Boys and Guys...are they different?

After church this afternoon Savanah and I played a family game of Journey to Zarahemla (even though no one else played) at the kitchen table , the boys used the other end of the table to set up lots of GUYS! It was called the biggest guy battle ever! There were Star Wars guys, the guys with diapers (binocular guys-have we had too many babies around?), army guys, funny guys, marvel comic guys, knights and just lots of guys. So, the rules of engagement are "you just through your ammo guys at the other guys, and then you take away all the dead guys (the ones that fell down) in a big pile." Game done...what fun! Boys and guys...they really aren't the same thing!

Is It Dead?

Well...it (the rabbit) was alive when Garfield brought it into the courtyard. It was just "playing dead" (not a good idea!) when Garfield started eating it alive...you might want to be done here if you have a weak constitution! Andrew just went outside again and the rabbit's head is about a foot from it's body and Andrew said "that looks like an olive" (please don't compare dead things to real foods that I sometimes enjoy eating), which was really just part of the heart that had been partly eaten. Shiver! Shiver! Dead things really didn't bother me when I was younger, but now, I can't help but smiling that ugh gross smile, that means I'm trying not to throw up! I really am grateful that we have a hunting cat that gets rid of the little critters that would otherwise be eating my garden, but in the courtyard???, couldn't he eat them in the garden? I would appreciate that SO much more! And...now that he's done with it...I guess...can I give the rest to the chickens? Is that a gross question?

So Old School! (Referring to me!)

The Sister Missionaries live with us (well in our guest house). I see them almost everyday, with their contagious smiles, perfectly ironed clothes and beautiful eyes glowing with the light of Christ. A few nights ago we invited them in at about 9:45pm to have a cinnamon roll and to get to know our new sister who is from Australia. Sister Smith just happened to have spent the last few years at BYU-Hawaii (where Ryon and I met) and so just for fun we pulled out the dusty photo album and looked through those fun days. She was happy to see the same BYU-Hawaii land marks that she misses, and then she said, "Oh how old school (pointing to us in the picture), that is too funny!" Meaning the way we were dressed in t-shirts and jean shorts...I guess (I don't really know-I'm stuck in that style really). Ryon and I had recently been talking about our complete lack of seeing any "style" now a days, Ryon's insight was that we just don't see it like young kids do, even though it is probably still there...somewhere. Anyway, we figured out Ryon was in Australia for the World Boy Scout jamboree the year Sister Smith was born... Wow! We're practically old enough to be the parents of adults...it's coming so quickly! I guess I'll be 38 when I have my first 18 year old. Here's a serious question, what do I need to know when I have an 18 year old? I only have a few years left to learn it! AHHHHHH!

These are Some Good Times!

All my boys, sticking together to work and play together.

I love these moments! "You're gonna miss this! You're gonna want this back. You're gonna wish these days hadn't gone by so fast. These are some good times; so take a good look around. You may not know it now, but you're gonna miss this!"...but what if I do? I know I'm going to miss this...I so keenly feel it, I will want this back, the little fingers covered in sticky mess, smiling at me, the little giggles and helpless cries, helping with Algebra, watching the boys play football games with each other in the yard, watching them suck up life as fast as they can. These are some amazingly emotionally charged, carefree times (all my children sleep through the night, they all dress themselves, go potty alone, feed themselves, and want me around but don't ultra need me like little babies -whew!, I take long looks around, trying to inhale all the sights and sounds and smells and feelings of this time(it's just perfect), but everyone keeps growing and changing...What a Heavenly gift I have been given! LIFE! I am in love, I am loved, I am feeling overwhelmed with God's charity...a wonderfully free gift...simple...yet just perfect!

Never Been to Lego Land!

As a Christmas gift for our lego building, lego loving boys (Ryon included), Ryon built the boys a lego station where they can design and build everything lego, including a trebuchet that Eli will use for his science fair project! I included a few photos of the great things the boys have made, Nathaniel, Andrew, Eli, and Ry guy really love their new spot!(Although this first was taken on the stove, for some reason!)

An underwater scene with a sunken treasure!

Family Water Balloon Fight!

The weather has been so nice and warm the last few days...it just seemed like water balloon weather. And most people who have spent time around me know, I really love balloons. Well it must run in the genes, because the kids got the balloons out yesterday, and started a long drawn out water fight...which has lasted for almost 2 days! And pretty much today...it was everyone (except mom) against Dad! What a great dad he is! Lots of laughs, lots of running around crazy, and lot of smiles, it doesn't get better than this!

These balloons held a lot more water than a normal water balloon!

Notice the long green water balloon in Zach's hands!

Eli reeling after being doused by dad.

Daily Dress Up Time!

Every Girl Has Short Hair Sometimes!

Savanah

Year End Photo Highlights!

The photos are in order from January to December, except for the first two photos...

We hope you have a Happy New Year!