Last day of the year

I felt I needed to post something on this last day of the year. 2010..... What to say about 2010? This year seemed to go by in a whirlwind. Just when I thought it would slow down it sped up and got crazy.

So here is my past year.....2010

January - Ahhh the start of the year. Every year we start with resolutions and try to keep them. I did keep one of my resolutions for about 10 months. I started working out and kept working out until thanksgiving when I lost all control and willpower. It's those stinking goodies around the holidays. Oh they are so good.

February - Dave had his first State Kick off meeting as a State Manager and it went off great. He is so wonderful at his job and everyday I look at him in awe at what a great person he is. We were able to go to Utah for our niece Lucy's baby blessing and celebrated a bunch of birthday's and Valentines day. It was a fun little weekend. I also started tanning because I'm as pale as a vampire and we were going to Mexico!!!!

March - I think this month went by in a blur. Dave's cousin Ephraim came and visited us for a couple of weeks from Austrailia. The kids had tons of fun with him and loved his accent. We went to a cycle park and the guys rode their motorcycles and four wheelers. Noah and I tried out a little motorcycle and had fun riding in circles in the sand. After that we headed to the Oregon coast for our spring break. It was lots of fun. We really miss the coast being land locked again.

April - Ahhhh yeah. Off to Puerto Vallarta Mexico. It was a very fun trip. We went on a wonderful zip line tour and had lots of fun. I got lots of beach time which I love. I also got lots of sleep. That's because the kids weren't with us. Ahhhhhh yeah. Of course when I wasn't traveling I was volunteering at the school in the boys classes and taking syd to school and Noah had started scouts so things were going, going, going. Also my sweet little Abigail turned 2. Such a fun and frustrating age. She thinks she can do it all herself.

May - We started off the month with a trip to Columbus, Georgia. We got to go to the AFLAC employee appreciation week. It was lots of fun and I got to see some great things in Georgia. Made me want to take a trip back to South Carolina. I really do miss somethings about the South. The hospitality is one of them. After we got back from this trip we were home a week or 10 days and were back off to PV Mexico again. This time we stayed on the other side and had a fabulous time as well. We were in a private Villa and I don't think I came out of the pool very often. It was wonderful, and relaxing. Our room opened up overlooking the ocean. Fabulous. Definately one of my favorite trips. We also took a trip back to Utah for our nephew Damon's graduation. It was a family filled weekend, and lots of fun.

June - The end of school. Ahhhh finally. Things are bound to slow down right? Sort of. Dave was traveling for most of the month of June so the kids and I packed up the van and headed to Oregon. We had a blast visiting family and friends and the coast again. Only down side is 2 of the kids got pneumonia. We were there for 3 weeks. So much fun. Jacob shared his 7th birthday with his Dad and Grandpa for Father's Day. Thanks Jake that was nice.

July - Still at the beach for the 4th. We had lots of fun. The Quists came down and spent it with us. They also brought all the illegal fireworks since they can buy them in WA where they live. It was fun to light up the sky. We then decided to head home and spend a little time in the Idaho sun. I had lost my mexico tan going to Oregon, and I have become converted to liking to see the sun more than once a month. We spent lots of time going to the Water Park and playing with friends. Meanwhile Dave worked and trained for his first triathalon at the end of the month. He did awesome. All of the Parker clan met up and went to Bear Lake for a week. It was so much fun. They kiddos had a blast at the lake. The weather was great and we had the fourwheelers courtesy of Bryan and dave's motorcycle. They had a great time. We also got to spend time with Grandma Parker who came and hung out with us for the week. We went over to Border WY to my Aunt and Uncles house and the kids got to 4 wheel and ride a horse. Lots of fun. Very busy month.

August - We stayed at home for the month and again kept going to the water park. We had our good friends come and stay to help me and Dave out a little. Thanks Cierra and Tianna. We love and miss you guys. We also had the Quists come and stay for a little while and attend Dave's state picnic with us the the other Hannants. It was almost a family reunion, we missed Mark and Laura's family. Sad but true school started the last day of the month. I was a little relieved because I would have more time right?

September - Mom and dad came and visited as they were on their way to Dad's 50 year reunion. wow that's just crazy. They were here for Labor Day and sadly Noah and Jacob both got the stomach flu. Sydney had had it the week before. We spent lots of time playing with our friends and enjoying watching the boys play football. Their team was awesome. Sydney also started taking dance - tap/ballet - and is having a great time. This is our busy birthday month, Noah turned 9 and Sydney turned 5. We had a fun girl party and Noah got to have a friend come spend the night. Also this is the month I started blogging. Yay me.

