Some funny things about Kelsey

When we were dropped Katelyn off at her aunt's house for the day while we went up to tame the mountain, Kelsey got very concerned that we were leaving Katelyn alone and would not be getting her back. After much reassuring that we would pick her up at the end of the day and that she was going to get to spend the day with mom and dad by herself she conceded and had a great time skiing. There was no mention of Katelyn again.

After a long day she was worn out, and I told her she could take a little rest while we drove down the mountain. However, she was quite convinced that she wasn't tired enough to take a nap. We didn't even get out of the parking lot and she was sacked out.

Kelsey loved playing with my cousins while were in Utah and soon decided she needed to have another mom, my aunt Darcie, and followed her around calling her mom. We think that since she has lots of grandmas, including a great-grandma, that she came to the conclusion that she must have more than one mom and picked someone that was suitable to her. After all, Darcie never told her "no."

Kelsey walked in on my grandma saying the blessing and said, "Wake up, grandma."

We enjoy each day with her because there's no telling what she will say or come up with next.

Some fun pictures from our vacation

A most prized present. She got this from her aunt Jessica and as soon as she opened it she knew what to do. We're so proud of our little diva.

I came back from the garage and this is what I found. I'm not sure what's in the bowl, but he's up to something.
We deciced to go to Salt Lake for New Years and attempt #1 the drive with Katelyn, who was perfect, in case you were wondering, and #2 to teach Kelsey to ski. Yes, she’s only 2 ½ but we figure why not start them out young. Since we didn't have any huge plans other than to hit the slopes for a day, we went to the Hill Aerospace Museum and the John Browning Museum. He designed most of the first guns that were around and he invented the first machine gun for WWII so Dave wanted to go there. It was pretty cool to see all the guns that he made.
They had this fighter jet, which you could purchase the kit to make your own, that was just perfect for the kids to fly. You can actually hook it up to pedal it.
The youngest pilot in training. Isn't she cute?
Oh the hours of endless entertainment. She of course had to do it herself.
At the railroad museum, all kinds of fun levers to pull and play with.
Who's having more fun, Dave or Kelsey?
At the start of our adventure, she smiling which we thought would quickly vanish once she saw what we were going to make her do. But to our astonishment, it never did.
The littlest snow bunny on the mountain. And might I add the cutest?
The successful run off the lift. I never understand why there is always such a big hill off the lift of the bunny hill.
I know you can't really see it, but she is smiling and having a great time.

"I need to stop for a minute, daddy." With the sudden change of plans, notice the snowboard behind them. She thought it was funny that she made him fall down.

Chrismas festivities

We all were awake before Kelsey was and she finally woke up around 7:30. I asked her if we should go downstairs to see if Santa came and she said, "No, he didn't," without even batting an eye. But when we finally convinced her to go downstairs, here's her reaction when she saw the presents under the tree.
Here's the present that everyone has asked what Kelsey thought about her gun. Well, as you can see, she wouldn't take her eyes off it. The look on her face is like she's trying to let it all sink in.
Here's Katelyn's little pony. She wasn't sure of it, but at least she didn't cry when we put her in it.
But somehow, I think Kelsey will get more use out of it for a little while before Katelyn actually enjoys it. We told her to bounce on it and then she just went to town. She'll be the one to show Katelyn how to play with all her toys.

Christmas Eve

The girls in their Christmas dresses. They got so many comments from people at church. We sure love these two little girls.
Grandpa Hawkins tells the story of Peter Elf to the grandchildren. And then they all get to open one present before going to bed. After the story, grandpa asked Kelsey if Santa Claus was bringing a trampoline for Christmas because she was jumping on the couch. And she simply replied, "No, ponies. I didn't tell him ponies."

The Halloween photos are here

The long awaited (for some) photos are here. I need to stress how much fun Kelsey had, no not trick or treating, but "pushing buttons" as she called it (making things jump and move) to scare the kids. And the bigger the people, especially girls, the harder she laughed. Oh this was just great!! She's a little Dave in training. He's so proud. I know, it's kind of twisted, Cinderella scaring people and playing with ghosts and goblins!!

This is what our yard looks like on Halloween. Dave takes the day off work to put it all up and set things out. But we think it's well worth it.
This is the greatest picture, she wasn't even scared. How great is that. Like I said, a little worped.
Just more of the yard, a clearer view.
Pay close attention to Dorothy in the bottom right. That was a mild reaction for most of the night. I can't tell you how much candy we had left over because people wouldn't even make it to the door. We were handing out handfuls just not to have so much for me to eat.

