Cousins unite

Does he not want to wear matching pajamas or does he not want to sit on the couch or does he not want his picture taken? The possibilities are endless. Crying or not they were pretty cute in their red pajamas on Christmas Eve.

There were more matching pajamas. These kiddos parents respectfully decline to match.

Christmas Chaos

Eric never asks for anything. We should hire a detective to unravel his mind. We had a Christmas miracle with this gift, an iPhone.

Emily wanted Rock Band. I think she thought someone else would get it first. Let her know if you want to be in her band.

Justin and Jon, both on BYU's team, still competitive on the Wii.

Colton has the boots, the jeans, the hat, the horse. Now he can move to Texas.

On, off, up, down, repeat

Bryce discovered he could walk up the outside of the stairs and reach the dining room light. I am just waiting for him to realize he can go all the way upstairs, on the outside of the railing, on the other side of this staircase.

He looks like a deer caught in the headlights but Bryce is comfortable with an audience.

Lights On

Travis Meyer, from channel 6 news, reported the weather with Emily's 6th grade girl's choir singing in the background. Don't pay any attention to what he said because this happened the day of the Jenks Lights On ceremony which took place the week before Thanksgiving. The sky is bright blue today, no snow (or ice) but a little too cold to stand outside in your bare feet. At least that's what Jenny said while running back inside to warm up. (Emily is top row, five people in from the right when it starts.)

It's the happ, happiest time . . .

Justin, Miranda and Bryce flew home Thursday night. (with only one small diversion to Mississippi)
Jenny, Jon, Kirsten and Colton drove in Friday night and
Eric flew home Saturday night.
Geoff will be home in March.
We'll probably open the presents before then.

Catch him if you can.

He's fast. We can't catch him. We've tried. He got to this age so much quicker than the rest of us. Happy Birthday Lonny!

Dazzled by Twilight?

Do you recognize Forks, WA? Or are you one of the 5 people that has not read the book Twilight? My sister left the book at my house in the summer of 2007. I am not into vampires but was curious to find out what the big deal was. In fact, I don't particularly like fantasy (or science fiction either) (understatement) at all. I apologize to all the Harry Potter, Star Wars and Lord of the Rings fans including those in my own family. Well, I read the book because I didn't have anything else to read at the time. It was okay. I liked it. I was interested enough to read the sequels but waited about 6 months to force my self to finish them. I really did not like either and I am (waiting for lightning to strike) not sure why Stephanie Meyer is considered a genius. Sorry Steph but hopefully your millions will soothe the hurt feelings. We made the trek to Forks because my beautiful daughter in the picture is a fan. I only let her read the first book in the series. When she is 25 she can read what she wants. Look how happy she is, and taking these pictures to school put her at near rock star status.

You get plastic fangs with your "Twilight Punch" at the Forks Diner.

Emily became proficient at climbing on the logs at every beach. Here she is at La Push. My favorite part of the trip was the Olympic Rain Forest. (Of course having the girl at the pizza place in Port Townsend asking for the name to put on the ticket was enjoyable. Maybe she thought we were the town namesake or the offspring of royalty but she could spell said last name without any prompting.) ( by the way, did you know my parents became engaged at Port Townsend? And Lonny proposed across the water in Fort Casey? Another story.) This picture of the forest does not do it justice, everything, and I mean everything was covered in moss. We did not look too hard for the bears and cougars the warning signs cautioned were around, but the elk were abundant. My children have learned about this rain forest in school. Its status as the only of its kind in North America is remarkable, but it wasn't the Amazon, no monkeys or anacondas, but I like them better at the zoo anyway.