Koyle's Christmas Day!

We had a very merry Christmas, even though we couldn't be with our extended family, at least we had each other. The kids were so enjoyable in the morning, waking up at 6 am, (the parents didn't get up until 8). I let them open their stockings and they were bouncing off the walls, super excited. I don't blame them, they have wonderful Grandmas and Grandpas and a Nae-Nae to give them amazing gifts, some seen in the pictures. In the afternoon, we had some of Jared's friends from work come over for Suki Yaki and the kids were starting to act slightly over stimulated. Then, towards the evening, I put them to bed at 7 because they had enough (so did Mommy). Overall, it was a wonderful day, full of joy, the way Christmas should be.

Eli's Christmas Program

Eli's program was very special because it took place in the Methodist chapel at his school and the kids sung songs from all over. the world  Eli's class sang "I'm Getting Nuthing for Christmas," and "Suzy Snowflake." They were darling, cute and precious.
I don't know what is more entertaining, the kids preforming or the parents fawning over their kids.  When the kids preform, the parents have to get up close to take a picture, but I don't because I have a huge zoom lens.  I stay sitting in the back row and get a picture just fine.  At the end, the school director asked the parents to take a small moment to take a picture and then go back to their seats when the music started.  I had to laugh because a lot of parents had to be reminded (some a few times) to go back to their seats. 

The Birthday Kids

Eli shares a birthday with his friend Addie.  They both go to the same school and the same primary.  Her parents and myself get along great.  We got toghether and planned a party at school for the kids.  I made the cakes and she brought pizza and the party favors.

We were going to have a party at home, but Eli really wanted all his friends from school to be there and not all could make it, so we settled for a party at school and a family party that evening.  Riley asked if she could go and he responded, "Of course you can come, your my sister!" she was so happy that she was wanted that she gave him a hug. 

A Day Making Cakes

I spent an entire day making cakes.  I attempted to make a Barbie doll cake for Eli's best friend in his class, who shared the same birthday.  I ended up having to make two cakes for the skirt to be long enough and two cakes for Eli when I broke one of them.  Fortunately, the young women in my ward were interested in decorating the doll cake and when right to work on it.  The little girl loved it and was so proud to show her class.

I admit, with the pressure of getting them done, I might have been a little stressed (ok, it was a total breakdown).  I was ready to cry when I broke the blue one seen in the picture, I was near tears.  I asked Eli if he was ok with that.  His response floored me.  He turned to me with wisdom way beyond his years and said "Mom, What's Important?"  Startled, I asked him what was important.  He responded, again with maturity and said, "Mom, I love you.  That's important."  I was so inspired by his attitude, that I just made another cake.  Everything turned out just fine.

Out of Reach Cookies

So there were some cookies on top of the refrigerator.  Eli really wanted them.  He came up with a way to get them.  Even though he was naughty, I had to laugh and take a picture.

Decorating the Tree

We decided to decorate the tree today and both kids were faster than I was at hanging the ornaments. Usually, I am slightly on top of them and get them evened out, but with both getting everything out at once, I just left them. After we were done, Riley decided that she wasn't. She kept adding ornaments, like the wrappers and a chunk of hooks, her shoe. I don't think this year, the tree will be perfect. Oh well.

New Dress

Riley has been growing like a weed and so I have had to get a few new dresses.  I chose the gray one and she chose the red one.  It was so frilly that her car seat had to be adjusted. 

Pigtails

Sophie had her hair in pigtails, and Riley wanted her hair to be just like Sophie's.  We tried to put all of  it up and it worked! 

Girls and Their Soes!

Riley and Sophie wanted to play outside, but they needed shoes.  I was in the bathroom, but that didn't stop the girls.  They simply went over to Sophie's closet and grabbed a pair of Sophie's shoes for Riley to wear.  Riley loved this so much, they repeated it a few times.  Maybe she should get shoes for Christmas.

Birthday Boys

Since the boys birthdays are so close together and we were together for the holiday, we celebrated them with the boys with a "mini party."  They had cupcakes, and all their presents were Legos.  They were so happy.

Thanksgiving

This year, because we are in El Paso and John is only 7 hours away, we went to Phoenix.  We all had a great time.  Carter loved Jared, myself and the kids.  Riley loved Sophie and the boys got along with their Legos and tablets. 