October - We went to Utah to our nephew Damon's farewell. He was called to the Villa Hermosa Mexico mission. We had a great time visiting with him and seeing all our cousins. We were able to all go out to dinner one night without kids and that was awesome. Also did a little bowling. I love bowling. Next I would love to find a roller skating rink. We had a scare while we were there. Grandma Lorraine had something happen with her heart and Dave and his brothers and sister had to take her to the hospital. She is doing better but still has some problems. Hope they can get them figured out this next year. Then Dave went on a cruise to the bahama's for AFLAC Convention. He took his sister Joy since I'm not a fan of boats. Or really be on water where I can't see the land. Or just being on water at all. I love to swim, and I did surf once, which was a blast, but no cruise ships for me. It was also our 13 year anniversary. So great to be married to such a wonderful man who is my best friend in all the world. Love you honey. Sydney also decided to cut off all her bangs and a lot of length of her hair. Dave wasn't happy about it but at least he was gone. She wanted to know if it would grow back before he got home. It didn't. Dave got back from his cruise and the next day we were off to Denver. Our nephew Isaac was getting baptized and we went for that. It was also Halloween and so we had a great time getting dressed up and begging for candy.

November - What? Already? Noah had his 3rd grad Choir concert and he had a speaking part. He did very well. We decided to invite all the Hannant family to Thanksgiving at our house. We really just wanted to have a break and stay home for a while. It was lots of fun. The Quists came and the Paul Hannants and we had our friends the Slaughters and their family come as well as Jenny's sister and Dave's cousin Joannah. The Utah Hannant's didn't end up making it because of the weather. It was still a great time and if I do brag a little a great meal. My first solo one. Probably should have tried that before inviting 34 people over, but it was great anyway. Is it really December next week?

December - We got the house all decorated. Dave went to Nashville, and he turned old like me. Now we have even more in common. Sydney had her first Dance recital, Jacob had a 2nd grade Choir concert, Sydney had her holiday concert, and Dave was gone for almost all of it. The next week Grandma Lorraine came and we had our annual open house. It was lots of fun and we had lots of good food and fun friends. Grandma and Grandpa Parker came and stayed for 10 days and celebrated Christmas with us. It was wonderful. We had a great Christmas dinner with lots of family and friends again.

So here we are on the last day of the year and I hope next year will be as fulfilling as this year has been. We have truly been blessed and we are so grateful for all the love and support our friends and family give us.

Hope you have a Happy New Year too. Maybe I'll go get dressed. Send the year out right and not in my jammies. Though they are so comfy. That's a good way to be too.

Santa's pack exploded.....

I think that this year there must have been some sort of accident with Santa's pack. Maybe it got stuck on a branch or caught on something in the chimney because it exploded it's contents on our house. Actually in our house.

We couldn't have had a better Christmas than we had this year. I think everyone got what they wanted and then some. What a wonderful blessing to enjoy it with Mom and Dad, aka Grandma and Grandpa Parker. We were truly blessed. Below are the gifts that Santa left. Noah asked for the Bakugan Dragonoid Colossus and Jacob asked for Lego Universe and rotten eggs which he got (story continued below). Sydney asked for a makeup set, and is she ever more beautiful now that her cheeks are aglow. Abby got a bunch of princess dress ups and the whole family got a XBox 360 Kinect. It is awesome and we were able to video chat with our family in Denver who also got one.

So when we went to visit Santa at the Botanical Gardens the kids told him what they wanted. When we asked Jacob what he asked for he said "Three rotten eggs and a monkey"

What?????

Turns out he was pulling a little trick on his dad. "I'm kidding dad. I just thought it was funny." Well we must have been standing a little too close to Santa still because he heard what Jacob said and must have decided to give a little demonstration. Anyway Christmas morning there was a box of three "rotten" eggs sitting on top of Jacob's present. I think his lesson was learned but secretly I think he is really excited about his eggs because he won't let me throw them away yet.

Here is princess Abigail. Doesn't she look beautiful in her new royal attire? She is loving her new duds and has one on at least every day.

The biggest suprise came when Noah found a glove on the tree and tied to it was a key. A key to what? Lots and lots of fun and it was pointed to the garage. Here is what we found.

