Here Comes Santa Claus!

Last night at our ward Christmas Party, the most favorite of all guests made his grand appearance. Kyle has been so excited to see him and kept asking me all week if we'd forgotten to go to dinner at the church. None of the kiddos were afraid which shocked me about the girls but it was a fun night!

Kyle telling Santa he wants a horse trailer and little horses to go with it.



Aubrey just listened intently.



And Olivia was just happy to be there!

You know Dasher and Kyle and Aubrey and Olivia

The newest reindeer!







The kids had parties in their dance for the girls and tumbling for Kyle. I just thought these were cute (albeit poor quality cellphone shots!).

And the littlest Mrs. Clauses!

Well, I made another attempt this year at getting the kids to all look at me (at the same time) for a Christmas picture. I thought for sure this year would be much easier than last since they are older. It still proved to be quite a challenge. I guess at least this year we didn't have Olivia falling off a chair.

Instead, she kept looking at Kyle.


Or they were super cheesy.


But I think this one will do! At least they are all looking forward and smiling!


And for memories sake.....here's last year.

Now you see her.



Now you don't.


And the one we chose for our Christmas cards:


Indeed, it can be said.....what a difference a year makes!

Oh Christmas Tree

We went out and got our own Christmas tree this year. It was such a nice tall tree and our house is, well, not so tall so it looks a little silly but it's our tree and the kids love turning the lights on (and off).

All the Stockings Were Hung..........

By the chimney with care. This actually applies to us this year. I had to hang the stockings BY the woodstove and not OVER it as I was afraid one would take flight one night and we'd have a flaming sock. I finally got Aubrey's and Olivia's names on theirs this year so we should be good to go.

December already?

Wow--how time flies when you don't spend everyday on the internet....well, not really, I think it's the other way around but we'll just pretend.

Update on the Hawleys isn't all that involved. I guess of note is that Sage's hours have been cut at work. Not having been layed off is a huge blessing as there has been talk of that. He is working extra time at an autobody shop and I have been doing some work for my parents to make up for lost wages. It makes for crazy times but so far we're making it work.

A cute side note about this......the other day Aubrey asked where Sage was. I told her he was at work and she asked me why. I told her cuz that's what he has to do. And she said, "I don't see him anymore." Break your heart or make ya laugh or a little of both. I think it broke Sage's heart because he took the next day off at the autobody shop and it was nice to have him home.

We've got our Christmas tree up and presents under the tree so we are ready for Christmas. Kyle is excited this year and that is fun....except he seems to change what he wants everyday...or add to his list. The other day he told me he wants a robe and slippers. Little does he know that this Santa and Mrs. Claus have their shopping done but we'll let him experience the childhood joys of wishing and waiting. Should be a fun year!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Better late than never.....better never late.

But nevertheless here are pics from various Halloween activities last week.

The kids all had parties at their dance/tumbling classes:

One tired butterfly/princess/fairy.





Kyle's the little monkey:



The annual bi-ward Trunk or Treat:



Ooey Gooey Jack 'o Lantern:









And sitting with "Jose"



Ready to hit the streets and get some treats are our monkey, kangaroo, and butterfly:

Waiting for pics to upload..........

While I'm waiting, I'll take a moment to update the happenings in our life. As you all know, we moved into our own place in the middle of October. I don't know if it is because we have accumulated a bit more stuff (aka the kids' toys) or if it because I am older (creek, creek) but this move has really taken it out of me and we aren't even done. We have quite a few things to still get out of my parents' house but between getting loads of wood and the kids' activities, there just doesn't seem to be any extra time or energy for that matter. Kyle is still loving preschool and I love to see the new things he learns everyday. He is also enjoying tumbling. The girls continue to do well in dance although Olivia is getting more and more grouchy during that time. I tried to blame it on PMS (on her part, not mine) but since it's every week, guess that blows that theory out of the water! They are enjoying our home and seem to love to play together. Not a lot of fighting but there is some biting. Olivia has also developed these vampire-type tendencies and poor Aubrey and Kyle have been the victims on many occasions. Boy that girl has some chompers!!

