Happy Birthday Caleb

My Caleb had his crown birthday!!  He turned 11 on the 11th.  He was DYING to have a birthday party, so Casey & I let him choose if he wanted presents from us or a party.  Because seriously.....how do people afford both??!!

 We ended up planning his party at the trampoline park in Ogden.  The party included pizza, so with a bunch of hungry kids that was a bonus!  We did end up buying him two gifts.  The sweet shirt he is wearing (came with a camo jacket that you'll see in other pictures) and a framed picture with his name.

It was such a fun place!!  Basketball, dodge ball, slides, & obstacle courses.  Luke had a blast.  In fact, I'm pretty sure that everyone did!

 Since Caleb is still loving the WW2, we had a army/camouflage theme.  It turned out pretty cute considering there was a ton of green & brown.

 Josh Johns, Dreyson Dietrich (his bestie), Hector Villings, Taylor, Caleb, Ben Johns, Sophie Bywater, Allie Glenn & RJ Olsen.

 We didn't have enough room in the van & the truck to take everyone.  Angela was nice enough to host a girls night with Rylee & Alexa.  Nails, face masks,  dinner & a movie!  Self care at its finest.

He loved the play on words with his cake. BDay instead of DDay.

 Look at his smile.  I love it.  He is such a smart boy.  He doesn't like to read unless the book has pictures in it.  He also only likes books with nothing but facts and he retains the information that he reads.  I remember he was having a conversation with his Grandpa & Uncle about the war and they couldn't remember the Generals name and Caleb piped up, you mean General Douglas MacArthur?  He is doing great in school and his sense of humor right on point.  He asked Casey what time it was once and in classic dad joke fashion Casey replied, "Time for you to get a watch."  Caleb replied with, "Time for you to get a new joke."

 His favorite birthday meal hasn't changed in years!!  Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, garlic bread & apple slices.  Happy Birthday Boy!!!

Kitchen Makeover

Casey & I decided that the house was ready for some improvements.  We started in November with the kitchen and upstairs bathroom counter tops.  The bathrooms sink has always been badly chipped, so a new sink was definitely needed.  And look at that fancy new potty!!

Here is an after shot of the bathroom.  It turned out so pretty!!  (please note the floor in this picture)

 Here is a before shot of the kitchen.  I don't know why - and I know it seems weird - but I have always felt like I live in someone else's house.  It's never felt like mine.  Hopefully these improvements will help me with that weirdness.  We've only lived here for 13 years.

Along with the new counter tops, we were planning on getting new carpet throughout the house.  Then my brain went into overdrive and I asked Casey if he could tear out the kitchen floor, put down new floor and extend it all the way into the bathroom.  He really is super-man!  My wish was granted!  He had the best helpers tearing out nails and the old floor boards.

 Dinner on the floor during the craziness!

 I love how he is with all of our kids.  He always let's them be right up in his business.  

Casey is amazing when it comes to problem solving.  Our new sink is significantly deeper than the last one AND the disposal ended up on the opposite side than before.  After a few days he had it figured out and it works like a charm.  Luke was there every step of the way.

The after pictures of the counter tops & the subway tile back-splash.  Is it dumb that it makes me happy?  It is so pretty.  So new.  And I spend probably 3/4 of my day in this particular area and I absolutely love it.  Picking out a slab of granite was so hard!  The samples and the actual slabs don't even look the same.  I wanted one with flecks of brown to match the cabinets, but also wanted it to be light gray or white to brighten up the kitchen.  The old stuff was yellow and I really wanted to get away from that.  We decided on Colonial White.

The kitchen floor went in so smoothly!  But the bathroom was another story.  After several youtube videos and trips to Ace Casey figured it out.  It really does blow my mind how patient he is and how driven he is to figure things out.  Definitely something I should work on within myself.

The finished floors are amazing!!  They are perfection.  Casey did such a great job!  I know his knees were killing him, but man oh man.  It looks so nice.  It is easy to clean, and the color is so pretty.

 We had R&S marble in Brigham do our counter tops & back splash.  I WOULD NOT recommend giving them your business.  They were amazing to work with at the beginning,  but there was way too much crazy toward the end of it.  And I'm still not 100% satisfied with a couple of things.  We got our flooring through Hales Bros in Tremonton and they were great to work with.  We are planning on putting a fresh coat of paint on the walls and have them do our carpet this coming spring.

November

Playing in the leaves!

 Down in the trenches one Saturday morning.  WW2 fascination still going strong.

 The most darling Indian & pilgrim in the world!

 My boys getting ready to put Christmas lights up on the house.

 The sweetest pinewood derby car, or should I say tank, ever.  

 While Casey & I were on our Anniversary get-away, my mom had these cute stickers for the girls and saved some for the boys!

 Taylor & Caleb made an entry for the Yearbook cover this year.  I love them both!

The lights on the Christmas tree this year were total jerks.  I've said it once and I'll say it again, Casey has so much dang patience.  I would've scrounged up some money and bought a new tree.

