Playing in the Snow

Ethan and I built a small sledding hill, pretty soon all the kids were playing on it.

Ethan-Riley-Hagen-Autumn-Kaleigh

Kaleigh and Autumn Hagen and Kaleigh

Uncle Sheldon came to visit

Sheldon and Julie came to visit after the new year. It was fun to be with them. Julie had to go home early, but Uncle shledon stayed a little longer Kaleigh and Hagen had a lot of fun playing with him and so did Sidney.

Busy Christmas Week

As always the week of Christmas is extremly busy filled with family activities, we love the holidays.

These are just a few pictures that had been taken the first of this crazy week.

The kids love playing mario kart.

Smith family Christmas eve party. We ate a very filling lunch. The kids hit a pinata and got lots and lots of candy (didn't get any pictures of that, however Jenny was very funny). Decorated Ginger Bread houses since the weather was too horrible for any one to travel during the week. We all played chimes and then Santa came. Hagen and Jared

Grandma Mikits and Sidney

Tallon and Melissa

Sarah and Melissa

Des and Olivia

Jacob and Kaleigh

Jenny and Sidney

Chimes

Aunt Jenny played Santa this year. She was a pro. Little Sidney fell asleep before she could go sit with Santa.

Before the kids went to bed on Christmas eve they got to open one present from Mom and Dad, pajamas of course, don't they look amazingly cute. Christmas morning! The kids slept in until 9:00 am. The funny thing was that Jared and I layed in bed wide a wake waiting for the kids to wake up.

Little Sidney would have been happy with just wrapping paper.

Hagen loves dinosaurs, if you couldn't tell.

Kaleigh was fun to watch. She has finally gotten Christmas morning down and kept asking for more presents.

The weekend after Christmas we always go to Vernal to spend a little time with my family. The kids had fun and definately enjoyed opening more presents. Grandma Carol with Hagen, Sidney, and kaleigh

Ginger Bread Houses 2008

Every year my kids are so excited to decorate ginger bread houses. Last night (Dec. 14th) we celebrated Des' birthday, opened gifts, and then let the kids decorate their houses. I think majority of the candy ended up in their bellies than on the houses. They all did a great job.

In memory of our father

Yesterday, unexpectedly, we lost a great man, a wonderful father and grandfather. This is one of the last pictures I have of my dad and I thought it was very fitting to show this picture of him and the grandkids. The grandkids really loved him and they were always excited to be with him. I miss him.

We put an obituary in the Lake Tribune and the Deseret News for Wednesday, 26th, of November. It was a short and simple but we created a blog in his memory for a little more of a personal note. If you would like to add any of your own memories to the blog, please do.

http://www.steenthecandyman.blogspot.com/

Rolling Over

For the past month little Sidney has rolled from one side to the other, but couldn't quite roll all the way onto her tummy. But last night she finally did it!! She couldn't figure out how to get her one arm out from under her and eventually got a little upset. Pretty soon she will be sitting up, I am excited for that. however, I can wait for her to start crawling, I don't completely have my house baby proof yet.

Halloween!

Here they are, my cute giraffe, bumble bee, and elephant. We did as we normally do except that Jared had to work so it was just me with the help of Grandpa and Grandma Smith watching Sidney as we went tricker treating in a Lehi neighborhood by Grandma and Grandpas house. The weekend before Halloween we took the kids and Ily and Olivia tricker treating at the zoo with Grandpa Olsen. It was amazingly busy and something we will most likely not do again. We spent three hours trying to get through the crowds and waiting in line for candy and when we were finally walking to the entrance to ride the train before leaving we turned around to find that Hagen had some how wondered off and was no where to be found. Lot of tears (on my part)and twenty minutes later he was found in between the giraffe's and lion exhibit. But all said and done we did have a good time.

Little Sidney was all tuckered out.

Kaleigh, Ily, Grandpa Olsen, Sidney, Hagen, and Olivia

Isn't he the cutest elephant you have ever seen.

Kaleigh was being really shy so this is the best picture of her in her costume.