Museum of Natural Curiosity

Posted by Amber in Christmas, Henlie, Museum of Natural Curiosity

Monday, Dec. 21st, Michelle graciously gave us a ride to meet up with Devan and Kayla, and Camile and the girls at the Museum of Natural Curiosity. We gave Jason and Camile a Thanksgiving Point membership last year for Christmas, and they can bring guests, who get 50% off admission. Way more economical that way ;) We were all heading to Lehi that night for the Hadfield Christmas party anyway, so why not make the most of our time and go play?

Putting on plays at the Kidopolis Theatre.

I think the raised arm is for a hook...because pirate :)

Camile, Andrew, Kayla, and Devan

We hadn't been since before it officially opened, so we didn't get to see the water area. We ducked in there for a few minutes to see what there was. After playing with a topography map, we headed to Kidopolis. Can I just interject that having more adults than children makes it SO nice!

The girls practicing their veterinary skills.

Making movies

Learning to dance.

Camile: Are you recording us?

Devan: Of course she is.

haha, my family knows me so well :D

The kids had so much fun at all the different shops and things. We still had plenty of time before we needed to head to Brian and Melody's for the Hadfield Christmas party, so we started to head to the jungle. On our way out, I remembered we hadn't hit the music room yet! We played in there while Danica and Camile hung out in the itty-bitty kids' garden.

Figuring out the percussion room.

Andrew was mesmerized by the bubbles on the piano.

Charlie tickling the ivories.

Andrew played the air harp with a little help from Aunt Kayla.

We lost Devan and Michelle.

Nope, they're just playing with the percussion instruments on their own :)

We hung out in the jungle for awhile. This is where multiple childless adults came in super handy. Devan and Michelle ended up taking Charlie and Henlie on the temple run/climb thing that goes up and above the jungle. The babies and the rest of us just hung out wandering around and weighing ourselves in comparison to various animals. :)

Andrew and Kayla

Putting food back in the open-air market.

Pretending to be a sloth.

She was so upset when I took a turn.

But hey, I love seeing how long I can be a sloth.

(It was like 4.4 seconds or something haha.)

Rock climbing. She actually did okay, but then decided to come back down, although I'm pretty sure she could have kept going.

Then it was time to head over to Brian and Melody's for the party! Thanks to Michelle for driving us since Matt was working, and thanks to Camile for both suggesting the idea and getting us in for half off! It's always so much fun to hang out with family, and Henlie just loves her Charlie friend :)

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Officially a Teenager

Posted by Amber in Happy Birthday!

On December 20th, McKade had his 13th birthday. We celebrated with peanut butter bars and presents.

Lighting candles

Braden, Jennifer, Kayla, and Devan

Presents!

He really wanted a glockenspiel.

And then there was the standard Sunday night hanging out :)

Andrew and Aunt Jenn

Henlie wouldn't let me take her picture with the Santa hat on, but I caught her sneaking more carrots :)

Aunt Kayla and Henlie :)

Aunt Kayla was trying to help me get a Santa hat picture :)

Happy birthday, Uncle 'Kade!

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Snow Day!

Posted by Amber in Advent, Christmas, snow

Pretty much since we moved home, Henlie has wanted to build a snowman. Every time it would snow, she would ask if there was enough snow to build a snowman. Finally, we got a storm that left enough snow to actually play in, so we had a snow day on December 15th :)

First we have to bundle everybody up and test Henlie's old toboggan to see if Andrew can handle it since he doesn't actually sit on his own yet :)

We started with some light Andrew sledding, then we tried to make a snowman, but the snow was too powdery. We managed a tiny ... mound? haha It was good enough for Henlie, though. Then we wandered around our buidling and the next playing make-believe things. We went to Bear Island and visited the bears. We also had to stay away from the germs (read: bushes; Yeah, I don't know either. Kids. :))

Andrew checking out the snow.

Henlie showing off our "snowman."

This little story amuses me. I let Henlie pull Andrew for a minute. (She did really well!)

Andrew's all content, but then she turns and drops the rope to cheese for the camera, and he starts wailing.

I would have taught Henlie about snow angels, but she didn't have any snow pants. Fortunately, she had a lot of fun wandering around playing pretend in the snow. Henlie also tried to make snowballs. Fortunately, being so powdery, the snow just fluffed in my general direction when she tried to throw it ;)

Snow Selfies

Finally wearing his little booties we got him in Peru!

Henlie trying to make a snowball from the snow on the bush.

Andrew standing next to our snowman.

After some "skating" and icicle observing, I managed to get Henlie back upstairs where we warmed up with some hot cocoa. I don't really love the snow, and bundling everyone up is kind of a pain, but I love it when my kids are so happy. (Okay, kid. Andrew didn't love it or hate it, but he did get over being in the sled, so I had to pull him out and pull the sled behind me still :)) Next, Momma needs some snow pants!

Henlie "skating" on the sidewalk.

Icicle Bush 1

Icicle Bush 2

Icicle Bush 3

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Little Tidbits - Part 33

Posted by Amber in Andrew, Happy Birthday!, Henlie, Little Tidbits

12 02 15 - Henlie decided we all needed one of Dad's hats.

12 03 15 - Henlie now can eat real cereal, besides Chocapic (in fairness, she got over that ages before we moved from Peru). She loves Lucky Charms and calls it "Colors."

12 04 15 - Andrew got to start eating food for real. He's a huge fan, and likes to play with the spoon after :)

12 05 15 - Playing with Dad on his phone :)

12 06 15 - Henlie helping Daddy shine his shoes :)

12 06 15 - My birthday at Larry and Carrie's house :)

12 06 15 - Andrew nomming on some play bread at Grandma's.

12 08 15 - Grandpa and Grandma Erdmann stopped by for a visit :)

12 08 15 - Andrew and Henlie helped me walk Mocha. It was a nice day, and Henlie always wants to go to the park, so we hung out for a bit while Sis played.