Christmas 2011



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We are so lucky to have been blessed with such a great Christmas this year. I love, love, love this time of year with all the family, food, memories, traditions and love. Last year my parents started to do "12 days of Christmas" for each of their kids. This years theme was "Believe". They did such a great job coming up with presents that involved different things to believe in; from service, Jesus, good music, to believing in your team, and everything in between! Our kids looked forward to opening the gift every night and talking about it as a family. I really hope they continue to do this new tradition, because it is making a lot of great memories for my kids.
With Kip and Sier getting older, Christmas is definitely changing at our house. Kip wanted a sniper air-soft, and Sier wanted drums. No "baby toys" for them. I'm so glad they really aren't into "toys" anymore. They both told us this was the best Christmas ever....score for us! Koy was so much fun this year. He loved the idea of Santa, but of course hated any moment he was near a real one. Everywhere we went it was "ho ho ho" anytime he saw a pictures, stuffed animal, or anything that resembled a Santa Claus. He loved looking at all the baby Jesus's and giving them kisses & hugs. He was so easy for Christmas presents too. We found him a bouncy horse, which he loves, but it's still just a little big for him. He climbs on it and holds onto the handles and wraps his legs around the neck! It's so cute. Everything else he got fits in a shoe-box! I think my parents had to open most of his presents for him, since he really wasn't interested in unwrapping, just what was in the box after it was unwrapped.
Sier finally figured out my dads "special secret" (he has a Santa costume and does a few part parties every year.) It was so cute, his cute little cousin was sitting on Santa's lap talking to him and Sier leans over to me and whispers "mom, Santa looks a lot like Grandpa, and he even talks just like him too." So then I had to tell him what we've been telling all the other kids who figure it out. "Grandpa is one of Santa's 'special helpers' who helps him because Santa is so busy at Christmas it's impossible to be to all the parties while he's trying to deliver the presents." Then of course, you have to follow that up with what a big secret it is, and how you can't tell anybody because it would ruin the Christmas magic. Oh my gosh, I would have sworn that kid just flew to the moon and back with all this "new found" knowledge! He thinks it's the neatest thing ever, and I know the secret's safe with him. He has LOVED Santa for far too long to let this out of the bag! (when he was 3, all he wanted was a Stomper Bumblebee and Santa to come over..good thing I have connections)
Mark and I also had a good Christmas. We got a new camera! (finally). the one we had was a step up from the point and shoot, but I've been wanting a DSLR for a few years, and we were finally able to scrimp, save, and sell enough of our stuff on KSL to get one! (we're obsessed with KSL) We got the Nikon 5100, and I love it!....I mean WE love it. Of course we both got the new outfit too. (what's Christmas without new clothes?)
So that's Christmas in a nutshell. I have so many more posts I want to do, and hopefully I'll have more time this week to get a few of them up here. Mark and I have some pretty big goals going on in our lives right now, some we've started, and some we're wanting to start. We've been reading a lot, thinking a lot, and having a lot of inspiration. 2012 is going to be different for us, but it's going to ROCK. (dont' worry, we really aren't joining a polygamist church!)

Wolfpack

Kip started Ute conference football this fall. Mark and I were so nervous for him to start....I would have been shocked if he made it through try-outs, but he fought through them. The first day of tryout he came home from school with a swollen hand because he was trying to do front hand-springs at recess! Seriously child?!? But he played his hardest and didn't let his hand slow him down. At first Mark wasn't going to coach him because he was doing Sier's team and doesn't have a lot of time as it is, but a friend from high school was going to be coaching and finally talked Mark into it. I'm so glad he was able to talk him into it because I think Mark is an awesome coach and does such a good job at teaching the kids. We've had so much feed back from the parents asking Mark if he's going to coach next year, hoping that he would draft their kid again! So.....I was the team mom. I had no freaking idea what I was getting myself into. But I LOVED it, and loved getting to know all the kids & parents on a different level than I would have otherwise. We had such awesome, involved parents (except for 2!) but anybody who's been involved with football knows that.

Kip played Tight-End, and went in on defence for about half the plays. Kip absolutely loved the game. All the boys in my house are totally into football right now- I feel so left out. The end of the season was definitely better for Kip on defence, he really enjoyed hitting hard, and making the tackles. After every game he would always ask us "did you see all those pancakes I did?" He was so fun to watch. He worked so hard, practiced hard, and finally found something that he's PASSIONATE about. This is the beginning of a long love for him.

