Christmas has come and gone!

Well, I guess now that the holidays are over - it's about time for an update. We had a great Christmas with lots of family and lots of laughter and food. We were able to spend Christmas Eve and Christmas Morning with all of Scott's siblings and families. We started the festivites off with some great food and then the traditional Nativity story and home evening that Scott and I were in charge of.

A few of the kids in the Natvity. The picture is a little foggy on the outer edges because I left my camera in the car and it was freezing cold outside.

The boys sang "Let Him In" from the Forgotten Carols.

Leisja, Mom, Dad, and Cassie in their matching Blackfoot Bronco jammies. (Austin tried to sneak in the picture)

The girl grandkids in their polka dot jammies from Grandma & Grandpa.

The boy grandkids in their jammies from Grandma & Grandpa.

Leisja thinking she is "all bad" :)

The stocking were set on the couch with care

in hopes that Saint Nicholas soon would be there.

Austin had a hard time waking up seeing as he was up until 11PM. We tried to wake him up when everyone else was up.

Scott: "Austin, Santa came - do you want to go see what he brought?"

Austin: "In a minute, Dad" (as he rolled over on his blanket)

Katie: "Austin, come see what Santa brought - all the kids are out here."

Austin: "But Mom, I'm so tired - in a minute ok."

We finally got him to get up and he was so excited to see all the things that were brought.

He was mostly excited about the candy and cereal he got in his stocking. Whenever anyone asks him what Santa brought - he says, "Candy . . . oh and Cereal". I guess that was the highlight of his Christmas.

Koen loved his little phone he got in his stocking.

Scott's favorite thing in his stocking was the FunDip. Wow - our family gets easily excited don't we?

Koen playing with his Dump Truck from Santa.

Koen also got a couple of potato heads from Santa. He might need a little help with these!

Austin's favorite present was the cars racetrack from Santa. He loves to make Lightning McQueen win every race.

Scott loved Santa's taste in basketball shoes - he was so pumped.

Santa brought Katie an MP3 Player. Very pumped about it. She uses it all the time.

We had a great holiday and are so grateful for the many gifts we received and for all the time we were able to spend with family. What a great time of year to reflect on the birth and life of Christ and the many things he has done for us. I hope you all had a great holiday and may we all be able to remember Christ not only just at Christmas time, but throughout the year.

Happy New Year!!!

Scott's Birthday!!!

Well, yesterday was Scott's 27th birthday. It kind of freaks him out that he is only 3 years away from 30, but what do you do right? Last night we had a few of my family and most of Scott's family over for some Banana Cream Pie. Yes our house is not that big and there were quite a few people, but it was very fun.

Scott received a Phlat Ball from Austin & Koen.

Koen loved all the wrapping paper!!!

He also got a remote control mini helicopter. He and Austin have loved experimenting with it.

Candy is always a hit! Great one Keri & Bryce!

He was begging for a backpacking tent for a while now and he finally got it.

And he got a Duke T-shirt to go with his Duke basketball shorts (which he loves to death, Cameron!). He also received tickets to Body World in Salt Lake from his parents and some new basketball shorts from my parents. He got spoiled and loved everything. Thanks everyone for coming and sharing this day with him.

I just wanted to let Scott know how much I love him and appreciate him as a father and a husband. He is the best dad and our boys love him so much. He is also the best husband. I am so lucky to be able to be with him for eternity. What a blessing! He has worked so hard with schooling, work, church callings, etc. and deserves all the happiness in the world. I just hope I can contribute to that happiness. Thanks for all you do, Scott. I love you! Happy Birthday!

Santa Claus is coming to town!!!

Every year we try and go to the annual Christmas Tree Fantasy not only to see the beautiful Christmas trees, but also to see Santa. The kids loved it. We went at a time where there weren't very many people there, in fact, we were the only ones downstairs with Santa. The kids loved being down there with him and were able to talk to him for more than just a split second. They got to chat with him for awhile and got a color a picture down there too!

Koen wasn't so sure at first, but he warmed up to Santa!

Austin has got to the point where live Santas aren't scary. He didn't hesitate at all sitting on his lap!

The whole crew! Caden (nephew), Austin, Koen, Addison (niece), and Belle (niece)! As you can tell, Addison isn't quite sure what to think! That really got the kids excited for Christmas!

