Eddins Christmas 2010!

What a great Christmas we had this year! We have really enjoyed having BOTH sets of grandparents come for Christmas Eve and spend the night- our kids feel like they're the favorites!

We had a lot of people at our house for a lot of days, but that's the way I like it- Thanks everyone for all the great times and for helping out with food and everything else- I'm especially talking to you, Myrna! (My mom- in- law- she is wonderful at all times, and truly amazing)

River was pretty excited about this BB gun that Santa brought him- no eyes have been shot out so far! He also got a fish tank full of colorful fish that he has been taking really good care of- he is a great dad to those fish, even though we did loose 2 of the 5 within the first few days.

All Boston wanted for Christmas was a pillow pet- as did every other kid in America. Man, I wish I would have thought of that idea first...

And the best, most loved gift of all went to Simon- He lovingly calls it - "Big Red", and rides it around the house everyday and still hates it when someone even thinks about riding it. He actually got a ton of other stuff, but you wouldn't know it because this is his one true love. I have never seen a kid more obsessed with motorbikes than him! Look out Nitro Circus 2030!


I know I am terrible at blogging, and even when I do, my attempts are lame and short- so if anyone has any great tips or ideas to make this easier- let me know! I would love to do better at this myself, or, if I could pay someone to keep up my blog, that would be preferable. I also need help on changing my background- at least my fall backdrop is right once a year, right?

What's been happening with the Eddins'? A lot, but I haven't blogged about any of it for a while. Here are a couple of highlights:

Boston graduated from Preschool last week! He will be going in to Kindergarten this fall, and I cannot wait. He is going to do very well I think because he is a smart kid. His preschool teacher has been wonderful and so fun and does such creative things with her class- I wish she was teaching kindergarten next year. I can't believe my Baby B is going off to school!

Classic Boston face.

Another highlight that is WAY over due- Simon turned 2 on Feb. 2nd! We just had a little party here with the Williams and G&G Hawkes and Cody & Brittany. Simon was obsessed with Elmo at the time, so I tried my best to make a cute Elmo cake- and even though Elmo is pink instead of red, Simon loved it anyway. It was a fun day and we have never seen him so excited about anything.


This was his face when he opened the grand finale gift from Grandma- Elmo Live! He screamed "Elmo!!!!" when he saw it, and he could not stop smiling and clapping all afternoon. That was a great moment, and it would only be better if I had gotten it on video.



Cute cousins! As you can see, Simon is still smiling so hard his cheeks are about to explode.

First, I must mention the pie...

My very first Key Lime Pie- everything from scratch! This pie was heavenly, and it would have been nice to have a second piece if Chad had not walked off with all the leftovers after dinner. That's ok, I'll just have to make another one

Simon loves to lay by Faren every night before he goes to bed. His Daddy is his favorite person.

Fall 2009

Finally an update! Here's the latest with the Eddins'.

Boston, Simon, River... Aren't they cute?
Halloween 2009. After all the craziness, Simon broke into Boston's bag. Caught red handed!

Here's our scary ghost and the loot he made off with.

Boston was supposed to be dressed like a jellyfish for Halloween, but he refused to wear the big hat all night. (Really, who can blame him?) He ended up looking like one of the Blue Man Group from Las Vegas.

My only shot of the costumes before Boston lost the hat for good.

River is so proud of his pumpkins

Carving pumpkins with the Williams girls

Simee

Here we have it- photographic proof that the Eddins actually do sometimes have Family Home Evening! Send this one to the Proph!

My favorite passtime

I (Avery) have rediscovered my favorite passion in my life- going to see live music! A couple months ago I went to an Indigo Girls concert in SLC with my best cousin and friend Jasmine. I loved it so much and I was amazed at how good I felt just being there. I love being in the crowd of people I don't know who look and dress very different from what I'm used to seeing everyday. Last week I went to see Brandi Carlile and it was equally great. I just stand there and marvel at how talented she is and what an amazing voice she has. And thanks to my great sis in law Lataun for making my whole trip possible by watching my kids and letting me feel 18 again! I owe you big- so thanks.

Brandi Carlile- Beauiful voice, beautiful person- I highly reccomend her music to anyone.

Jasmine and I- she is my favorite person in the whole world- besides Faren of course- I hope to someday live next door to her and her husband Kevin and spend every day together! Ok, maybe that's too much of a good thing...

We were so close to the stage, which made it even better.

Here's my update on Simon. We went 4 wheeling on Saturday with some friends and Simon did a face plant down their ramp which had the texture of a cheese grater. He cried for about 30 sec., then he kept trying to do it again. This kid will be lucky to get through life with all his limbs.

The morning after the fall, Simon fell off the bathroom counter and cut his chin open. I guess this picture of him eating his sticky pancakes and syrup doesn't make him look any better either. We decided not to take him to church that day so we could avoid anyone calling CPS.

(Dear reader, please don't call CPS on us!)

an update with photos

Avery is too lazy to update this blog so I'm (Faren) going to do her job for her......just like everything else.

River and Boston at the top of Jackson Hole Ski Resort. I love that they can fight for 7 hours straight in the car and then smile and hug for a damn photo.

In Yellowstone, each animal spotted by the kids was worth a dollar amount. This moose netted River $2.

We looked good enough in this photo that some Asians actually took their cameras off the geysers and began snapping shots of us.

Stealth Avery

We stayed at a hotel with an indoor water slide.

River on the first day of school with his sweet D.I. clothes.

One of Ave's 10,000 quilts that are too pretty to actually use as a blanket.

And another.

And Another.

The Riv Man turns 7!

Yesterday was River's 7th birthday, and I can't imagine where the time has gone. What happened to my curly haired blonde boy who bounced off the walls and made everyone wonder if his parents were actually disiplining him? River has mellowed out A LOT since then, but sometimes I still wish he could have at least kept his curls. It's like my aunt Toni says, as soon as we cut his hair, he lost all of his power, and he's been a calm little boy ever since. But we're so happy that River is in our family, and he makes the perfect older brother. He is so helpful with Boston and Simon, and he is very genuine and kind to others. He is especially kind to Simon- he never loses his patience with him, and will play with Simon whenever I need him to. We love you River, and we love having you in our family. It is a privelage to watch you grow up!

The birthday theme this year: Monsters!

River loves Where's Waldo books- and now he has one for travel- as long as he doesn't get car sick and throw up!

My 3 monsters- 4 if you count Grandma.

I had to throw this in here. Isn't Simon so cute? Notice the disgusting scab falling off his forehead- another one of his falls. I bet you want to pick that off, huh Taun?

We took the kids to a street festival in Rexburg for Riv's bday. He rocked that climbing wall.

More Legos- endless fun...

Uncle Cody looks a little jealous in the background.