Jer's Big Day

Actually started the night before with Jer's Birthday Eve...and Jons:)  

We took the birthday boys to dinner and Mission Impossible.  They loved getting their picture taken.

The next day we went hiking at the White Tank Mountains with my Aunt Marilyn, Uncle Gerald and Cousins Curt and Kevin and their families.  It was gorgeous!!  It's gonna be one of our new hiking spots for sure!

 Then we came home and Jer opened presents and then we headed over to Rays for some of his favorite pizza.  

And then Jer and I snuck away for a little Sherlock Holmes.

Jer, I never can quite wrap my brain around how I got so lucky to get you.

You are patient, kind, sweet, fun, athletic, brainy and you fix all the messes I get myself into. 

Thank you for putting up with me and all of my craziness. I am the luckiest girl alive and I love you!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!

Christmas Eve

Always a party with the Heapsters!  We ate delish prime rib, mashed potatoes to die for, and chocolate dipped everything.  Then Bingo, Fireworks and Luke II, made a perfect finish to the perfect night!  

Thanks Heaps for the amazing night we loved it!!

Christmas 2011

Christmas was so perfect for us.  We opened presents, had breakfast, went to church and came home and spent the day together. Could not think of a better way to spend Christmas.  Loved every minute!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

(My camera was missing, so we had to use my phone which sadly does not do well indoors.  

Luckily Luke pulled my camera out of the toy bench days later and (after me losing my mind trying to remember where I put it) and said "oops I forgot I put it in there.  But I took some pictures of the TV for you before I did".  I do love him.)

Christmas Eve Eve

Christmas eve eve at the McGees was a delight!  Lisa put us to the test with this Sing-a-long game that no one saw coming.  We went first to get it over with but probably should have waited to see what the competition was like because let me just say the McGees were on their A game.  Brannums, Heaps, Knueppels were pretty impressive as well although I do think the Heaps might have got random objects thrown their way.

The white elephant exchange has its own surprise gifts as well but Jer and I scored big with 2 bottles of Martinellis!  

Excellent food, fun friends, thanks McGees for letting us crash you party last minute:)!

Hiking Thunderbird and Risk

 We hiked Thunderbird this chilly morning and you'll never guess who made it to the top FIRST...

 And the boys soon followed.  The kids were troopers. 

Harry even wandered off to make his own trail (scary).

 Jer and Chad had a picnic lunch waiting for us down at the bottom and it was yummier than I ever imagined it would be.

Then the boys came over here and played Risk.  Jake and Peter had a slight edge, because Jake F. was new to the game.  But he caught on quickly and would not go down without a fight.  

Jakester, we are going to have to work on legitimatizing your rolling technique.

Peter, we loved your awesome piano playing when it was the slow poke's turn:)

Have I mentioned how much I love no school days????

And how much I love that Jake gets to hang out with some of the BEST boys in the universe?

School's Out!

Luke and I stopped by to "help" with the cookie party.  

And it was a treat to see Bree in action with her friends: 

Georgia, Kennedy, Bree, Rachel, Sabrina, and Abby.

These girls can jump rope.

So glad school's out because that means I get Bree all to myself for the next 2 weeks!

Temple Lights

We switched things up this year and it worked like magic. 

Gorgeous night!

Gingerbread Palooza

 What Jon (pretty sure he's speaking for all the guys) thinks of the mandatory group shot.

 I think we need to keep Jamie in charge of setting up where the camera is placed. 

But I like that her leg got in the shot.

And Bree with the double bunny ears to an unsuspecting Jer.

She's so sneaky.

Loved all the creations of the night!!!

And especially loved that Jer missed a meeting to be there:)

Piano Recital December 2011

The kids did great once again!  This year they turned it up a notch and memorized 3 songs each.  That is no small feat and I am so proud of them and how hard they work.  

 Denise and I also did a little duet, Sleigh Ride, this year.  It was really good for me to have to learn a new piece and to have to play it in front of people. That is definitely not my thing, but it is good to have to stretch and do hard things.  

And we made it through without having to stop:).

Thanks Denise for letting us be guest at your recital it was fabulous!