Happy Birthday Ty

Poor Ty.  His birthday was also a victim of the flu of 2014.  We do his big party in June, but were at least going to make a cake.  We opted for the cookie, and Ty didn't seem to mind.

 He thought his birthday money was pretty cool

We can't believe our little Ty-Ty is 2 years old.  He makes us all laugh so much and we all adore him.  He is definitely embracing toddlerhood--hitting, throwing things, but is also learning to say sorryand  give the sweetest hugs and kisses. Ty is continuing to learn to talk and there is a lot of babble, then all of a sudden, he pulls out something like "Grandma's house" which is said very often.  We love our little man, happy birthday!

Christmas and the Flu

We had a VERY low key Christmas this year.  We went to Idaho the weekend before Christmas (pictures to come) and came home with the flu.  Ty started on the 22nd, Austin started the 23rd, Jeff and I started on the 24th.  Scott and Kate managed to never get it!

This is our Christmas Eve tradition--making gingerbread houses.  Only the three older kids made one, Austin's only got about half decorated.

Everyone got tough for Christmas morning.  Here are the kids, so excited to see what Santa brought them!

Scott and Dad putting his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle toy together.

Ty was starting to feel human again (meaning he didn't have me cuddle him ALL DAY)

Austin playing with his Hot Wheels track. 

Ty still wanted a little cuddling--Jeff wasn't feeling great either.

Scott and Austin were so excited about their legos!

Ty really loved Kate's new jeep for her doll.  Here is his little slide to the left.  He really loves this one and plays on it a lot!

Let the building begin, here is Scott working on MetalBeard

Austin working on Museum Heist.

I laid on the couch 90% of the day feeling rotten, but after a full dose of ibuprofen I helped put legos together for a while.

Here are the kids in their Christmas pajamas.  (We were feeling too rotten Christmas Eve, the family game didn't even get opened until Christmas morning!)

 Austin, Kate holding Ty, Scott, we sure love our kiddos!!

Kate loving Ty

Ty loving his slide

Dad, Scott, and Austin playing Mancala with Kate

We did a lot of this through the holidays

After we were over it, Grandma and Grandpa came over to open presents.

We felt bad that we just laid on the couch and didn't play with the kids and their puzzles, legos on Christmas, but they were such good sports.  Kate and Scott were especially great, picking up slack for everyone, running and getting things we needed all day.  This Christmas season, we tried to do a lot of activities to bring our family closer to Christ and even though on the culmination, we were all feeling half alive, the kids all seemed to feel it.  It was a wonderful Christmas season!

Kids Christmas Concert

Each grade chose a few songs and performed them.  Here is Scott walking in with his class.

Here is Austin walking in with his class.

Austin in the back, Scott in the front.  They sang Jingle Bells, Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer, and 2 others.  (Austin tried to make his hat stand up perfectly straight the entire time)

 Kate walking in with her class

Kate sang Winter Fantasy (her favorite) and one other

Grandma and Grandpa Lewis came to watch, and the kids did great!

Christmas Fun

We made Christmas sugar cookies with friends.

Just a cute pic of what we look at during meal time.

Making ornaments out of dough

Here are the kids painting the ornaments.  They really took their time and did a good job.  I couldn't resist getting in on the action too!

Ty, of course, had to get in on the action.  This was his first time painting and he loved it!

Here are the finished ornaments.  I think they turned out pretty cute.  We took some to neighbors as a gift.  This activity will definitely be a repeat!

                                      

At the ward Christmas party.  Austin was feeling sick and didn't want to be in the picture.

Kate played her recital piece for the ward talent show

Ty loved Brother Jones ukelele playing.

Daddy Fun

We finally got a little dusting of snow, we still haven't gotten much since then, but the kids had to go out.

We've got a new cook in the house, Kate is getting pretty awesome.  Her specialties are quesadillas  and pancakes.

Ty is embracing his toddlerhood

BYU at ESA

 We got some tickets from a friend to go see BYU play at Energy Solutions Arena

Grandma and Grandpa Durtschi got to come with us (Austin loved hanging out with them)

Scott (on the right) was feeling sick