Four Days of the Fourth!

We had a fun four day weekend for the Fourth of July.

We were so excited to have a laid back day with Tj.  So we spent most of the day hanging out and playing Skylanders.  Nothing says Independence Day than helping the Skylanders.  lol  Then in the evening we headed over to our friends' house.  They have THE BEST view for the local fireworks from their drive way.  It was perfect!  Yummy food, great company and not having to fight crowds!!!

The boys with some of our friends in their
fourth of July attire.

Tj enjoying his day off.

Water break!

The boys with our friend Matthew.

Joel pausing in the middle of all the fun!

If you look closely you can see the boys battling the fireworks!

Then Friday we hit up the local bowling ally.  Little did we know it was Rockin' Neon Nites (at 3 in the afternoon).  Was a fun afternoon!

Big Vance is quite the bowler- almost broke 100 in both games.

Joel aka Chompy Smasher wasn't too bad at bowling himself.

Vance getting some pointers from Phat Daddy.

Chompy Smasher rocking his bowling shoes.

Afterward we met up with some of our friends at Souplantation for dinner. 

The rest of the weekend was filled with more family time, Skylanders and Beyblades.  We're sad to see the weekend come to an end.  

What a year! Christmas edition

So December Tj and I celebrated our 11 year anniversary.  Kind of crazy to imagine everything we've been through the last 11 years.  We went to dinner to celebrate.

At dinner overlooking the city.

 T'was the nights before Christmas and all through the house mom was sick in bed while the boys went and visited the mouse.  Actually they didn't visit the mouse they went to Legoland with Nama and Pa and daddy.  I was SO bummed that I couldn't go with them but I literally couldn't get out of bed.  But they had a good time and I was feeling well by Christmas!

Vance is our coaster kid!
He has taken on Splash Mountain and this coaster at Legoland.

I just love this picture.  He's such a funny kid!

Oh What a Year Part 3

 Before long it was Christmas time!

The boys with Santa's helper at the church party.

First grade studies different countries and their holiday traditions
around Christmas.  Then they have a tasting party.  Here is Joel
with his friends Braden and Tate at the tasting party.

As room parent for Vance's class I was there to help get them ready for Gift of Song.  Their school has every grade prepare a song around the holidays.  Then they all gather in the MPR and one by one the grades stand up and sing their song.  It's a fun tradition and I was glad that I was able to be there (to take pictures for yearbook of course.)

Vance, Ella and Donovan ready for Gift of Song.

Joel's class made candy trains with their 5th grade buddies at Christmas.

More updates to come, including Christmas and the boys' trip to Legoland with Nama and Pa.

Oh What a Year Part 2

 Not long after we came home school started.

Joel's First Day of School

Vance's First Day of school.
Notice the ninja pose.

 The second day of school was Vance's birthday!  Happy 5th Birthday.

Standing in front of his class in his birthday glory!

Vance wanted a two sided light saber "for years".

Vance got a game to use on my DS.

 That weekend we had a little party for our birthday boy at our pool.

The kids trying to free the superheroes from the ice
with their water guns.  (Thank you pinterest for the idea!)

Blowing out the candles on his cake.

Enjoying his cake and morphing into a smurf.  lol

Things continued to chug along and before long it was Halloween!

Joel REALLY wanted to be Robin. 
So we coaxed Vance into being Batman.
Here they are with their loot.

We spent fall break in Arizona.

Joel with Papa in the Z.

Vance's turn to take a ride with Papa in the Z.

One of my old church leaders bought my grandparents old home next to my parents' house.  It was fun to visit with her and take the boys through my grandparents house.  One of the things I loved about my grandparents house was their pomegranate tree out back. 

The boys and I in front of the pomegranate tree.
Yes that's me with blonde hair.  I've since gone back to brunette.
It was a fun change for a little while.

Oh What A Year

This has been a really hard year- hence the hiatus from blogging.  I wasn't quite sure I wanted the year documented.  But it wasn't all bad.  LOL  So here are some highlights from the last year.


Last Spring (2012) Nama and Pa came out and took us to Disneyland!  Yipee

We went and visited Nama and Pa in Idaho and spent time with our cousins:

Pa is low man on the totem pole.

4th of July- proof I was there.

The boys truly enjoyed the fireworks!

Climbing trees with Carter. (Tj's cousin's son.)

A trip to Boise isn't complete without dinner with family
at Chicago Connection.

Tre and the boys swimming.

McDonald's with Pa and cousins!

Part of our trip included a trip to Stanley and the introduction of fishing:

Vance getting a lesson on casting.

Joel was quite the fisherman.

The fam getting ready for a fishing hike.

Joel could fish all day!

End of the trip.  Saying goodbye to cousins.