Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Brothers . December 2013

Boys, in their Christmas jammies!

This year I couldn't find any flannel 2-piece pajamas that I liked for the boys - winter themed, without being solely for Christmas.  When I found these instead, in the boys colors, it was an obvious choice!

Upon opening these, on Christmas Eve, Ryder exclaimed:

"WOW!  MOM!  I've been wanting new jammies for a very, very long time!"

Patrick said to enjoy that response while it lasts.  And, I am.

Brothers . December 2013
(Harvick, Ryder, and Jarrett)
All Previous Brothers Posts | December 2012 | December 2011

Monday, December 30, 2013

Park City . Days 7 & 8

Finally!  Our final days in Park City have been recorded!

October 17, 2013   |   Thursday we decided to have another low-key day.  We swam at the resort's pool with Nana & Papa, and participated in the craft activity (painting vases).  Jarrett insisted on taking his new toy - a white stuffed mouse - into the pool - it made for a few funny looks from the other swimmers.  The boys took one last nap together after lunch, and we headed to Ruby Tuesdays for dinner.

Back at the resort, we just relaxed - Jarrett read the paper with Papa.  The boys spent one last night in the bed together.  We had initially worried about how well they would sleep while at the resort, but they all absolutely loved being able to sleep in the same bed!  It did take them longer to fall asleep, but it was so cute hearing them giggling together!

October 19, 2013   |   After checking out from the resort, we met my parents at the Alpine Slide.  My dad, Patrick, and I took the boys up the gondola, and down the slide.  We chose partners for the ride down well - Ryder loved going with Papa, Jarrett was so happy to go (very) fast with Patrick, and Harvick was content going much slower with me!

The car was packed FULL for the ride home, and about half way home, the boys all crashed.  Once home, the boys all immediately requested a snack and an episode of Thomas while we unpacked the car!

Our trip was so perfect for our family.  We loved spending the time together, and made several great memories.   This trip helped us decide for sure to head to San Diego next spring!

Everyday Life . 12.2013

In between the "events", I try to take pictures of our "everyday".

Random photos of December.

We try to fit in lots of fun on the weekends!  We started out at Home Depot, building a toolbox, and then shopping for a few things we needed.  When we got home the boys played, and "helped" shovel the driveway.  On Sunday Grandma Jody and Ann came over, and the boys painted their own Christmas Tree ornament.

On a night that Patrick was teaching class, the boys were having a hard night.  I sent Patrick a text with these pictures to show them just how much they miss their dad!

Random photos...Ryder using my Christmas pillow to rest, Harvick in the bath, Ryder and Harvick working together to put the pillow in it's case, and the boys opening (and sampling!) a box of snacks from Nature Box.

One of my co-workers, Lesnie, gave me a new scarf as an early Christmas present - the boys thought it was hysterical to try it on!

More random photos...Ryder asleep in his carseat (something that rarely happens), Jarrett at the dentist (all the boys went, but I only got one photo), the boys playing trains together, Jarrett dressed himself in the construction costume, and Harvick & Jarrett shopping with Patrick at Costco.

The boys LOVE playing outside in the snow.  It doesn't matter how cold it was outside, they wanted to be out playing!



Sunday, December 29, 2013

Sick Babies . 12.2013

More capturing moments of our "everyday".

The last weekend of the month Harvick and Jarrett weren't feeling great - each had colds.  We stayed home from church, and let the boys have a pajama day to rest.  Practicing speech on the iPad is always a great distraction, but when Jarrett noticed Patrick and Ryder had gone outside, he got himself dressed (hat and scarf!), and was devastated when he couldn't stay out to play.  The next day, school called, and said Jarrett was too sick to stay - Patrick took the afternoon off with him - they rested at home, went to the doctor (ear infection), to Target for his RX, and we all had a slow-paced evening at home.

Saturday, December 28, 2013

Christmas Lights . 2013

I have always enjoyed going to see Christmas lights, and doing so with our boys is even more fun!

