Makin' Treats!

For neighbor treats, I've come across a great tradition of Marshmallow Stiring Sticks. But this year, instead of using miniature shish-kabob sticks, I found the small coffee straws, which my kids love to use. We take a large marshmallow, dip it in melted chocolate, and then dip it into something else like crushed candy cane, a peppermint patty, red hots, MnM's, or crushed Ande's mints. My kids love helping me make these, and I love it that they CAN help and it's not a big mess or stress. We put them in a cute bag with Hot Cocoa Packets and Tada...we are done. Seriously, way easy and also fun to eat!

New Years Eve

Our friends the Clark's started a tradition of having a New Years Eve party 2 years ago. Well 2 years ago, I was in the hospital giving birth...and last year I wanted Hannah to have her own special 1st birthday. But this year we were able to attend with about 5 other families from our ward. The highlight has to be the fact that the Clarks set up their trampoline in their living room. It has a very high ceiling and of course fills up the entire room...but what a blast. The kids totally love it... and so do the parents, because it keeps them occupied all night. We had lots of yummy food (my little smokies were a hit!), and played games. After we watched the ball drop 'New York' time...they had a pinata for the kids in the basement. What a fun night it was, and again everyone sang to Hannah, which she loved! I hope we can always attend the Clarks party with our good friends!

Jumping on the tramp...what a blast!

Everyone got a chance to hit the pinata...Brady was the one who finally brought it down!

"All I need is one treat and I'm a happy girl."

Kids' scrambling for the loot!

Look how high Brady got. His cousin Mason was with us and had a competition of who could jump the highest. But Christian Rosenvalle, 14, won by being able to touch the ceiling fan. He also showed those two to jump off the balcony onto the tramp...needless to say they only tried that 1 time!

Hannah's Birthday

There will always be a party on Hannah's birthday...no matter what! But we wanted to make the day special for her. We were able to go sledding just up behind our house with a bunch of families in our ward, then in the early evening we had a little party for Hannah. And of course that night rang in the New Year. I can't believe that she is already 2...wow how time flies. She is such a sweetie, and we love her little voice and all the words that she can pronounce so clearly! She can be quite a handful at times, but maybe we (especially me) are becoming too lax on our parenting skills...and need to keep a closer eye on her.
Here are some of my favorite sayings from Hannah:

'Hi, Mom' (When I walk in the door)
'Mom, I eat cereal. Mom...cereal? Cereal, mom!' (This is always early in the morning.)
'Thank You.'
'Hannah did it.'
'I Hug'
'Passey!'
'Hi Guys' (This is always directed to her siblings)

She sometimes scares me because she is generally not afraid of strangers if she is in a good mood. The other day I took the kids to the Princess and the Frog movie, and she just wandered from row to row, looking into the faces of strangers and say, 'Hi' and then running off. (Don't worry I still kept my eye on her.)
She loves to have her daddy ask her, 'Hannah, where's Pitville?' or 'Hannah, where's the City of Knee Wee?' because she knows that a huge tickle is coming.
We love having you in our family Hannah, and the spice and life that you bring each day!

Jace and Hannah ready to go on the 4-wheeler.

Jace thinks that he should always have a ride on the wheeler.

Okay...enough pictures mom!


I love having an older child that can help haul the sleds back up the hill...thanks B!

Nate taking Hannah and Robert for a ride....I didn't get a shot of it, but we tied a sled to the back and could pull a couple of kids around on the trails...they loved it!

Zack loved going off the jumps.

Brady and Hannah taking it slow down the hill.

Miss Rachel enjoying sledding.

Nothing like Hot Cocoa while sledding.

The green truck was stuck up on the mountain, so Nate, Steve and Brett went up on the 4-wheeler to help get his truck down. Not so smart if you ask me.

Shannon brought the girls their birthday presents...little mini-muffin tins and kitchen accessories...so cute!

"I love all these people singing just for me."

"Maybe if I puff out my cheeks more I can blow out those candles."

Dad comes to the rescue.

Present Time!

What a fun Birthday!

Snow Hike

On December 29th, Annie Clayson and I decided to take our kids (all 9 of them) on a Snow Hike. We have a trail that we love to go running on, and knew it was pretty compact from other people's tracks. We did go out for a little over an hour, but with little kids wanting to stop and eat or play in the snow, it didn't seem like we got very far. But we had a great time and it snowed the entire time. We made it home safely to have grilled cheese and hot tomato soup for lunch. It was a great way to tire out the kids and keep them occupied during the Christmas Break. We bumped into Angie and Amber Mazieka walking their dogs on the trail, and Angie said that before they reached us Amber made the comment, "I hope that is more than one family...that is a lot of kids!"

Me and all the kiddos...minus Jake Clayson.

