Christmas

The Tradition at our House,

is to Greet the Birthday Person

with Cinnamon Rolls and Birthday Greetings,

first thing in the Morning!

So,

Christmas Morning

is always started with 

Sweet Rolls and Birthday Wishes for the Baby Jesus

Then,

its on to 

PRESENTS

and Hugs, and Smiles, and Surprises, Oh-My!

We kind of LOVE Christmas at our house,

so we move at quite the Snail's Pace

through the presents-

admiring and opening and assembling gifts,

stopping for nourishment,

or potty breaks,

or whatever along the way.

We usually don't finish opening presents till the afternoon.

We figure, 

We wait the whole year for this day,

why rush through it,

and get it over with as quickly as possible?

We try to make it last as looong as We can,

and WE LOVE it that Way! 

12.24.2013

Christmas Eve Things:

We always begin Christmas Eve

with our Traditional

Christmas Eve Family Breakfast!

-Which I have no Pics of-

but if I did,

they would be pics of the 

Whole T Gang

Enjoying Eggs and Pancakes,

and all Excitedly Jabbering away about 

Christmasy Things!

At Home,

I kept Excited Christmas Eve-ers

Busy with painting Ornaments,

and Baking and Decorating Cookies

{One of the Crowd apparently thought 

decorating cookies t'was better done sans shirt}

We spent the early evening 

playing some new board games with the kids,

and then got together with the T Family,

for Christmas Eve Feasting, Gift Exchanging,

 and a game of Basketball.

Then back home

to hang our Stockings with Care,

set out carefully written Love Notes and Treats,

and to jump in bed with Visions of Sugar Plums!

{Merry Christmas}

Merry Christmas to All

12.23.2013

With Family and Friends

We gathered items and filled Christmas Socks,

and took them to a local

Women's and Children's Center,

where We also organized and worked 

Together to Decorate, Prepare, and Serve a Christmas Meal

to the  Crowd that was there.

We even had some fun live Family Musical Talent 

and Santa came!

Experiences like this bring our family closer together,

And it sure is a good reminder,

about the Real Meaning of Christmas.

Under Construction!

Guess Where We DIDN'T have Thanksgiving Dinner!

[Our Kitchen]

Since the Middle of October,

our Kitchen has been 

Under Construction!

Gratefully,

We have a Kitchen downstairs

We've been able to live out of.

It's nearing completion,

but forgive if I don't get around to

posting about it until after Christmas! 

[EDIT] This is NOT the Kitchen I previously already re-did, as shown through Links on My Side Bar. This is Our New House, this is a Different Kitchen.

Turkey Trot

[Earning Our Pie]

Our First Family Turkey Trot!

We've been talking with the Kids,

and wanting to do an Organized 5k with them,

so We enlisted to Turkey Trot it on Thanksgiving!

Grandma and Grandpa watched the Smaller Kids,

while those who wanted to Trot before Turkey,

got their Run on,

in 27 Degree Weather! 

We ran with our Boys,

and They Worked Hard to Finish!

We were so Proud of Them!

Definitely no records broken in our 5k Division,

but the Company was Exceptional!

Thanks Day

Thanksgiving 

Over the River and Through the Woods

to Grandmother's House We Go!

We spent Thanksgiving 

with My Folks and Family

back at My Ol' Homestead.

My Mom is always so Good 

at planning EVERYTHING!

{I admire Her Marvelous Energy!}

She not only plans the Feast,

but then she also always has 

Big Fun Plans

to keep the Kids Busy!

She had Thankful games,

and projects that kept them Happy All Morning!

Then after our FEASTING

She Pulled out her Traditional

Ginger Bread Houses

-One for Each Family-

and all the Trimmings

so Everyone could get their 

Gingerbread House Decorating on!

Another New-ish Tradition that we Lady-Folk

started last year-

Resurrected, actually, 

as it was Tradition in 

My Mom's Family Years Ago-

Is that of Making Homemade Chocolates!

