Christmas fun

Christmas was so fun this year! On Christmas Eve we went out to Logandale to spend the day with Aaron's family. We played games started a puzzle and ate a yummy dinner. After dinner is when their traditions start. First we do a talent show. Where every person or family has to perform. This year Aaron, Ezra and I sang Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer. I sang the song and Aaron and Ezra did the echo. I do not know how to carry a tune but we were pretty awesome! Then grandpa Boren reads the nativity story. Usually the kids act it out but this year they didn't and they tried to make the adults do it. You can guess, we didn't do it. Then we all just sat around and talked. It was a really fun night.

This is us right after our oh so beautiful musical number!

On Christmas day we had to wake Ezra up because he was exhausted from the night before. So, we got out of bed around 8 and started opening presents. Ezra was really excited that Santa made it to our house. He was confused that Santa came while we were sleeping and not when we were awake to play. Silly kid! After we were done at our house we went to my parents to participate in the 1st annual Rice Family Decathlon. My family loves any excuse to compete against each other so we thought it would be really fun on Christmas day to have a tournament. Well, we first had dutch oven breakfast. YUMMY! And then we opened gifts. After gifts it was time for us to get our game face on kick some butt! One of the events was to make a t-shirt for the Decathlon. And guess who won that event, oh yeah, it was me. I think Aaron came in 3rd. Then we had a pine cone throw. My brother won that event but I did beat all the girls! Yesss! Aaron came in 2nd. 3rd was a bike race and it was windy and raining. People probably thought we were a bunch of crazies riding in the rain. Aaron kicked all our butts. I came second to last :( I was slightly upset! I wanted a re-do. I blamed it on the slippery roads. Next we made a craft and I won again! Don't worry I might be competitive. We were going to do a hula hoop contest and play dodge ball but by that time it was almost snowing outside so we decided not to. Our last event was ping pong. Starting that Aaron, my brother Eric and I were tied for first. And the winner was Aaron!! Woop woop! Oh and my brother may have thrown the ping pong paddle in the bushes mumbling something about poor lighting. Did I mention all my family is insanely competitive. Now, we had an agreement that whoever won had to display the trophy in their house that whole year until the next decathlon.The trophy is an ore. Yeah I know what you are thinking! Really an ore. Well, my sister tried to find the most random thing she could find but don't you worry, it's hanging in our family room! Anyways, I have such an amazing family. We had so much fun together! I love the Christmas season and I am always sad to see it go.

This is Aaron and I throwing our pine cone

This is the order we finished

This is everyone, minus my dad, doing the craft

I won! You can't really tell but it's a train and you can kinda see my rad shirt!

Aaron's was really good! He made a sled. I actually thought he should have won.

This is my mom and me playing ping pong. I didn't get a whole lot of pictures because it was freezing.

Thanks just doesn't quite do it

This year we had someone do the 12 days of Christmas to us and we figure it was someone from the ward and with that said they could possibly read our blog. So, if you are reading, we really LOVED everything we got. Words can't express how grateful we are for your act of kindness. You really made this Christmas special. Ezra loved running to the door and screaming "Santa is here!" We also had an anonymous package full of wonderful goodies that took us by surprise! Not to mention all the treats that friends dropped by. Heather your basket was awesome and oh so delish! I may or may not have eaten most of it myself!
Seriously, we love you all and just wanted to say THANK YOU! :)

Testing out the gun

Aaron's Christmas present this year was a shot gun. My dad got the same one too so we all decided to test them out today. We also brought our hand gun. Um... I don't want to brag but I have a pretty awesome shot with the hand gun. Yeah, don't be jealous!

Grrr....

This is what my brush looks like every time do my hair. I can tell Lincoln is 4 months because I am losing an insane amount of hair. Oh rough times for me. I have thin hair to begin with so this sucks!

LIncoln's stats

At 4 months old he is:

15.4lbs 50%

26in 75-90%

Head- 44.5cm 90-95%

He is going to be a big boy! I am still nursing and was hoping I could start on rice cereal but my Doc said he is nice and healthy so there is no need to rush it. Maybe in a month or so. I love this little guy so much!

More fun in the snow

On Tuesday we went to the park and perfected our snowman with all the left over snow from Monday.

Then on Wednesday we got crazy and played in the blizzard! Okay it might not have been a blizzard but for Vegas it was. I spent most of my time in the van because I am a wuss.

Let it snow.... in Vegas?

