Our December...in a nutshell...

So...December is usually crazy for us: Christmas and a birthday. But, this year we added more for some reason. Here's what we've been up to:

Colby, Gabe and Tristan made a lot of Mac n Cheese; since they all like to eat it so much.

We did our fair share of shoveling the driveway, though I'm sure there's more to come.

Found more moments of Skitterz napping on napping boys.

Visited Christmas Village for the first time, and last. It was boring!

But, had fun playing on the playground there.

We all drank a lot of hot chocolate.

And made sure we had clean teeth, since December brings so many wonderful treats from neighbors and friends.

Gabe's preschool class celebrated his 1/2 birthday, since he's out for summer break during his actual birthday.

Tristan wore jingle antlers that he insisted on owning from Shopko all the way to the Koch side family Christmas party. He jingled the whole way down to Bountiful.

(He called them his "ho-ho-ho"s)

Most of us got new fancy holiday clothing to wear to church the Sunday before Christmas.

Braxton turned 8 years old on the 21st.

RaeAnne actually cooked breakfast for Christmas. This usually only happens on Christmas, and only because we eat at about 10am.

For Christmas Tristan got a much coveted Wall-E toy.

(He has watched the movie daily for the last 6 weeks; I don't know why, but he loves it!)

Colby helped the boys put together Lego sets from Santa.

Colby received a miter saw to continue home projects he has in mind.

Colby, his brother Ty, and her boys all got RaeAnne new earrings.

(My escapade in June paid off big time at Christmas.)

She also got the amazing BodyBugg to help in the never ending goal to lose weight, yeah!

It was a year for Nerf guns.

It was also the year to give the Snuggie as a gag gift. Here is my sister, Heidi, modeling hers. All of my siblings and I got one. I gave Colby one as a joke. And Colby's nephew received one as well.

Here are all of my parents' grandchildren on Christmas: Tristan, Gabe, Caitlin, Shaila, Grant, Taryn, Gracee, Braxton, Carson, Jed, Wyatt and baby Blakely in the carrier.

Braxton was baptized on December 27th.

The boys had fun playing outside and sledding down the deck stairs.

All he wants for Christmas...

All he wants for Christmas is his two front teeth! Braxton is trying to catch up with all his friends, within in the past month the tooth fairy has been super busy. He only lost 2 last school year, and already 3 this school year. He looks super cute right now with his "spacey" grin. He was trying to sing the song this morning just the way the Chipmunks do, but he doesn't have as hard a time saying certain words as they do.

Halloween

We had a very relaxing Halloween. We slept in and played in the morning. Then I coaxed the boys into helping me tidy up the house. We had our friend Ben and his girls arrive to play and attend our festivities with us. Colby needed a haircut, so Ben assisted and then decided to shave his own as well. We got the kids all dressed up and took pictures in front like we always do. Braxton can finally fit correctly into his Jack Sparrow costume, Gabe using Braxton's old Spiderman sweatsuit as a costume, Rylee as an angel, Tristan in Braxton's old giraffe costume, and Lily as a cute little clown. (Did I say that I decided to buy a new purse instead of costumes for the kids this year? Oh well, we have plenty to recycle. Plus, I'm loving my Juicy Couture purse.)We stopped by my parents home for the kids to get a glow stick, then off to Colby's parents home for a treat as well. (A quick stop at RedBox to return a movie) Then off to our ward Trunk-or-Treat. Here are Heather and I handing out candy. Gabe and Tristan were done making the rounds.By that time our dinner was done, so we headed home for food. Mmmmm...dinner in a pumpkin. I told the kids they were eating pumpkin brains. They all liked it, except Braxton...of course. Then they just wanted to watch a movie and eat candy, what little they had, so we didn't argue with them. They got into PJs to relax, and we relaxed answering the door and not walking them around the neighborhood. Overall, it was a great day.

Pumpkin Patch

Tristan and I attended Gabe's annual trip to the pumpkin patch with his preschool. We grabbed some Wendy's to eat on the way, since he would be going straight to class from Farr West. We played with some friends while waiting for the entire class to arrive. (He thinks it is hilarious to smile like this in pictures.) Tristan let me do his hair today, I love it this way. Then the kids all gathered around the scarecrow, he stood up, and starting talking to them! (This happens every trip, but it's still fun.) Here are Gabe and Tristan picking out a $1 pumpkin to take home. Gabe wanted to try the head on. Picture time with pumpkin man and Miss Jackie. There are so many fun photo opps at this place. Obviously, Tristan was done with that crazy pumpkin guy.We had a great time. Gabe took his pumpkin back to class to decorate, and brought it home after school. On Wednesday they get to take their pumpkins back to class and smash them, he is anxiously awaiting this splendid event.

Oh yeah! Here is Gabe's preschool class earlier that week. They had a costume parade. Gabe is Spiderman.

Fourth of July

Wow! I just realized that I didn't post anything in July of real concern or interest. So, here's how we spent the 4th:

Ready to start the day's festivities. We attended our first ever North Ogden Cherry Days (We are usually at a ranch in the Uintas during this.) We found that we are not missing much when we are usually camping over the fourth. And there's no way our family could get up in time for the parade. We are night people.
Grumpa Koch grilling us dinner.

Grumpa Koch, Doug, Ty, Xanna Koch(Grandma), Colby finishing their food.

"Duck" Doug. The name our kids call our friend Doug.

Gabe hanging out with me on the hammock at Colby's parents home.

Ty and Tristan, the two T's.

Ty takes Colby for a bike ride.

Ty and Tristan bonding, yet again.

Xavi, Braxton, Tristan, Mat, and Doug playing some Frisbee in the backyard.

Time for sparklers, before the high school's firework show begins.

Ty helping Tristan get a handle on his sparkler. He is my little pyro boy.

Typical male stance around our personal fireworks. Xavi and his dad Ty, Colby and Doug.

How Tristan enjoys the fireworks: up close and interested.

How Braxton and Gabe enjoy them: Forced by their dad to man up and stay outside, while they cover their ears and throw tantrums.

Teaching Xavi how to light them.

Xavier and his dad, Colby's only sibling, Tyson.

Tristan greets his future bride: 1-year old Mardi Peterson with her mom Christina.

Mike Peterson giving his future son-in-law some good advice.

Braxton, Tristan and Xavier chillaxin' in the hammock up in the barn.

Mike, Colby and Tristan spooning in the hammock. They were reenacting their school days' of silliness. Nothing dirty meant.

Colby and Mardi, she always calms down for him.