Claire's 6th Birthday

Claire turned 6 years old. Logically and mathematically I obviously know how this is possible, but still....how is this possible?! I can't believe we have been her parents for 6 years now.

We got her the new Lola Dutch book (her favorite!), an Elsa sweatshirt (fitting as she requested a frozen party), and a wardrobe and bed for her Willa Wellie Wisher doll.

We threw her very first friend party this year.  Past years we have only invited family, but since she is now in kindergarten and has a few close friends we thought a friend party was finally in order.  She wanted an Oreo cheesecake for her birthday cake and we also made cupcakes for her party.

We kept things very simple and easy.  After the party guests arrived Bryce took Peter to the library so Claire could have girl time with her friends.  The girls decorated snowflake wands and crowns with stick on jewels, had cupcakes and ice cream, played a few games, and then Claire opened presents.  It was fun to have her friends there to celebrate and have a house full of little girls for a couple hours.  After her party was finished Peter had his first soccer game we all went.  It was so fun to watch him, and Claire got to play with her new Frozen sticker book she received as a gift during his game.  After the soccer game Claire chose to eat at Jake's Over the Top for her bday dinner.  We had burgers, fries, and ice cream.  We went home for a little bit after eating and then took the kids to an Ogden Mustangs Hockey Game.  Claire was exhausted and actually fell asleep at the hockey game.  We were a little worried she was getting sick or something, but I think she was just worn out because she seemed fine the next day.  Sunday on her actual birthday we had grandparents over that night for cupcakes and ice cream.  She combined her money from grandparents and ordered a caboodle for her make up and nail polish, and a new doll carriage for her bitty baby.Happy 6th Birthday Claire!  

Resurrecting the Blog

After a two and a half year hiatus I'm back! I decided to start blogging again.  I stopped blogging in the middle of a busy transitional year for our family.  I went back to work shortly after Peter turned one.  I was offered  a part-time position at the office I had worked at before I had Claire, and I gratefully accepted the offer.  About a month after I went back to work we moved to a new rental.  A new job plus a new house and neighborhood created a busy couple of months.  Bryce and I were able to work opposite schedules. Bryce worked early mornings until 2 pm and I worked from 2pm-7pm 4 evenings a week.  It worked out really well for our kids, but meant single parenting most of the time since one of us was almost always at work if the other parent was at home.  This schedule and the ages of our kids left little time for blogging. I was just not interested in allotting any of the limited free time I had to blogging.  I wasn't sure if I was done forever, but decided to not worry about it for a while.

We've had mostly the same type of schedule ever since although Bryce did get a different job in the Fall of 2018 so we've swapped and I now work 4 mornings a week from 6 am-12 pm and Bryce works evenings from 1 pm- around 10 pm.  Claire started kindergarten this past Fall, Peter started preschool, and I started grad school!  Even though more has been added to our schedules, I actually have more free time than I used to.  Parenting a 6 and 3  year old is very different and in most ways much less demanding than parenting a 1 and 3 year old.  My kids are older now and require less hands on, undivided attention as they did when they were younger.  They play together as well as independently for long stretches of time.  They are involved in more activities that I just drop them off at (extracurricular activities, birthday parties, play dates, etc.).  I started to miss blogging and from time to time would revisit old posts.  I missed having a space to share my thoughts and our day to day activities.  I decided to go back and blog the past 2 1/2 years worth of activities and events.  The posts aren't super detailed but I did at least post pictures from the bigger events and activities we've done.  Text is sparse but it's sill documented.  I'm not sure how often I'll blog or if it will be in spurts, but I do plan to make more of an effort at keeping the blog up to date from now on!

Classic Skating

Yesterday for one of our Winterbreak family outings we went to see a movie at the dollar theater in the morning (something about a Yeti, it wasn't terrible but I can't even remember the title now).  After the movie we took our kids to classic skating to ride scooters and play on the bounce houses.  I can't believe we've never thought of doing this.  We all have our own scooters so we didn't have to rent anything, which made it a very affordable activity.  We had so much fun we will definitely be going back again at least one more time this winter!

Christmas 2019

Christmas 2019.  

We had such a great Christmas.  We spent it at home with just our kids (as we've been able to the last few years) and it was perfect.  We spend Christmas Eve with my parents and family and then usually do a day on the weekend before or after with Bryce's parents in Idaho.  That leaves Christmas to spend just as a family and it is my absolute favorite.

