Family Photos - Calico Basin

Family photos this year were taken by Blue Lily Photography, out at Calico Basin near Red Rock on one of our first really cold days of the year! I had to run out and change our outfits cause I knew my Vegas kiddos would freeze! Henry wouldn't change out of his sweatshirt and I just decided to go with it. We were cold and Henry fell a few times out in the desert...maybe next time I can remember that fine dirt plus black outfits doesn't work... but I think they still turned out really good! The kids had fun and Wendy was very good at making them laugh, as you can see from these photos. Afterwards, they said she should be a professional comedian! :) A laugh IS the best smile in a photo!

Volleyball Recap

Claire made the Varsity volleyball team for her middle school - as a sixth grader, I was worried maybe she should be on the JV team so she could get more playing time, but we decided it was good to play up this year and learn from the older girls too. I think all in all, it was the right choice.  She learned a lot! 

Their team made it all the way to the finals this season and ended up in second place after a very tough game - for only the second year of the school, I think that was pretty awesome!

Kid Quotes

I told Penelope she made a good choice after she chose a cup of water instead of soda. She said, “After all, it is a water cup.” 

Penelope couldn’t stop laughing at church. A serious case of the giggles. Better than crying but still quite loud. She said, “I just can’t help it!!” 

Penelope played with some four year old girls while I played volleyball one morning with some friends. They played school and of course Penelope was the teacher. She told me there were four rules for school, "#1- no showing your underwear (they all had dresses on), #2- I don’t remember number two... or number three. But number four was important! No talking in class!” 

Henry asked for a mommy kiss as the fifth reason to get our of bed the other night. I came in and obliged and Miles said, “I will kiss you!” Henry said, “No- you’re NOT a mommy!” He still likes me... 

Here’s a mom quote this time. I recently said, "Either I’m a physic or the best mom ever!!” shortly after I predicted that someone was about to get hurt so they should stop pulling each other across the tile on a blanket...  aaaaannd like 15 seconds later = tears. 

Somehow we started talking about shark attacks on the way to school and how sharks think you are a seal so they take a bite, but don’t always eat you. Penelope very forlornly said, “Oh WHY do we have to be made of meat!” 

Claire cut her cupcake in half and then flipped it so the frosting is in the middle. Penelope noticed and said, “Are you doing a life hack?!” 

I asked Henry, how was preschool? he said, "Good! No animals tried to eat me!” 

I told Henry he was a cute little nugget. He said, “I’m not a nugget, I’m a pumpkin pie. No... just a pumpkin.” #allfoodnicknames #maybeihaveaproblem

Penelope said, "Sometimes I organize my room cause I pretend a queen is coming to visit. I said- well I’m coming to your room. She said, "Oh yeah, I guess I used to call you “your highness!”

House Updates

The first thing I wanted to change in the house was the kitchen cabinets - they were the same orange oak as the floors. To create more contrast and update the look, we had a carpenter build a casing above the cabinets so they go up to the ceiling now and then add crown molding. Next we had the cabinets painted white and the island painted grey to match a darker version of our walls. We also added brushed bronze hardware and I love how they turned out! It brightens up the kitchen so much and makes the counter tops stand out too. Now I want to do so many other things!

This and That Update

Penelope had a field trip to the Gilcrist Orchards with her class - these kiddos are all in the same ward (well, our old ward).

Date night to Bahama Bucks with Miles and Henry - Miles wants to go here ALL the time and I finally gave in, since Penelope was on a date night with Matt to see The Lion King and Claire was at a b-day party.

They LOVED the Lion King! The seats were in the balcony but they could still see the amazing costumes!

We went to our new ward - everyone was very nice and we hope to meet some new friends. Family Sunday Selfie by our double front door, one of my favorite parts of our new house.

Henry loves his preschool class - he is MAD when it's not a school day. This is a classic Vegas "winter" outfit - he loves his Paw Patrol hat.

I got my braces off! Yay! My bite is better and my upper teeth now overlap the bottom teeth, but I don't think you can tell too much difference when I smile...

Just excited to have Matt back from traveling for work... and accidental twins! :) 

Cutest little Christopher Columbus ever! 

Claire had some fans for her volleyball game - she played Varsity for the school this year and I know she is learning a lot!

We gave Oogway to a friend from work who has an awesome tortoise habitat in his yard with several other desert tortoises - we just didn't have the right space in our new house. I know the kids were a little sad but it's for the best.

Soccer Season

Miles played soccer this year, despite breaking his arm 2 minutes into his second game of the season.

He was able to come back and finish out the last 3 games. He got to play with his friend Talon too.