Here Come's Santa Claus!

I love Christmas Eve, and for the first time really thought about the traditions that I wanted to start this year. I cook a nice dinner Christmas eve. I would rather do it on the eve, because on Christmas day I love to totally be a lazy bum and do absolutely nada.

This year I cooked a nice ham, heart attack potato's, green bean casserole, home made roles, and then all of the munchies before hand. It turned out well. Its fun to cook these fancy meals.

after dinner we played a game of Bingo. My mom did this a couple years ago and I thought that I might pick it up for my fam.
I have been collecting little gifts, and everyone wins a couple. Its great because even the little ones can play. Ava cried a little thinking she wasn't going to win, of coarse she did. Lotion and a dancing ribbon to be specific. kade won a lint collector, huge deal.
After bingo I read the story the gift of the Magi, then off to get prepared for the big man.
Cookies, milk, carrots on table check! Reindeer food sprinkled on the lawn, check. Get kids in bed finally. Time to chill at least for a moment.















Kade's parents came for dinner along with his sister Jen and her little girl Ashlynn.














Kade's dad was our reindeer food distributor.

They were all so excited. Ella could hardly stand it. I love that Ava and Harper are having a little moment on camera. In the morning Ella let me know that she heard Santa's bells. I let her know that is pretty unusual and she is one lucky girl.

More to come....

I feel the earth move under my feet.

Some of you may not know this but I have felt the earth move quite a bit, being a native Californian. When I was a youngster I had the crazy adventure of going through quite a few of these earthquakes. I remember one summer in particular, Cal tech could not tell us if it was a pre-shock, and aftershock, they had no clue. The whole summer seemed filled to the brim, I have even had the thrill of going through an 8 pointer. Which is Hugh in earthquake standards.
I remember going to sleep each night with a knot in my stomach, wondering if that night would be the big one. At the same time they were exciting and quite the story to tell.

Basically it sounds like a train is going through your house, it is so loud and I mean LOUD. It is such a shock to hear. I would jump up and hear my mom yelling its the big one. SO funny, she would yell it with almost everyone. I would jump up and stand at my door frame. Then we would all quickly go outside.

When we went through the eight pointer we went outside only to see our pool just about to co lapse. The water was tossing so high we backed off thinking it was a goner. Thankfully the pool survived. Which means we could survive the rest of the summer's heat. We sat outside for a couple hours, I was sitting in our back door jam when we had an aftershock and was startled to see my entire back wall of my house curving like a snake.

It was so humbling, the power of the earth. Made me realize how small we were, here was my house, sturdy, had been their my entire life. The earth could move and take it down in no time. Just changed my outlook a little.

Anyways, my sister Rachael and I discovered the secrets to predicting these earthquakes. We decided the almost all of the earthquakes happened around five in the morning. The day before all of our cats would go into hiding, they would disappear. In fact all animals would be quite, no dogs would be barking. It seems like it was always windy the night before. Plus the biggest earthquakes always happened on a Sunday morning. I know random huh? But I know that something was to it, seeing how we predicted one. I know impressive.

Anyways for some reason I was thinking about it today, maybe because I wish I could predict the future right now. Wishful thinking I know, it would sure be nice though to know that we were all going to get out of this crazy recession/ depression. I have been trying hard to think positively, but am starting to doubt that we are not going to have some major trouble coming. I know think positive. I am trying.

I'd be dead.

So Ella fell down the other day, and lets just say she lost it. Just a little bit of drama.
She came in and I told her that she needed to calm down a bit there was no blood or broken bones. I told her that she sounded like she had been hit by a bus.

Few minutes pass.............................................................
.......................................................................................


Mom if I'd been hit by a bus I'd be dead.

For Pete's sake.
What a funny kid.

Green Canyon here we come

So this last Saturday we had a miracle occur, we actually had nothing we had to do. A totally free day. So we packed up the kids and headed up to Green Canyon.

Ava soaking in the nice hot water.

Ella is becoming quite the swimmer.

The three monkey's

It was really a fun day. Very much needed.

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree.

I love getting our Christmas tree every year.
I love how it looks, I love how it smells, I just simply love it.















I know that Ava was there, just no where to be seen in the pictures.




















Ella is always ready for a photo.

Kraus Family

Now don't be intimidated I know we are a really good looking family, really it is almost ridiculous.

Just a few more pictures from the party

the cousins




















The harp man

Ava's new girlfriend;>

Happy Birthday Boofie!!! Three!

I can't believe that my little tiny Ava is now three!!! We were lucky and were able to have a lot of family at the party. One of her favorite gifts was her life size barbie that Kade and I got her. It was so cute to see her trying to hold up a doll that was larger then her.














She decided that she wanted the theme of her party to be tinker bell. So we played pin the wings on the tink. Had a Tink Cake. She really loves fairies right now.














This is her cake. Ava loves chocolate, a girl after her dad's heart.














Ava showing of her riding skills on Sara Wind the horse.

Front view of the cake. It was such a fun birthday, Ava was over the moon with all of the attention on her, poor little thing. She had a blast.

