Catching up on the blog...

We haven't been up to too much the last couple of months, but here are lots of random pictures.

Best buddies:)

 Sam made a hat out of paper.

 My brothers and I went to the temple together. 

 It has snowed a stuck a few times this year so far I guess. The kids sure love playing in it.

 My silly kiddos...

 Ty came out to play.

 Here is a picture of my new niece. She was born at the beginning of January.She is so stinkin' cute as you can see. Libby (short for Liberty) Jane Watkins. She's a doll.

 Morgan and I like to take the kids out for "surprises". They LOVE surprises! On the 1st Saturday of every month, at Home Depot, they have this free children's workshop where tons of kids come and build, paint and/or create. We did that at the beginning of this month and we will be making it a tradition now. 

 My parents came for a visit for Libby's baby blessing. I have been really bad at getting out my real camera so here are some pics from my phone.

When my parents were here we visited the pet store where Noel held her first rat! Yugghgk!

 We also went bowling. Sam likes to bowl with his face:) He is too silly!

 I love my little poser.

 Sam helped Grandma make homemade lemonade. 

 My parents brought a couple of large boxes for the kids to play in and Morgan cut one up to look like a house. The kids loved playing in it.

My parents and my brothers and I went to the temple together one of the evenings. That was a great night.

My sister Leslie and Jason and their kids came into town as well for Libby's baby blessing and they got a puppy while they were here. It was too cute for words. The kids loved petting him and holding him. His name is "Quatro" because of his 4 spots.

 Chris and Kareena were getting rid of their couch so we took it off their hands. It's bigger and way more comfy, and the kids can fit underneath this one:)

 We've had some sunny, warmer days so it's been nice getting some fresh air and sitting in the sun.

 One of our recent surprises this last weekend was we took the kids to feed the ducks here in Springville. That was a blast!

 Does anyone recognize this house?!!?! Yup, this is Grandma and Grandpa Watkins old home! So, this is my dad's late parents home. Every year when I was little we would take a trip to Utah for a family reunion and stay here at my grandparents home. There are lots of good memories here. I just happened to be in the neighborhood this last week and decided to take a quick pic. 

 The other day we got home from Noel's dance class and grocery shopping and the kids had fallen asleep in the car. I brought Sam in and he shoved his face in the corner of the couch and fell back asleep and Noel curled up on the couch on the opposite end. I love my kiddos:)

Random Phone Pics as of late...

Play time with cousin Ty.

 We built a snowman.

 Sam, falling asleep while shopping (he does that often:)).

 Our smiley Noellie.

 We played outside the other day and they made snow soup. They had a blast. I love how kids can make something of anything. 

 We went to the Festival of Lights in Spanish Fork a few nights ago. The kids absolutely loved it!

 BYU has this cool program for children called "Van Gogh to Play Dough" where you sign your kids up for an hour of learning and crafts. We went and did that as a family earlier this week. The kids loved it!

 Lately I'll ask Sam to smile and this is what I get. He is a hoot!

 We then went bowling after Van Gogh to Play Dough. We are trying to squeeze every ounce of time in that we have to spend as a family before Morgan goes back to school in a few days. 

 Here are the bowling scores. Girls dominated!

 On New Years Eve we got together with Chris, Kareena and Ty and had pizza for dinner. After dinner, the kiddos went down and we played Canasta (the boys totally beat us girls) and played the Wii until midnight, which at that time we drank a little sparkling cider, watched the fireworks outside Chris and Kareena's windows and then went to bed. It was a fun night!

 I'm trying to be a little more creative with the kids so today they did some cutting and pasting with paper. They really liked that!

 Okay, so look closely. This is a picture that Noel drew of Noel, Sam and I in the shower. Don't worry, it's rated G:) Notice on the right side of the picture, there is a shower head with water coming out of it, and then there is the shower drain. Isn't that amazing? I thought it was hilariously amazing!

Christmas 2013

The weekend before Christmas we found Santa at the Springville Library.

 Here are the kids in front of the Christmas tree the Sunday before Christmas.

For Christmas Eve we had a delicious dinner with Chris, Kareena and Ty and then a short Christmas program and then dessert. We then opened up one present (the traditional pajamas).

 Sam and Ty in their new jammies.

 Noel and Sam in their new jammies.

 This is what Santa brought.

 The night before Christmas.

The kiddos on Christmas morning.

 Noel opening up presents.

 Sam opening up his presents.

 Noel got a pretty princess dress from Santa. She loves to dress up.

 I made the kids these artist bags for Christmas.

 These are the insides of the artist bags, with pockets and crayons.

Random Phone Pictures

 I had to share these random phone pictures. Back in October, we still had some rather warm days so the painted outside.

 Walmart pony ride.

 Silly picture of Noel. Sometimes we get whiffs of stinky Utah Lake around here and this picture was taken of Noel at the Walmart parking lot. She didn't want to smell the stinky lake so she shoved her finger up her nose:)

 Sam taking a snooze in his car seat.

 Our lil' smiley Sam.

 Noel drew this picture at Grandma and Grandpa Watkins house. I just love her drawings.

 We have had some snow here and there. This is Sam and Ty outside in the snow.

 Sam sometimes is so tired that he will fall asleep in the grocery cart while shopping. It's hilarious!

Thanksgiving

Here are a few pics from our trip to California for Thanksgiving.

Our kids dressed in their Sunday best:)

 Grandma Watkins had a fun craft for Noel to make: a gum drop Christmas Tree. 

 Noel helped Grandma Young in the kitchen.

 This is how we found the kids when we came to bed one of the nights while we were at Morgan's parents house. Too cute for words.

 We went to Apple Hill and the kids did a little fishing.