January Fun!

Even though January is not the best month to go out and play, we just holed up inside for our playtime.  We now get to hang out with Jace one day a week while his parents go to school!  Hooray for school!

Crappy inversion outside?  Have no fear, there's plenty to do indoors.  Kael loves helping me clean up.

I could begin to tell you how many forts we have built, but they're sure fun to design and play in.  Plus I have LOTS of fort building experience!

Kael making a lovely face  LOL!!

Something else we had a ball doing is covering the table with a table cloth and spraying out a whole bottle of shaving cream.  The kids created interesting creatures and drew fun pictures.

Aidan created some sort of monster that was taking over his body.

....just some of our documented fun....

Aidan is 8!

The Michaelson Bunch

These little balls of energy combined make for one huge cosmic punch.  Not only do they have such bright personalities, and a bit gassy, they all make for one perfect combination.  Since day 1 they have always been best friends and Love, LOVE, LOVE!!! that they always play together and include each other.  They are nearly inseparable.  We are so blessed to have such beautiful children with so much love to give that teach us how to be better people around the clock. 

Aidan, born January 17th, 2006.  He was 2lbs 13 oz, and 17 inches long when he came into this life and had such a huge challenge ahead of him and he's been rockin' it ever since.  He just turned 8 years old!  He's in the 2nd grade, but his reading and math are on the 4th grade level.  He is a brilliant boy with quite an extensive vocabulary and loves to read and play the piano.  In fact, for now, he wants to be a professional piano player when he grows up.  He lost another molar shortly after these pictures were taken after he kept wiggling and tugging.

He is the leader of the group and makes sure that no one is left out when they play.  He has such a creative mind and a huge heart while being a goofball at the same time.  We love you Aidan!

For his birthday present, it was a toss up between a guitar, because he really wants to learn another instrument, or a remote controlled helicopter.  So we ventured to the store together to see what was out there and we found both.  He ended up choosing the helicopter since it was cheaper and felt bad about me spending a lot of money on his present.  It was a good choice either way, all the kids love the helicopter.

It's actually pretty cool and it even has ammo you can fire at things while it's flying around.

After the excitement was over, Barry gave it a whirl.

He especially loved targeting the kids and firing missiles at them.  He would fly the helicopter around the house and fire at them and they of course, loved it!

Christmas 2010......Blah...

Christmas......wow this post is LONG overdue.  So this year, for some reason, didn't really feel uhhhh.... Christmas-sy.  I didn't even buy any gifts until the week of, and even through I was just flooded with Christmas people and activities at work and home...it just didn't seem to come this year.  I even tried to cancel Christmas at our house this year but I think a few kids were depending on getting gifts.  So besides be being a Grinch I put on my Christmas face and just counted the days until it was over.

The tree with treats out for Santa.

Digging in!

After we opened up presents we set up the ZuZu pet tracks and train tracks which kept most of us busy throughout the day. 

We didn't schedule anything else that day and just relaxed, ate yummy food and chilled in our pj's all day.

The next day I cleared everything Christmas out of our house, and we went up to my dad's for a White Family Christmas party.

I don't have to mention the food since all of us are great cooks so I'll just get straight to the gift giving.   My dad put on a hat that played Christmas songs and the top went back and forth.  So he took turns with each grandchild on his lap and gave them a present.  Koen is a little excited if you can't tell.

A sweet picture of Kael and Grandpa White.

Now, to our surprise the "big" kids got to sit on Grandpa's lap and get a present too!  Reed was overjoyed to say the least....

Zoo Lights!!

We headed to Hogle Zoo with some friends.  I've never been there except during the hot summer months and this was definitely a nice change.  The kids got a good dose of Christmas lights AND animals!

The boys ran to the lighted up train as soon as we walked through the front gate. 

 We took along some friends of ours, the McCullough's!  Barry actually knows Mike from his mission in Ecuador.  And even better, they're in our ward!  What a small world!

 We got some one-on-one time with Santa which didn't last too long.  We thought we at least had a chance with Koen's break through with Santa on the North Pole Express, but no.  I don't blame him though.  This particular "Santa's helper" was kinda strange.  And apparently the new thing to do in family/Santa pics is to flip off the camera......LOL!!

 I LOVE this pic, I just wish it wasn't blurry...

 Mike, Kaylynn, Leda and James.

 Koen loved the dragon but didn't want to sit too close to the flames.

 Kaylynn

 James.  When the boys first heard his name in Primary they were so excited because James is one of their favorite trains and they just couldn't believe that a person could have that name.  So James was instantly a cool guy!

 Koen talking to the lighted elephant.

Great friends and Zoo Lights make us happy!