from sneakily dating my bro to girls' camp moments & good teenage fun, we grew into the closest of friends. her baptism & temple wedding continued the fairy tale. my best friend now sister-in law a dream come true.
we will make our daughters follow the legacy being best cousin buddies forever.
every new years eve (her birthday) i think of shan and how lucky we are to have her in our family and how vitally important she is to me as my bff. happy b-day shannie!
brady hates getting clothes--caden must wear it immediately
gifts that they all benefit from are the way to go
hand made projects are so worth it
turn taking is quite attainable
sibling gifts are so sweet
silly toys for big boys keep the whole family entertained
guess who had lots of gifts to give this year. (all those aides and therapists--so grateful for each one)
there was much licking of knives and munching while the kids designed their own house for the village.
nothing is sweeter than great family moments
i can't rattle off the objects i received (there was plenty i'm sure) but i do remember the treasure hunt clues to find the "main present", sneaking mom's christmas mint chocolates, peeking in closets, the privelage of a slumber party with my bros, steaking out to catch our Christmas pixies, feeding the homeless, all the special musical numbers, and begrudgingly caroling around the piano on christmas eve just so i could open one present as a preview.
this year we are planning a couple new traditions: making the family gingerbread village and watching the Luke Chapter 2 video after we open stockings and before presents on Christmas morning. so those along with goodie drop-offs and driving around to look at lights will hopefully help us focus on great holiday family moments.
then mr. funnypants-with-a-microphone Seth told us the Easter bunny was coming. it was so sweet to see the kids excitement for the skinny jolly one. Santa (Jim Hill) apparently has been workin out this year.
when he arrived the children sat poised listening to the meaning of the candy cane. they then went up to Santa and said their name in the microphone and received their cute goodie bag with the poem inside. Brady and Raylee had to be accompanied to see him but they were so touched by the poem cuz it was requested as the bedtime story that nite and they slept with the little poem paper.
yes thats caden covering his ear. he has a love/hate relationship with the microphone.
Church friends, good grub and Santa are always a great way to start out the holiday season.
Ray was rockin her boots and ready for the splash down.
Brady could always be found in the huge wave pool--i think he swallowed half the pool from attacking those waves.
pure exausting excitement
the rooms were awesome with wolf den bunks for the kids to crash in
there were tears at time of departure but jared and i gave it our huge approval.
we already made plans to repeat this next year. thank you to mom & dad vofo for makin it all happen. so much fun and so many memories.
what a great elephant impression huh?
i was looking forward to seeing most of my mom's family that we havent seen for a while--those fiferoonies are a silly bunch--gotta love 'em.
Aunt Tammy's fam and my crazy uncles Dwayne and Lynn arrived with Grandma & Grandpa Fife--we filled the house with food, lots of laughs, and of course family fun.
