Missionary dinner funny

Tonight we had the missionaries over to dinner and it's always a time for Rick and I to realize how unruly our children are. We had the girls climbing under the table and Tyson getting a goblet suctioned over his mouth. But the funniest comment of the night was when Rick inquired if Tyson was going to perform clogging at our upcoming Ward Talent Show because apparently he had played a joke of some of his fellow deacons and signed them up to do it. To which Bradley said "clogging? like clogging a toilet?" Now that's a talent Bradley could share!

Happy Fathers Day 2011

The kids did a great job of pitching in and helping cook an amazing Fathers Day meal for their Dad on one of his first long Sundays of being in the Bishopric. Banana Cream Pie...one of the whole familes' favorites. Now we just need to work on our Sunday attire!

Christmas in Kent 2010

It was actually Christmas Eve morning. We celebrated early so we could pick up Jeff at the airport and have him home for Christmas, they kids didn't argue with that.

I made the girls bracelets. And they got costumes, etc.

The boys got watches.. Tyson got some awesome ski boots to go with his skis...

But my favorite part about Christmas was a few days prior. We went as a family to the Supermall. We split up into boys and girls and bought gifts for each other with a budget of $5 each. The kids had fun shopping and exchanging the gifts. Kate got a cute heart necklace and Paige got a teddy bear and a noman (snowman) shirt that she LOVES. Kate picked Old Navy fleeces for the boys.

We also did some secret santa gifting that was fun.

On our way to Richland we went sledding at Snoqualmie Pass. I was hesitant at the thought of bringing all the gear, getting cold, and riding the rest of the way wet, but it was a blast. Even Paige picked a sled right up at said "ride it". She loved it. I was surprised since she didn't like a lot of the theme park rides last summer.

Goodbye Craguns

There was certainly only one good thing about this game of bowling. Rick beat all the men, I beat all the women, and Bradley beat all the kids....other than that it was our goodbye to our close friends the Craguns, that lived just 2 doors away for the last 5 years.

We bowled and then we cried again....it was really, really hard. Then they headed for the airport.

Best Wishes in Texas, we love you and miss you!

Back to School 2010

Tyson, 6th Grade, Mrs. Anderson.

Bradley, 3rd Grade, Mrs. Solomon and Mrs. Curry.

Christian, Zach, and Tyson

Tyler, Logan, and Bradley

Loading the bus to Meridian Elementary.

Having brunch with only 5 (of 12) kids left behind.

My Spring Chicken

I was planning a trip to the zoo with my family, but we spontaneously decided to pull the boys out of school an hour early to join us. It was a fun surprise. Good thing we took the boys out of school early... otherwise they might have missed out on their gravity lesson...

We went to the Woodland Park Zoo with my brother, Brian and son Zachary, Michelle and Spencer, and my parents. A little role reversal I'd say.
Just monkeying around.
It turned out to be a cool but sunny day. A lucky break in a crazy spring season of downpours.

The most entertaining animals of the day were the monkeys. There were two of them playing/fighting for a burlap bag. It was so funny to watch. There was quite a crowd all roaring when they would tease and bat at each other.

Cousins Spencer and Zachary with Kate.

This peacock certianly wasn't afraid. She put on quite a show.

Love Abounds

Valentine's Day 2010.... We had spinach stuffed manacotti and heard-shaped breadsticks for dinner. Tyson helped me make it. We've had a lot of fun cooking together on Sundays now that we have church from 1-4pm. We make something and put it in the oven to bake while we're gone. His goal is to make a whole meal by himself soon. I LOVE having his help/company in the kitchen.

Valentine's Eve: Rick and I went to a party with some friends. Tyson babysat (Paige slept). We came home to this. It was so sweet. Bradley was on the floor next to them. We had a fun morning as a family.

The boys all got new sneakers, Paige tried them on, while getting her fill of chocolate. My Valentine to her was a helium balloon. I knew she'd love it. It was also part of the center piece with some flowers for our dinner.

But they couldn't have been more excited about the Valentines' from Grandma and Grandpa Hoyle. After Kate saw her $4 dollar bills she shouted "I'm free!." Later, she said "I can buy ANYTHING I want!"

