It's all greek to me!!

Kevin got me a new sewing machine for Christmas. The last time I used a sewing machine was.............a long time ago. And I always had either my mom there or a teacher there. This time it is me, trying to teach myself. Kevin also got me a book to help me learn the machine. I'm going through it and doing my homework.

Kevin came up stairs from doing his school homework and got a kick out of me trying to figure out the machine (I was trying to thread it).





And here is Madalynn, topless again. But, happy as can be!!

Christmas Day!!

Looks like Santa made it!! Boy these kids are spoiled!!











Later that day we head down to grandma and grandpa's house for a very yummy Christmas feast, and to open the gifts from grandma and grandpa and the cousins. They always have a good time, and it always gets a bit chaotic!!















This smile says it all!! Merry Christmas!! (It's only the second week of February that I'm actually getting this up for all to see. Better late then never?!!)

Christmas Eve

On Christmas eve, the kids get to open one present, which is always new P.J.'s. So, here they are opening up their one present. Madalynn is not too sure what to do. Which is weird to me, because I can't tell you how many times we had to get her out of under the tree, or take presents away as she tried to open them. After watching Allison and Matthew open theirs, she caught on. And she loves to go topless, we will continue to work on that so it doesn't become an issue down the road ;).



Allison showing us her new jammies.



Madalynn checking out hers. This is the first night gown that she has ever had. She has worn dresses before, but when we put this on she kept kicking her legs out so the bottom of the gown would hit her legs. She loved it!!



Matthew and his new jammies.



How cute is this picture?! And how old do my kids look, wow!!! Absolutely crazy!!



After the unveiling of the new jammies, We read the story of Jesus' birth, then followed by the classic "The Night Before Christmas".





Here is what Madalynn was doing during the book reading. Taking off all the bows and putting them back on. It was a great game for her.



I love Christmas, I think I even love Christmas eve more. The pure excitement in the kids faces as we talk about Santa. The spirit that surrounds us as we read the story of Jesus' birth. And being with my little family. It doesn't get any better then that!!

Snow day!!!!!

The kids were so excited when it finally snowed!! Daddy went outside with the kiddos and tried to build a snowman with them. However, we had waited a day too long and missed the nice packing snow. Instead we had a nice hard crust on top with nothing but powder under it. Not good snowman making snow. Instead, they tried to have a snowball fight. That turned out to be pretty fun for everyone except Kevin. The kids where right at the wrong height for Kevin. He kept getting hit in, well, the, well you know.....



Matthew and Dad trying to scoop up some snow for the snowman.



Allison and Lady just watching on.



Looks like they have just declared battle, and going off to their sides.
The kids just loved it!! When they where finally freezing enough to come inside, they got some nice yummy hot cocoa. Good way to end a snow day!

Decorating grandma's Christmas tree

Decorating grandma's "kid" tree. She loves to get ornaments for all the grandbabies. Each year she gets a new one for each grandchild. The kids all look forward to it and love it. They get a small little reminder of how much grandma loves them. Then each time they go to grandma's house, they go up and check out the tree and their ornaments.

After the decorating, we usually get some of grandma's home made eggnog. Something that EVERYONE looks forward to.

Decorating our Christmas tree!!

Here we are decorating our New Christmas tree. I have been waiting to get a taller tree for quite some time now, and how I LOVE it!!!!!!!! It's so pretty!! We gave our old 6ft tree (that was really closer to 4ft) to Uncle Jay. He needed a tree in his bachelor pad. We are so glad that we were able to find a happy home for our old tree.

Miss Maddy, who is not sure what she is doing. All she knows is that the older kids are doing something, so she must to! She would follow them and do everything they did. If Allison stood on the stool, Madalynn would stand on the stool. If Matthew came over to me to get another ornament, Madalynn would too. She was pretty funny to watch. The older two, who do get what's going on, had a blast!



Showing off their favorite ornaments.



Fighting over one tree branch of out newer, bigger tree, that has more then one branch. I don't understand that.



Madalynn just playing.



Dad playing with Madalynn. I think he was supposed to be getting the knot out of my bead garland. It was just too sparkly for the little one.



Cheesing it up the festive way!!!



My "posed" candid shot for the family calendar. LOVE how it turned out!!



Merry Christmas!!!!!

The things kids say...

There is no cute picture to go with this post. I just wanted to make a note of what Allison said somewhere before I forgot to, this was the best place for me.

We were playing in a co-ed volleyball tournament between the wards in all the stakes in our area. Had a good turn out and had a blast!! Allison was in charge of watching Madalynn up on the stage area while Kevin and I played. They both did awesome, which was a great relief for me!! Well one of my friends that Allison isn't too familiar with, started talking with Allison. Lyndsey points to me and asks Allison if she knows who that person is. Allison replies "Yes, she's my mom." Then Allison asks Lyndsey if she knows a man named Kevin. Lyndsey then says "that must be your dad", Our very talkative daughter answers back with a "ya".

Lyndsey goes on to ask Allison if she knows what ward we are in. Allison answers back, ever so proudly, "I belong to the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints, and I'm a member of the Starr family" Lyndsey just laughs, then tries again, "but do you know what ward you are in?" Allison says again "The Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day Saints", as if Lyndsey just didn't hear her.

How cute and how proper is our little Allison?!

Maddy

Cute Maddy girl. A couple shots of our little baby.

Messy Maddy girl.



Maddy "bare".



Cute Maddy!!

5 minutes till....

Kevin has about 5 minutes of back stretching before the kids pounce. They can't resist the urge to wrestle him when they see him laying on the floor resting. Kevin always plays along with them, he's a good daddy that way.



Cute Matthew falling off.



Maddy wanting to play too



Yay! She made it!!



Poor Kevin!! Even though I think he secretly LOVES it!!

The universal sign.

Universal sign for "want more"!

I have made rice many times at home, can I get Maddy to eat it? No. We go out to eat with grandma and she wants to eat it. We were talking, and I turned around to check on Maddy, and this is what I saw. It was so funny!! Gave her some rice, she ate it and was happy. Get to talking again, turn around again, and she is doing this again. She would be so excited that her hands would be shaking. Silly girl!