Early Christmas

Nothing like having christmas early!! We got to go home for Thanksgiving for my brothers wedding! (Which I will post pictures later) So while there we had Thanksgiving dinner, our family Christmas party( played games and opened presents and had a visit from Santa) and had a bridal shower all in one day!! It was an eventful day.

To start off this is what my kids are like when they see Santa.... Not so happy!!!

I had to tell my 4 year old that this was a pretend Santa cause the real santa couldn't come.... still she wanted nothing to do with him. So he told her that he didn't want to touch her either and that got a smile out of her!!! He was a great Santa! Good thing we have good cousins that will come over on Thanksgiving day to help us out!

Here she is saying, " I want an IPod and a PSP, and anything that cost like $300"

She is only 7 and starting with expensive gifts luckily she is pretty easty going!

Now for presents.... our family loves to give gifts that make us laugh. My Dad started it with giving some nice gag gifts to my mother. So some of us think its great to give gag gifts....

So this is what we gave my sister.... a package to help them feel comfortable when they go to Portland. Some tie-die shirts, some dog food for their dog, some granola, some garlic, and a ornament to put their dogs picture on their tree.. Dogs are part of the family now!!

The best part of it is my nephew wore his shirt after the reception. He looked so cool!

For Tylers gift he got a doggie bed. So just in case I send him to the dog house he has a nice bed to sleep in!! My little brother gave it to him and thought it was pretty funny! It was one of the good gifts I must say!! the girls love it for their doggies!!

Doug got a well needed plunger. We like to tease him since he hasn't had a plunger for years. Really you need a plunger when you have cheap toilets just in cast it cloggs but.... now he has no excuses!!

Here is my great family in their ugly sweaters!! This year we all wore ugly sweaters.. Next year we are all getting Snuggies!!! So we will all wear them while we are opening presents...

It was so fun having Christmas with my family. Most of us were there.... Burke was the only one missing cause he was on his honeymoon. There is nothing like being with family for the holidays.

We had such a great time and as usal we always do. Lots of food and lots of laughter and lots of noise!!!

It was fun going home for the weekend!!! We had a great Thanksgiving/Christmas/Wedding!

Making Chocolates

Last weekend we made a quick trip home... First off... it was a horrible drive. The road got closed and we were stuck at the gas station for 2 hours. Good thing we have a 2 year old who loves to scream and who doesn't like to sit in his car seat. It made the 2 hours well lets just say...... interesting. Our next trip I think i will buy some ear plugs!!

But the reason we drove on bad roads was so worth it. My mother in law every year makes chocolates. Now these aren't just ordinary homemade chocolates. She has a whole process and works works works. She makes the centers which takes a full day then she dips the centers into chocolates which takes almost 2 full days. She does all these chocolates to give to friends and to us!! Which we LOVE! So this year i did get a few pictures but the best ones are on my mother in laws camera.
















This is my mother in law. She has 3 machines to temper the chocolate. She is one talented woman. I hope someday I learn how to do this art!





















Even the kids helped a little!! They love Grandma's chocolates and they were so excited to help this year.




















We were so glad to see Ty's brother's family. Here my child is sprinkling some of the chocolates. She got a little carried away with them but had a great time helping.

Thanks Ralene for letting us come and for letting us eat and for sharing the chocolates. They are so good!! Its been almost 5 years since I have made chocolates and it was so fun!!
It was worth the long crazy drive to see our family and get chocolates!!

Happy Halloween

This year for Halloween we all purchased wigs!! We had to dress up for our Trunk or Treat at the Church! My oldest is a disco girl and my next girl wanted to be a witch... My boy is just a boy!! He is not into dressing up at all!

Here is a priceless family picture! I think I need to blow this up and frame it!

And yes.... Ty and I own those clothes.. We have a box full of "old" dress up clothes. We pull them out usually at Halloween time. Guess since we moved here we haven't pulled them out. People were missing out on these great outfits!

Our great friend and "adopted brother" came to see the kids and give them candy. He drove about 30 min to see them. How nice of him huh!! Thanks jr. it was so nice of you.

A Night to remember

Last Friday night Tyler and I went on a great date!! We got a babysitter and went out on the town to our first concert together!! yes some of you may think thats so romantic.. well we could go either way... it was so LOUD my head was ringing for 2 days. BUT..... I loved the concert
We went to Rascal Flatts!! Darius Rucker opened for them.
It was the last night of the tour so they had some fun tricks!!
These are the best pictures I could get.
Thanks honey for a great night out! ( Maybe I should thank him verbally since he never reads this!!)

My baby is 2!!!

