"Super" Christmas 2013

Christmas this year seemed to have a distinctly "super" theme.  The kids scored some awesome super hero stuff all from different sources.  (Apparently we have trained the extended family well.)

Hard to tell but the Captain America socks have white wings on the top.

The kids immediately donned their new digs.  Aunt Tee Tee couldn't resist sending knee high super hero socks (cape included,  you heard that right, what's a sock without a cape).  On the kids they are more like thigh highs but Tee Tee's convinced they make you run faster. 

 Grey opened this action figure and in his limited English shouted, "Iron Man!!  AWWWWESOME!!!"

 Liam loves Hulk.  He has this deep gravely voice he uses to eloquently express the Hulk's complex and deep emotions.  "Hulk Smash!  Hulk Smash!  Hulk Smash!"  To be fair, if you give a kid the Hulk, you should expect the obligatory smashing of everyone and everything in his path.

 He was so excited with his new Batman shirts he put one on and then ran upstairs to hang the other in his closet so it would be ready for the next day.  So funny.

 Socks?

 Nope,  super socks.

 
That's the sock capes dragging along behind him.  He'll grow into them, someday.

Family Tradition of making a Gingerbread house.  This is the first year Ilana didn't join in.  It was a little sad to see her growing up and want to do other things.  I didn't think Greyson would be into it this year but he was the most excited!  He kept directing where I should place icing dots for his candies and at the end he shouted "I did it!" over and over.

 The delicious masterpiece.

 As part of Jason's time at the school here, he had to take a formal picture for the year book.  We got a few minutes to do a family photo as well.  The kids were so good.

 We were lucky enough to have Grandma Judy come spend Christmas with us this year.  It's always better with family.  Especially if they are a great cook and do dishes for you too!  Thanks Judy!!   Modern day "family togetherness".  Three people and, count them, one, two, …yep three electronic devices.  :)  Not to mention the big TV in front of them all.

Hope you all had a happy Holiday Season filled with family and love.  Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Graduation. So proud of you babe!

We moved to Kansas last December so Jason could attend the Army's Command and General Staff College.  Over the course of this year Jason has worked very hard and completed a Master's Degree from Kansas State University in conjunction with the Military schooling.  It made for some really long nights and far too many papers to write but he did it!

Congratulations Jason.  We are very proud of you!!

 Jason's Master's class wouldn't be able to "walk" at K State because their military graduation was on the same day as the Master's graduation.  So they did a simple ceremony on post for the recipients.  The school's colors are purple if you can't tell.

 A hard working group of soldiers!

 Waiting for the military graduation. The littles were very good during the ceremony.

 Daddy sat just a little in front of us.

 The Staff College's main building is truly beautiful.

 They have some gorgeous windows that, unfortunately, are not a good backdrop for pictures.

 All of the students get a beautiful wooden locker during their schooling.

 Such good boys!

For the next 6 months Jason will complete two follow-on schools, the Red Team Leader Course (learning to be the leader of the "bad guys" when they play war games) and the Knowledge Management Course.  Then we will be off to Fort Carson in Colorado Springs, Colorado.  Yay for summer time moves!  I can not tell you how happy I am NOT to move in the snow or mid year for the kids schools. 

Autumn 2013

November and December were very busy.

Grandma Judy came to visit.

 Mop heads.

 Girls day out.  It was freezing!  She's getting so old!  (Don't freak out, don't freak out.)

 He's taken a shine to these goggles and wears them everywhere.  Even church (with the cape, it's a dynamic duo).

 Daddy took Liam on a Boy's day and they went into the polo outlet store.   A horse as the mascot of a clothing line?  He's in!  He's all in!

 More goggles.

I taught Grey to take my hand and lead me to what he wants since his language skills are still…so so.  It was a mistake.  Big mistake:)  Relentless little man.

This year I gave gardening a try.  Basically I have a black thumb.  The pumpkins and zucchini's got eaten by bugs.  I was so disheartened by this that I ignored the carrots and green onions.  Ilana kept watering them and coaxing them along.  We finally decided to pull everything up to see what we had.  

 We got a few good looking carrots but most looked like something out of a Frankenstein movie.  The green onions looked fine but teeny tiny.

 Ha.  Made these toilet paper binoculars last October for General Conference.  Grey still plays with his "Prophet Watcher" binoculars.  We didn't find any in the hallowed halls of preschool but I'm sure we'll keep trying.

 So comfortable.  I don't know how he could sleep like this but he'll have to find some other uncomfortable way to sleep from now on.  We finally dismantled the kids crib for the last time.  It made it through all four of our kids and moved 7 times (2 international).  The wood was stripped from putting the hardware together and apart so many times.  It finally has gone the way of all the earth.  A little bit sad but also happy that Greyson has graduated into a big boy bed.

 Went to Texas to spend Thanksgiving with Grandpa Rolly and Miss Ellen.

 Had a chance to meet up with good friends and neighbors from our Germany days in Texas.  So fun!

As we drove through Texas we realized we were 10 minutes from a good High School friend.  Called him last minute and got to see him and all his family who were visiting for the holidays.  Can't believe we didn't take a picture Dan Joseph!

 It's gotten really cold here in Kansas.  Down toward the minuses.

 Grandpa Rolly and Miss Ellen came up to see Jason graduate from the military school here.  They had a chance to go eat a sack lunch with Jackson at school.

 I's eatin' Ma.  Eatin' I tell ya!

I really wanted to go see some church history sites while we are here.  We went to Independence Missouri.  What a beautiful visitors center!  They even had a child play area.  Such a good idea!!

 Just my size.

 Got to take a self guided tour through the temple of the Community of Christ church.  Very interesting building.  Great experience.

We also went to see Liberty jail.  So neat.  Very grateful for all the hardships the early pioneers endured for our sake.