February fun

We have had way too much fun already this month and still have a cruise, valentines, and my state board to look forward to. The other night we decided to show our kids how to have some real fun and we took them sliding down the stairs on a mattress. I think we did it till my tail bone gave out. ;)
We have also had fun at the parks now that I am home more. The kids are more and more fun the older they get.

We really enjoy family time and trust me when I say Matt is so glad I'm home more now. I have had plenty to catch up on and he has pleasantly handed certain chores back over. He is now a favorite with the kids and I love it!

My class at school had our grad party and we had so much fun. We did a pajama party and had pillow fights, played chubby bunny, and silly string wars. I'm such a kid at heart!

Brennon climbing again. He uses this pink stool and carries it everywhere to use as his first step. Oh boys!
A few people have commented at my hair. So here is a close up. I do like it this length and am getting used to the bangs. (Hey, it may be different, but at least it's not pink, much to Katelynn's disappointment)

Scrapbook retreat

Thanks ladies for a fabulous weekend to remember!

Our new room

We decided to have a room where I can practice doing hair in our home, and I am so excited how it turned out! Matt has been my handyman and did an amazing job on laying hardwood floors (first time ever). He is amazing like that. I love them! Here is a picture to show them off.

Here are a couple shots of how it turned out. It has been so fun to try it out and see how it all came together.

The kids have loved hangin' out with me in there too. We did include a train table so they would have something to keep them busy.

School is ending and it's bittersweet!

So tomorrow is my last day at beauty school (other than a few additional classes I have to take to prepare for my board exam) and I made it through without being a beauty school drop out!! Yaa whoo! It has been such an amazing experience to follow through with one of my dreams and see how exciting it is to do something I really love. Matt has been such a support through it all and I am grateful for him and the kids and all their patience. I am looking forward to doing hair outside of school and can't wait to get started! Here are a few "do's" that I have had fun with lately....
My bride that I did a few days ago...


My sister. I had to spoil her with a spa day since she came all the way out here. I'm not sure her husband was ready for the transformation, but he ended up really liking it.
The before...
After, with highlights, cut, and makeup....

A friend let me use her as my model at school for a final project. We did a cut and highlights on her. She is adorable. Before....
After....

Family Time

Having Melissa and Kyle in town was so much fun. We hardly ever get family to visit since we live far from EVERYONE. We took advantage of all my time off school and went to see some favorite spots in Texas.

First we headed to the Dallas Cowboys Texas Stadium. This was its last year as their stadium since they are building a new one. It was cool to see it so close up and stand on the 50 yard line.

We also had to try out tackling on the turf. It was fun with the kids....



Then we headed to eat some Texas BBQ at a place in the middle of nowhere. It was called Natty Flat's Smokehouse and was quite the tourist spot. It was known for having the worlds largest rocking chair (what a claim to fame, huh).
They also sported world class outhouses...
The kids enjoyed the oversize rocking chairs they had. I guess this one was in some famous movie.

Then we headed to the home of Dr Pepper and toured their bottling plant where they make it from pure Sugar Cane. This was pure heaven for us Dr Pepper junkies. We even bought a Dr pepper cake for Matt's birthday.
Even Brennon became a "Pepper" fan.....

Can you tell she doesn't have caffein often?


The one thing Kyle had to do here was watch a NHL hockey game, Dallas stars vs his Anaheim Ducks. We had a blast and Matt and I became fast Stars fans.
I just had to put up a little reminder for Kyle on what the final score was..... Ha!


Thanks Melissa and Kyle for coming. We had such a great time and are missing y'all already!

A Texas Christmas

Twas two days before Christmas and the Alva's had grins
When Melissa and Kyle flew down with their twins
The girls were a cookin' to make quite a feast
And the little ones could be found makin trouble to say the least.....



Twas Christmas Eve and we headed to see a live Christmas scene
Only with kids we couldn't stay long, only to head for a latrine.

We decided to feast on a fine Christmas Eve dinner
And we found ourselves stuffed at Golden Corral, it's a winner!


Christmas morning came early with a new train table
It took Santa so long to set it up, you'd wonder if he was able...

All the gifts brought smiles to the little one's face
That's what makes it so fun and impossible to erase...





Then off to serve we went that day
To deliver Meals on Wheels, and to see their smiles was better than pay!

What a great Christmas it was, one to remember
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!

Christmas Traditions 08

I know you are all wondering, "what exactly do the Alva's do to celebrate Christmas?" Well, we are slowly finding that out ourselves each year and want to share a few new traditions with you...

First, I must admit, I have been slacking and have never taken my kids to go and sit on Santa's lap at the mall. OK, so the lines are always long, the mall is always crowded, and you always have to pay an arm and a leg to get one photo that never turns out as you had hoped. Now, that being said, yes they have seen Santa at church parties and we are very lucky to have our own Santa in the family, Matt's step dad, Ron (we love you Ron and will always think you are the best Santa). However, this year our neighbors let us in on a secret and told us to go with them to Bass Pro Shop and see Santa. #1, there is no long line. #2, he looks real and #3 Its free! So off we went. The kids loved it, and so did we!


They even had "real Reindeer" (at least on the outside ;) )
We also got to celebrate by going to Katelynn's preschool party. She sang all the Christmas songs and even made us sing them with her all the way home.
My mom convinced me to make an advent calendar. It has been one of the most favorite things for the kids. Every morning when they wake up, it is the first thing they ask for. Thanks Grandma!
Our ward had such a fun Christmas party this year. We all dressed up like people from Christ's time. Even Katelynn wanted to be the donkey (imagine that). (we only wished we had Dad's purple robe ;) ha, ha)
We also make Christmas cookies and decorated them. Even Brennon got into it!
We put up a fake tree this year, but still had a blast decorating it. Katelynn really got into it and was so proud of her work. It is now in between two couches to be blocked off from Brennon...