Happy Birthday Keagen!

Happy Birthday Keagen! We like this picture of you and your mom so we thought we would post it for your birthday. The big #5! Have fun at your Cowboy Birthday Party! We will see you in February!

Melissa and Keagen at the Gregg Manwaring Reunion last summer.

 

Sister Sneak

This weekend was our 2nd Annual Sister Sneak with my sisters. A weekend when all the ladies disappear for a few days and leave our husbands to watch the kiddies! We had such a wonderful time relaxing, eating, chatting, and pampering.

Emily getting her facial mask peeled.
Mom, Nat, and Katie showing off their shiny masks.
Melissa, Emily, and Elena getting a pedicure.
Natalie getting tweezed.
Melissa and Mom.
Nat and Emily.
Mom getting her facial mask peeled.
Little Micah...the only boy in attendance!
Amber, Emily, and Melissa showing off their shiny masks.

Emily hosted the event this year in Rexburg, ID. We all arrived at her place on Friday night for some pizza, tweezing, waxing, and a facial. Saturday we all went to the Paul Mitchell beauty college and had pedicures (Mom opted for a manicure) and scalp treatments. And then headed to Idaho Falls for dinner at Johnny Carino's and dessert at Chili's. A few of us stayed at Mom's that night and headed home Sunday afternoon. It was such a great weekend! I almost wonder if we need to make it semi-annually!


Emily, Katie, Kaylin, Mom, Amber, Becky, Elena, Melissa, Micah, and Natalie


Our beautiful toes...and hand.

 

Snow fun!

Last week we decided to take Owen sledding at the park nearby. He much preferred being pulled on the sled to actually flying down a hill. His favorite part...mingling and watching all the other kids play. Such a people person!

Owen pointing to the other kids on the hill.

Kevin and Owen on the sled.


Kevin pulling Owen around the park.

 

Happy 31st Elena!

Surprise! Happy Birthday Elena! We hope you had a great day...even though your husband is FAR away! Sorry we couldn't make it to the recital and cutting of the cake. Just wanted you to know we were thinking of you.



PS I hope Jarom got you that car detail you wanted! (; 

Best seat in the house

My mother-in-law bought me this Isabel Bloom Raccoon for my birthday last year. It's the perfect decoration for any bare corner, but Owen likes to think of it as the best seat in the house. Quite often you will find him perched on this poor raccoons back taking a break from his busy day. And, you can always tell when Owen has been "visiting" the raccoon because he is always tipped over (Owen's little legs aren't quite long enough to jump off without leaving the poor raccoon in a face plant).


 

Let It Snow!

Owen is really enjoying the snow...even though it is freezing outside. We bought him some snowboots and a sled during Christmas break and he puts them both to good use. Anytime he sees that someone is heading outside he runs to the closet expecting them to dress him down for some fun! Most of the time we breakdown and take him out for what we hope will be a quick outing. Owen sure knows how to have fun!


All decked out.

This never gets old.

"Snow!"

Kevin and Owen

 

Working with Mom

Owen is at such a fun age! His latest thing is copying what he sees me and Kevin do. Anytime he sees one of us working on the laptop he runs to find Kevin's old laptop so that he can work side-by-side with us. It's so hillarious! He also loves to copy us when we are writing, playing Xbox, or folding laundry. It makes these tasks even that more enjoyable.

...say "cheese"!

working hard

 

Happy Holidays

Happy Holidays from the Wards!



We enjoyed a great holiday season with family and friends. And we were so excited to kick off the holidays with a much anticipated snowfall before we left Pocatello! Owen found this very exciting!



We made our way to Idaho Falls on Friday, the 22nd. My family did a progressive dinner which started in Pocatello and ended in Idaho Falls. Lots of food, stop and go driving, and entertainment! I always look forward to these dinners, and this year was especially fun because Katie and Melissa's families were able to participate.

We stayed in Idaho Falls through the 27th and enjoyed a nice visit. We had a wonderful Christmas Dinner on the 23rd while all the siblings were in town and then went to my Grandpa Freidenberger's on Christmas Eve for dinner (tradition). It was fun to share Christmas Eve and morning with my parents, Natalie, Emily and Brandon! Owen LOVED his Christmas pajamas from Grandma and Grandpa Manwaring. Once we put them on he was quick to strut around and show them off. He looks like such a big boy in them.

After opening our Christmas pj's we enjoyed reading from Luke 2 and sipping on our Christmas drink (virgin Shirley Temples)! Owen thought he was such a big boy. And, we had to get in a quick reading of 'Twas The Night Before Christmas!

I wish I would have been better at taking pictures, but here are some fun ones from Christmas morning and from our stay in Idaho Falls. Owen got more than his share of presents and loves each of them. We most often find him playing with his block puzzle, crayons & coloring book, and the Little People Circus (gifts from Grandma and Grandpa Ward) and the piano from Mom and Dad. These seem to entertain him for a surprising amount of time...which we love!