Oh What A Night!

So last year over the Thanksgiving holiday, when my boys weren't sitting around like this, they were out making a movie with their Uncle Mike.  They made one 3 years ago called Monster Hunt.  It was a silly little movie that we all love to laugh at.  It is amazing to me how much my boys have grown in that time.  And it is amazing that my brother could make such a silly movie out of nothing.  

So last night we had our movie premier.  I am so sad that I did not get my camera out.  This time more cousins were included in the movie and it made it all the better.  They all came over to see the finished product.  We laughed and laughed and laughed.  Obviously it might not be that funny to those who don't know my family, but to us, it is hilarious!  You can watch it here-

A Few Favorites

I got one of these for Christmas in my stocking in Richfield.  I have had so much fun using it!  Every once in awhile I get a new little kitchen gadget that makes me happy and my new egg beater has done that for me this year.  Last night I even used it to make frosting and it worked great!

These pajamas from Garnet Hill are my all time favorite!  I have worn them every night since I got them.  They are pricey, but once in awhile they do go on sale and they are worth every penny.

I don't quite have the skinny legs to pull off the cute skinny jeans, but I am loving the trend of color!  I think it is such a fun way to mix things up and still be simple which pretty much is the word that describes my wardrobe.  

Last Week

Well the kids are finally back in school.  I was really looking forward to Monday-the peace that comes from having a quiet and clean home that lasts for more than 30 seconds, but then I learned it was Martin Luther King day.  So no peace and quiet around here, until today.  It's just me and Reggie.  The house isn't clean yet, but it is quiet and peaceful and I am enjoying it.  But I had such a blast last week that I had to post a few more pictures.  I took Ethan and Tyler skiing last week for their first time as well.  They both loved it and did such a great job.  All last week I kept thinking, "winter is not that bad, why haven't I been taking advantage of it before?"  So far this has been my favorite winter by far.  I haven't been dreading these next few months or even anxious for them to pass by.  

 Tyler and Ethan coming down the slope.

 David

 Tyler

 Jacob

Ethan 

 Tyler and David

These pictures are mostly terrible, taken from my cell phone, sometimes with poles and gloves in hand.  It was such great weather all week.  The sun was so bright they had to wear goggles.  But that sun goes down early when you are in the mountains and it gets cold quick!

All Before 9:00am

I didn't go to the gym this morning.  I was so tired from skiing the day before that I opted to sleep in.  Kirk got up early to go to work (my kids are off track) and then I was up.  He was getting breakfast and poured out the last of the milk announcing that we were out.  "Great," I thought.  So I put on my sweats and headed to the store.  I got a few groceries and enjoyed how empty the store was at that hour.  I brought the milk home to hungry boys, but kept thinking, while I was out, I really wanted to go to Target and look around.  They just got all their summer/spring stuff in and I wanted to see if they had anything for our trip in a couple of months.  So I left again and went to Target, the parking lot was nearly empty and it was so nice to shop by myself.  And it was a HUGE success.  My all time favorite black skirt that I wear nearly every Sunday is from Target, I have wanted a grey one for quite some time and nearly spent a fortune on one at J. Crew, but I'm so glad I didn't because I found one at Target today!  Finding a skirt like that is a small miracle for me, especially when I only pay about $20.  As if finding a skirt isn't enough, I found a really cute swimming suit!  I have never purchased one at Target, but the price was right.  I don't think I have ever bought so many clothes at once while at Target, I came home with a skirt, swim suit, and an awesome t-shirt that I will probably wear everyday.  And I was home before 9:00am! 

It's Been About 11 Years

Yesterday I took my oldest boys skiing for the first time.  I could tell they were a little nervous and David could just not figure out why their lesson would last so long.  After gathering all their gear, getting their registration, and sending them on their way, I was tired.  In the middle of all that I decided that I would not ski with them, but maybe the next time.  So I sent them off to class and sat down.  I don't think I was there for more than a minute and I thought, "Why not?"  I really couldn't think of a reason why I shouldn't ski.  The weather was beautiful and really what was I waiting for?  So I rented some skis and hit the slopes.  I had never skied this resort before and it had been just over 11 years since I went skiing last, so I was a little nervous as well, but it came back quickly and I forgot just how much I LOVE skiing.  I couldn't stop smiling every time I saw my boys, it was fun for me to see them learning something so fun while at the same time remembering how much I love it myself.  

I was dead tired at the end of the day, but I can't wait to do it again!  In fact I got home and signed up my other boys so we can all go together.

A Career Change

Tyler has talked about being a farmer when he grows up for quite awhile now, we think it is great.  While we were in Richfield for Christmas, he went with my dad to feed the horses over at the field.  He came home looking like this.  

 I told him he had better re-think his career plan and that maybe he better not be a farmer.  Later that night I found him out in the garage cracking nuts with my dad and talking about other things he could do besides farming.  I love his adventurous spirit!

Christmas 2011

Well, I am finally getting caught up!  Here are a few pics from our Christmas, we had a great one, but we always do.  Jacob woke up with quite the fever, he did a lot better once we got some medicine in him.  We are grateful it was only a fever!

