Outdoor Expo

Here are some photos of the boys (and a couple elk) from an Outdoor Expo we went to.

Easter

Yes... I have to go back to Easter! It was a nice quiet, Easter. The boys slept in a little. They found their Easter Baskets, then we had an indoor egg hunt.



Aryk hunted for a little while... until he found out there was candy in the eggs, and that he could just wait for the brothers to come dump their baskets. So he snuck their eggs, and ate candy, while the brothers finished the hunt!



We went to Grandpa and Grandma Likes for another egg hunt and Easter dinner. Grandma and Grandpa put candy in some eggs, and money in others. AJ struck it rich this year, he got a $1,000,000 bill! Wahoo!! Grandma and Grandpa also hide one toy for the boys. Aryk got a collection of books, and the big boys got Nerf Guns. Thanks Grandma & Grandpa!!

Boise Art Family Fieldtrip

AJ's Kindergarten teacher gave our whole family homework!! Can you believe? The City of Boise and the Public Art Program has published an Alphabet art book. It is about pieces of art you can see, just walking around Boise!! So the assignment was to read this book, pick 5 pieces of art from the book, and go find it in the city!! Then bring back something to show what you did. What a fun challenge.



The art pieces AJ chose were, B is for Bear; G is for Green; I is for Inside; R is for Rat; and T is for Train. Can you pick out which picture is which piece of art? Do you know WHERE in Boise these pieces of art are? This book was fun, and it gives you the address of where each of these pieces of art are too! If you want to find out more about Boise's public arts go to www.BoiseArtsAndHistory.org and have a Boise Art Family Field trip of your own! If you are an out-of-towner, come visit! We'll take you to see the sights!

Catching Up!

Sorry!! I have been a slacker!! Here's what Alyson has been up to, instead of blogging. I know I posted that I was called as YW President, which was my first slow down on posts. But that was almost a year ago!! Then I started babysitting full-time (which I am doing again), I'm still not sure why I didn't have time to post. Then, this summer I was too busy playing with my boys, I guess. So... I'm gonna take another crack at catching up... Here's what the family has been doing... Baseball, camping, Pioneer Trek, Girl's Camp, Cub Scouts, Birthdays, Back-to-School, Soccer, and More Baseball. Probably more that I have forgotten about, I will catch these as I back track through pictures (hopefully I took pictures of everything!). Thanks for your patience. Look forward to more blog posts soon!!

Utah & a Baptism

In February we went to Utah for Tyler's Baptism. It was GREAT to see the cousins and Grandpa & Grandma Holbrook.

The Rose Family

Sweet Emma

Tyler with His Mom & Dad

Father & Son

Ashton enjoying treats!

AJ watching the little girls, and wondering..???

Smiley little Addy

(there has been debate about this spelling-

this was the easy way to spell it)

Tyler after his baptism with Grandma June and Grandpa Holbrook

Devin's Wedding

The whole Holbrook side of the family came to Idaho for Devin's Wedding. The wedding was in Weiser, where Chelsey is from. It was BEAUTIFUL!! While we were waiting through pictures and for the ceremony to start, Jeff kept himself and ALL the boys (and the girls) busy taking pictures.

Some of the many random pictures of the family.

Aryk keeping busy

AJ trying to stay out of trouble

Ashton- probably causing more trouble than not.
But being very good at the same time. How does he do that?

The Wedding Ceremony. Chaplain Holbrook was able to perform the ceremony.
That was pretty special.

More random pictures of the family at the wedding.

Thanks for the GREAT excuse to get everyone to Idaho for a reunion Dev!
And welcome to the family Chelsey and B.

Holbrook Christmas

After Family Pictures, we had our Holbrook Christmas! Everyone was ripping open packages and laughing and smiling. It was GREAT!! I love it when we can all get together.

Aryk LOVED opening presents AGAIN!! He really got into it this year. Grandma Holbrook found matching Star Wars Pajama pants for all three boys. Aryk wanted them on right then. So... well I'm sure you can see... SO CUTE! So SPOILED!

Ashton and AJ asked Santa for a Skateboard for Christmas. Mom and Dad wrote a letter to Santa, telling him that Ashton all ready has a rip-stick and the boys have their Uncle's long board too. So... Santa was sneaky! Instead of bringing it on Christmas morning, he told Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook. They were happy to help out Santa. They even bought the safety pads to go with the skateboards too! LUCKY boys!

