Friday, April 27, 2012

Ryan's Birthday

 Ryan turned 32 and we first celebrated both Ryan's and Brooklynn's at my mom's house. They had a smurf birthday!






All six grandkids somewhat sitting down. The flash made them all look kinda creepy.




On Ryan's real birthday there were some gifts waiting for him after church.




He loved the head scratcher I got him way back when we were dating so the kids got him one for his birthday.


He also got cash to go get his windows in his car tinted. He was surprised! (He was probably thinking where in the world did my wife get all that money? She doesn't have a job. hehehe!)


Happy Birthday to my Ryan. He's getting old!

Friday, April 20, 2012

Marley


We named our elf Marley. He was a sneaky little thing. 


He loved to hang from things.


And sit on the shelves. Look at those sneaky little eyes. They move!


Always watching!


He can see YOU!


"Don't mind me."


"Wasn't me."


How did Marley get way up there?


Just hanging out with the wise men.


Snow Angels are fun!


We stayed at a hotel with my family and he showed up with my brother's elf Ickabod.


He got really good at climbing.


Marley liked to play games.


The morning after Christmas Marley was back in his package and had left a gift for the kids. What a nice little elf we have.

Thanksgiving

 For Thanksgiving every year we always write down what we are thankful for. Every year we do it in a different way. A few years we would write it down and put it in a pumpkin basket. This year we decided to write it on a tree. I had some blue poster board and so we drew it and then painted it. Then we cut out some leaves and wrote a few of the things we were thankful for. The next 2 1/2 weeks we added some more of what we were thankful for.


 Brooklynn was thankful for lots of things like school, books, animals, family, vacations and lots more.



I am thankful for my awesome husband and kids, books, doctors, my camera, the Gospel, my house and of course lots more.


Cameron is thankful for his pants, movies, Grandpa Oldroyd and Grandpa Budd, Daddy's helicopter and socks. Ryan is thankful for his job, family, Xbox, sleep, running and more.

 McKenna is thankful for sleep, food, brother and sister, blankets and dancing.


 This is only part of what it looked like. It was a lot of fun.



We made apple pie one day and baked them in a muffin tin. We each got to each our own individual pie.


The kids loved it!

 They were yummy!


 This year we had Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Brooklynn brought her pilgrim had from school and Cam had a little indian hat. I am very thankful for Thanksgiving. All of our ancesters immigrated over from Europe, Some from Holland and Ireland and much more. I have a 10th great grandmother who's parents wanted so badly to come on the Mayflower, but never had enough money to make it. Her husband was able to make the dream come true for her, but tragedy struck. Her husband was killed, but she survived. I owe a lot to her.



The kids loved it and ate a great meal.


McKenna didn't eat much more than crackers and yams! No wonder she is such a skinny little thing.


My mom had a fun little treat for the kids to make.


They loved it!


We read some stories that I brought over.


My mom had a surprise for us.


 It was the Elf on the Shelf. The first night scared Brooklynn to death, but after that she was fine and loved it.

Monday, April 2, 2012

Reflections contest.

The reflections contest theme was Diversity Means.... So when I explained what the word diversity was, Brooklynn immediately knew that she wanted to paint a picture of her eyes. In the description she said "Diversity means that everyone is special and different. Even me and my two colored eyes." She did the whole thing. All I helped her with was draw the almond shape with a pencil and she did the rest. She didn't win anything, but I was very proud of her and she is an amazing little artist.
Talented little Berkie! I love this girl.




I can't believe what a talented little girl I have. And she is just so grown up.


St. George November 2011


We cuddled and watched movies!

We went shopping!

Swimming! Even though it was a freezing weekend, it happened to be a really warm pool. We went swimming almost every day we were there. I happened to enjoy the hot tub more!


We had a lot of fun at the park. We have gone to two different parks while visiting St. George. This one was fun, but my favorite is the one by Uncle Kelly's house.


Cam is a daring little boy which is not good for a crazy protective mamma!





Brooklynn loves playgrounds too. And always has a lot of fun posing for pictures.




Little McKenna was cold, but had fun in the tunnel.