Bowling

Last night we took the kids bowling, and we all had a blast. Rylee had been a few times before, but this was Nolan first time and he loved it. Rylee does a great job rolling the ball off the helper and watching it roll to knock over the pins, but struggles trying to pick out which color ball to use (we had a lot of choices)!! Nolan was a smidge competitive, I wonder where he gets that from. He literally celebrated with two hands in the air yelling, "Yes, Yes, Yes!" when he got a strike, and then sulked away when his ball would only hit one pin. They both loved wearing the bowling shoes and got to pick out their own balls to use for the night. After bowling we went and had dinner and followed that up with treats for the kids at Rocky Mountain Chocolate!

All Snuggled Up

I went to check on Nolan during his nap today and found him all wrapped up in his blankets and sleeping so peacefully! I love this cute little guy and he is such a sweet boy!

Looking Good For Church

Children of the 21st Century

Our children are obsessed with our iPhones and every other digital device we have in our house. The best part is they now have their own since Daddy got a new one. Their phone has lots of games on it, and they love playing all their games. It is amazing the things they can do with the phone, and how well the understand and get each game, including Nolan. I must say that the iPhone is the best entertainment for traveling with kids as well. We have games, music, and movies all in one device for the kids to use, it is great. Last night the kids and Daddy were all sitting in the chair playing on their phones together, and it just made me laugh. If anyone needs a lesson on how to work on iPhone or iTouch, just come see one of my children.

Grocery Shopping

Last night the kids and I went to the grocery store and they each decided they wanted to push the little kid carts around. We were in no rush, so I figured why not. Luckily, Caity was with me too or else I am sure one of these two would have ran some innocent person right over or taken out someones achilles. They were great helpers and Rylee made sure that she and Nolan each had equal items in their shopping carts.

Nolan's New Room

I have finally finished decorating Nolan's new room, and I love how it turned out. We went with a sports theme roomed, of course, and he really likes it too. We based the room around a Nolan Ryan jersey we had framed for his room and then filled in the rest of the walls. He has his own toy bin, which once it is warmer I am going to stain it to match the rest of the furniture. Other than that the room is 100% finished, and Nolan is doing so great in his new bed.

Nolan Striking A Pose

Can't Leave Rylee Out

First Night

Sunday night was Nolan's first night in his new bed. Prior to leaving for California we took Nolan's crib apart and mailed it to baby Amaya for Christmas, so when we came home we had to put together his new bed so he could sleep in it. He absolutely loves his bed, and before it even had sheets on it he was faking sleep just to lay on his bed. His new room is almost done, so once it is all decorated I will get pictures of it up! This is a picture of Nolan asleep the first night he slept in his bed. He has been so great about staying in bed and sleeping in his bed, and it has so far been a smooth transition.

New Years Eve

We spent New Years Eve in California as well with all the family. The kids had a blast playing with their cousins and being with family. We had fun as adults playing cards, eating snack and just chatting. The kids build puzzles, read books with Grandpa and then all watched a movie together. They did better than we thought they would, but still came out to "check" on what we were up to a few times. We did not make it until midnight, man I am getting too old, but the kids wake up at 6:30 am!!

Four Kids and Grandpa building a puzzle

Grandpa and Kylie and Rylee building puzzles

Nolan in the hot tub

Daddy and Nolan reading a book

Grandpa reading a book to his kiddos

Six Grandkids watching a movie together

Lots of Playing Time with Grandma and Grandpa

The kids had so much fun playing with Grandma and Grandpa while we were in California. From building puzzles, to playing Monster with Papa, to playing in Grandma's purse, and even painting Grandma's fingernails the kids had a blast playing. We had a lot of indoor time because of all the rain, so sometimes it got a bit hectic, but all and all it was lots of fun and we cannot wait to go back this Summer.