Abigail also got a bike. Her's isn't motorized and plays lots of Dora the Explorer songs, but she thinks it's pretty awesome. You can sort of see it on the right side of the picture.

Noah figured out the bike pretty quick and really enjoyed riding it up and down the street. You know getting used to the feel. Sydney thinks she can ride it by herself and was a little irked that Dave rode on the back of it with her. Which was a good thing because she only learned to ride a two wheel bike about a month ago, without training wheels.

So even though the material side of Christmas decided to "throw up" all over the Hannant house, we still know the true meaning of Christmas. ******* We are grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ and the sacrifices he has made for us in our lives. We are grateful for the giving and service we get to experience this time of year as we celebrate his birth and this year we are going to try to continue it on for the rest of the year. So as we start to go into next year we are thinking of things to change and make better, and truly are thankful for all we have been given this year.

Merry Christsmas!!

Christmas Eve

I know it's a few days late. Christmas Eve was awhile ago, but I just found the time to actually write a few words.

Since we have moved here to Idaho, we decided it was time to start some traditions. So instead of traveling at Christmas, we are staying home. Plus all the "baggage" that comes with traveling with 4 kids, I really like staying home.

Dave's brother Paul and his wife Jenny also want to start some tradtions with their girls. So Jenny invited us over for Christmas Eve to decorate cookies for Santa. We went last year and it was lots of fun. So this is our second cookie decorating party.



The kids did great decorating their cookies and we got to bring a whole cookie tray of them home with us. Thank heavens the kids shared their cookies with Santa and his reindeer. That was very helpful to my waistline.
Noah looking a little crazy with his frosting knife. Look out frosty.

Grandma helped out Syddie while grandpa tried out all the goodies. They were pretty tasty.

Then we went home and all of us went to bed. We had to be asleep before Santa came. It was lots of fun and we look forward to continuing this tradition for many years to come.

Twas the week before Christmas....

T'was the week before Christmas and all thru the house....

The creatures are stirring, and boy are they loud.

They are running around, like they haven't a care.

Mainly because Grandma and grandpa are here.

It has been a crazy last few days. Grandma and grandpa are here which means that no one can tell abigail what to do but grandma. On the other hand she has started to potty train herself, so yay for the extra set of hands to get her to the bathroom.

I have taken the kids individually to get presents for their brothers and sisters and it has been so cute to see them choose something for each one. We set a price limit this year of $10 per present for their siblings. It has been a learning experience for them to see what things cost and have to figure out what they can and can't get. It's also nice to see them put thought into what they think is the best present for each kid.

We had a wonderful time yesterday taking all the kids to the doctor. Apparently there has been an outbreak of pink eye at our house. LOVELY!!! If you are in need of eye drops, I think I have enough for the epidemic.

Tonight was the BSU vs. Utah game in Las Vegas. We went over to our friends house and had yummy food and watched the Bronco's win. Yay for us since most everyone else were Ute fans. Dave will be able to rub it in for awhile.

A few last minute things to do tomorrow and we will be ready for Christmas. I guess I need to wrap somethings, Ok everything and then I'll be done.

Someday I might get everything done before the week before Christmas, but I'm guessing that won't be until the kids are grown up and I'm heading to one of their houses for Christmas.

You know Dasher and Dancer and Prancer......

What a fabulous thing Christmas lights are. I love how they twinkle and glow in their colors, lighting up the darkness around them. We went to the Boise Botanical Gardens last night for our Family Home Evening. Or I guess our family evening out.

We started our night eating some delicious Flying Pie pizza. Which we found out you can buy their bread dough, cheese and sauce. Which means to me you can make their pizza at home. Although I'm sure it wouldn't taste the same. There is in my mind something to be said for pizza ovens.

Then we headed ourselves over to take a walk thru the Winter Garden a Glow. Lots of beautiful lights on everything. It was great. There was one moment where a section of lights went out and it was so dark. If it hadn't been for the lights around the outside we wouldn't have seen where to go. Above is my beautiful kids and me. I don't have too many of these. And below is our wonderful little family. Plus the lights.

Grandma with Noah and Abigail. I think she had a good time, even though everytime she stepped in mud she said ewwww, we are going to have to wash our shoes.

Grandpa with Sydney and Jacob enjoyed the lights. We had one adult per kid and still kept looking around for them. Everyone had to have a turn with grandma and grandpa.

