Go Cougars!!

We had such a fun new years weekend with LOTS of company! The BYU bowl game was in Dallas so my Uncle Donny, my mom's brother, and their cousin Gene, who are both huge BYU fans decided to fly in from Utah and watch the game. They were kind and got us some tickets too. It has been a while since I have been to a BYU football game so I was pretty excited. The game day was GORGEOUS. It was sunny and blue skies and around 70 degrees. It was so nice being outside with my hubby enjoying the beautiful day and watching some good football. It was a pretty exciting game because BYU really wasn't playing that great most of the time but then out of nowhere they would have an amazing game changing play. It was so fun. We were all jumping up and down and screaming when they won the game with a touchdown with only 11 seconds left in the game. That weekend they had 2 of the 5 best playbacks on ESPN.

Donny and Gene flew in on Thursday evening the night before the game and then my niece Chloe and her boyfriend came in from Houston that night as well. Adam and his dad and Brother and Chloe all had tickets to the game as well. We had never met Adam's family before so it was fun getting to know them since we practically feel like they are already family. Everybody came back to our house after the game and we grabbed some Rudy's BBQ. (Thanks Gene) We stayed up way to late that night talking and having fun so Adam's dad and brother decided to spend the night as well so they didn't have to drive so late.
On Saturday we just hung out and watched movies and football and played outside and went to the park. John made some yummy Swedish pancakes to start the morning off right and then I started making dinner during Calli's nap for our New Year's Eve celebration. My Parents came over about 3:00 when nap time was ending and I was finishing up the lasagna, brushetta and spinach artichoke dip that we would eat that night. So we took the kids back to the park for a little bit and then came home to eat dinner and bid farewell to Donny and Gene.

Adam's dad and brother headed out to Six flags and Chloe and Adam headed out to the movies so we had a quiet night after the kids went to bed of just me and John and Mom and Dad. So we played some rook and then watched a little bit of the New Year's Eve celebration on TV. We barely made until Midnight. Everybody got back around 11:30ish in time to ring in the new year and have some Martinelli's and then we all headed to bed.

Mom and Dad left early that morning to go to their ward and Adam's Mom and sister drove up that morning from Houston so they could go to our ward since Adam was receiving the Melchizedek priesthood that day. It was the perfect day to start the New Year, with family and friends remembering what is most important. We were sad for Chloe and the Lemmon family to go but we had a wonderful time getting to know them and look forward to seeing them again in the near future!

Shark Museum

We hadn't been back to the children's museum in a couple of months so we decided we better check out the latest and greatest exhibits before they switched them out again. They have a huge Shark exhibit going on right now that takes up like 5 rooms so the kids kept calling it the "Shark" museum. It was pretty cool but it would have been better with more real live sharks instead of just replicas. JJ really wanted to see some real sharks. They did have one but it was a little one. They had tons of shark mouths and teeth fossils. They had a particularly large one right at the entrance and Calli was so cute, she stopped and said "I scary." She was saying she was scared but it was so cute the way she said it and how she stopped and put her hands over her heart.

They had a fun little kids area right when we walked in with some sea animals to play with and some puzzles and stamps. We played there for a little while and we of course played in the shark cages and watched the movies.

Then we headed over to the dinosaur dig area after the shark exhibit. This is one of the kiddo's favorite things to do. They used to have sand to dig in and now they have little rocks. I like the little rocks way better! Less mess.
They could have stayed in there for hours. We actually never went down to the main children's part because we spent so much time at the shark exhibit and dinosaur dig area and we wanted to head over to the Bob the Builder exhibit before it is taken down. We spent the rest of the time in that area but I didn't get any pictures I guess. After our fun inside we had to take advantage of the beautiful weather and we played outside and ate some of our lunch and fed the ducks of course. JJ also got all excited about collecting the acorns. I practically had to drag him away kicking and screaming and promised we would come back to collect some more another day. It was a fun day and way to spend some of our Christmas vacation.

Merry Christmas!

We had such an AWESOME and RELAXING Christmas this year! It was SO nice to just stay home and enjoy time together as a family. It is really fun too that our kids are old enough to understand what is happening and bring so much excitement to the holiday. What made it extra special this year was that Grandpa and Grandma Bagley were able to spend the holiday with us as well. Have I mentioned how much I am LOVING that they are serving their mission here in Dallas. Spending the holiday's together is one of the many perks!

Dad and John were watching some sporting event I imagine while Grandma and the kiddo's were staying nice and warm by the fire.
Grandma kept JJ and Calli thoroughly entertained by playing the boat game while I whipped up our Christmas Eve dinner. In our family the tradition is to have a nice meal and program on Christmas Eve and then stay in your pajamas all day on Christmas. With Christmas being on Sunday this year we did have to change out of our pajamas but as soon as we got home we put them back on.

