Birthday Boy

Daniel turned 4 at the beginning of January! Poor kid was sick on his actual birthday but he was able to have a small party with his Joy School friends a week later.

Super Hero Daniel: Shannon's Aunt Jo gave Daniel a Superhero Starter Kit for his birthday. He loves it!

Birthday Boy

The Party:

I let Daniel pick the idea for the cake out of one of my cookbooks. It turned out yummy and it became the theme for his party.

Daniel, Jackson, Nora, and Dane: I made their party hats and had to get at least one picture of them wearing them.

Jackson and Nora: They were the only ones who were being very patient with the hats.

The whole crew.

Game time:

They had to build an ice cream sundae with cotton balls and these red balls while they were blind folded.

Banana, Banana, Split: Our version of Duck, Duck, Goose. It was a big hit.

Relay race with ice cream scoopers and cotton balls.

Opening Gifts

Hugs for Dane

An excited Daniel: Time to blow out the candles.

Daniel helped me make these ice cream cone magnets to put in the goodie bags.

At the party the kids filled real ice cream cones with marshmallows and candy to take home as well.

Sunbeams

Daniel is a Sunbeam now! Grandma Kathy makes scripture bags for all of the kids when they start Sunbeams. Daniel wasn't so sure about going to his class the first week but he was really excited to carry his scripture bag.

He ended up having a great time in class. A teacher that had substitued that day later told me that he answered one of the questions in class and then said "Do you want to know how I knew that?....because I'm smart"

Grandma Wilma

While we were in California we were able to see Shannon's Grandma Wilma. It was really nice to see her and the family. We were sad to hear a few days ago that she passed away but we are grateful we were able to visit with her at Christmas.

CA

Just a few more pictures from California:

Making sugar cookies with Aunt Teneil. My kids are so lucky to have such good Aunts and Uncles - and we don't get to see them nearly enough!

Bryant, Daniel, and Ethan decorating the sugar cookies. I think they ate more icing than cookies.

Oakland Temple: We stopped by to take a few pictures on the grounds.

You have to love the pretty flowers in December.

Taking in the view from the temple.

We stopped by to see our good friend Gar. It was so great to see her!

Jonah was so sweet to Nora.

Kids New Years Eve Bash: Bubbles and Martinelli's

California Snow

One day we all drove about an hour up in the mountains to let the kids play in some snow. Daniel has seen a lot of snow before but he had never been sledding before. They all had a great time. Nora looked so cute all bundled up!

Gotta love the socks for gloves! But hey it worked.

Unable to move. When she finally did move she fell right on her face - poor thing!

Nora and Jonah with a snowman.

The trees were so beautiful. That's little Jonah in the front making his way through the snow.

Daniel in the middle on the sled.

Snow bunny!

Teneil and a sad Jonah.

More Christmas Fun

Nora and Daddy

At the playground

Picnic Lunch

Riding the train.

I love the palm trees.

Family Time

Nora pulled the little tree down. I had to take a picture because when I was about her age I pulled the big Christmas tree down on top of myself.

Daniel, Bryant, and Ethan


Daniel and Ethan: Christmas Dinner

Nora and the fang: It was really just a candy cane but we thought it looked funny. Nora still has NO teeth!

Jonah and Nora

Nora ready for church.

Nana and Nora

Susan, Shannon, and Nora

Me with Nora and Jonah

Shannon arm wrestling with the boys.

The boys had an impromptu talent show one night. Daniel was making something for us with the pipe cleaners.

Bryant and Daniel: They also told stories.

Ethan telling a story.

Bowling: Striking a pose.