Rachel's Kinder Program

A highlight of the Christmas season this was was Rachel's Kindergarten Program. Rachel was so excited to perform for us and I couldn't wait either. She was fabulous and knew most of the songs by heart. What I love most about things like this is the opportunity it gives to make individual children feel special. The bigger our family gets the harder it is to single them out for their accomplishments. A program night is a night to shine and the whole family gets to support and congratulate the one on a job well done. We all need that occasionally. Good job Rachel! You were beautiful and fabulous at your program.

Silent Night. . . Crowded Night.

Tradition dictates that we visit Temple Square every Christmas season. It is not optional nor will it ever be optional. So, we packed up and jumped on the Frontrunner to head down town SLC for some Christmas cheer. Now, let me just say, though it was crowded everywhere, we had a divine time. We always love the frontrunner. The kids think it is an extra special treat to get to ride on the train. . . and we get on at the beginning of the line so we usually get seats even on a busy night. We met Auntie Adrienne on Temple Square and bullied our way through the crowds to see all that we wanted. My biggest concern was losing one of my precious children, but then I realized I have three of them with another on the way, so what's one less. HAHA. Just kidding.

After making it around temple square safely we were starving. . . so we thought we would just pop on over for a bite to eat at the new eatery. HAHA again. It was closed. After an hour of looking we finally had to make our way back to The Gateway where we all got to pick whatever our hearts desired from there 5 star eatery restaurants. And, since I was feeling generous we picked up some cookies before making our journey back home. We arrived home around 11pm. Tired but satisfied with the adventure we had enjoyed. Can't wait for next year. . .when (note to self) we will visit Temple Square on a weekday. :)

Kick off to Christmas

Sadly, there are signs that my children are getting a little older. Such as the one I had when we took the kids down town to see the Christmas Village. I personally thought it was divine. The weather was fair, the lights and little houses were magical, and there were cute little groups singing and dancing on the stage in the center. With all that, Rachel broke down in a pouting tantrum and said she "did not really have that much fun." Why? Well, we didn't buy anything or get a treat. Essentially, we spent no money and she knew it. . . and true fun can only be had when you spend money, right?

Well, we only had to ignore her for about ten minutes before she got over it and we went home for hot chocolate. In the end, we were all happy. :) And hey, I was personally always happy.

We have gotten so many cute cards this year. It's a little late for me to do something as awesome as actually mailing out a card. . . but I will blog a card. :) So Lame! I know. I will probably work on it someday.

We have had a great year. Blessing have been poured out on us as we have started to see some of our dreams coming to fruition after so many years. So many exciting things are coming for next year as well.

So, the run down, after trying out three separate jobs this year, Nate has settled down with AccuSystems and seems to be enjoying it. He has made some good friends there and is happy. I have to say he is the worlds most awesome husband and father. He never stops giving and makes sure that I always have the help I need when he gets home. I wouldn't be able to keep up with my job and being a mom without his help.

I went full time with Utah Virtual Academy this year. While it has been an adjustment, we are getting used to our new life. I love my job. . .which I have never really experienced. I have thoughts of staying with K12 for the rest of my career. They are very awesome and allow for so much flexibility with family life.

Ben is half way through the second grade year. He is doing very well with his teacher and is really a bright student. We look forward to the coming year when we can move to a neighborhood where some boys live. :)Ben is constantly a friend to his sisters and loves his family.

Rachel started kindergarten this year. She loves it and is anxious to go to school everyday. She has natural talent for making friends and is always coming home telling me about each new person she made friends with that day. What I find amazing is her ability to remember the names of the children in her class. She really takes a personal interest in them.

Emily is still our cute little pumpkin. I can't believe she is four already. She has such a playful and fun personality. She keeps us all light hearted and happy in the home. She has been so patient with my work schedule and rarely complains.

Next year we will welcome another girl into our family. We are all looking forward to that moment. The kids are very interested in the coming baby. We feel very blessed that this pregnancy is progressing normally. Hopefully I can handle a little tiny one again. It's been awhile and life is so different from what it was.