 Jacob took a little break before opening presents, waiting for the medicine to kick in.

 The boys all got new basketball shoes except for Tyler.  He has plenty of hand-me-downs and he REALLY wanted a robe.  He has worn it every night since Christmas.  He LOVES that robe!  

 Tyler got a new bike with gears so he can be like his big brothers.  I was worried it was too big, but he rides it just fine!

 Ethan heads out to try out his new golf clubs.

Kirk visiting with his dad later that night.  We went to Richfield that afternoon to talk to my sister (on a mission) and see our families.  Sadly we did not get the camera out enough.  

He's Back Home!

We went to visit Reggie on Saturday and found him with an IV and a cone.  It was sad, but we could already tell he was doing better.  He did not want to get back in that kennel when we left.  He is doing so much better though and we got to bring him home tonight.  He is eating and drinking and even wagging his tail.  We are so happy to have him home with us.  It is lonely coming home to an empty house with 

no dog to greet you, I am glad to have him back in our home!

                 

Mermen

We got back from New York just in time to see David and Jacob's school play, which was "The Little Mermaid."  It was kind of fun going on that ride in California, the boys could sing along to all of the songs.  The day after the play, they got to watch the movie at school, which was the first time for them.  I was curious how they might like it, but turns out they didn't pay much attention at school and still have not seen the film.  But they sure had a lot of fun doing the play and we were so glad we didn't miss it!

Better Days

This is Reggie a couple of months ago, but that is pretty much all he has done lately.  He hasn't eaten, barked, or chased a motorcycle since Christmas.  I took him back to the vet today and didn't get to bring him home, he is in the hospital for the weekend.  Turns out he has a little pneumonia and a terrible bacterial infection.  I think it just started as what they call "kennel cough" (we kenneled him for the first time when we were in California) and then got progressively worse.  

I think I'll go buy him a new bed and some toys while he is gone.  We will go visit him tomorrow.  I didn't know how sad we would all be seeing him so sick.  Monday afternoon we were all outside for awhile.  When we came back in, we couldn't find him anywhere.  We called, we looked, we whistled, but nothing.  Kirk eventually found him under our bed and he wouldn't come out.  We both wondered if he had gone under there to die.  Each day I kept thinking he would show signs of improvement, but he never did.  There is something to be said for a good vet, today we got into our usual one, but before they were so busy, we were forced to try another, which turned out to be a waste of my time and money.  We are looking forward to getting our Reggie back on Monday and hopefully he will be back to his normal self!   

New York for Christmas

So a crazy thing happened just before we left for California.  Kirk had to go to New York for work and invited me along.  Of course I couldn't pass that up!  So our flight got in Sunday from California and we left for New York Monday morning.  I really had to scramble to get ready for California because I knew I would be leaving for New York and getting home just in time for Christmas.  It was all worth it though, I had a blast in New York!  

The first night we got there we went to a yummy little Mexican Restaurant called Dos Caminos It had a great atmosphere and yummy guacamole!  And we ate every last bit of those chips, salsa, and guacamole.  And as a bonus it was just down the street from our hotel!  We did a little shopping and then turned in for the night.  

The next day Kirk went to work and I went shopping.  By the time I actually got myself out of the hotel it was nearly lunch time.  I headed over to Lord and Taylor for a little lunch at Sarabeth's.  

Then I went shopping. At Lord and Taylor.  When I left, it was dark outside.  It was a good day.  I strolled 5th avenue for awhile then headed back to the hotel to meet Kirk.  

The windows at Lord and Taylor were so cute, and so much fun to see.

We went out that night to celebrate our anniversary, 13 years!  We went to Bar Americain, some Bobby Flay restaurant an associate of Kirk's recommended. 

 Kirk ordered deviled eggs for an appetizer, I wasn't so sure about that, but those eggs were the best I've ever had!  When we inquired about them, our server slipped us the recipe, I'll have to make them sometime...

 The cake was not our favorite.  We each had a steak and Kirk declared that Ruths Chris is better, but we both fell in love with those appetizers!

Later we walked over to Rockefeller to see the Christmas tree...

 There is an Anthropologie store at Rockefeller and all their sale items were 50% off the sale price.  I ran into to get a few things and stood in line forever!  Kirk must have gotten bored waiting for me and decided to take a picture.

Sadly the next day we had to go home.  Kirk still had meetings all day, so I still had a day of shopping.  We are without a video camera so I went to BH Photo Video and that was a lot of fun.  I have never been in a store like that.  Everything is moved overhead on an extensive conveyor belt system, it is amazing.  I walked through Times Square, shopped a little more, and headed back to the hotel to catch a taxi to the airport.  Kirk was in Queens so we just met at the airport and that taxi ride was the scariest I have ever been in.  Not because Kirk wasn't there, just because the driver was nuts!  

I really thought we wouldn't be celebrating our anniversary this year since we had to go to California for a wedding, but it turned out to be so much fun!  Thank goodness for frequent flier miles and a college student brother who was done with finals and could watch the kids!