2013 Rocks: Good Start with Good Friends

What's one of the greatest benefits to living in Utah?  

Friends from all over come here to visit their families during the holidays!!!!

YAY FOR US!!!!

So we totally spent an afternoon with our great friends the Galans in a classy McDonalds. We met the Galans in Georgia, had kids play together, were in the same ward, went on a cruise together...ahh....We love them to PIECES and were eagerly trying to get them to join us in the awesome poorness that is Law School.  

This picture courtesy of Kade :)

Next was the awesome opossum KUTZ's visiting from Texas!  This time we thought harder and met up at Kangaroo Zoo-- one of those jumpy places and THEN when for food.  

We've known and loved the Kutz's since our early years in Georgia--me and Tiff served in Young Womens together, our families just loved each other, she drove up to Utah to have a baby 2 years ago just so I could see her in the hospital when I was visiting (she's thoughtful like that) :).... it was so great to catch up.

Here's the extent of the boys "picture wanting". Apparently they don't LOVE pictures and felt that all was needed to say "hello, you're rad, I'll never forget you" was a high five. (this was after the fact)  You just wait though, one day, when Jess or I have lost our memories completely--we're (Jess) going to be soooo happy that I take so many pictures. It may not be until that day, and I fully understand that, that Jess will care--but one day, ONE DAY he'll be glad :)

We LOVE the school here.  For one of the Hawk Days everyone was invited to the Rec Center.  The kids LOVED running the track, playing basketball, using weights and jumping rope (that Luke totally won through a raffle there!)  Good times.

So I know this isn't a big deal, but I love watching kids progress. We just got Rhett a little book so he can practice his handwriting. He loves it and is doing so good. So...WAY TO GO RHETT.

New Years Eve 2012

For New Years Eve this year we:

Played games: This picture was taken while playing Sardines (reverse Hide and Seek. Only one person hides, and the others all count together. Then everyone goes out looking for them.  As you find them, you join with them in their hiding spot.  It is HILARIOUS when you get everyone together hiding in the shower, or in the laundry room under a blanket or closet....ha! Good times!!!)   

This particular time,  I'd just found mom and all the kids in the storage room in the basement.  While we were all hiding together, grandpa opened the door to the the room and we all hushed. Garrett covered his mouth and quietly said, "oh my gosh" in such a happy excited sneaky quiet voice. I wish I had it recorded it was so gosh darn cute. Anyway--Sardines is a favorite around here.

Made Pizza's and watched Monsters Inc.

Here are the boys all having root beer floats using their rad straws from Melodie and Justin.

This was right before we went outside to do fireworks the first time (at 10:00 so we could put Rhett to sleep)  Mom and I found out that Max is TOTALLY ticklish on this thigh. He was such a hoot.

We had AWESOME fireworks this year since we'd just been up in Wyoming for Christmas. And since it's legal now to do Aerials in PG (woo woo!) we took full advantage.

On of the fireworks had 16 blasts up right...well it tipped over and started shooting at the neighbors homes! AHH!  (who were eagerly watching as their home almost blew up from the front window...) BUT, Grandpa saved the day as he rushed out into the street to straighten the rogue firework accompanied by Grandma singing caution "Reed no Reed no!" 

Good times.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Christmas in Evanston

 SO FUN TO BE WITH COUSINS!!!!

HIP HIP HOORAY FOR CHRISTMAS IN EVANSTON!!!!

As a Christmas Eve tradition, Jess and I have put together an extensive scavenger hunt for the kids to find their first gift--their pjs.  This year Andrea and Jess put it together and IT. WAS. AWESOME.  As part of their first clue, all the kids had a task. Some with multiplication sheets, some with codes...little Afton and Rhett needed to finish a game with Grandma before they could get their next clue...

Each kid had a clue addressed specifically to him

And there was a puzzle they all had to put together, then (like always) one of the clues took us to lunch--this time McDonalds.  The Evanston McDonald is awesome. Look at these chairs for the kids.  Yup--they're totally saddles.

Andrea's amazing on the piano.  She was in the craft room playing when Luke joined her and started singing along. It was precious.  Then all the kids got in there, sang a few songs.  Sweet.

What was NOT sweet, was the fact that Max got so so super sick.  He had high fevers for days and days.  He'd only go to me or Jess and would just lay in our arms, head on shoulder and just sad.  Turns out he had RSV bronchitis or something...one of those--just sit it out type things. Poor guy.

Here's Emily and Riley's adorable family.  She's prego and due in February and just like always, looked amazing.  It was soooo fun to have them there and to spend time with them.  They're kind of a hoot.

So I can sometimes be a Picture Nazi....I wanted a pic of all the kids in their pajamas...look how sad Max is....ahhhh.  So so so sad.  We just took the one.  sad.

Christmas morning came and smiles were everywhere!!!  All the kids woke us up, at the earliest time aloud (7:00) and beat us up to the tree.  They were full of smiles and excitement!!! I love Christmas. 

Also, I love skinny pajamas? So much.

Rhett in his Hulk suit showing grandma and grandpa

I love this picture of Rhett, Afton and Grandpa.  LOVE IT.

Kade spent nearly all Christmas morning like this.  He was in the play room finishing Harry Potter 7.  That boys intense.

I know it was prolly irreverent, but I LOVE when families get together for scriptures study. It makes me so so so so grateful to be surrounded by so many who love the gospel and live what they believe.  It  is such a wonderful blessing!

Early Christmas in Utah

Rhett's favorite Christmas decoration...

Rhett would sit there like that for probably 10 minutes at a time (eternity for that boy) just watching the horses go around and listening to the music of this carousal.  It was just so tender and sweet.  I remember going into the living room when I was a little girl to do the same thing.  ahhh...love it.

HOORAY FOR THE TRADITION OF GINGERBREAD HOUSES!!!!!

I was super impressed with Rhett's first Gingerbread house.  All I did to help was the foundation and frosting the house, but he laid all the candy, picked what and where and did all that smooth clean work.  I was flabbergasted by it!  YAY FOR BEING AWESOME RHETT! (also for having a winner picture face!)

  Kade did all himself.  It's the Empire State Building

Luke did the Hogwarts Express.

Jess did the Yellow Brick Road. And I LOVED his little group of characters that he made out of cinnamon bears.  He's so clever.

We did a little round of Pre-Christmas, where the boys gave their gifts to each other and Grandma and Grandpa Adams gave their gifts to the boys.  

Among my favorites:

Rhett's to the big boys: a toothbrush and water colors for the both of them :)

Grandpa's to the boys:  He made all the boys Harry Potter wands. They're awesome.  Each with an individual story and everything.  Plus Grandma made them cloth cases to keep them in.

We played a few games---featured here is the "Nut-Stacker" (get it, cause nutcracker?) 

Jess was the only one to rock it and get all the nuts stacked up. WOO WOO!

Rhett made me smile. He did so good making his Christmas Tree out of cups.

And mom and dad rocked it in the cookie challenge. Well, to say 'Rocked it' may be a bit of an over reach. We did awful.  It's tricky!

And as a goodbye to our gingerbread houses..."smash it with a hammer!" (ha ha--- 'Empirers New Groove')

B.J and Kara are an adorably great uncle and aunt.  The boys love them.