A Year in Review 2012

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Sledding in the cold!

So a couple of days after Christmas, we decided to go sledding.  I called Shantelle and invited her but she thought that we were crazy because it was super cold.  The temperature was around 10 degrees. I thought if we were bundled up enough, we would be ok.  Well, the wind made it even colder so it was freezing!!!!  The boys went down the hill a few times but were miserable!  On our way back to the car, they stopped at the park and played on the slides for a little bit.  

Merry Christmas!

The boys didn't wake Matt and I up on Christmas morning until after 8:30.  I couldn't believe that they slept in for so long.  I found out that Chase had been awake since 6:00 that morning and just stayed in bed and read his book until Bridger woke up.  I love the picture of the boys waiting at the top of the stairs to come down and see their presents.  They boys were very happy with their Christmas presents.  Santa even brought some presents for Sophie.  Unfortunately her snowman didn't last too long.  Chase got some Lego sets, a basketball hoop, a chess set, some books and a mini pool table.  

Bridger was ecstatic with all of his toys.  He got hulk gloves that say funny hulk sayings, Thor's hammer, and Captain America's shield, a puppy dream light and a doll.  Yes, that's right.... a doll.  He wanted a doll really bad for Christmas and when I asked him about it he said that he wanted a doll so it will help him be a good dad.  He said that it will help him know how to take care of his kids one day and brush their hair.  How can you refuse that. It was very sweet when he opened his doll.  Matt was a very good sport about it!!!!I think all the super hero stuff evened things out.    

 We had a busy day with our families.  We went over to the A's in the afternoon and then the R's in the evening.  We had such a wonderful day with our families.  Dad bought the boys a "Lab" calendar that has a picture of a lab for every day of the year.  Chase was very excited with his Wii NBA game.  The boys both got playmobil cars from Grandpa and Grandma R.  Like always, they were spoiled rotten!!!

St Nicholas Day and other traditions

We came home from our California trip and our house was in a mess.  Half of our house still needed to be painted.  It took us awhile to get our decorations out but I at least got out the pyramid so we could have "advent."  We had a "St. Nicholas" party with the Richins on December 2. Dad always find the chocolate letters for each of the kids.  It's something that Bridger and Chase look forward to.  Bridger loves to eat his big "B." Mom made an advent wreath for each family.  We have searched for years looking for an advent wreath.  Mom ended up making them.  It's such a special gift!!!!  I'm so thankful for the traditions I've been taught and now I can carry them on with my own family.  St. Nicholas was able to find us all the way in America.  The boys were very excited with their One Direction CD's.  Bridger got the older one and Chase got the newest release.  They also got some micro race cars and new snow boots. The best surprise was that our carpet arrived so I thought that was the best gift of all.  

I love the picture of Bridger wearing my wooden shoes.  I was a little bit younger than him when I got them.  It seems surreal that my little boy can wear my wooden shoes.  I love the art work that Bridger has brought home this holiday season.  His class did a Polar Express party.  He wore his pajamas to school.  He came home with reindeer food and a polar express ticket around his neck.  He's made a lot of fun crafts like a reindeer hat and a christmas tree that he had to paint and cut out ornaments.  

With all the remodeling, I felt I was behind in everything.  I debated about a Christmas card and decided to do one at the last minute.  So after church on Sunday, I made the boys take a few pictures with the dog for our Christmas card.  I ended up taking over 30 pictures and luckily one turned out.

Remodeling

After being in our house for 10 years, we finally tackled the project of painting and new carpet.  Our back door had rotted out so Matt's brother Mike, helped us replace the back door.  Of course the day they did it, it rained all day.  Our nephew Jake, works for a painting company and they were willing to drive down to our area and paint our house.  We basically painted our whole house except for the three bedrooms upstairs (the two boy's rooms and then the guest room).  It was a big project!!! It was like moving because I had to box up all the closets and pack everything away so they could paint.  We had they start the project while we were in California.  It made it really nice because they painted the main family room, kitchen, entry way, and formal room while we were gone.

Our old paint before......

during.....

After!!!!

You can't really tell in this picture but it's a soft blue, green, grey. When we came home from our trip I walked in and saw this room first and I fell in love with it.  I was so happy with the color!  I changed the color I had chosen for our bedroom and changed it to this color.  We painted the den the same color, just one shade darker.  I was worried that it would be too dark, but I love it.  It only took me over a year to decide on a color.

We painted the rest of the house in Kiliem Beige (SW color).  It's a nice neutral beige that matches our tile.  I wanted to go a warmer color but it was really hard to find a color that matched our grey tones in our tile.  I was very happy with how it turned out!  Our carpet arrived as they were finishing up the painting job.  I didn't know if it was coming because I hadn't heard anything from the carpet guy.  The doorbell rang on December 6th just after the boys had left for school.  I was still in my pajamas.  I opened the door and there was the carpet crew!!!  It was the best St. Nicholas present I could have received.  Our carpet is a nice plush variated brown. I love to walk barefoot on the carpet!  I love it!!!

We painted our bedroom in the same color as the kitchen.  I call it my happy room because I love the color especially when it's nice and sunny!

California Trip

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Happy Thanksgiving

The boys have had so much at school this week.  Chase had a mountain man roundezvous.  He wanted to dress up like an indian.  Earlier in the week, Bridger had made an Indian hat so he let Chase add that to his costume.  Bridger learned all about the first Thanksgiving feast and the pilgrims.  He made the cutest Mayflower boat with him sailing in it. He brought a little treat to share to school for his class's thanksgiving feast.  

Angie, Sammee, and Mikayla came in town for Thanksgiving.  Angie and the girls came down Tuesday night to go to Chase's soccer game. Afterwards she took the boys up to the Adams' to hang out till Thursday. They had so much fun! They played lots of card games with Mikayla and Ashtyn. They loved singing "One Direction" songs together. Im so glad they were able to spend time with their cousins and Angie. It was our year to eat the big feast with the Richins/Taylor family. But it ended up being a quiet dinner at Marilyn's because Bud's family didn't come and Mylissa's family was in California. So we cooked for a couple of days all for a 20 minute meal. Thanksgiving is not one of my favorite holidays because you cook for hours and then it's over in 20 minutes and then it takes forever to clean up! One day I'm going to Little America for thanksgiving dinner! I do have to say that everything tasted wonderful!   We had probably 12 pies! My favorite is always the mashed potatoes and mom's homemade rolls! She made monkey bread! While we were eating, Shantelle misunderstood Matt and thought that he said that she was a good eater. (No one knew that she was pregnant). So it turned into a BIG joke that we're good eaters. We say all the time to our kids "you're being such a good eater!" But that's just not polite to say that to adults. So it was really funny when Shantelle thought Matt said that to her. 

In the evening we went over to the Adams' for pie. Since Angie was in town, we celebrated "the nativity." The boys set up the nativity while Ardell read the scriptures. Afterwards, all the grand kids opened their ornament from grandpa and grandma Adams. Chase got a little Boy Scout ornament because he loves scouts and a piano because he's getting so good on the piano. Bridger got a little school house because he loves school and a little bike because he's so good riding his bike. Charlene always puts so much time and effort into the ornaments. Then we played "turkey" (bingo). The boys were so excited to play! A few of the gifts were money and the boys thought they had hit the jack pot. Jake won the "hat" and Bridger just laughed and laughed at Jake!!!! It was such a fun night! I'm so grateful for family!