Our Christmas Holiday

Our holiday season began with our traditional trip to see The Christmas Carol. It worked out that Blake was done with finals the last week of the show and we could go and start off the Christmas break right. We had originally planned on leaving Jordyn with someone and only taking Kenlee to the show but I procrastinated trying to find someone to watch her and ran out of time so we ended up taking both girls to the show.  I thought that there was a good chance we would spend most of it wandering the halls with Jordyn but she loved it!  From the minute it started she was on the edge of her seat watching. Before we left for the show Kenlee started to feel sick, I was so worried that she had the stomach bug that Blake had had a few days before.  After a small debate we decided to still take her with us, seeing as how we were not sure what was going on and she had been so excited to go see it. By intermission I was super worried about her but she insisted that her tummy was ok and so we finished the show but hurried home not too long after it ended. She had a fever so I gave her some tylenol and put her to bed, hoping she would wake up better on Sunday.  At around 3 in the morning I woke up to check on her and her breathing was really rough and she had started with a barking cough.  We knew what that meant, croup again.  Blake spent a good 30 minutes on the front porch with her while I set up our bedroom to keep her with us and freeze our room out for her breathing.  After a few popsicles and getting her to relax she was able to go to sleep on our floor and get a little more rest. We spent the next few days watching lots of movies and trying to keep the girls apart.

In November we made the decision that we wanted to take the girls back to Temple Square to see that lights. The plan was to go on Blake's first day off after he was done with finals.  That day happened to be the Wednesday after Kenlee started with croup.  Since she was starting to feel better and being out in the cold was good for her breathing we decided to make the trip still.  It was beautiful but really cold so we never stopped to take any pictures because it felt like the wind was cutting through us.  If you ask Kenlee what her favorite part was she would probably tell you everything because she just loves the holidays. When you ask Jordyn she will tell you all about the ladalou (water fountains), she was obsessed with them.  We would try to point out the lights and all she wanted was the fountians.  To top off her experience, when we got back to City Creek Mall to head down to the parking structure, we happen to get there when their fountain was doing a choreographed number to a Christmas song... there was even fire in the middle of the water.  She was amazed! Once we made it back to the van we headed to get some dinner at Red Robins. Jordyn started getting a cough that night and I hoped that hers would stay a small cold.

The next day Jordyn was fevering and obviously was feeling really sick.  Her cough was rough but never got barking and her breathing seemed relatively normal but she never seemed to be getting any better so after many many nights of no sleep, I decided to take her to the doctor the Monday before Christmas.  I was surprised to find out that she had croup as well seeing as her symptoms didn't progress like they should have.  Luckily the doctor was able to give her a steroid to open her throat and after a few days she was doing a lot better.  

After our trip to the doctors office, I took the girlies home to get some much needed rest and tried to clean up the house and prepare for Christmas since it was only two days away and those days were full of family time.  After the girls short rest we gathered up and headed over to my parents house for the traditional eve before the eve of Christmas sleep under the tree.  Of course we did pizza night and each family brought their creation.  Blake and I made a BBQ chicken pizza with pineapple on it, Tiffany and Brock made a delicious veggie and meat pizza, Karlee and Colton made a wonderful margarita pizza and Mom and Dad made a traditional Hawaiian pizza with a little end of pepperoni for Nate and the little girls. We all over ate and then settled out the bed situation.  Blake and I opted to sleep with sick Jordyn upstairs in the reading room to try and let everyone else sleep. Jordyn had not slept more then a hour or two at a time since she had started with croup.  Kenlee wanted to stay with her aunts and uncles in the basement so we set her up down there. Unfortunately Kenlee was startled by the kitties wandering around and trying to snuggle, and Tiffany and Brock's mattress became a taco and Colton's mattress went flat so not much sleep was to be had.  Maybe next year.....