We got a suprise as we walked down one of the paths. We saw a reindeer. A real live reindeer. His name is Prancer. He was such a sweet animal. The kids got to pet him.

As Abigail rubbed his soft fur she giggled and said he was tickley. She talked about him for quite sometime. That is until she saw who he had brought.....

I'm not sure Abby was happy about sharing her Santa time with her sister. Sydney was just talking Santa's ear off, and he seems to be enjoying it too. Maybe she will get something good for Christmas.

Our evening out was great and the most famous reindeer for our family this year is Prancer. We are truly greatful for the wonderful year we have had and for the great season that is Christmas.

All commercial Christmas aside, I know that this time of year is the most beautiful because this is the time we celebrate our saviors birth. We wouldn't have such wonderful lives if we didn't try to live them with the light of Christ radiating from inside us. Just like those lights that showed us how to get out off the dark.

Merry Christmas everyone!!

Tis the season for ear infections

I love Christmas. It is by far my most favorite holiday of the year. I love the lights and the music. I love the crackling fire, or in my case the blower on the gas fireplace.

The thing I don't love?

My sweet sweet baby Abigail at 6 months old ended up with 4 months of ear infections.

Then they stopped. It was a wonder spring, summer, and fall......

At 1 1/2 years old my sweet sweet toddler abigail ended up with 4 months of ear infections.

Now again at 2 1/2 years old my sweet sweet little girl Abigail is starting her 3rd year of ear infections. We just got diagnosed with our first one yesterday. I'm sad for her but happy that she can now tell me what is hurting and where. We were able to take care of this one pretty quick and today she is only sort of whiny and grumpy. Can't wait for tomorrow when she will be a little whiny and possibly slightly grumpy.

Feel better baby girl. I love you.

Who likes houses made of candy?

Who likes houses made of candy? WE DO!! WE DO!!

I can't remember for how many years we have been making them, but at Christmas time we must put together a gingerbread house. I have seen the amazing gingerbread houses people make and ours is not like that. Ours is made by eight little hands that eat more candy than ends up on the house itself.

I thought once I might try to bake my own gingerbread and cut out and all that good stuff. When I say once, I really mean once. I don't have the time, energy or creativity to do that.

Oh who am I kidding I don't want to take the time, energy or creativity to do it. I instead go to a store and buy one ready to put together.

With the candy placed into it's separate bowls and dad to help with the glue, I mean frosting, the kids go to town on the house. It is something they look forward to every year. As soon as they see the box with the house in it they can't wait to do it. This was Abby's first year helping and she was smart. She made sure not to eat any dinner so she had plenty of room to eat all the candy. It gives me a tummy ache just thinking about it. It might be all the marshmellows I ate too.

So here is our masterpiece. It's not the prettiest gingerbread house or even the most fancy, but it was definately made with the most love.

The other part the kids love best is on January 1st they get to tear it apart and eat it. Yuck! Nothing like some serious hard gingerbread and stale candy to welcome in the New Year, but they seem to love it.

Tiny dancer

Yesterday was the craziest day. It was Sydney's very first dance recital. She has been begging us for awhile to take dance. She says she wants to be a "balleter" when she grows up. It got me thinking about when I started dance. I think I only took for a year if that, and things were a little different. My mom had to have someone make my costumes. I had one for tap and one for ballet. For Sydney we only had to buy one costume, premade and she will wear it for both tap and ballet. Nice and I think probably in the long run less expensive.

So that being said. I thought before I show you just how wonderful my tiny dancer I would show a picture of my first tap costume. I can't remember the performance but I do remember posing for this picture. This is 1979, and makes me 6 years old. One year older than Sydney and I'm pretty sure she is a way better dancer. Sydney's class did a tap dance to jingle bell rock. It was so great. The best part is no one really knew what they were doing but looked precious all the same. I'm not sure I like how "grown up" she looked but I can't deny that she is beautiful. It makes me scared already for the teenage years.
This is her pose. She looks sort of like a doll. A little creepy but still cute.

Here she is with her class, Sydney is the one on the end and I must add the prettiest. We were even able to hide her sad little bangs.

Action shot of the tapper in a jump. That's her front and center. As I brag again... She's also one of the best dancers.

Doing a little bit of toe tapping. It is really cute how hard they think they have to stomp their little feet. I told sydney that the shoes make the noise for her, but I think she gets quite the work out everytime she puts those shoes on.

