Family Photo Shoot

Awhile back we did a family photo shoot. We thought it was about time, since the last one we did Cora was 6 months old. We have all grown a lot since then, and we had added two new members. These pics are the cream of the crop!

Life's Random-ness

Just a few random moments....

Anya got this shirt for Christmas from her Best BFF ever, she was so excited. It has made it into the Favorite T-shirt rotation. This girl would wear a t-shirt and jeans everyday if I let her. Her favorites are: her Pokemon t-shirt, How to Train Your Dragon t-shirt, and now her Camp Half-blood t-shirt. She loves a good shirt!

It's a New Year

It's a New Year, Everything is shiny and new!

Welcome New Year 2011...

On New Year's Day we always brave the cold and get some good old fashioned sledding fun in.

It was very cold this year, so I think more Cocoa sipping rather then sledding got done.

We had some sledding tubes, and it was so icy that all 5 exploded, plus we shattered two plastic sleds. These tubes had lasted about three years, so we were surprised when ALL of them were destroyed this trip. Hannah described it as the worst sledding trip ever, mainly because the kids didn't get to go down as often, with all our tubes meeting their demise. Still, it was fun to get out and experience something we don't get to do at home.

Every year I try to take a family photo to start off the new year.
I usually try to do it New year's Eve, just after midnight. That didn't happen this year with the little guys, it was too crazy. So I settled for a New Year's Day photo.
Happy New Year's...may it be bright and cheery for you all!

Winter Break

It snowed a lot while we were in Utah. We took advantage of this delicious cold weather (delicious to us, because we can leave it in a week and return to So. Cal.) and played as much as we could in the snow. We had snowball fights, mainly between Dad and Anya, and we built snowmen.

We also spent a lot of time with our family. Cousins are the coolest!!! We had slumber parties, went to Ikea, Went to dinner and we also went and saw the lights at Temple Square in Salt Lake City. It was cold, but we warmed in the visitors center when we got too chilled. It was a neat experience for my kids. I am just take advantage that my kids have been to Temple Square to see the lights, when really that is just my twisted thinking since I grew up there. The last time my kids went to Temple Square, I was pregnant with Cora, Anya was 4 and Hannah was 2. They really didn't remember ever going up there...so we decided it was high time we went. I would like to take them back up this summer to see all the visitor's centers has to offer. I think they would really enjoy it!

It was a great break filled with wonderful times with Family. We were sad to see it come to an end, which it does every time all too quickly!

CHRISTMAS!!

It's Christmas, such a magical time of year when wishes come true. Let us not forget the most precious wish of all, that of eternal life. The one who can grant us this wish, through our diligence and righteousness, is our Savior, Jesus Christ. His love for us knows no bounds and is strong enough that He suffered deeply for us. through His sacrifice and love we can gain this wish of eternal life and live with Him someday. I love Christmas and the time it gives me to reflect on this greatness. I also love the more superficial part of Christmas...giving gifts to my children.

It just makes me giddy every year!

This year we stayed with Grandma Jeppson, because Grandma Overton was refinishing her wood floors. It was fun, it has been years since we slept over at Grandma J's house. After breakfast (probably the one meal the kids get all day!!) it was time to line up and see what Santa had left.
They don't look excited at all in this picture! Which is so funny to me, because not moments before it was yells of "look what I got", "I wanted this" and "Yes!". They really did enjoy what Santa had brought them.

Hannah got a D.S. game she had wanted

Anya got her Harry Potter Lego Hogwarts Castle. She didn't think she would get it, but Santa pulled through!

Somehow we missed getting a picture of Cora and what she got. I was bummed, but she got the Lego house set she had wanted, and dog that walks!

The boys got Buzz Lightyear! Which they LOVE!

It was probably mostly for me. Years ago, when Anya and Hannah were little ones, we got Woody, Jesse, and Bullseye. I had to have Buzz to complete the set, and thought now is the time while he is easy to find. Luckily the boys loved him!

Digging in stockings

There is something else in there...I just know it!

This is the unwrapping mayhem at the Overton's house. After seeing what Santa had left, looking in our stockings, and opening gifts from Aunt Leah...we headed over to our Grandpa and Grandma Overton's. There we got gifts from them and our Uncles and Aunts.

Grandpa Overton likes to dress up as Santa and hand out the gifts every year. We didn't get a photo of all the kids with Santa earlier in the season, so we took advantage of this fun opportunity.

It was a great day, filled with wonderful memories, and most of all filled with good times with family.

Merry Christmas everyone!

Jeppson Crew Christmas Celebration

We let the kids open their Christmas gifts from each other and us on Dec. 22nd. We do this every year, since we always seem to travel for Christmas. It cuts way back on what we have to bring...and with 5 kids, space is at a premium. The kids don't seem to mind. We all get in our jammies the night before we leave and have our "Jeppson Crew Christmas Celebration"

We had all the gifts stuffed in this little corner, so they could be protected behind the baby gate.


The boys knew right what to do. The whole evening we were taking ornaments from them that they had removed from the tree. Or gifts that weren't for them.
Cora had been wondering what was in the big gift bag. Both she and Hannah got bean bag chairs for their bedroom this year.


Books seem to be the top gift in our household. We always get lots of books!
Anya does love her Pokemon plushes! She is trying to collect them all...Yikes! I keep waiting for her to outgrow it, but it hasn't happened yet.

I can never resist posting a picture of a cute baby boy!

Finally something to RIP!

Dad is starting them early with a Put-Put golf course. He plans to have them out on the real greens by the time the are 3. We will see...

The girls all got a box full of books, a snuggie reading blanket and bean bag chairs. The perfect set-up for a good read!

We had a great prelude to Christmas, and we enjoyed spending time together as a family, opening gifts we each spent time searching out for others. What a wonder season and time when "others" are at the top of our list.
Now, on to Utah!

Gingerbread

This was a buys day for us. We were packing up and getting the house ready so we could leave for Utah the next morning. Add to that craziness, the kids were bursting with excitement because we were going to let them open some presents that night. To try and contain the girls for a little bit, we decorated a gingerbread house.

They each got a side and/or roof to decorate. I think it worked out well, and there were minimal fights...mostly just candy crunching!

I had to get a picture in fast before it was demolished!

My camera date was acting funny...I don't think I reset it after daylight savings, and it is on the wrong time zone....Anyway, I need to figure out how to fix it because it is starting to bug me! I don't know what Cora is doing in this picture, but it sure makes me laugh!