New Years Eve 2012

Another year has come and gone, and my how many fun things have happened!!! Cody got a job as a prosecutor, we bought a house, and we are a happy, and now healthy family! (Poor Hailey was sick Christmas Eve and Christmas). We are so grateful for our Savior and for the restored gospel, along with the many MANY blessings we receive.

We are excited to see what 2013 has in store for us!

We had fun tonight... IBC Rootbeers and Shrimp... movies until the kids fell asleep, and we zonked out too... it was a great New Years Eve! Cheers to 2012!!

 

Another Hair Update

I love doing the girls hair... Valerie's included, and sometimes I even do my own :) Here are a few pictures I've collected after some of my experiments... and another reason is so that someday when the girls ask if I ever did their hair and how I did it, they can look back and say, oh yeah... my mom did do our hair!

 

My Gentleman

 

Moments

I love catching the kids in moments like this. Pure love. Pure Happiness. Music Blasting. Dancing. Singing. Playing. Being Goofy. Loving Each Other.

 

Now how can I tell them it's way past bedtime?? I don't. I'll let them be little, and bond as siblings. And who knows... they might just sleep in a little more tomorrow morning :)

 

 

Christmas 2012

Last night Cody had me open one of my gifts... so I could use it today :) I got a Nikon Camera! A really nice one too! Please excuse the pictures, I still have yet to learn all of the operations on the camera, but I shot away. I am not puttin in all 271 pictures, but chose a few of my favorites from the day. Poor Hailey was sick, so she didn't even want to get out of bed right away. But eventually she started feeling better and layed on the couch so she could enjoy Christmas as well. We did Christmas all by ourselves this year. It was a fun experience, although I am sad that my family left yesterday. I made Christmas Dinner all by myself (with Cody's help though). First time ever, and it turned out delicious! I am so proud of us! We also put up my parents gift to the kids... a trampoline! Spent the day enjoying each other and the gifts, and of course watching a few new movies. It was a fantastic, family day. Merry Christmas! and Happy "Celebrated" Birthday Jesus :)

 

 

Technology

Technology is so great. We were able to connect with Nathan (my brother) who is serving his mission in Mexico City, Mexico. We FaceTimed my parents, who were skyping with Nathan, so we were able to see him. I love technology! His companion was funny though... he stayed watching in the background the entire time.

Buddy the Elf

We adopted a new tradition for Christmas time with our children. It is called "The Elf on the Shelf". It is a book, and comes with an elf. Basically, the elf will reappear in different spots each day to watch the children and report nightly to Santa Claus on their daily behaviors. And they are NOT allowed to touch him, or he may not reappear because he could lose his magic. It started after Thanksgiving, and ended Christmas Eve. The kids had so much fun looking for Buddy the Elf each morning. It's been so much fun!

 

 

 

Christmas Eve

We were so excited when I got a call from my mom asking if it was alright if they came down for Christmas Eve... YEAH HOO!!!! SOOO EXCITING! We had so much fun with them, and played and laughed, and were sad that they had to leave on Christmas Eve, but spent some time with us. They'll be back for Hailey's baptism, thank goodness that isn't too far away!

 

 

Must be teaching them something good

Today Xander decided he wanted to surprise us by washing the dishes (we don't have a dishwasher). What a sweetheart! I caught him in the act :)

 

Mealworms

Hailey has been raising mealworms at school. Now she has brought them home. I told her that when they become beetles, she needs to release them. Since one has become a beetle, she found them a new home today by our Pine tree. She even named them Cutie and Shiny.

Lunch Break = New Bed

Cody and I have realized that we need to downgrade our bed. We have a King, but our room needs a queen size bed. We have a mattress, but need a frame. So during Cody's lunchbreak today we looked at Big Lots. We found a sleigh bed that we like! So we got it, and when Cody got home, after we put the kiddos to bed, we put together our bed! I also picked up a queen comforter set since we don't have one at Ross. Gotta love those discounted prices!!

Thanksgiving 2012

For Thanksgiving, we spent time in Mesa with the Johnson extended family. Lots of food and fun! It was fun getting all the cousins together, and we were happy that Ryan's concussion smoothed over and he and his family were able to join us. April took pictures of our family and kids so that I can update my wall. (And because I don't have a camera besides my iPad and phone :))

 

 

 

Tennis

Hailey started tennis, and she loves it. She is taking it from a laurel in our ward, Shania Kitchen... who just moved from Price, Utah, and is sad that they don't offer tennis at the high school. We're so excited that Hailey is loving it, and wants to do it every day :)

 

StoryTime

I have heard that Chino Valley has the best story time in the entire county. Today I went with some friends so we could craft some bow ties afterwords, and I was amazed. They got the Yavapai Sheriffs Office to come and do a presentation to the kids. Brielle and Weston were so excited!  We will definitely be going to go to storytime more often!

 

Stake Conference and Cousins

Cody's parents and his sisters family came over to see the house today. It was a lot of fun seeing the new stake center in Prescott Valley and then showing the Paynes our house and eating some yummy food!

Sneaky

Brielle is so funny, I remember Xander doing this exact same thing. Sneaking out of bed, covered by a blanket, thinking they are invisible :) So Funny!!!

 

Just Because

 

Cody just came home from his Elders Quorum Meeting, and surprised me with flowers, ice cream, cool whip, and cherries!!! He is so thoughtful, and kept thanking me for never complaining. Of course I don't complain when you are on the Lord's errand honey! :)

Compliments

Cody has some amazing cousins. Becky Thompson is now one of my favorites :) She posted a picture of herself on instagram and I commented (I am richelleandcody) ... see the picture of her reply. What a sweetheart, and it made my day! It's always nice to receive a compliment :)

 

4 Wheeling in our YARD!

I took the kids out on the 4-wheeler until Cody got home from work, and then they wanted a ride from Daddy... of course he complied... I think he had more fun then they did :)

How to get Gum out of Hair

Found Gum in Brielle's Hair this morning... YIKES!

I was so afraid I was going to have to cut it.... but I went on Pinterest, and found a remedy

OLIVE OIL!

So I went in my cupboard, and found extra virgin olive oil... I doused the gum part of her hair in olive oil, let it sit for about 2 minutes, and then proceeded to take the gum out with my fingers. When it was mostly out, I brushed it, and then gave her a bath... after washing her hair, I used my conditioner, rinsed it, and after she was done playing, we got her dressed and I brushed through it again, and used my nails to take out any remaining (there was barely any left) YAY! So glad I didn't have to cut it out!!!

Halloween 2012

Tonight we decided to take the kids to the tri-ward trunk-or-treat that was put on by the youth. The kids had a blast going from car to car (although I think I saw more cars parked on the side than actually handing out candy)... They loved getting dressed up, and the girls loved wearing makeup.

When we got home we made a quick meatball sub dinner, and then watched "Spookly the Square Pumpkin" that I recorded on the DVR yesterday. Then the kids got ready for bed :)

 

Cody - Lawyer/Elders Quorum Pres. (he came straight from work)

Richelle - Katniss (from Hunger Games)

Hailey - Princess

Xander - Police Officer

Brielle - Cheerleader

Weston - Cowboy