Bainter Invasion

We LOVE it when FAMILY visits. Aunt Rebekah and cousin Piper and Apollo flew over for a visit and we had a super fabulous time. We missed CR (especially Oliver), but hopefully he can come next time!

Piper, Oliver, Violette, Penelepe, Apollo, and Lorenzo

Rebekah and Apollo

Look at these two giggling girls. They had so much fun together. They played like real sisters - loving each other one minute and fighting the next and then loving each other again. The fighting usually was over who could name their animal "Sleeping Beauty". My favorite conversation from the girls was:

Penelepe: Piper be careful on the stairs. They are scary.

Piper: I am big!

Penelepe: Well I have a big head!

BFF

Lorenzo is too cool for school!

Violette also had fun with her cousins too!

Apollo you are too stinking cute!

Happy Valentines! I think these kids have a future with Ace of Cakes.

I'm not sure who won the contest of who could put the most frosting on their cookies? Piper or....

Penelepe? It's a close one.

Oh no the frosting was poisoned!

CR was so sweet and sent Rebekah a dozen roses. They were beautiful and I honestly was shocked how long they lasted. Thanks CR - we love you too!

Story time.

Trampolines are soooooo overrated.

Well needless to say we already miss our cousins. Penelepe has begged almost every hour since they have left to go to St. George so she can see Piper and her animals. We've told Penelepe maybe this summer when its warmer we can go, and then she automatically replies, "it is warmer out!"

So much for our quarantine

Well I really tried to keep us away from all the germs and we really haven't gone out much or socialized since Violette joined our family. It seems like the harder I tried the worse we got. First Ryan got a terrible respiratory infection. Then Oliver got walking pneumonia, and since Penelepe has to do everything Oliver does she also got walking pneumonia. I thought Violette and I would luck out, but Violette now has RSV. Anybody want to come to our house?
Oliver missed a week of school. Mrs. Meacham emailed Oliver a nice card.

Family Pictures

Why are family pictures the most impossible event to come to pass? Either the children are complaining and don't (or won't) do them or the husbands won't. (Or if you would ask Ryan he would say that all of a sudden I decide we are going to take family pictures and it is going to be right that minute.) At least thats how it is in our family. Anyways Rozannah took these a week or so before Violette was born. Thanks for enduring us Rozannah!

And we can't forget about Violette.

Ha ha ha so funny

So for my birthday, several months ago, Ryan got us tickets to see Jim Gaffigan. Just thinking about it makes me laugh! It was so fun and Ryan and I both were crying in several parts of the show. I'm sure Violette loved that we went because my stomach jiggled the entire time - I felt like Santa. Why am I now writing a post about it? I don't know it was just too funny to not mention it. I tried to find our favorite sections of the show on youtube, but they weren't there. I loved it when he talked about children and their reaction when someone mentions ice cream - what he said was exactly what Oliver does. I can't tell you what he said because it won't be funny when I say it (0r write it). Ryan loved it when he talked about bacon - it was great! The entire show was great! So if he's ever in your area - it's a must see!!! I put a link below to another one of my favorite parts of the show for your enjoyment. And yes I LOVE cinnabons and cake and food! Another one to watch, if you're bored or need a laugh (Laughter is the Best Medicine you know), is the Hot Pocket clip on youtube. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Im9Le9Vy2o&feature=related

CHUBBY CHEEKS

Who can resist chubby cheeks? Well Violette has decided to follow Oliver's chunky growing route as opposed to Penlepele's skin and bones route. She just had her 2 month check up and weighs 12 1/2 pounds, which really isn't that much, but she sure has some nice cheeks and chins. Her favorite time is right before her diaper is changed, that's when she talks and smiles the most, and I actually don't mind changing her diapers. I'm sure that will change once real food is introduced.

I love these socks - I think they are so stinking cute!

As for the rest of us - I am sure we will be getting cheeks as big as Violette's because the main event around here is eating! What else is there to do when its 10 degrees outside? We've got to stay warm somehow - we are just giving ourselves more insulation. Needless to say we are homesick for Sunny St. George. We watched High School Musical 2 the other day and I wanted to cry!

Happy Birthday Penelepe!

Happy Birthday Penelepe!!!!! She had a great day with a few of her friends. You know its a good party when kids are crying because they don't want to go home, and the birthday girl is crying because she doesn't want them to leave. Penelepe went to the store with her Grandma DeEtte, while she was visiting, and picked out her Princess party supplies. The girls made Princess necklaces and tiaras, and played Princess Bingo and Musical pillows. Only girls were allowed, except for cousin Enzo.

Penelepe requested Tuna Fish for lunch, and for those who may not appreciate tuna, there was also PB&Js.

All week Penelepe sang "Happy Birthday to You"

What a beautiful Princess Cake - made of course by Aunt Rozannah.

Merry Christmsa and Happy New Year!

We had a quiet Christmas with just our little family which was nice. Oliver was super excited for Santa this year. He was the first one up and ran downstairs. A minute later he came running up and said Mom, Santa brought me Bubble Gum! I think next year Santa will probably bring him several different flavors of Bubble Gum and call that good. Even though you can't see it - Oliver's hat has 2009 glittered on it.

A couple days later we had visitors. Can you guess from Penelepe's toes who one of those visitors were? If you guessed Grandma DeEtte you are correct. We had a lot of fun With Grandma Ette (as Penelepe says) and "Our Chris" as Oliver says - to differentiate from Rozannah's Chris.

I love Penelepe's smiles! She is so fun! We love the monkey hair clips - thanks Aunt Lindsay!

This about sums up what Oliver did over his Christmas Vacation. Either watching Chris play his games or playing them or playing on the computer. Oliver doesn't know it yet but his New Year's Resolutions is less time with electronics more time with books and playing some sort of sport. Its just hard when its FREEZING cold and windy - I can come up with excuses and justifications for anything.

Penelepe had so much fun with her Grandma DeEtte - we also LOVE the monkey skirt- Thanks again Aunt Lindsay.

Ryan also had lots of fun with his Mom and brother. As he says he loves it when people visit, because I actually cook when people are with us.

Visiting the Joseph Smith home.

This is how Oliver walked around the Sacred Grove. It looks like Chris may have had enough - but not Oliver!

As for Violette and I, we had some nice quiet warm one on one time while they were out freezing having fun.