I've always enjoyed the Christmas lights at the 25th Street Village in Ogden, but going with the boys is even more enjoyable.  They love it!  We walked around the park, looking at each of the displays, the boys took a ride on the train, and we enjoyed just being together!  It was a cold night, but it was worth it!

The night before Christmas Eve, after the boys had a bath and were in their pajamas, we went to Layton Park to drive through the light display.  Once we got there, we decided last-minute to walk around the park, rather than just driving through.  Luckily, the boys were wearing their boots (to prevent pajama pants from getting wet in the garage), their hats, and had brought their new blankets.  We got a few strange looks about the boys' attire, but it was worth it!

Although we visited the Layton Park lights earlier in the month, we headed back one more time - this time ready to walk around (not wrapped in blankets).  The boys are enamored with the displays, and especially love the walk-through light tunnel.


Friday, December 27, 2013

Treehouse Museum . Alphabet Soup - H

Each Friday the Treehouse Museum hosts "Alphabet Soup", where they focus on a letter of the alphabet.  We've selected a handful to attend - of course, Harvick was super excited for this one!

We attended Alphabet Soup at the Treehouse Museum for the letter "H", where we celebrated "holidays".

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas . 2013

Christmas this year was celebrated over a period of several days.  And, it was perfect.  The boys had the opportunity to really enjoy each celebration, without being overwhelmed with all the craziness!

Before heading to Papa and Nana's house, we attempted a few family portraits on our Front Porch.  None of the pictures turned out perfectly, but the compilation of them is perfect!

Our first Christmas celebration was with Papa and Nana at their house.  The boys loved opening their presents...and helping everyone else open theirs too!

Grandma Jody and Ann came over to our home the morning of Christmas Eve.  You loved opening presents, and playing with your new toys!

After enjoying a Christmas celebration with Grandma Jody and Ann we headed to MovieGrille to see a showing of "The Polar Express".  The theater has reclining seats and serves meals to you while you watch the show.  We brought along the boys' blankets to be even more comfortable!

We then went to church for the Christmas Eve service.  For the first time, the church decided to use battery-operated candles, over traditional ones.  It was perfect timing for our family, as each of the boys wanted to hold their own candle.

Once home we were all a little tired - Patrick made our Papa Murphys pizzas while Harvick and Jarrett rested with me on the couch.

After dinner the boys opened their stockings!  The boys each got a new pair of pajamas - when Ryder opened his he told us "I've ALWAYS wanted NEW pajamas!" - Patrick says to enjoy that reaction now because in years to come he won't be quite so excited.  Each boy got a few put-it-together toys, a new notepad and pen, and a Kevin Harvick #4 hat!  We spent the rest of the evening playing with the new toys, and just spending time together.  A perfect night!

Our traditional pajama photo in front of our Christmas tree.  The boys all get a kick out of the self-timer feature, and want to take turns setting it up.  Some are better than others at keeping the camera settings exactly where we set them.

On Christmas morning we opened presents - the boys each got their own scooter, a puzzle/game, and a handmade (by Patrick) train tunnel.  We spent the rest of the morning playing, primarily with the trains!

Before leaving the boys rode around in the driveway, practicing their scooter skills.

We enjoyed dinner, opening presents, and playing the piano at Grandpa Jim and Grandma Martha's house Christmas night.

We continued the tradition we started last year, and gave the boys one final present after they were ready for bed - a new book to share.  This year's book was "What Does the Fox Say".  The boys became enamored with the song as soon as they heard it, and quickly learned the different noises.

Last year we took a photo of us reading together - this year we tried again, but all three boys were more aware of the camera.

Christmas this year was spread over several days, which was a perfect way for us to celebrate.  The boys enjoyed opening each present, and genuinely loved spending so much time together.

Merry Christmas!

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas (Tree) Train . 2013

When you have 3 boys that all love trains, watching the Christmas Train go around (and around and around) the tree quickly becomes part of the nightly routine!

