Christmas Break week 2

We had a blast last week playing with family but have greatly enjoyed this week with just our family!  

Tuesday we went to Flagstaff to go shopping, eat and went ice skating.  Vickey met us there with Tori & Devon and watched the kids that weren't skating.  Aydon was the only one that was really into ice skating.  He did really good, especially since the last time we came he was about Zach's age, using a walker.  Ty went the first lap and was done because he was too scared to fall down.  He's my very cautious child and won't do anything that he is remotely afraid of.  Zach went around once with me and saw his Granny & wanted to go sit with her.  I convinced him to go out one more lap with me towards the end.  He did good...never fell but just wasn't digging it.  He'd rather just go sit with his Granny.

 Preston & I enjoyed it even though the other kids weren't really into it.

Wednesday, we were hoping to go bowling in Holbrook and get some lunch there but the bowling alley is only open for parties so we headed back to Flagstaff to go bowling.  We love bowling but haven't been in 2 years I think!  That's waaay too long.  The 3 boys bowled with bumpers up and the first game there was a 3 way tie!  I don't think that could ever happen again.  The second game, Ty put a whooping on EVERYONE with his 5 spares and scored 128 points.  He had the people in the lanes next to us laughing with his smack talking and his actions when he'd get a spare.  He's a riot with his hand motions and trash talk.  Aydon was quite embarrassed to lose to a kindergardner.  Zach lost interest about half way through the 2nd game so Drew finished out for him.  Preston spanked me & his mom, Tori & Devon.  

The boys and Preston got .22's for Christmas.  They were so excited when they went out for the first time to go rabbit hunting with their new guns & came home with a rabbit.  Just last week they went out and had no luck so the fact that they killed one their first time with their new guns was so exciting for them.  Thursday the temperature was above 50 degrees so we took advantage of the beautiful weather & did some target practice.

 Ty's targets:  Turkey:  left taped side & did pretty good on the rhino hitting on it's right hip.

 Aydon's target:  just below the buffalo & right above the elk and then almost hit the target.

 I had to try Preston's gun out.

 When we went to pick out a gun for the boys Preston wanted to buy a folding stock one because that's what he always wanted growing up so I surprised him and bought that gun for him and the boys a youth .22.  

 Drew's favorite thing to do outside...jumping on the trampoline with all his brothers.

 Even Zach got to give it a try.  

After target practice, we went for a little ride hoping to get 2 little boys to take a nap, that didn't work so we decided to get out and go for a walk.  We could see the creek in the distance and decided to walk to it from the road we were on.  

We could hear water rushing almost like a waterfall and could see water bubbling down in the creek.  We can't wait until all the boys are old enough to go hiking in it and check out the springs and other things way in the back of the creek.

 Drew was trying to copy his brothers by yelling to hear his echo.  It was so cute.

 On the way back to the vehicle the boys found some "gold"!  

Drew was just loving playing in the dirt and throwing it in his hair.  

After we got home from our ride the boys wanted to go play with Tori & Devon.  We decided to let Drew go on his very first walk to Granny's with just his brothers.  

I have been wanting to go check out the Little Painted Desert & Homolovi since I don't ever remember going to these places.  I wanted to do it during the summer but could never convince Preston to go but I finally did.  Once again, his family joined us.  We enjoyed walking out on the hills, planning to go slide down them in the future and having a picnic.  

We then went to Homolovi.  It was such a gorgeous day and we enjoyed being out in the warm weather, walking around.  

 We were finally able to check out how our ward got it's new name.

 A view of the Little Painted Desert from Homolovi

 A kiva the kids were really impressed with.

 Drew went to every sign and held it, making you think he was reading it.  

We sure enjoyed spending 2 weeks together with dad home for the majority of it.  I also can not believe another year has passed.  Time is going so quickly these days but I'm glad we have been so lucky to spend so much time together this year.  

Christmas 2011

Preston surprised me with an early Christmas present...a Bosch!  He gave it to me early so I could use it and boy did I.  On Monday, I made my gigantic batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, a double batch of peanut butter cookies & a double batch of sugar cookies in a snap!  The boys were out rabbit hunting while I did this and Sunshine came over just in time to start helping me crank out the cookies.  When the boys got home we put them to work!  

 Zack Attack loves sprinkles and there were some heavy duty sprinkles on our cookies this year because everyone was busy so he had no sprinkle monitor.  :)

 Dad & Drew were reading while we were frosting cookies.