Ashton and AJ REALLY enjoyed having their cousins here! They get along so well and always have fun playing together!

This year all the siblings pitched in and purchased Season Tickets to a Playhouse in the Orem area (sorry I have forgotten the name), for Mom and Dad's Christmas gift. They love to go out on dates, and thanks to our older sister, we were able to send them someplace they enjoy!

Here are some random pictures I took of everyone else during the fun craziness. I LOVE MY FAMILY!!!

Family Pictures

After Christmas, the Holbrook side of the family came to Idaho for Devin's wedding. While here, we did Family Pictures.

The Likes' Family

The Whole Fam!!

Dad had a fun idea for everyone to hold up one thing that identifies their interests. The top left picture is all of us holding our "stuff". Jeff chose blueprints, Alyson chose a craft basket, Ashton is holding a baseball bat and mitt, AJ has a toy Millennium Falcon, and Aryk brought a Thomas The Train. WOW!!! It was a little chaotic, but fun to do!

The bottom right is the whole family, trying to look at the camera and smile, all at the same time.

Starting at the top right and working to the bottom left are: Mom and Dad, The Rose Family, The Likes Family, The Casey Holbrook Family, The Devin Holbrook Family, The Rose Kids, and The Boy Cousins. Thanks Family for taking the time!

Christmas 2009

I know... I'm way behind. I'm getting lazy and busy all at the same time.

Ashton's School Christmas Concert

Family Home Evening- Building a Gingerbread House!

Family Christmas Concert

Ashton learned how to play Jingle Bells on his guitar

AJ learned Jolly Old St. Nicholas on the piano

We invited Grandma and Grandpa Likes and Aunt Nicole over for Christmas Music and Dessert. It was fun to show off the boy's talents, and Aunt Nicole even played some songs for us to sing along to. We enjoyed the evening.

Christmas Eve was spent at Grandma and Grandpa Likes'. We read stories, ate food, watch movies, laughed A LOT, and opened PJs. Ashton read The Polar Express this year. It was noted that it wasn't the same as Uncle Cam, but he did a GREAT job.

Christmas Morning

Smiles all around. Star Wars, Trains, Dinosaurs, Fishing Poles, Movies, Hunting equipment and Jewelry. Everyone got EXACTLY what they wanted for Christmas!

Busy Time of Year

Somethings always got to give when things get busy. Unfortunately it was our blog. Here's an update, then more updates to come.

Jeff is still working for BRS Architects, unfortunately they have decided to close on Fridays, cutting back everyone's hours. But we are still doing well. Jeff enjoys BRS and is studying hard to re-take his final exam.

Alyson was recently called as the YW President in the ward. This calling is a new adventure in so many ways. She is enjoying it, so far, and knows that it will just keep getting better. Alyson volunteers at the Boy's school every Friday while Jeff is home. There is a small blessing. Alyson really enjoys couponing and her cooking blog. She is now expanding into vinyl lettering and cake decorating. All the while, still doing Pampered Chef as a VERY limited hobby.

Ashton has been playing basketball and is gearing up for football and then baseball. He is enjoying Cub Scouts, school, and friends as well. AJ also played basketball and will be playing football and baseball, too.Aryk is a very curious and adventurous little guy. He gets into EVERYTHING, doesn't sit still for anything, loves trains, cars, balls, books, and dinosaurs.

Halloween 2009

Who doesn't love dressing up and having a night of make believe and goodies?

Jeff was a hunter. Yeah... he had to try pretty hard. Alyson was a witch. Ashton was Harry Potter (Ashton's friend, Jacob, was the 'unknown phantom'). AJ was Anakin Skywalker. Aryk was SpiderMan.

We had yummy, fun food too. Check out the menu at My Kitchen To Yours. Hope your Halloween was full of fun and goodies too!

Clone Wars

As you know... My Boys (all four of them) LOVE Star Wars. The new Clone Wars is really neat for them too. Cartoon Network has a Clone Wars series. The boys made it a tradition, every Friday night, they sit down and watch these half hour cartoons. We were so excited for the second season of Clone Wars. We had a "Clone Wars" party! We ate Naboo Nuggets, Palpatine Pizzas, Ventress Vegetables, Yoda Soda, and Jabba Jell-o. Check out more at My Kitchen To Yours

The Spread

Aryk eyeing the food, waiting so patiently for dad to bring him his naboo nuggets.

