Friday, January 11, 2013

Merry Christmas 2012


12/15/12
picking out our tree
and having a snowball fight


visiting Santa at his stop in the neighborhood
(on our way to a basketball game)
12/16/12
decorating the tree
this is Kyralyn's ornament for the year
--you are loving the ability to read-- 
of course we need all of the ornaments you make at school in 1st grade too

Parker's gift for Nana & Papa
Kyralyn's
she made a winter, spring, summer and fall picture for them
--and nothing means Kyralyn like glitter!--
Dallin took the time to write them a note
(short, but not too short, and sweet)
12/20/12
Kyralyn brought home her gingerbread house from school
12/22/12
the kids love opening packages when they come in the mail
---I haven't made them wait for the big day...much to Paul's chagrin---
Thanks Aunt Katie!  You're the best.  


12/23/12
yep, she wore it again the next day, making it look just a bit different.
12/23/12
our "scones and stories" evening.
This year, Dallin suggested they read their own stories...good idea. 
12/24/12
Dad's been promising Parker a sushi outing...they went on Christmas Eve.  They brought home a roll from Tepenyaki to share with me...Dallin got brave, tried it...and didn't dislike it.
thanks for the hats Aunt Katie!
Kyralyn got a special gift today:  she got to have some playtime with her two special friends.  With school, lessons and busy families, they don't get to play as often as they used to.

they helped with the sugar cookies; when you're six, the more frosting and sprinkles you have the better.

 We spent our Christmas Eve on a slow & icy drive through Electric Park at Thanksgiving Point to see the lights and then a visit to Grandma & Grandpa.  Later we read the story of Christ's birth from Luke and the kids got to open their Christmas pajamas.  After Kyralyn was in bed, the boys got to help Santa (Mrs. Santa actually, since Santa fell asleep with his daughter!)  We'd planned to play a few games, but it was clear that all were tired by then!
 
12/25/12
"the picture"

Christmas morning was fun for all.
It was Parker's turn to pass out the gifts, 
we took our time,
we laughed,
we wondered,
an effort was made to hide the occasional disappointment
(Parker didn't get a dog or a Nike Elite basketball - he didn't want the Under Armor ball he did get!),
and we were reminded that giving is just as special as getting!
 




Thanks to Aunt Tammy for more awesome Denver stuff.



Kyralyn loves her "American Girl" doll.  Her given name is Audrey Ann but Kyralyn calls her Adriana.
Yikerz!
We played, ate and rested for the day.
In the afternoon we went to Lincoln's house for Christmas dinner.  They did up a delicious turkey with all the fixins.  It was fun to be together.

The next few days we got to play with Tate and in the snow quite a bit.
Dallin & Parker even got some gym time to play and practice basketball.  (not very much this year though, kind of nice that way).
There were a few sleepovers with cousins and lots of late nights (which also means late mornings!)
12/27/12


12/29/12
I had just dropped Dallin off at practice and was headed to the gas station when I saw our mileage...
I do love my car...
most of these miles mean lots of memories to our family
(but maybe its time for a new beginning!)

Thursday, January 3, 2013

Teenager!

Dallin turned 13 on Tuesday, December 11.


We had birthday dinner on Sunday - the traditional shrimp pasta.  He wanted asparagus with it but Maceys didn't have any, so he chose green beans instead. 
Tuesday morning Parker & Kyralyn gave him their gifts.
This was the year for Nike Elite socks
and a new hoodie  (orange has been Parker's color until this year...we couldn't find the right lime green color that Dallin requested so we had to go with his second "bright" choice...thanks for sharing this great color Parker!)
I wasn't home when Dallin walked in after school...very strange feeling for me.  Instead I went out to pick up Andrew from preschool to come & play for a little while.  We made a special birthday treat - Muddy Buddies.


I tend to forget the "heavy, heavy hang over" part of gift giving.  I'm grateful the kids remember.

The one thing he really wanted (that he knew he had a chance of getting - unlike an iphone or new ipod!)When the children were very young they liked to wrap my gifts in blankets...?!?  Nice idea, Dad!  They had fun "wrapping" and helping me do the unwrapping.  Really, it's a great idea sometimes!
also the year of the jerseys!



we don't make cakes very often at our house...the kids like to have different desserts for the birthdays (I think I encouraged that one early on...yes!To date I hadn't been able to make a single pretzel salad that had set up...disaster after soggy, sweet disaster.  This time I asked Aunt Jessica for help.  With her master tutelage, I avoided another disaster.
besides shrimp pasta Dallin loves hamburgers...usually the mushroom & swiss variety.  For his birthday outing he chose In 'n Out.


With cousins at Lowe's Extreme Air Sports for his birthday activity.  The night was made complete with a sleepover - which involved late night basketball playing, a little bit of sleep, more basketball and a bit of food.

Dallin:  At 13
Tall
Helpful
Playful
Dependable
Full of music
and energy
and strength
wanting an iphone
shrimp pasta
hamburgers
pretzel salad
Dwight Howard
Peyton Manning
Kevin Durrant
OKC Thunder
purple
trying to get to the pros
love family
(usually)
love extended family
don't care for snow
(until you're out in it)
hot chocolate
toast
science
puzzles
2K11 on the Wii
GoldenEye on the Wii
showers first thing in the morning
(turn it down!)
(save some hot water for the rest of us!)
making money
the iPad
hugs for Mom
(still)

Happy Birthday, Dallin
We love you.