Merry Christmas 2013!

Merry Christmas!!

This was what my kids walked out to on Christmas morning!  Santa presents and stockings.  I snuck out first so that I could capture the scene before there there was no scene.  If you know what I mean.

Here are all the stockings.  Filled to the brim with things like rubber duckies and battery operated toothbrushes!

We make our kids wait until everyone in the family is awake before they get to go out and see presents.  And we also tell them its no bueno if they are awake before 6:30.  Go back to sleep.  On this particular Christmas Jace decided to sleep in.  I finally caved in and woke him up right before 7:30. So here are the other kids trying to stay busy and keep their minds off of the gold mine that awaits them.  Darren is the big lump by Brooklyn:)  You really wouldn't even know he was there!

For this picture I made them walk backwards until they got to the living room and then say cheese.  Aren't I awful?  The kids were going crazy!  Everyone except Jace that is.  And he's still just trying to figure what's going on.

Alright, let's be honest.  Jace has major problems keeping his eyes open for pictures.  Especially if its sunny, or windy, or if it's dark and I'm using a flash.  Or basically anytime.  Unless he has a hand to shield his eyes.  Then he's fine.

Colby couldn't be happier with the girl's new scooter!

Jace got a cool Spiderman fishing pole and Spiderman toothbrush.  Again with the eyes.  

The girls ended up with an MP3 player and Colby was nice enough to get off the scooter so we could take a picture.

Colby got tired of presents and disappeared to find a banana.

Jace got new cool blue cowboy boots which he picked out himself on a special outing with Uncle Philip.  Unfortunately, he doesn't believe these were the same ones he found (they were the exact ones he tried on) and they didn't feel so good.  So after trying to convince him to wear his new boots and getting nowhere, I finally took them back.  It's hard to beat the broken-in pair he already owns.

And we switched tradition up this year and decided to head to the bowling alley for Christmas afternoon.  My brother bought the bowling alley last year so we have special connections to get in on a holiday!

The kids love bowling but love the video games!

Jessica, Colby, Travis and my dad

My mom with Pippa and Grandma Lu

And finally Darren bowling.  Obviously I didn't quite get pictures of everybody but you get the idea!  What a great way to spend Christmas afternoon!  We had a blast!

Merry Christmas!

Pictures with Santa '13

 I have been such a slacker mom about getting my kids to visit Santa that I thought this year is a must!  I don't even know when the last time we sat on the big guy's knee.  My kids thought it was great (he happened to be visiting a bank) and were so out of their element that they couldn't even come up with anything to ask for!

I should have prefaced this by saying my kids thought it was great - except for Colby.  Thank goodness I was ready to go when Abby ran Colby over to Santa because this was the only shot we got.  There was a split second of Colby screaming on Santa's knee (which I was ok with but Santa wasn't) but I couldn't back away fast enough to take the picture.  So I sent Abby with him and here we are.  I did get one other picture of Colby truckin' away from Santa as fast as possible.  Oh, alright, I'll post it.

I even gave him a candy cane for bribery.  It didn't work.  

Ho, ho, ho!! Merry Christmas

Abby's 9th Birthday

Happy Birthday to Abby!!

Abby is now a big 9 years old.  And did you know that you know pretty much everything at 9?  It's almost like what's the point of continuing.  You already know everything;)  This was our conversation this week. 

 Me:  "Where did I put those forks?  I know they're flying around here somewhere. "

Abby:  "Idiom!!"  

Me:  "Huh?  Ok."  (trying desperately to remember my junior year in Mrs. Jackson's  class -aka Stonewall.  I couldn't.)

A few days later I was talking to Abby again when I hear - in the middle of our conversation- "Idiom!!"

Me:  "Geez, Abby.  You should be an English professor or something.  You really like..." (as I'm searching for the proper description)-

Abby (totally cutting me off): -"Figurative Language?!  Yes.  I do."

When did my brain become so muddled?  I can't make it work right!  So then I asked Abby the definition of an idom.  And now I know.

Abby wanted an Angel Food cake with white frosting and candy all over it (much like Brooklyn's but it couldn't be just like Brooklyn's).  Then she was hit with inspiration and decided she needed a rainbow cake.  It turned out perfect for her.

Grandma Lu is photobombing and she doesn't even know it;)

Abby is lucky enough that her birthday nearly always falls during the time Ed and Dena come out for the big hunt.  And we still had Uncle Philip around.  And now Uncle Travis and Aunt Jessica live here so they get to hang out with us too.  So we had quite the party!

So exciting!!

Abby blowing out her candles.  She had some extra help there in the corner!

Presents!

Abby with her birthday haul and Brooklyn kindly helping model some of the new items!

Things about Abby at age 9!!

-loves to sing - especially the songs from Frozen

-made it past 2 rounds of the Hoop Shoot this year

-doing great in school

-loves playing with Colby

-loves playing the iPad 

-very competitive

-still loves Blue Bear

Happy Birthday Abby!!

Brooklyn's 7th Birthday

Happy Birthday to my little Brooklyn!  

Brooklyn turned the big 7 this year and I'm wondering where time has gone?  She was lucky enough to get to go to McDonald's and get her very own Happy Meal (which doesn't happen - ever), so her new little toy is straight from Micky D's. 

Dare I say it was her favorite present?

Well whether it was or wasn't her favorite I can't bear the thought so we are going to say NO.  

