Violin

Carly started taking violin in the fall.  She takes private lessons on Fridays at 7am!  She has liked it and loves that she's learning with her cousin Hannah too (her lesson's at 7:30).  As she has learned to play, so have I.  It's a constant struggle to get her to practice...I'm hoping she'll thank me later.  Well, in December, she had her first concert.  They were invited to play at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in the Mezzanine.  It was so beautiful, and the music was awesome.  She had them playing with everyone else, so if they weren't perfect, you wouldn't know.  The whole company played the first few songs, and once the little ones played all they knew, they would taper off.  She had a great time!

Since we were already downtown, we let the kids look at the temple from the top floor of the JSM Building.  Then we looked at the Christmas candy windows at Macy's, then lunch at City Creek and a little shopping.  A very nice afternoon!

Chocolates

Yes, 'tis the season for chocolates!!  So for posterity, I've decided to document a little more this time.  Especially for my mother who likes to record every last detail from year to year, so we can improve from the year before.  Each time she takes notes...and I mean DETAILED notes.  She would say, "well, it looks like we started at 10am last year, and it's 9:30, so we're making great time".  She records who brought what, how many we made of each kind, what time we started and stopped, and what we should do different the next year.  I even took a picture of her reading her notes that she takes so seriously.  Seriously love her!  I love the picture too, because of the huge diet coke in the background.  Me and Stacy had to get our morning caffeine before we started (mom's a little disgusted).

So, before the chocolate making begins, we each have a list of things to make and bring with us.  This year, me and Stacy each made 2 batches of fondant (non-flavored), my mom made a batch of the chocolate fondant.  Then I made a triple batch of crunch (toffee, they just always call it crunch in Canada, so does my mom, so we do too!)  Stacy had to make a double batch of nougat, and my mom made the regular caramels, and the black licorice caramels.  Then we all bring what we have of the flavoring, toppings, nuts, etc.  My mom brings the milk and dark chocolate.

We start on a Thursday afternoon.  We combine all the plain fondant so all the chocolates will be the same consistency.  Then we divide them up and add the flavors.  After that, we use a teaspoon to measure the fondant and roll them into balls.  We then take the full pans to the garage to chill over night  We do some of the prep work for the next day (getting boxes ready, cutting up caramels, tempering chocolate, chopping coconut,etc.).  Then we go out to dinner with my dad and watch a movie, then off to sleep to rest for the busy day ahead.

Day 2 begings with a Diet Coke run at the Maverick for me and Stacy while my mom pours over her notes, to make sure we didn't miss anything.  Then its dipping, dipping, dipping!  Yielding over 1800 hand dipped chocolates.  Here are the varieties:

 

Caramels

Almond

Chocolate

Mint

Almond Joy

Nougat

Nut Cluster

Black Licorice Caramel

Snowball

Half Dip

 

 

AND....the finished product! (after that much work, they're not easy to part with)

The Forgotten Carols

Aunt Susan

We were all ready for a new Thanksgiving this year.  We decided to forego the extended family get together, and made plans to spend the holiday with the Wagners in Boise.  We were all looking forward to our little vacation.  Its always so fun and EASY to be with them.  Especially when Leslie would be doing most (ALL) of the cooking!

I was just making last minute preperations for our trip when I got the call that my aunt Susan (my moms sister) had passed away.  She had scleroderma.  She had been in a lot of pain over the years, but I was clueless.  We had a barbeque at her house over the summer, and no one would ever guess how badly she was hurting.  She was such a good sport.  Posistive, happy, accommodating, gunuine, and SO LOVING!  She was an excellent mother of seven, and she will be missed dearly.

 

Our Thanksgiving plans were immediately changed.  My sister and I decided to ditch our family, and catch a ride with my mom and dad to Canada for the funeral.  It was a sweet service.  All seven kids spoke, and did a great job.  They played a recording of Aunt Sue and Aunt Barb singing "Wind Beneath My Wings" together, then my cousin Jana joined in on the last verse...tear jerker.  In Canada, they don't have Thanksgiving (theirs is in October), but my grandma DID make us some turkey bacon for breakfast, and some pumpkin pie for dessert. 

Despite the sad circumstances, we still managed to have a little fun.  Nothing feels better after a good cray than a good laugh!  We played some cards, ate A LOT, and even made a trip to the candy warehouse to pick us some of our Canadian favorites!  It was an emotional trip...but one I'll never forget.  I'm so glad I was able to go!...Oh, and smooth sailing over the border this time...FYI.

Meanwhile....

Frank and the kids had a little vaca of their own!  They went to Golden Corral for Turkey dinner, then headed to the movie.  After that, they checked into a hotel downtown, and sat (played) in the hottub.  The next day they went shopping, to the movies again, and just realaxed. 

Before I left, I was hinting that the Christmas Light Fairy might come while I was gone.  (hoping Frank would FINALLY put up lights this year after an 8 year break)!  When my parents pulled into my neighborhood, we were all looking to see if the lights would be there...they weren't :(.  The house was dark, but three cute sillouhetes were sitting on the front porch eargerly waiting my arrival :)  As soon as the car was parked, the christmas lights turned on!  Frank had Christmas music playing on the outside speaker, and the kids poured into the car for hugs and kisses!  The best welcome home to date...for sure!

 

Something about losing someone that makes you really appreciate the people in your life...both past and present!