Last year Grandma Jody and Ann let us have their Christmas train, knowing how much the boys would enjoy it.  This year, we set it up again, and they were just as enamored by it.  Every night, after reading a bedtime story, they would negotiate how many times they got to watch it go around the tree before going to bed.  I would text a picture to Grandma Jody and Ann every night!

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Our Anniversary . 2013



The Saturday before our anniversary Patrick and I went to dinner and a movie, followed by a treat from Red Mango!  On our actual anniversary, we continued our tradition of taking our boys out to dinner with us.  We stopped at the Roy City Park to view their light display, and the boys took the opportunity to roll around in the snow-filled gully.  Spending your anniversary with your kids might not be the traditional thing to do, but we love it!  Happy 9 years!

Celebrating 9 years...by putting it on Facebook!

Monday, December 16, 2013

Gingerbread Houses . 2013

The boys had so much fun decorating their gingerbread house...with a few taste tests along the way!


When we went to the bulk candy store to buy candy for homemade gingerbread houses, we came across these cute kits instead.  The boys loved getting to decorate their own house, and only "sampled" the decorations a few times!

Sunday, December 1, 2013

Brothers . November 2013

Happy Thanksgiving!  Two years ago I bought a super cute turkey shirt for Ryder to wear, with his brothers in their "I'm Stuffed" shirts for their first Thanksgiving.  I went back to the store immediately after the holiday, and picked up a second shirt!  I've been waiting 2 years, and this year it fit Harvick & Jarrett!

Now, if I could just convince the boys to sit still for the picture...

Brothers . November 2013
(Harvick, Ryder, and Jarrett)

Friday, November 29, 2013

Christmas Tree Decorating . 2013

I  love having our Christmas tree up for as long as possible.  And because I also like to take it down Christmas afternoon, to help maximize the time, we set it up the day after Thanksgiving.

Following tradition, we put our Christmas tree up the Friday following Thanksgiving.  The boys all enjoyed helping hang the ornaments, carefully placing each one.  To help make things more festive we enjoyed hot chocolate as we decorated.

Following the tree's completion, we set up the Christmas train from Grandma Jody and Ann.  Each night, after reading a bedtime story, the boys would lay on the ground to watch the train go around.

The weekend prior Patrick decorated our house in white lights.  When Ryder finished his quiet time that afternoon he joined Patrick outside to finish wrapping the tree in more lights.

Thursday, November 28, 2013

Thanksgiving . 2013

Our Thanksgiving adventures...minus pictures at lunch...


On Thanksgiving we followed the tradition started last year, and attended Hogle Zoo's Feast with the Beast.  As predicted, the boys enjoyed the elephant show the most!  We walked around several exhibits prior to the show, and then Jarrett and I reserved space for all of us for the elephant show, while everyone else watched the bears.  This year Nana and Papa were able to join us.  We followed the zoo with lunch at Golden Coral.

Over the Thanksgiving holiday Grandma Jody's sister came to visit.  We enjoyed dinner at the Hansen Great Grandparents House.

While I already posted the November Brothers picture, I thought I'd include a shot of the outtakes as well:

Brothers . November 2013

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Park City . Day 6

October 16, 2013   |   Thursday we took the boys to the Hogle Zoo in Salt Lake.  It was the perfect time to go - the zoo was rather empty, the weather was cool, and the animals were quite active!  As with EVERY visit we make to the zoo, we headed to see the elephants first.  We spent some time at the new "Lighthouse Point Splash Zone" - the water has been turned off, but the slide is still open!  The boys loved going down it, over and over and over again (to the right, Jarrett decided to try different ways of coming down, and thought that "falling" out was hilarious!).  We ended our visit with a ride on the carousel - where Ryder continued his long standing tradition of riding the elephant.

 We enjoyed dinner at Cafe Zupas in Salt Lake before heading back to Park City.  Once back that the resort, the boys all wanted to take another bath in the jetted tub.


Painting!

The boys enjoy painting, and I enjoy having new art to hang in our house!

