the problem but was abruptly stopped with a," NO MOM, they don't need to be fixed! That's how I want them! I like them!" I asked her in return , " Oh Hun, doesn't that hurt your ears?" "Nope!" Okay then! I was then invited to play too! (I made sure to ask if wearing earrings on the top of the ears was a requirement). She wore them that way for about two hours! I have come to the conclusion that this girl has a really high pain tolerance or she looses feeling really quickly! If I did that I would be in some serious trouble!!

What would Adam and I do without our three precious little girls?! They bring so much joy and laughter to our lives!! I love the cute little things they say, the funny things they do, and of course all those hugs and kisses they so freely give away! I LOVE THEM SO MUCH!!

"Crush"

They bought it! Kourtney and Kaitlyn have been waiting for the release of David Archuleta's new CD for months now! I refused to stand in line at midnight with them the night before so they had to settle on getting it today. They figured out if they combined their money they could afford it but it would require them to share! What ever it takes, right?! I wish they would get more excited about sharing things more often! hahaha! All I can say is I think they will have the lyrics memorized by tonight (the rest of us as well)! I have stopped counting how many times they have listened to it already! "Crush" what an appropriate name for a song! What funny little girls!

A New Hobby?

I believe I have finally solved the mystery! At the beginning of the school year I purchased several packs of new pencils thinking they would last the whole year. Lately when ever someone is in need of a pencil there in none to be found! What has happened to them and where have they gone? Well, today I caught "her" red handed!! I had been down stairs vacuuming and came back up stairs to hear a noise coming from the office room. There Makell sat with the pencil shoved into the pencil sharpener just letting it file it down to nothing! She had finished four and was starting the FIFTH! My first reaction was to holler MAKELL but I just observed for a few moments. She was thoroughly enjoying every minute of it! I think it's about time to hide the pencil sharpener!
How does a three year old entertain herself? Give her a pack of pencils and an electric pencil sharpener!
Not to happy when I told her she couldn't do that anymore!
Maybe I should suggest to her teacher that she NOT help sharpen pencils at school!

Guess?

Can you guess what Makell was for Halloween this year? Check the next post to find out!! It' a tricky one??!!!

Dressing up!

After everyone had changed their minds several times, this was the final outcome! Kourt decided to be a 50"s girl. She looked so cute and sooo grown up! She wore makeup for the first time and didn't really enjoy it like I thought she would. I guess that's a good thing for now!
Our little pirate Kaitlyn! She officially decided the night before that this is what she wanted to be. She had a smile on her face pretty much the whole day! She loved wearing pirate earrings (hoops)!

















[Earlier post] If you guessed ALL of them you are right!!!

Our "mean" little Witch Makell! She made sure everyone was aware she was not just a witch but a mean one!! (does she look mean?) Makell went through three costumes on Halloween. Depending on what time of day determined what she was dressed up as. In the morning as the girls were getting ready for school she was feeling a little left out so she decided to dress herself as a dog. Later that day the school had a Halloween Parade and Makell did a quick costume change and went as a pig. Of course to go trick-or-treating she dressed up as the "mean" witch!
The kids had so much fun and the weather was perfect! I can't remember a Halloween like this where no jackets were required and kids not complaining because it was so cold! I can't believe Halloween is over! On to Thanksgiving!! Yeah!!

Carving Pumpkins!

Their designs and creations.

I think they thoroughly enjoyed getting messy with pumpkin guts! Yuck! (Thankfully we only do this once a year!)

Makell was so proud of her pumpkin!

FYI. Earlier that day I found and easy way to clean the inside of a pumpkin out! You cut and make a hat in the top like normal. Then you cut a hole in the bottom of the pumpkin as well(not to big)! All the icky stuff comes right out! When you are finished just sit the pumpkin over a candle and they look great!! You don't have to worry about the candle tipping over or burning out quickly! (The kids thought it was fun to put their hands through the pumpkins!)