I continue to be as forgetful as ever. Forgot the girls' tap shoes and ballet slippers for their class today. I sped like a mad woman home to get them and the teacher was late so it worked out just fine. Then after I dropped Kyle off at preschool I decided to do a quick grocery run only to forget my purse in the cart which luckily an employee found and so I have to pick that up from the store....if I remember that is!

MIA MIA MIA!

And no, I am not talking about mutual or girls camp of yesteryear or Mamma Mia. I have truly been missing in action. Only because we have been swallowed up in unpacking and getting settled. Oh, and we don't have internet set up for the time being. But I do live and we are doing well. I hope to get Halloween pics up soon. We made pancakes that looked like pumpkins this morning, gutted our pumpkin and cut out his facial features and Kyle has a costume parade and little program at his school this afternoon that I will leave to go to soon! Just wanted to check in and hope to be back to my blogging obession soon!

Drifting Away

Yesterday when we went out to the house, not only was the driveway drifted in but there was a GINORMOUS drift on our back porch. Sage and I and the kids went over today to clear some snow and I just had to shoot some pics of the kiddos playing in the snow.










(like the bright white gum?)

And who can resist a bite into the cold winter treat?

Oh, The snow came down and the e-elk came out...

The snow came down and the e-elk came out, the snow came down and the e-elk came out, and all of us stood in awe!

On Friday, Sage and I were going out to the house to do somethings and about a mile from our house, all of a sudden this huge herd of elk (3-400 head) crossed right in front of us. It was such an amazing sight and we could hardly believe our eyes. My camera on my phone wouldn't show a things so luckily, a friend of our friend, took these pictures.











And my favorite (not too clear because of the falling snow)..."Da Da":

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like..............

CHRISTMAS?!?!!!! Look at the beautiful sight we woke up to this morning....the temperature is another story but the snow is so pretty!







And my favorite---my little stair steps!



Kyle immediately said we needed to get our snow things on and go play. But with a 14 degree windchill, I don't think so today! They were excited and I just loved how they all "lined up" to look out!

Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow!

I Crack Myself Up (Literally)

** Sing with me now....."Cuz I'm FREEEEE! Free falling!"**

So this post is a bit embarrassing for me because it shows how NOT graceful I can be but nevertheless, it is yet another humorous part of my life.

So a week ago, I was going downstairs to go to bed. As a last thought, I grabbed the camera that was a couple of feet above me on the banister. I guess that caused me to lose my balance because the camera went crashing down the stairs and so did I. And it wasn't a nice *clean* fall. I twisted this way and that, crashed into the wall, and miraculously stopped before I dove head first down the rest of the staircase.

My mom called from her bedroom, "Kimberly is that you?" **pause, pause** "Yes." "Did you fall down the stairs?" **pause, pause** "Are you okay?" **pause, pause** "Yes." After which I promptly went to my room and bawled in pain. Those pauses were trying to catch my composure so as to not bawl like a baby. I just saved that for the privacy of my room. So, as you might imagine, I was pretty sore the next day and even more sore the day after that. There was a spot on my foot that hurt worse than any part so on Thursday, I put a call into my orthopaedic surgeon's office. They sent me for xrays the the soonest I could get in was Monday (today). So apparently I have a small fracture on the outside of my left foot. Because nothing was displaced, not casting was required. Instead, I have this metal insert that will go with me (in my shoes) for the next 4-6 weeks. This also means I can't do physical therapy on my knee--which took a pretty good beating from the fall as well--and it didn't ANY help hurting.

So, yes....TOTAL clutz at that moment and one I am glad to not have on video tape. Just adds to my resume of doctors' office visits. If only those could qualify me for a high paying position. At least it's high entertainment!

Bittersweet

And I'm not talking about chocolate (surprise considering how much I've eaten lately....anywhooooo).

