Cookies for Valentine's

We just returned from a great trip to Thatcher, where we did many fun, unpictured things along with making sugar cookies with Grandma Allred and cousins on Saturday.

So much more fun (for me!) when there's other adults to help bake and clean.

And the winner is...

Not Brendon =(

But he did get second!

It was the pinewood derby for our cub scouts last night. Brendon was hoping for a repeat of last year's win, and things were looking good. He tied for first, which meant a race off just like last year. Only this time his car lost the race off. Brendon was a great sport about it all (of course!) and we were so excited for Patrick to win his first pinewood derby (he's only been a scout for a couple of months!).

Brendon crossing his fingers, hoping his car might win the race off.

Patrick celebrating his win and Brendon realizing he's lost.

A race that Brendon's car actually won (yep, that means his car's in front if you care to identify it).

And here are his adoring fans. Suzanna was way more upset that he lost than he was.

I just knew it...

After such a fun week, we had to have a couple of not so fun ones. We're on week two of sickness around here, but I'm sure it won't be the end since Brendon hasn't caught the cold yet. They've all been taking turns suffering through the never ending runny noses and coughs. Such fun.

The good news is that my two little boys have been best buds through most of the sickness. Ty got sick first, and Jonathan entertained him with wagon rides.

And even tolerated him when he wanted to be RIGHT next to him. Every time Jonathan sat down, Ty plopped down next to him. If Jonathan moved, Ty moved. Even if it was only a few inches away.

Now let's just hope that Ty can be as nice to Jonathan now that Jonathan is sick. Doubtful =)

Fun Week

So it's the 26th of January, and I have yet to get my camera down from the cupboard shelf in 2009. Luckily, my friends are much better than me at remembering to bring their cameras along on fun adventures and I have a few pictures to share from our week of fun.

Last Monday for the MLK holiday, Erika and I took our kids to the McCormick-Stillman Train Park over in Scottsdale. The kids had a great time riding the train and carousel, going through the little train museum, and just playing at the parks there.

Suzanna, Lacey and Jessica waiting in line for the train (you can sort of see the train loaded up in the background).

And Suzanna, Brendon Jarom and Jessica waiting for the carousel ride.

Then on Wednesday, Hillari invited Jonathan, Ty and I to go to the zoo with them. The weather was absolutely perfect, and the zoo was nearly empty, which made for a fabulous visit!

Sareny and Jonathan

Isaac, Sareny, Jonathan and Ty

If you look REALLY close, you can see Ty's bruised head. The poor thing fell at one of the play areas, but he was having so much fun, he didn't let his injuries keep him down!

Hillari says it's ironic that we only took pictures with the animal statues instead of the actual animals...but I think the statues pose much better!

We continued our week of fun with our weekly visit to the park on Thursday (school gets out early on Thursdays). We always have so much fun visiting with friends there!

Brendon and Suzanna kept the fun going with birthday parties for friends over the weekend. Sadly, the weekend was not as glorious for the adults, but we did get a lot of super fun yard work done.

New author to love:

Suzanne Collins

Love her writing! Love the Gregor books--just finished reading the five book series and wish there was more to read about the underworld. And I can't wait until Brendon finishes them so I can talk to him about all the books!! They're children's books, but easily captured my imagination.



I also loved her YA novel, The Hunger Games, and can't wait for the next book in that series, too. She's definitely a new favorite.

Just thought I'd share...

Victory!

Three times over this weekend!

I claim the first as Finder of the Lost Wii Remote.
It had been missing for over a week and was feared gone forever. And yeah, I did a nice victory dance for the kids when I finally found it after about an hour of deep searching. I guess Phil can claim a small part in the discovery since technically it was his idea of where to look.





Second, Phil and I were lucky enough to be given tickets to watch the Suns claim victory over the Mavs on Friday night. So fun to be there!




And third, and most surprising of all, our Cardinals actually won their second playoff game. We had fun watching the game as a family on Saturday night. Well, we watched the first half as a family. Then some of the less devoted fans (or shall we say younger fans) lost interest.





So yeah, pretty fun weekend. Too bad it's over.

Christmas Memories

We had oh so much fun together this Christmas season! Here are just a few highlights:

Acting out the Nativity scene with the Lunts outside for a new twist on a tradition that goes back to my own childhood. Brendon was the donkey, Suzanna an angel, Jonathan a wise man, and Tyler declined his position as a shepherd and settled for mom's lap instead.

Making (and eating) the traditional sugar cookies. Mom frosted a few for neighbors while the kids made their own creations.

Spending Christmas Eve with cousins being "shepherds,"

and sharing talents. Learning Christmas duets with Brendon and Suzanna this year was so much fun!

Getting everything they wanted from Santa--or at least enough of what they wanted to make them happy!

And SNOW!!! We left for Thatcher after opening gifts Christmas morning. A couple days later it snowed and the kids were in heaven.

Presents, time with family celebrating the Savior's birth, and snow...what more could we ask for to have a perfect Christmas?!?