O Christmas Tree!

I loved cutting down our Christmas trees at Faulkner Farm each year when I was a child, so on our way home from Iowa, we stopped at a Christmas tree farm about 15 minutes from our house. They had free hot chocolate and cookies (which was great because it was FREEZING)! The boys fell in love with this cute little tree! They each got to saw a few strokes and then WHAM!--it was all ours!

Thanksgiving!!!

It's nice having family close; it's even nicer when the kids all love each other! Honestly, my kids get SO excited when they get to see their cousins.

It was small this year--just our two families--but so low-key and non-stressful. We ate on paper plates: magical!

Sarah, as always, had a cute little treat craft for the kids: Oreo Turkeys!

The major highlight was ditching all 9 kids to go Black Friday shopping! Sarah and I got skinny jeans and boots; Rob got this uber-comfy hoodie that he won't take off--lined with sheep fur or something inside...so fun! The best part, was my mom and dad called while we were out. Robbie answered, and, like his dad, gave very few details.

"Hey Robbie! How are you?"
"Fine."
"Are your mom and dad there?"
"No. They left all of us here alone. By ourselves. We're watching Home Alone. The kids won't stop crying. "
"Oh...that's...nice."
I seriously couldn't stop laughing when my mom told me about it!

Other best part: Jaron and I went to Hurts Donut at like 10pm! Got a huge maple-bacon bar for Rob...FANTASTIC! And every night sitting on the couch and watching Christmas Hallmark movies and eating leftovers!

And, as always, the kids slept together each night for an ultimate sleepover! Love it!

The Feast!

 Ice Skating at the mall...the passes were good all day, so we went twice!

Group Mama Date

 My friends Lindsay, Bethany, and I took our boys on a hot mama date! Burgers and shakes then to Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (at the high school). Totally culturing those little men!

Bike Ride Discoveries

Some of my favorite memories as a child was going on family bike rides. We'd ride on Sundays along the river bottom. We rode from the mountains in Ojai down to the beach.We used to rent surreys to ride along the promenade. Every family vacation we hauled our bikes along.

Rob's memories are far less scenic and much more reckless. He rode standing on his frame and handlebars. He poured gasoline on his tires and threw a match to them--riding with flames behind him (until they melted). Regardless, bikes are important to us and a great part of childhood! So, we make it our "thing" to find new routes and trails! We made some fantastic discoveries this summer, too!

So fun!

#1

Robbie's soccer team, Dragons FC, got first place in the league this year! They're moving on to U12 to get more competition. I wish I could film every moment of my his games; every time I bust out a camera, NOTHING HAPPENS! Robbie plays left wing and has the most amazing ball-handling skills. I love watching him play! In years to come, if I look at his videos and think I was delusional, I really am not! I just never seem to film him! He's the team's all-time leading scorer with 17 goals in 11 games. (Ty had 53 goals in 8 games and Jimmy had 19 in 8 games...they're phenoms!)

BYU vs MIZZOU

Okay, so it ended horribly for us, but at least we got to see the team! I took my boys (and Dylan and Michael, our basically-adopted teenagers) to the fireside in Independence. Clearly, we got horrible seats, but all the boys loved it. I wasn't sure how the teenagers would take it, since they aren't LDS and it was a spiritual event, but they were only that much more impressed to see college athletes speaking with such respect and conviction!

We made sure to meet some players after!

Mitch Matthews

Taysom Hill

Kurt Henderson (only took the picture because Aricka stalked him when she was a freshman, finally met and hung out with him, and it was a total let down!) This one's for you, Ricky!

Tanner Mangum (seriously so nice! We were the last picture he took--how could he say no to those faces!!?)

Game Day! Yes, we bought a ticket for Dylan, even though he is a Mizzou fan!

Ty:
"If I were a girl, I would totally have a boyfriend. And it would be me!" At least I know he has high self-esteem!

While driving to Jimmy's soccer game.

Cooper (Jimmy's friend): I can't wait for the game tonight. I am DYING to play soccer!

Jimmy: Oh yeah, well I was BORN to play soccer!

