Fondue Party and New Year's Eve

We had a fondue party with Jason's siblings and spouses last night.  The food was soooo yummy.  We also played games.  A Rook tournament took place and while you waited your turn, other games were available to play: Qwirkle Cube, Banana Grams, and others.  It was a fun evening.

For the New Year celebration, we are going to celebrate New York time with the kids.  We will play games with them, eat more yummy food and just have a relaxing evening  at home.

Happy New Year!

Happy 40th, Jason!

Jason's birthday was the same day we went to the Keith and Idris family reunion.  He wasn't too excited about spending his 40th birthday away from his family (visiting from Utah, Texas, Spokane) so Grandma Sally and I crafted this plan with the help of Jason's siblings to surprise him when we got home from Ensign Ranch.  I told them where the hide-a-key was, hid a banner for them to hang up and they brought pizza and the cake.  When we got stuck in traffic on the way home, I used the excuse that I wanted to know if the pass was closed to call his mom and let her know we were running late.  Everyone was a good sport and when we got home, we walked into the dark house and everyone yelled "SURPRISE" and turned on the Christmas tree lights.  It was a fun moment to remember.  Again, I didn't get a pic of everyone standing there yelling surprise and I wish I had.  I think Jason will remember this for a long time as he had no clue what we had planned.  After eating pizza, cake and ice cream and opening presents, games were played.  Here are a couple of pics of game playing in process.  

We love you Jason!

Keith and Idris Hebdon Family Reunion

It is a tradition for the Keith and Idris Hebdon family to go to Ensign Ranch between Christmas and New Year every other year.  This has been a tradition for many years.  Not exactly sure which year it started but I remember laying on mattresses in front of the big wood burning fireplaces and sleeping with all the cousins in front of them.  We didn't really get that much sleep, but we had a lot of fun!  Playing in the snow, making crafts, doing puzzles, eating yummy food, talent shows, story telling, Christmas caroling and more have been a part of these traditions. 

This year, we were able to attend for just a few short hours.  It was fun!  The kids had a blast putting together tie snakes, playing in the snow with their cousins, getting to know more of my Aunts and Uncles better as well as my cousins, eating yummy food and just being together as a family.  We brought home a keepsake: a circle of wood from a tree in Grandpa Keith's yard with his brand (Lightening Lazy H) on it.  The women also did a craft: a cute box with a vinyl saying on it.  We met new additions to the family in the form of new babies being born as well as cousins getting married.  Games were played, puzzles were put together and a lot of visiting went on.  It is always good to reconnect with family!  Wish we could have stayed longer, but we needed to get back home.  Sleeping in my own bed is not a very successful venture right now with just a few short weeks before baby Taylor gets here so we thought it would be best that I sleep in my own bed. 

It takes about 1 1/2 hours to get from our home to Ensign Ranch but last night it took 3.  There was an accident on I-90 that involved a tanker truck that had tipped over.  The Hazmat team was there checking things out as we drove past the accident.  It was snowing on the pass and traffic was slow after the accident, as well.  We made it home safe and sound...finally!  Again, in the rush to get out the door, I forgot the camera so I'll have to ask for pics.

Bolles Family Christmas

Lots of fun and talent!  The nativity was fun to watch.  Kids will be kids but it all was a good reminder of why we celebrate the season!  It was fun to watch the next generation playing their instruments along with the adults and they sounded wonderfully, as well!

Gingerbread Houses...graham cracker style

To simplify the process, we used graham crackers.  The kids had lots of fun decorating them and the icing turned out, much to my surprise and glee!  BriAnn wasn't able to use it due to the egg in it, but she had fun lining up the crackers and candy anyway.  Trevor has asked several times if we can make them again.  After watching Tyson literally turn circles on the couch, then run in circles around the front room after eating his entire house in 1 day, I've decided against it.  Boy does that kid get high on sugar!!!!

Hebdon Family Christmas

Lots of fun, food and family...even a bit of snow this year...and the Nativity. 

Tyson's first missing tooth

Tyson lost his first tooth November 30th.  He worked and worked on it all day and by the time evening rolled around, he had one less tooth in his mouth.  He wasn't about to let Jason touch it, but after some careful consideration agreed to let him have one try to get it out.  The tooth fairy even remembered to come on time. 

Snow Fun!

