Blogging Games
Wow 4 posts (now 5 haha) in one day. Yep, That's right. Thanks Micky and Mori for the helpful push, shove and run through the mud to get important pictures and memories out for others to see. At this rate I will have my whole life history written by Easter. Come on Mori, we need to hear from you. No more being silent. You are part of these "games" too. At least a few comments?!?!?!?

Marathon Winner: Wendy-February 1 & 2

#4 Brae the Hair Dresser?!?!?
Brae is in training... or just being a boy who likes to try new things. Michael showed Brae what a bic razor was and how it works. As he was explaining it, I was thinking "Somethings you just don't show or explain to some kids, and this is one of them." Within a few days, Brae used it on the front of his head. Thank goodness he didn't cut too much. He even went to school for two days like this because he didn't want to fix it.

A few weeks earlier he colored Brekka's Hair. Who needs hair dye that costs a lot of money when you have markers? Different color each day for a lot less money.

#3 We know someone FAMOUS!
A couple years ago while in a student ward we became friends with Brandon Dorman. After we all moved on, we occasionally followed Brandon and his drawing. We knew he had illustrations is the The Friend and other places. One day my mom gave Brody a new Book Fablehaven and Brandon was the illustrator. So Cool! Well a few months ago, Brandon was coming to speak at the college and a few other people from our old ward were in town so we all got together. One of Brody's friends was AMAZED that Brody knew Brandon Dorman. So while we were there, we took a picture of Brody and Brandon so Brody would have proof he knows him. It was a fun night seeing old friends and catching up.

#2 Good Times at Grandma's!
Alex fell asleep one afternoon so Mori helped him be a little more comfortable. Notice the gum in the mouth. The fake arm gave us some good laughs! Snuggle, Snuggle

#1 Love these pictures! Summer 2010
Brekka is trying to teach "Yeller" to drink... Love the white shirt, muddy water and Adorable bows! Picture perfect for our house.

Notice her hand that is up. This is how the dogs have been trained to sit.

Now she is trying to pose for the camera with him.

Brae wanted me to take a picture of him and the dogs. Have you ever tired to get a 5 year old and 2 dogs to look at the camera? Well it isn't easy. This is what we got. He was trying so hard.



My kids loved playing with the dogs this past summer. Now that it is winter, the dogs are ALOT bigger and the deep snow keeps them inside more. Next summers goal: Get the dogs to take a good picture.

This post is dedicated to MY OLDEST, scrabble playing, very creative, OLDEST (did I say that already?)Sister-in-Law!

Micky turned "40" this year! (OK so I am a little late posting this Micky and Mori, no comment needed from either of you, So technically she will be 41 this calendar year...but I am posting for last year, and 40 sounds better doesn't it?) I think that is old... well anything older than me is old so it had to be a party with everything black. We all had the debate if over the hill is 40 or 50 but to me it didn't matter.... black stuff was coming either way! This picture isn't the best because of the glare of the "40" candles. If I remember right the smoke alarm went off after having to use the fire extinguisher for the candles. Oh yeah that didn't happen, but it sounded good.

So here is the AMAZING depends cake. Yes, that is right depends... for the one turning "40". I have to say I love this idea! Michael came up with the idea of the depends instead of the diapers you would see at a baby shower. I graciously decorated it to the theme of the party. I love how it turned out!

Here are the items in the birthday present. I wanted to get everything black but there was a couple qualifications first. 1. Inexpensive 2. Somewhat Practical. This "40" party was all in fun but I did want to get her stuff she could use. Look close, included is the $1.50 off depends coupon I received with the purchase of the depends.

Thanks Micky for having a birthday so I could throw you a Party!

Halloween 2010 was so fun. We first attended an Awesome Halloween party put on by the Allen Family. We all had a great time. The kids loved dressing up all month. I think they tried on ALL the Halloween costumes 20 times....a day. Brody always has a hard time deciding what to dress up as, Brae just wants something fast and easy, and Brekka wants ten costumes and will change that many times just because she can.
Brody the Scarecrow. He didn't want this last minute costume but ended up wearing it 3 or 4 times. Who know a scarecrow could be so cute.

Brae The Yellowstone Park Ranger- yes in shorts... it must be warmer there than here.

