We hosted a family New Years Eve bash this year with several of our favorite families. My brother and sister (and their families) were both able to come as well. So it was a par-tay!
Lisa, Wendy, and Tricia
My brother and his wife and daughter
You know Lisa (my sister) and Billy
You might recognize this devoted couple {wink}}
John taught us a new slap game. It got pretty wild – watch out!
This year we had a bunch of tweens. {{Holy Hannah}}
There were nerf wars and all kinds of antics going on upstairs.
However, a night with fabulous friends, loud music, and a lot of laughter is my kind of night. I’m honored to ring in the New Year with these lovely ladies.
Chanda was the photographer for the evening trying out her new camera. Thanks babe – you ROCK!
The little kids had a blast and we rarely heard from them. Now I know why. HA!
There was Guitar Hero, Tony Hawk Staking, dancing, eating, and all kinds of fun going on all around the house.
The balloon drop is my favorite part of the night.
The night wouldn’t be complete with out a little silly from the Turks. {{holla}}
I’m so glad to see 2009 end – you have no idea. It was a terrible year for me on so many levels. It kicked my butt and I so there’s no love loss here. Good riddance!
Happy New Year!!
May 2010 be the year we meet in real life, make many happy memories, are financially stable, have good health, hang out with friends more often, eat yummy food, and get our craft on.
It’s painfully obvious at this point that I’m never going to catch up on my posts. Therefore, here is one massively long one that briefly gives you an idea on how we celebrated the Christmas season. I hope you all had a wonderful time with your family!!
Merry Christmas from Laurie, Jason, Davis, Dylan, and Drake
Drake participated in his first pre-school performance. His teacher should have known better than to put Tyson behind Drake. I think Drake was more concerned about what Tyson was doing and getting his hands in his pockets.
They sung J-E-S-U-S and Jesus was his name-o. The entire performance I couldn’t help but feel sacrilegious! Putting Christ’s name in a song about a dog. Geeze Louise. {{shaking head}}
The kiddos had a hard time dealing with the paparazzi outside their classroom after the performances.
We have had a LOT of friends over to play the past several weeks. Davis and Dylan both had their first sleep overs! They each went well and therefore they’ve convinced me that they’re responsible enough to have the privilege.
This year we decided to forgo the traditional Gingerbread House and try a rice crispy one. Had I known that I would have had to make it first, I wouldn’t have bought it. You know I can’t cook! I was so worried I was going to mess it up and it would be ruined.
Luckily, Davis was in charge and everything turned out wonderful.
It has snowed TWICE this year!! Whoohoo. We had a white Christmas as it snowed Christmas Eve. They boys thought that was seriously so cool.
Christmas Eve we did all our traditions as well as had the boys open up their Christmas pajamas. I wasn’t feeling well and had been battling the stomach flu for 2 days. Therefore, the day was not documented very well.
Since the boys were getting one really big gift this year, we decided to have them play a little game and search for it! They each had a ball of string that started from their stocking and ended somewhere in the house where their big present from Mom & Dad was hidden.
They really got into it. Of course, Davis cheated and eventually just followed the string with his eyes (cutting corners and walking around the house) and found it pretty quickly. Drake’s string was short and I helped him.
Dylan took it the most seriously and played exactly by the rules, carefully winding up all the string before he allowed himself to find his gift. {{bwaahaa!}} They are each so predictable. 🙂 Needless to say, they loved the game and the anticipation of finding their gift.
Drake hit the mother load with all his gifts from grandma’s & grandpas. His age is the easiest to buy for and the least expensive.
HUGE thanks to all the grandparents for making this Christmas a wonderful one for the boys. We have 7 sets of grands & great-grands which really helped take off the financial burden this year. You ROCK!!
The big family gift from Jason and me this year was a Casio keyboard. It’s seriously so cool. I went to the music store and bought piano books for the boys. Davis has already taught himself to play 3 songs. Dylan and Drake just love having it play for them and enjoy all the gadgets and cool noises it makes.
It was a wonderful Christmas considering the devastating year we’ve had. I’ll be way to happy to ends 2009 and put the struggles and trials behind me. {{said in complete seriousness}}
I hope that you are also ready to ditch 2009 and enjoy the New Year. Bring it on, baby!!
We are a lucky bunch, as Santa comes to the local High School every year and his elves make breakfast and organize all kinds of fun games for us. Drake really got into it this year!
The elves outdid themselves this year and we really enjoyed the early morning with Santa.
