Traditions-Winter programs

Now that we have a school age child we are involved in winter recital/programs.  I love it.  I love seeing the happiness of children when they sing or perform.  I know how much work goes into programs from my former teacher days and I admire teachers  and students who take the time and work to put together a recital.  It's no small task to memorize ten songs, the moves and put together a back drop.  I am fortunate to be a part of a community that values CRAZY. 

Jara performing a little part in the scarf song dance.  Does anyone else cry every time they watch their child perform?  I'm not even sure why I cry?  I do over everything.  I think even if it were a science demonstration I would be crying.  

Jara loves ballet.  She began classes this year and it has really resonated with her.  After her first lesson she came home and I asked her how was it and she told me, "it's very calming mom."  hmm Maybe I should take lessons too.  She is very serious about it but enjoys it.  I am happy that we found something she clicks with. 

Traditions-Gingerbread Houses

We take this business very seriously.

Okay maybe not

This is my grinch face.  

This is how I feel about g houses.  

That's why we get the kit at a grocery store and may or may not end up gluing the bad boy together.

I am by nature a very impatient person, gingerbread houses do not help this.  

Other details

My attempt at a non-food present/neighbor gift.

Jara with her darling, detailed gingerbread people, she's patient.  

Traditions-The Tree

Jed thought it would be a good idea to start a new family tradition this year.  The hunt for the perfect tree.  I think he really just wanted an excuse to use the reciprocating saw but I went along with it because I really do love the smell of fresh pine all Christmas season.  At one point Jack did tell us "I can't feel my toes they are frozen!" and I did demand an immediate exit from the truck with my children due to safety concerns but all ended well.  

Elise and I trekking.  Elise liked the snow and kept trying to eat it.  It was very soft and powdery.

Such a sweet little "cupcake"

Posing by the nice icy river.  Jack could still feel his feet, hence the smile.

Holding the tree they picked out for their room.

Dragging her own "baby tree" 

Jed and his saw, I mean tree, the perfect tree, the tree we hiked through snow and slid on ice in the truck for.  Well worth it.

The success factor outweighed the negative so I think this will be the first of many happy tree cutting for years to come.  

kiddie pics 2013

Jara 7

Jack 5

Elise 2 (she's showing you)

All three of the monkeys

And we're done.  

Not bad for 10 minutes and the sun already having gone down.

Thanksgiving

First, we went on a little hike with our neighbors.  Mice bones may or may not have been sneaked home.

We played outside at Grandma's

Jack is sporting is hand crafted, Native-American band.  We named him Big Bear, Jara's name was Pretty Peacock and Elise was appropriately named the Screeching Flamingo. 

I led the children in a rousing game of Thanksgiving Bingo.  I nominated myself as the entertainment chairwoman.  We also made the aforementioned headbands and pine-cone turkeys, complete with beady little eyes.

The kid table, minus the babies trapped in high chairs.  

Play time with Elise

The classic "post turkey happy Thanksgiving" picture.  Someone's always screeching. 

Building Bridges

There is beauty in bridges.  Why do you think people are always hanging pictures of them all over their houses.  Manhattan, Brooklyn, London all famous but not as awesome as these bad boys.  

Jed's company is currently working on a project to build three pedestrian bridges, 

one of which will be over I-15 right before Cheyenne.  Drug dealers on the east and west side are rejoicing at this unprecedented level of access.  Kidding.  The city has deemed it necessary for the good of the community and MVCI was awarded the job.  Putting them in takes a lot of hard work, planning and preparation.  No longer do I drive over or under bridges without appreciating the workmanship of such a structure.  And not just the physical workmanship but the stuff you don't see too.  For example, what agreements had to go down to get that bridge in place. At one point Jed was negotiating down a long black hallway with Mickey from the Poker Palace.  Not.Making.This.Up.  When your husband has to step out of church to take a call from a pit boss, you're thankful you are in a place where your prayers are probably headed straight to heaven.  Don't worry all ended well.  However, that is just one of many details Jed has been responsible for along the course of this job.  I admire his hard work and kinda want to dedicate one of these bridges to me and my kids for our loving support. It takes a family to build a bridge.  Oh the lovely metaphorical places I could take this post. I'll spare you if you promise to thank a construction worker today, even if your commute is wrecked.    

J+J

Phone rings
Jed: Hey you wan-
Joshlyn: YES!
Jed: I was going to say-
Joshlyn:  YES! whatever, yes!  Let's get the hell out of here!