Flag football

It was finally Sier's turn to play Flag Football this year! It seems like he's been waiting for YEARS to play. His Dad and Uncle Dan coached him! (okay- Dan's not an uncle, but he's my cousin- and we call him uncle Dan!) He was lucky and got to play with 2 cousins, and also some friends from baseball. We lost two games and the kids had an absolute blast.  Koy LOVED going to practices and stretching with the team, he stretches all the time at home now! So funny!! Sier was an awesome flag puller, and when he scored his first touchdown he said "that was the first touchdown of my career!!"...lol...like he has a football career.  Here are some awesome pictures that one of my cute friends took of the games...seriously, she's so cute!

Sier playing Center

trying to break through the line

Konnor- Sier-Sebastian                                   Mark & Sier        



running hard!

getting the flag

coach Dan

Jera & Me

koy LOVED football this year! he was EVERYWHERE.

Kite Festival

A few weeks ago my Dad was wanting DYING to go to this "kite & balloon" festival out on Antelope Island.  Well, I've never been there-Mark hasn't ever been there- & my kids have never been there....I thought it would be fun. Well......it was totally over-hyped up! We went on a Sunday morning with my parents, & my brother and his family.  Don't get me wrong...it was fun to go with all the kids; but Antelope Island is BORING!! sorry to those of you who love it.  The festival was just some food vendors sprawled out, a big huge stage that reminded me of the Sugarland one that blew down (the singers were horrible!), and a big canopy tent with table underneath.  Okay, so it wasn't nearly as horrible as I'm making it sound.  They had a cool hair feather booth, where I bought some cute purple feathers to wear to Kips football games. They had the coolest Face painting booth (at least Sier thought so) and they had some awesome BMX'ers there doing some trick. (they really were pretty rad) And the kites? okay, I have to say I've never seen people fly kites like that before! There was a group of people who choreographed kite flying...seriously, it was pretty ah-mazing. we drove around a little bit and found somewhere to have our picnic lunch...that I totally slacked on. You see, we had a HUGE breakfast at home before we left, so I didn't think we would be very hungry, so I just packed a few PB&J's.   Good thing my Mom and Jera packed extra! We were all starving! So maybe we'll go again next year and make it a tradition....it'll be a blast!

The Dam Fam

Koy fell asleep with my Moms hat over is face!

Alex's cute butterfly! I wish I could get away with that ;)

Captain America!

"what the hell are we doing here?"....I'm sure that's what he's thinking.

So them!

Koy Boy

Ohhh.....stop staring at my fat legs...I'm getting old people....sheesh

Booklynn's rainbow...so her! I love it.

Jera & Lara....or is it Lara & Jera?? Don't ask
our neices or nephews, they even get confused!

Watching the BMX tricks

Silverwolves Football

what do you get when you have a housefull of boys?? FOOTBALL.  kip has played flag football for a few years, but he has been so excited to start REAL football! I had no idea of how insanely busy it keeps you....i mean, friends have told me- and mark has been involved before...but seriously! the good news is that kip LOVES it...like LOVES it.  mark is one of his coaches, and i don't know what i was thinking when i volunteered to be team mom...but we are really liking it.  kip plays tight-end and does really good at it! i LOVE watching mark coach too, i really think he was born to be either a coach, or a sports announcer...i think i've said that before, but i really believe it. enough about kip....now on to sier.

Sier is also playing football! he has been waiting forever to play flag football. he's so excited to be on a team with some of his cousins and friends. mark is also coaching him...i don't know how we find the time. sier had his first practice last night, and he ran his guts out! his poor left leg and foot are sore today from it.  that kid just doesn't know how to not try hard.  everything he does he's trying to prove to himself and everybody else that he can do it. i'm just glad flag isn't as intense as tackle! 

School!

BOTH Kip and Sier are in school ALL DAY now.  I definitely am having Sier withdrawals.  This morning I even thought to myself that I would get a job so Koy could be in daycare because he's just so busy, and Sier helps me out so much with him! Seriously, the Beast is everywhere.  I don't think that will fly very well with Mark, plus he'd just turn into a bigger Beast.  ANYWAY....Kip and Sier are both very excited to start the school year, they are excited for new teachers, new friends, and a new track (A).  Kip has a new teacher, Mrs. Ton-Nu. It's here first year teaching and she's originally from Vietnam, so she's so short and cute...Kip is only a few inches shorter than her! So funny.  Sier has Mrs. Mann, I don't know very much about her, but have heard she is great, so Yippee!

