Boise Trip

We decided last minute to go to Boise to to see uncle Ryan and aunt Angie and cousins Kathleen, Brandon and Cody. We had lots of fun playing games, tetherball, Wii, spy training, bowling and seeing Pus and Boots the movie.

Katie in Her Cute New Christmas Dresses

Christmas 2011

Waiting at the top of the stairs to open presents

Garret got everything Star Wars-ships, PJ's, light sabers, action figures

Katie got a Kindle

Tanner got a Wii game

They all got a ping pong table

Christmas Eve 2011

We had Christmas Eve at Grammy and Pompa's house with them and Cameron and Rachelle. We ate and ate and ate, then played Bingo, had a little talent show (Katie played the piano, Tanner played the guitar, I played the piano-I am accompanying Karen Hawkins on Christmas in church, and Cam played the guitar while Rachelle sang), acted out the Christmas story and opened our PJ's. Kind of a quiet year since no other cousins were there.

Joseph and Mary riding the donkey

Sheppards visiting baby Jesus (they kind of look like the Wise Men)

Wise Men visiting baby Jesus

Mary and a shepard boy

Kids in their PJs

Katie's 1st piano recital

Katie has been taking piano lessons from Karen Hawkins for about a year. She just loves them and Karen. She had her 1st recital right before Christmas. It was my kind of recital because it was just Katie. She played 12 songs and it was about 15 minutes long.

Gingerbread Houses

We had our friends the Hawley's over to make gingerbread houses. The kids went a little crazy with their house. I don't see cake decorating in any of their futures.

Sitting on Santa's lap

YM Campout

The deacons went on a winter campout. They went cross country skiing too.

2nd Grade Prehistoric Christmas Play

Katie's grade at school put on a play called "A Prehistoric Christmas". Katie was a reindeer. Santa and his reindeer get in a time warp and go back to the time of the dinosaurs and teach the dinosaurs about Christmas.

Katie's Dance Recital

Indiana Jones

Garret is really into Indiana Jones. He found an old cowboy hat, a binoculars case (for his satchel), and a shoelace (for his whip) so that he could dress up like Indiana. He has to wear his costume when he sits and watches the movies on the iPad.

Bunker Bear

Teacher Barbara let's her students take turns bringing Bunker Bear home with them. When you bring Bunker Bear home, you are supposed to write what you do with him while you had him. While Garret had him this time, Bunker's leg accidentally got torn off. So we wrote about how Bunker had an accident and had to have Garret's mom who is a nurse fix his leg.

My Husband is Clueless

I wasn't feeling well the other day so Kirt was nice and took Garret to school. He has taken him to school several times before, so I didn't give him directions figuring he knew where he was going. Unfortunately there is another preschool right next door to the preschool that Garret attends. It starts 15 minutes after Garret's preschool does, and since Kirt was late taking Garret to school, there were lots of people dropping kids off at the time Kirt was taking Garret. So Kirt dropped Garret off at the wrong preschool. Garret knew it was the wrong place, but all he would say to Kirt in between his whining, was "dad you are supposed to pull up more". So the nice preschool teacher at the wrong preschool, walked Garret over to his preschool as Kirt sat in the car and watched. At least he made it to the right school eventually.

Tanner's orchestra concert

Tanner has been playing the cello in the 6th grade orchestra this year.  He has learned a ton and really enjoys it.  He is doing really well for only playing the cello for 3 months!

Turkey Trot

So I got this crazy idea the Monday before Thanksgiving that I wanted to do a Turkey Trot Thanksgiving morning. I sent out an email about it to 50 or so friends of mine. There were about 50 people who showed up. There was a 1.5 mile race and a 3 mile race, either 1 loop around the neighborhood or 2. Most people only did the 1.5 mile race. It was fun and the weather was good, so I would say it was a success, especially since the medal for the kids was a ding dong and licorice rope. Who doesn't like candy?

Nixon with his "medal" (a ding dong with a licorice rope)

On you mark, get set, go!

Crossing the finish line