So we ended up at the UNLV vs. Omaha game.  We had awesome seats, eight rows up, and even though UNLV is stinkin' it up this year it was an exciting game.  And thank goodness it was a basketball game and not something terrible.  I could have agreed to anything in my moment of crazed weakness.  Giant ball of yarn untying...sure.  

With the exception of musicals, monster trucks, and paint ball crap, all of which I do not care for but Jed does, we really do have similar "likes."  Probably because Jed is extremely agreeable.  And probably because sometimes I'm just glad to escape. 

Jed's Pet

I used to be his pet

I've been replaced.  

By that black-furred vixen you see in the above picture.  

And she's taking over Jack too!  

Ungrateful cat.

Who needs a dog?

Elise The Party Animal

If there is one picture I could make my favorite for 2013.  I'm thinking it might be this one...

Takin' a Hike

Well it's no mystery that Jed is a busy guy and I am cagey and can only stay in the house for so long, which yes, has led to a few unwise choices, (i.e. three kids in Old Navy) but this specific Saturday I packed up the kids, Ashley and her girls AND my mom to head into the wild "red" yonder.  Specifically Red Rock.  I love to turn the children loose in the sand.  Many hours of entertainment are to be had.  Elise was obsessed with all of the holy rocks and wanted to sit in the big "ho's" and the older kids thought they were mountain goats.  They are definitely not afraid of heights.  I may have passed on my fear of flying creatures to them but they also inherited my lack of "fear of heights" gene.  

All the happy little hikers.   

See...money cannot buy such happiness as dirt and rocks can provide. 

Drawing pictures in the sand.  Jack spelled "MOM" ahhh

and

Jara made a kitty cat.  I love her kitties, big ears and long tails, that's how we like em.

Me and my sister, who I coerced into making this trip and past trips as well.  She is kind to go along with my madness.  I enjoy her presence.  It's always more fun (not to be confused with funner Ashley) when she comes too!  I wish I had a picture of us with my mom too, however, she is elusive and hides well from the camera.

We had lunch, hiked, rolled in the sand and then went home and cleaned red sand out of cracks and the bathtub for a week.  Happy trails!

Veteran's Day

We are all enlisted till the conflict is o'er;

Happy are we!  Happy are we!

Soldiers in the army, 

    There's a bright crown (rock truck) in store;

.

We shall win and wear it by and by.

On a more serious note, I am extremely grateful to those men and women who serve our country.  I was very touched and humbled by the veteran's I happened to find myself in the midst of.  The flag in our pictures was attached to the chair of a brave man who had visibly sacrificed all for his country and I realized I need to thank my Heavenly Father every day for men like that who selflessly protect my way of life and freedoms.  I am ashamed that I was too scared of offending or patronizing him to say anything, but I am indeed grateful for so great a sacrifice and will try harder to appropriately acknowledge him and others like him in the future.  

Another Party Post

Jack's party we kept simple: cake, pinata, family.  The ninja turtle 4 foot pinata was a success, even if he was a "little cold" if you know what I mean.  

Jack showing" those monkeys the business."   Lest you think I would actually use that line, let me explain... Jack got a talking Raphael for his birthday and that's one of his best sayings.  He uses it a lot and now so does Jack.  I apologize in advance if your kid comes home saying "lets show those monkeys the business" blame it on the ninja turtle.

Why does it scare me when my precious little daughters derive so much delight in maiming poor Raph with a bat?

A little fuzzy, but here's the wish making moment, complete with a ninja turtle leg full of candy.  

Happy Everything

The party of all parties.  The second weekend in October we celebrated Jed's, parents mission, fare-thee-well.  Kathy threw the Happy Everything party.  It was spectacular! 

The big cousins, the two sets of twins and baby girls are missing.  Ya that's a lot of kids/fun/cousins/noise.

We played .  

Jed being good at something competitive. 

Joshlyn being good at something non-competitive. 

We ate.  Oh how we ate.  Blessed, blessed food.  So much lovely food. 

The missionaries.  South Africa.  Holy smokes!

We laughed.  Of course it was all missionary approved and no one used any form of Cousin Eddie lines or innuendos or blatant inappropriateness.  

We tortured the children.  

Try getting 15 kids under the age of 12 to hold still with cards for a group picture.  

The happy family.  And I must say Kathy, I think we look even better than the Romney's.

We will miss you!  Thank you for the wonderful weekend P+K!