Piano Recital

Here are my handsome boys at their piano recital.  They both played really well! The theme was " A Night at the Movies", so Blake played a song from Lord of the Rings, and James played a Veggie Tales song from The Pirates Who Don't Do Anything.

Brynlee's Swimming Lessons

 Brynlee did a fabulous job at her swimming lessons this year!  The teacher is awesome, and really gets the kids swimming!

 I need to get this girl in dance class!  She has a good point and dances around the house all the time.

After taking lessons she can swim by herself from wall to wall and person to person.  She isn't scared at all (which is a little scary for me) but at least she knows the basics now!

Blake's 11th Birthday!

 Blake turned 11!  We went to breakfast at US Egg and Grandma came with us.  Blake also got to bring a friend to Sunsplash!  He requested stakes for dinner, and Marinne made his birthday cake.

 Blake with his new Kindle Fire!

Christmas

It's hard to believe Christmas has come and gone again!  We had fun with family in town, and the kids have loved seeing their cousins and staying up late.

 We went to the temple lights one night, after eating at Pete's fish and chips, of course!

 Blake in front of the nativity

 Brynlee taking a closer look

 Christmas Eve was spent celebrating cousin Canaya's birthday, watching Scrooge, and receiving our Christmas pajamas from the elves.

 cousins showing off their new pajamas

  the kids waiting at the top of the stairs on Christmas morning

examining stocking contents

 Look what Santa brought!

 Notice the cast- Blake broke his finger at P.E. and had to wear a cast for about 3 weeks.  He did all his school work with his left hand, and did really well.

 I got a cute beach cruiser!  I'm very excited about this!

 After presents at our house and church, we headed over to Grandma and PaPa's.  One of the gifts was an announcement that Richard and Erica are having another baby!

 Blake and PaPa playing a Jingle Bells duet!

Marinne playing Pachelbel's Canon in D

I love Christmas time, but I also love the start of a new year!  I'm ready to begin working on some new goals, like improved personal scripture study and getting in shape!

Hammond Halloween 2011

 I had a hard time coming up with our costumes this year,

but here we are as Bob Ross

 (you know, from The Joy of Painting on PBS, "happy little tree" afro painter guy),

and his painting (found at Goodwill, then forged by yours truly). 

We had our annual Halloween party, and I even made the doughnuts this year, since Jordan and Karin weren't here.  I was a little stressed since I had never made them before, but they were delicious!!!  It seems like a lot of parents hate Halloween, but I think it's so much fun!

I didn't get pictures of all the great costumes, but here's what I have:

Bethany and Blake as Freddie Mercury and David Bowie!

 eating pumpkin bread bowls and soup

Blake is the mummy

 Have you ever seen a cuter Harry Potter?

 Brynlee was Cinderella, and grandma made the cute dress!

(too bad she cut her own hair, so no Cinderella bun)

Marinne and her friends were Justin Bieber fans

 cute cousins

 sorting the loot

yummy doughnuts!

 "Bob"enjoying a doughnut!

 gross!

Steven and Adina

 more cute cousins

The kids even shared their candy! 

 The day after Halloween, they taped some of their Snickers bars on the front door for Ray to find when he got home from work.

Corn Maze

I have been a bad blogger lately!  Rather than trying to catch up, I will start from where we are.  We went to a corn maze at a little farm on Saturday.

 cow train

Farmer Brynlee

 Marinne and a friend

James lost his two front teeth, so I just had to get a picture with the pumpkins and his jack-o-lantern smile!  He says if they haven't grown in by school picture day, he wants to wear fake teeth!  Silly kid!

Marinne is 12!

This pretty girl turned 12!  How am I old enough to have a child this age?

We had a family party on her birthday.  Ray grilled hamburgers and hot dogs, and Costco made the cake, since I was burned out with the cake making.

 She got her bedroom redone, a ticket to see Wicked, and other cute stuff from family and friends, but I think her favorite gift was being allowed to get a facebook account.

That Friday night, she had a friend party complete with Justin Bieber cupcakes and everything purple.

They made headbands, thanks to Aunt Natalli who provided the materials and made a bunch of flowers for them!

We played a "get to know you" candy game, and Just Dance on the Wii.

Marinne and a candle-lit Justin!

The Young Women came and decorated her room.  I'm excited for her to be in Young Women's!  She already got to do baptisms at the temple and go to girls' camp. 

Wasn't I just doing all of that for the first time? 

Happy Birthday Marinne!