The View from our house

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

Christmas treat…

Every year Grandpa has a tradition to take us out to fancy dessert.

It always works out to be a cold snowy night.

It was a fun night. Brrr.

Holiday Cheer

We went up to see the Christmas Lights with all the people Alan grew up with it was fun to see everyone.

The kids loved riding on a horse drawn carriage even in the winter.

It is always fun to get together and see everyone around the holidays!

Friday, February 04, 2011

This fall Jacob started football. He was so excited to do this. Football around here is a serious commitment. At first they practice five days a week for 2 hrs and eventually its three days a week two hours with a game on Saturday. While the time commitment seemed daunting at first I found the entire program really fun for Jacob. He learned a lot about football (so did I) and made a lot of friends. I loved to see that Jacob is very happy and self confident. He was willing to try new things and ran right out there even when he knew no one and just assumed he would do well and people would like him. I hope he is always like that.

Rain or shine he was happy and smiling.

even in the snow…

Jacob made a game winning block and by the end of the season made real progress as a player. I was impressed how hard he worked to get better.

His team made the play offs when at the last minute someone ran for a touch down in overtime. Hailey was so thrilled she ran and gave him a huge hug. I love that picture.

They had fun even if they were out in the first round.

Sydney and Hailey deserve some praise for attended so many practices and every game. They were his best cheerleaders for sure!

Six

I can’t believe my babies are 6.

Their birthday fell on the week of school. I was lucky because this meant the kindergartners had not started yet and we had a whole day alone. All Hailey wanted for her birthday was to get her ears pierced. Sydney was not as interested in the idea. The girls woke up to new bikes with training wheels and then we headed down to the mall.

After with earrings. When we arrived Hailey quickly got hers picked out and done. Sydney suddenly got very scared. Hailey told her it did not hurt at all and while I was holding the girl just surprised her and did it. She was a little shocked but very happy she did it.

After I took them to lunch and a movie. It was so nice to spend the day with my little girls. After this year they will probably be in school all day :(

Later that night the family came over for yet another cake. It was safe to say the girls were very spoiled this year.

We are so grateful for their shining, happy personalities in our lives. They have truly made life sweeter.

Happy Birthday Sydney…

A sweet friend helped me gather a few girls and we recreated a little birthday party for Sydney at the water park we had season passes too.

They had a great day with their friends and Sydney got a Happy Birthday in the end.

Happy Birthday Hailey

The night before the girls 6th birthday Sydney woke up very sick! I felt so bad! We had a big pool party planned and I knew she could not go at all. Most people would be forced to cancel the party if the birthday girl was sick but how could I do that to Hailey with all her friends so excited... So Sydney stayed home (my heart broke for her).

I may have cried a bit when we sang, “Hailey Happy Birthday” without Sydney. It was pretty sad to miss your very first friend birthday!

Saturday, January 29, 2011

Project

With some good luck we were able to get the opportunity to have my sister in law's Dad who is a builder come finish our basement. Being the week before Christmas he was in between a project so we got a good deal. He normally only builds luxury homes so we were getting quality work (which is hard to find these days). Which is the only reason I agreed because

it was just weeks before Christmas.
My basement was full to the ceiling with stuff.
oh and it was weeks before Christmas (ha ha).

We worked really hard and got the basement cleaned out. For the first time in 8 years we could see the basement.

As the stuff came upstairs my anxiety was going through the roof! My house, and garage were becoming a mess!

But with several trips to donate stuff and return stuff we were storing for people it got more manageable.

A big crane delivered the dry wall but the men still had to load it down stairs.

With some instruction even I was able to help with the insulation (thanks to Craig and Lisa who worked hard helping too).

The project was dusty and messy and my house was a diaster for most of the holidays but the day before Christmas Eve it was done. I was so excited to have made it through it all and see the progress.

We still have a lot to do... paint, carpet, wood work but we are getting closer to finally having it done!

Thanksgiving 2011

This year we spent Thanksgiving in California with family. It was a great day! We woke up and ate snacks and then we took the kids to see Tangled (very cute). When we arrived home we helped get dinner on the table. It was really nice to be with family we don't see very often.

By middle of dinner Sydney was so tired she fell asleep.

Later that night I got to do my normal midnight madness shopping. Being out of town I was away from "my girls" so Alan offered to come along . I had a great time with him. Got several good deals my best was new balance shoes for everyone for only $12 a pair! It was amazingly crowded and some stores had a 2 hrs line just to get inside! My girls here at home were shopping in -3 temps so the 40 degree chill wasn't bad at all!

Visiting Santa....

This year we were in California for our traditional Santa a visit. What a treat it was to go to San Francisco (which holds a dear spot in my heart) and see Santa and enjoy the beginning of the holiday season!