Black-Eyed (but without the peas)

You better be a good one, 2013!

 

I've got my eyes on you.

2012 Spectacular

When telling personal anecdotes, I seem to always be saying "I couldn't make this stuff up".

So, I figured I'd do a little recap of some of our more absurd highlights of the year.

 

 

January

The highlight of Kyle and Reed's birthday party was experiencing the hilarity of 77 mph winds in a hurricane simulator.

February

Something I never thought I'd witness: JR shares his food in an act of Valentine's Day brotherly love.

March

While visiting my parents, we saw first hand that lightning and gas don't play nice together.

 

 

April

My first (and last) sighting of The Lobster Zone. 

(Catch a lobster, he's yours to eat!)

May

Elvis serenaded me at the Bolder Boulder.

June

I spent an afternoon babysitting a chick that lost its mother.

(Or more accurately, I babysat a chick that was chased down and caught by my Wild Ones til its mom thought the coast was clear and came back.)

July

We had a "celebrity" encounter on the square in Crockett, Texas.

Lesa from Storage Wars Texas.

 

 

 

August

It was touch and go between Kyle and a peacock.

 

 

 

September

Giant stacks of onion rings are the new cookie bouquet.

 

October

Second "celebrity" sighting of the year.

(3rd if you count Elvis.)

 November

We spent Thanksgiving with a one-eyed dog.

December

The kids still didn't behave, and I kept forgetting to move the elf. 

I think he should visit for about a week next year.

Happy, Happy

It seems our house guests of the four legged kind are not only beautiful, but have exotic names.

You'll remember back in Durango we kept Fiona.

 

This time, we had Zoe for a few days.

Zoe's mom is my friend, Debbie. (You might  remember I fell in front of her house while running the other day.)

 

 

Just look at that happy face.

She's like the dog version of Buddy the Elf. "I just like to smile. Smiling's my favorite."

 

 

She's as big as she is sweet.

The kids are already ready for her to come back!

Fashion Fabulous Friday

Santa really came through for JR in the ski accessory department.

A new jacket, pants, helmet, and goggles.

 

 

Definitely the most fashion fabulous kid on the mountain!

And if you're wondering why his face is all covered up...the high was 4.

That's right, 4.

Like it Never Happened

As of 7:30 last night, you wouldn't even know Christmas happened in this house.

Granny Sherry came over yesterday and the three of us got it all put away.

 

I love it going up, and I love looking at it, but it sure feels good when it's all put away.

(Although the house looks so empty!)

 

And even though you can't tell it, Christmas did happen.

 

 

Granny Sherry gave all the boys "Uff Da" sweatshirts.

'Uff da' is a Norwegian saying that Granny Sherry and Reed say.

It seems to me they say it when they're tired of doing something, stressed out, or have lots to do at once.

I looked it up, and Wikipedia says, "Within Scandinavian-American culture, Uff da frequently translates into: I am overwhelmed."

 

 

Speaking of the Norwegians, Granny Sherry made the entire Christmas dinner. (Hallelujah!)

Including Swedish meatballs, and of course, lefse...which is what Reed is eating.

JR was super excited about his new gun.

It's a .243.

(I don't know what that means, or what it can do, but he was excited.)

Kyle got a new Perry the Platypus.

He's bigger and "talks". Kyle is in love.

 

And Jason and I got each other the same thing.

 

Now on to New Year's!

Santa Was Here

These three were sweatin' it out til the end.

Kyle gave Sam (our elf on the shelf) extra kisses and hugs as he said goodbye to him last night. 

 

Guess they were on the nice list after all.

 

 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!

Luke 2:11

Feliz Navidad!

Feliz Navidad from the most Norwegian looking one my kids. (Reed)

 

(If you can't tell: that's Santa at the beach, wearing a sombrero, and shaking a maraca.)