General Conference Time!

I made the Yummy B&B French Toast that Suzi and Kristi brought back from the B&B that they stayed at at the beach in Long View many, many years ago.  It was so yummy.  The kids all ate and ate until it was gone and still wanted to more.  I think anything fried is a hit and this certainly was!  It was a great way to start off Conference Weekend.  Glenn sat and watched LOTS of conference.  He even told me he watched without playing while I went up to shower and get ready.  So proud of him.

The kids went to Grandma and Grandpa's for the second part of Conference while Kevin and I were at our first Timber's Game of the season.  We missed a couple being on Sunday and while Kevin was in CA.  We were so excited to finally be able to come and watch them. Sadly the refs didn't count a goal we made so the game ended in a tie.  It was frustrating and as Kevin says, "I'm tired of refs determining the outcome of the games in the MLS."  I agree.

After the game I went to the store and got Jamie a present for the birthday party we were having at my parents later.  Then picked up the kids and we all went to Nana and Pa's house for the celebration.  We sadly missed the beginning since Sher and Mary had to leave for a gymnastics meet so we didn't see them and got some cold pizza to eat but thankfully there was food and a microwave. :-)  I was really bummed that Kaila didn't get to see Mary though because she's been dying to see her.

Bag from Nana :-)

We got her a black scratch pad with stencils and a color purse that Kaila LOVES

Jamie wanted cookies for her dessert.  Glenn LOVED them.

I enjoyed visiting with my brothers and the cousins loved playing together.  They all watched FROZEN together too.  Jamie got it for her birthday.  I stayed upstairs and took a little nap instead since we had already seen it a few times that week. I took Kevin over to the Stake Center for Priesthood Session to enjoy with his dad and the Woolners.  They went out afterward (tradition).  I'm so glad he gets that special time with them.  I still miss Kristi not being here and getting our traditional Thai food as the girls when the boys leave.  October we will have to start the tradition again when they are back from Mexico.

Christmas 2013

This Christmas was a bit different from our other Christmas'.  We usually stay home the whole day and others come to visit us but this year we had a busy yet fun schedule.  The kids, bless their hearts, slept until 8:15.  We then called the both sets of grandparents to come over.  Usually it's just Kevin's parents but mine asked to come this year too.  I think because Rebecca was here this year.  They figured Dan's kids would sleep in later and they could join in both celebrations.  It was fun to have them here!

After opening presents and making crepes for breakfast (a treat for everyone though it upset Kevin and my stomachs) we got our Christmas items put away and dressed for the day.  I helped each kid take a picture of their presents and then find a home for their toys and it was so nice to have that done early and not dealing with it the next day.  I had just finished helping the last kid when we only had 30 minutes before we needed to leave.  I was hoping for a nap but it wasn't going to happen.  I got dressed instead since Rebecca and then Jonathon took showers and I knew there wouldn't be any hot water left.  I just washed my hair really quick in the tub.

We headed over to Kevin's parents for a Christmas lunch with the exchange family from Mexico that Kurt and Kristi were trading with for the year.  They are such sweet people.  Their kids are so polite and understand and speak English pretty well.  After feasting on yummy enchilada's I headed to the couch to try and help redo the scarf I gave Rebecca for Christmas that got kind of funky at the end.  I got so sleepy that I laid my head on the couch and fell asleep.  I felt bad but was so tired.

We left Grandma and Grandpa's house and headed to Mom and Dad's (Nana and Pa's) house for Christmas Dinner.  The sister missionaries were there along with Dan and kids.  Greg and Sher's family stayed at home with Sher still recovering.  It was a yummy ham dinner and I loved the mash potatoes.  Kaila got to eat at the big table for both meals.  I think she realized how special that was with the beam shining from her face.  She's such a sweetheart.  After dinner Rebecca and I tried to help dad with the Switzerland pictures but it was taking way too long.  We finally stopped after the third day because it was already 7:30 and we were wanting to go to Greg and Sher's to make gingerbread houses and gingerbread men.

Thankfully the kids didn't fall asleep on the drive over...they were actually hyped up with excitement and counting the houses all lit up with Christmas lights.  We got to Greg and Sher's and the kids opened the presents Rebecca bought them that I helped pick out with her.  They loved it all which was great!  Then we created the gingerbread and the kids LOVED it.  After taking some quick pictures we headed out the door since it was 9pm and way past bedtime.

 

It was a wonderful Christmas and it was so nice to be able to spend it with so many family members.  We are truly blessed!

Salyards Family Party

After church we all took naps, woke up, ate cereal for dinner while I frosted Glenn's cake.  I got a 3 hour nap (was only planning on a 2 hour nap) so I got a late start to decorating.  I was still in the middle of decorating the cake when everyone arrived.  Thankfully they didn't seem to mind and they enjoyed watching the process.  I tried out a new technique I found on Pinterest for decorating his cake and making a batman cake.  It worked out fairly well for the first try though I know now I need to use more frosting for the outlining of the design so that it comes off better and it needs to be in the freezer longer than just the 15 minutes.  Also a better quality wax paper might have been better too.  Thankfully everyone thought it was cool and Glenn was very happy with the result which made it all worth it!

Addie got into the extra pieces of cake that I cut off to make a flat bottom

 

Party Games: 

Hit the Target: Bean Bag Toss

Pin the Batman Sign on Batman

  

The Cake:

  

 Happy Birthday Sweet Boy!  We love you so much. 

Fort Vancouver

My brother's family was visiting so we all set out for a visit across the river.  It was a wet day and sadly DD wasn't feeling her best which meant melt down.  I packed her in the Ergo to the fort but wouldn't on the way back since I had SP in there already sleeping.  That was the worst thing for her to need to walk.  Thankfully DH handled the situation and got her to walk some and then carried her some.  LM hoofed it both ways!  I don't remember going to the fort so it was fun to visit the sites.  They even had people there baking bead and talking to us about different animal skins, wood working, and such. My favorite was the school room with all the different puzzles to figure out. It was a fun little visit.  We then headed home for naps and then went for a visit at my parents later for some more play time with cousins.