Blake worked Christmas eve morning so the girls and I hung out with my family til around 5 then gathered up and went back to our house to get the things we needed to go see Blake's family.  After Blake got home we quickly hurried to his parents house to have dinner and exchange a few Christmas gifts.  Because the little girls, especially Jordyn, were still not feeling well we didn't stay very long, hoping to not get McKenzie sick were she was in the age group our doctor had warned me to keep Jordyn away from. Once we got home we quickly got the girls ready for bed in their new Christmas jammies and began a frantic night of getting everything ready for Christmas day. That night was the first full nights sleep that all of us had had in about 2 weeks. It was wonderful! Kenlee woke up first and Blake heard her say "Its Christmas Day!" from her bedroom.  Then she made her way to the living room and squealed "Santa came!"  Finally she came to get us and we waited a few minutes for Jordyn to wake up and then all gathered in the living room to see what Santa had brought.

Santa brought Kenlee everything she had asked for: a Princess Aurora lego castle, a pink watch and Tinkerbell squinkies, he also surprised her and brought her a Lambie doll. Jordyn hadn't really asked Santa for anything so he decided to bring her a toy cash register, a Doc McStuffins, and a magnet drawing board for church. After we had opened all our Santa gifts we had a small breakfast of biscuits and juice.  We spent the rest of the morning playing with our gifts and slowly working our way through the gifts under the tree.  It was perfect.  We got Kenlee an easel with all the necessary equipment that she would need to be a artist.  She loves it and plays with it every day. We got Jordyn the Disney Klip-Klop Castle with all the princess/horses.  Once she opened that and we got it set up she refused to open anymore gifts, she played with it for 45 minutes straight and still loves it just as much today!

Once the girlies had opened everything and finished their naps we all headed to my parents house to have a Mexican Christmas dinner.  We usually do an unusual Christmas dinner of different kinds of mexican foods and this year was wonderful. Since Tiffany and Brock had to get to another family thing we finished opening gifts with all the family together right after dinner.  Then once everything settled down we all just hung around chatting while the girls played with some of their new toys. Time slipped away and we finally had to get the poor girls home to bed since they were both still getting better.  Christmas was so fun this year with Kenlee and Jordyn both beginning to see the wonder and excitement of the holidays.

Halloween 2013

Kenlee and Jordyn both picked out their own costumes this year. They of course both wanted to be a princess, luckily they could agree to be different princesses.  Kenlee picked Ariel and Jordyn was Cinderella. To kick off our holiday, we were able to attend our ward's Fall Festival which meant that both girls got to dress up in their Halloween costumes. Blake had to close that night and Brock was closing as well so Tiffany agreed to come with me and help me with the girlies.  We had a great dinner of soup and bread sticks then wandered around to the different booths that the young men and young women had set up for the primary kids.  Kenlee and Jordyn both enjoyed themselves and participated (with a little pushing) in most of the booths. 

Kenlee also had a lot of fun activities at preschool, one of them being able to go to the pumpkin walk with her class. Jordyn and I were able to go with her and help with the kids.  The pumpkin displays were of course amazing and we had a great time walking through.  I was hoping to be able to go back with Blake and take pictures but life got too busy and we unfortunately never got the opportunity.

The day before Halloween Kenlee was allowed to dress up in her costume for preschool and they did some Halloween themed activities that day. She loved telling me about all her friends costumes and all the fun they had had together. 

Kenlee dressed up for her preschool party!

Carving pumpkins this year was very entertaining. Kenlee was very enthusiastic about helping with her pumpkin and coming up with ideas as to what to carve.  It was very hard to convince her to do something simple since Mom was the only one who was going to be able to help her this year. Daddy is much better at doing detailed pumpkins but he had class that night.  She finally agreed to do a cute little kitty sitting on a pumpkin that was in a pattern book my mom had.  Jordyn thought at first that the idea of sticking her hand in those gross pumpkin guts was stupid but eventually really wanted to help and dug in with Karlee. Since I was helping both girls with their pumpkins and Jordyn isn't picky yet I did a traditional jack-o-lantern face for hers.

My mom's jack-be-littles went crazy this year and we were trying to send them with anyone that would take some.  The girls ended up with at least 14 if not more so as a craft the morning of Halloween we all painted the little pumpkins. Blake didn't have to work til 4 so he was even there and being crafty.  We all had such a great time and we will definitely be doing it again next year. Jordyn even ended up painting her tummy like a pumpkin, she thought it was weird and kept trying to wipe it off with her hands which were also covered in paint so of course things only got messier.  It was hilarious to watch.

