Kates Birthday and Christmas 2011

Our little Kater turned three this December. Her birthday was on a Sunday and it also happen to be Young Woman in Excellence so it made for a busy day. We had cake and ice cream and she opened her presents. She got a little Bell doll and a pink pony. They both were big hits. Kate is growing up so fast, I can't believe it. She is talking up a storm and is such a smart little girl. It always amazes me that little kids can know so much. She knows her numbers up to 12, sings the alphabet, loves the colors pink and purple and likes to follow her big brother everywhere. She asks all day long when Kallon is going to get home from school. Kallon is pretty good to let her be his little shadow all afternoon. She also is very stubborn which can make for some interesting days but we love her all the same and we are so grateful she is ours.









This year for Christmas Cory and I decided that we were going to drive home and surprise our families. The only people that knew we were coming were Cory's parents. First we drove to Salt Lake to take the kids to Temple Square and show them the lights. Grandpa and Grandma Spicer actually surprised us by coming to Salt Lake. That night I had told my sister Becky that she needed to meet my "friend" at Trolley Square to get the gifts I had sent home for my family. We set up a time and I told Becky where they would meet. Instead of my "friend" showing up we ran into the mall and scared her. It was quite the surprise. The next day we walked around The Joseph Smith Building and watched the movie Joseph Smith. It was really good and the kids even sat through most of it. After having lunch with Becky, grandparents, and the Field cousins we continued on to Pocatello. My sister Katy was at work at Costco about to get off. We talked about how funny it would be to hide in her car and scare her when she got in, but thought there was no way it would be unlocked. We were wrong, it was unlocked so I got in and hid in the back under some blankets. The time passed when she was supposed to be off and I was getting cold. About the same time I decided to get out Cory saw her walking over to the gas pumps. I carefully climbed out of her car trying to go unnoticed which was no small feat being almost 8 months pregnant. I got back in our car and we drove over to the gas pumps, stopped right in front of her and I said fill 'er up please. It took her a second to recognize us but when she did she was freaking out. She kept saying I hate you, come give me a hug, I hate you. We got her pretty good. Then on to my parents house. We rang the doorbell and no one came. We had Kallon continue to ring it until finally my mom opened the door. We yelled Merry Christmas and she just stood there, stunned. Finally I asked Can we come in? She moved to the side so we could come in and kept saying are you really here is this real? Then my brother and my dad all came into the room surprised as ever. After a quick visit it was on to Spicer's house. Cory's parents knew but his siblings didn't know. We knocked on the door and grandma answered it Kallon ran inside saying Merry Christmas. I think everyone was pretty surprised, there were tears and all. Just seeing the looks on everyone's faces was worth the trip and that was only the beginning of the fun we had. We went sledding, or sliding as Kate called it with Uncle Daniel and Aunt Courtney and grandparents Spicer. Kallon went skiing again this year, he did very well. He even did a few runs without the harness. We took Kate up to the hill also but she didn't ski she hung out with me in the lodge. We met Santa and Mrs. Claus on Christmas Eve which the kids loved. We played at Randy's gym, Outer limits and celebrated cousin Stratton's 5th birthday. It was such a fun trip and we sure packed a lot in. It was so nice to see family, visit, eat and hang out. We had such a good time and we were all exhausted when we got home.