Matthew vs the Tootsie Pop

So I walk into the living room the other day and Jacob has handed out suckers to everyone, including Matthew. If I tried to get it away, a loud shriek was emitted.

He was so proud of himself for finally getting something that the big kids usually only get.

So I let him keep it. He ate the WHOLE thing without making nearly as much of a mess as his older brothers would have.

Matthew cheeses with the Tootsie Pop

Snow Day

It started out with a forecast for maybe a half inch to an inch. Ben and Benjamin went to our church to help out with a service project for the day of service that they do in this area on MLK Day in the morning. They got home and it still hadn't done a lot. Then it started snowing and kept coming down more and more! It was the perfect day for so much snow because Benjamin was out of school and Ben was off work for MLK Day. It was such a pretty snow too! I tried to get some good shots. Ben took Benjamin and Evan over to a local park where we knew there was a good hill and they had a blast. Apparently Evan bummed a snowboard to try and has the makings of a good snowboarder. Poor Jacob was sick so he missed out but all in all, it was a fun day!

The woods behind our house.


View out our living room window overlooking the street.

Benjamin and Evan venture out into the snow.

Evan with his sled and snowsuit passed over from Aunt Steph. Thanks for all the gear Steph!

Sledding fun!

Fixing Jesus

Jacob came to me this morning and proudly told me that he had "fixed Jesus." I figured out later after going upstairs that he had found a picture that had tape on the back and he had stuck it here on the wall. It was a very cute moment:)

Future Pizza Tosser

Jacob asked for a tortilla the other day so that he could spin it like a pizza maker would toss pizza dough. It was so funny that I had to take a video of him doing it!

Super Sticker Boys!

They just crack me up when they do things like this to themselves!

Pretzels with a Twist!

I decided to have fun with snacks and the kids last week and I found a soft pretzel recipe my friend Amanda had given me. So we made the dough and shaped it into letters. Here we are with our pretzels!

D is for Dad

M is for Mom (Evan took this picture..it's like the 12th shot because he kept cutting off my head:)

B is for Benjamin

M was for Matthew

E is for Evan

J is for Jacob

Someone asked for the recipe so here it is along with a link to the cute story that went with it (http://lds.about.com/library/weekly/aa091802a.htm).

Homemade Pretzels by Paige Holden

1 Tbsp. dry yeast 3/4 c. warm water 1 Tbsp. sugar 1/2 tsp. salt

2 c. flour 1 egg, beaten Coarse salt Wax paper

Mix yeast in warm water. Add sugar and salt. Add flour and mix. Put dough on wax paper and knead until soft. Cut off pieces and shape as you like (too thick = doughy, too thin = brittle). Place them on a cookie sheet. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle coarse salt. Bake at 425° for 12 to 15 minutes.

Visit from Sam and Carrie

We had a wonderful time with Sam and Carrie when they came to see us a couple of weeks ago. It really made us miss our friends from Clemson. We had so much fun hanging out and playing games and eating good food. We miss you guys!


Jacob checks out Sam's watch

Matthew being his cute self

Sam and Ben in the kitchen

Ben making the bacon doughnuts....mmmmmm!

Matthew discovers the Fruit Loops!

Jacob trying to take a picture of himself with Carrie's camera

Evan and Carrie

Carrie shows Jacob how to really use the camera

Playing the Wii

Super Cheese! Carrie and Jacob

Jacob figures out how to point it the right way

Carrie and Matthew

This was the sweet one:)

Benjamin becomes a footrest

Benjamin, Sam and Evan

Benjamin and Sam

Benjamin and Carrie

Playing before saying goodbyes

Benjamin gets tickle attacked!

Matthew Cheers on Evan on Video Game
(listen for "He did it!")

Matthew waves goodbye with his bread:D