Brekka The Beautiful Bumble Bee for this party

The Real Halloween Night: A couple days before Halloween, Nana and Papa mad a surprise visit to the kids with a FABULOUS Halloween bucket with lots of goodies and balloons for the kids. By the time Halloween night came, they were done playing dress up and didn't want to go Trick or Treating. Once I finally got them out the door they were excited to go trick or treating....for the first 3 houses. Then they were done. Which was fine with me. As we were getting in the car Brody said, "We want to go to the houses with the best candy." I said, "that is our house. Nana just brought you better candy than you will get at most houses." Not sure if that helped them be done tricking or treating earlier but they knew they had good candy waiting at home for them. (And for the record...yes it is January and I am finally posting this... and yes I do still have good Halloween candy hiding. We don't get trick or treater so we have to eat it all ourselves. Not good for body shape but DELICIOUS).

Halloween Dinner at Cari's Last but not least... the annual Halloween Dinner and cookie decorating. Cari and I love Halloween.. I think more than the kids. It is such a busy time for all of us that we haven't done any big parties but we managed to get this last one in. We love cousins!

This fall Michael started to drive his Grandma's old car. He was driving our old suburban to work everyday and gas isn't cheap. With many memories from his high school days, he will now have many more memories driving this to work....

....including the first week. He cleaned some of it out at his parents but when he got it home it needed ALOT more. The smell was horrific. So he starting deep cleaning.... he didn't stop and neither did the mouse smell. When it was all said and done...not much was left in the car. Here are a few pictures of the couple days of cleaning and working. Don't ask me how he could remember where everything went.


Here is the picture of the mouse nest that was built in the front end. Disgusting!!! It makes me sick looking at this pictures.

Nothing left inside. Thank heavens for a Shop Vac and Bleach.






Now it's just like new...Kind of.

This year was fun for birthdays. Brody and Brekka get to share birthday fun because Brekka's birthday is the day after Brody's. Brody had a awesome unforgettable birthday this year. He turned 10 on 10-10-10. Because his birthday was on a Sunday, we wanted to still celebrate so we had a little party with a few friends and family. At 10:10 a.m. we sang and celebrated. We had an AWESOME brunch, visited, and then went to church. After church we had lunch and celebrated Brekka's birthday.
I forgot to take pictures, so this is the only one I have of Brody on Sunday.

Brekka opening a few presents... and no we didn't plan the matching outfits, Cari and I are just really good at that.

Later that week we celebrated both the kids birthday's with friends. Thank goodness Michael was home for Harvest Break. I was really busy with beads and he really put on good parties for both of them. FYI...he is in charge from now on. I am done. =) He did such a great job decorating, planning games, and helping cut out REALLY cool princess crowns when they needed help. I will just be a really good helper.
Brekka's Party: She had a simple princess party.


Brody's Party: We had everything in 10's. 10 Adventures/Activites, 10 toppings for dessert, 10 Friends invited

Brekka's Surgery
In June Brekka had a little surgery...she had a herinia fixed. It was a simple fix and all went well. The day before the surgery, we went in for a check up and she some blood work done. I didn't know that they were going to do it so I didn't prepare her for it. Note to self..... prepare her next time. She DID NOT want to go back the next morning and be there by 6 a.m.
This is her is the waiting room. She was terrified, and her face shows it.

When I got her back to the bed, I had a hard time trying to get her settle down. Thank heavens for a AWESOME Anesthesiologist who knows how to deal with children. He was amazing with her and she was ok with things. All she had to do was try to blow up the balloon when she put on the mask and she would fall asleep.




As I was posting this and she was looking the pictures, she said "mom I was scared. Now I am not and next time I have to have a hernia fixed I won't be scared. I will just blow up the balloon."
She didn't wake up very fast. But once she did, she was good. A little sore but she was playing in the back yard later that afternoon. Wow. I wish I could bounce back that fast.

One day when it was raining.... oh yeah... we had a lot of that in May and June =) We decided to go to Idaho Falls for the day because Michael couldn't work on the outside project (the swing set). This is a once a year event for our family (even though it is so close). Here we are at the Musuem of Idaho:
Brekka loved this dog by the garbage can so she had to have her picture by it.

Brody brought along his notebook so he could take notes and write down facts. Brae just loved looking around. Brekka just wanted her picture taken by everything.

Brae took our picture (this is the second one he took. I asked him if he got a good picture. He said "yeah, but I cut your head off".) Not the best picture of us but it is one of only a few.

Brody having fun in the cave.


Brae loves horse so we HAD to have a picture here.

Then we decided to go the Idaho Falls Temple Visitors Center to see the Awesome pictures. Before we went inside, Michael took a couple pictures of the kids smelling the tulips. I guess we will have to work on the modeling.


On the way home we saw this awesome site. If you look really close you will see a double rainbow over our Rexburg Temple.

As we got closed we saw the "True" pot of gold at the end of the rainbow!