Quinn's 36!

Happy Birthday daddy!

Allie, Lance and I were able to go pick up Quinn on his lunch break and go to KC Teriyaki. This place reminds me of L&L Hawaiian BBQ in Vegas.  We love it.

Allie and Lance love their noodles and teriyaki chicken.  Quinn and I love it all.  In fact, I could go for their salad, sticky rice and  pot stickers right now. Yummy.

The kids and I got him a treat and a balloon to take into his office when we went to pick him up. I actually told the girls at work he was 37, not 36. Whops.  So- now he's a year younger!

That night Quinns parents took us to dinner and a Blazers game.

I'm not a huge fan of sports on TV, but I LOVE to be there live.  It was so fun to watch, even if we're not huge Blazer fans yet.  It was a fun, loud game!

Heres Quinn with his mom and dad- thanks for the great seats!

And me and my b-day guy!

Quinn shares his birthday with our nephew, Braden Hadfield.

Larry had two other tickets form work on the other side of the court, so Braden and his dad were just across the court from us!  Bradens wearing the green & gray hat.

It was fun to watch these trick-sters come out and do flips with the ball.

The next day was Friday, so we were able to celebrate with the kids.

Dylan, the creative one, made a special card for his dad.

(Yes, he wrote a note on toilet paper, and taped silly bands on it for dad.)

Makayla used her blow pens to create a bday card for dad!

Allie and Lance picked out ice cream sandwiches for his bday treat, but we never got a candle in one for a picture.  We love you babe- happy birthday.

January Pictures

This month is going fast and we're finding lots of ways to keep busy!

Allie and Lance play "Disneyland' almost everyday.  Here they are sitting on the floor riding "It's a small world after all."

We had TeriLe and her family come over for ice cream one night.  Bren and Makayla rocked out some piano music for us!

One night we got a LITTLE dusting of snow- the kids were so excited.  Makayla went out before bed to taste it.  By morning it was gone. boo hoo...

And I got a haircut! Heres some pictures of me and my haircut taken by my kiddos:

Oh, Lance wearing Makaylas boots too...

Me trying to get a picture of my hair...

January brought our preschool group back to our place!  One of my kids took a picture of me waiting for the preschool kids.  Thats a few shots of my hair cut.

And then the preschool friends got here.  It was M day.  We read, "if you give a moose a muffin" and made muffins!

Makaylas a basketball player!

Makayla decided to play basketball this year!

It's been along time since she played a 'sport with a ball' as she puts it.

We're so impressed at how aggressive she, and how much fun shes having.

Here she is before her first game.

Some of the other girls and her head coach, Tom Ball. Good name for a basketball coach don't you think?!

Tom was on his own, so I get to help out with her team!  I think I'm having as much fun as Makayla!

Makayla comes off the court barely winded!

She played hard and runs hard!

She was the first girl to make a basket in her first game too!

We've had 2 games now, and we've totally lost both by a ton.  Our team is made up of a lot of girls who have never played.  But its good experience, and we still have 5 more games!

The night before the game we had the team over for a spaghetti dinner and we watched some college ball.  It was Coach Balls birthday so we sang to him too.

We're the "midnight stalkers."

The New Camera

Quinn got me a new camera for Christmas, it is fun to take pictures with!

Heres some pictures I took while playing with the camera and the different settings.

First, no flash...

Now with a flash...

Ummm...

Close up with a portrait setting....

Lance was being pretty silly.....

Here I'm pinning him down to get a picture of his face!

Went into Dylans room for some more pictures....

I think they look good.  It's fun to have- thanks babe!!

Saturday night

Today has been a fun Saturday.  Makayla had her first basketball jamboree.  I get to help coach her team.  It's a lot of fun.  I will get pictures up soon.

Its Saturday night and I need to run to the store to grab something for Sunday tomorrow.  I miss having a grocery store close by.  I miss running to Smiths on Saturday night in Vegas and running into half the Mountain Shadows ward.  When I had to grab something on Saturday night in Vegas, I used to keep my eyes open because I knew there would be lots of Mormons out shopping getting what they needed for Sunday.  I liked that.

