The End of Summer

Wow I can’t believe that summer has come and gone so quickly.  Here are a few fun things we were able to do:

Here is Katelynn trying to learn a new trick on her bike.  Riding blind folded.

All the girls had lots of fun indoors and out.  Clara is already becoming a fashion star. 

She sure is growing up fast.

We all went to some ponds that are just right next to where we live and we had a great time.  We were able to catch one 10 inch catfish.  The girls liked its whiskers a lot.

Katelynn and Jane really liked helping me in the garden. We picked all the tomatoes off the plants.  I am pretty sure however that they mostly just dug in the dirt.

Katelynn is in a preschool coop and their class went on a fun outing to a farm.  There were hay rides, mazes and lots of pumpkins.

Summer sure does go by fast, especially with three monkeys to take care of now.

The Stork Delivered

On April 3 at 11:14 pm Clara Anne Saunders was delivered successfully and is a beautiful “little” girl.

Leonora nice and happy now that the epidural is in.

Just a few minutes after the baby was born.

Wow, 9 lbs. 13 oz. and 22 inches long. Nobody thought she looked that big.

Everybody enjoying Clara’s company.  Katelynn and Jane were pretty excited to meet her.

Leonora is doing great and we should be able to go home with the baby soon.

Winter Fun

We really like the snow.  I love a good snow storm and I love softly falling snow and I love it when it snows a lot.  I also like driving in it for some reason.  Weird I know, but I do. 

These blue sleds are perfect for sledding down our driveway!  The girls loved it.  It was hard to get them to go in, but in the end hot chocolate won them over. 

Sledding and snowmen!  The two things the girls love about the snow and us too.  Kevin helped the girls build this awesome snowman about a week after the storm hit us.  We had to wait for it to warm up so we could roll the snow into a snowman.  It sure was worth the wait though! 

Rarr!  I’m going to get you. 

Katelynn isn’t quite like her daddy when it comes to hot sauces.  She does like to pretend to eat them though. 

We have fun inside when we aren’t playing in the snow.  The girls really like coloring.  Katelynn likes the color green best.  She made sure she had all of the green pencils this time. 

For our next snow storm Kevin built an awesome bobsled run!  A mini one of course.  We were prepping for the Olympics!  The girls and Kevin and I had lots of fun with it. 

We went on our bobsled run many times.  Kevin wanted it to be extra slick and so he went inside and got a spray bottle to spray it down. 

Kevin also made an awesome tunnel for us to crawl through.  Well everyone else could crawl through it, but my tummy wouldn’t let me.  It’s a little big right now. 

A few weeks later we improved on our bobsled run with our neighbors help. 

We made sure to make our snowman even bigger the next time.  Kevin still thinks it needed to be bigger.  Maybe next time honey.  Although you are going to need help from someone who isn’t pregnant.  Snow is heavy when it is wet and compacted.  We love the snow and love playing in it with our girls!

Jane really likes to be in a basket full of clothes.  She might have lots of opportunities to do so lately.  Katelynn had to join her in there, because everything is more fun with your sister! 

This is the face Jane makes when we tell her to smile. 

It must be a face she likes to make.  She made it at 10 months old too! 

This is Katelynn’s version of Jane’s look.  We sure do love our little girls!  We are excited to add one more to our family.  Only five more weeks!! 

Christmas!

What is there to not love about Christmas?  We love Christmas!  The lights, the decorations, the yummy food, a great chance to see family, and most importantly celebrating our Saviors’ birth and life! 

There is something magical about a lit up tree at night.  It brings a warm glow to my heart and reminds me of so many fond memories and of our Savior.  I really like Christmas books too.  I hope to add to our collection so we have enough to read one a night each day in December for Christmases to come.  A fun little tradition I want to start with them is to wrap them up and then the kids can choose one to unwrap and read each night.  So many chances to have fun traditions at this time of year. 

We were able to go down to California to visit Kevin’s parents this year.  It has been awhile since we have been down there, so it was really nice to have a long visit. 

We got the fun started by going four wheeling around the driveway.  The girls had lots of fun and didn’t want to stop. 

It is always fun playing with cousins! 

Christmas Eve!  I loved Christmas Eve growing up.  We got to read the Christmas story, put out our stockings, and then go to bed (or not go to bed when you are a little kid).  Going to bed was the best because you knew Christmas was tomorrow! 

Waiting for everyone to get up so we can open presents! 

Another thing to love about Christmas is the little kids.  They are the best!  Everyone has a little bit of kid inside of them.  I know I sure do.  It love seeing not very many presents under the tree on Christmas Eve and then they magically appear overnight.  That is the best!  Kevin surprised us and made letters for us girls.  Don’t mind the J.  It will be fixed.  Kevin felt a little silly when he noticed it.  Still a great present though!  We sure do love our daddy and husband!

This little girl is in love with purses.  The more she has, the better. 

The girls had a lot of fun with their Uncle B.J.  Also with their cousin, Annika.

Katelynn looks a little different with her daddy’s glasses on!  Still super cute!

We sure had fun visiting Grandma and Grandpa Saunders for Christmas.  They are lots of fun and we love them very much! 

On our way back to Colorado we got to stop in Utah and visit Kevin’s siblings.  It was great to see them all, even if it was for only one night.  Christmas is great!  Celebrating Christ’s birth, Family, and lots of love!