January 14

Here we are a new year and I totally forgot that Sunday was the 12th.  Then I started to question if I should even continue this year.  I mean my days look very similar.  I went ahead and took 12 pictures on the 14th. I guess my quest this month is to see if I want to continue this and how to put a spin on it to make it exciting for me. Any suggestion would be great. So here we are 12 pictures on the 14th.  I still think that one day in the future I will look back on these a appreciate capturing a perfectly normal day just now I'm missing the thrill of it all.

1.  Luke bummed out that he has to get dressed for the day.

2.  Preschool prep all the names out for them to find when the come in.

3.  Fish graphing today.  Always a big hit and pleasantly surprised that they did so well.

4.  Dropping off Max's tablet to get fixed. Carrying sleeping Luke in my arms.

5. Off to pick up the kids from school. Luke rode his bike I walk/ran beside him.

6.  Waiting for the kids.

7. Lilly on the walk home.

8. Max always walking in front of us too busy to wait for us slow pokes.

9.  Dinner baby roasted cauliflower and broccoli. Max really loves it roasted.

10. Hey had to sneak a photo of me in today. Not my best hair day.

11. Practicing the piano. She is improving so much. So proud of her.

12. Luke reading his oval book for Kevin.  He is so proud of himself that he can read it all by himself.

A Few Things Before Christmas

I am determined to blog about our Christmas even if it is January. We had our annual candy house decorating party.  The McHenry's joined us and the kids got to invite one other friend.  Luke was really able to get in on the action this year. Of course eating more candy then he put on the house but he had a great time with his buddy Micheal.  Micheal was our little candy thief.  When the kids were done, he managed to sneak back inside and take candy of any house he could reach.  I'm so happy that he enjoyed himself, the little cutie.

Max took a new approach this year and smeared frosting all over his hands. Then made some house and shortly after smashed the whole thing. See Max and Cody having a great time.

The girls took their time, made patterns and were precise on every placement of candy. Yep boys vs girls.

We did your traditional rounds around the neighborhood for the best Christmas lights.  We made up awards again this year.  The kids got to secretly deliver them on the doors and run back to the car before we are caught.  Just a fun little thing that we love to do.

This year the 2nd grade did a wonderful performance of the  Nutcracker. I was so pleased Max knew all the music and knew his part so well. (Here is my mom fail. I did not bring my zoom lens to the performance. So it is not properly documented).  He even expressed interest in seeing the real ballet.  If he said he wanted to go to a ballet I was going to take him, this might be my only chance.  

We went to a small production with his classmate and mom.  Lilly came and brought her friend Mary.  I won't lie there was a little drama before the show.  It was about having to dress in nice clothes.  There were tears but he made a commitment to go so I was going to make sure he went. When we got there he perked up. It was so great to see his face light up when he recognized  the music.  He might remember the experience differently when he is in therapy, but I'm still sticking to my guns and saying that I'm glad that we went.

On Christmas Adam I let the kids open up their presents from Nana and Papa. New sleeping bags to sleep in under the tree. And as you can tell Max is just about as bad a Luke for not holding still in the picture.

I think they finally fell asleep around 11. They were super excited that night well duh it is only one more day until Christmas. 

First Things First

Well hello blog.  I'm not going to start at the being it is too daunting but I do I hope to write about all the magic leading up to Christmas, a joyous Christmas day and a lovely winter break. The best place to start is now, a wonderful weekend.
For Christmas I bought Kevin a night at the Westward Look Wyndham Grand Resort & Spa. How could I complain, a date night, I would have Kevin all to myself and NO KIDS. It was a win for me too.  We made a whole weekend of it. On Friday the kids went off to Amber and Pablo's and we made our way to Tucson, AZ. But before we started our road trip we enjoyed lunch at Cheesecake Factory. Again I have to stress that I was able to finish my thoughts and sentences without interruption.  We checked into the resort walked around the grounds and headed out to check out the UofA campus and night life were we found a quaint Italian restaurant with bad pizza and good pasta.  They also did not serve Pepsi or Coke but RC cola. Weird right? Before bed we hit up the hot tub under the stars. Back in our room we started to watch The Great Gatsby and feel asleep. I guess not interesting to keep us awake.  We slept in b/c we had no kids to wake us up and ate breakfast at the resort restaurant.  Omelets and waffles so yummy!
After breakfast Kevin found a 5 mile hike close buy so after checking out we started up the trail.

We made it some pools of water took a photo and turned back.

We were on the trail for about 3 hours.  It was so nice to talk and walk. We talked about what a blessed year we had. We talked about what we wanted in this year. We talked about kids, work, movies, music, food, fitness, God, and missions all without interruption.  A dream I tell you!!!

