We may have been a little banged up over the past few months, but we are back in the blogging world at least for today! The end of 2009 was just full of excitement as usual around here!
On our way to grab a bite to eat to celebrate our December birthdays, a gal hit us as we were at a stoplight. We think she may have been TEXTING and didn't even see us! Steve is SO DONE with being hit, I think this is the third or fourth time in the last few years! Thank goodness he hasn't been hurt!
To top off the night, we think the gal was trying to do a hit and run as she didn't pull over to the side of the road when we did. She went speeding off and it took us honking and flashing our lights at her to pull over. Nice try hun-but we were not in the mood to just "take your insurance info and let you get to your boyfriend's family dinner:)"
We finally made it to Texas Roadhouse and partied like it was Kennedy's bed-time!
Steve making sure Kennedy doesn't get bucked off the horse!
45 Years!
Posing for me!
Steve & Kenz always sharing their b-days 24 hours apart!
5 years old!
Licking the candles after is the best part!
Mikelle was so great to think of a girls' night out for our family b-day for Kennedy this year.
We all had pedicures...
Then we were off to "Color Me Mine" to have the girls paint ceramic plates.
So cute!
So fun!
So pricey! I was great to just be the assistant:).
We left the plates to be fired and picked them up a few days later.
For her b-day treat, Kennedy just wanted a shake that you make at the gas-station! Sounds good to me! Happy B-day Kennedy!
Over the holidays, we tried to work on a few projects like cleaning out the storage room. It always takes so much longer than you think to go through your stuff!
All of the memories girls! I can't believe how fast time is flying! Looking at tons of old pics from college, early married/family years...where did all of the time go?
Even though we have had multiple computer crashes, I found that I had downloaded pics of our BFF's visiting over the holidays onto a laptop...YEAH!! I won't have any such luck with our Disneyland pics, but at least we have these! The Gandolas were in Utah over the Christmas Break and we have a tradition of going to eat at the Mayan Restaurant in Sandy. Michael and Kennedy already starting in on the flirting:).
The boys always teasing each other.
The firework dessert tradition for Kennedy's b-day. That thing really sprays the sparks! We need to have her back up next year!
Catching up!
Kennedy hopes she marries Michael! We would love it too!
The girls!
We miss the daily chats but can always pick up right where we left off!
Sledding and playing in the snow up at the park behind us!
More time together:) wink wink!
Cameron taking a break doing the snow angel thing!
Marissa & Mikelle!
Aww! We miss having you guys here!
Brrr!
Everyone had their party plans for New Years! Mikelle was up at cousin Lexie's and I am not sure where Cam went for this picture!
It was my holiday to work this year and the co-workers never disappoint!
Rhianne and Mel crack me up SO bad! They are gals you could just sit and listen to for HOURS!
More of the festivities!
The crew!
Vendla was SO SWEET to bring us cinnamon rolls at work when she was OFF! They were delish!
Jodi and Nat posing for me! Happy New Year!
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Steve and Kennedy took down the last tree!
So cute of Kennedy to help with the ornaments:).
Here is my A-D-D, not concentrating when blogging and adding this pic twice:).
I think this might be our only Christmas pic that wasn't lost? Our Christmas is going to California in February. Here was the cute countdown chain Mikelle made to get us even more excited!
The trip was so fun!
Last but not least, the boys were able to burn off holiday calories by helping our neighbor Talmage with his science project. They went several mornings to run the mile at the Rec. Center with different things to drink 30 mins before running. I think his research proved that actually drinking water (vs. gatorade, fasting etc) before running yielded the fastest times:).
The boys were troopers! Christian is always so great to help out others!
Through the project, Cameron discovered he is a great runner. He had some fast times!
Happy New Year! A fresh start is always nice-except for that the fresh start comes in January when all you can do is wake up and face the "on-slaught:)" and freezing weather. I am now sure that I had Seasonal Affective Disorder as I feel so much better now that we've had a few days of sunshine (blogging this 4 month later:). I will have to look into something for next winter!
Some days I thought I was going to lose my mind as Cameron was sick again almost as soon as he was better. The poor thing! We now know that his tonsils were harboring the strep as they were so huge and cavernous (tonsillectomy post to come:). We were going crazy trying to clean and clorox light switches, door knobs etc! We thought he might even be re-infecting himself at school! I seriously about went crazy trying to get him better and keep the rest of the family well through the winter.
Our washer decided to also "lose it" through the winter. It would just "jam and error" for no reason. The door would lock and you had no other choice but to break the door or cancel the cycle that was one minute away from finishing and re-run the whole thing. When we had a repair man out to help us, it apparently is a common problem with these front loaders. Everything was "running fine" on the inside so we were stuck with the frustration of just dealing with it until it breaks for good and we could justify new ones. I don't recommend front loaders for anyone thinking about them. I have to move my clothes to the drier within an hour or two of the cycle finishing or else the clothes start to stink and sour. On the bright side, it has helped me do the laundry all within one day to prevent foul-smeeling clothes/re-washing!
January means our annual b-day outing! Laurie celebrates the middle of Dec. and Gretchen is right by b-day-so we all just celebrate together! They are such awesome friends. We have been through a lot together through the years!
Steve and the kids got me the cutest singing card and yummy cake!
Thanks guys!
One more year until "the big-one!"
Gus b-day celebration with Lexie!
Mikelle and her friend Maddie made treats for their gymnastics instructor. They have been learning so much and progressing great!
Ricki is probably sick of us but we hired her for some private lessons as well. I wish we would have gone this route years ago! So worth the $$ for the individual attention and help!
She is working with them to get their round-off-double back hand-springs.
With help...
...and without! Yeah Mikelle! Keep up the good work! 
The first month of book group down! Yeah! I am trying so hard to make time to read and continue to learn! It was actually a pretty inspiring read and encouraged me to press on and never give up!! 