Dylan was a master at several of the games and came away with all kinds of treasures.
Find the white duck in the snow. (Almost impossible, actually.)
This picture is blurry – but you can see how Drake really loved the games. Everyone was so helpful and happy to be there. It made it a really fun time.
This is our third time to see Santa this year. Needless to say, it has fueled Drakes excitement for Christmas morning.
This year for Thanksgiving we joined our “vacation friends” and headed over to Branson, Missouri. We rented this huge cabin and the 4 families all stayed in it together. It made the vacation a real one since we were able to put the kiddos to bed and the adults stayed up and played games.
It’s seriously the ONLY way to have a family vacation. It has completely changed the way we travel. Friends for the kids and friends for me! {{brilliant!}} It’s also nice that we’re all together in a cabin because the kids are free to roam and explore together.
This was our view from the back porch.
Thanksgiving morning the boys had their Turkey Bowl.
Laurie & I (yes we have the same name) took the younger kiddos on a hike to the lake. Getting to the lake was a breeze – hiking up back to the cabin was a doozy. 🙂
I was in charge of Thanksgiving activities with the kiddos.
Drake really got into it this year and found new friends. He had so much fun hangin’ out with these two darling boys.
There was impressive food (not cooked by me).
And the men cleaned up.
More games after dinner.
Then we took a drive to see the Festival of Lights.
The next morning the kids went on a gold rock hunt where we had a little store set up where they could buy candy with their gold rocks.
Drake thought that was really cool.
We had a little time to kill before our first show, so we went and hung out with Santa.
We watched this really cool outside water/fire show. It was short but impressive.
We went to the Duttons and the Island Fire shows. During the Dutton show all the kids were invited to come up on stage. Drake was chosen to sit on Santa’s lap. To my surprise he didn’t freak out and actually loved it. He told Santa he wanted a “Lighting McQueen Color Movie”. It was really cute.
It was a beautiful week in the mountains and with dear friends. This post doesn’t even seem to cover the memories and bonding times we had as a family. I truly feel so grateful and blessed.
Time is seriously flying by at the speed of light. Thank heaven I blog so I at least have something to show for it. Jason has taken 2 trips to Russia for work. The Russians are building their own airliner and his company has been contracted to design the hydralics for it. Super cool.
We’re finishing up Davis Weblow’s scouting badge and so Jason took the older boys camping. Um no, I didn’t go. It was raining and like 40 degrees. Drakie and I stayed home and slept in our warm beds. {{evil laugh}}
Dylan had his 3rd grade concert and had a solo in the program. He did an amazing job! I was so proud of him. I guess those days of silly faces and playing with the kids next to him are over. My little guy is growing up.
With summer winding down, I’m really going to miss our family trips to the lake. Here we are in Lake Murry in Oklahoma with Jason’s mom and 2 of his co-workers and their families. It was such a kick back day.
The boys loved spending time with Gramma Betty. Her visit was short but we really enjoyed her company and it was a happy reunion. It had been quite a while since her last visit and it was lovely to see her once again.
Can you believe I had to threaten the boys get on the jet skiis? Geeze! Sometimes I think anxiety takes over and they just need that extra push {{no PS3 or Wii}} to get them to participate. Of course once they got on, they had a blast on the jet skiis and the tube.
The men got their turn on the tube and took it to an entirely different level! Jason held out for quite a while, but a tube just can’t tolerate certain G-forces. {{bwaaaah!}}
I wish every day could be a warm, calm day at the lake. It’s been my saving grace this summer.
These are the moments I’m going to remember and cherish. Beautiful.
I can’t tell you what a relief it is that my boys are growing up. For the first time, we have the same interest in movies. I know it’s a little weird to even say out loud.
I discovered it while Googling movies with Richard Armitage. {{giggle}} Katri had told me that her boys loved Robin Hood but mine are still into cartoons so I didn’t think they’d be interested. Well, this summer we’ve snuggled up to several live action flicks and you can imagine my surprise and delight.
Whoohoo! I’m a huge movie buff and it looks like we’ve got several seasons to catch up on and bond over. Thanks Robin we’re loving your adventures!
Last week we had some fun family bonding time. The boys have a list of things they want to do this summer and so we were able to mark some off the list. They were stoked!
We saw Ice Age in 3D.
Another day we went to Mountasia and rode the go karts, bumper cars, and played arcades.
It was 104 degrees outside but you wouldn’t know it by the smiles on my boys faces. We raced as a family and dominated the track!
