Family Day Date

We ended February with a little Family day date. We started off the day with a painting even at Color Me Mine. We each picked a project and spent a couple hours painting them just right.

And after painting up an appetite, we went to Leatherby's for lunch and ice cream

We went home colored and stuffed.

Happy New Year

Another year has come and gone in the blink of an eye. At times it seemed like it would never pass and other times I don't know where it went. Instead of making resolutions, I take the time every year to spend this day going through memories of the last year and focusing on the positives that happened. So as I reflect this morning, I am again reminded of what a fortunate life I live to have the positives of each year always outweigh the negatives and to be fortunate enough to be able view my world in this way. So without further delay here's some of the highlights of my year:

Us: Michael and I celebrated both 16 years of marriage and him being promoted to CIO at his company over the summer. We have spent the past year playing with the kids, making memories, making new friends and hosting a few get-togethers. We've also spent time upgrading some features of our home, from redecorating the twins' room, to replacing light fixtures, furniture and appliances. We survived Mike's first year as a board member for the youth football league and being in charge of the apparel design, order and delivery. We've also been taking more advantage of the kids getting older by finding more time and opportunities to go on dates, make time for each other and have more fun.

The kids: The kids celebrated turning 13, 8 and 5 with awesome parties, family and friends. We had our first child enter Jr. High, the twins move on to 3rd grade and Faith start her second year of preschool. We spent many countless hours at activities from art classes, to choir, to soccer, football and dance. We have celebrated the yearly holidays with many fun adventures. We also had many outings together such as the Winterpalooza, Frozen on Ice, the air force airshow, the lantern fest, Faith's first professional ballet, camping and spending a week long stay-cation together at our Snowbird timeshare.

Pets: Our beloved pug, Sophie, has spent another of her 14 1/2 years with us for which we are grateful to still have her, we acquired a hamster in January who we loved fiercely for several months and also welcomed a new cat into our home, our beloved Marble.

Trips: We took a family trip to Chicago and Omaha to watch Mike's sister get married. Mike and I then enjoyed a trip together to Portland and the OR coast as well as a small Park City get away. I was also able to take some solo trips, one to Vegas to play with a friend and go to a concert with my sister and another to Arizona to play with a life long friend in Sedona.

Friends: This year we've been fortunate enough to spend a lot of time with friends new and old. We hosted a Superbowl party, a 4th of July BBQ, a swimming party at the time share, a football team party and a fun dinner and game night. We've been able to attend more of our friends parties and get-togethers as well. I've also been able to get out to several more paint nites, concerts and dinners.

Thank you old friends and family for always taking the time for us and for showing us continued love. Thank you new friends for opening up your hearts and homes and allowing us in. Even in a year like 2016. which has been plagued with many tragedies, we have been able to make the most of it with you all by our sides. Color us eternally thankful for all of you!

Happy New Year's to you!

Christmas Day!

Christmas Day started off by excitedly going through the goodies Santa left us.  

And then opening presents from under the tree. 

And of course, Mom made us all pose with our hauls for this year.

Dad included! 

And Mom got spoiled as well with this haul, plus a new chair and ottoman. 

And the rest of the day was spent playing, playing and playing. Just the way Christmas Day is meant to be!

And the winner for pic of the day was this precious moment I caught when Dad loved the present she picked out for him. 

Hope you all had Christmases just as good as ours was! 

And to All a Good Night

Santa Came! He really came! And left the kids many of their hopes and wished for this year.


He left this pile for Caleb: A bigger TV for his room, a gaming chair for his room, A Giants helmet Lego set, a Giants light, a Giants pillow, a new watch and earbuds and a stocking full of goodies.

And he left this pile for Zaden: A Furby Connect, a Miposaur, an electric Razor scooter, Kilo Ren's lightsaber, military vehicles to paint, a stuffed Meowth, a Diary of a Whimpy kid practical joke kit and some new graphic novels. Then a stocking stuffed with a new 3DS game, a watch and tons of goodies.

 Zaric's was just about a repeat of Zaden's as their lists were almost identical this year.  Just a couple substitutions and color changes to complete his pile.

And Miss Faith was so excited to learn that Santa not only left her the Baby so Real she was going to "die" without, but also a Furby Connect as well. Along with  a laundry set for her dolls, some Trolls toys and activities, new socks, a new watch, some Ken dolls, Barbie clothes and a Shopkins card game.  Along with a stocking full of goodies as well.

Santa is the man, he always knows these kids so well!

Christmas Eve 2016

This year for Christmas Eve, we started out a little differently and started off with  letting the kiddo's open the Christmas Eve box in the morning instead of the evening.

Inside were their usual traditional Christmas Eve pj's and a few activities to keep us busy throughout the day.  The kids received a Shrinky Dink kit to make a little Christmas tree. They love Shrinky Dinks and absolutely loved this idea.  Everyone participated and got along and together we put together the cutest little tree.

Then we took the time to play our Christmas Memory Match game and the Christmasopoly game we received last year.

And we had the feast requested and designed by Faith. Lasagna, Salad, Garlic Bread, Apples, Oranges, Carrots and Corn.  

And once evening fell, we donned our new pj's. 

And we made some reindeer food and sprinkled it in the yard.  

And cuddled up on the couch to watch a Christmas movie 

Then we broke out the last part of the Christmas Eve Box. The new Lego Christmas train set and went to work. 

It turned out awesome! 

And right before bed time, my favorite part of the whole day happened. When we witnessed this!

Caleb may have just earned his place as the new traditional reader of T'was the Night before Christmas.  I can't get enough of this pic.  Perfection.  And all that was left to do after such a busy and exhausting day was to put out a plate of cookies and milk then get in bed and snooze the night away waiting for Santa to come.