Shirtless watercolor painting! The boys painted a new piece of art to hang (framed) in our Family Room.  Each boy had a very specific style - Ryder painted multiple shapes, Harvick painted circles, and Jarrett enjoyed a combination of techniques!

The boys helped to create their leaf tags for their teacher's Thanksgiving gifts.  We rolled out a long sheet of butcher paper on top of a tarp in the kitchen, and let the boys paint with their hands!  They loved getting messy, and had fun covering most of the white space.  The teachers definitely appreciated the sweet treat, and adorable tag.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Treehouse Museum . November 2013

We made a few trips to the Treehouse Museum in November!

We do our best to make the most of our membership at the Treehouse Museum!  The boys know their way around each of the exhibits, but still find new things to explore each visit!

The Treehouse Museum has "Alphabet Soup" every Friday night.  We finally were able to attend in November - for the letter "c".  We went to the presentation to learn all about the letter, sang songs, read books, and completed a "c" craft - making paper crowns.

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Park City . Day 5

October 15, 2013   |   After a late night on Monday, we decided to have a very relaxed day on Tuesday.  That morning, we watched Monsters, Inc, while enjoying a movie snack - one that Harvick and Jarrett insisted they share with Patrick, despite him politely declining.  After eating lunch in our room, we headed to Downtown Park City to walk Main Street.  On our way there, the boys fell asleep, so we took a scenic detour.  There were snow flurries off and on, but the view was beautiful!  We stopped a few times for a few self portraits.

We walked the full length of the shops (each side of the street), and stopped in a few shops.  After eating dinner at Main Street Pizza & Pasta, we picked up a treat (Mint Chocolate covered Oreos) at Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory, and headed back to the resort.

That evening, the boys enjoyed a very long bath in the huge jetted tub, while also enjoying their treat!  They all enjoyed being sprayed with the handheld sprayer, and found the jets very intriguing (their first experience outside of a swimming pool).


Saturday, November 16, 2013

Park City . Day 4

October 14, 2013   |    With a fun activity planned that evening, we thought it would be best to stay "low-key" during the day.  We took the boys back to the resort's indoor/outdoor pool, despite the snow storm!

Most days we were on vacation the boys each got a new small toy.  We decided not to take any toys with us, just so that the boys had something new to play with each day.  This day, the boys received 3 train bath "squirters" - a perfect gift for a morning at the pool, and an evening spent on a train!

The boys enjoyed watching the snow fall outside their bedroom window.  It snowed all morning, but it hadn't been cold enough for it to stick for very long.  It was pretty while it lasted!

On Monday evening we headed to Heber Valley Railroad to board their Monday Night Family Train.  We stopped at a local place for a Mexican dinner (the boys' request) before boarding the 7:00pm train.  The train car was a bit cramped, but the boys loved it.  Each of them took turns looking out the window, until it was too dark outside to watch the passing view.  The train actually had to make two stops due to some issues, but the boys never realized it wasn't part of the ride - they just enjoyed their time on the train.  Patrick took Ryder to the middle car, where concessions were available.  Predictably, when given the chance to pick candy, Ryder picked to share a bag of M&Ms.  Before leaving I tried to capture one last shot of them in front of the train (even thought it was dark), but they weren't too interested in my idea!

We will definitely plan a return trip to the Heber Valley Railroad!  The only thing I would change is the time of day - it would be fun to see out the view out the window for the whole ride.

Random . November 2013

The majority of the family scrapbook pages are for events, activities, or projects.  Sometimes I can't help including some of the random photos we take.  It's part of our real life too!

Random pictures from November.  Puzzles, playing in the basement, trains, getting water, removing pumpkin seeds, stealing cashews, eating Frostys, and MORE trains!

Some weekends we have busy, full schedules.  But some weekends we take time to just have a lazy day.  Ryder has started to call these days "Pajama Days", and looks forward to them.  On this particular Saturday we just played together in our Family Room.  I pulled out the camera to take pictures of the boys, and each of them wanted a turn of their own.  These pictures are just a random sampling of our morning.  As much fun as are adventures are together, days like this are just as fun!


