New Years

We spent a few days up in Layton after Christmas, including our favorite New Years Eve Party.  The kids got to play in the snow almost every day.  Harrison looked like an adorable "Christmas Story's Randy".  He liked sledding but wasn't happy when he was sitting or standing.

Building a snow house with Popcan, Sophie and the "Crazy Letters"- Jace and Eli, named by Penny.

 

Poor Penny got a big bonk on her eye New Years Eve while sledding.  She was going down the hill and then Sophie started walking up the hill pulling her sled.  To try to avoid hitting Penny, she lifted up her sled, but not quite high enough and it hit Penny right on her eye.  It immediately blew up so big and was pretty bloody.  It freaked me out, so I took her into the ER with Popcan, who was able to pull a doctor out to look at her before we even registered her.  He said everything looked okay, it would just be ugly for a few days.

 He was right.  The next day the blood that pooled started to spread and she was very swollen and had a nice black eye.

 The party was smaller this year, but it was still so fun!  Tyler had to go home to work on the 30th, so he had to miss it.  Here's the kids with the pinata before they broke it.  Penny didn't want to do it, and just sat with my mom.  Poor thing had a rough afternoon!

Bridgette did a good job hitting the pinata this year (unlike previous years where she was too scared or timid).

Cute Harrison loving chocolate coffee cake for breakfast.

The girls LOVE the snuggly beds at Grammy's house and played "nigh-night" almost every day.  Bridgette even would read books.  So sweet.

 Grammy and Popcan took us to Moana.  The girls loved it and now obsessed with the songs.  Harrison did really well too, and was stuffing his face with popcorn as fast as he could.  It was really funny.

 Little cute cousin friends.  They had lots of play time this trip!

Penny and Harrison especially loved playing with Bronco and Harrison even started to say "da-dag" for dog.

Clapping for Bronco.

We had a big family dinner with my Grandma Melville at her place.  It turned out really fun.  She wanted a little program, so each family planned out something small.  Popcan attempted some magic tricks.  It was pretty funny!

Harrison mostly walked around and caused trouble.

My parents with all the grandkids.

Our whole family who was at the party.

We went bowling again with the Melvilles and Penny surprised everyone by winning our lane with a 109!  It was crazy and fun.  We went swimming at Surf and Swim which was so fun until Bridgette threw up because she swallowed so much pool water.  We also got to play with lots of cousins, go out to lunch and have a girls night watching the new season of The Bachelor. 

The kids and I flew back on January 4th and had the most horrible flight home I have ever been on.  It was delayed 2.5 hours from weather in San Francisco where it was departing from.  Thank goodness my mom was able to get a companion pass to help me wrangle tired, bored and hungry kids for the extra time we waited!  We finally boarded the plane at the beginning of the blizzard, only to sit on the tarmac for 2 hours waiting to be de-iced.  At this point it was 10:30pm and Penny and Harrison were screaming because they were just so tired.  Penny was laying on the floor crying and Harrison was screaming on my lap when the stewardess came to tell me it was an active runway (even though we'd been sitting in the same spot for 2 hours) and Penny HAD to be buckled in her seat.  I just looked up at her and asked "What am I supposed to do?" She just walked off instead of doing anything to offer to help me and I started bawling, just feeling so overwhelmed since there was nothing I could do to calm either child.  Thankfully, a couple from my ward was right across the row from and I could pass poor Harry over so I could deal with Penny.  Once in the air all three kids fell asleep instantly but unfortunately it didn't last for long.  Penny woke up about 45 minutes later and was cranky, disoriented and couldn't calm down.  She screamed for the rest of the flight, woke up Harrison, who also cried the rest of the flight and Bridgette who sat covering her ears.  I think I handed Harrison to my friends three other times to try to calm Penny.  I couldn't have survived without them there!  Penny continued to cry on the way off the plane and to the baggage claim until we got to Tyler.  We got home at midnight, kids slept in their clothes, and Bridgette missed school in the morning.  I don't think I will be attempting a solo flight with three kids any time soon!!!