For dinner we had Chicken cord en blue with cheese sauce and asparagus and artichokes and rolls and raspberry pretzel salad for dessert. We also indulged ourselves with some Martinelli's to drink. Normally we have to bribe the kids to come to dinner but they must have known it was special because they were ready and seated before the rest of us.
Here is our gang minus my hubby who is snapping the picture. Over dinner John told us all about his recent trip to South Africa. (pictures and post to come about that trip as soon as I can get him to do it. :) After dinner we acted out the Nativity. I think this may have been the cutest, funniest one ever. JJ was Joseph and Calli was Mary. We used one of Calli's baby dolls as baby Jesus. John was the donkey and an inn keeper and a shepherd I think. I was the angel and an inn keeper and a Wise man. Grandma was a shepherd and a Wise man and Grandpa was the narrator and a Wise man. It was really fun and then we watched the animated movie of the Savior's birth in hopes the kids would pay better attention and understand a little more how truly special this night is. After the program was over we got the kids jammies on and of course left some cookies out for Santa and the reindeer and took them to bed. Then we got to work. My payback for John going to Africa for 11 days was to buy something that would take 2 hours to put together. Hehe not really I knew Calli would LOVE a kitchen so that was my true motivation and John is so handy he had it done in no time. We had rented a movie to watch as well but both John and I were to tired to finish it so we went to bed while Grandma and Grandpa burned the midnight oil and finished the movie.

The next morning was so fun and magical of course! The kids were so excited to see their family room filled with toys and surprises and treats. They wouldn't have even cared if there were any presents to open under the tree, but don't worry there were plenty of those too. Our original plan was to get up and play with our toys from Santa and then eat breakfast and get ready for Church at 9 but we were all a little too excited and decided to open the presents before church. Needless to say we were a little late and not looking quite our best but we got there in time for the Sacrament. :)
These two were in heaven playing with the kitchen and the fish that Santa brought.. JJ has been wanting a fish for FOREVER ! So Santa finally gave him one.
He was so cute and after church said to me, "Hey Mom, we forgot to name the fish. I think we should name him JJ. I know that isn't really a fish name, but it is so Cool!." How could I argue with that logic? So JJ the fish it is!
Daddy is teaching JJ how to feed the fish and not to feed to much so he doesn't eat to death. Both the kids still love to feed JJ the fish and watch him eat his little pellets.

Here we are in all our glory! Looks like we need a little more sleep ya think!?! Hopefully we looked a little more awake by the time we got to church.
Here is Grandpa and Grandma in all their glory too. They are looking better then we are I think.
Even though I took one for the team and had all the presents bought and wrapped and under the tree before daddy even got home from Africa. He had to go out and get the kids some presents of his own. He is so cute and LOVES to buy gifts for people he loves. This is a fun little fort they can play in. He spoiled me rotten as well and got me a temple picture that I love, and a watch and a necklace and some perfume. He is so sweet. I got him a tour hour speed tour driving 4 different luxury cars. My good friend Lauren got her husband and John's best buddy the same thing so they could do it together. We were a little bit nervous to get something so unconventional but apparently it was the best gifts we ever got our hubbies. They were so excited and loved it. (another post and pics to come if I can motivate him to do it of their tour. :)
Calli go all dressed up in her princess clothes from Grandma and Grandpa while JJ rode around like a mad man on his scooter from them.
We got Calli her very own apron that matches the one John got for me a few years ago. Now Calli and I match and John and JJ match when we make our Sunday breakfasts!

After church we made Swedish pancakes of course and then resumed playing with all of our new loot. I totally and completely forgot to put the beef stew in the crock pot for dinner that night so I was glad that it wasn't a roast. Grandma saved the day and fried the meat a little first and then added it in and it was delicious. That night after the kids went to bed we played some scrabble and some rook of course. It sure was nice to spend this very special day with the people I love the most and enjoy each other's company in a very simple yet profound way when we center all we do and celebrate on Him who Loves us most our Savior Jesus Christ.

Day of Fun

John took the Friday before Christmas off and we made lots of fun plans to go and play! I had some free coupons to ride on the carousel at the mall and to go ice skating so we figured we would make a morning of it. Our first stop was to go see the new Chipmunks movie at the theater. They had these cute little characters so we had to take the photo opp.

Daddy got both JJ and Calli their own little snack pack which they loved. JJ loves going to see movies and sits so well and has since before he was two. Calli on the other hand gets a little stir crazy after about an hour and gets a little bored. I am hoping that will change soon because I think it is so fun to take them to the movies.

However as long as she is eating she is content. It is when the popcorn runs out that we are in trouble!