Once her dress rehearsal was finished she got the chance to tell Santa what she wanted for Christmas which is a Dora makeup set. Guess what? Santa has his work cut out for him because they don't exsist. We'll see what happens....But I bet she gets something close to it. I really enjoyed my day with my sweet sydney and we wish her daddy could have been there too. He was gone on a business trip, I think of all the things to miss this broke his heart the most. Thank heavens for technology, it makes life a little easier sometimes and you don't miss near as much.

Where were all the other kids? I refused to take them to the recital because I wanted to enjoy it. I usually spend all my time yelling at the others so I miss what is going on with the one performing.

Fortunately the boys school records and makes DVD's of all the concerts because Abigail is by far the worst kid to take to anything. This week we had Sydney's holiday sing at her school, Jacob's Choir concert for 2nd grade, and Syd's dance recital. All in 3 days. It's been a fantastic week and my kids are truly the best. So happy they are mine. Even my naughty Abby. Noah was a great help, while Dave was gone and tried his hardest to be good. But I think that it's so close to Christmas that a little naughty keeps surfacing. It's so hard to be good all the time.

Happy Happy Birthday Davey Dear!!

I'm a couple of days late in wishing my wonderful hubby a Happy Birthday, and today is actually his sister's birthday, Happy Birthday Laura! I thought I needed to get busy.

Birthday's have never been a huge deal in my family. We always got to have a cake and invite a friend over and pick what was for dinner. That kind of thing. I remember I always wanted clam chowder for dinner and it drove my mom crazy because..... my birthday is in July. But alas she did it anyway. Thanks mom.

In Dave's family birthday's are a huge thing. They do the big family or kid birthday party. So when Dave and I got married thirteen years ago October, Dave's birthday was just around the corner. I remember his mom asking me what I was doing for his birthday and I said I don't know, why what do you usually do? She said you're his wife, you're in charge now. So I just jumped in and..... I don't actually remember what I did but I'm sure it was great!!!

So now that I have had 13 years of Dave's birthday and lots of little kid birthday's under my belt I'm quite relaxed about inviting people over and making lots of food and cake. Don't you like how I made this post all about me?

Ok so back about Dave's day.... We invited some friends over and then had Chicken Enchilada's for dinner. I'm told they were good. I choose to eat the veggie lasagna, I know weird but both sounded kind of good so there you go. Then we had cake and brownies. I made Dave his favorite cake that I think he is regretting saying is his favorite because now he gets it for all his birthday's. But it is yummy and looks fancy too.

Here is Dave blowing out the candles and below what age he really is. Yep he has been saying it for about 4 months because when I have my birthday he practices saying his soon to be age. But just know if you ask him how old he was when we got married he will point out that I was 24 and he was 23 a whole year younger. Don't know how that works, but he loves to tell that to people.

So Happy Happy Birthday David Dear! I love you and hope you had a wonderful day. I'm also glad you took a little time to start your next year off right with an afternoon of skiing.

Ummm...has anyone seen my street?

Yes that is right. This is the view out of my front door. We had one crazy day and night of snow, snow and more snow. It was crazy deep for this area. 8 inches. Beautiful, sparkling, white snow.

I grew up in Oregon. When it snows you stop. You don't go out. You don't drive. You don't go to school. Well apparently if it snows 8 inches you don't have to go to school here either. Not only that the district calls you at 6 am to tell you that you don't have to go to school. So you lay there wide awake because you thought something was really wrong when you were jolted awake by the ringing phone. Who calls at 6 am? That early of a call usually is the bearer of bad news, not a fun filled day in tons of snow. Beautiful isn't it.

I had my sister -in-law make these darling hats for the girls. The flowers can come off and you can clip a different one on. They are beautiful and the girls love them. Thanks so much Emilee for sharing your talent with us and putting all the time and love into making these for the girls.

Sydney has worn her hat everyday. Not only that but it also covers her sad little bangs and she looks adorable.

I was fortunate to have had inspiration to put on my snow tires the day before our snow arrived, so I felt that it was ok to Let it snow, Let it snow, Let it snow. I have to say I really enjoyed watching how peaceful the world was while the snow was falling. I felt removed from the hustle and bustle and was able to just enjoy the beauty that surrounds us.

I still get to look out and see the beautiful snow but I am happy to report I have found my street and things are back to normal.