Happy New Year's!

We were lucky enough to attend the annual Walker New Year's party!!  My kids look forward to this ALL year long.

Played some various "minute-to-win-it" type games!

The sisters wrapping up mom

Girls watching a late night movie.  I LOVE that their dream lights are all lined up at the bottom of the bed...

Getting ready to make some NOISE!!  2013 here we come!

While we were in Utah we went to the trampoline park and to lunch with cousins.

My New Year's resolution is to make some New Year's resolutions.

Merry Christmas 2012!

Christmas again?  Why yes it is!!  It seems like this holiday keeps coming faster and faster each year!  When will time slow down?  Here are some highlights:

The kids had their own tree this year and asked Santa in their letter to put his gift to them under that tree.  He obliged.  Brylee got a Kai, Ethan got a Ninjago Lego set and Alexis got an Ipod Touch (which was later exchanged for a Kindle Fire - LONG STORY.)  But everyone was happy!

Some favorite pics from the morning.  I am the meanest mom and tell my kids they can't get us up until 8!

(proof I was there)

;

Merry Christmas to all!

Pre-Christmas Festivites

Anyone who half knows me knows that I LOVE Christmas.  I not only love Christmas - but I love all the festivities leading up to Christmas and traditions are a MUST.  Just a few from this year:

Brylee was my only one to sit on Santa's lap at the mall....but she loved it!  Her BFF Molly was with her.  (Sidenote: our Santa was FAMOUS this year!) If you click here it proves it:  http://www.ktvb.com/home/Boise-mall-Santa-famous-after-picture-goes-viral--184816021.html

Polar Express party..one of my favorite things!  This year was no exception.

Each Christmas Eve day we alwasy check on the reindeer to make sure they are getting ready to go...

This year, we went bowling and played arcade games at Big Al's on Christmas Eve.  Very fun!

Plus we skype with cousins, make cookies for Santa and open pj's.  After tracking Santa on Norad...the kids head for a sleepover.

 

Let Christmas begin!

What happens in Vegas...

gets blogged!

Went to Vegas the first weekend in December to run the Rock and Roll Half Marathon.  SO FUN!  Definitely up there as one of my favorites that I have run so far.  The run starts at the south end of the strip and goes 2 miles out - then you run ALL the way down the strip, through some shady neighborhoods of Vegas...and end up back on the strip by Treasure Island.

Here is a view of the strip from up above.  I am in there somewhere I promise...at least my sister says so :)

After finishing - woot woot!  Not my best time, but it was also really windy the last 3 or 4 miles.  I did finish in the top 4% of almost 14,000 females so I will call that a win.

We also may have had a little time for some fun :)  My sister and her husband met us there and we ate lots of food, gambled (maybe just a smidge - I can neigher confirm nor deny how long I actually sat at the video poker machine) hit David Cooperfield (there was a whole lot of smoldering and very little magic) and just took in the sights. 

There were advertisements everywhere for a big fight that was taking place the following weekend.  My sister and I laughed and laughed because we thought it could be a photo shopped version of our husbands )  What do you think?

It's weird, but a little part of me feels like Vegas is "home" since we spent a lot of time there when I was a kid.  We had family that lived there and I would LOVE to visit.

I will definitely run this race again next year!  Who's in?

TOUGH BRONCO!!

Ethan had an INCREDIBLE experience playing tackle football this year. His team won every game (until the very last heartbreaker) but more important than that, he had EXCELLENT coaches that taught him a lot about football, sportmanship, and being part of a team.  He learned so much, I am still amazed by it. 

If you know Ethan, you know that he is not overly agressive or competitive.  I worried that he might not enjoy it or find his place.  At the beginning of the season, this was true.  He struggled to find where he fit in and for the first few games....he rarely played.

BUT he practiced hard every day.  He listened and learned every day.  He tried his best every day.  We noticed he was getting better...and his coaches did too!  The last 3 or 4 games he was on the starting defense, and the last 2 games he was on the starting offense, defense, and kick return. 

After the season was over, his team had a party to celebrate.  At the end...his coach announced he was going to award a special "Tough Bronco" trophie to one of the players.  A player who worked hard, rarely complained, and was the most improved kid on the team. He went on to say other remarkable things (one of those times I wish I would have had my video camera rolling!) and then awarded the prize to Ethan.  You should have seen Ethan beaming!  He was so proud and happy that his hard work was recognized. (Of course I bawled.)

Here he is later that night with his trophie...

WHAT A GREAT FOOTBALL SEASON! GO LITTLE BRONCOS!  They get to keep playing with each other for the next 3 years too!

I Love To See the Temple..

Ok so I know for you Utahns this happens a lot, but in Boise a temple dedication is a BIG DEAL.  We took the kids to the Open House, and the older 2 got to participate in the actual dedication.  I hope it is a memory they will have forever.

We are so fortunate to have a temple so close.  I love to see the Temple!

Ghouls, goth girls and princesses

Last year we bailed on the pumpkin patch (Linder Farms you are getting WAY too pricey!)  But we got a good deal on tickets and decided to at least hit the corn maze.  We haven't done a corn maze in several years (the last one may have ended in tears) but it was a suprisingly pleasant experience.

This was Alexis' last year of trick or treating.  She and her good pal Zoe dressed up as "goth girls."  They look mean and sassy, but they are good girls.  A big thanks to Melissa for putting the makeup on as we all know I am terrible at makeup, plus I couldn't handle putting it on my fair faced little girl.

Ethan costume was AWESOME and very creepy!  We decided the best title for him was "ghoul."  His eyes glowed red on and off and he got several comments on his scariness!  Brylee ran from him every time he had his costume on.

My first year having a princess!!  I was pleased to have this litle miss dress up as Sleeping Beauty.  As we went from door to door she would say "do you think THESE people will tell me how pretty I am TOO?"  Boy - we are in trouble.

We carved our pumpkins but apparently I am a terrible record keeper because I didn't snap a photograph.  Trust me though, they were fabulous. I do sense a theme when we were carving them though....

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!