Christmas Cookies with Granny

Michael and Dana left for an overnight anniversary getaway and Richard and I volunteered to babysit the kidlets. This afternoon we made after Christmas Christmas Cookies. Everyone was very creative and they all turned out great. Some are even suitable for giving away:). (Those would be the ones Anna didn't lick)

Carter getting into the action.

Anna has her creative juices (saliva) flowing :/.

Ryan has as much frosting on him as on the cookies! We had a great time.

Bowling with the gang.

We decided to share an evening bowling. We discovered Carter, Ryan and Anna had never been bowling before and they loved it.

Carter kept everyone on track for the games. He knew who went in which order and made sure Ryan and Anna had the ramp to launch their bowling balls. He was a great helper.

Aaron playing on his new enV cell phone (A Christmas gift) between throwing strikes.

Michael and Aaron trying to get the board to work.

Ryan uses the ramp to launch his ball. All of the children had higher skills than Granny!

Tyler and Ry, best buds.

James and Kaila.

Dana and Sarah Lewis, best buds too!

Ry and Princess Anna. (She wore this crown the whole evening)

Sarah and the Princess.

Tyler, Ry, Melodie, Cliff and Audrey.

Aaron hanging out on the ball rack.

Christmas 3 days early

We gathered on the Saturday before Christmas for a family dinner and to exchange gifts. We had my families traditional Christmas Eve dinner which is tamales and mexican food. We have celebrated this way for generations, it all started with my Grandfather. After some singing with lots of Jingle Belling (with the bells from the tree) we opened our gifts.
Natalie reacting to the Bosch:).

Dana, Ryan and Anna look over Ry's new desk.

Aaron and Tyler.

Kaila entertaining Peter. He is laughing out loud!

Richard is the present distributor.

Secrets, secrets.

Melodie and Tyler. (he is looking a bit devilish)

Sam inspects Caprina's new baby.

Cousin love.

Zoo Time

While Dana, Natalie and I played (we had pedicures), the men took all of the kids to the Zoo. The Zoo has become a ritual for our family and with passes it makes it so easy and economical.

The kids celebrating after being released from their cars! You would have thought the drive was hours instead of minutes.

The train is always a fav.

Ben's 8th Birthday

Benjamin turned 8 years old on the 21st! What an exciting and life changing birthday for him. We celebrated with a cake decorated with a Christmas tree which was Ben's request. Ben even put the green frosting on the cake for the tree. Good job buddy.

Ben will be getting baptized on the 5th and in anticipation of this he received his first grown up set of scriptures that were inscribed with his name.

New Furniture :)

For the second time in my entire life I have a brand spanking new couch! And now a recliner too! We are so excited for the new reclining everything and the recliner rocks and it is so soft and it smells so good and it is just...just...just...just...wonderful. As you can tell, I am pretty excited about it all.

My sweetie putting the finishing touches on the recliner. Ooh La La. It is nice.

Super Jimmy

Jimmy demonstrates he is still Super Jimmy as he picks up Caprina, Sam and Ben at one time.
When Jimmy was still in diapers he liked to run around the house acting like He-Man with a sword tucked handily away in the back neck of his t-shirt. Then he graduated to "Super Jimmy"! Super Jimmy could do anything while wearing a cape, underwear and sometimes boots. He scaled walls and furniture taller than himself and jumped off. He was beyond fearless and scared his Dad half to death many a time.

The BUG

The church leaders have been reminding us over and over again to be prepared for any emergency that might come up. Well this past weekend in our house we have had our own little pandemic. Adam's grandfather passed away and he and his brother flew to Oregon for the services. Natalie and the kids stayed with us from Thursday through Tuesday. Little Peter started with the stomach virus on Thursday. Caprina was the next to get in on the fun....then Grandpa....then Granny on Monday. This morning poor Ben awoke with it at 5:00 AM. It is a virulent little bug and makes you feel as if your insides are fighting to get out. One note on the bright side, it doesn't last more than a couple of days. I'll be restocking my medicine cabinet that is for sure so I will be prepared for whatever comes our way.

Early morning with Grandpa

Levi is an early, early riser and he likes to hang out with Grandpa so he doesn't wake everyone else up. They had such a good time watching Pinks (a car racing show) and the History channel about Pearl Harbor. Levi will be so educated!

Raisins and Love

Raisins have a very special place in my relationship with my sweetie. When R and I were in Jr High School I was one of the few people who knew where his nickname originated. When we went on our first date I bought a box of raisins and gave them to him for a present. At our wedding we gave little boxes of raisins away as wedding favors. For our first Valentines Day R gave me a metal Sun-Maid raisin sign that now hangs in our kitchen. And every day when R puts the newspaper in my car for me to take to work he puts a small box of raisins inside. It is just a little way we say "I love you" each and every day. Once and a while we will find a small or bigger box of raisins tucked into a pocket, garments, bed, purse or daytimer. It is a lot of fun. And the kicker is.....neither of us likes raisins. We never eat them.

Baby Bianca

We traveled to Boise to attend the blessing of our newest granddaughter, Bianca Elise Allen. Bianca is the 2nd daughter of Dustin and Abish. What a sweet baby. It was a joy to share her special day and to finally meet her. I think she has Grandpa wrapped around her little finger already!

Proud Grandpa

Proud Daddy
Sleeping beauty. Look at those cheeks.

Dana, Michael, Carter, Ryan and Anna came over from Twin Falls for the blessing. Here is Anna trying not to smile for the picture.

Tyler and Dad

Dana helps Abish set up her blog site. Yea, now it won't seem they are so far away.

Lindy crashed after going to the park with the "boys".

The cousins, Carter, Lindy, Anna and Ryan.

Lunch after the blessing. Aaron, Dana Michael, Lindy, Carter and Richard.

Hangin with the fam.

Ryan eating in the corner.

The boys and Lindy went to Albertson's Park. The river was partially frozen and the boys had a ball sliding on the ice. Tyler and Dustin broke through the ice. They both also fell hard on their fannies. Richard was beside himself the whole time being the worrying Dad.

Kyle, Dustin and Lindy

Lindy, Dustin, Kyle, Tyler and Aaron.

Slip slidin around. Aaron, Lindy, Dustin and Kyle.

Kyle.

Lindy.

Kyle looking a little like Elvis.

Richard and I had the opportunity to do a session in the Boise Temple. It was a wonderful experience and the Temple is beautiful.