Sometimes in Lincoln, I would run into some friends at HyVee.  The ward boundaries were much bigger and the ward a little smaller so it wasn't quite as common, but I still liked to see people out getting ready for the sabbath.  It made me remember those nights in Vegas.
Sometimes I miss those nights and realize how fast time really goes.



Today I pulled out some fig newtons to pack up for the basketball game.  I asked Lance if he wanted me to bring some for him.  He looked at the package and said seriously with his eyebrows scrunched together, "I no like dog food."
That boy cracks me up. 

Some last pictures from December, before I start posting about our new year.


Lance and Allie get the camera and take some crazy pictures:

This one they took out their window:

Allie and her cousin Macie

The kids by our little tree this year- going to church

Makayla making snow for the kids- I think she misses the real stuff.

Dylan had a vocal concert at school-

Hes on the front row between Dylan Robinson and Brandon Wallace, some of his friends.

December was a fun month.  Wonder what we'll be up to next December.

Maybe we'll have a grocery store closer I can run to on Saturday nights.

Merry Christmas 2010

For such a busy busy week, I didn't get very many pictures.  I did get some on Christmas day, so here's some pictures of all the fun.

The kids quietly came downstairs and were pretty excited to find their goodies from Santa.

Makayla and Dylan got their own fishing poles to go fishing with dad.

Allie and Lance got Pillow Pets.

It seemed like everyone got pillow pets this year. 

One time when I asked Lance what he wanted Santa to bring him, he said, "Toy Tory Unders"  He told many people that Santa was going to bring him "Toy Tory Unders."  I don't know how excited he was to actually get Toy Story Under ware, but I will surely be excited when he uses them!

Lance saw his things form santa, a pillow pet, a Kung Zhu, a little Woddy and Buzz, and some under ware.  Then he opened his first present- and Alvin and the Chipmunk video.  He was happy and done.  He wanted to go watch his show!  Dylan had to bribe him back in to open more presents by telling him, "Lance, open your present form me.  It might be a Buzz Lightyear gun!"

Allie wanted a Zhu Zhu pet, a pillow pet and a pet shop.  She is very good at playing little games with Lance with their toys.  I  love how they will just go in their room and play together.  She is excited about her Christmas presents.

Dylan Dylan Dylan.  HE wanted a 'flat hat'.  Some boys his age wear hats with flat bills.  Hes been asking for one since baseball season.  Makayla gave him this one from Christmas and he hasn't take it off since.  One day I hope he decides its not as good looking as he thinks!!

This was a big silly band year for Dylan.  I think he got 10 new packs of silly bands.  They are a hot commodity amongst the kids.  He is one of the top traders and collectors!

Another fun surprise for Lance- a Lightning McQueen toilet seat!

Are we getting the clue here Lance?!?!

Dylan got a new b-b gun.  Don't shoot your eye out.

Makayla had a hard time this year coming up with a Christmas list.  All she wanted was a dog.

But she said she would be happy with a few other things.  She got a nice new rain coat, the Mysterious Benedict Society books,  American girls clothes, Ramona & Beezus DVD, dress boots, fuzzy boots and clothes.  She too wanted a Zhu Zhu pet.  So now all the kids have these little toy hamsters that zoom around the floor.

Quinn didn't want much but this expensive sweatshirt from our Gym!

And some running shoes to get ready for Hood to Coast in August.

Grandma and Grandpa J sent some fun things too- like Mario Cart for the wii!

More Zhu Zhus for Allie!

Cute stuff for Makayla too.

Amy got a new camera, watch and rain coat too.  Also Grandma and Grandpa Draper gave her a pressure cooker and a new griddle!  We had a fun morning and were all so lucky to have so many great things.

Then we were off to the Drapers for Christmas dinner.

Allie and some of her cousins founds a quiet place to play.

Makayla and Brinley found new uses for Grandmas napkin holders.

Merry Christmas Kaitlin!

Camree loves doing tricks with Uncle Quinn!

Then together for a Christmas program where we sang songs and told about Christmas.

Grandma had the guys singing!