Happy Birthday Chloe ~3~

Three years old...CRAZY! 

 ~She even looks a little unsure about the age change~

We had SO much fun and Chloe really enjoyed being doted on all day :)    A couple weeks ago we went bowling with Ted's fellow peers from school and Chloe really enjoyed it.  She very thoughtful expressed to Ted one night, "Dad, I'd really like to go bowling again, I did okay, but I think I can do better next time".  (SWEET! I love the competitiveness coming through :D).  So, no surprise to us that her birthday request was to go bowling. In retrospect, I think her first bowling experience was successful due to the fact that the Arcade was on the other side of the building.  We weren't so lucky this time, she enjoyed bowling... long enough to bowl 2 frames, then it was, "Porter can do it now", and we lost her to the flashing lights and the fun sounds of the Arcade.  Oh well, she had fun and Ted had fun getting some good practice on his game with bowling his and her game .  Porter loved bowling as well, but soon joined Chloe in the discovery of the amazement of the"kid casino".

Chloe, we love you so much and are so very grateful for the light and joy you bring into our lives, we are SO lucky to have you around!

 

Anyone else?

Today I took some pictures of Chloe, just for the reason that I can't believe how much older she looks!  I've been working a lot on picture books so maybe it's because I've been looking at her baby pics through the years, but really, just look at the title picture,  she really does look noticeably older.

Maybe at some point I'll realize that I'm not just "playing house" and that I am really getting older and I am really a mommy of two

Whatever the case, she's beautiful!

 

 

The Unthinkable...

Guess what's wrong?

By Ted's smile you know it can't be terrible, right?  Well, maybe not terrible to us, but obviously Porter feels quite differently.  This is the face a little boy that just ran out of ice cream.  Yeah, big huge crocodile tears over the words "all gone".

Here he is minutes before the "unthinkable" .

Such awful parents...running out of ice cream.

Christmas Eve and Morning

What a wonderful Christmas!  We thoroughly enjoyed our first Christmas at home,  it was so much fun to soak in our little family and the spirit of Christmas.   Although, we dearly missed being around all the hugs, chaos, noise and laughter that comes with being with the whole family.

 Our "Mary" and "Joseph" sufficed for the reenactment of the Christmas story, Chloe of course willing to be Mary and Porter oblivious to what was going.  Ted did some quick costume thinking and made the outfits out of old pillow cases.   The kids were so cute and we loved every minute.

Santa brought Chloe and Porter a train set and they have been playing with it ever since.  Of course one plays with it and the other just loves to take it all apart (bet you can guess which one that is).

The second week of the holiday break we went to visit family; the Johansen clan in Davenport (Iowa) and the Butterfield clan in Burlington (Iowa).  It was so fun and relaxing to visit and play.   Chloe especially loved playing with her cousins.  Unfortunately, I relaxed too much and never took a picture during this time...oops!

We feel so blessed and grateful for all of our friends and family.  What a wonderful time of year! 

hmmm.... did "Joseph" wear a bandanna....?

...and a dress?  Poor, poor Joseph...

 

 

Christmas Morning

My Little Pony's + Trains = Perfect for Chloe

 

Here comes Santa Claus...

Yesterday we had breakfast at the church house and the kids got to sit on Santa's lap.   Chloe was SO excited to ask Santa for a pink pony with long hair and did just that when she saw Santa.  Later that day she "blessed Santa to bring her a pony with pink hair" in her prayer.  Porter did better than expected with Santa, we actually got some pictures, he looks a little worried but no tears!
We're all busily getting ready for Christmas!  Good-luck with all-you-all and your Christmas prep.
The other pics are just of the storm, just a day later.  Also, Chloe let me curl her hair for the first time!  The curls lasted about an hour, but it was still way fun! 

Yea for Santa!

 

Playing with dad is the BEST

Snow and Wind = pretty cool looking

 

 

What a cutie

 

Poor Porter, it's been like 2 weeks and his nose is still running and on top of being sick he's teething...as you can see by the drool pool on his sweater...however, still cute!

COLD!

The first "real" storm has hit and it's a doozie.  Currently 10 degrees (w/o windy chill factor) and getting colder.  Nothing we haven't experienced in the past year, but for all you people in Utah, it's cold.  All those in Iowa, you know what I'm talking about.
So, here are some pics that are good examples of our weather.

Yes that drift is going over the 8ft fence.

Each time I walk outside with this weather I always think about the pioneers...seriously, I don't know how any were able to survive when they got stuck in this kind-of weather.

I'm SO grateful for my many comforts.

So Silly, yet I find them so much fun! Merry Christmas everyone!

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