Bits and pieces

I know it's time to update the blog, but it seems like nothing too exciting is going on. We or I am just trying to keep my head above water with all the many things to get done. Here are some bits and pieces from our last couple of weeks.
Hannah is now in primary and is LOVING being a sunbeam! She was so ready to go and she was really excited to have the same teacher that Bethany had when she was a sunbeam. It is fun to have her in primary with me and Bethany and that she gets to be a part of that now. It's fun that she gets to learn the new songs with us. She feels like such a big girl!!

Hannah also learned how to swing all by herself! I have meant to take a picture, but haven't yet. She has been "swinging" her legs for quite awhile, but never got her body into it. I had told Hannah that we should try pumping her legs next time we go outside, that I bet she could do it now. Well the next time she went outside, she tried it without my help, Bethany was out there and helped...and she was swinging. She is so proud of herself, and loves to be able to swing all by herself!
Bethany is enjoying her CTR6 class. She has more kids in her class this year and she is enjoying that. She has been having a really hard time getting back into the whole school thing after Christmas break and our vacations. I know it's been a month and she should be over it but she isn't. She says she wants to get out of school and she wants to stay home and play all day. I think she would get rather bored! I told her that that is not an option. She can either go to school for 4 hours come home and do homework and play, or she can go to school for 6 hours and come home and still have to do homework. She does have fun at school, and always come home in a good mood. I can't believe how much she is learning! She is having fun reading and enjoys the independence it gives her. She also has a journal that she writes and illustrates a story in every day. She has come up with some pretty good stories! She really enjoys math and working with numbers, she must of got that from her dad! She is a smart girl and it's fun to see how far she has come since August!

Rylan has been on one lately. Don't you love his face?!? This is the look I got when I went to get him out of time out in his room. I think he was hitting one of his sister's to earn the timeout. He has discovered how to express his opinion and is much more vocal about it.

Then he got mad at me because I was taking his picture, and laughing. I couldn't help but laugh at how adorable this little angry man was!!
Then he gave me just leave me alone or hold me face. After he is done being mad, he wants to be held. He is such a sweet boy, and I just hope that his terrible two's aren't too bad!!I finally got Rylan to wear his dress up clothes! We had put away the dress up clothes for while. We were tired of him wanting the tutu's and princess dresses. Well he really wanted a "ella" (Cinderella) dress on. But I convinced him that he would make a much cuter knight, with a superman cape. He went for it, Yay! Our knight and ballerina.

The girls finally got to start up ballet classes again. They have been so eager to get back into it. They are in separate classes. Hannah is in more of a preschool class, and Bethany junior ballet. We are so happy with their teachers, they are both awesome and know what they are doing! I think the girls will learn so much more from their new classes!

Rylan has a new found love for trains! He got some fun train sets for Christmas. We went to the library and I found a Thomas the train movie for him. He was so excited! He carried it around the library and would not let go of it. I had to check out a different movie and then trade him. He carried it around when we got home, and I had told him he could watch it after his nap. After we ate lunch he was trying to get the movie out to watch it...and he didn't like it when I told him no, after your nap. While he was crying, I asked if he wanted to sleep with the movie, and he said yes. He laid down and went right to sleep with his train movie! He is such a silly little boy with a lot of personality!!

Way to go!!

I am always posting about my kids achievements, I thought it was time to post one of Ky's.

At his work at the end of the year, they do yearly reviews. The managers of the programs he is working on rate their performance over the year, and they get so many points, then they determine your raise off of those points. This was the first year that Ky had to go through this system, and he was a little scared.

He did awesome

and got the highest rating (most points) in his branch!!

He is such a hard worker at home and at work and I'm glad that he got some recognition for it, because he sure deserves it!!

Way to go sweetie!! Thank you for working so hard and for providing for our family. We love you!!

Boston

We had a great time in Boston. We did freeze, and are glad to be home where there is no snow, and temperatures are in the 40's. There was a couple snow storms while we were there. The first one, it got so cold that the snow turned into ice, and it became an ice storm. I don't remember ever seeing little balls of ice fall and stick to the ground. The girls complained that it hurt them when we were out in it. The 2nd storm was on Sunday morning, which caused our flight to be canceled and we got pushed back to a later flight, which made for an interesting trip home. We definitely didn't see as many sights as our last trip to Boston because of the temperature and dragging 3 kids around, but we still braved a few things. We went down to the USS Constitution. Bethany enjoyed the tour, but Hannah and Rylan grew bored of it really fast. She was asking us if it was a pirate ship. So we went over to the museum after the tour on the boat and were able to teach her a little of the history. As we were leaving the museum, I noticed a sign that said no photography inside...oops.



