It's a Book Baby, again.

 

                                           Salt Lake                                                  Logan

 

It's happening. Another book is about to make it's grand debut, and this year we are celebrating big time. Think drums made from garbage cans. Cameo appearances from Jack Sparrow, Mary Poppins, Cat in the Hat. White boy rapping. And much more. 

It's really going to be something great. So, we decided to do it twice. (Do you like how I act like I wrote the book? I didn't. You probably already knew that.)

Logan and Salt Lake get to join in on the fun.Wherever you are, come celebrate. You are invited even if you've never read the book. We just want you to be a part of it all!

It feels so great to get to have one book. Two books is a dream come true. It's pretty awesome to do what you love. Thanks for supporting and encouraging all this janitorial madness.

And if this is the 7th time you've been invited, well, then you should just feel real loved. 
Try not to be annoyed. 

See you all there!

Carolina Style

Visiting New York just wasn't enough. So, we added a leg to our trip. A quick (too quick) stop in North Carolina to visit the Wilson's.

Laura, Martin and Grey know how to treat their visitors. And we definitely visited in what has proven to be true Carolina style. Eating good food, staying up late, lots of laughing, and squishing Grey as much as possible. Just look at his cheeks.

A great way to end the beginning of summer.

Funemployed, continued.

A while ago the secret of a perfect summer was revealed to me. While it is not too realistic and very frivolous, being funemployed has definitely proven to be a great summer lifestyle.

Here's the secret:
Finish school the end of May. Immediately travel across the country for a quick start to relaxation. Take the long way home. Fill your days with things you want to do, not have to do. Spend lots of time with cool people (that pretty much means our family, and friends that feel like family.) Eat lots of food out of doors. Stay up late. Laugh all the time.

Here's the first part of our funemployedness...

Trip to NYC

So, what's your secret to the perfect summer?

Feeling so Festive

I love the holidays. It sure makes me warm and cozy inside thinking about family togetherness, good food, old and new traditions, and frosty snow. This year the snow was lacking, but we tried to make up for it in other ways. 

He is a review of our holiday season this year. 

The Nutcracker with the Whitesides women.

 Christmas cookies with the kids. Such a yummy tradition. Doing it for two years in a row makes it a tradition, right?

Mike, getting serious.

 

I just couldn't get enough of these two.

The Nativity. Maybe the sweetest Mary and Joseph I've seen yet.

Asher baby.

Playing with new Nerf toys. We got creative. 

The Annual Gygi/ McDonald snowmobiling trip. The weather was beautiful. The snow magical. The machines powerful. Just how I like it.

Candace and Grant

Staci and Jill

Mr. Jon

Heather. The best passenger.


This year my Dad rented a GINORMOUS house for us to celebrate in for a few days after Christmas. 
We had MANY a good meals. Lots of good laughs. Spent some time with the Gygi employees. And enjoyed being together. 




I have learned that the only way to get my family's FULL attention is to remove all distraction of real life. My dad and mom have always encouraged us to work hard, and I think we sometimes take it to literally. We tend to work until we're dead. I have loved having the break between Christmas and New Years to relax and prepare for the coming year.

 The Stone Hill Mansion

Ella sneaking away a few balls.

Even how she eats is cute.

 Josie trying to steal  "Rock 'em Sock 'em" after I won!


Ty proved to be the air hockey champ on his birthday. What a way to ring in 26 years of life!
 

Here are some contenders:

  
And this is how we observed from the side lines:

 

Jon's using a little extra protection. 

We broke tradition in celebrating Ty's Day of Birth/ and New Years with my family. 
 
The party was just as jubilant, but the amount of shrimp consumed was minimal. We may be back to tradition next year.

It is always fun to look back on the year and think about how much has happened in just 365 days. 
This year has been nothing short of astounding! 

 I loved being able to just have some "down time" with the family. It makes moments like this possible!

 My Dad with Little Asher





By the end I think we were all feeling as Heather shows below. Partied out and ready for real life. But we enjoyed every laugh in between.

On our way home, we stopped for a Polar Bear party for Kira. 
It was great to celebrate such a special little 6 year old.  

So what is it that makes the holidays so festive?

The good food? Maybe.
The presents? Definitely helps. 
The snow? Not this year.
The sickness shared? I hope Santa brings tissues next year!

I really think it is the memories created and remembered. 
And I am sure glad the people I have in my life are so great to make memories with.