One of the best parts of this trip is that it didn't end there.  We got home about 3 showered dressed and headed out for yet another night of fun. Dinner at Pita Jungle and a movie, Walter Mitty. I ate myself sick with popcorn but still had room for ice cream. It was there that Kevin discovered that he left his credit card at the restaurant. So we spent a little more time in the car got back in the car and started home.  

We woke up Sunday morning and were pretty excited to pick up the kids. We missed them.  They had a wonderful time with their cousins.  I'm so grateful that I had no worries about them the whole time because they were with family who love them.  

With the new year comes a new church time. Somehow we get to meet at 1 pm rather then 2 or 2:30 or even 3. We are so thankful.  Today was bitter sweet for me today. Here is our Sunbeam. 

Which means I no longer have babies in nursery. Everyone is growing up.  I peeked in on him and he was singing his songs and sitting in his seat.  I think he did pretty well.  

December 12 a few days later

I managed to take 12 pictures. I'm not sure how well it represents my day since I lack photos of Max coming home from school early because he fell and hit his head at school, or a photo of Kevin home early home from work because I sounded stressed out on the phone, or the photo of me enjoying a 3 hour shopping experience by MYSELF because Kevin was working for home.  Anyway a good day. 

1. The boys and the computer first thing in the morning so I can work out.
2. Out of the shower nice and clean
3.  Max made his own toast and it popped out just like that.
4.  The kiddos asking if it is the 12th. Hey mom take a picture of us.
5.  Texting. I'm feeling like I did it a lot that morning.
6.  I forgot the question of the day so Owen wrote one for me. "Do you like cats?" So proud.
7.  Picture day a school
8.  Dinner time. I didn't get it together in time so we ate chicken nuggets grilled cheese and veggies.
9. Another dinner face.
10.  I love when Kevin is home! But gosh I'm looking old.
11. Our Christmas house
12. Getting ready to start a quit for Christmas. Only a few more days left.

The Turkey Trot

Thanksgiving morning we got up a t 6 am not to put a turkey in the oven but to run!. Our ward hosted a Turkey Trot.  I had a blast! We ran or walked with the people I love.  The one mile run was first.  Amber and Grandma took Luke.  Our Little Luke was running. His little face was priceless, beaming as he ran across the finish line.

Hannah did well and Pablo ran strong put hurt himself along the race. 

Papa tried the 5K but cut it short helping out Maggie.  I was just so happy that he came and we where there together.

Mandy did the best she ever did because she was trying to keep up with the youngster's. It didn't even try I was keeping an eye on my Max and Lilly that ran the 5 k.

Lilly ran 1/2 the time with Maggie but because Maggie was sick the day before she just couldn't finish. My Lilly girl completed the whole race. I'm so proud of her. Max needed some help and didn't quite make the whole course but he tried and that is all I wanted him to do.

And me I placed 4th I think. I won a raffle prize to a spa and my greatest accomplishment is I actually ran across the finish line before Kevin.  Which I should. I run  2 to 3 times a week and Kevin well he is more into work as of late then running.  I don't think he will let it happen again.

We all came back home and got ready for our Pot Luck Thanksgiving dinner.  See no one wanted the traditional dinner. So everyone brought what they wanted to eat.

Mom: rolls

Me:  Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, pumpkin pie, berry pie, apple pie

Amber: Lasagna, chocolate pudding pie, banana cream pie, peanut butter ice cream pie, mint ice cream pie.

Mom Stacy: tacos

Meagan: green bean casserole.

Everyone was happy and there was plenty of turkey left over to eat turkey sandwiches for days. See really that is my favorite.

Rounding out the weekend we hit the movies on Friday morning. Nana and Papa took the kids to see Frozen and Kevin and  I saw Catching Fire.  The movie was well done, I never read the books. Honestly the subject matter is just all too disturbing for my taste, and I have a hard time watching it.  The kids loved Frozen and I hear form everyone  that is was really cute.  I might sneak off and see it myself.

After the movie Nana and Papa headed back to LA to get Christmas started. Kevin went out for a little Black Friday shopping and came home with a TV.

After playing around with it for a day we decided to take it back and got one that was a little smaller.  Kevin being the fun, best dad in the world has chosen to put our old monstrosity of a tv in the boys room, promising that it will be out of there by the new year.  I just have to shut the door.  

Kevin and got some holiday shopping on Amazon and now we are ready for Christmas.  It was a great weekend. I have so much to be thankful for and I am so excited for Christmas, good thing because it is right around the corner I tell you.