The Nutcracker

Red Robin

 

The Nutcracker

 

Jazz Lakers Game

Went to the Jazz/Lakers game with Franks co-worker Mark, and his wife Shay on Key Banks dime...we love perks!  Had dinner in the V.I.P. lounge and met the Jazz Manager.  He told us all about the team and answered some questions.

After that was the game in the cushy suites!  Ice cream sundaes, popcorn, and crepes.  Game?...what game?  I'm like a little kid, easily distracted by treats :)

Halloween 2012

THE GANG...

 

 

Rasta Man ?!...not really sure what he is.  He's been stressing about this Halloween because Frank has been telling him that this is his last since he's in sixth grade.  (I, however, don't think that will really happen, but I keep it to myself.)  He's been looking online, asking around, and just never had the lovin feelin.  So, on Halloween, I was at the grocery store getting some stuff for dinner, and I found this hat with dreds on clearance for 4 bucks.  Nose rings were .50 cents.  I decided even if he didn't use them, they'd be used eventually, so they were worth the investment.  They were especially worth it, since he decided they would work just great for him.  Just cut up one of Franks old T's to make a vest, and....VOILA!  Still not sure what he is, but looks pretty cool anyway :)

 

 

Flapper Girl...the look on her face tells it all!  She felt so pretty...especially with the lipstick :)  I personally think that dress would be so fun to wear.  She kept twirling to make the fringe fly, and she was rockin the fishnets!

 

Bandit...this was Chase's idea completely.  He had it all figured out with his friend (next door neighbor) Sam.  They were going to be the same thing an go trick or treating together.  Six dollars on duck tape, and this bad boy was D-O-N-E!  Duck taped the striped, duck taped the mask, and duck taped a huge $ on the pillow case.  They were the most adorable bandits I've ever seen!

We're in a small subdivision with no through streets, so we hardly get any trick or treaters at Halloween :(  There are only 10 houses in our neighborhood.  We do, however, have THE MOST AMAZING neighbors, so it's worth it!  This year, my next door neighbor, Melyn hosted a little gathering before trick or treating for the kids (there's 30) to see eachother in their costumes, and to get some yummy food.  The weather was gorgeous!!!

After that, everyone was free to dispurse for trick or treating at the neighborhood of their choice!  Naturally, our choice was my sisters.  Me and Stacy took the girls out while the boys went with their friends....Frank stayed home doing who knows what?!

HALLOWEEN...CHECK!

Oh Deer

Nope.  Not a misprint.

Franks family are avid hunters, so even before we were engaged, I was introduced to the tradition...

I guess I didn't hate it so bad because we were engaged the next month.  Anyway, we kept up on the annual deer hunt until we started having kids.  We haven't been since.

Well, this year, Frank decided the boys were old enough now to experiece "THE DEER HUNT".

They headed up to Boulder Mountain with Frank's mom, Anita, his brother Rick and his wife.  His Nephew Kevin and his wife and kids.  Frank and the boys stayed with Anita in her trailer, and she even brought Toby!!....Logan was thrilled to sleep with him every night (oh, did I mention that Toby lives with Grandma now??...we get visitation :))

There was food, fire, fishing, four wheeler, and well....DEER!  Yes, they "caught" a deer!  I'm pretty sure they had the time of their lives :)  They invited me and and Carly, but we respectfully declined since we've been hankerin for a little mommy-daughter time anyway...

Our weekend included a sleepover at Grandmas, watched her cousins Emma and Sage in a play, shopping at City Creek, games with Grandma, lunch dates, dinner dates, late movie night with cousins Hannah and Rachel, nail painting, and trying out new hairstyles off pinterest.  I have a really good time with Carly.  She's a sweet girl, and I love her SO much!!!

Funny Letter

Went to the mailbox to find this letter addressed to

me and Frank complete with postage...

 

This boy is way too big for his britches!

 

 

SHOOT!

Frank and I were wondering what we should do first thing Saturday morning, and here's what we came up with...

 

Ya, those ^^^^ were NOT our guns!  But everytime one fired, I practically peed my pants.  Those are some big guns, and I was sure I was going to die there...but I didn't :)

We're pretty amateur, and everyone is so serious over there.  Kind of intimidating.  Frank needed to fire the gun to make sure everything was ready for the deer hunt in a couple of weeks!!

 

Quick Trip

Frank had six tickets to the BYU vs. BSU game last week, so he called up Ted in Boise, and invited him and his boys to go with Frank and our boys.  Frank asked if I felt bad a didn't get to go.....Uhhhh....NO!  The gals stayed back for some much needed girl talk!

We decided to stay the weekend to reconnect with our Boise roots.  The next morning Frank and Ted went golfing while me and Leslie talked even more :)  Me and Leslie went to lunch, a little shopping, then went home to get ready for our date at this cool restaurant FORK.  So, so yummy!

The next day was lunch, a movie, boating, and an adult dinner date again!

 

Our kids have so much fun with the Wagners!  Thought I'd share this little time capsule of Chase and Sam :)

It's been six years since we've moved from Boise, and these handsome boys are just as close as ever!

BIG TIME

Carly, Hannah, and Rachel Half Time Performance with the Davis High D'Ettes!

These little girls melt my little girl heart!!

Back to School

It was a fun summer, but glad that school is

BACK IN SESSION!

LOGAN SIXTH GRADE 

 

CHASE FOURTH GRADE

 

 

CARLY SECOND GRADE

 

 

LATER ALLIGATORS!