New Years Eve

sparklers

Yahtzee

 



mid Yahtzee Ridge mentioned his tooth was loose, Joel and I paused the game and went to work making it more loose

closer

Ridge has lost his 1st baby tooth

toast to the new year!

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve

Temple Square Lights

Dead Snowman & Snow dog

Ridge & Gray post attack

Holden working on the snowman's faithful companion Snow Dog

our poor bloodied snowman... I don't know why my kids insist on blood and swords each year but they do and they think it is funny, I think it is twisted and am saving for their therapy.

Happy Holidays!

Celebrate good times, c'mon

School is out and Gray is no "angry elf". With her grape crush in hand she is ready to face the good times ahead.

Kindergarten Christmas Parties

Holden making a snowman

Ridge opening a gift with mittens on

Today Holden and Ridge had their class parties for Christmas. I jumped between both classes to capture the action. They had a great time with all the Christmas themed activities and are now ready to begin the holiday break from school. 

Gingerbread Houses 2010

Marin hosted the gingerbread house making extravaganza this year. We had a lot of fun and made some awesome houses... OK not so awesome for the ones I helped with but Gray's was really cool. I may have suffered some minor burns putting the twins structures together with a hot glue gun but with the healing help of a bag of twizzlers I was able to soldier through.

Birthday Joel

Gray & Birthday Joel

Joel made the best pumpkin cheesecake for his birthday. Happy Birthday Joel! We love you :)

Super fan? ... guilty

Joel surprised me with a trip to Seattle to see Joni for my birthday. With little notice I was on a plane and shocked with delight. Joni planned a trip we always joked about (I was serious she would joke), of going to Forks Washington and seeing first hand places that had captured my imagination and heart while reading the Twilight series.

Joni and I at Crescent Lake WA. I was in awe of the beauty and magic of this piece of heaven on earth.

Joni collecting rocks, I wish I had brought my better camera and tripod to really capture the beauty of this lake.

I don't consider myself a Super fan of Twilight... but I think this post makes a pretty compelling case that I am exactly that.

Forks was fun for the Twilight reasons, but it was interesting to see the real town and learn about their history. There was a lot of pain due to the scrutiny and controversy over their industry of logging. I had no idea about Forks as a real town and I found it compelling and fascinating to hear their stories.

That's right, this is the dream. Why hadn't I thought of decorating my room like this!?

Joni and Jacob, sitting in a tree. I won't throw Joni under the super fan bus, she and I had fun but I know she did this for me.

The Forks Hospital has a parking space for Carlisle, and why shouldn't they?

La Push was my favorite Twilight stop. It was worth the trip to experience this beautiful spot all on it's own.

Joni made me get in this picture and the pain of my shame is so obviously plastered all over my face.