Fun with Cohen

The day we were all waiting for finally arrived... Melanie and Ben needed a babysitter for Cohen. He got tons of love and attention...

And then it was time to have a little fun. A little background: Ben is an diehard University of Utah fan, and everyone else is loyal to BYU. Needless to say, lots of trash talk is the norm. Jordan decided to put together a little surprise for Ben. We call it babysitting with a bonus:

Don't Look if You're Squeamish

All three of my poor children have inherited their mom's much-too-small mouth. Thus, part of the leap into orthodontia includes having to pull a bunch of permanent teeth for which there is simply not enough room. I had permanent teeth pulled when I was a kid. Jordan had permanent teeth pulled during his time in braces. Recently it was Alyssa's turn...

Yikes, huh? They look a lot different when they don't fall out naturally. Thank goodness the tooth fairy leaves a little extra for traumatic cases like this.

More Snow...Already??

Getting snow in December was definitely a surprise. Getting another round of snow only two weeks later had us questioning the crazy NC weather.

Courtney with her mini snowman

Alyssa looking cute in the backyard

The snow actually profited Jordan financially when a neighbor hired him to shovel his driveway.

Here's Courtney out again the next day. (Yes, she's licking a giant piece of ice.) It snowed most of the day Monday then turned to rain that evening. Unfortunately, because it was still so cold, everything was a solid sheet of ice by the next day. The yards looked like frozen ponds. Jordan tossed a rock at one end of the backyard, and it slid all the way across to the other side. It was very weird.

The kids ended up being out of school three days with a delayed start the fourth day. Hopefully they enjoyed it because they lost a January holiday and their only two days off in February!

Jordan does his part to contribute to the neighborhood.

Happy New Year!

We celebrated New Year's Eve by watching Despicable Me, playing games, and watching the ball drop at Times Square. Everyone gets to pick a favorite treat or snack, and the result is a junk food buffet...

They were ready to dig in but patiently waited while I snapped a picture. Alyssa wanted Swiss Cake rolls; Courtney picked Twinkies; Jordan requested Pringles; and Mom made fondue. Dad thought everyone had chosen well and figured we didn't really need more.

Build-a-Bear Fun

One day over the break, we hit the mall and headed to Build A Bear so the girls could use the gift cards they got for Christmas.

A good time had by all...

Christmas Bonus

Technically, we had a white Christmas in Charlotte this year. It didn't actually start snowing until the evening (when it was already dark), so it wasn't quite the same as waking up to snow, but we'll take it. Apparently, it hasn't snowed on Christmas Day here since 1947, so it was definitely something to get excited about.

Courtney was pretty excited about the icicles everywhere.

Jordan and Jason in the backyard having a rather intense snowball fight

Courtney and Jordan with their snowman
(Poor Alyssa was inside sick with a stomach bug, but she played in the remnants a little the next day.)

Christmas Fun

Here are a few of the highlights of our December...

Decorating the Tree

Our tradition is that the kids get a new ornament every year. The big reveal comes the nite we decorate the tree. Jordan and Courtney both got electric guitars (black and pink to match their own), and Alyssa got a tennis racket.

Christmas Eve

The past couple of years, we've saved our gingerbread houses for Christmas Eve. The kids like it because it gives them something fun to look forward to on a day that otherwise passes pretty slowly. Mom likes it because the houses aren't taking up a kitchen counter for quite as long.

Christmas Day

Long story short, it was a good day.

Courtney with her Ikea ladybug.

Alyssa checking out her stocking.

Jordan looking fierce with his new airsoft gun...

...and happily posing with his new phone.

Jason got the new drill he wanted.

Relaxing with their new electronics

Courtney and her new doll Elizabeth posing with their matching outfits

Merry Christmas!