Dance Dance

Here's a little dance refresher for everyone before you start partying tonight...

Christmas pictures...

Christmas...

What a busy week...we have had so much fun. On Christmas Eve morning Coulter's mom (Tara), Steve and Tara's parents (Jim and Genile) came to our house for breakfast and to exchange gifts. It was good to see them since we don't get to very often. Ethan and Rylie were excited to have visitors and even more excited to open presents. Ethan and Rylie got bean bag chairs from Genile and Jim and they love them. Thanks for everything guys! That afternoon we went to the Treehouse museum with Shaylee and Janelle for their Christmas Eve party. Santa came so the kids were excited...they also got to do some crafts and play. It was fun...That night we went out to dinner and then came home to make cookies for Santa. We watched a Christmas movie before bed and then tried to put the kids to bed. Rylie went down pretty easy, she was tired from a long day. Ethan had a hard time falling asleep because he was too excited. He was convinced that he was going to see Santa and maybe Rudolph if he was lucky...I think he finally went to bed around midnight...

Christmas morning we woke the kids up around eight and took them downstairs to see what Santa brought them. Ethan looked relieved to see the gifts. He was so good on Christmas Eve because he was afraid that Santa wouldn't bring him anything. Rylie on the other hand was not as well behaved...Ethan asked us a couple dozens times if Santa would bring Rylie toys. Ethan kept telling Rylie to be good because he wanted her to have presents to open like him. (What a cute brother!) The kids loved all their gifts. Ethan's favorite toy is his Nerf gun from Santa and Rylie loves her princess dress and wand from Santa.

We headed over to Coulter's family later in the morning and exchanged gifts. Ethan and Rylie love to be at the "gray house" and see everyone. It was fun playing with everyone and watching the kids play with their new toys. Coulter and I got a bread maker from Joelle...Coulter was so excited! Okay...well I was at least...

Next we headed over to my parent's house. My parents gave the kids scooters so they were riding them around the house. We visited for awhile and helped make dinner. After dinner we opened presents with everyone...it was fun. By late afternoon everyone was pretty tired. We were all hanging out in the family room just talking.

On Friday we had family pictures with my family since my brother, Jeremy, was in town. That was a good time...it was fine really, Ethan and Rylie just won't cooperate when it comes to getting pictures taken...hopefully they turned out.

Saturday night we had the Creager Family party at our house. It was really fun. I'm not going to lie, I was a little worried about having it at my house. I'm not good at the hosting stuff but Coulter's family is great and we had a good time. It was nice to see everyone and catch up. Thanks for coming guys...

And then it was Sunday...we went to church, it was nice and peaceful...I think things are getting back to normal...

Thank you to everyone for making our Christmas great!

Christmas Program

Last week Ethan had his preschool Christmas program. He was excited to sing all of the songs that he had been learning. Mrs Connie, his teacher, had both of her 4 year old classes so there were quite a few kids. It was pretty funny watching all of them...

Ethan loves the Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer song. He sings it all the time...

Santa came in when the kids were done singing their songs. Ethan was excited to let him know that he wanted a shooting gun, a rhino game and 2 fighting dinosaurs...crazy boy

Ethan gave Mrs Connie a present for Christmas. Before we left he told us that he was going to show Mrs Connie what he got her and say Happy Birthday. I told him that he needed to say Merry Christmas because it was a Christmas present. He said that he wanted her to open it today and if he told her it was a Christmas present then she would have to wait until Christmas day to open it...Funny boy. Ethan and Rylie have been trying to talk Coulter and I into letting them open presents now but they were told they have to wait until Christmas. It's good to hear him understanding the following the rules for once...

Grandma, Grandpa and Aunt Kaitlin with Ethan

Grandma Joelle and Ethan

I was trying to get Rylie to say hello to Santa but she was still pretty upset about not being able to sing songs with Ethan and his class. Rylie told Santa she wouldn't sit on his lap but that she wanted his candy cane. Dang that girl has attitude!

Rylie the Reindeer!

Snow! Finally!

Ethan has been begging for snow and it finally came! The kids had a blast outside, I had to drag them inside...



Ethan kept having me make snowballs for him and then he would throw them at me. After a couple rounds of this I walked away...where's the love?

Rylie was all over the yard, running in circles...she was excited. I had to talk her into taking a picture...




Ethan helped me shovel snow...

Hayride...

So last night the fam went on a hayride through Layton Park to see the lights. Kaitlin, Jordan and Matthew came along as well...It was fun. Ethan and Rylie were excited about the lights and going on a ride. After the hayride we went inside Burger Stop and had some hot chocolate. There was a Santa inside that the kids were kind of scared of (we don't know if he was hired by Burger Stop or if he invited himself). The kids were extremely hyper after candy canes and treats so it was pretty interesting. The restaurant was packed when we got there and before we knew it the place was practically empty. The kids were loud and crazy but I didn't think they were that bad...hopefully it was just a coincidence...

