Ice Skating at the Olympic Oval

The #1 item on our "to do" list this Christmas/Holiday season {Holidays because we needed Thanksgiving break to New Years to fit all the "to dos" on the list in} anyway, #1 on the list was 

Ice Skating!

The great Groupon had a discount to the Olympic Oval, 50% off for a family of 5. Bea is free except for skate rental because she is still under the magic age limit.

Today we finally headed up to Kearns for the much anticipated Ice Skating Extravaganza!

They had these neat walker/skater holder uppers {technical term} that little kids with no balance or experience could use. In theory, the child could stabilize themselves and learn to skate like a pro. In reality, the child held on for dear life and mom/dad held onto the child's hands and the contraption at the same time while bending at a 90 degree angle scooting around the oval while the child's legs and feet "went all crazy," as the Boss said.

This is the view I had for most of the outing. The Boss couldn't keep her feet going in the right, or even the same direction.

Apparently Bea, who was with Dad, had the same problems as the Boss and I.

Drama got the hang of it right away.

and Pooh Bear was a pro by the end of the outing.

Ahh, a helmet, a really good idea, considering. 

Why won't they even look at me when I am taking a picture?

In the end we had a great time and the Boss cried most of the way  home because she wanted to go back and ice skate. Of course Mark and I will be bed ridden tomorrow from the bending, stooping, lifting, balancing, steadying, and ice skate induced ankle pain.

Thanksgiving

For Thanksgiving this year we went up to Grandma Tina's and Grandpa Phil's house in Idaho Falls. We had so much fun that the Boss informed me this morning that she wanted to "Stay at Grandma Tina's ever" {forever}.

We drove up on Wednesday and made a quick stop at Grandma Great's house for a visit.

Grandma Tina was the chef de cuisine Thanksgiving day and the gravy was fan.ta.stic! 

Grandpa Phil was the master turkey carver. 

Sweet potatoes with marshmallows? Yes, please!

The left side of the table...

The right side of the table... {hats provided by Drama, who believes that every holiday should be accessorized appropriately.}

and the clean up crew...

Dinner was fantastic and the pie was heavenly. Thanks Grandma Tina and Grandpa Phil for letting our crazy troupe invade your house for the Thanksgiving weekend!

Camping - For Real

If you know me, you know that I am not a camper. You know that I was not raised a camper. I went camping a couple of times in my youth, and have great memories of camping with my Grandparents, but "camping" in my family is staying at the lower budget hotel. Seriously. Drama and Pooh Bear love to "camp" with my parents at the local Marriott. They recently discovered what camping really is and have been begging to go "real" camping ever since. {okay maybe recently as in a few years ago but my power to block out painful activity requests by my children is great!} 

Finally, over Labor Day weekend Mark and Grandpa Van Horn took Drama and Pooh Bear For Real Camping!

In a Tent.

On the Ground. 

In Nature.

Outside.

Grandma Van Horn and I, being the more sensible ones in the family, opted to take The Boss and Bea up for the campfire dinner and dessert and then go home to our warm cozy beds and sleep.

In a house.

In a bed.

Where nature was not invited.

Mouth full of cookie....

I don't know why they insisted on sitting under the table. They wouldn't sit anywhere else!

Serious conversations.....

Mmmmm, dutch oven peach cobbler...

When we got home, The Boss was seriously ticked that she didn't get to sleep in a tent. So I pulled out the play tent, set it up in her room and she zonked right out! She slept there for most of the night and then took a nap in it the next day...

Family Reunion - Twenty Eleven

How much fun can you have in 1 week? I didn't use the scientific method or anything but I'm pretty sure that we maxed out last week. My awesome brother {Matt}, his amazing wife {Rosanna}, and their two fantastic kids planned a trip to Grandma Tina and Grandpa Phil's house so of course I had to butt-in on the fun and invite myself and my four maniacs lovies {no that wasn't us that taught Oliver how to jump off really high unstable objects}.

We did so many fun things together. 

Both Matt and Rosanna and Billie and Justin blessed their little bundles of super cuteness in my parents ward.


{My seriously amazing sisters, Billie and Rosanna with their little lovies, Roman and Hazel.}

We took new family pictures since we {them, not me} have added to the family.


This woman was fantastic with all the kids...Excursion Photography.

We went to the zoo.


{I love the faces on these kids in this picture! They say more than words ever could!}

We went to Bear World.


{Bear World is awesome. You drive through the park in your car, the bears are just hanging out, wandering around, and fighting - this close to you - imagine I am holding my thumb and pointer finger only 1 inch apart.}

The adults went to the temple and did an afternoon session together {that was awesome}.

The "kids" played in the pool in Grandma's back yard for many, many hours. 


{This is my baby brother...he's a doctor.}

The highlight might have been going for fro-yo at the Orange Leaf. I am now addicted. No, I have not been there twice this week. You must be thinking of someone else....

I am going to post more detailed posts of the different activities with many, many pictures, for historical purposes and posterity.

Christmas, Christmas, Christmas!

Grandma Tina was afraid that we would not have anything to do on Christmas Eve so she thought up some games and a FHE lesson and a craft that the kids L.O.V.E.D. That is in addition to all the amazing food that she made for us to consume.

The Mitten/snowball/spoon relay was the favorite of all.

Another tradition: New Jammies.

Oldest to youngest: Drama, Pooh Bear, cousin E-man, cousin Roo, the Boss, & Bea.

Christmas morning brought many smiles, happy faces and happy children. 

With a new mountain bike for Drama (adult size)...

an Ipod touch for Pooh Bear... 

Princess dresses for the Boss...

and Pop-on pals for Bea...

 

Best garbage bag ever. It started as a bike gift bag but Drama's bike didn't fit. This year Grandpa only hauled one garbage bag to the curb. I don't think his garbage men like him very much anymore...

Poor, Dad. I think he is worn out from all the fun. He spent a lot of time in this position...