Happy New Year!

Wrapping Things Up

Just a few odds and ends before the new year . . .

Ruby and her Super Friends (Milo later joined them)

Ruby's kindergarten birthday crown

Pocahontas inspired headgear after they watched the movie

fabric and a pattern for our baby's quilt

Ruby built a snowman

and then Jonah built a snowman

My Mom and Mindy brought American Girl Dolls for
a party with Ruby - she loved have all four dolls for a few days

Ruby used every penny of her birthday and Christmas
money to buy this Jasmine costume - she loves it.

When Ruby was a newborn, my Dad wore his Santa suit
for our annual Santa picture. Ruby wanted to recreate it this year.

Sledding!

Yesterday we took the kids sledding at Rock Canyon park.

It was beautiful - and CROWDED.

We found a spot to sled, though, and the kids had a great time.

I opted to photograph and not sled this year

(Although sledding failed to start labor when I was very pregnant with Ruby,

I didn't want to take any chances this time around.)

The kids just before they started sledding.

After the long walk up the hill from the car,

Milo looked around at all of the people sledding

and said, "This. Doesn't. Look. Fun."

I don't think we ever got enough snow to sled last year,

so he didn't have any real memories of sledding.

It took a lot of persuasion (and lifting him onto the sled),

but he did give sledding a try and mostly liked it.

He didn't like it when snow flew up on his face,

or onto his clothes, but he seemed to like the actual sledding.

Milo ready to sled with Dad

Squaw Peak to the left, and Bentley, Milo, and John

Ruby and Jonah

Jonah and Maxwell

Jonah's favorite thing was "wiping out" so if you chose

to ride with him, you had a pretty good idea that

the run wouldn't end well.

Ruby and John

Milo, John, Bentley, Jonah, and Ruby - the long hike back up the hill

the mountains were gorgeous

Ruby tries out our new sled

proof that I was there

It's hard to tell how crowded the park was, but I

tried taking a few photos of all the people anyway.

one happy Jonah

Maxwell's ready to go

Ruby and a beautiful view

Here's a link to our last sledding adventure -

it has the links to previous years.

Tooth Tales

Last month, Jonah had a couple of teeth pulled.

While he was numb, the dentist fixed a little yellow spot

on one of his bottom teeth. Jonah said that he liked the

spot, and didn't want it fixed. We figured that he would

change his mind eventually, and had it fixed.

I DID take this photo so he could remember that

special little yellow spot on his tooth.

Also last month, Maxwell learned that he needed braces.

Although he was initially very excited to "beat" his brothers,

he seemed to be getting pretty nervous about it.

When Bentley recently found out that he also needed

some braces, Maxwell was happy to find out that

they would be getting their braces at the same time.

Here there are "before" braces:

And a "with braces" shot:

Max has an expander (which makes it difficult to eat),

and four top braces (with red bands).

 Bentley has the space maintainer that was put in two years ago, 

as well as four bottom braces (with silver and gold bands).

Both boys will have their braces for about a year,

and as theirs come off, Jonah is likely to get his on.

Sometimes . . .

. . . a girls feels like being a princess . . .

and sometimes

she feels like shoveling snow (all by herself).

(this was from our first storm - we've gotten tons more since then)

Christmas Day in Pictures

ready for the kids

here they come!

seeing what Santa brought

Bentley - Pokemon Platinum

Maxwell - helicopter

Jonah - wolf

Ruby - mermaid tail

Milo - Red Hulk, Iron Man, Thor

opening his Santa gift

she's just a little happy to get these dolls :)

art supplies from Bentley

double sword from Milo

game from mom and dad

hulk hands from Ruby

a new monitor!

key chain from Maxwell

checking out their gifts

4 boys playing Hungry Hippos - Milo's game

modeling her mermaid tail

Christmas Eve!

Ruby's snowman

Jonah's snowman

annual family photo with the tree

making cookies for Santa
(while talking about ways to "do the old guy in")

Dad reading the Nativity, kids acting it out
Bentley - angel/wise man
Maxwell - shepherd/wise man
Jonah - bull/wise man
Ruby - Mary
Milo - Joseph

new pajamas