Sunday, December 23, 2012

Let it snow!


 December has been a rough month this year!  Taylor had finals and a interview for PA school in AZ the first couple of weeks, combined with strep throat and two slipped discs in his back it was stressful for us all!  Dane was throwing up multiple times a day for two weeks. I have had a cold and cough for a month and strep throat for a few days.  Brynne almost held out, but was sick only one day.  Pheww anyways after a sick month and missing lots of fun Christmas parties we are making the most of the last few days before Christmas and trying to get into the holiday spirit!
 One of the first snows of the year, it snowed about a foot of heavy snow.  The snow really weighed down the trees because the leaves were still on.  Most of the trees in our yard were really damaged.  Taylor got ready to go outside and knock the snow of the apricot tree and opened the back door right as this huge branch fell. We were all eating breakfast looking out the window as it happened and it sounded like thunder and all we could see was white for a minute or two.  I'm so grateful he wasn't a few seconds faster getting outside.  It fell on the power line and we were out of power for a few hours.  It also knocked over some of the fence, crushed all the tomato cages that were against the fence, and broke off one of the lines on the clothes line. Driving around our neighborhood that day looked like there had been a hurricane!  Luckily lots of people helped us clean all this up! Landlords, chain saws, Taylor,  the scouts, and my mom and I took many trips to the green trash lot!

 First time mini golfing, the kids had so much fun!

 So happy to put the Christmas tree up!  I love our Christmas tree, its covered randomly with all of Taylor and I's ornaments from growing up.  My favorite is one Tay made is school when he was about 7 with his adorable picture on it!  I love nostalgia. 

 Dane reminded me of my brother Chad this year, he wasn't about to pose for pictures!

 Dane LOVED santa and cuddled right up to him no problem.  He will probably get lots of presents from that guy this year!
 Brynne was super excited right up until it was time for her to get on his lap, but at the last second quickly told him she really wanted a unicorn pillow pet with lights, hopefully he heard her!

 We had fun acting out the nativity with Kenny and Andrea and Cade!  Dane especially CANNOT get enough of his little cousin and is constantly trying to hold and kiss him!
 If you think this pic is good...you should see the video!

 We had a fun Christmas party at Brenna and Joes!  Ate a yummy dinner, played games, did a craft, and decorated ginger bread men!

 Lots of M and m's, thats what I'm talking about~
 Dane always throws up if he eats frosting so we had to moniter this event closely!
 We took a trip to temple square on thursday night, it was beautiful and magical...for a few minutes then it was just freezing at 18 degrees!  "What is this, Rexburg?"
We had a fun Joy school Christmas party where the kids acted out the nativity, sang the songs they had been practicing this month, handed out the presents they have been making, and ate the cookies that took us hours to bake :)  

WE CANT WAIT FOR SANTA TO COME IN A COUPLE OF DAYS!!!!

Stars Wars Birthday!

We surprised Taylor with a Star wars themed bday party to start his 28th year out right! He really was surprised since I'm not really a star wars person. My friend let me borrow a bunch or her costumes since all her kids were star wars characters for Halloween! Grandma and Grandpa Broughton and Alex and Megan and their kids came over for the event.
Dane as a Ewok and Brynne as Princess leia
Princess leia and grandpa taking a rest!
Ella as R2D2
Alex and Tay playing with the fire of course!


Lucy in the Yoda costume minus the ears and cute Wes!
Get 'em all!
Sugar!

Halloween!

Happy Halloween!
We went to the great little pumpkin patch by our house and went on a hay ride, where we saw cows, horses, and chickens, the kids thought it was perfect!

Haha, he thought he was sooo funny :)
"look at my muscles mom!"
Carving pumpkins, they were not a fan of the smelly slimy stuff in the middle!
Brynne decided to forgo her beautiful princess dress to be dora...it turned out alright but I think I'll stick with my little blond beauty!  This is her joy school halloween party, we had lots of fun!
Getting ready to go!

Brynne was a little timid trick or treating, but Daner LOVED it :)

They loved playing in the leaves and raking them!  They were not happy when I put the leaves in bags and threw them away!


California in October

Taylor had the chance to interview at Touro University in Vallejo (he is now on the waiting list to get it) so we took a rare but exciting trip home. Taylor hadn't been home in 2 years and loved every second of Lodi! Taylor had to fly home to go back to work and then the kids and I stayed to welcome Chad home from his two year mission in Italy!!
Dante's with Erica and Riley and the kids.  Just as good as I remembered it.  We were the only ones in the whole restaurant to have kids with us, but they really were great!
Brothers and Pizza, could life get better?
Wake up call from four lovely Broughton ladies, lucky Tay!
Erica and Riley made us a yummy breakfast before Stake conference, where somehow we sat in the third row with 5 kids, yikes!
Enjoying some BBQ and beautiful Lodi weather with the Broughtons!
Meeting our newest nephew Timmy for the first time!
Cousins and cupcakes!
Grandma and papa
Jammies and books! 
After Lodi we headed over to the bay area where we picked up grandma, papa, and chad at the bart station with a Welcome home elder mcaffee sign!  I dont know where that pic is at the moment.  Papa made the kids mutli colored waffles, and even let them help, they loved it!

Riding the motorcycle! Yippee!
Chad working on the funnest uncle status!
I woke up to drive back to Ca. by myself with the kids and found that the pass was closed and would be all week due to snow, so I decided to detour through las vegas and was lucky enough to get to stay with my friend Dynelle last minute.  She was so great to let us stay! Thanks Dynelle and kirk!   The second day drive felt like one of those nightmares were you were trying to run, but you just couldn't.  We got on the road pretty early in the morning when the check engine light came on, after getting it checked we thought the van would be fine making it home, so two hours later than scheduled we left. A hour down the road Dane throws up everywhere.  Spent 45 minutes trying to clean him and the car up.  Another hour down and stop at walmart to get cleaning supplies because I cant handle the pukey smell any more.  Another hour lost, and we are only 120 miles in.  Drive for 5 more minutes and Brynne has to go to the bathroom...awhile later more throw up from Dane....etc. etc.  But it was still and great trip and we were so happy to be out of the car and with our dad again when we got home!!