 I can't remember what they were doing before they started frosting but Ty had a full sweat going on.  :)

We picked out the special ones for Santa & set them aside.  All week long Zach showed everyone Santa's cookie plate.  He was so very proud.

Tuesday my sister had kidney stone surgery and Preston & I took her.  My dad watched Drew since it's RSV season and can't be in a hospital and the DeSpain's took the other 3 boys to the valley to look at the Temple lights and visit with Uncle Garrett & the girls.  Preston and I took advantage of the time alone and went to a very nice lunch at Native New Yorker and walked around a few stores while Shawna was in surgery.  We got to play a game of cards later that evening.  Since the boys stayed the night in the valley we also got to watch a "grown-up" movie the next morning!!  That's so rare for us.

Allen, Cristine & their family was in town for the week so we got to play lots of games over the next few days.  Always a blast with them.  We even managed to play a game of spoons without breaking my kitchen table!  :)

Growing up my family always opened our presents on Christmas Eve and I love being able to carry on that tradition even though we're all grown up now.  Since Christmas Eve was on a Saturday this year, my mom was off and all 3 railroaders were home so we got to spend the entire day together!  We made gumbo, I tried a new pecan pie recipe, Shawna made some amazing punch & appetizers & mom brought some great finger sandwiches & appetizers as well.  We ate and played Canasta all day long!  It was an absolutely wonderful day!

 Ty was super excited about this gift!

 A money tree from Sunshine to spend on our upcoming Disney cruise!

 Aydon letting Drew help him open his Cowboys football.  Drew loves to throw balls.

Aydon reading the card from Sunshine.  

His money tree 

Preston told Drew to take a picture of himself and he held up the camera & did.  We all got a good laugh from it.  Notice his black eye?  According to the family, I beat my kids.  I really don't know how he did it.  They were outside playing last Saturday and he came in with an immediate black eye.  ???

Zack loved tearing through presents and helping anyone else that asked him too.

Preston has tons of LSU baseball jerseys but didn't have an football one.  I decided to go ahead and get him a personalized one.  He LOVED it!  John got me the same thing!  

My amazing mom made the boys these hooded towels.  Aren't they great?!  Best presents!

After we opened presents the boys went outside to play with the things John bought them.  An LSU tackling dummy & a motorized Jeep!

Zack was in heaven.

Drew loves it too.  Preston & I put it all together the day they were down in the valley with his parents & Drew woke up from his nap just as we were finishing so he got an early sneak peak.  He never stopped smiling the entire time he was playing on it and when we brought it out for Christmas again the smile came right back.  So cute!

Brothers having fun together!  The thing that makes me the happiest.

We played Canasta all day & it was probably the best Christmas Eve!

Christmas morning we opened presents & I got a new video camera so no pictures...only video.  We went to a great Sacrament meeting.  I wish Christmas fell on Sunday every year!  I LOVED it!  We then enjoyed Ribs & Ham at the DeSpain's.  We had planned to play games with all of them but poor little Matt started throwing up so the Johnson's had to head out early.  We called my parents & Shawna over and got our butts kicked in cards again for the 2nd day in a row.  

It was a GREAT week since Preston was off for the majority of it.  Aydon has been complaining of Preston having to work on Sunday's...he says he wishes the railroad wouldn't work on Sunday's so dad can always be at church with us & we can spend the day together.  After spending the week together we told Aydon that it looked like dad would have to work Christmas and he changed his mind...he said I don't care if dad has to work on Sunday's anymore, I just want him home for Christmas.  After Preston working last Christmas I totally agreed.  We were so lucky to have him home with us!  We did a Twelve Days of Christmas scripture & activity each night and we all enjoyed it.  We always try to do something to help our kids remember the reason we celebrate and it's different every year but I know that our kids (well, at least Aydon & Ty...not sure the 3 year old quite understands) know that it's not about presents but about the birth of our Savior & I'm so very thankful for that.  Merry Christmas!

Early December Activities

I almost always decorate the weekend after Thanksgiving but Preston wanted me to wait for him to finish his elk hunt.  I'm glad I did because it was so fun to watch Drew help out.  Aydon took pictures for us while we were decorating!

We had a snow storm fairly early this year and of course we don't use our "snow days" for it so only Zach was home to play with Dad.  Dad likes to shove snow on Mom so she only took pictures and ran in.  Even that didn't work...they brought snowballs inside and got me!  

