New Year's Eve 2010

The 2010 Annual Mexican Buffet! We topped out at 54 this year. I don't think that beats our record - I can't remember exactly, but I'm thinking it's 60-something. Loads and loads of fun, again!!!



What are cousins' kids called? Twice removed? 2nd cousins? We're going to just call 'em dang cute!!!



Games! I think this was one of the wild rounds of Wacky Six.



With trampoline, air-hockey and foosball, nobody was bored!



Sky-Cam: (And documented proof that Uncle Rick attended!)

Christmas Day 2010

The ants come marching one by one...



Chaos? Nah!



The view from the sky-cam:



This year, the younger 4 helped make framed bulletin board/white boards for the older kids' rooms! So fun to watch them give the gifts they made!



The older kids helped refinish an old rocking horse for the younger kids. They also helped repair and refinish a wonderful rocking giraffe that Grandpa Lee made more than 25 years ago. The giraffe was pretty trashed when we cleaned out grandma Lee's house but Brandon and I couldn't bare to watch him go to the dump. We brought him home and he has been in our basement for 2 years. This was his lucky year - he's tightened, repaired, refinished, and being loved again.

Christmas Eve 2010

Jason & Auntie Marlene - I think they were comparing the weather, or change in altitude or something like that!



Uncle Larry relinquishing his reign as "Tallest"! Not sure what Katie is doing. And Mardi, well, she was on a quest to see how many pictures she could sneak in to before the night was through!



I was trying to show off that I had my "tall" shoes on again, but looking at the picture, they weren't really helping!



Grandma's Christmas House



Because the pink wool socks she already had, and the pink wool socks mom gave her just weren't enough! One more pair of pink wool socks from her favorite sister!



Uncle Mike opening "The God's Must Be Crazy" dvd from Mardi! Who doesn't love Uncle Mike's sense of humor??



One of my favorite things is when people do stupid things in front of my camera thinking I won't blog 'em. My next favorite thing is when I see the picture and realize I got a two-fer!! I "heart" Kera!



35+ Christmas Eves...Happy to say we've spent the majority of them together!!!



Grandma & Grandpa score, again! Pillow Pets! Who knew? Such a huge hit with Malorie, Melanie, Joe & Gracie! (Look at Melanie's & Malorie's eyes!!)



Jared & Grandpa "observing" - I think they were strategizing a way to get all of the homemade suckers Lindsay brought! (I know I was!)



My Maddie & My Mardi XOXO

A Few Cell Phone Pictures

We have to document any time Meredi will spend time on Lindsay's lap. Obviously Rex was at work when we took this one because it's no secret that he is Meredi's preference!



Christmas Eve - can it get any better than spending it with your best friends?

(Cousin Mardi, Shiela, Litter Sister Lindsay)


Santa surprised us with a big screen tv this year...unfortunately, he couldn't find the perfect console to go with it. Luckily a very handy handy-man lives at our house and was able to cut our old entertainment center down into the perfect stand! Joe thought it was great fun!



The kids received Just Dance Kids from grandma & grandpa. It's as fun for the adults to watch as it is for the kids to play! Highly recommend it (and Just Dance & Just Dance 2) Fun! Fun!



Jared thinks we really need better optical insurance! :) ha ha!



Joseph taking a breather - kicked back on his bed "reading" up on Gormiti!

We Wish You A Merry Christmas

Wishing all of our friends and loved ones
a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
2010

Megan turned 12!

We can't believe how quickly this past year has gone! TWELVE! (I'll spare you all the "I remember the day she was born..." type stories!)



We sure enjoy every second of Megan! Happiest Birthday, Sweetheart!

Thanksgiving 2010

Thanksgiving was wonderful! It snowed quietly all day. We watched the parade while the turkey cooked. Grandma and Grandpa came down early to play with the kids and help with dinner (thank you, pancreas, for choosing Thanksgiving weekend to flare up). Lindsay and Rex arrived with Daniel and Kaila. Mard and Hank arrived with Derik and Kera...and Oreo Balls!!! I loved every minute of the day!



The day after Thanksgiving was Lindsay's birthday - she opened gifts after dinner and was, obviously, very happy with the Twinkie pan mom gave her!



What family get-together would be complete with a little Wii!!

Ruh-Roh!!

My view on the drive home last night - we live right at the foot of the snow covered mountains!! Ugh!

Family Pictures 2010

407 pictures later, we ended up with 10 new pictures hanging on our wall! Whew!




There were, obviously, many many more pictures than just these two, but Christmas cards and the Christmas blog entry are coming...wait for it!

Oh ok, fine - here are 2 more, but that's IT!

Jim Henson

One of our elementary schools has a Halloween tradition that is kind of fun. The 5th graders (oldest students in this school) choose someone famous, who is dead, and create a "Boo-ography" that they present on the Friday before Halloween.

Jared chose to become Jim Henson. He had to study out facts about Jim's life, then we helped him create a 2 min oral presentation that he was required to memorize and share several times on Boo-ography day. We also helped him create a display containing a timeline of events of Jim Henson's life work. It really was fun (ok, not so much while we were doing the work, but Boo-ography day was GREAT!). We are huge Muppets fans at our house - thanks Jared for choosing such a fun person and doing such a wonderful job!!

The Princess and the Pea

Jared tried out for the Missoula Children's Theater production of The Princess and the Pea this year. He was very low key with us about the part he got, down playing just how involved it really was. We were so surprised, and proud of Jared when we watched the performance and realized he was the Storm King - which was one of the bigger parts. He did a great job with his lines. He was loud enough for us to hear. He just did GREAT!!! Way to go Jared!



(Jared is in the back row, big crown on his head and a dark blue cloak.)

The rest of 40

Ok, here is the picture of the 40+ roses I got for my birthday! Beautiful, huh!



I had one of the kiddos take the picture of the roses/me - with my super-dee-duper birthday gift...




There was for sure a learning curve with the new camera on this phone - but I think I have the hang of it now - this is the first official picture I took with my birthday present!