The aunts and uncles

Our updated family picture. Katelyn doesn't look to be loving her dress, she kind of got lost in it, but such is life. Kelsey has already taken the opportunity to tell her all about having bows in her hair to look pretty and wearing dresses to church which just made Katelyn upset. She'll learn soon enough!!

It is all I can do to keep her tongue in her mouth, but she'll only bite it once.

Just playing with uncle Jesse. He stayed with us the week of Halloween before Katelyn's blessing and Kelsey took quite a liking to him and after 24 hours, wouldn't let him out of her sight!!
She just loves any attention.

The grandparents

Oh, wouldn't it be nice to be a grandparent and forget this parenting stuff sometimes? It's just all fun and games and then you can hand the kid back when you're done!!

Katelyn hangin' with grandma Berg and unlce Rob.

She was held and snuggled all weekend long. But who wouldn't want to love on a baby?

Just getting some food from great grandpa.

Kelsey has everyone wrapped around her little finger and boy does she know how to work it!!

Katelyn with grandma Hawkins.

How sweet is this? You can just tell how much Kelsey loves her little sister. And the feeling is mutual with Katelyn as well.
What a precious smile!!

Parents in training

Here's some pictures from Katelyn's blessing and judging by these, I'd say they're ready for one of their own.

Check out those smiles.
Jess: "So do you want one?"
Rob: "You know we have to wait until I'm out of school."
Jess: "Oh, but she's so cute."
Rob: "I know she's cute, but we have to wait a little bit longer."

Are you sure you don't want one? She's so sweet.
Nothing like trial by fire, right. We'll send them home with you and you may quickly change your tune, Jessica!!

Who's entertaining who?

While grandma was here visiting, she kept Kelsey busy and as you can see, they kept each other entertained!!

More smiles

I'm not really sure what she was thinking, but she was just cracking herself up today. What can I say, she's cute. Sorry for the blurriness of the pictures, but you can't expect them to hold still, can you?

Just some favorites

I'm a proud mom, what can I say. But who wouldn't be with these two adorable little girls.


There's the cheese face again. At least Katelyn looks cute.

We've trained her well

Please look away if guns offend you, otherwise read on! We went out shooting last weekend and all Kelsey could talk about was, "I shoot the guns!" We're so proud.

A little target practice with my uncle Jesse.


Look out boys, it's not my dad you need to worry about.

Halloween night

For those of you who know us, Dave kind of goes a little crazy for Halloween. We set up our front yard as a haunted grave yard every year and this year, he was so pleased with the amount of children he sent crying from our house. With the help of my brother, cousin and his girlfriend, he was able to go trick or treating with us and didn't have to run it all by himself all night long. And they all got a kick out of everything as well. But the best was once Kelsey was done going up and down our street (that's all the candy she needed because by the end she couldn't even carry her pumpkin anymore, it was too heavy) she wanted to help push the different buttons and scare everyone coming up to the house. I think that was the highlight of the night, at least for us. She laughed every time someone screamed, especially the "big" people. She got a couple teenagers to jump and scream and it was just great. My aunt got a bunch of pictures for us, so I'll post those once I get them.

Pony rides and the pumpkin patch

We went to the pumpkin patch and she's been begging to ride a horse for months ever since she realized that we pass some on the way to church every Sunday. So of course we couldn't pass it up when this one had pony rides. We thought for sure she'd get scared once she started going, but after a few steps and not falling she wouldn't stop smiling. That's been the highlight of Halloween, up until she figured out the whole trick or treating/candy thing. But she did say thank you to everyone that gave her candy so she was at least polite about it.

She's started this cheese face when she knows we're taking her picture and it's just not cute. But it's all we could get. After one time around she was loving it and refused to have me anywhere close to her to catch her if she started slipping. It was all I could do to walk next to her just in case.

Katelyn's first pony ride

They had a little maze made out of hay and it was just her size. She thought it was great.

I just love this face. She was coming out the maze and Dave caught her by surprise!!

She just loves holding her sister and is such a proud big sister.

"Look mom, I did it!"

" I just love my Cinderella dress." She cried when I made her take it off after our Stake Halloween trunk or treat on Saturday.

Kelsey and Katelyn in their costumes. Katelyn was a bunny and didn't care what she was, just as long as she was warm.