Christmas Trees

Paul and I took the kids to Green Canyon to get a Christmas tree this year and had a blast. We went with a bunch of neighbors and had chilli and hotdogs and just had a good time. This is the tree that Paul picked out and it's the best tree we've ever had in the past six years that we've been doing this! It looks so cute in our front room with all the kids' decorations:)

Birthdays and Surgeries

Here's another catchup post from a while back...Lizzie had surgery for tubes in her ears, her tonsils taken out, and her adnoids taken out. Things went well and we're glad it's over:)
I just celebrated my 26th birthday and Paul just celebrated his 30th birthday a week later on Thanksgiving. We both had great birthdays and a wonderful Turkey Day!

Halloween and Wedding Dresses

Even though their engagement wasn't official, Kyle and Nachelle started wedding plans and we all went dress shopping together. Here she is trying on the one that eventually ended up being "the one"! They're altering it for sleeves and length and it should be ready soon. She looked amazing in it! A very fun day!

Here's a picture of the kids on Halloween. I had Kate as supergirl, Lizzie as a fairy, and Carter as a puppy. They had a blast and were on a sugar high for days! We had a little party at our house with the family.

Catchup

Well, it's probably obvious that life has been crazy so I decided that I'm gonna post a little here and there to catch up on the last couple months. So here's starting with September (I know...sad it's been that long:)). My brother Kyle came home from his mission on the 6th of September and it was wonderful! Welcome Home Kyle!

New Family Pictures

We figured that it was time for a new family picture since Carter couldn't even smile last time we had one taken. We also had pictures of the kids taken. I was so excited about how they turned out. Enjoy!

Kate's First Day of Kindergarten

WOW!!!! I can't believe I have a child in school...and still I'd say that it was time. Of course there were no tears on her part - only mine! Every parent that has experienced this knows that the tears are bitter-sweet. Bitter for the passing time you can't seem to stop and the fact that she needs me a little less than she did the day before. Bitter because before I know it she'll be walking across the platform of her college AlmaMater. Sweet because you love to see her confident and independent. Sweet because a new world has opened up to her - one that will offer her knowledge and direction. Sweet because I love to see her becoming the person she was born to be. Still, I can't help but want to be there every moment - to watch her, protect her, love her. Letting go is inevitable - it's just hard to go quietly. But, as the saying goes, change is good. And I love to see her happy. So here's to you Kate - and your first day of Kindergarten!

Kate in her brand new outfit for school (thanks grandma Packard!)! She's SO excited! She's also sporting a new short haircut!

Kate about to walk into class with Mrs. Barzee. She's wearing a pretty hawaiian lei that was put on her by a teacher. They had a Hawaiian theme and all the teachers were in grass skirts! All the students wore necklaces! The whole school was just amazing and so fun!

Coming out of her first day of school ("I already have tons of homework!") It wasn't that much:)

Kate sitting on the bus for the first time - ready to come home from her first day. She LOVES the bus!

Getting off the bus after her first day - such a big girl!

In the Moment

Here are just a few pics of some random moments that were cute during August.

I found Carter in the middle of a puddle in our driveway, just LOVING it! He was soaked from head to toe and had mud all over his shirt but aren't boys supposed to look like that?!

Trying to look innocent

Kate and Liz, just hanging out

Three little monkeys :)

Water Babies

This summer we decided to try something new and I took the kids to an outdoor pool in Ashton once a week. We had a blast actually swimming in a real pool and loved soaking up the sun. All the kids loved the water and it was time they got to spend with their grandma and aunts also. We look forward to next summer!

Kate (my fearless water baby)

Lizzie (who actually gave the water a chance this year)

Carter (i love all the rolls. i think he looks like a baby sumo)

Halle Lynn Packard

On the first day of August I finally became an aunt! Say hello to my brother Daniel and sis-in-law Tara's baby girl - Halle Lynn Packard. SO DARLING! I LOVE YOU HALLE!

Fourth of July

We had a great fourth of July - full of family, friends, and lots of food! We took the kids to the parade, went home for naps, then went to my parents house for a great BBQ with the whole family and some old friends. then we went home, got PJ's on, and took a huge blanket outside to watch all the fireworks in the night sky. Let freedom ring!

Lizzie (I could just eat her up, she's so darn cute)

Kate (totally stylin')

Carter (semi-annoyed at yet again another picture)

A Trip to the Zoo

Paul and I had a day with the kids and decided to take a trip to the zoo. Carter had never been and all the kids had a blast. We also took my sister, Jess which was super fun. They had a few new animals and we actually saw a peacock get loose and walk all around. It was pretty funny and the kids got a real kick out of it!

The Air Show in Rexburg

We take the kids to the air show every July and this was Carter's first year. He didn't care for all the noise much but the other two thought it was fun. Here's a couple pics!

Mommy and Carter (I love his hat)
I think we get this same pic every year:) Kate just keeps getting taller!

Carter's Birthday Pics

I can't believe how long it's taken me to post these - better late than never! Here's his first birthday!

My Baby is One

I can't believe that a whole year has come and gone since Carter was born. We celebrated his birthday on June 19th and it was so fun! We just spent the day doing things that he loves to do. We took pics to show what a big boy he's become! I haven't downloaded pics of his party yet but here are the ones of us playing outside that day. I also included pics that we took for Paul for Father's day. It was a great to celebrate what Paul means to all of us. He's literally the perfect husband and dad. We love him so much! Keep checking in for pics of Carter's party!

Sweet Baby Boy! This was the picture he gave to Paul for Father's day.

He really is this happy ALL the time! We spent lots of time outside on his birthday cuz he LOVES it!

Kate's picture for Father's Day - isn't she stunning?

Lizzie's picture for Father's Day. She kept giggling and I thought it was so cute!

In a Nutshell

Wow, May really must have been a crazy month because it's been forever since I posted and I'm feeling out of the loop! To start with, Kate and Lizzie started their first semester of preschool together. This is Kate's fourth time but it's the first time they've ever gotten to do it together and Lizzie's very first time. I have actually liked the time with just Carter and I. It's helped me regain a little sanity and free time. Then we celebrated Kate's fifth birthday on the 21st and had a blast! She was so excited to turn five cuz she knows that this is the year that she starts school and gets to start a lot of new things. She had a birthday party with just the family and then she had a birthday party with her friends for the very first time and although I was a little nervous about it, it was SO fun and I loved it! The night before her party she was playing around in our bedroom and hit her eye on the corner of the windowsill and got a MAJOR black eye. She was so distraught and in a fit of tears turned to us and said, "I can't have my party tomorrow! I don't want my friends to see me like this cuz they will all freak out!" I was trying so hard not to laugh because it was so cute and it was the first time that I had ever seen her concerned about her vanity. Of course by morning she was over it and we had a High School Musical Birthday party that was one to remember! What a fun month!

Kate and Liz on their first day of preschool together. Cute!

The birthday party gang!

Kate in her new skirt and shirt - also sporting a new black eye!

Happy fifth birthday Kate!

A monster High School Musical cake! It was SO yummy!

Fun at the Park

Last week finally produced some decent weather and we went to the park three times! The kids have had major cabin fever and so we tried to spend some of the week working that out. Here are pics of the kids just having fun.

Kate, enjoying the no-jacket-weather!

Liz would spend hours in the swing if I'd let her!

Carter is happy to do anything fun, as always!

Kate and Liz did a choo-choo train on the slide!

Here they are on double slides racing!