Kip & Koy inside Kips class room.

Sier waiting to go inside!

Kip and his cute friend Parker

Sier and his cousin Konnor.

Since Sier's in first grade he started a day later than Kip did.  Sier was so excited he was up and dressed before his alarm went off. He came in my room and woke me up at 7:10 because he couldn't get the toothpaste lid off...and his shirt was on backwards. I hope he stays this excited for at least a week ;)

Paid Vacation!

Last weekend we had a PAID FOR VACATION!! Wait, hold on a minute....it really was.  My dad heard of a guy who needed a bunch of camping trailers to be moved to Tiogo, ND...yep NORTH DAKOTA. An 18 HOUR drive away.  So the deal was, they paid you to haul the trailers up, you pay for gas and expenses....My dad and brother also made the trip up there, but we all left on different days at different times, and we drove different ways! We ended up making enough to pay for an oil change, transmission flush, and my car payment!! hahaha....but we had a ton of fun doing it as a family.  Mark is up there this weekend with Sier, taking another trailer.  Kip, Koy and I stayed at home because Kip started school today and he didn't want to miss his first day of THIRD grade! (more on THAT later.) 

Our rig....8 mpg pulling that beast! This is where we slept in Island Park.

So on our adventure we left on a Friday night and stopped in Island Park, ID....BEAUTIFUL! (oh ya, you could use the trailers- so that's where we slept and ate- but you couldn't use the bathroom...so we had to use the gas stations. NO COMMENT on that) 
When we woke up Saturday morning we headed into Yellowstone and drove most of the loop.  We saw "Old Faithful"

The kids were so bored waiting for Old Faithful to erupt, or whatever it is you call it when it blows!  We also saw this Crow in the parking lot picking at a bag on a motorcycle....Kip and Sier couldn't stop talking about the stupid bird, apparently it was WAY COOLER than the boring Old Faithful!

In total fairness...it really was a BIG crow.

After Old Faithful, we took a wrong turn and went out the West Entrance (we wanted to go out the North entrance! oops).  But we saw this really cool water fall because of the wrong turn.

We also saw the standard in the Park....tons of Elk, and Bison.  Sier and I just wanted to see a Bear, and Kip wanted to see Wolves.  Some people told us they saw Bears and Wolves earlier in the day which made us so excited, but really....if you were a bear OR a wolf would you be out in the middle of the day? I doubt it!

We ended up leaving Yellowstone out of the NORTH entrance.  I've NEVER been to Yellowstone before, and I have to say it really is so pretty there!  (oh ya, you know how I said Mark and Sier made another trip this weekend? Well....they saw a stupid Bear in the middle of the day.)
After Yellowstone we drove the rest of the way to Tiogo.  We were in the car from 7:00 am to 2:00 am! When we got to Tiogo it was a monsoon and muddy! We couldn't find the "field" we were suppose to drop the trailer of at, got stuck, finally found out how to get in the field, and fell dead asleep! The next morning we were up and out of there at 9:00 am. We drove down through Sturgis and to Mt. Rushmore. If you've never been to Mt. Rushmore...GO! It really is "awe inspiring".  It was 98 degrees there, muggy, and we probably stunk so bad! There's only so much baby wipes can do to clean you up! There were people there from all over the world...AMAZING.  Next time we go (and there will be a next time...hopefully) we plan to spend a few days in the area. There is so much to do in the Black hills!

The Miniature Clones!

Koy was so happy to be out of the car and walking around

After Mt. Rushmore, we drove to Riverton, WY to stay with Marks Aunt and Uncle for the night....THANK YOU Scott and Amy! They live on 4 acres, and it is so pretty there.  Maybe one day we'll move out of Riverton to live in Riverton!

And apparently everywhere has gotten a lot of water this spring/summer....look at this river in North Dakota...

I think it's the Little Missouri River

And here are some cute pictures of Koy....Sorry, I just think he could be one of the cutest babies I've ever seen!