November 21st brought a little bit of snow.  November 22nd brought more.  The 23rd brought below freezing temperatures (12 degrees during the night) and the 24th and 25th...more cold.  So, the snow is still on the ground.  We have had lots of fun enjoying it!  Listening to Christmas music, putting up the tree, drinking hot cocoa and yes...snow activities, as well.  We LOVE SNOW!

Snow ball fights...in the hail.  Just as I went for the camera, it started to hail!

 Burrr....it's freezing!  Actually, below freezing.

 Trevor's job was to haul the sled up the hill each time someone went down.  He did such a good job!  What a good big brother!

 "Feel the rhythm.  Feel the rhyme.  Get on up.  It's bobsled time!  Cool Runnings!"

 

 More snowballs.  And yes, it hit it's intended target...the camera lady.

 BriAnn's favorite...eating snow.  It tastes so yummy!

We have instructed her about yellow and brown snow. 

 Snow Angels!

Baby Taylor

We are having another little boy some time in January.  When asking the kids what they would like to name him, they wanted Taylor.  We have tried several times to give other options and dissuade them from Taylor but every time they come back that the baby's name is Taylor!  So, we are thinking about Taylor John.  He is growing, healthy and strong for which we are grateful.

Trevor is a greeter at school now.  When asked how you become a greeter he said, "You volunteer and then the nicest people are chosen to help the new students who move in."  There are two greeters per class, one female and one male, so he feels quite unique to be able to be the one from his class.  He really is a good boy and very helpful to those around him.

Tyson is getting ready to loose his first teeth soon.  He has two that are "wobbly" and likes to make them wiggle.  At the same time that some are getting ready to leave, others are growing in.  He has had some discomfort with his molars growing in so hopefully they won't take long to get here.

BriAnn is her usual bubbly self and doesn't hesitate to make her voice heard when everyone is giving input.  She is enjoying the time when the boys are at school and she gets to choose what to play with when and not worry about competition.  She also likes doing crafts with mommy.  She and Tyson both like to give baby Taylor hugs and kisses which consist of putting their arms around my tummy and kissing it.  Trevor just likes to watch my tummy move when the baby is kicking.

Jason is on the High Council in our Stake now.  He is over one of the wards, the facilities and service projects in our Stake at Ensign Ranch.  His first facility encounter was a clogged toilet in the women's bathroom at the Stake Center.  All it needed was a good plunge and the problem was resolved so the joke is "don't the women know how to use a plunger?". 

The one and only bazaar I will be doing this year is over.  My mom came and helped at my booth.  We were able to sell a little more than previous years but I still have a ways to go to recover my costs.  Even if I don't recover my costs, I have had gifts for baby showers at a decent price so I am happy with the results thus far.  I will post the rest of the product on my Etsy site and hope more sells there.  I've done ok on my Etsy site so am hopeful that more will sell.

"I'm Officially Six!"

Tyson woke up on the day of his birthday and said, "Mommy, today I'm officially six!"  We had celebrated his birthday the night before.  The morning of his birthday he wanted to know if he had more presents to open.  He was a bit disappointed when he didn't have any more to open as he had opened them all the night before, but was a good sport about no more.  He had a cousin's birthday party with his Bolles family cousins.  Grandparents were there, as well.  His cake topper was a lego set he chose.  It was his idea, based on a cake he had seen at one of his friends' birthday parties.

Happy Halloween

The boys were Lego Space Policemen and BriAnn was a frog princess.  She loved her tutu and wand and would go around turning "mommy into a pumpkin" and then back again.  She notices my ever growing tummy hence inspiring the pumpkin notion.  The boys had jet packs on their backs that consisted of pop bottles spray painted black and taped together with electrical tape.  Duct tape was used to make shoulder straps.  They were thrilled.  What a little tape and paint can't do to appease a child!  I wore a scare crow hat and gloves but didn't get pics.  I was going to pin a pumpkin to my tummy but didn't get around to cutting one out before trunk-or-treat so was just the scare crow instead of scare crow in a pumpkin patch. 

At the Zoo

I love going to the Zoo when school is in session and the weather is less than perfect.  There are less people to share the animals with and less children for my kids to get lost with.  We have had a lot of Fridays with no school recently so we went to the Zoo.  BriAnn loves the animals!  She has quite a collection of little animals and they go with us every where we go.  Notice her backpack in the picture?  It has animals in it.  Here we are eating our lunches at the Wild Wonders theater.  Happy family!

