Happy Birthday Joe

Happy Birthday Joe! I honestly don't know what I would do with out you. Since Joe is 33 here are 33 things I love about Joe.

1. Great Father
2. Loves his babies
3. Lets me sleep in more often then he ever asks to.
4. Isn't afraid to change diapers, and does so all the time.
5. Always has a funny story, joke, or dream to tell
6. Does the dishes
7. Is a hard worker
8. Shovels all the snow. I have had to shovel once this winter, and we have had a ton of snow, he always takes care of it.
9. Puts boys to bed
10. Strong testimony of gospel
11. Makes sure we say family prayer every night.
12. Loves coming up with family activities
13. Rough houses with the boys
14. Loves a good comedy
15. Reads to kids
16. Will go to chick flicks with me when I ask him to and doesn't even complain.
17. Tries to pull the element of surprise just to make me laugh. (see previous post for example.)
18. Agreed to a puppy, even though he didn't want a dog. Now he enjoys having the dog around.
19. Painted our house himself, saving us a lot of money in the process.
20. Will try just about anything just to try it.
21. Sweeps the floor.
22. Will sit in a room with me and read a book, even though we aren't talking, it is nice company.
23. Not afraid to jump in and help with the laundry.
24. Makes sure that our boys know that you don't treat Mom unkindly, talk back to her, or completely ignore what she is saying.
25. Loves God
26. Has no problem talking to anyone about the gospel.
27. Will do anything so that our family has what we need
28. Takes our temple marriage very seriously and has a strong testimony of eternal families
29. Involved in what are kids are doing.
30. Wants the best for our boys, even if it means he has to give up something he wants in the process.
31. Free Bull Rides until either the bull or the kids are too tired to continue. The kids have never been the ones to call it quits.
32. Positive attitude
33. Loves being active, watching sports, and helping our kids play sports.

Oh Joe

I left to go out to eat with a friend and Joe had a beard, I came home and he had made a new creation with his whiskers. It's okay you can tell him what you think, I did. My vote shave it off. That's what I said about the beard though too, and look what he did. I am scared to see whatthe next step in shaving will be.

SNOW

We have had so much snow, Joe was able to be a substantial sledding hill right in our backyard. They built it onto a igloo that the boys had built the last storm.

Happy Birthday Kyle

We new when we headed over on Christmas that we would be snowed in for a few days at Grandma and Grandpa's so we made sure to have Kyle's presents with us for the 26th. We had a birthday party for him the week before with some friends. They were all invited to a Spy party where they were trained as spies for a special mission. During the course of the party a robber came and stole all the presents so they had to go on a treasure hunt to find them. The cake is a magnifying glass with a finger print on it.

The actual birthday was filled with lots of snow time outside, presents, and dinner. Kyle was so funny because I kept asking him what he wanted for his birthday dinner. He kept telling me that he wanted turkey, stuffing, and mashed potatoes, I made sure that he knew that meant he was basically having left overs from Christmas, but that is what he wanted, easy dinner for me to make at least. He also got just a really basic cake, I only make one nice cake per person per birthday.

About Kyle:
Age: 6
Grade: Kindergarten
Favorite Color: Blue
Favorite Food: Stuffing
Favorite Music: Jonas Brothers
Favorite Toy: Batman game and DS
Favorite Holiday: Christmas
Favorite Sport: Flag Football
Where to you want to go on your mission?: Chile

Kyle has had a big year this year. We moved, he got his own room, he started Kindergarten, he is learning to read, and he has made new friends. He is such a nice boy. He often is the peace make in our family. He is also goofy, off the wall, and really likes to make people laugh. He is very competitive with his older brother. I love that Kyle is so happy with who he is. He is almost always the winner when I check bedrooms to see how clean they are. He gives the best hugs and kisses and says the sweetest prayers. We love having Kyle as part of our family!

Christmas

Bradley and Kyle with their Seattle SeaHawks Bean Bag Chairs

The anticipation of what is in those big boxes at Grandma and Grandpa Fredericks house

William opening a present.

William checking out his new airplane for Geo Trax.

Matt in the new play house.

