CiCi's with Michael

My brother Michael called the other day to see if we were doing anything. Amazingly, it was a rather calm day, so he decided to come over. We hung out for a bit then decided to head over to CiCi's Pizza. I had never been there before, but heard about it. I guess the closest thing I can relate it to is Pizza Inn (for those of you who grew up here in Vegas) on Tropicana. All-you-can-eat pizza, salad, and pasta. Definitely a haven for Mormon families.

There is a little arcade....and I mean little....so the kids also played a few games.

Air hockey has always been one of my favorites, but it's been forever since I've picked up a paddle. Since Jordan and I are super-competitive, we decided to play a game.....for bragging rights.

I was a little worried at first when it was 1 to 3, but I finally got my groove back and creamed him 7 to 4.

Michael also treated Ben to a few body stickers.

Two Care Bears on the boobs and Spongebob on the belly button.

Fantastic.

Noah wasn't with us at CiCi's, so Jordan thought it would be great to sneak a few stickers on his back while he was sleeping.  I didn't think that would happen, but sure enough, at 5:30 the next morning Jordan woke us up to tell us he was able to get it done without waking him.  What a sweet brother!

Thanks for the fun afternoon Michael.  We loved hanging out with you!!!

Butt-Dialing

I can't tell you how many times Taylor has "butt-dialed" me (however it's inside his shirt pocket) and doesn't even know it.  

This commercial is one of my favorites right now.  Every time I see it, I just laugh and laugh.  I just love the girl's expression as she talks on the phone.

Mrs. President

Hailey had a school assignment to write a paragraph as to what she would do if she were President of the United States. 

I bet she'd get a lot of votes if her campaign was run on changing those yucky lunches.

Famous "Friend"

Hailey drew a picture for The Friend magazine more than a year ago.  The first page we would turn to when each new issue arrived was "Our Creative Friends", just to see if it had been printed.  I know they get a lot of submissions, so I figured it would take a while, if at all.

Finally, in last November's issue, it was there!

I'm thinking that if any other kids do this again, I'll put their age as one year older than they are.....just in case. 

It's a Girl!!!

Well, not exactly.

I tried to get him to try on the entire Cinderella ensemble, but this is as far as I could get.

Ben's New Look

The other day, Benjamin was looking through his room at some of the clothes I put in there for him when gets a little bigger.  After a bit he came out holding the hood that belongs to one of the boys' jackets.

Ben - "What's this?"

Me -  "It's a hood to a jacket."

Ben - "Can I wear it?"

Me -  "It's just the hood."

Ben - "But I like it.  Can I wear it?"

Me -  "If you want to."
Ben - "Can I wear it when we go run errands?"
Me -  "I guess so." (uh oh)

So I put it on, still no jacket attached, hoping he'd get tired quickly of this cool look.  After pulling into the gas station, he hopped out, excited about his new "hat".  Thank goodness, halfway through the store he pulled it off, telling me he's done wearing it.  

Phew!

Don't Break Your Arms!

I borrowed this video from my sister in-laws blog.   This is very typical of the type of things my brothers like to do.  It cracks me up at the end how she keeps telling them to stop, but they don't listen.  Much like my kids.

Christmas 2008

BEFORE CHRISTMAS:

"Santa's Workshop" was in my bedroom this year.  All I needed was a table, a comfortable chair, a TV, a bag of chocolates, and a diet coke.

CHRISTMAS MORNING AT HOME:

Before the kids came downstairs.

Santa always leaves the kids reindeer milk in exchange for the cookies and milk they leave for him.  

The past couple of years, we've been taking the kids to an inexpensive store for the kids to buy each other a present. This year I told them that they could buy something, but maybe they could think about making each person something instead. I was amazed at the thoughtfulness each of them displayed this year.

Noah made each family member something out of wood. He designed, cut, sanded, and painted each one. 

For Taylor & I, he made a big red heart, when pieced together says "Mommy + Daddy = Love!!".  He made Hailey a princess wand with a star on the end, Jordan a wooden IPod, and Benjamin a sword.  He wanted to make something that represented each person best.  I was so impressed with how creative and thoughtful he was with these gifts.

Okay, I have to admit this melted me.

The wooden sword Noah made for Ben.

Jordan made a snake out of pipe cleaners for Benjamin.

Jordan gave Noah two beta fish.

  

Jordan's big gift from us and his grandparents was a good camping backpack.  Now that he's in Scouts, he'll be going on more and more campouts, so this will be very needed.

Whenever we are reading the Book of Mormon, I'm always trying to figure out when/where everything is taking place.  This year, Taylor's sister got us the coolest thing.  It's a huge poster timeline of events that take place during the Book of Mormon.  It is definitely going to make it easier to get it all together for me now.