The Family History bug has bitten again!

Photos of some of my ancestors.

Hollis Russ Egbert - Kristi Ann's great grandpa

Joseph Hollis Egbert-great great grandpa

Marie Antoinette Karren Egbert - Great Grandma



Henry Daniel Auger and Sarah Ellen Hibbert - Ellen May Auger is the second one from the right in the back row, great grandma

 

Hyrum Bair and Mary Elizabeth Van Orden - great great grandparents with their family



"We are going to this one..."

Last night we were having family home evening and continuing the discussion about the Plan of Salvation.  Jason had just finished explaining about the different degrees of glory and asking each child which one they want to be in when Trevor said, "I think we are going to be in this one (Terrestrial Glory)."  "Why?" Jason asked to which Trevor responded, "Because we play computer games on Sunday."  When asked what we should do about it so we don't end up there he replied, "Maybe we could just have 2 minute turns playing computer games on Sunday."  He wasn't quite ready to give it all up yet.

Tyson-Staples and a Talk

The boys were rough housing the other day and Tyson's head met the corner of the closet wall causing it to split open.  Mom was at Youth Conference about 40 minutes away so dad had to keep pressure on the wound while driving the three kids to Urgent Care.  They made it and Alan came for Trevor and BriAnn.  Mom got there just in time to go back and hold Tyson's hand while they cleaned the wound and put the staples in.  Now he and Uncle Kyle have staples in the head in common.  It made Tyson smile when mom reminded him about Uncle Kyle's staples.

Tyson gave a talk in church the other day.  He was a little shy but did a good job.  While preparing for the talk, mommy asked him questions.
Mom: "Tyson, what is a miracle?"
  Tyson: "Something Jesus helps us do."
Mom:  "What are some examples of miracles?"
  Tyson: "Ten lepers were healed by Jesus.  That was a miracle.  But only one thanked him."
Mom: "Any other examples you can think of?"
  Tyson: "When at the cabin, I tripped and fell and hurt my hand.  It didn't bleed.  It was a miracle."
Mom: "What about Jesus being resurrected from the dead?"
  Tyson:  "That is a miracle!"  He concluded his talk by saying: "I know that miracles happen.  In the name of Jesus Christ, amen."  He shared Mormon 9:15, as well: "...God has not ceased to be a God of miracles."

First Day of School

The first day of school was wet and rainy.  Tyson is in Kindergarten and Trevor in Second grade.  They both like their teachers so far.  BriAnn wanted to know who her teacher and where her classroom were.  Once she figured out she wasn't going to school, she has been fine being home with me without anyone to take her toys.  She also gets sole ownership of the roku remote when it is TV time.  I couldn't decide which picture to post so you get to see all three.  By the way, baby number 4 is a little boy.  The due date is January 22.  Maybe he will come early and be born on Trevor's birthday.  Trevor said he would be fine with that.  So far the kids like Taylor as a name for the baby.  They also like Tigger.  Based on the movement of this little one, Tigger would be appropriate.

Last weekend at the Cabin for the summer

The kids and I met up with Jason at the cabin after his hike on the Wonderland Trail.  We stayed two nights and three days and were able to have a picnic by the river, take the kayak out on the lake (pics coming soon), throw rocks in the river and look for minows, do some projects, play games and go on horseback rides. 

Little night adventures of the trip: Trevor threw up in the night; Tyson's water bottle leaked all over him and his bedding...thankfully we had extra;  The elk were in full song as we were able to listen to their beauty in the wee hours of the morning; Rampant mouse that was bound and determined to feed all its living relatives in the cabin until Alan caught it in a trap after resetting them with cheese twice; Horse Round-up (River Dance-Alan had him back in before anyone else was there to help-what a pro!).

Jason's Back Pack trip with Jared-Wonderland trail

It rained.  Jared's favorite frisbee golf disc was stolen by another hiker.  It ended early because they were soaked!  Sore for three days.  He's glad he went.  Can't wait to do it again.

Family Reunion

Lots of fun was had by all...playing games, cooking over the fire, watching movies at the outdoor theater, Grandma's store, Minute to Win It, and much more!  It acutally took place in August but didn't get it posted in time so it shows a September date.  Oh, well.

Visiting Great Grandma and Grandpa in Royal City.

Outdoor Movie Theater: Love Bug

Playing games to earn money for Grandma's Store.

Grandma's Store

Minute To Win It