334: christmas cards...check

It's always a nice feeling when these things slide down the big blue box at the post office! 1 giant monkey off my holiday back.

333: ghetto geddie gingerbread house

Of my gifts and skills that I've been blessed with, decorating gingerbread houses is not one!!  I just lack the patience required, especially when you're in a Cub Scout, pack meeting setting. This was all Jayden and Ryder.. 

Naughty little boy...he ripped the buttons off a friends shirt! WHY? He had no answer only that it seemed funny! Help me!!!

332: fishers of men

Seminary activity or should I say treat...FISHERS OF MEN!
{and don't be disgusted..the combination of goldfish and rolo was actually quite delicious..teenagers aren't picky when it comes to treats}

331: journey with christ..progressive dinner

Our Relief Society, for church, threw an amazing kick-off to the Christmas season activity. Journey with Christ..it was a progressive dinner.  With 3 of us living on one street, we were kinda a no-brainer when it came to hostess duties. We had the main course at our home. We cleared all our furniture out and put up seating for 75 {5 tables in family room, 2 in dining room, 1 in living room, and our kitchen table} It was cozy and quaint and the food, to die for!

330: dys dental appointment

Haven't quite mastered the self-portrait mode on my phone camera. This is me keeping myself occupied at the dentist before they took x-rays. Proud to announce..NO CAVITIES!

329: ryder and allen

Took a picture of these two handsome boys for their baptism program! 

328: wreck it ralph

We cleaned, we decorated, we laundered every piece of bedding and towel we owned..it was time for a break and some fun! Took the boys to see Wreck-It Ralph. It was a darling movie with a great, feel good message.

327: let the decorating begin

We said our tearful goodbyes to Jim's brother Jaysen and his family this morning. They're off, on their way home to Wyoming. Now it's time to get to work!  I've got to get the entire house decorated for Christmas in 4 days!

Tree 1...check!

326: thanksgiving...and this is all we've got!

It must have been the fact that I was running frantic in the kitchen all day, cooking, cleaning, and keeping a household of 11 happy, that I didn't take a single, meaningful picture of Thanksgiving. So this is Ode to a Large Fall Leaf..by Jayden.

325: beach day in november..i love so. california

We had a glorious day at the beach with the cousins!  Seriously..the beach in November, in our swimsuits and in the water..life is good!! Apparently, nothing is cold when you live in Wyoming.

{Elijah & Skyler}

324: ryders day with his cousins

Ryder was the lucky one who got to tag along with his cousins to Legoland! 

323: free fallin'

 Don't hate us because we're so beautiful!

Awesome day!! Several months ago we all bought vouchers for indoor skydiving, off of spreebird deals.  Fast forward many months and we finally used them {2 days before they expired}.

It was such a rush to be floating, weightless, in air. It was a very quick experience, but fun! Had a great time with these fun girls. It satisfied the need to jump out of an airplane. As awesome as that would be, as a mom, I just don't think I could take that risk. 

322: another red mess disaster

Red shave ice + kids = inevitable disaster

Went back to our nifty little trick to get stains out of anything, and it worked like magic! 

{spray ammonia and water solution on stain. lay down towel. iron over towel to pick up stain. done!}

321: a beautiful day at the temple

We spent a wonderful day at the temple today with Jim's brothers family who were sealed for time and all eternity. Even more precious was the sealing of their 7 year old twins, to them.

320: trailblazer of the week

Ryder was the Trailblazer of the week in his classroom..this warranted a special "Happy Meal" lunch surprise from mom!

319: the finale..breaking dawn

 The Finale of the Twilight Trilogy...Breaking Dawn part 2

Rewind 4 years ago..November 2008 the very first of the midnight premieres for the Twilight series. 

318: date night with jayden..peter pan

Date night with Jayden..Peter Pan! Great show..great date!

317: family pictures

Got our family pictures back today! I love how she captured the boys' personalities in all their pictures!

316: knotts..what was i thinking?

Despite being exhausted from a very sleepless {but fun} weekend, I thought I needed to do something fun with these guys on their day off from school. Not sure if Knott's was the answer..it was apparently everyone's plan on their day off. CROWDED!!

315: leaving las vegas

On our way home we had to make this ever important stop! It's all about the pictures!

314: eating and sleeping..optional

My last leg was more of a hike rather than a run! They weren't kidding when they said uphill. I embraced it and had no problems walking the majority of it..I wasn't alone. Nearly everyone was walking. Not only that, I thought it was 3.2 miles..no, they decided to add a mile without informing us. Instead of complaining, I enjoyed myself and took out my phone to take pictures. I passed off the bracelet to Jim who took us to the finish line! Another Ragnar completed..we took home the Deuces Wild medal as well as our Vegas medal! Double the bling for running 2 Ragnars in 1 year.

313: ragnar las vegas..cirque du sore legs

Opps..we did it again!  It's time for another RAGNAR. 198 miles..12 people..2 vans..run..eat..sleep..repeat..

From Mt. Charleston to Lake Mead

It was so much colder than we had planned for. Had to make a few stops at Target for some warmer running clothes, but we had a great time. My lack of training didn't hurt me too bad and I was able to complete my legs without any problems. It's always fun seeing the other teams..the costumes, the names, the shenanigans!

In honor of being in Las Vegas, we decided to change up our team name to Cirque du Sore Legs..here we thought we were being so clever, there were 3 other teams with the same name. Oh well! 

312: ryders chains of kindness

The 2nd grade put on a program today: Start a Chain Reaction of Kindness. It was short and sweet and got the point across..be kind to everyone!

Look at the size of this class! How does any learning take place? 

Heaven bless our teachers!!!

311: ye are the light of the world

The next day...lighting our lamps! So the wicks didn't last long, but they got the idea. 

310: vote

I voted...but I don't feel as if my voice was heard!

Very depressing and terrifying results! 

309: got oil?

 Best picture I could get..Jayden's team, The Elites, made it to playoffs. They played their hearts out tonight but it wasn't in the cards. They lost 1-0 after a very unfortunate game.

In seminary this morning, we made oil lamps.  We are studying the parable of the 10 virgins and I thought it would be a fun learning activity. Tomorrow, we will add the oil and light!

308: welcome home grandma & grandpa

3 very happy boys!! Grandma & Grandpa just returned from their 18 month mission to the Nauvoo Temple. We are excited to have them home, safe and sound! 

307: crossing off another thing on the list

Jim finally faced his long standing fear of the ocean swim and successfully completed his first triathlon. We are so proud of him! That's another item checked off his bucket list!

CATALINA TRIATHLON 2012

306: how many cords does one need

Seriously..how many cords does one family need? The ridiculous thing is, we have another box just as full!

305: ryder needs glasses

Another one has inherited my bad eyes!