Ice Skating

Scott took us to Seaside Lagoon where every year they have an outdoor ice rink and snow. Last night was a special Kings event night and we got in for free! So Scott decided to let Owen try skating. Owen had so much fun (even though Scott just ended up pushing him around the rink-he wasn't really skating) and said he wants to do it again. At first he didn't want to go: he said he was too cold (from playing in the snow) and needed hot chocolate and then he said he already knew how. But once he had his hot chocolate and his skates on, he had a blast! Emme and I hung out dancing to the music and watching the boys skate-Emme was also a fan of the hot chocolate...

Owen was showing me all the ice on his skate after being out. He had to stop to warm up with his hot chocolate!

Owen's Birthday Party

Owen's 5th (I can't believe he is 5! My kids are getting so old!) birthday party was this last Saturday. It started off very eventful---Owen threw up! He had a fever the day before, but woke up that morning feeling fine! No fever, no complaints, so the party stayed on! (We would have called all the friends and cancelled if we knew he was sick.) So, while his friends all made pizzas and played in the back yard, Owen hopped in the bathtub, took some medicine, then rested and watched some SpongeBob.
Before we knew it, all of his friends had snuck into the room where he was, and were on the bed watching cartoons with him! (I hope no one got sick-we haven't heard that anyone did!) He said he was feeling better, and we figured everyone had now been exposed, so out he came to join in his own party!
The kids made their own pizzas, played some really funny games, and decorated cupcakes (which is a tradition at Owen's birthday parties...the kids all look forward to it.)

Cupcake craziness!!

Playing the Donut on a String game.

Emme's version of the game.

We sang Happy Birthday and Owen got to open his presents! He had a great time and got some cool stuff!
(Scott and I gave him one of his presents, a scooter, on his actual birthday. He also got to have donuts for breakfast, which is his favorite, and he picked In-N-Out for dinner.)

We are grateful for Owen in our lives! He is such a smarty-pants and we love having conversations with him! He makes us laugh everyday!! (Seriously-we laugh everyday!) He is loads of fun, really loving and the best little boy. He is a great friend and a wonderful helper and we love him sooooo much!

What a cute baby boy!!

Summary of November & December

Like I said in the previous post, I haven't blogged in a while because I couldn't find the camera cord. I asked Scott if he knew where it was and 3 minutes later he handed it to me. I should've asked a while ago, I guess!!

I am going to play catch up here quickly...
For Thanksgiving we went to Oregon to spend the holiday with my family. We played lots of board games, my siblings played with the kids, Owen played with the dog, my sisters and I did girly things (had manicures done, face masks, etc.) and had a great Thanksgiving dinner. It was a great week! Owen had so much fun he cried when we left my parent's house and then cried again when we crossed the Oregon/California border...it was sad and sweet at the same time!

 

Emme turned 1 (I can't believe it!!) on the 9th of December. Grandpa and Grandma Stewart sent her her first dolly-a Cabbage Patch baby! She suprised us all by immediately picking the doll up, hugging her and saying "Hi Baby!!" She walked around the house with her baby all day and the rest of the week. (She still loves her baby!)

We had her party on the 12th and had so many people over! It was lots of fun to have family and friends over and hang out with us! Emme was a happy girl all day (although that is not unusual for her to be happy all day!) and had fun opening her presents and eating her butterfly cupcakes. She is such a sweet, loving baby and Scott and I are so blessed to have her be a part of our family! I love her so much!

 

Christmas was loads of fun! We spent Christmas Eve at the Mahkorn Grandparents house with about 40 of our family members and friends. We chose to do a service project that night instead of exchanging gifts, like we usually do. We painted terra cotta pots and planted plants in them-we then "ding-dong ditched" some neighbors and left the plants and christmas notes from Santa's Elves on their doorsteps. It was lots of fun and I think it is a tradition we will keep---doing a service project on Christmas Eve! However, the littlest kids still got presents from their cousins and everyone still got new pj's, too!

Christmas morning, our kids opened their presents from Scott, myself and Santa at home then we had breakfast at Scott's parents house with Steve, Tracie, Adam, Melanie and Preston. For Christmas dinner, we went to Aunt Sharon's house and had tamales for dinner----Scott's dream come true! Dinner was great, the people were fun and we are hoping that this becomes a tradition as well!

 

We are so lucky to have such wonderful people around us to share the holidays with. We are truly blessed and are grateful for everyone who is a part of our lives!

Happy New Year!!

Happy New Year to all our family and friends! Thank you for all the fun and wonderful memories you have helped us make this last year...We are looking forward to another fantastic year!

P.S.
I haven't blogged in about 6 weeks for a reason---I can't find the cord to upload photos from the camera to the computer. As soon as I find it, photos will be posted! (I am missing Thanksgiving, Emme's Birthday, Christmas and after tomorrow Owen's Party as well! Sorry!)