Then we walked up the hill to Bunker Hill. Bethany really wanted to climb to the top of the tower, which is 294 steps later. She remembered pictures and us telling her about it on our last trip. We were planning on just going up until they were tired, but it ended up being closed due to ice on the stairs. They were pretty bummed.

Since we had a car this time, we ventured out to Plymouth. We went and saw Plymouth rock. We were a little bummed that the Mayflower, which is usually docked right by the rock was docked somewhere else. We aren't sure where they take it in the winter. They also had a pilgrim village and museum we would of liked to see, but that was closed too. Just for the month of January...just our luck! It was fun to see the ocean, and take a scenic drive around and see all the old houses.

We went to Sciaute to see the lighthouse. The girls thought we were going to be able to go up in the lighthouse.

That was our trip in a nutshell. We really enjoyed ourselves, and the girls were not ready to come home, although I was! It is interesting the attention and comments we got having 3 kids over there. It got really old, really fast. We got asked if the girls were twins probably over 20 times. They really don't look that much alike!! On the plane ride home our flight attendant said, I know this is a stupid question, but are they twins. She acted like it was so obvious that they were twins, she felt stupid even asking. I flew to Boston by myself with the kids. Ky was already there. The kids were awesome and did so well. I heard so many times how I have my hands full, and how brave I was. By the end of the day I was ready to smack the next person who told me that. Yes I have my hands full, but I love it. And yes I guess I am brave to fly with the 3 kids, but I deal with them everyday. It's really not that big of a deal!

A couple other comments that were amusing.

A man was pushing a dry shopping cart into the store for me and asked.

Man: Are these kids all yours?

Me: Yes they are.

Man: Are you expecting or is that just you.

Me: Yes we are expecting....Ha Good thing I am pregnant, or I don't know what I would of said!!

A man at the hotel said, Wow that's quite the crew you have, you almost have a basketball team.

On the plane ride home, we were in the front row. As people were boarding the plane, Rylan dropped the magazine he was looking at. A lady bent down to pick it up for us, which was nice. Then she said, well that's going to happen a few more times. What? I don't know if she was trying to be helpful and enlighten me, or if she was being rude.

My favorite was from a lady at the hotel. We ate breakfast at a table next to her. Ky was already at class, so it was just me and the kids. We saw her later in the elevator and she said, your kids are so adorable and well behaved. You are amazing! I could handle that one, how nice! If everyone could be like that lady!!

It's nice to be home where we don't stand out as much. Also to sleep in our own beds is pretty nice too!!

Utah

We had a fun trip to Utah. We hit some bad roads on the way up which was frustrating. We decided that next year we will head up there for Thanksgiving and stay home at Christmas time. We had fun visiting with family and the kids loved playing with their cousins.

On Sunday we went to church with my mom. The girls wanted to stay and go to their classes. I think it was the first time they attended their classes in another ward. They both did great and had fun! We took some pictures of them in their christmas dresses afterwards. We went for casual this year, since their fancy dresses still fit from last Christmas.

Rylan didn't want to go to nursery, he opted to take a nap instead.

One night we went to my sister's and we took the kids sledding. The last time we went sledding, it was at this same hill when we lived at the University Housing. I think Hannah was just one, so they had way more fun this time. Plus they had their cousins with them.

Bethany really wanted to make a snow angel, so that she did.

Rylan went down the hill a couple times with daddy, but mostly enjoyed eating the snow.
The girls with the boys. It's fun that they all get along so well. Bethany is still only about half of Drew. She can't seem to catch up:)

The girls with some of their girl cousins. It's fun that they have so many cousins close in age to play with. Too bad we don't live closer so we could spend more time with them.

We had a good time. Despite the lack of sleep for the kids and for me, and our grumpiness...it was fun to see everyone and visit! It's good to be home for a couple days before we head out again, to Boston. An unexpected but more than welcomed trip. Ky has a training there, and everything worked out so we could all go with him. It will be a fun adventure!!

Christmas finally!

We had a great Christmas! We enjoyed staying home and celebrating with our family. The kids got to open their pj's on Christmas eve, along with the presents they bought for each other. A few pictures from Christmas day. Rylan got a fun train track. He would rather drive his cars on it than the train, but he likes it.

The girls got a doll house that is bigger than them! They love it, and they have gotten so many barbies to play along with the house. They like to disappear in their bedroom!

We headed out the day after Christmas to go to Utah. I think the kids were a little sad to leave their toys, but excited to see their grandma's and cousins!