Oh yeah, it snowed today! And not just for a min or two, for the whole day! Oh my gosh I loved it. Now don't get me wrong, there is no way I would love it if it snowed everyday but since it doesn't I love it! I was planning on keeping the kids inside today because I think they are both getting sick but how many times does it snow in Vegas, right! We played at our house for a while but it wasn't sticking to the ground but it was sticking at my parents so we went to their house. We made footprints in the snow, had a snowball fight (note to self: not a good idea without gloves) made a mini snowman, drank hot chocolate and sat by the fire. It was a wonderful day!

Ezra in front of our house

We took Lincoln out just to take a picture and you can't even see the snow. Dangit!

Now on to the good snow at my parents

Catching snow

Our awesome mini snowman

And this is what Lincoln did the whole time

Crap!

Crap, is one of the words I have been thinking in my head for the last couple of hours. Well, the edited version. Aaron lost his job today:( We kinda knew it was coming but didn't think it was going to happen so soon. Son of a... so if anyone knows of any job openings, we would love to hear about it. He has worked in construction the past couple years. He has worked in the field and also in the office estimating. He is also going to school for Psychology. We are up for anything!

3 things

First thing- We went to Opportunity Village on Saturday and it was so fun. Let me tell you though, that ended up being a $40 night. Yeah $9 an adult and $7.50 for Ezra then we had to ride the train, the big slide and some other thing. Oh, and some hot chocolate because it was cold. Ezra was in heaven. he is really into Christmas this year so it was fun.

Aaron and Ezra about to ride the train through the enchanted forest.

Waiting in line to go on the train.

And of course Ezra could have spent all his time in this car.
Second thing- Last night Ezra told me to lay down and take a nap while he massaged my feet. Nice!! He is so cute!

Third thing- Lincoln is 4 months old! I can't believe it! This little guy brings so much joy to our home. He found his voice box and loves to talk. Yesterday in Relief Society he was so loud! He HATES to be on his stomach so last night he decided that he didn't have to be on his tummy and he rolled over. I was like, wait did he just roll over. Then I put him on his tummy again and about 60 seconds later he was on his back. He loves to smile, especially at girls! He is a lady's man already. His doctors app. is on Friday so I will post is stats then. Isn't he adorable!

Ezra cracks me up!

Today Ezra and I were playing in his room and he has this bucket thing that we put some of his toys in. It is really small at the top and then it gets bigger as it gets closer to the ground. Well, Ezra wanted to get in it and sit down. Since it is small on top he could only get his legs in but he couldn't sit down. He was getting really frustrated and then with a very concerned look on his face he said "my butt is too big!" Haha I laughed pretty hard!

What we've been up to...

A little someone getting into trouble for drawing on the walls! He says "but mommy it's okay, I drew big wheels!" Oh okay then, that's fine. What?

Lincoln growing up so fast and being the cutest thing ever!

Spending time as a family

Enjoying the wonderful weather

And we are getting ready for Christmas. Ezra is crazy excited about Christmas this year. He is so funny!

I love crabby patties

Okay, so this has been in my head for like a week. So I thought I would share this lovely clip with all of you. Yeah, I'm awesome! Spongebob is cool!

Good times

Aaron and I went to the Face to Face concert last night and had a blast! Face to Face is a punk rock band that broke up a couple years back and just got back together. They are older. Aaron and I were guessing around 40 and all the people there had to be late 20s early 30s. We were laughing at ourselves because we felt out of the "scene." We made a list of things to laugh at.

You know you are old when:

-You roll up to a punk rock concert in a mini van

-You can't get in the mosh pit because you are lactating

-You are exhausted before the opening band even starts

-You debate going home to watch a movie instead

-You can't stay out to late because you have to go pick up the kids

-You try to sing along but forgot the words

-You try to rock out but your back starts hurting

Those are just a few things that we were laughing at ourselves for. But, seriously we had so much fun. That would have to be one of the crazier mosh pits I have seen. It was a whole bunch older washed out dudes who were 200 plus and drunk as can be. Back in the day I would have had no problem going in the mosh pit and gettin chucked around but I just couldn't do it! I was alittle disappointed in myself but I decided I had nothing to prove. Aaron was itchin to go in so the last song (which was insane) he got in. You might not want to read this but that kinda turned me on! I'm weird, I know! During the concert I was thinking about all the concerts I have been to and all the different people I have seen and I remembered a few things that really made me laugh.

I saw the craziest mosh pit during Pennywise! I seriously thought I was going to die! It was awesome!

I passed out during Rancid because I got so hot. I really don't do well when I get hot. I woke up outside and they wouldn't let me back in.

I passed out at Warp Tour in Salt Lake because some big dude crowd surfed on my head, I felt a pop and don't really remember anything after that. My friend said everyone crowd surfed me up to the front while I was passed out. I don't remember but that's awesome!

