On Tuesday, the boys started preschool. Of course I forgot my camera. They go two days a week for two hours. Today, they learned about the letters d and q. They started a few weeks into class, but I am sure that they will catch up soon. So far they love it! Ashten's favorite part of preschool is playing with magnets and Ayden's favorite part of school is snack time. 
Ashten riding in the firetruck
The kids in the cab
AJ loved exploring by himself
Ayden and Abraham checking out the firemen's rooms
Fireman Chris, Cathy, Valerie, and Rachel in the kitchen
Stephanie, Aubrey, Jen, Tate, Analisa, Addy Izzy, AJ, and Ashley in the living room
What a cutie
Half of the kids
The Group 2009
AJ was loving licking the back of the fire truck and sucking all the water off the bumper
Izzy and Ashten watching the cab go up
Ayden and AJ watching the fireman
AJ couldn't find me and was kind of scared.
Kathy, Terry, Papa, Kristin, and WesAJ and Grammy
About to blow out the candles
Ben, Ashten, and Ayden on the treasure hunt
Haley, Riley, Bella, Toni, Ashten, Ben
Bella, Riley, Josh, Ben, Ashten, and Ayden
Ashten turned 4 today. In the morning, Grammy came and picked up the boys to go to Primary Activity. Afterwards, they went out to lunch together. While they were doing that I was getting ready for the party. Finally, it was time. We had pizza and salad for dinner. Then, Ashten opened his presents, which he loved. After that we had cake. When the kids were done with that I had treasure maps and flashlights for the kids. They got bundled up and found their treasures. I think they had a lot of fun.
Yesterday, Ayden came running in the house telling me about the "hugest rat on earth" that he saw. I wasn't sure what he saw until today when we were eating lunch. I said to the kids, "Look there's a cat at our back door." Then I noticed a rat-like tail. Ewww. It was a possum! I thought possum were supposed to be nocturnal animals. Am I mistaken? Anyways, then Ayden told me that that was the rat he saw yesterday. 
I finished up the deer by putting grass over his nonexistent hooves
Do you think the tree leaf part is big enough?? I am not sure if it looks unbalanced...let me know!
It seems every year it's harder to find a babysitter on Valentine's Day, so we have stopped looking. On Monday, I put the kids to bed at 6:30pm. They had a busy day, so they were tired anyway (at least that's what I tell myself.) I set up the kitchen table with bamboo, candles, and chopsticks and went and got a big tray of sushi. it was delicious. For dessert, I made some chocolate fondue dip. We had pineapple, strawberries, bananas, marshmallows, and brownies bites to dip in it. A very healthy dessert;) haha It was actually very nice to stay home and the kids actually went right to sleep, so it was very relaxing.
Daddy helps get them in the rink
Ayden was a little more apprehensive, until no one was looking.
Ashten is a little daredevil.
AJ wanted to go skating so bad. Everytime he would run over to the rink when we weren't looking and stick his toe down. Then he'd scream when we'd take him away. He was happy at the candy machines though:)
Josh and his Mario mushroom cake
Ben and his cake
Ben who almost passed out for real
The day started out with the kids and I working on laundry and cleaning the house. In the afternoon, Ben came over to play while Valerie took cupcakes to school. They decided that they were going to have a "camp out". They brought all of their blankets and pillows and lined them up in the hallway. They had lots of fun doing that until I realized that it would me fun for me if they kept the house clean and played in the bedroom.
In the fort
Later that afternoon, Ashley came over to play, while Kristy worked. The boys had so much fun having her over. She helped them build a fort underneath a tree in our backyard. They explored the yard until it time for dinner. Even after dinner when it was pitch black they went back out and played. I usually don't let them go out when it's dark, so it was so exciting to them. 
AJ in time out and wearing his brother's shoes
After dinner, AJ was running around in the kitchen and decided to pull handfuls of salad and throw it all over the kitchen floor. I decided that this was a perfect time for him to have his first time out. At first he sat there looking ashamed of himself , then he started crying. He did really well though, he sat for half the time then stood up. I put him right back and he finished off his time. He had to sit a second time out a few minutes later for a similar offense:)
Ayden and the only picture of AJ (oops) 
Abraham and Ashten
There are a couple of boys who had birthdays in February, so Valerie put together a playgroup for the kids to decorate cupcake cones. They were very cute and most importantly the kids loved decorating and eating them. I think it had something to do with candy, candy, frosting, and oh, did I say candy?
Anderson, Kristin, Wes, and Grandma
Peter (Kristin's brother), Papa, Ashten, Grammy, and Ayden
Yesterday, Dad turned 49 years old. Today, Mom had a party for him at their house. She cooked some awesome food and we had cake. Afterwards, the boys had a computer game that they spent all night trying to play, while the girls worked on crafts. The kids played and watched movies. Ayden stayed up until we left at about 1:30am. We all had lots of fun. It reminded my of the old days before we had kids when we used to stay and party all night. 