For dinner Ryder helped Patrick made pizza balls.  And, after dinner, all of the boys helped make cookies for dessert!

Sometimes when someone is being too wild or loud, or when they just request it, they will sit on the counter while we get things done in the kitchen.  On this occasion Jarrett is keeping us entertained by roaring!

Harvick fell on the tile, leaving a rather noticeable goose egg on his forehead - in order to keep the ice pack on it we wrapped his head.  He didn't even mind!

Wednesday, November 13, 2013

Park City . Day 3

More Park City!

Sunday, October 13, 2013   |   Grandma Jody and Ann joined us in Park City for the day.  Due to weather, or original plan (the Alpine Slide) wouldn't work out, so we switched to bowling at Jupiter Bowl.  This was the boys' first bowling experience, and they all did great!  Ryder totally understood the game within the first frame, and really loved watching his ball roll down the isle.  Harvick enjoyed taking turns, and was eager to carry his own ball.  Jarrett loved it at first, decided he hated it in the middle, but by the end of the second game, was loving it again!  After bowling, we picked up Subway sandwiches on our way back to the resort where the boys all napped. Grandma Jody and Ann took us out for dinner at the Silver Star Cafe before they headed back home.

The boys' bowling shoes were so cute!  Why can't they make cute adult ones too?!

We ended our evening with ice cream, and a movie in our room!

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Park City . Days 1 & 2

Finally!  A post about our vacation!  Life has been busy the past few weeks, and I thought that with foot surgery last weekend, I would have time to update the blog while resting...but...I was too worn out for even that.

More to come soon (hopefully!)...

After considering our options, Patrick and I decided the best use of our timeshare "use or lose" week this year was to redeem it in Park City - it was far enough away to feel like a vacation, but close enough to home to not be overwhelming!  We chose October because we were able to miss less preschool (UEA) and work (Columbus Day), and the weather would be perfect!  When we booked our week we invited our parents to join us for any day(s) they would like.  We planned a handful of activities, but purposefully kept most of our time open - time to just relax, and be together.

Friday, October 11, 2013   |   Patrick & took the day off of work to get things done at home.  We packed our car (very full!) with everything we needed for the week, and picked up the boys.  After arriving at our resort, and unloading everything we brought with us, we took the boys to Loco Lizard, one of Patrick and my favorite restaurants.  That evening the boys shared the king size bed - we brought their blankets and favorite stuffed animals to help them feel comfortable.  They did amazing with sharing a bed - they all thought it was quite fun, and everyone fell asleep easily!

Saturday, October 12, 2013   |   We ate breakfast in our room, and later met Papa & Nana at the Outlet Mall where we walked around the shops for the morning.  We picked up Cafe Rio take-out on the way back to our hotel room.  After the boy napped, we headed to the resort' indoor/outdoor pool for a little swimming.  Our night ended with pizza delivered to our room!

Saturday, November 2, 2013

Home Depot . November 2013

We started going to the Home Depot Kid's Workshops last fall.  I don't always take the camera, but when it works out, I like to capture pictures of the boys building their projects.

On the first Saturday of the month we headed to Home Depot to participate in their Kids Workshop - this time making a ship.  The boys all enjoy putting together their projects - especially when it is their turn to use the hammer! 

Friday, November 1, 2013

Brothers . October 2013

It's a "Brothers" photo first...the boys are wearing the same shirt in this photo as they did LAST October!  I actually bought these shirts in 2011 in an after-holiday clearance sale.  Last year, Ryder's shirt was slightly too big, but Harvick & Jarrett's sleeves would constantly slip over their hands.  So, I held onto all of them, just in case.  This year, all 3 boys were definitely on the edge of their shirt being too small, but we made it work!

Brothers . October 2013
(Harvick, Ryder, and Jarrett)

All Previous Brothers Posts | October 2012 (same shirt!) | October 2011