Last year, Benjamin received his favorite present of all time. The GeoTrax. This year, he got an addition to those trains called GeoAir.  Benjamin can just stare at these planes flying round and round for hours at a time.

I have been wanting to chuck our old kitchen sink and get a single basin sink for a long time now.  It was the only white thing we had in the kitchen, and I couldn't stand the divided sink.  Thankfully, Taylor's parents made that possible this year.  It is AWESOME!!!!  

GRANDMA & GRANDPA KOCH'S HOUSE:

I noticed that it's considerably more difficult to get the grandkids lined up for our traditional Christmas lineup before going to see the stockings. This was the best shot I could get of all the kids.  Oh well.

Adam shows off why he's "The Man, The Myth, The Legend".

Another tradition, more like obsession, for the Koch's is picking zits.  We swooped in on Adam like a bunch of monkeys.  I thought it was funny how he just sat there as if nothing was happening, focusing on his sports website.

AFTER CHRISTMAS:

My sister Rachel and her husband Tom blessed their new baby girl Claire Noelle on December 28th.

The Bjorkman, Caron, & Koch families

Mason turned 7 just a few days after Christmas. His mom always makes a wonderful effort to make sure his birthday is special, especially since it can be drowned out by all the festivities of the holidays.

Reese & Charlie entertain the family with their piano talents.

Get it Reese!!! 

Sometimes I feel like eating cake this way too.

Audrey & Hailey figured this was the best way to share licking the spatula after the cake batter was finished.  Mmmmmm.

The kids love playing with my brother Michael.

The girls decided to go out to lunch the day after Christmas. We decided we need to do this annually. Only nursing babies are allowed to join the party. I feel bad because I forgot to whip out my camera before Nora & Amy had to leave.

Pre-Christmas Extravaganzas

I realize this is a little late....okay a lot late.  Not that anyone cares about what we did for Christmas.  I'm trying to think about blogging more as journaling.  That way I at least have something documenting what our life has been like.  So bear with me.

In order from left to right & top to bottom:

- The guys sneaking in the back room to watch BYU on TV.  Go Cougars!!!

- Ben & Adam's son Charlie spinning on the chair.  I love their smiles.

- Santa & Mrs. Claus always visit our family & give the kids one gift that night.

- Jordan, Bradley (cousin) & Noah looking so thrilled watching Santa.

- Noah with Santa.

- Jordan with Santa.

- Hailey with Santa.

- Benjamin with Santa.

- Me & my stud brother Adam.

- Audrey (cousin) & Hailey listening to her IPod.

- My Aunt Robin & me.  She is an amazing woman!

- All the great-grandkids waiting for their turn to sit on Santa's lap.

Ronnie (The Killers drummer) and Jordan at the family Christmas party. 

Jordan loves the fact that he's related to him.

Christmas at my parents' house is always a little wild. We usually start out with the Nativity.  I always love the costumes my sis in-law Amy brings for her kids.  This year she had a sheep costume for Clara.  It was so adorable.  We also had a real live baby Jesus, thanks to baby Claire.  Then the angel had awesome butterfly wings.  I love family nativities.  They are always so pieced together, but always end up being so cute.

Next, we each get one present to open from my parents.   Fortunately, it's pajamas for everyone.  That way we're able to go straight to bed once we get back to our house.

The little boys' pajamas (their faces remind me of the happy and sad theater faces)

The little girls' pajamas

The big boys' pajamas

Dad & David (brother)

Michael & Adam (brothers)

We have a tradition that came about many years ago (really feeling old now that I think about how long ago this was).   My grandma's friend Margaret used to knit slippers for each of us 7 kids every Christmas.  At first we weren't very thrilled since they weren't the most comfortable things to wear.  We soon realized that these slippers were pretty slippery on the wood floor.  After some experimentation, we began running down the long hallway, and sliding towards the end.  Thus, the name "Speed Slippers" was born.  A couple years ago, some felt that the floor wasn't quite slick enough, so they began slicking it up with lemon oil.

Greasin' up the hallway with oil.  

Adam getting completely into Speed Slippers

The little kids needs some help sliding so there's no cracking open of skulls.

Hailey with a little help.

Trying it out on her own.

David even showed off a little of his "breakdancing".  What a performance!!!

R.I.P.

Barney has been a staple in our home for many years.  The kids have all loved him when they were small, and now that Benjamin has outgrown him, we decided to let Katie adopt him as her latest "baby".  Her babies are stuffed animals that she carries around, and she's VERY protective of them.  However, when we tell her to "get her baby", she starts whipping them around, much like an animal trying to kill its prey.

When she's alone, she chews on them until their stuffing comes out.  Barney was such a trooper.  He lasted WAY longer than any of the other babies. 

Good thing Katie's fixed, or we'd have to report her to CPS.

We'll miss you Barney.....just not the stuffing all over the house.