After we got everyone cleaned up from the pumpkins we had a quick lunch and put the girls down for a nap.  While they rested Blake and I got our costumes on so that we would be ready to help the girls out when they woke up. We only had a short time line for being able to hit the Lee's pumpkin walk with Blake before his shift actually started, we really wanted him to be able to calmly walk through with us this year.  Blake and I were really indecisive about what we should dress up like and didn't pick anything til a day or two before Halloween.  Blake finally settled on dressing like an 80's rock star and I opted to be a mad scientist, very simple but one of my more fun costumes.

After the Lee's carnival we said good bye to Blake and went back to Poppie and Gammie's house and trick or treated with the aunts & uncles around my parents neighborhood. Tiffany and Brock left to their Halloween parties and Karlee and Colton helped me take the girls to a few more houses in Smithfield and then some houses around our ward in Hyde Park. Once the girls buckets were full (which didn't take as many stops as you would think) we headed back to Poppie and Gammies to watch Monster's University.   Because Brady had a movie party going on in my parents basement we all squished on my parents bed and watched the movie there. After our movie ended and our sugar comas began the girls and I headed home to sleep it off.  It was a great day full of great memories....

PrEsCHooL

To go along with turning 4, Kenlee started preschool this year.  She is attending Grow with Me Preschool which is just down the street from us.

The night before her first day she was so excited she didn't fall asleep for 2 hours.  She keep calling me in to remind me to wake her up in time for preschool.   When I went to wake her up the next morning she bounced up and ran to her clothes that we had laid out.

1st Day of Preschool

Kenlee gets to ride her bike to school for now, she looks so big riding her big bike with her cute little backpack .

Jordyn enjoys her stroller rides to and from taking sister to school.

Look Who Turned 4!

The last few weeks have gotten away from me and I am behind in our family updates.  We celebrated Kenlee Jean's 4th birthday on August 26th. This year was especially fun because she was anticipating her birthday for several months and each time she asked about her birthday the excitement would build more and more. 

The Sunday before her birthday we had a little celebration with Grandma and Grandpa Daines & Auntie April.  Spoiled little cutie got two birthday parties. Auntie April got her another beautiful Jim Shore figurine of Minnie Mouse and when we got home that evening Kenlee picked a very special place on her shelf for it.  She said it was so she could keep an eye on her, make sure she wasn't getting into trouble. Not sure what trouble she was expecting Minnie to get into but it was so funny.

The next morning (her actual birthday) we started out the morning by getting her all dressed up in special birthday clothes.  She still fit in her birthday shirt from last year and we did her special birthday twisted braid hair (we only do this style on special occasions because it takes a long time to twist all the little braids in). For lunch I took her to Wendy's which she loves and spoiled her with chicken nuggets and a frosty.  Blake actually started back to school on her birthday so we had to plan around his evening class in Brigham which meant we had a late dinner at Gammie and Poppies house that evening.  Trying to keep an excited 4 year old happy while waiting for the party to start was no easy task but I think she stayed pretty entertained.

I asked Kenlee what she wanted for dinner on her birthday fully expecting her to say white pasta aka alfredo pasta but she surprised me with pancakes.  Oddly enough I was intimidated by this meal choice because I rarely cook breakfast let alone cook/time breakfast foods for 13 people. But the meal went well and I think everyone enjoyed it (or at least humored me).  As soon as Kenlee was done eating she begged us to open gifts.  Then we gathered back to the table to do cake and ice cream.

Gammie made her a pink sparkling bear cake which she LOVED!

This year she wanted a Lalaloopsy cake with Jewels on it, to me this cake turned out sloppy but I worked so hard on it and to a 4 year old it was still amazing.

Happy Birthday Sweet Girl!!!

Today we took her in to her well check to see how she was doing. This year was the first year she had to do the vision test and she past which was a relief, I didn't even worry about it until she started doing the test and then my mommy brain started over thinking things. This visit was the first time she let them do everything with out much fuss, she still wanted me hold her hand but I can handle that. She is defiantly growing up.

