Ryan Shupe and the RubberBand

For Christmas Santa Claus gave us tickets to the Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband concert. Isn't Santa Claus the best?! We went to the concert on Friday night and had a great time. The concert was very interactive and super kid friendly! Jacob could not believe how energetic the band was. He thought they must drink a lot of pop to be able to keep going like that! If you have never heard their music before, purchase a CD, you won't be sorry!

Fun Facts

Last January we filled out a questionnaire about ourselves. This year we included our answers in a book that we made for Kelly's mom. The book includes answers from Kelly's two brothers, his sister and their families. It is so fun to have a record of our likes and dislikes to look back on. Here are this year's anwers:

Fun Facts about Kelly:

Occupation: Social Worker (Adoption Supervisor)
Where did you go to college? Ricks College; California State University Sacramento
How many states have you lived in? What are they? 5: Idaho, California, South Carolina, Utah, Colorado
5 material things you could not live without: car, guitar, GPS, cell phone, computer
If you could travel anywhere where would you go? The moon
first thing you would buy if you had a million dollars? A new house with a big backyard
Describe yourself in 3 words: busy, helpful, fun
if you could have one talent what would it be? Mad skills on the guitar
3 people you admire: my sister Cammi, my dad, Jane Adams (first social worker)
favorite holiday, why? Halloween because you get to dress up.
favorite hobby: Geocaching
favorite color: Green
favorite animal: Dog
favorite dessert: pumpkin pie
favorite food: Chinese food
Favorite candy: peanut m&ms
favorite drink: peach fresca
favorite restaurant: Outback Steakhouse
favorite movie: Nacho Libre
favorite band/singer: Jack Johnson
favorite song: Sleep Through the Static by Jack Johnson
favorite book: The Book of Mormon
favorite vacation spot: Goblin Valley
favorite sport: Basketball
favorite team: Nuggets

Fun Facts about Angie:

Occupation: Mom; Preschool Teacher
Where did you go to college? Brigham Young University
How many states have you lived in? What are they? 5: California, Utah, Idaho, South Carolina, Colorado
5 material things you could not live without: books, Windex, hairspray, Purell, computer
If you could travel anywhere where would you go? England
first thing you would buy if you had a million dollars? My house (pay for it in full) and use the rest for our children’s college fund
Describe yourself in 3 words: rule follower, creative, friendly
if you could have one talent what would it be? To be able to sing
3 people you admire: Mom, Great Grandma, Mother in Law
favorite holiday, why? Christmas because we celebrate Jesus’ birth and it is all about family, friends, and food!
favorite hobby: sewing
favorite color: Yellow
favorite animal: hippopotamus
favorite dessert: Lemon Ice Box Pie
favorite food: I can’t eat it anymore, but I have always loved Fettuccine Alfredo
Favorite candy: red and black licorice
favorite drink: Lemonade
favorite restaurant: Los Hermanos
favorite movie: Some Kind of Wonderful
favorite band/singer: I like silence much more than music!
favorite song: Wicked Soundtrack
favorite book: A Tree Grows in Brooklyn, Glass Lake, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
favorite vacation spot: NYC
favorite sport: Synchronized Swimming (it is a sport!)
favorite team: Team USA at the Olympics

Fun Facts about Jacob:

How many states have you lived in? What are they? 4: California, Utah, South Carolina, Colorado 5 material things you could not live without: headphones, MP3 Player, my mom, bike, skateboard and scooter
If you could travel anywhere where would you go? Disneyworld
first thing you would buy if you had a million dollars? A PSP, Wii and a cell phone
Describe yourself in 3 words: busy, helpful, fun
if you could have one talent what would it be? To become a Rock Star with a mohawk
3 people you admire: Dad, Michael Jackson, Jesus
favorite holiday, why? Christmas because I like getting presents.
favorite hobbies. Baseball, Football, Basketball, collecting rocks.
favorite color. Hot Pink

favorite animal. Tea cup poodle
favorite dessert. All of them
favorite food. Spaghetti
Favorite candy. Lemonade coated wild cherry nerds
favorite drink. Peach Fresca
favorite restaurant. Cold Stone
favorite movie. Any Harry Potter movie (that’s PG)
favorite band/singer. Michael Jackson
favorite song. Thriller
favorite book: Any Harry Potter book
favorite vacation spot. Hawaii
favorite sport. Football

favorite team. Broncos

Fun Facts about Ryan:

How many states have you lived in? What are they? 3: South Carolina, Utah, Colorado
5 material things you could not live without: T.V., DVD player, my family (insists this is a material thing!), glasses, bike
If you could travel anywhere where would you go? Paris
first thing you would buy if you had a million dollars? I would save it.
Describe yourself in 3 words: funny, obedient, nice
if you could have one talent what would it be? To fly
3 people you admire: Buzz Lightyear, Jesus, Dad
favorite holiday, why? Halloween because we get to go Trick or Treating
favorite hobby: driving my mom crazy or playing outside
favorite color: Yellow
favorite animal: Rhino
favorite dessert: s’mores
favorite food: pizza
Favorite candy: candy cane
favorite drink: Fresca
favorite restaurant: Casa Bonita
favorite movie: Toy Story
favorite band/singer: Ryan Shupe and the Rubberband
favorite song: Banjo Boy
favorite book: Danny and the Dinosaur
favorite vacation spot: Disneyland
favorite sport: Soccer
favorite team: Scorpions (my soccer team)

Fun Facts about Laynie:

Occupation: causing trouble
Where do you go to school? Mrs. Angie’s Preschool
How many states have you lived in? What are they? 1-Colorado
5 material things you could not live without: Goldfish, sippy cup, jacket, hat, and shoes
Describe yourself in 3 words: stubborn, cute, spoiled rotten
3 people you admire: my mom, my mom and my mom
favorite hobby: fighting with Ryan, dancing, and climbing
favorite dessert: ice cream
favorite food: any kind of dip
favorite drink: milk

SURPRISE!

