Feburary

Davis had his celebration for 100 days of school by dressing up like he was 100. First grade is the absolute cutest.

We did a lot of birthday celebrating for Ben and Lila! This was the first cake- a carrot cake, and Lila got so bashful while we sang to them. They both love sharing their birthdays!

We continued to try new things with Hudson's hair as I trained to tame his ideas and walk the line between "cool hair" and "crazy hair day".

Hudson finished up Robotics! He really did have a great season- full of drama and a lot of hard work- and ultimately I think they did a great job!

Our princess turned 4! We love this girl so much! She wanted a unicorn princess party so that's what we did. Lindsay made her cake (it turned out delicious and so beautiful) and we decorated a little and all her little friends wore princess dresses. I quickly learned that hosting a party with 8 little girls is about a million times easier and quieter than a party with little boys! It was so calm and they were all so cute- followed the rules playing games and just enjoyed themselves. Lila loved it so much!

On her actual birthday she got to open presents at 7:00 pm when Mom got home from her girls trip to Florida. Ben and the kids did wonderfully while I was gone, and I absolutely loved relaxing and hanging out with my cousins!

Davis got himself a part in the Jungle Book! I helped direct the play this year and did all the costumes. He came to all the practices with me since Hudson was staying for them too (Hudson was a vulture). He learned all the songs and was so cute and enthusiastic that we stuck him in! He got to be a baby leopard and he told every single person he saw that he got to be in the play! (You normally have to be in 4-6th grade).

We had a gloriously sunny Sunday and enjoyed some much needed fresh air! The boys all really connected over basketball this winter and have spent hours out there shooting hoops together.

Hudson moved this bookshelf into his room and spent a good hour organizing and styling it. I love how his mind works. He loves this stuff.

Leap day! Again- 1st grade is the cutest.

This is the ONLY photo I took on my girls trip to Florida- in the Salt Lake airport super early the morning we left! It was really a blast and I had such a great time with my cousins- I came home very relaxed and rejuvenated!

 

January

We welcomed in 2024 with another cinnamon roll snowflake, so I think we all started out on a good foot!

Chase turned 13! We love this kid so much! Jr. High has been a big transition and he's handled it like a champ. He's made a bunch of new friends, taken some challenging classes and learned a lot, and is volunteering to run the lights for the spring musical. He wanted steak for his birthday, as a true teenage boy would, so that's what we did. It was fun to celebrate him, because he's just so great!

 

 

Lila and Rosie biweekly playdates are just the highlight of Lila's life.

The kids loved playing on the rock wall a lot this winter. Lila will only climb if someone is helping her. Ben put together a route of pink and purple holds for her to follow.

"Magic potions" became a favorite game in January. She learned a lot about mixing colors and primary and secondary colors! 

Chase really wanted this hat, so his grandparents took him out one night to get it. End of January Chase decided he was a 49ers fan and has worn this hat pretty much every day since.

Hudson's robotics team competed this winter! For a team full of rookie 5th graders they did awesome! They took 3rd in this tournament!

Davis loves this trapeze- he got these special gloves because he kept getting blisters he's spent so much time on it.

Lila was complaining about monsters in her room- so her brothers (of their own accord) retrieved their weapons from the basement and went to slay the monsters. Problem solved.

Cutest little workout crew! I can't remember what started this, but it was pretty darn cute!

Lila decided she likes to do pickups as long as I let her out of her carseat while we wait and she can play. She loves trying to sit in the front seat.

I got a little lunch date in with Chase- gosh he's so funny and cute! He chose Old Grist Mill, which is one of his favorites.

We did a swap with Will and Kate so we took the girls one night and they had our kids the next weekend. It was pretty smooth sailing and the kids all loved having their cousins sleepover!

She is absolutely as sassy as this picture would lead you to believe.

A little cousin art time

Hudson turned 11! He had a terrific birthday! He wanted his special brownies- double thick milk chocolate/dark chocolate brownie mixes with whipped cream oreo frosting and andes mints on top. Hudson is creative and just has the best ideas. For his birthday he really wanted white crocs and a vented hairbrush, which Aunt Heidi happily provided. Both boys big birthday present from us was tickets to see Hamilton....in August when it comes to SLC. And Nana and Papa took them both to see Potted Potter- a play that parodies Harry Potter, which they absolutely loved and laughed the whole way through.

We had one gloriously warm day and I took the littles to the park. These two just love a great park!

Hudson also got a little birthday date- and he also chose Old Grist Mill. I love hearing him chat away- most of the time about yoyos, shoes or his hair.

Davis really hates to read- but tolerates it a little more when he can do it with daddy. I walked upstairs to see them reading like this one day and I just had to laugh. 

My aunt Karen bought a table at the Egyptian Theater 100 years gala and invited us all to attend with her. We got to meet Marie Osmond before the fancy dinner and then watched her in concert later in the evening. It was such a fun night! We also ran into the Brownings, which is kind of hilarious because we run into them all the time! Weird how some people just enter your life over and over!