Christmas Card 2015

I love sending Christmas cards. Lots of real life obstacles got in the way this year, but on Dec 20 I told Mark we should hurry and order one from Costco. I spent an hour going through our photos and gave a few to Mark to design a card with. He was less than impressed and I told him I couldn't find any of the ones taken with his real camera. This image was one of the first we found and made the cut. Then we spent half and hour trying to think of what we wanted to say. It was late and we were laughing and laughing as Mark typed Merry Christmas with a million exclamation points. And that also made the cut. Although I wish we could have ordered more and mailed them all out, I'm glad we did something. It's been a beautiful December and I'm thankful to be happy and healthy.

Pet rocks rock

Jane's first day of preschool a couple weeks ago. 

She loves having her 'own thing'.  

She got a rock from soccer practice. Then came home and said she needed a 'spinach box'. She picked a bunch of grass, put it and the rock inside, and said it was her pet. I praised her idea telling her I love pets that you don't have to worry about feeding and that don't poop.

"Bike Rodeo" day at school. 

I wish we biked Siri to school more often! 

...I just remembered I need to change her flat tire :(

She is still in monkey bar phase. Every play ground, all the time. Monkey bars.

We enjoyed celebrating her birthday last week. She's in love with legos from the Grandmas. She has been asking all year for a real bow and arrow, which we got her. I just need to get some hay bales or bags of grass next time we mow to make a target.

Great Grandmother Thackeray. Took this pic of her on the girls when we visited her on her 98th birthday this past Monday!  I'm used to staying as long as the girls can stand (which is maybe 30 minutes), but this time I wish I could have stayed longer, just to chat and do little odds and ends for her around the house.

Right now I'm sitting at my computer, 9:45pm. I stink. Mark and I got to play indoor soccer tonight, the girls came to watch. I need to go shower so I can read some of my book, Boys in the Boat, before I get too tired.  I'm thankful I don't have to work to provide income. One day I hope I will because I want to, but now is not the season. I'm thankful to stay home, make granola, help in Siri's class, visit with the neighbor (which also means do dishes, laundry, etc...but I'm thankful for that too). I'm thankful for a husband who makes it a point to recognize when we don't have the Spirit between us as a family. He turned a very grumpy car ride home into a pleasant one by asking them about colors and numbers. He got a notebook and hat and pretended to be a detective to get them to really clean up their room. He made cookie dough with them and helped clean the kitchen. Life is good.

the good kind of spoiled

I am blessed. I am also sometimes spoiled. Like when my husband shoots a wedding near the city in California where my sister lives, I get to go, and have my other sister and mom watch the childrens while we're away. It was a great Labor Day weekend!

A trailer made out of skate decks. Stay cool Murray.

My happy place: High quality farmers market at the Ferry building!

If I ever find September Snow peaches again I'll buy some. 

Or better yet, find a tree I can plant in my yard so I don't have to pay $3.50 a pound for them.

View from the Coit Tower

the best

ok maybe this was the best

While we were away, Liz was holding down the fort

Pescadero Beach. 

They played while I snuggled in my layers of warm clothes and chatted with Jenn :)

Picnic among Redwoods. And hardly another person in sight!

Mosaic Stairs, the Wharf, and food at Mama's

Walking Kate and Max to school. I loved being able to see their everyday life.

The Memorial Church on the Stanford Campus is amazing. It is definitely worth taking time to visit.

Best people, best weather, best food.

Max's obsession: Monopoly Millionaire Deal. I sincerely tried to win. 

He beat me all 4 times I played him. He's 5 years old.

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this one to make me smile. Soccer sisters :) :) :)

                                       

And a shout out to our amazing Auntie Liz! 

Happy Birthday tomorrow, we are so thankful to have you in our lives!

All Squeeze In

Despite that having a nephew return home from a mission makes me feel old, we couldn't be more excited! Ruby and Jane didn't really know Noah since they were so young, but gave him hugs when he got back like they'd missed their best friend. 

Ruby wears a old jersey on game day so she can be one of them

And then we went on a trip. First time camping with our whole fam and we loved it! Yes, access to bathrooms, showers and pool enhanced our stay :) Thanks to our friends for planning and making it happen.

excuse the morning face

emerald pools

it was hot, like, melting my face off hot. 

I was so proud of Siri and Jane for their hiking and good attitudes.

I first met my friend Haylee in junior high when we started playing soccer together. 

Go avalanche!

we made dutch oven pasta

Ruby loved playing with Gordon

One of my favorite parts was when some asian tourists came and starting taking pictures of Haylee and Anna and Mark and Ruby when we stopped in Bryce on the way home. They just came right up to them like they were animals. Awesome.

Stopped at the Payson Temple on the way home

How cute is this lady! My friend's little girl is unreal. She stole my heart.

And my favorite ever...after we say prayers together as family at night before bed, Ruby always says "all squeeze in!" and she basically forces us into a pile of hugs. Its the best.

As planned

This summer I planned to not have many plans. It was a success!  We have enjoyed sleeping in (which was a dream come true. When Siri was tiny she'd wake up at 5:30am and I thought my life would be one long tired day forever), going to the pool, playing outside, watching movies together, hiking, cooking, and playing house.

bake sale

weeding

4th of July!

crazies

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hiking to Cecret Lake

Siri and Jane both did the high dive this summer!

Dadda teaching his girls to make breakfast!

Took these crazies to see this movie

 Cheesy, yes, but this lady is our gem!  Ruby had ultrasound/xray in July and everything looks normal. We also found out that the gene mutation in the mass that was removed, is not in every cell of her body, which means she is less likely to have cancer in the future. I cried tears of joy and gratitude. Thank you family, friends, strangers, ward council, who have continued to pray for her and us.

It's special to spend time with my Mom and John since they work full time. We like to pop in and visit Grandma Carol at work...and Siri covered her face in post it tape.

We went to the rodeo, sleep over, and parade at Grandma and Grandpas for the 24th. Loved it!

And my dear Aunt Joan on the annual Fetzer 24th of July gathering at her house. I am so very thankful that she asked Mark and I to live in and take care of their home while they went on a mission 2010-2011. 

I admire and love her and her family.

This article in the Ensign gave me the motivation to try rise earlier and get to be earlier. I'm not there yet, but am working at it!  I also got released from Primary (got called as a teacher when we moved in), and am helping with Relief Society activities. I've been in Primary the majority of my post high school life. I don't know what/who prompted the change, but it has been really good for my spirit. I've been soaking in the Gospel Doctrine/Relief Society lessons, and have generally found a renewed energy for learning, studying, and applying the teachings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in my life.

There is so much more I'd love to share, but instead I'm going to get off the computer and take the kids to the library. I LOVE my girls and Mark. Life is good!