Christmas traditions

Last week we went to see the Temple lights with the Ganems. First we stopped at McDonalds for some hot chocolate then made the trek to the Temple. It was really crowded, but we still had a fun time.

Evan's favorite was the star over the manger. At one point he stood up in his stroller and walked through numerous people to the fence so he could have a better view. Quite a few people were annoyed by his behavior but I just looked the other way and pretended he wasn't mine.
Saturday was the annual cookie exchange. In years past Cathi & Laura have hosted it, but this year Tiffany and I took it over. We had a lot of fun.

Every cookie looked and tasted good. My favorite were the Oreo truffles and the ginger molasses cookies.

Sunday night we did gingerbread houses at my mom & dad's.

Ummm...I really can't handle this baby's cuteness (neither can Michael). She is adorable in every way.

Rowan was cracking us up - he'd pick up the candy with the tweezers and eat it. How's that for eye-hand coordination?


I love just being with my family and hanging out. They are my favorite people in the world. The best part was that because we did it on Sunday, Ian could come. This year Ian and I worked on the house together - which was an improvement from prior years when Ian's perfectionism got the better of him.

This is my dad holding Ruby before the "incident" in which my dad snuck Ruby candy. When Darrel and Trina found out it wasn't pretty although grandpa is now Ruby's favorite.


The finished houses! You gotta love our ghost/snowman. And Kim's white trash front yard (it kind of looks like my front yard).

Max did the bloody gingerbread man. We were very proud of our house and are already thinking of ideas for next year.

Our Christmas traditions make Christmas more real for me. This week we will be going to Organ Stop Pizza, having my family's adult Christmas dinner and going Christmas caroling. I can't wait!

Obligatory October Vacation Post

Things that were good about this vacation:

1. Tiffany - she cooked every meal and cleaned up after.

2. Tiffany - she believes dessert is essential.

3. The kids - they hardly ever fought.

4. My dad - he kept the kids occupied with fishing, Ranger rides and helping them make a tree house.

5. Greer - ice-cream. I don't think I need to say anything else.

6. Tricia - she's fun to be around and makes a KILLER salad.

7. My mom - she talks my dad into keeping the kids occupied so the adults can play Bananagrams.

8. Cool weather.

9. DVR - we got to keep up on Glee (the most hilarious show on tv), Castle, SYTYCD and Top Chef. I think I might have the hots for the bad-boy brother.

Things that were bad about this trip:

1. Xander's friend got sick and had to go home early.

2. Evan kicking me all night. Which caused me to get no sleep and consequently I felt like I was walking around in a sleepless haze most of the time.

3. Evan destroying Kohl's fishing pole, Xander's fishing pole and Tiffany's buckle in her car. All in one day.

4. Max fighting with everyone.

5. Ben crying over everything.

Here is some photo documentation of our trip. These photos are out of order but I won't tell if you don't.


Evan could've hiked up and down this hill all day. Too bad it didn't make him tired.

Picture in front of the lodge on the last day. Evan missplaced his shirt.

A rare picture of Evan actually sleeping.

The boys played games alot. Favorites were money games and their own version of Settlers of Cataan.

Bonfire! The kids had a blast roasting marshmellows (grandpa gave them a tutorial on how to roast the perfect marshmellow before they started).

You scream...I scream...we all ate some ice cream.


I want to steal Molly (and I pretty sure Tiffany does too). It was so cute to see the kids with her - Alexander, Elliott and Max really took a shine to her. Look at those cheeks! I want to eat them.

Now we are all sick with the flu. At least it waited until after we were home.

Our Labor Day

started off with Bosa doughnuts (is there anything better?) and Michelle coming over to cut the boys' (including Ian's) hair. Max and Liam were a little impatient during their hair cuts but Evan was the worst. By far. And that's why there are no pictures of him - because we were too busy restraining him. Michelle did such a great job! I highly recommend her - thanks Michelle!Next we all ventured over to the Ganems. Ian, Jason and the boys tried to go to Chick-a-filla to get a free chicken sandwich but quickly gave up when they saw the line. They came back and swam with the kids instead.

