Frontier Homestead Night

I heard about the Frontier Homestead here in Cedar from the Newspaper. That do a few Christmas Activity Nights that you can go and do old fashion holiday stuff, and see Santa Claus so we went Monday night for Family Home Evening.

We walked around the cabins and heard a Christmas Story by firelight, made Christmas Cord (rope with Christmas colors) and made cloth dolls. In the last house we saw Santa Claus and traced around the kids heads and made silhouette.

It was a really fun experience. The cabins are usually history exhibits but while we were there the stoves were warm, fireplaces lit and oil lit lamps everywhere. We also made Christmas cards with the printing press and wrote with feather and ink quills.Then of course there was Santa. Parker asked for trains and Kora only got close enough to get the Candy Cane.

Gingerbread Tradition

We weren't able to do the big Gingerbread house party at my Aunt's house this year but no worries, my mother helped me make the gingerbread during our trip for Thanksgiving.

We brought it home to put it together with the kids and . . . Well . . . it's a much simpler version this year.

We were doing great while the kids were making their cookie trees, the walkway and putting up the Christmas Lights but then they crashed! It was fun while it lasted and boy did we have a sugar rush afterwards.

Dancing in Pink

Kora was dancing around all pink and pretty with her Tu-Tu. Pig and pink jammies.

We all got a little laugh out of all the fun she was having. Notice the purse, the baseball and Parker's Flip Flop on the right foot. We weren't sure if she was going out or putting on a show.


It even rubbed off on Parker.

Potty Lessons

Today Quinntin and I learned a few important things about potty training Parker.
Number 1:
Parker "Do it myself"
Number 2:
Kora wants to help her big brother.

Let me explain. . .
Tonight we were doing our nightly routine of rounding up the children changing their diapers and putting on pajamas. Kora was easy, she held still and let the process happen. Parker on the other hand was enjoying the "catch me" version of the routine. After three catches I had removed his pants, his shirt and his diaper. Unfortunately Parker would not be "caught" to get his diaper put back on. Out of frustration I told Parker "Then go stand by the potty." (by the way Parker has had a new found interest in pottying like his father, standing up but that's as far as he's ever taken it.) Well Quinntin and I got distracted by something else and Parker disappeared (remember he's still naked.) Then I heard Quinntin exclaim "Parker did you just potty?" Fearing the worst I looked to the bathroom and saw Parker climb off the bathroom stool with a grin on his face. HE POTTYED!!! For real without mom and dad, without a mess, and with no tears. That was lesson #1.
Next we were still working on getting his diaper on. He ran around giggling and Kora picked up his new diaper and held it out to him. Quinntin gave up and said "Kora why don't you put the diaper on Parker." So Kora stands up and proceeds to chase her naked, screaming brother around "trying" to put on his diaper. Lesson #2, It was so funny I had to write it down.

Aargh.... Hand Over Your Candy Boooty

We spent Halloween in Salt Lake with our Nana and Papa.

We were swash buckling pirates and boy did Nana do a fantastic job at that.

Thanks Nana!!!

New Use For a Stool

Kora was dragging around the stool the other day and couldn't get on top of it.

So she tried the next best thing.

Mom had to help a little but the fun lasted all evening.

Happy 75th Birthday Quinntin!

I asked Quinntin what birthday he wanted to celebrate this year. (Since everyone says they are all the same.) He chose his 75th birthday now so that when he is officially 75 he'll get to feel young and celebrate his 32nd. Ever since January Quinntin has informed me that all he wanted was a Pittsburgh Steelers' Terrible Towel. We surprised him with a Steelers' logo hat too.

The kids had tons of fun with Quinntin's birthday presents too.

Bath Spooks

The kids were so excited to use their halloween towels that I let them run around the house for a bit as a pumpkin and a ghost. They ran straight to their dad and gave him a big "naked" hug. I had to take a picture.

September's Smiles and More

Thanks Roothoffs and Rogers for the the cool treat box in the mail.

We are still enjoying he goodies

Kora found out that she has two Elmo dolls and carries them around with her everywhere.

One Kora wanted to dress up and while I was helping her Parker decided that he wanted to too. So to avoid the "Girly Version" of dress up we found some of Parker's things that would do the job.

HALLOWEEN COMES

EARLY

Ever since I asked Parker what he wants to be for Halloween he's been asking me to open the big orange boxes in our storage. We pulled out the decorations the
other day and found some fun stuff. Especially the pajamas that Parker wore
last year that still fit this year, and pajamas that I had found for Kora
(bought last year). The kids loved the pillow case that glowed-in-the-dark.

A NIGHT OF TEE BALL

Parker got a cool Tee Ball set from his birthday so we went to the school and he showed us all how "Parker do it," he's quite the little slugger. Kora was much more excited with shagging the balls and the yellow mitt just her size. The first lesson we taught Parker was to drop the bat before you start running after the ball.

DANCING WITH THE REYNOLDS
We were flipping through the channels the other night and we stopped on Dancing With The Stars. The kids got such a kick out of it they started to shake what their Mama gave them. It was adorable so we thought we'd share it with you.

Parker Man is 3!

Happy Birthday Parker!

Parker had a little party a home first thing in the morning on his birthday. Parker played with is presents all day long. We had the train out in the front room all day.

Then practiced on his scooter every minute in between. (sorry the camera has issues)

Then on Saturday Parker partied even more with a big family party. His Grandma and Grandpa Gray, Great Grandma Smith, Uncle Dayne, Aunt Tiffany, Nana and Papa Whitehead and cousins McCall and Conner were there to celebrate with him. Nana made him a cool cake with Lego cars, trains and cranes it was awesome.

Then Parker played with his new T-ball set(Thanks McCall and Conner),

his yellow semi truck with racecar storage (Thanks Macady and Chase),

and a fun Lego truck (Thanks Sammy),

Parker also got more trains, even a train puzzle which is 10ft long.

A Boy and a Train

Ever since we packed up our stuff Parker has been talking about unpacking his GeoTrax train. When he had carpet put in his room he reminded us that he could now play with his train. Well it's out and in full swing. Because his room is a bit smaller than the basement family room in the last house we have to be more creative in construction. For example under the bed and out in the hallway. I think next time maybe into Kora's room?