Showing off his 8 dollar bills. He was so happy that Grandma rounded up.

Paige helping herself to one of her favorite and most accessible foods. Thankfully she put something healthy in her body after all that chocolate.

The next two days were mid-winter break (shortened due to the teachers' strike in September). Monday, the kids played with their friends all morning, then we went to the Supermall as a family in the afternoon to rent skis and climb the wall. Tuesday the boys went skiing with Rick. It was Bradley's first time, and Tyson's 3rd.

I'm in BIG trouble

So the kids and I are reading the Friend magazine for FHE tonight and there is a picture of a dog. Paige got excited about it. I said "if she can say doggie, I'll get one." Mind you, this is a 16 month old that can only say mom, dad, and hi-and not on command. Also, this is 3 other kids that REALLY want a dog. I had no idea that I had set myself up for disaster.
After about a minute, Paige said "Do die" WHAT?????
My poor kids were so excited, discussing what breed, when we'd go to the pet store...
until I dashed their hopes again, telling them they were only getting a stuffed animal.
OOPS!

Where was Jesus born?

Creche: a small or large modeled representation or tableau of Mary, Joseph, and others around the crib of Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem, as is displayed in homes or erected for exhibition in a community at Christmas season (dictionary.com).I had to look up the meaning to this word the first year we went. Now it is a family tradition for the third year. What a wonderful way to feel the true spirit of the season as a family. We enjoyed looking at the hundreds of nativities, being the nativity (pretty good picture for the first shot), visiting with old friends, and goodies of course, but most of all we enjoyed the music. There was a group playing several instruments including percussion, guitars, a picalo, and three vocalists. We listened to them perform for almost an hour. No one wanted to leave. It was peaceful and wonderful.
At the end Kate had found some fliers for the Messiah and was handing them out to people passing by. Then she told me she wanted to be a 'teller'. "Just ask me a question" So I asked her who Jesus's parents were, which she knew, then where he was born, which she didn't know. After the last song Kate came running up to me and exclaimed "Now I know where Jesus was born, on a mountain, I learned it from them!" They had just finished "Go Tell it on a Mountain"
So, we've been reading some Christmas stories including the stable this week!

Halloween Happenings

I scored some free tickets to a performance of 101 Dalmations on Mercer Island. The kids and I had a busy day of a soccer game, a soccer banquet, playing at a park on Mercer Island, and then the play all before an evening of candy collecting. Tyson even went with a friend to a haunted garage.
The picture above was a Halloween miracle. It only took me two shots to get that picture of four kids in costume.Tyson the friendly warewolf.

Bradley the ninja.

Kate, who was feeling sick still, just threw on some wings, tutu and headband with the outfit she had worn that day. She only went out trick-or-treating for a little while. At trunk-or-treat she was a pink poodle.

Paige never made it out of the house in her darling butterfly costume. She slept through trunk-or-treat and trick-or-treat. It was a great excuse for Rick to stay home and watch the Phillies play in the World Series!

Ella, Kate, Aidyn, Taylor, and Sydney(not pictured).

Kate passed out on candy...

Fair FUN

After some pressure I finally succumbed and we took the family to the fair with my Mom and Jeff. I was worried about the begging and whining about food, rides, games, trinkets.... Amazingly, we had very little of that. We just enjoyed the animals, pumpkins, Weird Al's Brain exhibit, and the hypnotist.

We had a really great evening. And with coupons to get in, we only spent a total of $11 for the family. (We only captured a few pictures before my battery ran out).

Japenese Garden

We took advantage of a lovely evening and headed out for another family adventure to some Japanese Gardens in South Seattle.

At the end of the trail everyone simultaneously yelled out something they've never done but had always wanted to. Here were some of the responses:

Angie: White-water rafting

Rick:

Jeff:

Tyson: Get a bazillion dollars

Bradley:

Kate: Go to Tess's house.

There was a beautiful lawn area surrounded with flowers, perfect for a wedding reception.

Afterwards we watched the sun set and the kids played in the water at Seward Park.