We make centers

and then dip them

while We chatter away!

Another Good Memory:

We Celebrated My Mom's B-day while there.

the Grandkids presented her with a 

Fabulously decorated Brown Paper Bag.

Inside?

Rocks from Her Yard,

Because They Sparkle in the Sunshine.

[She Loved it of Course!]

And We'll also have to

 file this Thanksgiving away

with the Puke-ies.

Everyone was always 

Chipper and Well during the days,

but come night-

Some Kid or Kids

Some Where,

was Puking.

and 

Some Sleepy Parent was Cleaning it Up.

A few more Favorite Moments 

from the Holiday Weekend:

-Turkey Trot with My Family,

-Seeing My Sister's Near-Completed New House,

and

-Stopping for a Hayride under Christmas Lights,

with Hot Cocoa, on our way home.

Ah,

Good Holiday and Family Memories! 

I LOVE it!

11.11.13

Veteran's Day 

We Surprised the Vet in Our Family

when he came out the door that Evening,

with Family, Music, Clapping, and Flag-Waving!

Then We all settled 'round the Fire 

for some Pie, Hot Chocolate, 

and 

Tales about the Air Force!



October 31, 2013

Spooky Things in My Yard:

Our Very Own

Spooky Lil' Monsters!

Two Zombies

and a

Policeman.

Happy Birthday

To Me!

I had a Great Birthday 

that was made Special

from Top to Bottom

by the People who Love Me!

I Got Up Early for a Run with a Great View,

Had Oatmeal brought to me in Bed,

Got taken to Lunch by new Friends in My Neighborhood,

Bought New Running Shoes,

and 

Pigged out on Sushi and Cake!

{Wonderfulness}

Fall-Time Things

My Mom Always Plans

a 

Festive Fall Weekend

We made the Drive back to My Small Country Town

to Spend time with our Family

and Enjoy the Fall Happenings this Year!

One of our Favorite Parts was the Pumpkin Patch!

[Pumpkins @ the Patch]

Look Who's 6!

Our 5yr old wanted to be 6, 

so he could be 

Tall and Big like his Brothers!

He LOVED Turning Big and 6!

We sure do Love our Funny, Smiley 6 year old! 

Sportin' Life

Soccer, Soccer, and Lacrosse

We've had a Busy Fall

with

Practices and Games! 

{I sure Loved watching them play and being their Cheerleader!}

General Conference

For General Conference this Year,

We let the Boys earn points 

for taking Notes and Listening,

and then let them spend the points

at our 

General Conference Concession Stand!

They Loved It and it sure Kept their Attention!

Afterwards,

We threw down a 

Backyard Hot Dog Roast! 

New Family Members

Meet 

Sugar and Pixie

Sugar and Pixie are the Newest Members of our Family!

They belonged to the Previous Owners of our House,

but since they are still building their new home,

and are currently living in an apartment,

they had no where to store the Ol' Girls,

so we've been looking after the dogs here.

But Due to our Kids falling in Love with the Doggies,

and both sides were willing-

We were offered to keep the Dogs,

and We all Gladly accepted!

They are Good, Patient, Loving Dogs,

who get tons of 

Love and Attention and Exercise

from our Boys!

[heck, maybe sometimes TOO much!]

We Adore Them!

Happy Birthday!

B turned 11!

B got to Greet his Morning with

Cinnamon Rolls in Bed!

Then had a Fun day at School,

got a Favorite Meal for Dinner,

and got some 

Very Hoped for 

B-day Gifts! 

We sure Love our big Responsible, Hard Working 11yr Old!

San Diego

September 17-22nd

 [Scenes from the Vacation Camera Roll]

Our Number One Favorite Part?

Riding Bikes & Running

on the Boardwalk

Every Day!

Labor Day Things

Backyard 

Campfire Breakfast and Volleyball

Boating

Summer 2013

Fair and Rodeo Times

Loving the Rodeo,

Fair,

Petting Zoo,

and Funnel Cake! 

