Wow a new year already!?

In some ways it doesn't feel like it should be a new year yet? In other ways it totally does and I am excited for the new year and the eventual spring that will come. Hoping it shows signs around here much earlier than last years.

So far I have only shoveled the driveway a couple of times.. That's how I get my cardio and peace. Its serene out there in all the white snow that is until the kids realize you are out there and want to come and help or build snow forts and throw snowballs. My kids know they are in big trouble if they dare throw one at me. I tend to get bad migraines otherwise maybe I wouldn't be so grinchy.. Maybe. probably not.

The end of the year was supposed to be filled with family fun but ended up being filled with my car front end getting a bit crunched up followed by the next day Den crashing his motorcycle after a chiropractor visit. Bad back problems then the dreaded stomach flu. Though it was the stomach flu that thwarted our fun filled family reunion trip it kind of was good not to spread germs but Den's back was out of whack and wouldn't have stood a chance on the drive. So we had a boring second week getting over the stomach flu then S got it New Years Eve Day. So that made the decision of what to do that day settled. Tending to a throwing up boy while trying to keep his little brother away and entertained. Den had work which he has most new years. It was supposed to be me going with him being. A first trip without the kids in ages. AGES.. Thwarted by my initial attack of the dreaded bug..
Den got it the end of last week and felt my pain.
K is the only on that it hasn't hit yet and him being super tiny I hope it doesn't.
We got amazing gifts from our amazing family and heard they had an amazing time. I am jealous and sad I missed seeing everyone. But so happy they had a good time. Thanks for mailing the things to us
My Mom and Dad had a great and yummy Christmas eve dinner and all the siblings and cousins were there. My Mom made a super yummy cheese soup in sourdough bread bowls and gave us great gifts and a family stocking filled with things that we typically received as kids growing up. It was wonderful.
Den got sick of S asking to play Pokemon cards and then said he had to learn a game he enjoyed. Chess. S ate it up and begged to play a few times since.
K is nearly 4. I can't believe it.
S had his first piano lessen today and he wished tomorrow was today so he could have a second lesson. This is a trial basis to see if he can stick with practicing.
He is one of only a handful in his class that is a top reader. He devours books.. In fact he told me he wished he could eat them because then he could get the books into his head faster. He is doing really well in all his subjects. He loves video games and is really, really good at them. He loves learning all sorts of things.
I am looking forward to what the new year brings.

Photo recap of most of the year..

trouble maker

bed hogs

fave family game

friend did a photoshoot kevin snuck in.

someone turned 7 and had 2 cakes.

batmen always

best friend & birthday boy

The Deniro face.. I call it that... He tries not to smile and ends up making this face.

Mom really loves cotton candy

Thanks Dad!

Best Friends

I thought I was the Queen of the house but clearing I am not the princess has overrun my house. She acts like the queen.

hula boy

Kevin turned 3 back in January and this is him singing Happy Birthday to himself. He loves to sing

Mmm Cake

Peek a boo!

Kevin wanted a dirt and worms cake the candles even curved and looked like worms sticking out.. if you want a messy cake I am pretty good at them.

Yay Dad and the boys!

Playing Hide and Seek with Dad

She loves the boys

slacker

So I've been slacking a bit on the blogging front. It's not on purpose I just sit down look at the screen and then go blank like the blank page in front of me..

So here's a general re-cap of the last year's events thus far.

Denny toured most the year, Sam finished 1st grade, A niece got married, Sam started 2nd grade and we love his teacher and all his buddies are in his class ( I don't know if that's good thing) but he is happy about it.

Kevin started a Pre Pre school.. We love it and love the teacher so much he goes twice a week.

Denny has a different sound position with a different band (more touring) But its exciting but we sure do miss that guy. He is our rock and sounding board

Denny and I reached our 12th anniversary this year.. Amazing.. It doesn't seem like we are old enough.

The school year started with a lot of sickness, exhaustion.

We had a visit of one of Denny's friends and got to take him out to the local  fave Mexican eateries.. He is such a nice guy we are happy he got to visit our humble abode. Then we went and saw Pat Benetar courtesy of him.

We had my awesome Mother in Law and Denny's youngest sister Sarah visit from So Cal. We had Kevin blessed by a good friend of the family, picked sweet corn, ate the corn.. Sherry cleaned up the corn to cook. My mom made a yummy dinner for our visit with them. We saw Swan falls, corn fields etc. While Denny was studying for his new job.. He did a great job combining visiting and studying which can be tough.

It was fun to show Sherry and Sarah around it was sad to have them go.. Then Denny left the next day so it was bittersweet and fast visits by all..

We took a summer vacation to So Cal. Denny worked some of it but we got to visit with our good friends, family and have some beach time. Drove Denny's truck from So Cal through Utah to visit family on the way back home. The boys loved seeing the cousins and dinosaur museums, swim party, swimming pools at hotels. Kevin asked if we could buy a hotel room to put in out backyard . we got spoiled having breakfast in our rooms. The trip seemed too short too.
Obviously I need to update more  as this is just a mess.

Farm etc...

Tire swings are the best. Sam and his good friend enjoying the ride
My beautiful friend and son (kev's bestie) It was alot of fun and very nice of our friend to let us invade her farm and backyard she even got out the popsicles for the kids. My friends kids and my kids had a blast there. so fun! She also showed us a kitten which we have since adopted into our family. It's a girl!

farm..

cow checking out Kev

"HAY"

To the farm!

Kev and his best fried

skinny cows

The little cows liked the little boys

"you talkin to me"

Going to see Pat Benatar with the sisters!