SNOW!!

Just after Nana and Papa left town, we were slammed with snow and freezing rain! In fact, for the next several weeks, all construction halted on the pool and we tried to console ourselves with extra hot chocolate and fun snowball fights! 

This was my very first snowman ever!

Even Kevin got a snow day (or several!) and his snowman was quite impressive!

50s Sock Hop

Oh my goodness!

What is a 50s Sock Hop without poodle skirts?

Nana and Papa's flight was right before the big dance, so we had Reagan try on her outfit and take pictures before they left. This is Reagan's reaction to herself!

She was so happy! Twirling in the mirror and smiling and practicing her little dance moves. So cute!!

All ready for the big dance! 

I just never thought "Johnny" (Kevin's 50s nickname) would pick ME and MY KIDS up for the big night! Ha! 

I just love this picture! I can imagine Kevin taking cute Reagan to daddy daughter dances when she's older!

Once we got to the dance, Colin wanted nothing to do with us (you know, because at four years old he can already recognize we aren't cool) so we had a rather unwilling participant in these pictures!

Reagan was so sweet and loved dancing with her little twin Isabel!

I love these girls!!

For the last slow song, I couldn't get Colin to dance with his sister, so this nice boy's mother who overheard had him ask Reagan to dance! Thanks Caleb!

The night was so much fun! There were contests, great music, and yummy treats (the kids were so hopped up on suckers and cookies!!). Kevin and I danced the whole night with Reagan as our third wheel (having recently lost her Nana to the airport, she was a bit clingy to mom), the kids had a blast dancing with their friends, and everyone looked awesome! Seriously, it seemed like almost the whole ward dressed up! My favorite part of the night though, besides dancing with Kevin, was The Twist contest.  They played The Twist and announced they were going to give out prizes to the best dancers. Colin (dancing with his friends) announced that he was going to win and was working so hard!  Colin was so earnest it was hard knowing he probably wasn't going to win. Well, Kevin danced his booty off as a contingency plan to get a stinking medal just in case Colin didn't win.  When the DJ who was judging was roaming the room checking everyone out came by Kevin, Kevin hinted that he should win. Well, he did! the power of suggestion and persuasion works! Kevin handed the medal to Colin and for the rest of the evening, he told everyone that was near him about how he won that medal.  

It was super adorable how badly he wanted that medal! Now, that may make us bad parents for practically cheating, but he was trying super hard and they were handing out lots of medals...why shouldn't Colin get one too?  Especially when he was dancing like an animal out there!  You earned it buddy! 

Nana and Papa Come to Town!

We have so much fun when Nana comes to town! 

I am so grateful that my mom is such a young, fun, and active Nana that can keep up with these two crazies! They definitely keep her on her toes!

We had lots of scooter riding!

When Nana comes, these kids get unlimited access to all her fun electronics! And Nana's iPad and phone always have the best games and movies!

Nana always helps me work on projects when she comes and usually whips up some fun creations for the kids.  On this trip we worked on decorating my craft room, making a PVC frame for the cute house she had previously made the kids, making mailman bags for Colin and his buddy Isaac (complete with envelopes and letters) so they can play mailman, making Reagan this adorable stuffed matryoshka doll which she has aptly named "Baby," picking out and building the shelves for my mudroom, and making me, Reagan, and little Isabel poodle skirts for our church's 50s sock hop. Wow! We were so busy! 

Look at the hand embroidered detail on that sweet dolly's face!

Since my dad still runs his business, he couldn't come for the whole time but we were so excited to have him for a long weekend! He hadn't been to my house since 2011!  The kids love Papa and brought him right into our routine.

Papa read stories and nighttime prayers

He even rode scooters! 

On Thursday, we took Colin out of school to go to the zoo (since the weather wouldn't be great on the other days) and it was such a great day!

Since everything was Papa's treat, we did all the extras we never get to do! We ate at the safari restaurant (and the food was better than expected, I might add!), bought lettuce to feed the giraffe, bought nectar to feed the birds, and even rode the carousel. Papa sure did spoil us and the kids loved every minute! 

Reagan and Nana have such a special bond! Normally, Reagan won't let daddy put her to bed when I am home, and with Nana around, I was bumped down the list too! Only Nana would do...for everything! "No, Nana do it!"

Good thing Nana loves her grandkids about as much as I do!

This gorilla was so entertaining! He would hang out by the glass and look totally relaxed and at ease and then without warning run by the glass, pound on it and his chest, and then go relax on the other side! We watched him do this back and forth for about 20 minutes! This picture was taken right before the first time we saw him do this, and he is just about to scare the living daylights out of Colin and all of us! I could have watched him for hours but the kids were pretty freaked out and I couldn't force them to sit there for too long! They sure are powerful and quick animals! 

This was inside the lorikeet exhibit where we fed the birds nectar.  Well, once you get the nectar, the birds get a little fiesty and kids of start to swarm you! Poor Reagan is still talking about "bird bite me" when a bird nipped her finger trying to get his lunch (she was totally fine)

A perfect day at the zoo! Thanks Papa!

On Friday, we took Nana and Papa to explore Kevin's office! It was Papa's first time and he was very impressed! Mary Kay's building is beautiful and there is so much to see!  Not to mention surrounded by so many amazing restaurants! Yum! We hit Hopdoddy's for their gourmet burgers, garlic and parmesan truffle fries and amazing shakes!

Of course, with all our fun, Nana was behind on finishing some of the projects we had started and time was ticking before her flight on Saturday afternoon!

These kids know how to weasel electronics out of anyone! 

Come again soon Nana and Papa!!