It made me laugh! One's dying for it. The other was born for it. Either way, they're pretty intense little guys!

Primary Program

You had to be there. I was crying-laughing so hard--tears streamed down my face the whole time. I was squeaking-laughing!. So was everyone else. Needless to say, Jimmy is anything but shy. 

He started the program--the first child to speak. He confidently walked to the podium, spoke clearly and loudly said, "My name is Jimmy. I know my Savior loves me because he gave us the Holy Ghost." (He was one of the very few who memorized his line...I was so impressed. Then he paused and went back to the mic to say, "Amen." It was darling. No, not a part of the line, but very appropriate. I was proud.

But then the music started. Jimmy was on the front row and totally feeling it! He eyes were closed; he swayed back and forth, his nose in the air just smelling the rhythm.... When he finally was supposed to sing, he stayed in that mode--it looked like he was howling at the moon! I was dying! Everyone around me was cracking up! When he tried to get back to his chair, he tripped and slammed onto the ground. By this time my friend was handing out tissues. 

Next song: Follow the Prophet. Oh no! Jimmy starts dancing...like, not a little bit, but like headbanging his blonde curls! He was bouncing from side to side, bobbin' his head. He was SERIOUSLY into it! That's when the squeaks started. (Maybe I shouldn't have sent him to a Baptist preschool?)

And then, as if it couldn't be more hilarious, another song came on. (Again, Jimmy is in the front row, people, there's no hiding it!). The intro music starts to play, and Jimmy starts BELTING the song! But it's just the intro! He seriously is clueless that he's the ONLY child singing! Now my entire row is crying, laughing! I can't even tell you how many people said he made that program! Sheesh!

Ty memorized the first paragraph of The Living Christ. He did great! It was long and had hard words, but he rose up to the challenge.

Then it was Robbie's turn. My sweet 9-year-old was asked to give a talk! Yes, a talk to give in Sacrament meeting! Only one other older girl gave one. He wrote a very nice talk--by himself. Only bad thing: He left it at HOME!!! As if speaking in sacrament meeting isn't terrifying enough, imagine being 9 and having to do it off the top of your head! My heart went out to him! He got up to the podium and began, "My name is Robbie, and I love sports." Then it hit him. All of it. The nerves, the audience, the stress. He stopped and said, "Wait, wait! Hold on a minute (big exhale)..." Then he started shaking his head back and forth, stretching his arms wide and wiggling the nerves out... everyone was giggling! How many of us wish we could just shake it off up there! Then he composed himself and started speaking. He was totally collected and calm. He delivered an almost verbatim talk to what he had written (maybe a little lesson to parents who write their kids' talks! Robbie's was already in his head and heart). Here's what he wrote (He wrote it out on a piece of paper, and I typed it for him. So, the grammar is mine, the words are all his):

My name is Robbie and I love sports! I watch them; I play them; I practice them. That’s why it was hard for me when I had a championship baseball game on a Sunday. My parents said it was my choice: I could go to church or I could go to the game. I chose to go to church because we are commanded to keep the Sabbath day holy. 

Our team ended up losing the championship game. Everybody was mad and also sad, but I knew I had chosen the right thing because as much as I love sports, I love God more.

I have a testimony that when we choose the right we can receive blessings. Like the next year, I got better coaches and players on my team. And we didn’t have any Sunday games, so I got to go to every game. I know that was a blessing from my Heavenly Father.

I say these things, in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. 

I was so proud of him. He's a great leader and example.

Fun, "Fall-Felled" Day!

Our poor flowering pear tree got fire blight! We had two neighbors whose trees blew over in storms, and we really weren't willing to risk our sick tree flying through our front window during the spring, so we chopped her down.

Rob started with an axe--always tries the hard way, first! As my dad would say, "Why do it the easy way, when the hard way will do?" My neighbor, Carl, saw him and brought over his chainsaw. Much faster!

He attempted burning out the stump...not quite ready yet! It made a good bonfire anyway!

Super Ty!

 Cute Jimmy!

 Crazy Robbie

 Timber!

Love our Season Passes

Kansas City Zoo