AJ unsure he wants to eat anything with the name Jabba.

The boys (plus AJ's friend Zach) watching Clone Wars. An hour long season premiere! Too Cool! It really was a fun night, and I always loving playing food!

Gardening?

We have started pulling out our garden. I received a Cabbage starter at Relief Society in the Spring. I've never grown cabbage. We don't really eat cabbage. But I figured "why not?". So I planted it, it grew, it got holes in it, I wondered what parts were good to eat.



When we pulled it out and started taking layers off, we found slugs and Roley-pollies. GROSS! AJ thought it was cool, and actually wanted pictures of insects for a project at school, so we took some pictures. The pictures actually turned out cool, even if they are slugs and insects. Needless to say, the whole thing ended up in the garbage, and we will never know how our cabbage tasted!

While outside digging up vegetables and huddling over slugs, Aryk was wandering the yard, chasing the dogs, and playing in the water.

Summer Swimming

We spent almost EVERYDAY this summer, in the pool, but I never bothered to take pictures. So... on the last warm weekend of this year, we went swimming and took pictures. Unfortunately, because it was starting to get cold at night, the water didn't stay warm, and it didn't warm up as fast. So this time the boys barely got in, and it was only for a little while.



Here we are swimming, floating, and sitting on the side. I think Jeff only got in the pool once this whole summer!

Nicole didn't have a "mommy n' me" class this year, so I just did stuff with Aryk on my own. It worked out. At the beginning of the summer he would scream in the shower, tub, and the pool. But here he is, playing games and going under the water. Not one tear. Now... he enjoys bath time too!

Here's AJ jumping in the pool, being brave! He did GREAT this summer with lessons. He can swim from the shallow end, to the deep end. He is jumping off the diving board. And diving to the bottom of the shallow end. All WITHOUT a floaty! Yeah!! Aunt Nicole is a GREAT swim teacher. And the boys LOVE the pool! Now that the weather has cooled off... I CAN'T WAIT UNTIL NEXT SUMMER!

Ashton's Baptism

Ashton was so excited for his baptism. We had been talking a lot about it in our Family Home Evenings over the past year. He learned a lot about it in Primary. We've been going to the other baptisms for his friends in the ward. He was ready! And we got to have the Holbrook side of the Family come to visit and play! It was GREAT!!!

Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook bought Ashton a new suit for his baptism. He looks like a missionary! He really likes it! Thanks Grandma and Grandpa! (He got other gifts, but we didn't take any pictures of those.) He also received a new set of scriptures and a scripture case from Mom and Dad. And Grandma and Grandpa Likes gave him Scripture Stickers to help mark the stories in his new scriptures. It has been fun to put these in his scriptures as we do Family Scripture Study. Thanks Grandpa and Grandma! And a CTR Baseball tie tack from Aunt Nicole. That is so COOL! He wears every Sunday! Thanks!

Here are the handsome guys in their suits. Ashton could not have a bigger smile!!

The guys in their white! YEAH!!!

After the baptism and confirmation we had Ice Cream outside. It was fun! I was a little distracted before/ during/ and after the baptism. So, unfortunately, our pictures don't include everyone. Great Grandma and Grandpa Miller and Darlene were there. Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook, Uncles and Aunts Kenny & Erika and Casey & Erika, cousins Zach, Tyler, Emma, Addilyn, Leah, and Karlin, and Great Grandma Ashton came too. Also, Grandpa and Grandma Likes and Aunt Nicole. Ashton also invited his best friend Jacob Wills and his mom. There were many members of our ward, Bishop and Sister Olson, Sis. Mickelson (Primary President), and The Gurney Family (our Home teacher). Ashton was able to be baptised on the same day as one of his best friends, Nate Richens. Ashton was so happy to have so many people come to support him. Thanks to all! And Sorry I didn't take more pictures! We did get A LOT of Holbrook Family Pictures!

Here are Grandma and Grandpa Holbrook with all NINE of their Grand kids! What cuties!


The Rose Family! This was the best shot we got!



The Likes Family. There's got to be a better shot than this! Please share!

On Sunday Evening we had a Family swim and BBQ at The Likes'. Thanks for sharing your pool, BBQ, and backyard! We had a GREAT weekend with so much family, spirit, and laughs! Thanks to EVERYONE who traveled, helped, and participated. It means A LOT to our WHOLE family!