We actually had to leave the movie a few minutes before it ended because the fire alarm went off. It kind of freaked JJ out and still asks me about building burning down. Thankfully it was just a false alarm so we figured since the movie was almost over and Calli was ready to go anyway we would move on to our next activity.


Which was riding the carousel. I let John take the kids on it because I get a little dizzy on it being pregnant and all. I took a couple of pics but they were pretty blurry with the movement.


Next we headed to the ice skating rink. Neither JJ or Calli had ever been ice skating before and I honestly don't think I have been in like 20 years. I was a little nervous about breaking my neck or something but it was really pretty fun and quite the workout. It was hard enough trying to balance myself let alone JJ or Calli too.

I couldn't take them all the way around the rink so I would just go back and forth and John would take turns taking them all the way around. I was really surprised at how much they really enjoyed it. I thought they would be scared but they loved it. They didn't want to leave when we did but we were so worn out we couldn't do it anymore. This is definitely going to have to be a new tradition of ours.


I thought they looked so cute in their little skates I couldn't believe how well they could walk in them when they weren't on the ice. Kids are such quick learners.


Maybe next year they can take a few lessons so they can drag us around the rink. :) John and I each took a turn going around the rink by ourselves as well. He was much faster than I. I am not going to lie I was a little worried for my life and that of my unborn child but we made and all was well. Until next time. Calli still talks about going ice skating.

Bring on the Sprinkles

As if we didn't have enough fun and disaster making gingerbread houses the night before, I let the kids decorate the last of the sugar cookies I had made for my lesson last sunday. Man oh man these kids can burn through sprinkles like I have never seen before. I frosted the cookies for them and then they would sprinkle them. I think we went through two bottles of sprinkles in like 20 mins.

Here are there finished cookies. They still tasted great even if you couldn't see the frosting. This is another favorite tradition making and decorating sugar cookies. They helped me make the cookies as well a few days before but I guess I didn't get any pictures of the process since I was trying to make sure they didn't put any extra ingredients in or eat all the dough before I could cook it. Luckily for them they won't have to wait until next Christmas to make and decorate sugar cookies again. This is a tradition for pretty much every holiday in our house. :)

Bring on the Gingerbread

Another one of our FAVORITE Christmas traditions is making Gingerbread houses. We did this as I was growing up and has been so fun to do with my kids. We made the gingerbread houses one morning while daddy was still in Africa and then put them in ziploc baggies until he came home a few days later. JJ and Calli are quite the budding bakers. They LOVE to help me in the kitchen and even though it makes a bigger mess it is pretty fun to watch them.

The only problem is fighting who gets to put what ingredients in and who gets to stir and if I am not watching closely we may end up with more ingredients then we needed. They have a tendency to get a little carried away sometimes!

The most fun is when everything is all mixed up and then we get to roll it out and cut out the shapes. And of course eat some of the dough. Calli is especially guilty for stealing the cookie dough before it makes it in the oven. Little stinker!

Here are our finished products. I made two houses one for JJ and one for Calli and figured John and I could each help one of them. Then we had some extra dough so we made extra gingerbread boys to eat and man were they GOOD! I seemed to have over come my first trimester nausea just in time for all of the holiday goodies.
Then on Tuesday night after daddy got home we got to put them together and decorate them. JJ and I were a team and Calli and daddy were a team. JJ really got into it this year more then the other years. He was all about putting the icing on and building the house even more then he wanted to decorate it.

Calli was really into eating all the candy! She had fun too but would run in and out a little bit.
John held strong though making their house very cute!
JJ had lots of fun ideas about what candies should go where.
I LOVE that my hubby will participate in these super fun family activities. He is the BEST!!
Mommy and Calli working together on JJ's house while he decided to decorate the Christmas tree with some of the extra candy canes. It was actually really cute I think next year I will buy candy canes to specifically put on the tree.
Calli of course had to try the candy canes to make sure they weren't poison or anything. I am not for sure why I thought it was a good idea to have my kids where white shirts while making gingerbread houses but thankfully we have a great washing machine and all came out fine.

Our little worker bee off to decorate the tree.
He figured Calli was on the right track and he might as well try out some of the candy too.
Then he was back to finish up his house. By this time he was professional and took over the icing department.
John finishing off he and Calli's house as well.

And little missy is clearly up to no good as you can see from her expression although I can't remember what she is actually doing.
I already can't wait until next year we had so much fun. Maybe we will have to make a Valentines house or something?
Calli and her finished gingerbread house.
Her and daddy did such a great job.

So precious.
JJ and his finished gingerbread house from the front

and from the back.

He iced and decorated the roof all by himself. I love this tradition and look forward to many years of gingerbread house making in our future.