 Our kids are still not at ages that they woke up extra early from the anticipation.  No complaints as we all slept until around 8 am.  Peter woke up first around 7:40 am and I had him come snuggle in our bed until Claire woke up around 8.  After Claire woke up we headed out to open presents and see what Santa brought.  Our tradition for gifts is something in each category of: Want, wear, need, read and stocking stuffers.  They ask Santa for one thing they want, then Bryce and I give them their wear, need, read gifts and stocking stuffers. 

This year Claire asked Santa for a real tea set so she could have real tea parties.  "Santa" also included an apron, tablecloth, vase with flowers, juice, and cookies so she could start throwing tea parties right away.  She was so excited about this gift!  For her wear we gave her a cute unicorn pom-pom beanie, her need was a pink bean bag chair (the need category is a bit ambiguous), and her read was a set of Sophie Mouse books.  In her stocking she got a gold heart locket, a microphone, pens, a unicorn notebook, and treats.

Peter asked Santa for a big paw patrol firetruck.  He is still completely enamored with all things paw patrol and every time we went to Target he would beg to go to the toy aisle so he could look at this fire truck.  I'm not a huge fan of big plastic toys, but this one has already gotten so much use I think it was a good choice for him.  He has literally played with it everyday (for long periods of time) since he got it.  For his wear we gave him a moose pom-pom beanie, his need was a bean bag chair, and he got the book Trucker and Train.  In his stocking he got a paw patrol watch, mini paw patrol cars, paw patrol notebook, pens and treats.  

Having a fancy tea party with Claire's new tea set and accessories. 
Bryce and I got new luggage this year for our want category.  Bryce's wear was a puffer vest, his need was some kind of digital angle measure tool thing(?), and his read was a set of The Chronicles of Narnia (I found for a steal on eBay).

My want as mentioned earlier was a new suitcase.  My wear was a white ruffly J crew button down (so pretty), need was a new Rifle Paper Calendar, and read was the illustrated Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.  I also got a cute insulated cup in my stocking (also from Rifle Paper Co).

We ate homemade cinnamon rolls for breakfast mid-morning then read a few of the kids new books (from us and ones they received from grandparents).  Then after opening presents, having a tea party, and playing with new toys (which lasted until afternoon) we watched Elf together and ate snacks + Christmas treats.  We usually take the kids sledding but we did not have enough snow on Christmas Day for sledding this year.  Bryce and I made dinner (Spiral honey-glazed ham, funeral potatoes, parmesan-bacon Brussel sprouts, and salad) while the kids played.  After dinner we drove around to look at Christmas lights and listen to Christmas music.  Peter fell asleep on the drive and Claire was almost asleep too so we headed home and put both kids to bed by 7:30.  After the kids went to bed Bryce and I finally started the Mandalorian.  It was a pretty perfect Christmas!

Christmas Sunday

Claire and Peter in their Christmas outfits this year.

Grand America Window Stroll + Gingerbread House + Ogden Christmas Village

We had a jam packed Saturday yesterday fitting in all the Christmas activities.  First we did the window stroll at the Grand America Hotel and saw the giant gingerbread house they make every year (a favorite activity of ours).  Claire was fascinated with everything fancy in the hotel this year.  She loved all of it.  We'd like to stay a night there one year, maybe as part of their Christmas gift or something when they are a bit older.

After finishing at the Grand America we went to the South Town Mall to see the Harry Potter Village and eat lunch at the food court.  We ate quintessential mall food: soft pretzels with cheese sauce + sodas.  We let our kids play at the kid play place for a while and took a family picture in the photobooth.

After finishing at the mall we drove back to Ogden to see the Ogden Christmas Village + Christmas lights (one of my favorite parts of Christmas in Ogden).  We've gone every year since we had Claire and it such a nostalgic activity for me. Due to Bryce and I working opposite schedules we always try to fill our weekends with lots of family time and it is my favorite.  I look forward to our weekend plans all week long and this weekend did not disappoint!

The Nutcracker Ballet

I took Claire and Peter to see the Nutcracker ballet for the first time this past weekend while Bryce was on call. (Please excuse the crappy phone photos).  Tickets were only $12 so I thought it was still worth going even if we left halfway through.  Both Claire and Peter did really well sitting through almost the whole ballet.  It was well past their bedtime and Peter was falling asleep so we left about 10 minutes before it ended, which I consider a success.  I definitely would like to them again next year (or at least just Claire if Peter isn't interested in going), it was a lot of fun!