Spencer Started Preschool!

A few weeks ago Spencer started preschool. He goes to the same place Emmy does but he's in a class for 3 yr. olds. They both go 3 days a week for 3 hours each day. Sometimes they have recess at the same time and they always play together if they do. Emmy says that Spencer runs over to her and gives her a big hug when he sees her. He asked me to ask Emmy's teacher if he could be in her class! Spencer is doing great and likes that he is a "big boy" now. The other day their class was learning about China, and he came home and told me that in China they eat with "chapsticks". It was pretty funny. He was so serious too.

Emmy is doing awesome with her reading. She reads to us all the time. She could really just skip kindergarten and go straight to 1st grade.

I will post new pictures soon!

Valley Of Fire

We took the kids to Valley of Fire last weekend; they hiked about 1.5 miles! Spencer was all about exploring and going off the trial. Emmy was actually following him for the first time. It was a fun little trip and only about an hour drive from our house.

Emmy got her hair cut again, it was about 3 or 4 inches this time. Her bangs are now almost fully grown out.

Christmas Gifts

Here are a few pictures of the kids opening their presents Christmas morning! Emmy was very excited the whole month of December just waiting with anticipation. We have a countdown calendar that we do every year and I bought each of the kids an advent calender with the chocolates inside; so they were literally counting down the days until Christmas!

Spoiled But Not Rotten!!!

Erik and I were so tired at the end of the day from playing with kids nonstop.

We made double chocolate peppermint s'mores for dessert after lunch... yum yum!

Holiday Activities

While my parents were here visiting, Erik and I went out on a date while they babysat the kids. We decided that our Christmas present to each other would be to go to a fine dining restaurant and a show. So we ate dinner at a place called Nobhill Tavern which was really good. Erik ordered a lobster dish and yes, I did try it. I can't say that I would ever order lobster but it really wasn't too bad either. We went to the show Ka at the MGM Grand, which was very entertaining. We still have a couple more shows that we want to see before we move so my parents are going to have to come babysit for us again soon!!!

We took the kids to the Springs Preserve to see all the pretty Christmas lights there. We went on a "sleigh ride" (wagon pulled by horses) and the kids rode on a "reindeer" (pony with fake antlers)! They got balloons in the shape of candy canes and made a Christmas ornament. It was a really fun evening for them.

This year Emmy and I took the boys with us to see the Nutcracker ballet. Spencer got a little bored towards the end and was only really excited when the Russian dance guy came out and was jumping around. He was asking to leave after the first half so next year it will be just Emmy and I again. She loves everything about the ballet, the story, the dance, and especially the outfits. This year they were even prettier than last year.

We had a great Christmas, as always, and I will post pictures very soon!

Merry Christmas!

I just wanted to wish you all a Merry Christmas! I will post again after Dec. 25th!

All Caught Up Now!

At preschool, for the kids birthdays, they have a "spotlight day" rather than a party and cupcakes. It was really cute; I got to go for about 10 min. to sit with Emmy and talk about her birthday and her favorite things. Afterwards, the kids all sang "Happy Birthday" to her. She was acting shy while I was there, but her teachers both told me that when I'm not there she isn't shy at all. She loves going to preschool and is going to miss going for the next two weeks over Christmas break.

They also had Santa come to their class for a visit during their Christmas Sing. They sang 10 songs for all the parents! I was really impressed.

Santa called Spencer over to sit on his lap with his big sister, and he got a candy cane too!

Emily's 5th Birthday!

We started a tradition last year for Emmy's birthday having gingerbread waffles and an oven omelet. It's one of her most favorite things, so I am going to continue to do that every year for her! Nana, Papa, Grandpa, Grandma, and Uncle Ross were all here to celebrate with us.

After brunch, Emmy opened her gifts.

I bought her two jewelry boxes because I wanted her to have one with a ballerina in it that plays music (her favorite) to put her "play" jewelry in...

... and one to put her nice jewelry in. She sure loves her necklaces!

Nana made her a bunch of clothes for her American girl.

She always gets way more things than I could possibly post on the blog.

Here is the ballerina slippers cake I made for her. I thought this one would be super easy but (like all the cakes I make) it was more complicated than I thought it would be.

She was glad that I put five candles on it rather than one big #5.

For dinner that night, we all went out to eat at one of Emmy's Favorite restaurants (Olive Garden).

Make a wish birthday girl.

Yummy!

Sweet Moments

After dinner, we went to Opportunity Village to see the Christmas lights. They had a few rides for the kids and a little train that went all around the forest so we didn't even have to walk to see all the lights.

This would have been a great family photo if Spencer was looking at the camera. Oh well.

I'm almost caught up now with the pictures!