Gingerbread Traditions

For the last few years it has been our family tradition to make gingerbread houses with the kids on Christmas Eve but we just couldn't wait this year and we knew we would be too busy with the all the family we have in town to share the holidays with so we made gingerbread houses for Family Home Evening instead. The kids all had a great time and loved all the sweets we kept throwing at them to add to their houses (or mouths which ever it go to first!) I love my family and spending time together!




Ryker LOVED the sprinkles!

Evva LOVED the frosting!

And Jonah LOVED it all!


My favorite picture, He is such a goofy little boy!

Evva showing off her Gingerbread house before D-Day (devouring day in this case)

Chrsitmas time!!

The first weekend in December we had our ward Christmas party.
Me and Nana

Jonah is getting to be such a big kid but went to see Santa anyway.

Ryker was so excited to see Santa and tell him what he wanted for Christmas but then had a hard time when he realized he wasn't going to get it right away, I am still telling him he has to wait for Christmas for Santa to bring his presents!

Evva wasn't to sure about what to do but I was surprised she didn't cry she just sat next to Santa and was happy she got a candy cane!


On Saturday the 11th our ward held a family temple day, where they have volunteers who will babysit at the temple apartments for couples with young children while they do a session. I think this is a great idea! Michael and I were able to enjoy the temple knowing our kids were safe and not too far away. The L.A. temple is 2 hours from our home so instead of feeling like we should rush like normal we were able to take the day slow and enjoy it with our children and walk around with them at the visitor's center and the temple grounds lit up with Christmas lights, it was so fun and beautiful!


This picture is a little blurry but I still like it!

Why Wall Paper?

Why would anyone ever put wall paper in their house? Well, the wall paper that was in the master bedroom was driving me crazy so I decided I wanted it gone! I was so glad that although it took some time it really wasn't that hard I was a little scared that it wouldn't want to come off! After some work and time Michael and I finally got it all off and I started painting, that was the fun part! Now we have a room where we can feel relaxed and it's weird but we feel cleaner too it's like the wall paper sent out these gross dirty vibes, but it's all gone now!

Thanksgiving: part 2

Pictures!!

Having fun at the family carnival playing balloon darts, buck hunt and other fun games!


Michael's Dad AKA Where's Waldo?

Evva was like a living doll for the little girls, they always tried to hold her and carry her around, here she is with Hannah and Harlie



Jonah surprised me by willingly riding the sheep after watching his cousin get thrown from it! GO Jonah!!

Going...

Going...

Gone! Besides getting dirty, no one was hurt!


Here's Ryker racing with his Uncle Cody and some cousins, he had so much fun with his cousins or as he calls them his best friends like Buzz and Woody, so cute!

Thanksgiving

We have been super busy this last week! Michael's family held a family reunion over the Thanksgiving weekend and we had tons of fun! Unfortunately our camera was not with us so sorry but no pictures, until I get some from the rest of the family! There were about 60 people total! we could barely all fir in the house! But the kids didn't care and they all had a blast playing with all their cousins. The day after Thanksgiving (after I went shopping) we had a family carnival and rodeo, there were three legged races, goat tying, sheep riding, cotton-candy eating, cake walks, ping-pong tosses, and lots of other fun things to do at each family's "booth"




The kids and I made Indian feathered hats, poor Ryker was asleep when I took these pictures but he made one too!




Jonah loves taking pictures so he took this one of me and Evva

From Tuesday to Saturday we were only home long enough to sleep then were we back at the Rasmussen Ranch and now our house is a disaster, and instead of cleaning on Sat. Michael and I took off the rest of the wallpaper in the master bedroom, and in the process created an even bigger mess but I'm glad I don't have to look at the ugly flowered walls anymore!

Keeping Busy!

Here are some fun pictures of what we've been up to lately...

We moved into a small trailer while Michael was in training for GEICO (we are happy to be in a house now)



Jonah turned 6! I can't believe it's been that long, he is so big!!



Evva turned 1! And started walking.





Michael and I celebrated our 7 year anniversary, wow!



The kids and I went on a long vacation with my parents up the California coast, through Oregon, and into Washington It was beautiful! And of course being so close I had to make a trip into Forks, It was way more Twilight-ish than I had suspected but lots of fun!









We moved into a nice house with a big yard, we love it!




Jonah started 1st grade !



And Ryker is working on potty training, finally!

Settled

I am so excited to have the internet again and to be settled in a home for a while, it has been a very long transition from Desert Hot Springs! Michael got a new job with GEICO and had 3 months of training that was in San Diego and Virginia so while he was living in hotels the kids and I were living in Bakersfield "temporarily" but Michael's boss found out we had family here and asked if instead of moving to Sacramento after training we would move to Bakersfield, well we decided to since most of our family is here and we already moved all of our stuff here. SO now we have found a house and have settled in. Jonah started first grade and his school is right across the street, He loves that! Ryker and Evva are so excited to see all their toys that have been packed for the last 3 months and they love all the space in our new house, and so do I we even have a beautiful fenced-in pool and a big grassy yard for the kids to play in, this house is perfect! (too bad we're just renting).