Random Kate Pictures and a Pie

I had to post this picture of my pie. I know not very exciting but I made it with a pumpkin from our garden. Little bit harder than opening a can of pumpkin but I now know that I can use the pumpkin I canned. Don't mind the horrible pie crust, I am still trying to figure out how to make one. Don't judge, they are hard. Plus others have a hard time making pie crust, it isn't the same as my inability to make Jello. (Seriously, for the life of me I can't make Jello). Any tips from anyone on making the perfect pie crust?

Anyone? No, moving on.

Kate got a princess dress up kit for Christmas. She loves to put on the outfits and say "I a Princess". It has a Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty and Snow White or as Kate says, "Wipe Snow". They are all a little bit big but she loves them. She does not love me when I won't let her leave the house like this. I am mean like that.

Gorgeous Kate! I especially like the boot.

Another lovely ensemble. This is what you do when you don't have any clothes. You get inventive with decorations.

Notice that Noah has clothes on? He loves to run around the house in underwear. Plus he is sitting still without staring at the TV and playing X-box. However, he may just be showing patience and waiting since on the right I see a foot, a hand and a controller. Just as long as they don't ask me to help them, I am alright with that. Keeps them out of my hair so I can do more important things like taking a shower without someone banging on the door and yelling, "MOM". One day, one day it will happen, right?

Temple Square

Whenever my step-kids are here we try and go to Temple Square. Here are a few pics from our visit.

Noah and Kate look like some kids just wandered into the photo. Plus we were in the tabernacle and Kate totally did go into someones photo. Need to teach that girl some manners.

In the visitor center

These next photos are a little bit dark. Notice Kate isn't in this one. She refused to go over there.
Then she finally decided to after the kids were away from there so we have this photo

We then told the other kids to hurry and get back over there and Kate didn't want anything to do with it so we have this photo.

The joys of a 2 year old.

While we were in the visitor center there is a little narrative about Jesus Christ that happens. People were being noisy so Noah said they needed to be quiet because he was listening to Jesus talk. It was a good visit. Cold but good. Maybe next time we should go in the summer.

Christmas

It has been a couple of weeks since Christmas and I realize I am a little bit behind. However, after the chaos of Christmas I barely stopped twitching in order to even do this post! We had a full house, kids were sleeping in bathtubs, no but I did have a full house. Brianna and Josh will probably have permanent back problems from sleeping on recliners. We have air mattresses that they usually sleep on but I forgot that I put them in a trunk that our fish tank sits on. As much as I hate having them sleep on recliners and risk permanent injury, I wasn't about to try and lift our fish tank off the trunk. Maybe by summer. Here are some pictures from our Christmas.

Noah and his "ipod". Santa Claus was brilliant with this gift. He always wanted to listen to the same songs over and over in the car so I said that we needed to get him his own ipod to listen too. Both him and Jack got mp3 players and Noah's barely leaves his ears. Plus he turns it up really loud and pretends he can't hear me. Oh well. I haven't had to listen to Spaceman in the car for a couple of weeks now so I will take the I'll pretend I can't hear mom game a little longer.
Opening Gifts

I don't think Christmas was quite thrilling enough for him.

Brianna happy with her EZ Bake Oven and yes she is 13. You have to start small when you are learning to cook. Cooking by a light bulb is very smart as this age. Maybe in a couple of years she will have moved up to a toaster oven. Fingers crossed.

Jack so excited.

Noah

Kate

Jack with a disgusting science kit. So far he has made boogers. Yep, gross. you can say it.

Noah with SpongeBob Operation. He hates SpongeBob, can't you tell?

Look at Katy eyeing those presents. This was Christmas morning after I had to wake the kids up at 9am. You heard me, had to WAKE up my children. What is up with that? I remember from my childhood that my sister and I would stay up late and try to sneak out to see if Santa had been there. My mom had very good hearing though and we never made it. Then my brother would wake us up with some song about a chicken named Pierre. I started twitching again.

Christmas Eve. Katy looks a little bit frightened. Not sure why?

One more of Christmas Eve. Katy now looks like she is praying for help.

Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas!

Why I love Noah

We were walking home from a party at our church house and Noah asked me if Jesus was at the hospital. I asked him why would he be at the hospital and his answer, "so he could get alive again."
One night he found an old cell phone and was making phone calls. He asked me what Grandma Chris's number was. I told him I wasn't sure. He told me it was some random number. He then started to talk to Grandma Chris. He asked me if I wanted to talk to her and I did. He got back on the phone and then was saying bye and said, grandma says she loves you. Then he decided he needed to call Grandpa Bill as well. I love the fact that he is sure that he can call Grandma Chris and Grandpa Bill in Heaven.
For all the craziness that it is Noah he is the sweetest little boy.

Noah's Birthday

Noah's birthday was last Tuesday. I am just a little bit behind things. Noah is now 5 years old. Has a very interesting personality that keeps me on my toes! He is so full of joy and what mother can't resist when her child says, "but I love you so much" when I tell him he can't go with me. I love you Noah!

One of his presents was some tools. Luckily these are plastic because he finds real tools and takes things like electrical outlet coverings off.
So Happy!

Him with a Sponge Bob Squarepants movie which we have now watched at least one hundred times. In fact he is watching it right now in my bedroom.

With his presents

Of course a SpongeBob cake.

Noah and his brothers. Kate just wanted cake, this is why she is not in the photo.

Noah's big present. A big bike. His other bike kept getting flat tires and we decided just to get him one. I asked him what he wanted for Christmas and he said another bike so if this one gets a flat tire, he has another one. Hard to argue with that logic.

Happy Birthday Noah!

Jack's Birthday

My baby turned 8 yesterday. I guess he isn't my baby anymore. I can't believe that he is 8 already. I remember when he was a big nosed baby (he seriously had this big nose and looked like an old man when he was born). He is now my handsome little boy with no teeth (with the no teeth maybe he still is like an old man!). Happy Birthday Jack!

Opening presents
Big present was the bike.

Presents

Birthday cake

Happy Birthday, Jack!

Who picked out the outfit?

Can you tell from the photo if Katy or Mommy picked out the outfit? It is really hard to tell.

She has pink tights on underneath, her skin is not usually that color. She is healthy and pink, just not bubblegum pink. This is one nice outfit, right?

She loves to pick out her own clothes. She wants to change her clothes numerous times in the day. Thank goodness for washers and dryers. It usually isn't a problem unless she wants to go outside into the world. She will throw the biggest fits if I try and change her clothes after she has picked out an outfit. I think she is just developing her creative side and one day she will learn the concept of coordinating.