I am so grateful that I have Ava she is such a joy to me everyday. She is a very strong little spirit. I know I will never half to worry about Ava being talked into anything. She knows what she wants and needs and that is such perk for a Mom. She is so funny and trys to make us all laugh. She loves to color and draw. She is one of the biggest blessings of my life and I can't wait to learn all that she will help me learn.

I love you Ava, my tiny little boofie.

Thanksgiving!

I am in love with the holiday of Thanksgiving, food, family, food you get the picture.

Here is Ava in the kitchen out at Kade's parents. Anytime there is olives you will find Ava.

One tradition of the Kraus family is the card game of pinochle.

It gets pretty intense and the games have been known to go into the early morning.

Here was Kade's hand, pass Kade pass. I am glad that we have a wonderful holiday that reminds us how lucky and blessed we are.

Pink Eyes!!

So the other morning Ava was going around and telling us all what our eye color's were. Blue, Blue, Blue, Pink.

Yep, I have pink eyes, not PINK EYE but tired pink eyes.

I tried to let her know that my eyes were a blueish greenish but she would have none of it. They were pink!

All I can say is poor tired Mom's of young kids, I guess I am one of them. What good company.

Our Sunday Adventure.

So today I took the Kids for a hike up in the mountains. Kade had to study for his ethic's test. So to be out of his way we took off for a couple hours. This is before the big adventure.















Its really is a pretty canyon called Wolverine Canyon. It is behind Blackfoot.




























On our hike the girls were sure that they had found GOLD. If only right? They brought home a bunch, you know just in case Mom is not a polished geologist.



















We stopped along the road and took some pictures, you know I can't help it. Plus there is nothing out by Bone Id. Really a pretty place for pictures, just too far out.










































Ava is really getting the picture thing down lately, she is so cute right now.

Harper was so busy, I could not get a straight on shot of him, but I guess these are really good pictures for documenting the moment.















The trio

Gotta love this shot, can you say controlling.

It was a really pretty drive and a fun afternoon.

Happy Birthday Natalie

November 10 was Natalie's birthday and we had a wonderful party to celebrate her 31st.

One of the best parts about Nat's birthday is reflecting on the unique gifts and personality quirks that make her special. I was going to put them into a card but decided instead to break into Natalie's blog and share them with the world. Hopefully it doesn't backfire. Feel free to leave a comment if I have missed anything.

The kid's favorite things about Natalie(Mom):

1. She gives the best baths; bubbles, toys, and playtime in between washings.



2. She gives out the treats from the "fun bucket" when someone does something right.



3. Every time we leave for a trip or fun activity Natalie yells "WHO'S OUT FOR FUN?" All the kids yell back "ME" and we know something cool is about to happen.



4. She has a miraculous way to make each child know they are mom's favorite, unless they are in trouble and then they know they are definitely mom's least favorite.



5. Whenever the kids, or I, see her play the guitar or piano they have this look on their face like "mom is seriously awesome" instead of "what does mom think she is doing?"



6. Whenever it comes time to dress up(picture day, church, whatever) the kids know they can go to mom and their hair and outfit will look cute.



7. If anyone gets hurt (which usually relates to our stairs in some way) they run straight for mom because she knows just what to do to make it better.

Things Natalie would make a deal with the devil for:

1. Tickles or massages on the neck or back.



2. A date with Edward Cullen from the Twilight series.



3. A full nights sleep for all 3 kids.



4. The foreclosure in Ririe.



5. Rasberry Hot Chocolate in the Winter, Cold DP in the summer.



6. A full bath with no interruptions or time to get ready with no interruptions.



7. A pet cat or puppy. (This is NOT an offer for your pet so don't even think it!)



8. Beef, chicken or eggs with absolutely no veins.



9. Self folding clothes.

Finally I couldn't leave off without my personal favorites:

1. When we got married everyone knows I made out like a bandit, but Natalie seems to think exactly the opposite.



2. No matter where we live, I am always married to the cutest girl on the block.



3. The cute thing is doubly important because the kids seemed to inherit their looks from mom.



4. Whenever I do anything that qualifies me as a knucklehead, Natalie still trusts me.



5. She is not afraid to tell me when I am being an jerk or making a mistake. When I try to fight it, she's not afraid to tell me the real problem is my pride.



6. She is enough of a dreamer to inspire even me.



7. I've never once questioned if Natalie still loved me.



8. I am still in contact with most of my friends and loved ones because of Natalie.



9. She has embraced being a mom despite the obvious appeal of diapers, sippy cups, and laundry.



10. She is the most beautiful, loving wife a man could desire.

I know Natalie has touched may lives with her gifts and talents so don't hesitate to comment on how much you dig her.

Just some random pictures

My two favorite boys.

Going for a ride with Dad on the four Wheeler.

Ava going for a ride with Grandpa Kraus, on his new toy!


Ella taking a spin.

Ava in the leaves.

Miss Ella lookin cute.

Miss Ava as cute as they come.

Harper was actually a little freaked out about the leaves. The girls were running around and jumping in the piles screaming, I think that he thought the girls were screaming in pain.

This is one of our stretching breaks on our trip home from California.