Nutcracker

I decided this year to take Taylor, Rylee & Lexi out of basic dance class and to put them into a ballet class.  Less shake your booty, more point your toes.  

I thought that it would be so nice to take them to see the Nutcracker.  Ballet West was doing a few shows at Weber State University at the end of November, so my mom & I got to take them to the ballet. 

  My mom read them the Nutcracker story on the way to Ogden.

 Getting a selfie in before the show starts!!  Or is it a groupie?

 These twins and their bond is so fun to watch.  They have always been a couple of posers whenever the camera comes out.  They didn't enjoy the show like I thought they would.  Rylee took a little snooz-a-roo and Taylor was pretty disappointed when it wasn't over at intermission.  I guess they are still a smidge to young to appreciate it.

One of the highlights of my evening was watching Lexi suck her Chuck-a-Rama ice cream through a straw.  Innocence, cuteness, those lashes, that hair, my baby.

Thanksgiving

This year I let Taylor & Rylee help me with the desserts for Thanksgiving.  Rylee picked a lemon cream pie & Taylor helped with the pumpkin cheesecake.  It may have tried my patience a smidge letting them help, but they did GREAT!

These little ladies have grown up so much and I feel like I missed it.  Throwing in that extra set twins made for a busy last several years.

Thanksgiving was celebrated at Brad & Mona's this year.  It was a small crowd, Brad, Mona, Shelby, Malissa, McKayla, and the 7 of us.  But the food was still fabulous and dessert was divine.

 Mona was prepared with an after dinner Christmas ornament craft.

 While the after dinner snooze fest started for Shelby, Malissa & Brad - Casey, Mona & I got our selfies on. 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING.  I really do have so much to be thankful for.

Anniversary Getaway

What??!!  A getaway?  My parents took the girls, Casey's parents took the boys, and we were GONE!  Jackson Hole bound.  We arrived at the Parkway inn and checked into our room.  It was an average room - but since it was the off season Casey asked for an upgrade because we were celebrating our 15 year anniversary  -  upgrade granted!  And for free!!  We got a fabulous room!!  We grabbed some Wendy's for dinner - because we be fancy - and went to bed.

The next morning we bundled up and walked to main street to find some breakfast.  Then we did a smidge of window shopping before heading out for the day.  Window shopping....because almost everything was closed!  Dang tourist town.

Just 2 or 3 days before we arrived in Jackson they closed all the entrances to Yellowstone except for the North entrance.  We still headed towards the south entrance to see how far we could get.   Just out of Jackson we saw a mama moose and her twins.  With the mountain range behind them, it sure was beautiful.  And there was a total crazy lady taking pictures and talking her face off.  What would a wild animal sighting be without a crazy nearby?  It would be quiet.  That's what I learned.

We stopped at a turnout to take some pictures of the Tetons.  We weren't able to get far on our drive, but it was still pretty beautiful.  I've never been in the area when it's covered in snow.  And this was the early snow!  I can't imagine what it looks like in January.

Day 2 - we discovered a yummy bakery for breakfast.  The Bunnery.  It was dang good!  Afterwards, we headed to teton village.  The tram ride was closed for another week.  We really went at the wrong time!  It must've been everyone's slow time. right between the summer rush and the snow bunnies.  We headed towards the teton entrance and found a hiking trail.  I'm a bit out of shape, and my knee kills me.  A little ways in Casey fashioned me a walking stick.  True love, right?  We found a really pretty creek a ways in.  

It was so quiet.  I'm not use to quiet AT ALL.  It was different!

And all I could think about was animals. We were in the wild people!  I just knew a  grizzly bear or bull moose was going to come out of hiding and come in for the kill.  It was a pretty used trail - so I really doubt that would've happened.  I just have a vivid imagination I guess.

On our way back to Jackson we stopped by the snake river.  It was a little chilly!  The way the water and sky bounce off of each other and make the most magnificent blue is so pretty.  That color of blue just makes me happy!  When we got back to Jackson we went to this tiny, moldy smelling theater and watched Bohemian Rhapsody.  I liked it!  The place was packed....and we were definitely the youngest people there.

 I had a total freak out moment.  When we were on our way towards the snake river I looked over at Casey and said, "OH ME HELL!  When we came this way forever ago we took a picture by the river and you were wearing that exact same sweatshirt!"  He didn't believe me.  Don't doubt this stellar memory.  Left picture is 2004 and right picture is 2018.

We tried some wood fire pizza for dinner and Casey got so freaking sick.  We spent most of the night in the room.  He was in one certain room....and I was holed up in the king size bed, with a fluffy blanket, heater blasting, deck door cracked open, watching TV and cross stitching.

We ate at the bunnery for breakfast again the next morning and then headed out to see our babies.  We are so lucky to have found sitters that love them!  Stopping for a drink, we thought this gas station had the weirdest name!  It's quite disturbing if you think about it long enough.