Today we closed on the sale of our house. It is surreal. And actually was quite bittersweet which TOTALLY threw me for a loop (since I am loopy anyway, I felt right at home ;-)!) I was not expecting to feel the mixture of emotions I did today while driving the 3+ hours to sign the papers. Here are just a few fond (and some not so fond yet funny now) experiences that I recall as I reminisce our time spent here:

**First real world move we made after Sage graduated

**First real world job

**A nice rental that we were SO lucky to find

**A rainy day when our car wouldn't start when we were supposed to leave town and I was BAWLING and upset when Sage came home so we went out to eat at a restaurant that came highly recommended. So we show up "as is" and I mean me in my sweats, and should've taken one look at the menu or anyone inside and walked right out. Apparently it is one of those *nice* restaurants that you dress up to go too. Oh, well. We ate there anyway with toddler in tow.

**Sheriff at our back door knocking after an awful night with sick kids and I had FINALLY gotten down for a nap

**SWAT team in our home, night spent at Branch President's home with screaming baby who we almost took to ER.

**suicidal neighbor (hence SWAT team)

**driving back and forth and back and forth AND back and forth

**Bought our first house

**SURPRISE positive pregnancy test!

**LONG work hours for Sage.....four on, four off, 12 hour shifts but Sage gone for over 15 hours

**Pilot and Houdini our kitties who disappeared after touching our lives for a short time

**Babe and Dotty the neighbors dogs (aka our lawn fertilizers)

**trips back and forth, back and forth, back AND forth

**Surprise visit from a friend after I had Aubrey with a pair of matching nice snuggly socks for Aubrey and I

**cooked meals brought to us

**Hanging out at our friends' houses

**wild turkey kabobs

**elk stew

**church in a triple wide

**brand new church

**relief society presidency

**driving back and forth, back and forth, back and forth

**baby shower thrown for me (and Aubrey) when it was -18 degrees outside and there was still a good turn out

**many nights rocking my babies

**the sound of the train at night

**fireworks from the neighbors all night long

**smell of new house I LOVED until I was sick with morning sickness

**trips back and forth, back and forth, back and forth

**taking Kyle to the Frosty Freeze for ice cream

**malts at the Prospector

**meals at The Country Skillet

**drives in the mountains

**fires that shut down the mine a few days

**watching the fires

**driving back and forth, back and forth, back and forth

**visits from family members

**bought our first car AND first truck together

**selling our house

**driving back and forth, back and forth, back and forth

**many more but I think that will do for today =)

Fill in the Blank

I was not really sure exactly how to title this post as there are too many options floating in my brain. Here's what we've come up with:

Homeless and Happy
If You're Happy and You Know It
Born Free
Going, Going, Gone
Home Sweet Homeless
Where the Streets Have No Names

Well, you get the picture and to help get the picture a bit more.....um, well, here's a picture!



Except instead of "sale pending" it should now read SOLD!!!

A Month of Many Firsts

The month of September has been a time of many "firsts" for us. Of course, of highest importance was our first decent offer on our house which ultimately will lead to our first home sale! WOOT WOOT!

Another first was Kyle starting Hand 'n Hand Preschool at the local Lutheran church. His teachers are Miss Allison and Miss Renee and he loves it! He goes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday for two hours in the afternoon.


Both girls also started their first year of dance--tiny tots tap and ballet. TOO cute!




We weren't planning on starting Olivia this year but when we went to Aubrey's first class and Olivia was doing everything the other girls were, she was invited to join. and since Olivia is so little still, I had to order her leotard on the internet which just arrived but last week she didn't have it hence the "unprofessional" attire. =)

Aubrey does so very well and her teacher says she has great skills. If she were 3, she would be moving up to the next class. I LOVE my little tap ballerinas!

Kyle also started tumbling. Now he can use all his tumbling energy in class and spare the poor couches! LOL! I know I am a proud mommy and sound a bit too braggish but I promise the teacher is very pleased with his skills as well!




And this past Saturday, Sage and I were able to go up into the mountains (just the two of us) and cut some firewood for this winter (our rental has two fireplaces). It was a lot of fun! It's been awhile since we've been alone doing something enjoyable like this and I thoroughly enjoyed it!





We have been blessed beyond imaginable measure!! My heart is continuously full and grateful for the grace and love we are being showered with.