So, there you have. A Christmas update from me to you. Let me end by just saying how I love my Savior. His birth, life, death, and resurrection are the true miracles in this world. Merry Christmas.

Love, The Baxter Family

Finally Caught Up

Well, I think that I am finally caught up. . .well, when this post is done. My kids are out riding bikes right now. . . with no shoes on. I watched them for a little while and thought "If I was a really great mom I would probably make them get shoes on. I would proabably also make them disassemble their makeshift bike jump that looks quite unstable." But, it is just so nice and quiet in this house right now. I hate to do anything that might make it end. It was really funny watching Emily try to get up the jump with her tiny bike and training wheels. She tried and tried. . .but didn't want to get going fast. Once again I thought to myself "if I was a great mom I would go outside and help Emily get up that jump." Instead I watched her frustration increase until Ben and Rachel came and pushed her up and over the jump. At least she has a brother and a sister watching out for her.

Anyway, to close up my marathon day of posting I thought I would end with Halloween. We had our Baxter Family Halloween Party at Wheeler Farms this year. It was quite fun and actually relaxing. Afterward we drove up to Silver Lake and walked around.




Halloween was also a good time this year. Minus the rain. We went out anyway. . . and five minutes late had to go home because Rachel's shoes "were not waterproof" and she was crying because of her wet feet. No worries. A couple minutes later we had her in snow boots and we were back on the prowl. We got plenty of candy and my kids were hyped up on it for about 3 days. I am glad it is all gone now. Our neighbor painted us that awesome Halloween Pokemon pumpkin in the second pic.




So, that is it. I am done blogging just in time to go through the major holidays. We have our big sonogram appointment this Wednesday. It is a pretty big thing at our house discussing whether this baby is a boy or a girl. I am the only one who thinks it is a girl. It will be fun to know. I just hope the rest of the family can accept it when they find out that I am right. If I am cool I will blog it. :) See you then.

Emily's Birthday

Emily's birthday was October 4th. Poor Little Emily. Nate and I both had to work in Salt Lake on her birthday. Thank goodness for grandparents who made sure she had fun all day. My baby is four years old. She loves her older siblings and will follow them to the ends of the earth. She is a good girl. I work all day everyday and she is so patient with that. She quietly entertains herself and never causes me any trouble. She saves her trouble causing for when I am not working :). Emily still gives us kisses on special occasions and loves to be tickled. We do homework every night with Ben and Rachel. Emily loves to do her homework too. . . out of one of those preschool workbooks. She really is a doll. I keep wondering when she will stop being so cute. . maybe never. She is very excited for a new baby to come to our house and I am sure she will make a wonderful big sister.

Ten Years. . . Ten Years

This year Nate and I celebrated our tenth anniversary. Hard to believe that it has been that long. We have known each other for 17 years. Pizza, pizza in 1993. We met doing the dishes. I remember just talking for a couple of hours because. . . well, frankly, there was nothing better to do. We were stuck there for the night with a pile of greasy, disgusting pans. We just hit it off. I was hooked immediately. We had the wonderful blessing of developing a very solid friendship over those first years. It has made our marriage better. We have been on a lot of rocky roads over the years. I am just so glad that I have been on those roads with Nathan. And, I have to say, it is awesome to be on some smoother roads with him now. :)

We were hoping to do something really awesome for our tenth anniversary but that didn't work. So we stayed in Park City at the Waldorff Astoria. Way too classy for us. Valet parking only. We had a great time and enjoyed swimming in their very heated pool under the stars and a full moon. The jacuzzi was great too, if you minus the drunk people who seemed to gravitate to that point. We shopped (because I love to and Nate knows it), we had a nice hike, we ate, we went down the zip line at the Olympic park. We had a lovely time. And one day, Nate will take me to Italy for our anniversary. I am sure of it. Oh yea, and we still like to shove cake up in the other one's face. . . figuratively speaking. True Love. :)