Pre-Christmas Kids

We tried to take pictures with the kids and get some cute pictures with them together but Kate decided to fight us on the cute part. She refused to look at the camera and smile.


Here is a smile that we tricked out of her but she isn't looking at the camera.


She did better once we introduced Ty into the pictures.


But Ty wasn't in the mood to be jostled.



I think we gave her candy to get Kate to more cooperative.


And we got a smile out of Ty.


Ty finally broke down but Kate hates it when he is sad so she tries to calm him down.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

The day after Thanksgiving we went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. Before the lights we went and saw the Christus.


Kate looking like a Thug. Anna being cute.


Ethan had fun.


I think the kids liked the lights.


I carried Tyler the whole time. I really liked it. It kept him asleep really well as that is what he loves, being held by someone.


I thought this was a cool shot.


Grandma and cousins.



We went to dinner with Dan's future in-laws at the Olive Garden in Salt Lake and then went down to Provo for the rest of the weekend. Nichole and Dave wanted to see a few sights and a few friends. We went and saw BYU together. It has changed from when Jen and I were there last April let alone Nichole and Dave who haven't been there for several (6+) years. Ethan is a great cousin and watches Kate and is so kind to her. I liked this shot. Can you tell where this is at?




We then ate at Red Robin with Dan's future in-laws again. It was fun. Kate had fun with the fountain there. While we were there Josh had left a message earlier and I returned his call. Hayley is pregnant! She is due mid-June. Congrats Josh and Hayley! Tyler will have three cousins, Collin, Bella, and the Hayley-future-arrival that will be a year away from him. That will be fun. Anyway Kate begged for money so I gave her a penny. 

Jen, Kate, and Tyler threw their stuff into Greg and Diane's car and went to California while I went to finish up the last bit of school. Here is the fun they had putting up the Christmas tree.

Giving Thanks

I know it has been a while and I have done this a few times but it really was a good excuse this time. Jen had the camera 800 miles away from me and so unless you wanted text only blogs, which you don't, then now is the soonest a post could be completed.

So Tyler is finding his thumb. We were tired of holding him all day. It made it difficult to get anything done. So we made him cry it out for a couple days, two hours at a time. Well he has done amazing since and life is great. During this transition he found his thumb.

For Thanksgiving, Nichole decided she wanted to come up to Utah with her family. Ethan and Anna had never been to Utah before and now was as good a time as any. Nichole and Jen convinced Diane and Greg that since they and Dan were up here too then it only made sense for the parents to come up for Thanksgiving. We stayed at Greg's sister's and mom's homes. It was so much fun to be together with so much family. Thanksgiving morning Nichole and Dave wanted to take the kids out to snow. This was a first for them, Ethan having only lived in Florida and both from Southern California. Kate showed them the ropes.




Jen, Kate, Nichole hung out in the van while Dave and I took Ethan and Anna to find a good place to sled. We all had fun. 


We got back in time for Thanksgiving dinner. There were three tables. Grandkids at one, Grandkids with kids (that was our table) and kids (all in relation from Grandma Barnes). There was so much good food, I am still recovering I think. I was glad that many people did not like sweet potatoes/yams and left a ton for me to eat.


Kate didn't want her picture taken. Anna tried to fix that.



Couple picture.


Dan was there. He was a little late, we were all almost done already. He was up in Idaho falls with his girlfriends family. While up there he drove to his old mission home in Billings, Montana to propose marriage and get engaged to Casi. Congrats Dan!


Here are the cousins. Collin and Tyler. It is so funny how they seem so distant age wise but at some point they will seem like the same age.



Thank you Teresa for having us at your home. We had a blast. I should have taken more pictures of everyone but I am afraid to completely become my dad and bother everyone to take their pictures.