My best friend had a gallon of water chucked at her face and then like two mins later a sports drink hit her in the face. I laughed pretty hard when I thought of that!

Although we had fun, we decided the concert life just really isn't for us anymore. That probably wasn't our last but for now we are going to take it easy.

Lots of Emotions

I didn't know if i should post this or not but I figured I should. It's how I feel, right? With all the protest going on in California at the LA Temple I have been on a roller coaster ride with my emotions. Sad, angry, shocked, confused and then comforted. The power of prayer is amazing! I know the Lord is with me and that he loves me. I was reading an article in the Meridian Magazine and I came across these words.
Elder Robert D. Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles wrote, “I would say that one of mortality's great tests comes when our beliefs are questioned or criticized. In such moments, we may want to respond aggressively – to put up our dukes . But these are important opportunities to step back, pray, and follow the Savior's example. Remember, Jesus Himself was despised and rejected by the world. And in Lehi's dream, those coming to the Savior also endured ‘mocking and pointing … fingers' (1 Nephi 8:27). ‘The world hath hated [my disciples],' Jesus said, ‘because they are not of the world, even as I am not of the world' (John 17:14). But when we respond to our accusers as the Savior did, we not only become more Christlike, we invite others to feel His love and follow Him as well.
“To respond in a Christlike way cannot be scripted or based on a formula. The Savior responded differently in every situation. When He was confronted by wicked King Herod, He remained silent. When He stood before Pilate, He bore a simple and powerful testimony of His divinity and purpose. Facing the moneychangers who were defiling the temple, He exercised His divine responsibility to preserve and protect that which was sacred. Lifted up upon a cross, He uttered the incomparable Christian response: ‘Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do' (Luke 23:34).”
Challenges to our faith are not new. Nor are they likely to go away anytime soon. But, as Elder Hales reminds us, “True disciples of Christ see opportunity in the midst of opposition. We can take advantage of such opportunities in many ways: a kind letter to the editor, a conversation with a friend, a comment on a blog, or a reassuring word to one who has made a disparaging comment. We can answer with love those who have been influenced by misinformation and prejudice – who are ‘kept from the truth because they know not where to find it' (D&C 123:12). I assure you that to answer our accusers in this way is never weakness.

Air Show and the rest of the weekend

This weekend we went to the Air Show at Nellis Air Force Base. It was soooo fun! I think Aaron and I enjoyed ourselves more than the kids. I want to be a pilot now. I seriously was in love! I loved the noise. I loved everything about it. I was like a kid at Disneyland. We had to park at the Speedway and we waited in line for a hour to get on the bus. It didn't seem that long though. Then when we finally got there we checked out all the different air craft and then there was a little carnival for kids so we let Ezra go on a few rides. Ezra was not a fan of the noise. He has always been sensitive to noise so we were a little worried how he would do. He actually was pretty good. He would just cover his ears and snuggle into Aaron or the stroller. The noise didn't really seem to bother Lincoln. He just chilled out in the stroller the whole time. I think by the time we left our house and got home it was 5 1/2 hour later so we were all pretty exhausted. Then we had some of Aaron's family over for a BBQ and the boys wanted to wrestle each other. And by boys, I mean the adult boys. We cleared my bedroom because my house is all tile and they needed some cushion. They all wrestled and it was pretty funny to watch. I am happy to say Aaron was the winner! Woohoo! Yeah, don't worry we are slightly competitive in my family. Then on Sunday we went to my brothers ward because him and his wife had to speak in Sacrament and we ended with a family dinner at my parents house. Aaron didn't make it because he had a ton of homework but it was a pretty awesome weekend!

Waiting in line to get on the bus

This was the biggest Air craft I have ever seen!

Ezra not a fan of the noise
















Lincoln and me hanging out















Thunderbirds















Aaron bust'n a move

Northern Exposure 10k

Today Aaron ran the Northern Exposure 10k. I was going to run but thought about how I can't even run a 5k so not a good idea. Anyways, Aaron did well! He wanted to come in under a hour and he did. Oh yeah and don't worry he didn't train for this run. I swear he is a machine! He signs up for all these races and realizes he doesn't have time to train but it doesn't even phase him. He is crazy! I hung out and played with the kiddos while we waited for him. Ezra really wanted to run. He said "mom I want to run in the big boy race!" So I am thinking I need to get him running to get some energy outta him. I always love going to races. It always inspires me to get into shape! So Aaron and I are signing up for the Catch the Gobbler 5k on Thanksgiving. Everyone should do it too then you won't feel so guilty about eating a ton on Thanksgiving. It's a win win.

Jacob and Ezra waiting to cheer Aaron on

Woohoo here he comes

And this is Ezra's pouty face because he let go of his balloon.