Pure Joy While Running From The Monster

Oh No The Monster Got Nolan

Nolan Getting Tossed By The Monster

Grandma Kisses

Snuggling Grandpa

Christmas Morning

Nolan was the first person in our family to wake up on Christmas morning, and we let him be a bit loud so he would wake Rylee too. Once the kids were awake they went and found Grandma and Papa, because Rylee was dying to see if Santa had come. Once everyone was ready, the kids came into the family room to see what was left for them. All the kids loved what they got. Nolan immediately started playing tools, Rylee snatched up her new cell phone immediately, and Wyatt started playing with his new Cars Racetrack. After examining all the goodies in their stockings, and even eating a few, we started seperating all the presents under the tree, which was quite a process. There were several presents for the four kids at the house, plus all the other grandkids that were coming later, but when it was all said and done we had quite the pile in the middle of the room for the kiddos to open.

Rylee was all about tearing through each present as fast as she could, while Nolan was quite content playing with his tools. Eventually he caught on that their was more for him too, and started unwrapping a few presents with help from Daddy and Rylee. While Rylee wanted to go from one present to the next as fast as possible, Nolan wanted to take each present out of the box and play with it for a minute or two and then go on to the next presents. Both kids were spoiled out of their minds by us and their grandparents, but is there anything truly better then the excitement and joy of them opening their new presents, I mean really? They are so perfect, cute, adorable, sweet, and I could go on for ever but nothing makes me happier then making them happy. I love Christmas and we will miss you until next year Santa!

Santa

After the kids finally went to bed and fell asleep, Santa was able to set up presents and stockings. Rylee asked Santa for a new scooter and a new cell phone, her princess one is missing. Nolan is too young to really ask for anything yet from Santa, so Santa picked out a Tool Bench that he thought Nolan would like. They each got a few stocking stuffers and some treats too.

Our family tradition is to set everything out that Santa brings and not wrap them, so when the kids come out in the morning they immediately see what Santa brought them.

Rylee's Tinkerbell Scooter

Rylee's Stocking Stuffers

Nolan's Stocking Stuffers

Nolan's Tool Bench

Christmas Eve

We had a fun Christmas Eve filled with cousins, hot tubbing and even some presents. Every one came over except Uncle Mark's family, and they were with their other Grandparents. We had yummy pizza and lots of different treats to eat. The kids ran around 100 miles an hour because they were all so excited for Santa to come. After dinner and playing Monster with Grandpa, Uncle Travis and Grandpa took the kids out to the hot tub for awhile. After the hot tub we all got our jammies on and the kids watched a few movies. They watched Frosty the Snowman first and then they all wanted to watch the Disney World video that Uncle Travis had made. Once they were done with their movies Uncle Travis' family headed home, and Uncle Jason's family spent the night at Grandma's house with us.

Once we got the house picked up a bit, we read the scriptures together and then the kids each opened up one present. Rylee opened her present from Nolan, a bath tub for all of her babies. Nolan opened up a toy Rex that walks and growls. Both kids loved their presents. After presents we tucked them into bed, so Santa could come drop off his presents. Both kids took awhile to fall asleep, and I truly think Rylee was just too excited this year too sleep, sweet girl.

Rylee in the hot tub

Nolan hot tubbing

Rylee and Bryson watching Frosty the Snowman

Matt and the kids

Opening their present

Rylee and her baby bath tub

Nolan and his Rex

Cake and Presents

After the bounce house we all came back to Grandma's house for dinner, cake and presents. Nolan of course had a Mickey Mouse birthday cake and got lots of great presents from his cousins and Grandparents. He got Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse from Mom and Dad, a Mickey Airplane from Rylee, Gator Golf and a Word World Toy from Uncle Travis and family, a monster truck from Uncle Jason's family, a cars toy and a puzzle from Uncle Mark's family, the Dancing Mickey from Grandma and Grandpa, and a Mickey backpack and pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa Reinbold, like I said lots of great presents. He loved his cake and even blew out his candle without any help. All the kids loved the cake and had a fun night playing together.

Nolan's Cake

Gator Golf

Thanking Uncle Travis

Mickey Mouse's Clubhouse

Dancing Mickey

Blowing out his candle

Licking the frosting

The kids eating cake