It's Beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

 While the boys were waiting eagerly in line to visit with Santa, trying to be so good, one elf told the other elf in German to give the boys all coal as their gift!  Coal gum that is!  And they loved it too, my kids even told me they hoped Santa brings them coal gum in their stockings this year!  Ha ha!

 Bryant told Santa that he wants Nerf blaster guns and an alarm clock.  Below is our first and probably only fire this year.  Todd thinks we need to save the little wood we do have for an emergency when the power goes out!  I so wish we would put in a gas fireplace that comes on with a switch!  I miss that!

Thanksgiving in Yoootah!

 Making candy with Uncle Daniel and his friends.  This year we drove to Utah for Thanksgiving.  We lost an hour in the drive there as we had to stop and put chains on over Snoqualmie Pass.  They ended up closing the pass to do some avalanche control, luckily it was after we'd gone through.  It was a long drive there and back!  We had fun with my family, all but one sister and her family.  We even did some black Friday shopping, but not until after 9am!  My brother in law did wait in line starting at 7pm to buy an xbox at Walmart, available at 10pm.  Crazy!  He got one! 

 Making stuffing with Grandma Ryan, the onions made everyone cry and our eyes burned the rest of the morning just walking into the kitchen!  Ouch!

 Making Turkeys from candy!

 After the big meal we all headed to the neighborhood park to walk off the Thanksgiving food in our bellies!  Here is Taylor with no shoes and coat and she still has a cold!  Bryant was an excellent goalie!

Father and son playing catch with the football.  He is already telling us he wants to play football next year rather than soccer... that a boy!  Yay!  This Mom really wants a football star!

Soccer Party!

 Bryant's soccer team the Sharks, had their end of year party!  The trophy was a new soccer ball that they all signed!  Then we ate pizza!  The boys had a great time!

Character Counts

 We received a letter in the post that announced Sydney had been chosen by a teacher to receive a citizenship award.  Every month a few students from each grade are chosen for being good examples to others.  So Mom showed up, but had forgotten to remind Sydney to stay after school... She took the bus home, Mom raced home got there before the bus and grabbed her racing back to the school.  Poor Sydney, she had no idea what was going on.  We walk in the door and the Assistant Principal yells into the microphone, "SYDNEY, come on up"!  She was horrified!  But she graciously went up on stage, after barely walking in the door and received her certificate.  We are so proud of Syd and of her example to others.

 This is what her teacher said about her:  Sydney positively contributes  to the classroom and McKnight comunity every single day.  She has an incredible attitude, treats others with respect and kindness, and genuinely wants to make school a safe and supportive place for other students.  I am lucky to have her in my 5th period.  -Ms. Threlkeld

Twelve!!!

Twelve... finally a young woman!  She loved her boots, can you tell?  Papa, Nana and Louise came for a quick visit last weekend.  We went to Claim Jumpers for lunch, came home and rested, opened presents, got ready for the church Halloween party, said goodbye to our guests and rushed off to the party!

These are a few of her gifts... a warm rug, fashion drawing set...

her own sewing box, fully stocked!

A lovely musical note pendant necklace from Nana and Papa.  Look at that cute little mouth and nose!

Halloween 2011

 Harry Potter, a scary clown, Red riding hood on their way to the church party.  We searched the whole house many, many times for Harry's cloak and could not find it, darn!  He had fun anyways.

 Me and a cute little kitten.  Look at me, I have somehow turned into that older lady who loves babies!  When did that happen?  CrAzY!!!

 Sydney and her friends at the fish pond.

 The Bandit and Harry being cool and hanging out for a bit.

 Rapunzel and Harry waiting in a game line for their turns.

 What?  Two Harrys?

Halloween night.  Another scary face on Taylor, Red and we found Harry's cloak.  Sydney had hid it under the bathroom sink... why?  She said he was bugging her and then she forgot she had done it.  We hit five streets and had to empty our buckets half way through!  Too much candy!  One good thing about Halloween on a school night...no one came by after eight pm!

Soccer Season 2011

 Bryant's team is called the Sharks!  And boy are they fierce!  Bryant likes to score goals and fall down a lot!  Here he is taking a break on the sidelines.

 Taylor is having so much fun playing on the Hazen jv team and is in great shape!