Ice Cream

As Big as Your Head

Oh My!

Kindergarten-er

J's First Day of Kindergarten!

He is Super Ready and Super Excited!

He goes in the Afternoon,

so although he doesn't get to 

bike with his Brothers to School in the Mornings,

he does get to ride home with them 

after School! 

However,

BEFORE

the First Day of Kindergarten,

he got to meet with his Teacher

and have a 

Special Treat Date 

with Mom!

[Okay, HE got the Special Treat, I got a Salad!]

Awww, 

My Baby is in Kindergarten!

First Day of School

July 25, 2013

B in 5th Grade

C in 4th Grade

A New School and New Friends to Make!

Also New to our Family this School Year-

Living close enough to Walk, Scooter or Bike

Their way to and fro!

 Dad's become a Real Bike Shop in a Pinch!

(Just another Reason why He's our Hero)

Also,

We're super proud of B for wanting 

to become a member of Student Council,

and being Selected to do it!

He takes his 

Student Council Duties & Early Mornings Cheerfully!

  

Ice Cream Makers

Summer Sunday Nights

are Perfect for 

Homemade Ice Cream Making!

Back to School Extravaganza!

We held our 3rd Annual 

Back to School Extravaganza!!

We take the Weekend before School starts,

and get a nearby Hotel,

and stuff as much

School Shopping,

Swimming,

Movie-Watching,

and 

Garbage-Eating as Possible

into 24hrs! 

Happy 9th Birthday!

C Turned 9!

He started out his Morning with 

Breakfast in Bed,

then had Friends over for 

Backyard Football, Basketball, 

and

Mix Your Own Ice Cream!

We Love that Kid and his Sport Loving-ness! 

July 16, 2013

Happy Anniversary!

15 Years

Whoa! 

Where did the Years Go?!

We shared some Thoughtful and Meaningful Gifts

throughout the Day and Evening, 

and

As We were leaving Dinner,

We met a couple who were Celebrating

their 30yr. Anniversary-

Wow, 

that was like looking into the Future,

and Loving what We saw to come!

I'm a Lucky and Loved Girl,

by a Good Man. 

Swimmers

[Swim Lesson Pupils]

I Love what Great Lil' Swimmers 

these Guys are becoming!

July 4th

This is how we Fourth of July: 

We Parade 

from 

Sun-Up to Sun-Down,

then 

We Firework!

Last Day of School!

July 2, 2013 

 

{Last Day of School Celebration Things}

After we moved in June, 

the kids continued to finish 

out the last three weeks of school, 

at their current school.

We counted down the days

(Me probably more than them)

that we would have to make the 

20 min one-way trip to and from school!

It's kind of become our

Last Day of School Thing

to Celebrate with some 

Frozen Yogurt Yummies!

But,

Since the Kids go to Year Round School,

their Summer Break is over in 3 Weeks.

[Cough, cough, Year Round School: Saving the Sanity of Mom, cough, cough]



Ragnar-ians

Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay

June 21-22, 2013

198 Miles

12 People

2 Vans

3 Legs Each

35 Exchanges

33 Hours

Run all Day

Run all Night

BEAST of a TEAM!

 

Scenes along the Way!

 

We Signed Up with a Team to do the Ragnar Relay,

and have been excited and working towards this time

for the last year!

Everyone worked hard to get us to the Finish,

running around the clock for the 33 hours it took us to get there,

through the heat, the hurt, and the lack of sleep!

Those of us who did the night runs, agreed that those runs,

in the middle of the night, were our absolute favorite legs!

As we crept closer to the finish,

we were pretty certain that THIS was something

We NEVER wanted to do again!

But?

The next day,

we were jumping at the chance to Re-Enlist!

Can't Wait!

PS Like the Shirts I Designed for our Team?

I Loved Seeing them in Action!