Zach has been obsessed with these black cowboy boots lately.  He wears them to walk to his Granny's, wore them when we went shopping in Flagstaff (I wore boots as well and I know my feet were killing me) and poor thing even wears them backwards but he has never complained.  These were Aydon's and he loved them just as much.  :)

Dad showed him how to make a snow angel but he was not interested at all in making one on his own.  A day later at storytime he was telling the librarian that his Daddy made a snow angel when she asked if they'd ever done one.  :)

Ty had his first musical program.  He was singing loud & doing all the motions!  It was so fun to watch & loved it!

Zach taking a picture of me & Drew at the program.  

Aydon's program was the day of his baptism and so much was going on that I didn't get seats that I was able to record him well enough.  :(

Preston worked the Santa Train this year.  This is a yearly event put on by the city & BNSF and we have never been because it's always the same night as our Church Christmas party.  Since Dad had to work we found out how to get there early enough to be able to do both!  Preston had to help decorate and when they were done we snuck over to get a picture.  Don't you love Preston's safety gear?  :)  

The train was supposed to roll in around 5:30 and I was advised to get in line at 4p to be one of the first ones.  I was 4th in line.  I was so glad I had a friend to talk to help pass the time.  It got cold quick and the boys all did very well for me.  Drew didn't stand next to me but he didn't ever try taking off either...which is amazing!

Preston's job was to let the children talk to Santa on the radio while waiting in line.  

They were having problems getting the ok to move the train and it was getting close to our Church party so Preston told me to sneak over to where the train was and we were able to see it lit up and get on the unit with Mr & Mrs Claus!  Thank goodness for hook-ups!  The boys cracked me up.  When we pulled up to La Posada I told them what we were doing and they asked where is Santa's sleigh?  :)  I told them he had to hide it because he didn't want everyone to know where he was at.

Zach wanted NOTHING to do with Santa!  I tried getting in the picture and have him stand in front of me but that didn't work either.  I figured Drew would be the one to freak out but he never did.

We got to our Church party right on time.  After all the yummy food & making ornaments with the children we sang some songs & had our special guest arrive!  Ty was one of the first ones in line.  

While Aydon & Zach were in line Drew hung out near Santa...I didn't want any meltdowns since Preston wasn't there to help out so we didn't even attempt Drew sitting on Santa's lap.  This was as close as he got & he was really just checking out the lights.  

I don't know how but someone got Zach to talk   to Santa.  He told him he wanted a train for Christmas.

Now that these activities are over and we are in our last week of school, I am taking the time to enjoy the season.  It has been busy for us but I sure needed the break.  The boys have their class parties on Friday and then they are all mine for 2 weeks!  Yay!

Aydon's 8th birthday

Aydon's birthday was this past Wednesday.  We picked him up and took him to the Rootbeer Stand for lunch.  I baked some rice crispy treats for his class.  He could not have been more excited because that's also the day of Cub Scouts and he could finally go.  He has been looking forward to being 8 so he could go to Cub Scouts all year long!  Since he had that I didn't really think that we would have time to do a party and we already had plans for Friday & Saturday so he didn't get a friend party.  He wanted to get some of his friends together to go play flag football if he did have a party so I told him we could still do that next week.  My family came out to bring him gifts on his birthday and that was all the celebration we had.

Granny & Pappaw got him transformers.

Sunshine bought him Simon says and he loves playing it.  It's a fun game he can play by himself.

 The most exciting thing about turning 8 was being baptized.  

We were so thankful that Preston's brother & sister's families could travel to be here for his special occasion.    My parents & Sunshine were able to be there as well and it means so much that we could have almost everyone there!

 After his baptism, I had made dinner & birthday cake and we opened more presents.  Drew was super funny this night.  He has reached that age where he loves to stick out his tongue.  He was running around sticking his tongue out at the baptism keeping us all entertained.

 I didn't want to make a cake for just our family so I made 2 to make up for it for his baptism.  :)  

 Great Grandma Betty & Grandpa Dave got him a very beautiful Baptism Keepsake book.  

I love that he always takes the time to read his cards.  

We are taking a huge step here.  We are venturing into little lego pieces.  The DeSpain's bought him Pirate of the Caribbean legos and I just hope we can keep Drew out of them.  Jailyn got to spend the night and they always have so much fun playing Wii & the game of Life everytime she does.  

 Zack & Dexter.  Zach had a meltdown before we went to the baptism.  He had spent the ENTIRE day laying in his bed cuddling his puppy.  When we said we had to leave and he couldn't take Dexter he had tears streaming down his face saying his puppy would miss him too much.  They were both happy to be reunited after the hour long break.  :)