Catch up for the lame blogger I am

This kid loves being outside...he BEGS to go to the park every stinking day!

Not sure why boxes make the best toys...but hey, cheap entertainment, I'm not complaining.

I turned 27 and got an ice cream cake...so yum!

Maddax L.O.V.E.D. little Noel...but, we had to wish her the best as we found her a new family who adored her and planned to make her an inside dog where she will likely be pampered and loved more than we could ever give her.

Spring break...we headed to Thanksgiving Point and discovered the gardens (above) and the Dinosaur Museum (below). We are loving that place and looking forward to spending the summer between the various attractions there.

Right before saying good-bye to Noel...she wouldn't stop climbing on them and they were so frustrated.

Everyone that went on the cruise:

A week on the high seas

Boarded the ship in Miami

Kolby shooting hoops before we set sail

Dinner our first night

Kolby dancing at the belly flop competition--he did not win, apparently he 'tucked' at the last minute.

One of the many towel creatures our room attendant left in our room while we were at dinner.

On the ferry to Belize with Kolby' sister and brother-in-law

The ship tendered in Belize (I took this from the ferry)

Belize

Due to the hurricanes, they only bury down 3 feet and then the tomb sticks up 3 feet so their cemetery looks very different from ours.

They call this gun a super soaker---I don't feel any safer...

Cave tubing in Belize

All of us in the end after getting through the caves with our guides.

Getting ready to zipline between the trees in Belize. Kolby thinks we belong in hard hats-I don't think so!

All 14 of us to go ziplining-(3 of them are hard to see in the back due to the sunlight)

The water in Costa Maya is GORGEOUS!

These creepy creatures were all over at the Xel Ha resort, just like pigeons are at amusement parks.

Aren't these birds beautiful?

When I imagine paradise, this is what I see!

I love dolphins!

Cozumel

2 Royal Caribbean ships docked in Cozumel-these boats are HUGE! Ours is on the left.

Another towel creature!

We had a private session on the flow rider at the back of the ship--I think we all took 1 too many beatings!

The guy is showing me how to get on the board and stay on...for a minute until I lose all sense of conscience!

Go Kolby!

We made it without too many injuries!

We had so much fun, but we arrived home exhausted and with a stomach bug from Mexico (small price to pay I suppose). We went minature golfing, played basketball, rock climbing, cave tubing, ziplining, snorkeling, karoake singing, we were on the Love & Marriage game show on the ship which aired constantly afterwards--so embarassing--we did swing dancing, played Bingo, sat in a hot tub floating over the ocean, ate new foods (lamb), Kolby was in the bellyflop and freethrow competitions and otherwise thoroughly enjoyed ourselves!

Coming soon...

 Belize

Cozumel

Costa Maya

Lazy little update

Winter has come in full force, and we've gone through our fair share of illnesses. At the current moment, I think we are fortunate that only one person has a small little 'bug in the throat.'

We've been busy with school, work, laundry, then more school work and laundry.

Maddax loves the family dog more and more every day. He has a special voice he uses for her...very cute. Noel is getting so big, I can't believe how quickly they grow! 

Since we took the binky away about 2 months ago, Maddax's language development has really picked up. He is trying so hard and he is finally able to communicate without frustration or screaming.

The kids have had fun playing in the snow, and then two days later it will be nice and sunny...this weather is so crazy.

Hannah is continuing to excel at school. She is too smart for her class, in all honestly. We are looking into other options next year to see if we can get her in somewhere that she will be challenged. Only time will tell if that will happen. But, she is still very loving and helpful, especially with her brother. She has taken on reading the Book of Mormon (not some picture version, the actual thing) and is more diligent about it than we are!

 And finally....potty training! Woo-hoo! He is doing great. We just have to fine tune the #2 and he'll be perfect! (Sorry if that's TMI).

As for Kolby and I...well I had a quick and memorable trip to Kansas City for work, Kolby is still keeping me in touch with every person we've ever met at Costco, and we are going on a cruise very shortly with the Fisher family.

One of these days I will have to break down and buy a new camera so my posts aren't so lame...sorry...I'm sure my impulse buying will kick in at the most in-opportune time and we'll be back in business.

'Tis the season

Holy cow Batman! It is December! Where did the time go? (and why am I so surprised every year??)

We have been keeping busy in our little routine: work-school-sleep-repeat. Nothing monumental. However, I thought a little update of our day-to-day was a little overdue, so here goes: (in order of the picture upload, excuse the lack of "flow")

The kids have loved opening their 12 days of Christmas box each morning. Their Grandma Fisher fills the boxes each year. This year is a "Christmas' of past" theme. Today they got a story about the pioneer's hard candy they had each year and a hard candy sucker of their own, as well as a story about their great grandma's Christmas cookies.
This kids never ceases to crack me up. I love it. We have taken the TV away from the kids because Maddax had an addiction-no, really, he did! So, I'm trying to get creative and keep them occupied (which is easier said than done, sheesh, can we say 'attention span?!') I got some Moon Dough, which is like PlayDoh but more foamy and airy and not supposed to dry out. What they don't mention is the tiny little pieces that end up EVERYWHERE. Anyway, back to my pic description....Maddax loves to sing Happy Birthday and blow out a candle, mostly pretend ones. When I figured out that was what he was singing and blowing out a pretend candle I decided to give him a real one and it kept him busy another 10 minutes!
They play together so well these days. Mostly because Hannah lets him get away with too much, but he's 2, so what do you do?
At my Dad's family Christmas party Maddax found himself a girlfriend. 2nd cousins....hmmm, we may have to watch those two.
Earlier in the week Maddax screamed like a kidnapped child when we sat him on Santa. However, since so many other kids were doing it this time, he walked right up to Santa and got his candy cane. He had to prove he could do it too.
Hannah asked for a pillow pet that was a dolphin or bumblebee. Good to know since a month ago she wanted a unicorn....I think Santa took that order a month ago, so, yeah.
He keeps pulling this pose, just checking out the scene around him. Just thought it was too cute not to get a picture.