Thursday, December 9, 2010

Angie's "Sweet 16"...


We went out 2 night ago to celebrate Angie's 28th birthday. We went to Red Robin and of course had a great time talking, eating , talking some more, and then eating some more. I love Angie with all my heart. She is truely one of the most selfless girls I know. She is the best (even if she moved 20 minutes away!)
Happy Birthday Ang!

Monday, December 6, 2010

G-ma & G-pa come for a visit & exercising to earn money...






The kids had fun earning money by doing crazy exercises- Tristin jump roped for ever trying to earn his popcorn at the hockey game. G-pa Brent is so silly!

We were thrilled to have G-ma & G-pa come to visit this past weekend. We had so much fun together- THANK YOU FOR EVERYTHING!!! We love you SOOOO much!

Standing in the corner...





You just have to know my step dad to understand his silly sence of humor, but for the past 25 years, we have been performing the wildest stunts, tricks, performances
& services to earn money. I could write a book on all the crazy things we have agreed to over the years just to earn a dollar. So when he told the kids they could earn some $ by standing in the corner for an obsene amount of time, they were up for the challenge. The girls made it several minutes and each earned a dollar, and Tristin stood for 15 minutes I think and won $ 4.00! To them they were rich, to us, another crazy thing to sit back and watch! Love you G-pa!

Playing Bingo...





It's tradition- we have to play Bingo every time G-ma comes. We always go to the dollar store and buy silly prizes and the kids love it!

Hockey Game & decorating the tree...





For G-pa's birthday the boys went out to a hockey game Saturday night and HAD A BLAST!!! I think Tristin was just happy to be around guys for a few hours instaed of all the girls. Earlier, Brent & Trav went to watch the BSU game and later Mom & I went to a few thrift stores and looked around. We decorated the tree and had fun looking through all the ornaments G-ma had bought the kids over the years!

At the hotel...






The kids had to take a bath while they were at the hotel, they are goofy little girls!

Staying the night at the hotel w/ G-ma & G-pa...






Every time G-ma & G-pa come, they have the kids stay 1 night at the hotel with them- and THEY LOVE IT!!! The highlight is walking down to the vending machine and buying yummy treats to then take back to the room and eat in bed! I stayed awhile and watched TV and layed on the bed with G-ma. We went out to Panda Express for dinner earlier while the boys went to the Steelhead's hockey game!

Present time...






My Step Dad, Brent, loves to buy presents for the kids when he comes to visit. One year he bought a life size tigar, one year a talking parrot named Billy, and this year a crazy singing dog. (He bought other normal present too, like a painting set for Daisy, A large fairy dolly for Grace and a Chess set for Tristin & little Christmas trees for each of the kids rooms!) They spoiled us too, all of which we are VERY thankful for!!!

Making Christmas Cookies with G-ma...






We stayed busy all weekend long that we almost didn't have time to make our cookies with G-ma! We litteraly finished them just a few minutes before leaving to drop them off at the airport!

Thursday, December 2, 2010

Thanksgiving...



Like always, my Mother-In-Law made an amazing Thanksgiving dinner. Let me tell you, she can cook, and she loves to cook- and pretty much born to make amazing food! When Trav and I were dating, I flew to Nampa to visit one time, and after that trip I knew if we became "serious", poor Trav was going to be a very sad boy- I AM NOT A COOK! And coming from his Mama's cooking, I was going to be the world's biggest let down. Trav didn't seem to care about my million flaws because he still married me, what a silly, silly man.
And sadly, 11 1/2 years later, I am still the furthest from being super in the kitchen, I hate it infact.

Anyway... Thanksgiving was very nice. All of Trav's siblings drove to Edith & Max's for dinner. Ben & Cammy came with their 5 girls, Rob drove from Utah with his 4, Ellen and Will came down with their 4, and we had our 4 as well. Somehow, we all manage to fit in their 1300 sq. ft home- all 26 of us. We also opened presents, like we do each year (from the cousins)it's our mini Christmas with them since they all stay home for Christmas. I had to fly out right after presents were done, but it was a very nice day.

I am so grateful for my beautiful family, amazing food, vaccuum cleaners, chocolate, Advil, The Office, my bed, fuzzy slippers, Lysol, our warm house, running cars, junk food, water, washer/dryers, the gospel, computers, Target, America, toilets, Costco, hand sanitizer, our jobs, amazing friends,laughter & chapstick.