4 Year Old Stats:

Weight: 36.8lbs     50%

Height: 41 1/2ins    90%

Bear Lake Weekend with The Thompsons

This last weekend we were invited up to the Thompson's cabin at Bear Lake.  They have a beautiful cabin right by the lake.  The girlies and I headed up Friday afternoon, following Karlee and Colton so I would not get lost.  Blake of course had to work both Friday night til close and Saturday morning so we had to leave him home.  I can not wait til I no longer have to leave him behind....someday right?  I was very nervous about driving Logan canyon but thanks to our new Kia the drive was pretty smooth other then a crazy blonde chick in a dented Toyota corolla sport addition. Enough said?

We got there and took a tour of the cabin.  Both girlies LOVED the window beds. Our next adventure was to head to an awesome park near their cabin and let the girls play.  The playground equipment was not your standard issue park, I wish I had remembered my camera because Kenlee got to climb a rope web and she was like a little monkey. We walked down the boardwalk to see the lake and throw some rocks.  Jordyn was very upset when we tried to leave and she ended up armpit deep in the lake which set on a whole different panic for her. 

The rest of our family came up not to long after we got back from the Park and we got some Bear Lake pizza.  Later they went to drop the boat into the lake and Karlee offered to take Kenlee with her so we dressed Kenlee in her swimsuit and they were off.  Eventually they came back and I could her Kenlee yelling something at me.  When I finally heard her, she was telling me she was super muddy from walking back from the boat and she was SO HAPPY about it! What a girl! Once everyone was cleaned up we spent our evening visiting on the porch and getting a kick out of the bugs hitting a bug zapper (promise it was amazing how many bugs must have been hitting it).  Kenlee and I took the window beds up stairs while Jordyn used her pack-in-play inbetween us.  Kenlee could hardly fall asleep she was so excited.  She called me over several times to tell me she could see out the window and to show me the stars.

The next morning we had some breakfast and then a group of us headed down to the boat. It was overcast and windy but we hoped things would warm up.

She was excited and nervous about her adventure on the boat, I am not positive but I think this was her first boat outing that she actually got to ride on the boat and not just hang out on the beach with Gammie or Mommy.

Kenlee was super happy and sang the whole trip across the lake....

Jordyn and I trying to stay warm as we went.....

Some of the crew....

Poppi showing Jordyn the water.....

Sleepy baby, but she refused to give in yet....

Love this silly crazy little monkey....

 It was Clint's birthday and for his morning gift he got a new wakeboard. The birthday boy was the first one out and got to try out his awesome board.  He did so good! 

Kenlee got on the boat insisting that she wanted to knee board but when we told her it was her turn she panicked so Uncle Brady showed her how easy it was.

 She finally decided she was going to do it so we started by letting her practice laying on the board in the boat and Colton and Wes explained what she was going to do.

Then we headed into shallow water so Colton could help her. Aunt Karlee warmed her up so that she could be comfortable to start out in the water.

 Wind blown....

 Then Colton helped her on the board in the water....

And she was off....

Holding on and leaving Colton behind....

she did SO good....

I am so proud of her, my nervous 3 year old riding on a knee board...

She road for a pretty good while.....

Then she tipped off and Karlee and I panicked because she was freaking out so the pictures ended there.  She didn't let go of the rope so I kept yelling at her to let go of the rope while Karlee hurried and jumped in to get her. Kenlee had never really been in water with a life jacket by herself before and she didn't understand that she wasn't going to go under the water. When she first got back in the boat she told us she didn't love doing that but once she calmed down and warmed up she decided that it was pretty cool that she had done that.

 By this time Jordyn had started getting really fussy because of the cold and because she had woken up that morning at 6:00 when her normal wake up time is 8:30 or 9:00 so Wes made her a little bed under the dash and behind a seat and she fell asleep by the time he was done skiing. She slept in her little cocoon for most of the rest of our trip...

 Cute Girl!

When we got back to the cabin we got dressed in normal clothes and did a craft project.  We made paracoard bracelets.  They turned out super cute.  Even Jordyn pie has a little one. Kenlee had to have two, a pink one and a blue one that would match her Daddy's. She is a Daddy's girl which is so cute! Then we tried to go back to the park but it was super cold and rained on us so we eventually made it back to the cabin and warmed up.  After an awesome birthday dinner of pulled pork, the girls and I packed up and headed home to see Daddy.  Tiffany had come up without Brock, who had to also work, so she came home with us too.  We had an awesome time at the cabin and hope to go back again. Thanks Wes and Michelle for a great party and all your hospitality.