3 Birthdays, a Baptism, and some Holidays in between Part 3

Dec 17^th was Ethan’s LONG a waited b-day! He had been counting down the days for a month! This poor child has to wait a whole year not only for Christmas, but for his birthday too! He had such a fun day we just couldn’t pack anymore into it if we tried! This boy had 3 parties! His school class had their class party and it was the last day of school for the beginning of Christmas break. He then got to come home, open all his gifts and then he wanted to go to the skate park and break in his new skateboard he had waited so long for. Then that night we had our ward Christmas party and he wanted to go to that too.

Happy 11th Birthday Ethan! All he wanted was a Ryan Sheckler skateboard

He got his favorite All American Chocolate cake!

We went to the skate park so he could fully test out his new board

Christmas has finally come and let me just say I am exhausted! We got to spend some time with Hal's family, make ginger bread houses, and go to Temple Square. Something we haven't done in years and definitely need to do every year. It was so beautiful and the kids really enjoyed it too!

Nanny's birthday party at the McQuarries. Our trip to Temple Square

The first annual ginger bread house making on Christmas Eve

Christmas at home. Santa came, the children were all happy, and mom got a 3 hour nap!

Christmas morning, I forgot to pics of the kids in front of the tree

At least I got a few cute pics of them with their socks. That is there favorite thing to open!

Ok, I know that was an incredibly long post, but it sure taught me a lesson to not wait so long the next time around! There really were a lot of fun Christmas pics, but I just can't make myself upload and re-position one more photo! In all the craziness the last few months I missed getting my Christmas cards and newsletter mailed. Sad, I went to all the trouble of getting them made and into envelopes. To bad that is as far as I got. Maybe next year I can be more on the ball.

Now that Jan is here things are finally beginning to slow down a little. There is always something going on, but I am grateful for my family and for the new year. There is always a re-newed sense of hope at the beginning of each New Year. After having a rough year I am grateful for some of the changes we have had this past year and look forward to even more this year.

3 Birthdays, a Baptism, and some Holidays in between Part 2

Thanksgiving we spent at home and just enjoyed a nice somewhat quiet day. I of coarse worked the midnight shift at the store on “black Friday” and then went and did my own shopping right after. Zach’s birthday two days later on Nov 27^th was a lot of fun. He gotto open presents through out the day a few at a time. He chose to go to a pizza place for dinner and then we went bowling at BYU. He some how managed to beat us all! Must have been those special bumpers! He also wanted to go to the Disney Store and pick out something special.

Zach's 8th birthday

We went to dinner at a Pizza place in Provo

Bowling at BYU. Zach beat us all!

The following week, first week of Dec. Zach was Baptized. What a special day! It was a small gathering that day due to his cousin also getting baptized on that same day. I have to admit it was kind of nice having a smaller gathering than what we usually have. It made it a little less stressful. It was done in the morning and the ward was so sweet to hand out little sheets of paper to everyone who came to write a little something to each of the children as to their feelings and well wishes for their baptism. The primary leaders later made each child's sheets into a book that they received the following week. After being baptized amd confirmed a member of the church we went to home to a mid morning brunch with all of his favorite breakfast foods. We were so grateful to all our family and friends that were able to brave the snow storm that arose to come and celebrate with us and Zach. Everyones presence made it all the more meaningful not only to us, but to him as well.

Zach and Dad look so great! A few special things Zach received that day

On Dec 13^th we celebrated one of our favorite family traditions. Santa Lucia! We made a special breakfast that morning with raspberry rolls and told the story of Santa Lucia to the children.

Avary is helping make biscuits. She loved rolling them and cutting them all out.

Our Santa Lucia breakfast & as a bonus everyone got a new ornament on their plate

3 Birthdays, a Baptism, and some Holidays in between Part 1

Over the last few months things around the Jorgensen house have been a little crazy. We have been so busy with 3 birthdays, 1 baptism, and all the holidays in between. I am always glad when Janurary comes. I always feel like it is my time to breath and get my sanity together. It is the time I read more, craft , watch a movie, maybe even catch up on my list of to do’s. Here is a little (big) break down of all things we have done in the last few months.

We started all our celebrating with Avary’s birthday on Oct 28^th. We had so much fun on this day. We began with getting her 2 year old pictures done, went for a ride on the carousel horses at the mall, then we were off to our tradional tea party at So Cupcake. Then home to her favorite dinner, cake & ice cream, and of coarse she loved to open all her presents!

Our 2 year old little Princess!

Her favorite present was her rocking horse

She was a little afraid of her candles

All the birthday goodies! She loved everything!

Halloween (sorry no pictures) All the kids had fun. Christian got invited to a costume dance the day before and dressed up as Indiana Jones. On that day we had a party with some of the kids friends. Then we went to our ward party and off to tricks or treats. Christian dressed up as a Fed Ex driver, Ethan – Percy Jackson, Zach – Indiana Jones, and Avary – a fairy princess (of coarse)!