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.

Bedtime

Aryk loves to cuddle with his Daddy at bedtime. Unfortunately, bedtime keeps getting later and later and later. I have finally starting taking him away from Jeff and just putting him to bed. His nap times have been shortened too. But I know they enjoy their cuddle time, without the big brothers interrupting.

More Baseball...

Yes, more. AJ is loving baseball. And we are love taking pictures!

Here's AJ batting and running the bases.

AJ being Catcher

AJ on the bench, waiting to bat

Uncle Cam helped AJ's team a couple times.

Aryk loves going to the games. He gets to be outside, and play with the baseball.
He loves baseball and his brothers!

Jeff is the assistant coach for AJ's team.
The head coach was out of town at this game so Jeff was pitcher.

AJ playing the field. He likes to pretend he is pitching, when playing the "pitcher" position.

Good game White Sox!

Ashton's Last Baseball Game

The Yankee's Rookie season is over. Last week was their last game. Thanks to Jeff and Cam for coaching!

Uncle/Coach Cam pitching

Ashton Batting

Coach Jeff

More Ashton...

Ashton and his friend Harry with their trophies! What a great season! Good Playing Ashton. We had fun.

Lake Tahoe

Jeff has been doing a building in Tahoe. He had some meetings that BRS needed to send him down for. So, I went too! It was his birthday weekend, and who wouldn't want to get away? We took Aryk (still nursing), and left the other two boys with Uncle Cam and Grandma and Grandpa Likes. WOW!!! I enjoyed getting away. It was warm, relaxing, fun, and stress free!Aryk had fun. He enjoyed the plane ride (slept the whole way!), the car ride was beautiful (slept some more), and LOVED riding around in the stroller as we walked all over! The weather was GREAT. They had HUGE pine cones there. Aryk loved looking at them, but would not touch them. While Jeff was in meetings on Thursday and Friday, Aryk and I hung out and enjoyed the weather.
We ate dinner at Hard Rock Cafe. And walked around looking at all the architecture (of course!). Here are some buildings Jeff found exciting (it's okay if you yawn, I won't tell).

Here's a fountain in a plaza at one of the resorts.

We went to the beach. I couldn't believe how warm the water was! Aryk wasn't so sure about the water and sand. The sand was perfect for footprints. Here are Aryk's.

That night we drove around to the ski lifts (which are closed) and looked at some cabins. We found this GREAT view and sunset.

On Saturday we drove around the lake. The views were AMAZING! I really enjoyed it. Aryk got in a couple naps, between all the stops and stroller rides.

Emerald Bay. These pictures didn't capture how green this bay really is. Above is looking down on Emerald Bay. Below are pictures from the shore. In the bay is Vikingsholm. They call it a castle built by a lady who came to the states around 1860, after her husband died and left her A LOT of money. She bought this land in the bay and commissioned her nephew (an architect) to build this mansion for her. It is beautiful.

It's a one mile hike down to the bay/ castle. Then you can hike up to the middle of Eagle Falls. So we took the small hike up to the falls. It was beautiful! We put Aryk in the backpack and he loved trotting along.

There was a BIG redwood tree with a hollow trunk. And while hiking back up to the road there was a bear. Jeff and I have NEVER seen a bear, in the wild, up close. Even while hunting!

We had so much fun!!! We loved getting away. It's always fun to go on adventures together. And I LOVED Tahoe! It was the perfect combo of beaches and mountains. Jeff said it's a lot like McCall. Had I ever vacationed there, I would know. Maybe this summer we could take a weekend and go to McCall!

Our Christmas

Our Christmas was GREAT! We went to Jeff's parents for Christmas Eve dinner and stories. The boys opened their PJ's, and changed there. Then home to get ready for Santa. We left Santa some cookies and milk, and the reindeer some carrots. The boys were asleep by 10pm! Mom and Dad got to bed by midnight! Just in time for Santa to come. We told the boys they couldn't leave their room until 7am. They said they woke up at 6:50, but they didn't come get us until 7:02. I actually woke up at 6:30 to feed Aryk, and got so excited while I waited for them!

Ashton and AJ wrote letters to Santa a couple weeks ago, on their wish lists they asked for "real" light sabers and The Force. We tried to tell them that these were made up for the movies, there aren't "real" light sabers or The Force. They kept reminding us that Santa was magic, and he could do anything. We reminded them Santa isn't a Jedi, and that some things even Santa's magic can't make. They were so sure He would pull through for them. Ashton and Jeff also asked for a Wii. This Santa was able to make! We all asked Santa to bring Aryk a piano. That way he could play his piano while mommy played hers! Because I all ready got the piano for Christmas, I only asked Santa for one thing. If he brought Jeff and Ashton the Wii, to bring Rock Band, so we all could play together.

Here was our Christmas Morning-

Santa brought the Wii, Rock Band, and Wii Fit.

The boys stocking were full of Wii accessories- remotes, wheels, games, light sabers.

Aryk got the piano we all asked for! He LOVES it!

Ashton and AJ got a TON of Star Wars toys from Mom Dad and Aryk.
They love those little guys!

We tried to teach Aryk how to open presents. He didn't get it, but he thought it was fun,
and he got some fun things!

Ashton and AJ gave Aryk a baby size baseball tee.

And He has been enjoying it!

Great Grandma Likes (Jeff's Grandma) gave the boys this train set.
They are so excited to put it around the Christmas tree!

Opening presents only lasted until about 8am. Then it was opening packages, setting up the Wii, and playing ALL morning! And ALL afternoon. We finally left to go to Jeff's parent's at 4pm! We were loving our Christmas presents and playing. So... here's what the boys got from Grandma and Grandpa and Uncle Cam-

Star Wars ships, vehicles, and action figures. There were so many!
Jeff was having fun playing with boys and their new toys!

Aryk had his turn to open presents too!
He still didn't get it, but he had fun with toys afterward!

Aunt Nicole was generous, as usual!

The boys always enjoy her gifts.


And were happy to show her how thankful they are too!

Thanks to all our family and friends who helped make this an enjoyable Christmas!

And we still have to go to Utah and have Christmas with the Holbrook side! WOW!! We hope you all had a Merry Christmas wish you a Happy New Year!

Let it SNOW!

Last weekend it snowed, and snowed some more. Here are the boys shoveling the walks in the snow. This isn't the first snow fall we've had, but it's the first that has lasted longer than 24 hours! And the first we bothered to take pictures of!

Basketball

Both Ashton and AJ are playing Y-Ball this year! It's a little crazy.

Jeff is head coach for both teams. He loves it. And the boys love it too! I don't care for these pics much. The gyms make it hard to get good lighting for good pictures. Ashton's team name is "The Vipers" and they are a forest green color.

AJ's team name is "The Jedi's" they are a maroon color. It is fun to see what a couple seasons has done for Ashton. It is funny to watch as the Kindergartners learn what they are doing. The Y volunteer compared it to herding cats. It keeps us busy, smiling, and running!

Go Vipers! Go Jedi's! Nice Shot Ashton! Way to go AJ!