Hannah stayed in the backpack the entire time...she just kept taking of her gloves, so her hands were cold. Luckily she fell asleep on the way back.




Zack and Caleb goofing off.

Brady on the sled...we had this in the back of the burb, but didn't take it with us...it would have been really usefull when those little toddler legs got tired of walking.

Rachel's Birthday

Rachel turned 7, on the 27th which was the last Sunday of the month. Which is also when we have a Broadhead family dinner. So we were able to kill a lot of birds with one stone. Since Hannah was born, we've now been able to have her friend party in the summer, but we still like to have family over to celebrate December Birthday's. And since the Holmes' have 3 of the 5 birthdays...we of course get to host the big event! As long as Rachel get's to eat breakfast in bed, with the red bowl and plate and of course the bumpy spoon...she will always enjoy her birthday I think.
Nate and I gave her the bunkbed for her American Girl Doll, and I had made mattresses, blankets and pillows to complete it. We decided to wait and let Rachel decide if she want's to paint the bed.

She was so excited to have a bed for her doll.

Closing her eyes trying to figure out what it was.


Kaylee and Rachel opening up gifts together...Kaylee is 17 days older than Rachel.

We decided to let Hannah open up some gifts even though her birthday wasn't for a few more days...a princess dress up from Dad and Mom.

My 2 December Birthday Girls.

Hannah loves babies.


All the December Birthday took a turn taking a bite out of the cake!

Eat Your Heart Out AG!

Laura Redd, who is Autumn's mom, (Autumn is a friend of Rachel's), asked Nate a few months ago if she would help her make a doll bunk bed for American Girl Dolls. She knew Rachel was asking Santa for an AG doll, and thought it might be a good idea for us to give Rachel one too. Nate was pretty busy in the shop in November and December with Toy Boxes, but still found time to make the doll beds. The word spread in our ward what he was working on, and soon had two other families wanting in on the goods. Brett Redd and Steve Clark came over to work on their's, but Nate ended up making 3 on his own. I looked on line for a pattern to buy, but couldn't find one I really liked. But was turned to YouTube, and found a step by step video there. I 'tweeked' the design a bit...and Nate also 'improved' the process a lot. The beds turned out great, and Nate just finished another one for our niece Taylor's birthday in January. On the American Girl Website, these beds cost $145....we paid $15 for supplies for one bed. And they are super sturdy...I've caught Hannah sitting on the top bunk of the doll bed a number of times.

A 'proto-type'...I liked the leaf molding, but Nate decided to add the spindle chair rail and counter-sink the wood screws to give it a more finished look.

Five beds finished and ready to go!

Christmas Morning

Christmas Morning is so fun and exciting. Nate and I try to make it last as long as possible for our kids. Luckily they don't get up too early, but once one of them wakes up, you can bet the rest will be up within a few minutes. We have the tradition of watching the LDS church movie of 'Luke II' before we go and open up presents. The movie is one of our favorites, because it brings the spirit of what Christmas is all about. I only wish it were a little bit longer...but I'm sure our kids would disagree.
We like to take turns opening up gifts from Santa, and start from youngest to oldest. Then once the kids are occupied, Nate and I open up our gifts to each other. We always have a Christmas Breakfast casserole, with fruit and Egg Nog.
Then we get to be lazy the rest of the day...sort of. Sharon, Cassidy, Kelly and Aimee came over in the afternoon for a little Christmas lunch. And then it was time to get ready for all the Broadhead clan to come over to our house for a yummy traditional Christmas dinner with Turkey, Ham and of course Granny Rolls!


Watching 'Luke II' before we open gifts.

Walking down the hall to the living room...of course youngest to oldest.

Nate and Hannah...she was ready to start the morning!

Jace asked Santa for a Spiderman bike...I guess he was a good boy this year.

I love Rachel's face as she opens this gift.

She asked for an American Girl doll that looked just like her.

Zack wanted Harry Potter Books.

Brady opening up his Guitar Hero for the Wii.

Hannah opening up a present.

Jace showing us how fast he can ride his new bike.

Hannah brought me Santa's plate with only 1 carrot left...guess he and the reindeer liked what we left for them.

Hannah with her new doll and stroller.

You'd think I would have taken more pictures of Christmas Night, but I kind of forgot. Here is a picture of some of the guys opening up gifts from Bumpa and Grammee.

Haha...I did have pics of the kids opening gifts from Grammee and Bumpa!

All the cousins, minus the Bethea Boys...from oldest to youngest.
Jessie, Colby, Kaitlyn, Brady, Jaxon, Kissy, Taylor, Zack, Kaila, Kaylee, Rachel, Tanner, Dallin, Mitchell, Jace, Chloe, Zella, Hannah, Bella, and Janessa. (Bethea Boys missing...Layton, Mason, Jaden, Easton, and Branten.)