Koen is 1!

November 30th was Koen's 1st birthday! The poor thing was a little under the weather for his first birthday, but from the pictures - who can tell? He is so happy and we love having him in our family. He is such a joy and so much fun to be around. It's fun to see his little personality start to come to life.

He can hardly stand to wait to open presents!

Who is more excited? Austin or Koen?

Austin gave Koen a football. Or was it really for Koen?

He was one of those very particular present openers!

Grandma and Grandpa Kesler came up big. A definite hit among the kids.

Scott and I made reindeer cupcakes to bring in the holiday spirit!

Koen loved it - it's not very often your parents hand you something loaded with sugar and you get to go to town!

He was so pumped about the mess he made!

He enjoyed his birthday (I think!) and we had a great time. We were able to celebrate with both families which was very fun and want to thank you all for your thoughtful gifts! Koen is so much fun and we love having him in our home. He is such a happy baby and we get asked all the time - "does he ever cry?" Austin loves having a little brother around and they have a blast together. Happy Birthday Koen! We love you!

Black Friday!!!

Black Friday has become a must among the Kesler's and so on Thursday night we all scoped out the ads and found things that we needed to get (whether they were necessities or impulse!) Those pictured stayed up until midnight playing and chatting and decided that we were going to get up at 3 am to hit the sales in Pocatello. So, that's exactly what we did.
We got up and hit the road and about 2 miles away from my parent's house, Jordan gets pulled over. HILARIOUS! And luckily he didn't get a ticket, but what a way to start the day huh? We had a blast going among the crowd and picking up items we didn't necessarily want or need. We have found that it is rather fun to go after what the crowds are going after just because you get caught up in the moment. Sometimes we have even ended up purchasing the item. We had a great time though and look forward to next year!

Katie, Kelsi, Jordan, Cousin Natalie, Landon, & Scott (not pictured)

Thanksgiving!!!

Well, we are back from Denver and on with our regular lives. It's crazy once again, but we are enjoying it! Scott is back with Dr. Soucie at the Blackfoot Medical Clinic and the boys and I are just trying to stay busy at home. We had a great Thanksgiving weekend with the Kesler family. It was fun-filled with laughs, bowling, early morning shopping, games, and of course, lack of sleep. But hey - it's the holidays - what can you expect?

So, to preface these next photos - Kelsi thought it would be hilarious to find the ugliest sweater and where it to Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, the psychos that we are - we all agreed. This was the outcome:

Mom & Dad

Sarah-Jane & Landon


Misty & Brett

Ty & Annie

Katie & Scott

Jordan, Kelsi, & Cousin Natalie

All of us at dinner!

It is tradition for the Kesler's to go bowling every Thanksgiving evening. So of course, we all loaded up and headed over to Starlite Lanes. It's rather comical to watch everyone and compete, but it is a blast for all of us just to sit around and talk and laugh our heads off!

Austin & Jordan

Kelsi (WOW!)

Mom, Austin, & Dad (do you see why we laugh so hard?)

Scott and his bowling skills!

Austin has got pretty good over the years! Great form!

Brett! HI!

Koen & Katie (He was such a trooper through all the chaos and insanity!) Thanksgiving was a blast! Thanks Mom & Dad!

Trick-or-Treating at St. Joseph's Hospital

While in Denver, we were able to go to the St. Joseph's hospital where Cameron and Scott worked and go trick-or-treating. It was really cute how they had different stations to trick-or-treat at. The kids loved it and enjoyed seeing their dads at work.

Annie (Savannah), Cameron, Sandy the Dog (Lucy), and Cami

Scott, Woody, Katie, & Buzz

Our working dads in their hospital. It was neat to see them in their work place and all dressed up and what not.

Going to the next station!!!

While at the hospital, Cameron took us up to the helicopter pad that is on top of the hospital. It was really cool and neat to see this view of Denver. There weren't any rails along the top so we were all a little paranoid of having our kids up there, but we made it.

Our family on the helicopter pad.

Scott and Katie on the helicopter pad. It was a neat experience to go trick-or-treating at the hospitals and see the dads!

Koen was pooped at the end of the adventure. He had a rough ride :)