Weekend at Mt. Hood

While I was in California with Julian, Hyrum took the twins and a few of their friends up to Mt. Hood for a fun weekend skiing.

This is what Katrina was wearing to head out to the swimming pool at the hotel...

...because this is the crazy amount of snow outside!  This is the trail to get to the hot tub:)  The boys of course loved playing in the snow and then jumping into the hot tub!

Skiing with friends

Legoland California

We took all our family to Legoland back in 2013 but Julian was too small to ride most of the rides.  Ever since then he has been asking to go back to Legoland and finally I decided I would take him there for his birthday.  He turns 8 this year which is a pretty important birthday so I thought he deserved to have his dream come true and go to Legoland.

On the airplane heading to San Diego!  Julian was so excited!!

Not only did we spend 2 whole days at Legoland but we also stayed in the Legoland Hotel.  He was so happy:)

Playing in the pool at the hotel.  It wasn't too warm (only about 62 degrees outside) but the pool was heated and he didn't seem to mind the cool air.

Cute boy!

This ride, right here, was the main reason he wanted to come to Legoland.  When he was 4 he was too young to go on these cars and he has wanted to ride on them ever since that time back in 2013.  When he got off he said, "that was so fun!"

So happy to be at Legoland

Building a boat to race down the water track

My sister Riann drove 6 hours from Mesa to spend the weekend with us.  It was fun to have an adult to chat with while Julian rode the kid rides.

Leaving Legoland.  Julian was in tears when I told him we probably won't be coming back because he is getting older and may not like Legoland so much in the future.  His little tears broke my heart and may have convinced me that one more trip to Legoland may not be the end of the world.

I had such a fun weekend with Julian and Riann.  It was fun to hang out with my little man Jules.  I can't believe he is 8!!

Random January

The twins setting of for an overnight scout campout.  I think their friend Kason (wearing all black) will be well prepared for the cold:)

Julian playing in our new kitchen pantry

One night Emerson called for me, "Mom!!!  I have something stuck in my cheek"  I came running to help only to find him like this...silly boy!

It snowed!!  Not just a few little flakes but actual snow.  The boys ended up with 9 snow days off school so far this year (and it's only the first week of February)  It's fun and pretty but I really need my boys to be in school...for my own sanity:)

Sledding with friends

Having fun sledding

Our kitchen is coming along, slowly but surely

Hyrum bought season passes for the twins to go skiing up at Coopers Spur on Mt. Hood.  They have been 3 times so far this year.  They are getting better each time

I went to Portland with my friend Christina DuWors (and 100,000 other people) for the Women's March

It was so wonderful to be surrounded and supported by so many people with my same beliefs and concerns about this new Trump presidency.  It was pouring down rain and we all got wet but it was still fun and I'm glad I participated and made my voice counted among those that will not blindly support the crazy things our President is doing!

Happy New Year!

We always spend New Years Eve with the Doxey family.  Steve breaks out the juicer and makes crazy juices (like cactus juice...which has the consistency of snot)  We play games and have lots of food.  It's a fun way to bring in the new year!

The juice master

The brave souls willing to try the cactus juice.  Emerson said it wasn't so bad but it cracks me up to look at Steve's reaction to drinking the juice...ha ha ha

Katrina is all ready for 2017...bring it on!!

A fun trip to Puyallup, Washington

I simply can't be at home all the time, especially when my house is under construction and I have no kitchen and my kids are home because of the school break...so I took off with Julian and headed up to Washington for a quick visit with my good friend Kari.  I'm so super glad she let me come and spend a few days at her house so I could escape the crazy at home.  The twins decided to stay home which was fine with me.  Julian and I had a lot of fun together with friends.

We went to the awesome Children's Museum in Olympia.  Julian had so much fun!

A shot of all the kids outside the museum.  Love all these cuties:)

Aaron spoiled me and got the wood fired pizza oven up and running so we could have pizza.  Delicious!!

Kari is learning how to play the cello and put on a little concert for me.  She is amazing!  She has 5 kids, a dog, 2 cats and a whole yard full of chickens and she still finds time to do the things she loves to do.

We went for a quick little walk around a lake.  It was freezing cold but sunny so it wasn't terrible. 

A little owl was injured and hanging out on the path.  A nice couple were keeping watch over it until Animal Services could come.  It was neat to see an owl so close.  Beautiful bird.

I love that Kari let me come crash at her place for  a few days.  Sometimes I just need a break from the "same old" and it was so nice to spend time with a good friend.  She has known me since 2005 and she is still my friend!!!  Now that's loyalty because I am pretty crazy at times:)  Love you Kari!!

Merry Christmas!

The Christmas tree with all it's presents on Christmas Eve night

Our little family after church on Christmas morning.  I love Hyrum's red pants, very festive!

The messy room after the fun of opening presents.  I don't know why Townsend looks so surprised...crazy boy!  Oh wait, maybe it's because they got the Xbox they wanted AND a new computer.  I think they were all surprised by that:)

Peter's favorite place in the house to take a little nap.

Random December

We had a fun lunch with the Olsen family out at Camp 18

Julian had fun participating in Chess Club at his school

Emerson and Townsend were able to attend the temple for the first time and perform baptisms.

We went to a fun lights display called "Christmas in the Garden" in Silverton, OR.

Silly displays made me laugh:)

Every year on Christmas Eve we get together with the Doxey family and have a "grab bag" night.  This year Townsend got yummy chocolate covered pretzels and...a jar of asparagus???

Happy Thanksgiving

We love our Thanksgiving tradition of heading up to Mt. Hood for the weekend.  It was even more wonderful this year because the condo we stayed in had a full kitchen, unlike our house, so we could make a full Thanksgiving feast!

Hyrum always spoils us with such a wonderful meal.  The twins favorite part is the "turk and mash" which is what they call turkey with mashed potatoes.  Julian likes to eat the rolls and a bit of turkey but thats about it.  Hyrum made brussels sprouts this year that were fantastic!  I'm so thankful for this group of boys that make up my family!

We took the boys skiing for the very first time.  It was really rough at first.  A lot of falling down and swearing and yelling that they want to give up...but after just a few times down the bunny hill they improved a whole lot.  Julian was doing pretty good but just got tired of it after about an hour (that was a very expensive hour!)  The twins and Hyrum stayed on the slopes for about 4 hours and they were having a real good time by the end of the day.

How cute are these boys?

I think we will wait a few more years before bringing Julian skiing again but I think he had fun and really didn't complain too much when he crashed.

Random November

We made our annual trek to Great Wolf Lodge for a weekend of swimming fun.  I let the twins each invite a friend to come along.  And yes, I made them take this picture wearing the wolf ears.  Hey, I pay for the vacation, you have to take one crappy picture for your mom...that's the deal!

Having so much fun at Great Wolf Lodge!!

Our super fancy dining room...this is how we ate meals for a good 2 months after all our floors got torn up because of the flood

We had a toaster and a microwave...our meals were very fancy!

I took the boys to see the movie "Trolls" I couldn't resist this cute picture of Julian...such a little cutie!!

The boys participated in our Stake Young Men's "Camp Aaron" for the weekend.  It's like girls camp but for boys.  The twins had so much fun and loved being with their friends all weekend.

My cute husband had his 41st birthday.  Katrina was super nice and baked him a delicious lemon cake for his birthday because I didn't have an oven I could use.  This cake was so good!  Love you Hyrum and I'm so happy you stick with me even through the tough times:)