It has been really warm (like 50 instead of 27 degrees!) the last few days and today we finally took advantage of it and went to the park. It was just what the kids needed to release some pent-up energy!

Kaden and Mia racing down the twin slides

Mia was not afraid of anything! She loved every slide. And the static made her hair crazy!

Kaden on the really steep one! I think he was having fun...

'Hi mom! I'm up so high! Look at me!'

Kyson and his sweet smile

Kyson in jail!

Kyson being silly-I think he was a zombie!

We were lucky enough to ring in the new year with some of our favorite and bestest friends! Between us there were 10 kids! They all played great though and we had fun!

We decided to do a fun thing this year and try an Ugly Sweater party with white elephant gifts...here are the mug shots :)

Hennessys wore their Ugly T-Shirts

Parkers

Kents

Hornes

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's Kacie with her prize for the UGLIEST sweater :)

We ate some good snacks!

Hornes received the grossest white elephant- TEETH! Which they later traded to Jake because he REALLY wanted them for some reason :)

Hennessys got a lovely raccoon clock

We got Buns AND Abs of steel on VHS and some awesome tunes :)

Here we are at midnight- Elena was our photographer- she made it awake all night!

Here is Brad and Tyler shooting off (il)legal fireworks

It was a great night- thanks everyone who came! Happy New Year! I have a good feeling about 2012!

Wow! I need to catch up on some blogging...So here is the short version of our December 2011!

 Kaden had a cute Christmas program at school at the beginning of the month. Here he is with his buddy, Nicholas! They even sang a couple of Spanish Christmas songs- it was great!

This year the kids got their own little tree to decorate- they loved it! Not the best pic...they were too excited to sit still.

We bundled up and visited Temple Square lights this year! Grana came with us and afterwards we came home and drank hot chocolate and ate cinnamon rolls!

Mia bundled up

Kaden & Grana

Kyson is under that hat!

Ty & Darci

Kaden loved seeing the temple- he's always asking to go and see it!

 We've only had snow that stuck 2 times all winter so far! And both times it's been a TINY amount that didn't stay more than one afternoon. It's been torture! These pictures are from the second time-  Mia got her very own snow pants, she's very proud.

Cute bundled-up babies

We decorated cookies with dad- this is my kids idea of smiling for the camera...poor Mia is still trying to find her 'blue steel' pose.

 We went on another Layton City lights hayride this year! This is one of my favorite traditions- it's our third year running! My favorite part is going to Sill's afterwards for scones and hot chocolate...yum!

We had a great Christmas this year! It gets more fun as the kids get older and start to understand what's going on and can anticipate traditions. We opened pajamas and the Harry Potter box set on Christmas eve. We watched some movies and all slept downstairs together-even Lola :) We had Christmas morning here at the house- Grandma and Grandpa Kent and Grana came over to see the kids open their gifts. Then we had a nice breakfast casserole together!

Our pretty tree- in my newly painted front room next to MY own piano...PERFECT :)

Kyson the prince and Mia the princess- Kyson begged her to put her dress on and she didn't want to- when she finally did she would NOT tolerate being rescued :)

Kaden's favorite Santa gift was his Nintendo DSi

Kyson's favorite Santa gift was his Star Wars mask

Mia's favorite Santa gift was her baby Rapunzle and doll car seat

 The next morning we had breakfast at Grandpa and Grandma Kent's home and opened presents from them. Tyler got an iPad! and I got the new camera I've been wanting...so the next pics were taken with that. I didn't get a ton of pictures of everyone- but it was fun to spend time with Uncle Derek and Aunt Erica, Uncle Lenny, Dante & Kalene!

 

Kaden and Tyler putting his marble track together

While having long hair is something I think Mia really wanted it just wasn't happening! She still had scraggly baby hair ends that were always tangled and limp. She eventually agreed to get a haircut- and promised to sit SO still....and she DID on December 13th. She was SO good and didn't move and inch which means her hair turned out way cute. Here are a million pics to prove it :)

It was pretty long- she cut about 4 or 5 inches off the longest part

She didn't say a word or move-

She even tilted her head all the different ways when the hair lady asked her to...love her face here!

So grown up!

Angle from the side-

From the back

From the front

She is really good at letting me style it- blow dry and flat iron!

 While we're on the subject of Mia she got her NEW quilt that Grana hand-quilted for her! She loves it and calls it her 'pretty'

 And here she is on her trusty steed :) Cute, cute girl, I can't get enough of her!

On December 1st Kaden had his first teeth pulled! One was loose and the other was impacted- the dentist could see this in the X-ray...so that is how he lost his first teeth! He was SO brave and didn't fuss at all during the procedure- my first baby is growing up too fast!

Quick Thanks post this year- I asked the kids to name what they were thankful for again. 

Kaden: "Legos & his family"

Kyson: "Just Legos"

MiaJolie: "Ummm....thanks for  treats?"

 Well at least 1 out of 3 gets it...maybe next year! I'm thankful for our continued blessings- sometimes it's easy to get down and think about the things you think you're lacking- but really we are so lucky to have everything we really need and more. I'm most grateful for my wonderful family- they are my whole world. I'm also thankful that during these uncertain times Tyler has a good job and that I've been able to be there for the kids at home.

Aunt Erica got married to Uncle Lenny on November 12th! She had Kaden, Kyson and MiaJolie in her wedding as ring bearers and flower girl- it was kind of stressful for me not knowing how Mia would react- and she almost threw a big fit and cried down the aisle! Then right before she went down the aisle she pulled it together with Kaden's help- he is the best big brother!

Mia wins toddler of the year award for this- she wore these hot rollers for 30 minutes! She didn't want to but she left them in because I asked her to! <3 that girl!

Mia looking gorgeous in her dress from Aunt "Ca"

Here she is- afraid but doing ok with big brother's help :)

With the bride- a handsome bunch!