Last weekend we flew to California to surprise Kelly's parents. We had not seen them in 16 months so we were thrilled to have the opportunity to go. We flew to California and then rode in a limousine to Kelly's parents home. I am still not sure which Jacob enjoyed more, surprising his grandparents or riding in the limousine!

While there we were able to catch up with one of Kelly's brothers and also his sister and their families who came for the weekend as well. We stayed with my brother and his family which made the weekend even more special for me. We ate lots of delicious food (I still think Judy had to have guessed we were coming. She had so much food that we didn't even have to go shopping once we arrived!), had a birthday dinner for Judy in a yummy Italian restaurant and spent lots of time playing with the cousins. Laynie was a perfect angel despite no naps and Ryan kept saying, "this was the best weekend of his entire life!"

Here are a few of my favorite pictures from our trip:

Ryan and his cousin loved playing Star Wars,

Laynie getting too much attention,

Laynie with Grandpa Dennis,

Judy's fun party,

Kelly with his family,

wishing Judy Happy Birthday,

and having all of the grand kids together!

Snowboarding

For Christmas, Jacob received money to go snowboarding. This is something he has wanted to do for a very long time. He was so excited to go the day after Christmas. Kelly made the great sacrifice and went along with Jacob! They left early in the morning and did not return until late that night. They both had a little trouble walking around the next day (Jacob had never experienced sore muscles before!), but said it was so much fun!

This is how Jacob said he spent most of his day:

Here are two more pictures from their fun day:

Christmas

We were able to go to my parent's home for Christmas again this year. We had a great time doing all our usual Christmas-y things and spending time with my family. We decorated Gingerbread houses, played in the snow, and went to see the lights at Temple Square.

Laynie spent most of her time sitting in her Grandpa's lap. Anyone who knows Laynie will understand how unusual it is for her to want to be near anyone but me. She spent most of our vacation chasing after him yelling "Bapa!" and asking for "beans" from his jelly bean dispenser.

Part of Laynie's Christmas presents was a bunny from Build a Bear. This was not exactly her favorite gift! She looked distressed the entire time we were in the store and still wants nothing to do with her bunny!

On Christmas Eve the kids performed their annual "Nativity Scene". Jacob was Joseph, Ryan was a wise man, Laynie was an Angel and Kelly was the stable (a good job for him, don't you think?!).

I love the joy and surprise in my children's eyes on Christmas morning. This year was no exception. Ryan kept shouting, "You've got to be kidding me!" and Jacob exclaimed that this was "the best Christmas ever!". Laynie was even happy with her toys and showed us with her trademark wink. What a great Christmas!

December

The month of December was a busy one for us! Jacob marched with his school's Marching Band during the half time of a high school basketball game.

Jacob sang with the Colorado Mormon Chorale during their annual Christmas Concert. I wish I could have taken pictures. Jacob looked so handsome and the choir sounded amazing. This was such a special opportunity for him. The boys also had their school choir concert, which I was so sad to miss. Our Relief Society Christmas Dinner was held on the same night and since I was in charge of that, I thought it best that I attend!

We also went on a tour of the U.S. Mint, and had Kelly's Christmas Work Party at our home.

Jacob did an awesome job in the school Spelling bee. I felt so much pressure just watching him!

Now, on to Christmas!

My Preschoolers

I have to begin this post by saying just how much I love my preschoolers! I am having the best time with them. I was a little apprehensive when I began this school year. I wasn't sure if it would be too overwhelming, but truly, this was one of the best decisions I have ever made! I am lucky to have the cutest, happiest and smartest group of preschoolers. I look forward to each day with them. Here are a few of the things we did together before Christmas Break. (The boys are with us for most of these activities because they tracked off at Thanksgiving.)

One of my preschool parents brought his collection(?) of snakes for the kids to see. It was really amazing. I was so impressed by the preschoolers lack of fear. I was a little scared, but they were not at all! Even Laynie could not keep her hands off the snakes!

We made turkey crackers and held a Thanksgiving Feast. We also went on a field trip to the Hammond's Candy Factory. It is a very short tour, but perfect for 3 and 4 year olds.

The preschoolers made the cutest Gingerbread Houses and had a gift exchange with their preschool friends.

We ate adorable Rudolph cupcakes and they also performed songs for their parents during our Holiday Program. I didn't get any pictures of this because I was way too busy. I wish I had though, they were sooo great!

Thanksgiving

I've done it again. I've put off blogging for so long that now I feel overwhelmed by the task of getting up to date. So, bear with me as I try my best to get caught up with all that we have done over the past 5-6 weeks!

We celebrated Thanksgiving with friends. It is so nice to know that even when you are away from family holidays can still be special. We are blessed with great friends in Colorado!

(The kids were having so much fun that we could never get them to sit still for a picture!)