Wilson

We took this picture yesterday at Home Goods. It is for mom...she loves Annalie dolls, and has lots of them...but none this big! Wilson and I laughed that the doll was taller than him!

Wilson is growing up so fast. He loves to read, and now he loves to write! Every night he reads in bed for 30 to 45 minutes. Now he has started writing in bed. The other night he came out to read me what he had written for me, and then his dad. He is such a good little boy, and has such a tender heart. There are some obvious spelling errors, but for a first grade I think he is doing fantastic!

Christmas Lights

Ken is putting up the Christmas lights this afternoon. He hasn't put them up in a couple of years, because of the weather, so it is fun to see them go up this year. When the weather is cooperating, Ken is always such a good sport at putting our lights up.

When I went outside to check on Ken's progress, I saw our neighbor putting up his lights...

He isn't having to climb up and down the ladder like Ken is... This process looks a whole lot easier:)

Happy Thanksgiving

This is the sunrise this morning, Wilson and I really enjoyed it together!

What a great looking "rafter of turkeys"!

The lynx really liked its pumpkin!

This morning we went to the Zoo, it was so much fun! The boys were so excited that dad was going with us this time.

Ken having fun with his boys!

Tired Josef

The time change has completely messed Josef up! He is usually up by 5am, and goes to bed at about 7:30-8pm, oh, and did I mention he refuses to take naps! November has been a very tired month for Josef. I am hoping he is turning the corner, because this morning he slept in until 6am! When I picked up Holden from preschool, Josef fell asleep in the car. I haven't been able to transfer him successfully lately, so I just brought him in the house. Moments later he was crashed out on the sofa, and I was able to take him to his bed for a nap, yippee!

Wilson's Wrestling Tournament

Wilson's first opponent. He won this series of three matches.

Wilson second opponent. He lost the series of three matches.

Wilson came in second out of these four boys. He was so pleased with himself! I giggled at his size, he is clearly the smallest boy out of the four. When he weighed in, at the beginning of the season, he weighed 46 lbs. 4 ozs, so he has been wrestling kids that weigh 46 - 55 lbs. I was so impressed with his perseverance. He just kept going and trying. I would have totally given up! He is excited to do it again next year.

Josef, Stone, and Sam

I picked up Stone this morning, and so I have the three little guys. I think Stone and Josef make Sam a little nervous! Stone and Josef are quite the pair! I am so grateful Stone lives close, and that Josef and Stone love playing with each other!

Sleepy Holden

Holden is such a good sleeper. He is the BEST sleeper of the three boys. He falls asleep fast, and can sleep through about anything! Last night Ken, Wilson, and Holen were watching the BYU basketball game. It was about 7:30pm, and I heard Ken ask him if he was falling asleep, Ken told him to just go to bed. He told his dad he was just going to lay on the floor, and listen to the game with his eyes closed... Holden was out for the count!

LEGO Star Wars

Holden got this set of LEGO Star Wars for his birthday from Stone. This afternoon he started building one of the ships, and then asked me if I would help. Holden is good at roping me into building stuff for him. Then he wanted me to take a picture, and put it on the blog for Grandpa V to see!

Happy Anniversary

Josef keeps looking at the flowers, and saying "Oh, pretty momma!"
Ken and I are celebrating our 9th anniversary today. We agreed not to get anything for each other, and that going to Flemmings would be our present. I ran out this afternoon to pick up a pizza for Ben and Alli to feed the boys, and when I got home, there was a note on the door from a florist. I was shocked, it has been a really long time since I received flowers (I always tell Ken not get flowers, because they die too quickly.) The flowers are bright and cheery. I didn't even have to go pick up the flowers, Emma (our cute neighbor's daughter) brought them to me! I opened the door and she said, "happy whatever!"

Caught Shaving

We asked the boys to go and wash their hands to get ready for dinner. Wilson and Holden came back into the kitchen, but Josef didn't. Ken went to check on him, and found him with shaving creme, and his razor. Not a good combination...he was just trying to be like his daddy! He is going to have a sore lip for awhile. I am just grateful it was only his lip.

Happy Sunday Dinner

I know these pictures are blurry (dang it!), but it is all I have!
Standing, Allison, Ben, and Ashley
Seated, Blake, Josef, Heidi, Holden, and Wilson

Dane and Ashley

Seated, Josef, Blake, Heidi, Holden, and Wilson

We had Sunday dinner with Allison and Ben, Ashley (we really missed Taylor), Heidi and Dane, and BLAKE! It was so fun to have a surprise visit from Blake (he went to Harvest Dance). Josef warmed up quickly to Blake, and of course Holden and Wilson had a blast with him.

It was strange to have my family and just the Holmes "kids", but SO much fun. It is crazy how much they have each grown up and matured. Allison is engaged, Ashley is married, Heidi is engaged, and Blake will be submitting papers for his mission in the Spring! They are all amazing "kids" - they will always be "kids" to me! I love them, and am so grateful for them. I definately missed the members of the Holmes Family that weren't there, but I am grateful for all that they are doing to serve the Lord. I am also looking forward to seeing Whitney in a couple of weeks!

Ken's Prize

Ken and his team at work, have been competing for a month to win a 42" TV for each of them. Today was the day, and they won! Ken was pretty excited to bring the prize home. Now we just have to figure out how and where to put it!

Wilson's Wrestle Mania (WWM not WWF)

Wilson and his friend getting warmed up.
The boys before Wilson's first match.

Holden and Josef inbetween matches.

Wilson started wrestling. He has had two practices/clinics, and last night he had his first matches. He loves it! It was crazy - they had matches for kindergartners, first graders, and second graders. Wilson got to compete in two matches, each with 3 one minute rounds (I am not sure I am using the correct terminology!) I guess he is used to wrestling with his brothers, only now he has rules... We had fun watching, when he was struggling, I just wanted to help him. Holden told me he doesn't want to wrestle, he wants to either play golf or basketball.

Halloween Night

Halloween night was so fun. We had Ben and Becky over for dinner in a pumpkin, and then went trick or treating. The weather was absolutely beautiful. Ken and I took the boys (grandma stayed to hand out chips) trick or treating. We went for almost 2 hours, and I wore sandals! The boys had so much fun. Josef was so cute when he would say "thanks"!

Annual Family Halloween Party

Evan, Keaton, Wilson, Annalise, Canyon, and Holden!

Lyric, Josef, and Stone. With some peer pressure (positive) from Stone, Josef put on his lion costume.

The little lion and his grandma!

The boys listening to Emily tell Halloween stories!

Holden could have sat with Emily all night!

Emily had her annual Halloween Party, and as always, it was a blast! Holden got to party all day long on his birthday. Aunt Becky even made a yummy coconut birthday cake for him!

On the way home form the valley, I got a call from Ashley, she was in Farmington! She came over to visit, and then Heidi & Dane, and Allison and Ben came to visit too! What a great way to end such a fun day!

Holden Turned 5!!!

Birthday morning present time. Holden was SO excited! Friday night Ken took Wilson and Holden to the Spooky Dinosaur Park, so my mom and I had a chance to wrap his presents, and get his cake ready.
All of the kids dressed up in costumes for his party.

Gotta love pinata time!

I can't believe Holden turned 5, but he did! His party was so fun - 11 little kids...they were all so good! We played pin the teeth on the dracula, trick or treat, skeleton drop, and then it was time for the pinata! I am so glad my mom was visiting so she could help!