Matt Enjoying his very own train. As you can tell he also enjoyed the Chocolate from the stockings.

We had to shovel a little path for Candy to go to the bathroom.

William and Matt's new playhouse

Bradley and Kyle checkin gout their stuff.

He really did come!
Youngest to Oldest waiting to go see what Santa brought.

Waiting on our bed before we headed down the stairs on Christmas

We had a wonderful Christmas. Santa was able to find us out our new house, which was a great relief for the boys. Joe and I were woken up at 2 a.m. then 2:15, 2:30, 2:45, and 3 am. Finally Bradley and Kyle went back to sleep and didn't wake up until 7:30. Meanwhile, William had a bad dream about the grinch, he ran down stairs and back up crying, Christmas tree gone, Christmas tree gone. We had read the Grinch who Stole Christmas on Christmas Eve, apparently he was listening very intently to the part where he stuffed the tree up the chimney. William also refused to go down Christmas morning until he was fully dressed.

Our boys were thrilled with what they found when we went down Christmas morning. Santa had come, and so had more than a foot of snow. We watched to boys enjoy their presents and quickly packed up and went to Grandma and Grandpa Fredericks' before more snow came. We had a wonderful White Christmas and we hope that you did too.

Santa Clause is Comin to Town

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Every year we get together with Janette's family here in Omaha and have a Christmas Party. We eat BBQ Ribs (Joe's favorite), sing songs, and Santa comes to visit and gives them a small present. It is a fun time and we don't have to worry about lines at the mall to see Santa. Matthew was not to thrilled when we gave him to the Mrs. for a quick picture. Joe had to sit next to him. William put up with the idea, merely for the reward of getting a gift. Bradley and Kyle loved sitting on Santa's lap.

Union Pacific Railroad Museum

William is a huge train fanatic, so we decided one day to go and visit the Union Pacific Railroad Museum. We got to see some model trains, sit in the driver seat and drive a train (play with the buttons.) They really had a good time seeing the trains.

Bradley's Baptism

Bradley ready to be Baptized

Grandma and Grandpa Porter with Brad
Grandma and Grandpa Fredericks with Brad
Brad's friend from church, Grace Young, who also got baptized that day.
Brad and his DadBrad and Me

December 5th Bradley was baptized by his Dad. He has been preparing himself for quite sometime, and I have been so impressed as I have seen him spiritually grow as the time grew closer. He began to make choices that showed that he was truly at the age of accountability. He began to read his scriptures at night, helping around the house without being asked, and striving to be more of a peacemaker. Bradley was so excited to be baptized, and it was great to have so many people there to support him with his decision. I can't believe that he is eight already and my little baby is now at the age where he has made the decision to be baptized. We love you Bradley and are so happy with the decision you have made.

Visitors

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Grandma and Grandpa Porter came to visit us for the weekend. Tim and Amanda were also able to come up and visit for the weekend with their family as well. They came up for Bradley's baptism, but we were able to enjoy the entire weekend with everyone. While Grandma and Grandpa were here, they spoiled the kids with the presents they brought for Christmas. We are so glad that everyone could come!!!

Great Grandpa Hansen and LaGene come to Visit

For Thanksgiving, my Grandpa Hansen and his wife LaGene were able to come and visit. We had such a great time seeing them. Here is a picture of our boys with their Great Grandpa and LaGene.

Tis the Season

Kyle William and Brad (Matthew had gone to bed)

Kyle Decorating

William helping decorate

Brad and Kyle decorating

Matt decorating

It's that time of year, that time of the year where we set up the Christmas Tree. The time of the year we are so excited for. The time of the year, I realize once again, that my Christmas Tree will not be beautiful, but it will be touched by four little sets of hands. It's the time of year where the bottom half of my tree is bare, not because it wasn't decorated, but because all the ornaments are one by one taken off and left on the floor by Matt and I pick them up and put them higher. I love this time of year!!! I love having little helpers, some not so little anymore, to decorate and undecorate the tree.

When we turned the lights on this year on the three Matt proceeded to blow on the lights, he thought they were candles. It was so funny!