Matthew, Jordan and Kaitlin

Of course Rylie didn't want hot chocolate. She insisted on having an ice cream cone. She made the biggest mess! When we weren't looking she started eating it from the bottom of the cone...crazy girl!

Ethan was so sugared up. We went home and let them watch Home Alone with us because they weren't tired at all. I love that movie! Its one of my favorite Christmas movies and I insisted that Coulter watch it with me. I don't know if letting Ethan and Rylie watch that movie was such a good idea though...

Hace frio!

So we went to see the lights at Temple Square last night (and it was so cold!). We got there before dark so we could play a little. We let the kids walk around and explore. This is the first time Rylie has been to Temple Square and Ethan was just a baby last time he went. We had dinner at the Nauvoo Cafe and then saw Joseph Smith The Prophet of the Restoration at the Joseph Memorial Building. Coulter and I were a little nervous about taking the kids because it wasn't a Disney film but they actually did really well. Rylie kept asking questions so I would answer them for her and then remind her to be quiet...overall they were good (luckily). By the time the show was over it was dark outside so we went outside to check out the lights. It was so pretty. The temple grounds are always beautiful but it was a different kind of pretty this time of year. Ethan and Rylie were both impressed with the reflection pool and liked the "bubbles" that lit up. We walked around until we couldn't stand the cold anymore. It was a good night...

The kids think the temple is so cool...Coulter and I keep explaining that they will get to go inside when they are older. Rylie is determined to get inside sooner then later, she is a curious little girl and doesn't like to be told no...

I took the kids to get their pictures taken yesterday morning so I took a few pics before we left...

I wish this one didn't turn out blurry because it was kind of cute...they are hugging and no one is screaming.

Happy Half Birthday!

Today at Ethan's preschool they celebrated his half birthday because his birthday is in June. Ethan got to bring in pictures to show the class and Mrs Connie also did a little spotlight on him. Rylie and I stayed while Ethan had his little birthday moment and the class sang to him. It was cute...Rylie was so mad when we left. She is so jealous of Ethan going to preschool and doesn't understand why she can't go. Poor girl...next year, I promise!

Mrs Connie sent home a sheet of questions to ask Ethan so she could spotlight him. I added some of my own as well. So here are his responses...

Favorite color: blue

Favorite animal: snakes and lizards

Best friend: Averi (This made me laugh because this is my friend's little girl but Ethan doesn't see her very often. I asked him if he knew who that was, he said "the girl that painted pumpkins with us.")

What does daddy do (for work)? give money to people
What does mommy do (for work)? fix babies

How old are you? 4

What color is your hair? brown

What color are your eyes? blue

How much do you weigh? let me count it for you...1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10...I weigh a lot

Favorite food: grapes

What do you like to do? play in my room

What is daddy's favorite food? um...shrimp! yummy!

What is mommy's favorite food? um...I don't know, tell me

Tell my about Rylie: she plays with me

What is your favorite book? all of my books I read at night

What makes you angry? when Rylie touches me

What makes you sad? when I get boo boos

What do you want to be when you grow up? firefighter and policeman

What is your favorite thing about church? eating treats

What do you like to do outside? catch bugs

What is your favorite holiday? turkey and ham and a little potatoes (I then talked to him about holidays...)

What is your favorite letter? E for Ethan!

What a good day...

I just wanted to say thanks to my cool siblings who gave me a gift certificate to a spa last Christmas. I was finally able to use it yesterday. I got a massage, my first one actually. It was different that for sure, but really nice. Thanks guys...Then last night my parents took Coulter, myself, Kaitlin (my sister) and Jordan (her boyfriend) to see The Forgotten Carols. I knew most of the songs but I have never seen the performance. It was really good. I like Michael McLean. He is entertaining and he put on a good show. Thanks mom and dad...also thanks to Robby and Matthew for watching their favorite niece and nephew...

I don't mean to brag...

Isn't that a good looking tree? Isn't that a good looking boy? (He wasn't as excited about the sweater as I was)

Thanksgiving Day...

Thanksgiving was good...we went to my parents house...it was relaxing. I worked the night before so Coulter entertained the kids until he had to work at noon. The kids and I headed over to my parents around 2 and played with everyone. We weren't going to eat until Coulter got off of work at 4 so we all just goofed around, went through the black friday ads, snacked on food etc. Before we knew it Coulter was walking in the door and nothing but the turkey was ready. Oops! We stepped up the pace and had dinner ready around 5ish. It was really good. Thanks grandma, mom and Robby (and everyone else...).