Fun loving boys

These are my boys. I love that they like to do fun things together.

Sometimes I think that their definition of "fun" is different than mine.

Sometimes I try not to think about what they do in their "fun" times.

I love it when they share their photos and stories with me.

I am always amazed at the incredible things they do.

Oh yes! I am thankful for my fun loving guys! :)

Place: Pilot peak, ID -Hike and Ski adventure 1/2010

Happy New Year

Our celebration was low key and very pleasant. This is breakfast on New Years Day. We were so lucky to have the great grand parents here for the night. It is a joy to have my mom and dad here.

Home made party hats make the evening complete. So do the noise makers and blowers. We are resolving to have a happy year this year and hope that for all, no matter what, it is a happy 2010 for you too.

The ice has frozen and melted

The annual ice rink was a 2 - 3 day success! At first only the light weights could stand on the ice. And then, be careful - it is really really slippery.
Then the fun began. Aspen showing that sliding is just as fun as playing hockey.

Emma and Opa
Goalie McKayla
I scored a goal!

"He needs a HUG"

December 29th
Once there was a snowman,
tall . . .
tall . . .
TALL.
(Take a break, play in the snow, let Opa be the horse pulling the sleigh.)
January 2nd
In the rain/sun it melted,
small ...
small...
small.

Bree: "Snowman broken"
Opa: "It's melting from the rain and the sun."
Bree: "It needs a hug."

The rest of the Dec.23rd activities

When the kids were little, one year when they begged to sleep under the Christmas tree on the Christmas eve, I said: "No. But you can tonight" (which was the 23rd). And a tradition was begun. Every year since then, when they were home, they have slept under the tree. As the older children grew up and married and started families of their own, Gil and I offered to keep the tradition going with our grand-children and let the adults have this night for a date or to use in any way they want. We had 10 kids for the first part of the evening.
We had pizza for dinner - and the little ones ate and ran. I took this photo to show that our children are training their children well. We fed 10 kids and some adults and this was all that was left on the table. Most of the kids took their dishes off the table as they left. Clean up was a snap and I really am impressed because I didn't ask one child to take their dishes- they did it on their own!
Gil had a wonderful idea - we went to the church gym to play broom hockey and run run run. The Girls had a great time performing on the stage and we all enjoyed the adventure.
Next we opened pajama presents. I made the bottoms this year- and enjoyed the challenge.

Hannah, McKayla, Emma and Hallie
Tucker and Carter- two great guys with a bunch of girls!
Bree was the first to fall asleep. She was out even before all the kids selected their sleeping spots.

Stella and Aspen were the last to fall asleep. They just couldn't settle down and finally I had to separate them. But it was 11:30 and tomorrow is Christmas Eve! -No morning photo's - it was poffertjes, sausage, eggs and juice for breakfast and lots of playing to do before we gathered together again for Christmas eve and cousin gift exchange. I love this - some day I won't worry about the little ones getting to sleep- but for now we do so that they aren't too grumpy and tired by Christmas.

More of the week before Christmas

We have enjoyed having our littlest ones around a lot. Gil found this ride on toy - push the button on the steering handle and it goes. Jake can almost steer around the obstacles. It was a thrift shop bargain and the e-bay rechargable charger brought it up to 25.00 total.
The two year olds are race-car drivers as they navigate all around the house-
We finally put this little nativity down where Ellie could reach it. We will probably find pieces all over the house after Christmas, but it is so cute to see her sit on the shelf and play with the figures.

I had just finished cutting up the cantaloupe- and left it on the cutting board to get the lid for the container. I turned around to find Ellie had reached up and helped her self to the cantaloupe. She is so proud of herself- I couldn't help taking a photo.

Tuesday morning in the wee hours, I happened to glance out the window and this is what I saw.
The kids and Gil took advantage of the next sun-shiny afternoon and played in the snow.
So you could say we'll have a semi-white Christmas this year.

Week Before Christmas

In the weeks before Christmas there are lots of Christmas Programs to go to. I love to watch the families as much as the kids. I went to Tucker's choir concert and as a bonus got to listen to him in the Percussion class. Gil and I watched Bree and Ellie while Kim Deven and Carter went to McKayla's program. We got a solo performance afterwards.
Aspen and Tyler in their preschool program. Santa came to this program and the kids got to tell him what they wanted. Aspen wanted a jingle bell.
Kurt's family went to IF for Christmas, so the night before they left, Tyler- Christy- and Jake spent the night. We tried balloon creations. IT was much more fun to wear the balloons.


New Jammies for grands.And getting to sleep in the living room

That is if you can give up and go to sleep. Carter crashed- Tyler is thinking about it. Jake is in the crib "while visions of sugar plums danced in his head"