Here's all the kids just waiting to get their little hands on some of that cake.  I surprised Brooklyn by throwing on some fancy colored Sixlets.  If you haven't seen them they look like colored pearls and they were a hit!  In fact,  I think I heard gasps.

Here we all are.  Except for Darren who was taking the picture.  Uncle Philip was lucky enough to be around to help celebrate.

Seven!!!

Brooklyn with all her presents.  And surprisingly alone.  I'm pretty sure that changed in the next 3 seconds.  She had plenty of helpers with those presents.

And here she is in one of her new outfits.  I must say, she looks good!!  

Some things about Brooklyn at 7:

-very caring - everyone gets a hug as they leave my house

-total fashionista 

-doing very well in reading

-loves doing her hair with a side part 

-loves helping with Colby

-does NOT like noodles but LOVES pasta roni

-big time wiggler in bed (Abby complains all the time)

Happy Birthday Brooklyn!!

The Big 34

Happy Birthday to me.  And to my twin.  And to my mom.  My (our - I am a twin, remember?) birthday is on the 13th and my mom's is on the 18th.  What a birthday present we gave my mom, right?  Who wouldn't want cuddly 5 day old twins to help celebrate?

Nothing too exciting happened.  In fact we got home late from.... something (I can't even remember what it was) and just pulled out a frozen cheesecake. But then I thought to myself "That's not a birthday cake."  So I made one a few days later.  The day before my mom's birthday, in fact.

And my dad happened to come by and noticed my freshly baked cake and asked if I could bring it to my moms party.  So I did.  And this is us with our birthday cake.

I must say the closer I get to my mid-thirties the more I wonder where time is going.  Age doesn't bother me until I get old.  And I feel like 40 is flirting with old age ( I understand it's all in perception and I am aware that I was sharing a birthday cake with someone ahem, over 40 and she probably doesn't share my perception - just a disclaimer.).  And once you hit 35 it feels a lot closer to 40 (aka old age) than 30.  And I realize 40 is the new 30 and everyone is getting healthier and more fit but lets be honest, 50 is 50 and that's half a century no matter how look at it.  Anyway, enough about that.  Thirty-four is looking just fine and I don't feel any older so that's a plus.  I made sure to make the most of it by reminding my children quite often that I was the birthday girl.  I think it worked.  It gives me at least a day of children obeying me.  Sometimes a week if I really milk it;)
Happy Birthday to me!! (And my twin and my mom)!

Halloween 2013

Happy Halloween!!

Our little garden gnome - Colby

Colby and Abby

Abby was a good witch

Brooklyn was a snow princess

Abby

Meet Spider Man

Abby, Brooklyn, Jace, Colby

Brooklyn

Jace

Our Halloween started early on and we spent plenty of time Trick or Treating.  It was a perfect night to be out.  The weather was very mild.  In fact we hardly had to wear our jackets.  The kids were just fine in their costumes.  Plus they didn't have school on Friday so we were in no hurry to get home.  I think it's safe to say they had a great time and ended up with loads of candy!

Room-mate Reunion

This summer I was soooo lucky to be able to get together with almost all of my old room-mates from college.  Can you say "fun"!!

Here we are just getting together and our first stop was our old stomping grounds of the Elms Apartments.  We spent the first year out of the dorms living here and a second after that.

 We decided to mosy on over to the very apartment that we first moved into and reminisce.  Here we are (minus my cousin who showed up to the reunion too late for the Elms).  106B Girls

 Then we decided to take a picture in the stairwell just like we did in our college days.  In fact, it was this very picture I'm referencing that landed me one of my "boyfriends".  He saw it hanging in my next door neighbors apartment and "had to meet me".  I said ok.  If I wasn't so lazy I would look up the old picture just to show you how well we've all aged.  But that seems like too much hassle right now.  So I won't.  Trust me.  We all Look. The. Same.

And then we did the unthinkable.  We knocked.  And were let in!  So we trooped through and found our old bedroom.  Voila!  Oh, the memories.

And sat on our old couch.  We have lots of pictures from the old days of this set up right here.  Nothing has changed.  Except that they did have a new couch. And a small remodel through the kitchen and bathrooms.  So kind of a lot had changed.  But this view right here (with us covering the couch and that old wooden table in front)  makes it all look the same.

Next we headed to Chipman Hall.  These were the dorms where we all met!  That's my sister and me.  We were giddy happy to be back to the good old days.

I have more pictures inside where the fun took place but I won't bore you anymore with places of residence.  I sort of feel like my dad when I start on that.

Afterwards we headed for some pizza at the Brick Oven, which is just across the street from The Elms.  I would like to have said I frequented this place while in college but really I was too cheap to eat there.  Good food.  Unfriendly college budget.  

We headed up to Park City after lunch to do some Outlet shopping and it was our lucky day!  We scored free tickets to Olympic Park.  Seriously.  

We could hardly believe our good fortune.

Here I am getting ready to do the Alpine Slide.  For free.

Next I decided to try out the zipline.  For free.

It really was fantastic.  The best part was just hanging out with all the girls.  And getting free entertainment:)

When we got back to the cabin we decided to go night 4 wheeling.  I had a crazy driver and tried not to let my life flash before me and just enjoy the moment.  It was difficult.  But I managed.  And we did make it home safe and sound.

We did lots of sewing, talking, and even threw a surprise baby shower!  I can't believe how much you can get done when there aren't children around!!  Until next reunion!