Max and Liam defended the pool against intruders.

Later they all caught a really big fish that looked remarkably like Ben (did I mention that the boys - one boy in particular - are really obsessed with fishing?).

While the kids were swimming, Tiffany and I (well mostly Tiffany) made a lemon meringue pie and a chocolate coconut pie. Then we (again Tiffany) grilled steak for steak sandwiches and made a delicious pancetta & blue cheese salad. I'm irritated that I didn't take any pictures of the food. Because it was soooo good and different from what we usually eat.

We ended the day watching past episodes of Cake Boss. It's one of my favorite shows on t.v.

This morning during family prayer Xander thanked Heavenly Father for our friends the Ganems and that we had such a fun day yesterday.

Amen.

Critters

The boys love to catch critters when we are at the cabin. This includes:

horned toads.

crawdads (they caught those at Hawley lake)

Ben would spot them and then Alexander would go and catch them. I think the only other kid that would pick them up out of the water was Elliott.

This is Ben's horned toad.

He named it Benji after himself. Then he let him go.

I'm with the band

This is Christian. He's one of the best drummers I know. He can hear a song and then beat it out perfectly on his kit. He's that good.

These are the other two members of Christian's band. I think they wish they were as good as him.

When we listened to their jam session the other day Christian kept messing around with Jason - playing different beats and changing the tempos.

But Ian and Jason couldn't complain too much. They were lucky Christian even agreed to play with them at all.

A Memorable Day

We had an awesome Memorial Day. It started off with Tiffany and I going to the Desert Surf & Sun sale where everything was 75% off! Whooppee! Then we headed out to Mesa to a new Mexican food Market (I forgot what it was called) where we got carnitas, pollo asado, tortillas, chips, beans, rice, salsa & dessert emplanadas (the creme filled one was the best). We headed back to Tiffany & Jason's house for a mexican food extravaganza/swim party. It was muy fun!

the boys had fun playing basketball with Ian - I never knew it was such a contact sport!

Later on we headed over to my mom & dad's for an all-american bbq and another swim party!

It was a fun day - hanging out, swimming, eating and even watching some episodes of So You Think You Can Dance. Life doesn't get much better than that!

I love Larry Fitzgerald

Our weekend in pictures:

On Saturday Ian attempted to show the boys how to hoe weeds.

Later on, we went to the park to celebrate this boy's 4th birthday.

Ian and the boys tossed the pigskin around (then my camera's battery ran out - which is a bummer because I didn't get a picture of Ian trying to "rope" the boys. You read that right.).

On Sunday, we hung out with at Jason & Tiffany's house to watch the Super Bowl. The kids played.

And relaxed.

While the men watch football (and ate).

The women folk cooked (o.k., mostly just Tiffany cooked - but Lisa and I kept her company).


During half time all the kids put on their 3-D glasses to watch the 3-D commercial for Monsters & Aliens.

While Evan played Star Wars.
The girls joined in the football watching during the second half. I love that Larry Fitzgerald. Did you see him jump up and catch the ball while that other player was all over him? He's my new boyfriend. I was seriously in awe. And I don't even like football (at least I didn't used to).

The Lodge + The Ganems + Snow = FUN

During our visit to the "Lodge" we...rode the Ranger (and froze our butts off)....

played Laser Tag (thanks to Xander)...

played Settlers of Cataan...again and again...the women dominated (sorry Ian...I know that's a sore spot and I know you got sick of my "I just won!" dance)....

played in the snow (and in Elliott's case - ate snow)....

made cookie art and played "Close the Door" with Evan - the WORST game in the world, by the way...

got warm by the fire....

sledded....

and sledded some more....

and rode the Ranger some more...

and roasted marshmellows by the fire.

All in all - one of my favorite family vacations - EVER!

P.S. Thank you mom and dad for letting us stay at the Lodge. That place is AWESOME!