Kids being silly

The kids actually decided to sit in the chair together, which is why I had to jump quickly to get the camera. It's not too often that the kids will sit next to each other for a couple pictures. I didn't bother getting the ketchup off of Tyler's face, I figured it was either take a picture or wash his face..... so here are the pictures :)

Our sleepy kids

It still surprises me that the kids can just lay down somewhere and fall asleep. They take after their daddy I guess! Alana feel asleep on the floor in our family room the other day. We made a fort out of the kitchen chairs and a blanket and she wanted a picnic under it. So while Tyler was down for his nap she was sitting under there eating her snack....or so I thought. I noticed she was very quiet so I went in to check I found her asleep, she had covered herself up and everything!

Tyler had his first night of sleeping in his toddler bed. We had to take the side off of the crib because he has discovered how to unlatch the sides of the crib and have the side go down. So rather then have him climb out of the crib (like his sister used to) I decided to try it out with the side off. This was the first night for it. The moment I put him down he sat right up and realized that he could get out. Sure enough he opened up his bedroom door. I picked him up and put him back in bed and this time I held the door handle so he couldn't open the door. He tried a couple times and then I heard him playing a little, he never cried and didn't try to get out of the room again. But instead of crawling back up in bed to go to sleep he decided to just lay on the floor! I went in and picked him up to put him back in his bed and he stayed asleep. We'll see how this goes! It is happening much sooner than I have expected. I wasn't really ready for him to be out of a crib yet!

Valentines Day cookies

Here are just a few pictures of the kids decorating some heart cookies for Valentine's day. Tyler was more interested in eating the plain cookies then anything else. Alana had a great time putting some heart candies and gummies on to her cookies.

Christmas

We had a very nice Christmas. We decided to celebrate on Christmas Eve this year since we were going over to Grandma and Grandpa Olson's on Christmas day. The kids had a great time with all of their presents. Tyler was starting to really get the hang of opening presents. Alana was an old pro so when Tyler was 'done' with the present thing she opened the rest of his. He was pretty typical and when he found a present that he liked nothing else mattered!

Christmas 2

We had one last surprise for the kids.

Alana has been asking for the Rose Petal Cottage for months

and we had it all set up in our family room for her,

She was very surprised and happy that she got it!

You can tell she was surprised about it in her first picture!

We weren't able to get her everything for it since most stores were sold out.

We surprised Tyler with a ride on Thomas the Tank engine. Though he looks

very serious in these pictures he was pretty excited about it.

He had to go right up to it and get face to face with it!

He also figured out how to push it around pretty well.

'Thanksmas'

We celebrated our "Thanksmas" in Ohio this past weekend

The kids had a great time together. It was pretty cold there

and with them living right by the lake we had the crazy winds

and even some snow.

Tyler making his silly face.

Junior saying "CHEESE" for the camera

Elizabeth playing with Santa's bell on the tree.

Alana and Elizabeth having fun together.

Thanksmas 2

Tyler Cheesing it up for the camera

It's pretty hard to get all 4 of the kids in the same picture

and have them all looking at the camera!

Alana Checking out the cool horses that she got

Tyler was pretty hooked on all of his new Thomas toys

Still hanging on to his Thomas.