So behind...

I'm so behind. Halloween was the last time I had a chance to post anything. Well, obviously a lot has happened since then - 3 months, 4 holidays, etc. I won't overload the system and try to catch up on all the photos. I'll do my best to summarize.

NOVEMBER:
Thanksgiving - Steve's family came to Colorado to spend Thanksgiving with us. We had a great time hanging out and playing games.

DECEMBER:
The kids were out for 2 1/2 weeks, so we were able to go to Oregon. The 1st stop on our trip was KFalls to see to see Nana and Papa. After KFalls, we stopped in Grants Pass to spend some time with Steve's sister and family. We can't go through Grants Pass without stopping at Pizza Deli for some pizza and fries (very yummy). After Grants Pass, we went to Myrtle Point, as following tradition, we got Grandpa some more wood. After we left Myrtle Point, we headed to Eugene. The original plan was to go back to KFalls and head home that route. Due to weather, we went north instead. It was great to spend time with Daniel, Laurie and the kids. Jake, MaKenna, and Kyler loved playing with their cousins and having a sleep over. Eventually, we got home... in time for January.


Emme, MaKenna, Calvin, Jake, and Kyler playing Hungry Hungry Hippo.


Kyler and Great Grandpa making Beans. Grandpa gave Kyler a piece of onion to eat. Kyler wasn't impressed. I would have stopped, but Kyler was a good sport and tried the next thing Grandpa gave him... garlic! He didn't like that either, but he liked the beans when they were done.

JANUARY:
We had a nice New Years Eve. We went to a get together with some friends and made it home by midnight. We turned in early because we had so much to do and get ready for the 1st. We had lots of decorating, cleaning and cooking to do the Rose Bowl Party. We didn't care for the outcome, but it was fun watching it and hanging out with friends.


Kyler was tuckered out after all the excitement of the party. He fell asleep early on the couch with his favorite blankets.

The rest of January was all about Jake and wrestling. He turned the heat on at Districts and got 2nd place. All of his coaches asked where he had been hiding it and told him that they knew he had it in him. He wrestled so good. After District's he moved on to Regional's and got 4th. The top 6 moved to State (League Championships). He got 6th at State and was so happy with with his trophy. I'm proud of him and all his hard work. He's taking after his Uncle Daniel and is an awesome little wrestler. He'll take the spring and summer off and get ready wrestle in the fall.






This is one of my favorite pictures. The kid was fussing about Jake choking him. After Jake pinned the kid, the ref told the kid that "as long as you can tell me you are getting choked - you're not!"

FEBRUARY:
Well, we just had Valentine's Day, so that means that my Anniversary is this weekend. 12 years! (I usually have to check with Joleane to see how long her and James have been married or with Michael to see how old Zach is.) We'll probably just go to dinner and maybe rent a movie.
...
OK - I didn't get this posted last week. I am right now...

Carvings, Costumes, Candy, and... Snow

One might not know it from the weather, but it's Halloween time. The kids have been off of school the last 2 days because of snow. It's pretty crazy to miss a "Fall Party" at school because of snow. Here are a few pictures of the snow, pumpkins, costumes and loot from trick or treating at HP today.


That is Jake buried in the snow and MaKenna telling him to Jump!


Jake made a Skull on his pumpkin.


Kyler just wanted a smiley face.


MaKenna's was a ghost.

Jake was a Logger, Makenna was a bride, and Kyler, of course, was Farmer Jones.


HP is an awesome place to go trick or treating. The are 3 buildings (~ 5 floors) of cubicles. Not everyone puts candy out, but enough do. We spend about an hour and cover 1 floor. The kids love it because of all the candy. Mom and Dad love it because we stay dry & warm, and in 1 hour we're done with Halloween. We might go to a couple neighbor houses this year - but it depends on the weather.

Candy...


More candy...

Taipei - Oct 2009

Here are a few pictures from Taipei.


Huge shopping bag advertisement to promote folks shopping in Taipei. If folks spend $888 ($27 US) and turn in the receipts, then they will give you a reusable bag that looks just like this one (smaller of course).



Taipei Taiwan Temple



Shilin Night Market. Both sides of the street are lines with stores. It opens about 4pm every night and doesn't close until 1 or 2 AM. This picture was me standing maybe 1/2 way down the street and around 9m on a Sunday night (guess folks don't realize they have to work the next day). It's so crowded - way to many people for me.




7-11's are EVERYWHERE. This one happens to be in the Subway (MRT) terminal.

Bristol Bay (from the plane)

School Picutres 2009

I should be working my paper for my group project and/or packing... but I'm procrastinating.

Here are the kids' pictures from school this year. I didn't realize it or plan it, but Jake and MaKenna both ended up wearing their tie-dyed shirts for pictures. They made the shirts at day camp this summer and love them. Kyler (or should I say Farmer Jones) is wearing his "ovie-alls".

Jake 3rd Grade

MaKenna 1st Grade

Kyler Jr Preschool

It's Fall - or is it Winter

SNOW - already... It snowed the other day, but nothing stuck. Friday night and this morning we've gotten our 1st real snow. Here are the pictures.

Piece of cake...

Here are a few pictures from my cake decorating class. The 1st session we had to make a character cake and then we frosted it in class. The second session we had to bring in cupcakes and we frosted them several different ways. We did clowns, hearts, balloons, cherries, apples, baby faces, etc.

August 2009 Part 1

Well, August seemed like a busy month as we were trying to cram everything in before school started.

August 2nd - 16th
The beginning of every August a huge group of neighbors and friends go to "Aqua Fria". This year, Steve and the kids went up early to get a "good spot". They went up on Sunday, and I rode up with Mel and Tim on Wednesday. I think they really enjoyed camping with just dad. They had the camp spot all picked out, cleaned up and ready. They worked hard chopping a bunch of wood for the nightly fires.

Kids Camping with Dad

Kids getting wood ready for campfires.

1st stop on the way to Aqua Fria Lake

Aqua Fria Lake

Moose

August 10th

For an end of the summer activity we took the kids to the Drive-In. They had never been before and only seen a drive in on the movie Grease. They loved it and thought it was pretty cool. We saw G-Force.

August 13th

The 1st day of 3rd grade for Jake.

The 1st day of 1st grade for MaKenna.

August 17th

The 1st day of Preschool (Ms. Liz's Class) for Kyler.