Random Stuff

The weather has been so good lately that the kids are always wanting to go out and ride their bikes.  We got Easton a new Strider bike, which we were saving for Easter but he has been riding a girl bike for so long that we couldn't keep it from him any longer.  A Strider bike is a bike made just for toddlers that doesn't have any pedals or training wheels.  It is designed so they learn their balance and learn how to ride a bike a lot sooner than if they were riding a bike with training wheels.

 He loved it!

 Rylie got all dressed up to ride her bike.  Then they decided to go for a "hike" up on our hill.  I love this picture of our little diva hanging out and reading a book.

 Brynlie loves riding her bike!

These are some pictures from New Year's Eve.  We went over to Grandma and Grandpa Galloway's house.

 Easton almost made it to midnight.  I think it was like 11:45 when he fell asleep.  The girls had no problems staying awake.  Brynlie stayed there overnight and she stayed up until 2 and then of course woke up early.

 Brynlie lost her first tooth the other night.  It has been wiggly for some time but she finally got it out and was excited for the tooth fairy to come.

Brynlie turns 6!

This year for Brynlie's birthday I asked if she wanted to have a birthday party with all her school and primary friends and she told me she just wanted to go bowling with her cousin Seth.  Since her birthday was on a Wednesday this year we waited until Saturday to take her out.  We didn't get to go bowling because there were a lot of parties at the Fun Park and it was too busy.  Instead we took her to Carl's Jr. where they have a play place and then we took her to a movie.

On Sunday we had a few people come over for cake and ice cream.  Brynlie asked for a football cake.  This is the second birthday that she has had a football cake.  She doesn't even like to watch football, I think she just likes whatever her dad likes.  She has always been a big daddy's girl.  Too bad the Steelers had to lose that day.

Brynlie got an Ipod touch for her birthday.  We usually wouldn't spend that much on a birthday present but Brynlie helped pay for half of it.  She used her Christmas money and the money she got for her birthday.  She loves it and has a lot of fun with it.  At first she was a little disappointed that she only got to open 1 present but I don't think she quite understood what an expensive present this was.  After we explained to her that this was worth like 20 presents she was happier.  I think the worth of something is too hard for a 6 year old to grasp.

Once again I wish I would have planned her Birthday a little better, but with it coming so close after Christmas I don't think I'll ever get it the way I think she deserves.  She isn't one to complain though.

Happy Birthday Brynlie!  We love you!!

Christmas 2011

 Christmas Eve at Grandma and Grandpa Dahl's

 The cousin's had a lot of fun playing with each other, you would never know that they hadn't seen each other in 6 months.

 My sister Mindi brought gingerbread house stuff for everyone to make.  The kids had fun with that.  Of course we had a huge meal and lots of treats at my parents house.  They always go all out for Christmas Eve and we all love it.  It's a fun tradition to always go to my parents house for Christmas.

After my parents house we go to Grandma and Grandpa Galloways house to exchange presents with each other.  The kids always have fun with their cousins.

 It looks like my kids got a little too spoiled by Santa.

 Christmas morning the kids slept in a little bit so they were only able to open their stockings and 1 present before church.  They sat really well in church and only asked a couple of times if it was almost time to go home to open presents.  After we got home Brynlie had to change back into her pajamas ( I guess it wouldn't be the same opening presents while she was dressed).  The other kids got dressed and then started opening presents.  They tore through them so fast I don't think they even knew what they got until after everything had been opened and they finally settled down long enough to look at stuff.

 My girls love Barbies and Monster High dolls so they got quite a few of those.  They also love to draw so they each got art sets and sketch books.  They got movies, pillow pets and moon dough and several other things.

 Easton got a lot of cars and big dump trucks and loaders to play with outside.  He got a magnetic drawing board and a Steeler bear with a blanket.

Our kids also got spoiled by their grandparents as well. 

 I think next year we might focus more on quality rather than quantity.  My kids got a lot of stuff they haven't even played with yet.  I also got spoiled this year.  I got a new Kitchen Aid mixer and a George Foreman grill and slippers and jewelry and perfume and a bunch of stuff from Bath and Body Works.  The family got a Soda Stream which is fun to make our own soda.  Porter got a foot massager, slippers, sweatshirts, socks, and pajama pants ( I'm not the best gift giver, I struggle with ideas).  Our family had a great Christmas and we are very thankful for all our family that we got to share it with.