Jason's Visit

At Jack Stack

Jason, Scott, me, and Ashley at the brazilian restaurant

Nile and Jason on the ice

My brother Jason came in town to visit us last weekend.  He skated with Nile at his hockey practice and then we had to go to his favorite barbecue place, Jack Stack.  Saturday, we had fun playing the wii together and then we tried out a new brazilian restaurant, in honor of Jonathan, who is serving his mission there.  We took our friend Ashley with us.  We enjoyed some yummy food.  Then we did a little shopping.  I had to make Jason some chocolate chip cookies, they are his favorite before he headed back home.

Ice Skating

Nile is the one in the red pants with 1 on his back

Brent touching his toes while skating
Brent and Claire skating around the rink

Nile's hockey season is almost over.  He has the final tournament next weekend.  He has had a great time playing hockey this year.   Today, Claire and Brent started ice skating lessons together.  They love it!!  Brent actually went around the whole rink by himself without holding on to any one.  That is a major accomplishment.  Usually when we go ice skating, Scott and I are holding on to him the whole time. 

Dance Competition

Claire with her trophies in her costume

Claire on stage with her friends

Nile with his valentines

Nile's valentines

Claire had her first dance competition.  She did really well.  Her routine received a gold trophy and the best costume award.  Claire was chosen from her class to be the one to go up and get the trophies.  We get to keep the trophies for the weekend and then turn them into the dance studio when she has dance class.   Nile did all of his valentines for his class today.  We decided to be a little creative and make the ipods from Family Fun magazine and the gum valentines. 

Pine Wood Derby

Nile with Scott and friends who earned their bear badge

Nile with his pine wood derby car

Nile had his pinewood derby a couple of weeks ago.  He has also earned his bear badge.  This week he was so excited because he learned how to carve with his pocket knife. 

Martin Luther King Day

Claire and Nile 

Nile, Scott, and Claire, and Casen and Easton, who went ice skating with us

The kids were off school today so we decided to take them ice skating.  There is a new outdoor rink by us that we thought we would try out.  It was a small rink, in fact while we were putting our ice skates on the Zamboni driver crashed into the side glass wall and broke two panels.  They cleaned up the glass and then we were able to go skating.  Claire has gotten so much better.  She skates by herself and despite the cold temperature wanted to keep going.  She was the last one off the ice.  Then we tried out a new restaurant that one of our friends started called "the ingredient"  it was  fun place.  Lots of fresh ingredients.  We will be going back again.  Then Nile had a hockey game.  He played great even though their team lost.  We have about 9 more games in the next few weeks and then play-offs.   

Happy Birthday Claire!!!

Claire with some mini cupcakes she made and iced herself.

                     Claire all made up

  
Today is Claire's birthday.  She is growing up so fast.  We are having a birthday party this Saturday with friends from school.  She is so excited.  Last night, we had hair and makeup clinic for her dance class.  They are going to a competition next month and they want everyone to have the same hair and makeup.  She even has to wear fake eyelashes.  She loved the makeup and wanted to keep it on for awhile.  I took some pictures so I can remember how to do it.  She is trying to decide where she wants to go to dinner tonight.  We had to take Krispy Kreme doughnuts for her treat at school today and Scott volunteered to be one of the Watch D.O.G.S.  (dads of great students).  He is at the school all day volunteering.

HOW COME I SMELL NACHOS?

Brent, Nile, and Claire with Louie

Nile, Brent, Claire at the arch

Nile and Dahlia

Cousins Brent and Sophia

B with his Blues hockey jersey

Bailey and Nile

Drew, Sophia, and Claire Christmas Eve

Nile and Jason playing hockey on Christmas Eve with the Firths

We went St. Louis for Christmas this year.  Christmas Eve, Nile and my brother Jason went and played hockey with the Firth family at the ice rink, (they rent out the rink for friends to come play hockey). Then we went to aunt Sue's house for Christmas Eve and all the yummy food.  The kids acted out the nativity.   We had a good Christmas Day.  We were able to talk to my brother Jonathan who is serving a mission in Brazil.  Then we headed up to the Maddox's for Christmas dinner.  Later that week, we met my cousin's dog Dahlia, a bulldog.  Nile had fun hanging out with his second cousins.  We went to the Arch one day with Rob and Sarah (Scott's brother and his wife).  We went to the Blues game with all of the Maddox's on night.  The kids had a great time.  Brent didn't take his eyes off the ice.  He loved every minute of it.  After the game, the kids got to go down on the ice and shot a puck into the net.  On the way home, Nile said he wasn't feeling so well, next thing we know throw up was all over the car.  Claire had fallen asleep in the back seat and woke up saying,"HOW COME I SMELL NACHOS?"  It was lovely.  Needless to say he was sick all night long.  By New Year's he was feeling better so we headed up to spend the day with the Maddox's, playing the wii and hanging out.  At around 5pm Brent said I don't feel so well and he got sick.  Then a couple of hours it hit Claire.  My dad, brother-in-law Matt, and sister all ended up coming down with the same virus.  Luckily Scott or I haven't gotten the virus and hopefully it has passed us over.