Last week my son turned 2!! I can't believe he is that old. This day is a great marker for many things. It was the day we signed on our house, the day we bought us a new car and the same day that I went into labor with my son. So its a celebration of many things.
The day of his b-day we actually went to my cousins volleyball game so we didn't really celebrate it but he's 2 so he doesn't really care right!..
But he loves any sports that involves a ball so he liked watching the volleyball game!!

Here are some fun things that we got to do for his b-day!





















We went to a pumpkin farm ( yes it is the 4th one we've gone to!)
But this one was "Special" because he got to ride on a wagon that got pulled by a tractor. Not any tractor.... a tractor like Grandpas. So he was in heaven.

















It was such a beautiful day that we couldn't pass up going to one more farm before the season ends! The kids had a great time.




















Here is one of his favorite presents..... a Horsie.
He likes to call my dad and say... "see gandpas hosie"
He LOVES horses, though I'm not sure he would actually get on one. But to look at one he goes crazy!
Thanks Dad n Mom for the present it was hit!! Even when its lost and he wants to sleep with it and I can't find it. I still think it was a good gift!!
























Here is his b-day plate that G&G gave him. For all the kids b-day's this year they got a plate that she made for them. Isn't it so cute! They get to eat their b-day dinner and cake on it. I love this idea since I've always wanted to get one of those "special" plates.My girls thought they needed to use it instead of their brother!!!

Its just perfect for him since all he can do is talk about basketball and football!!




















And.... it wouldn't be a b-day with out candy right!!! That is Grandma's favorite thing to send and he loved it!!!
He even shared with his sisters which is saying a lot cause usually he doesn't like to share so much!!!

Thanks G&G for the presents!














That morning my great friend brought this fun toy over for him. Its a little car with a window wiper, a cell phone, and lots and lots of annoying buttons that make sounds!!! Isn't that so nice of her.. I have thought of dropping it off at her house for a couple of days to see if she likes all the noise!!
But.... he loves his car.


We did finally make some Brownies for him and had him blow out a candle which he had to blow out a couple of times.
We are so glad that he is in our family and we love him so much!! Happy B-day to our baby big Boy!!

Brother's wedding

A week later and I've finally posted these pictures. It was a cold beautiful day at the temple.

My brother is so happy and he found such a great girl. I can't wait to get to know her better. Its always fun to go to a wedding to help you remember the day you go married. It reminded me how lucky I am to have found such a great husband.
Since I only have pictures from the temple here are the highlights of that morning.

I love this pictures with all my sisters. Our family seems to keep growing and growing. I love it!! By next March we will have added 2 new babies and our family pictures will be outdated again! Can u tell who is the oldest? She is also the shortest (Sorry Melissa, I just had to say that!) So there are 4 sisters and 2 sister in laws and my dear mother who is the best mom ever!















These beautiful girls are all the girl grandchildren. Aren't they so cute!! Their dresses turned out so cute and their flowers just topped them off!! (Thanks Brit for making those for all of us)
Its so much fun when all these girls get together they have a great time together and get along really well. Its so sad that most of the them don't live by each other.













Here is my one good picture of my son. At least he looks handsome in his outfit! Can't forget my husband who ran after the child all weekend! And finally after 9 years of marriage he finally bought a new suit. His mission suit was just not working anymore!! He looks pretty fancy!































My Daddy and my sweet girl. I love this picture. My parents mean so much to me so I love any pictures of them. We don't get to see them very often but when we go home we always have a great time.



























Here's my little princess! We had such a great weekend and got some fun pictures.
Congratulations on the new bride and groom. Welcome to the family though after a couple reunions I'm sure you will be wondering what family you go into!! We like to have a fun and crazy time together!!!
Thanks mom n Dad for letting us stay at your house even with all the crazines!! We love love our families!!

A preview of the weekend

Back from Idaho and a wedding!!! We survived.. ( though I'm not sure my dads ears survived after hearing buddy scream all the way to the airport)

















Check this picture out!!! Yes that is my boy, though I'm not sure I should claim him after this weekend. He was HORRIBLE and that is saying it nicely!! Every picture we tried to take of him he freaked out! It was a bad bad weekend with him...... He is just a free spirit... (I had to keep telling myself that!)

But on the good side!!
-got to see my brother get married to a great girl
- we got to see all my brothers and sister
-got to see lots of cousins, aunts and uncles
-Got to make lots and lots of rolls
-went to a great craft store with my two sister in laws
-ate way to many sweets and not enough good food
-for sure had a great time!
I will post more pictures later... seem to be busy catching up since we were gone!