Daddy's Home... Sort of

Daddy was home earlier this week and the kids love to play with him with their toys.  However, he worked so many hours and he was so tired, that he lied down and fell asleep while playing with them.  Riley didn't stop playing with him.  While he was sleeping, she kept covering him with toys, wrapping paper and whatever was around.  She would gently rub his knee and say "my sweet little Daddy."  When he woke up, he was pretty much covered up.

Primary Program

Today was our ward's primary program and we were out of town the week proceeding it. As a result, Eli didn't have his part memorized.  He doesn't like to be prompted and so it went as bad as you can imagine. He starred at the audience for a minute, breathed heavy into it with both his nose and his mouth, got a few laughs and then continued. Finally, the primary leader stepped in and prompted his part, one word at a time.  He looked at his part on paper and looked into the audience, back and forth until finally he was done. Jared and I were red in the face and grateful it was done.
If that wasn't bad, let's not forget that I have two kids. Riley has a gift for choosing the quietest moments to voice her opinions. She loves to shout things like "All for each and one for all." Or "I get to do that next year." But the most embarrassing one was when someone was playing the violin and she blurts out. "What is that horrible noise?" I turn to her, red in the face and say, "No, it's beautiful music." She replies, "No, it's horrible."  Jared and I were so ready for that meeting to be over.

 A few weeks later, a ward member came up to us and said that when his kids give a talk, they would smell the microphone.  My kids are notorious for their character no matter where we live.

Thanksgiving Assembly

Eli's school put on a darling assembly including all the classes, some of which included 13-15 three-year olds.  Eli's class only has 7 and they have grown really close.  They all dressed in Indian vests and a feather that they got to make themselves, sang songs, they gave themselves Indian names.  Each child got to tell their teacher in a loud voice their name.  Eli's India name was Dark Blackness Night.  They were darling.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween from the Koyle Family! Halloween is my favorite month because of cuties just like this. Riley was pulling funny faces and making it hard for me to get a picture of both of them smiling. With enough persistence, I got some perfect shots.
The background with all of the pumpkins was from the school that Eli attends.  They sell them for a fundraiser throughout the month of October and the school and church is full of them.  The last week of October, the students get to pick one out.

Expecting Again!

My job needed me back in Utah for another audit.  They paid for my gas to drive up here and while we were here, we arranged for a minivan to drive home!  While I was dressed nice, I had my mother-in-law snap a picture of me. I don't allow very many pictures of myself while I am pregnant, but I am so glad I did because it turned out so nice.  I even put it on the family Christmas card.

Power of Prayer to a Child

A few days ago, I lost my keys.  I looked everywhere and couldn't find them.  I was getting frustrated because I had a ton of things to do that day.  Eventually, I accepted defeat and knelt down to say a prayer.  The spirit told me to stop thinking of myself and so I sat down and started to do some sewing work that my husband asked me to do earlier.  Meanwhile, Riley came in the room and told me that we should say a prayer.  I asked her to say it and ask help to find Mommy's keys.  Within a few minutes, I remembered that I had cut my fingernails (with one of the key rings on my keys) and I went down to the junk drawer and there they were.  For some reason, I had put them in there after cutting my fingernails.  I went back upstairs and told both my children that we needed to say a prayer of thanks because we found them.  Eli's response was "What! You said a prayer?" I told him that when we can't do things on our own, we need to ask for the Lord's help.  He thought about that for a minute and then we said a prayer of thanks. 

A few days later, Eli told me that when he was in school, he couldn't find the red crayon.  He stopped what he was doing and said a prayer in the middle of class.  The Lord simply told him "dig."  He dug around in his crayon box and found the red crayon. 
As a parent, I know that this is such a simple story of receiving answer to prayers, but it also shows that Eli applied a gospel principle to his life. It may have changed my schedule around to not have my keys, but I gained something so much more.

Happy Birthday Riley!

Riley has turned three and she is acting every bit of it, both good and bad.  She has a full imagination and loves princesses, dress-ups and tea parties.  She has been excited for her birthday this year and I asked her what she wanted. She told me she wanted to be sung to, a pink present and a Winnie the Pooh cake.  I figured that was ok and so we obliged.  We sang to her twice and gave her a few pink presents. She was so fun, she let Eli help her open a few and she had that excited look, no matter the present.  Three-year old kids are fun.