White Trash...

Sorry if the title of this post offends anyone....but that is all I kept thinking about as I suggested to Spencer that he should do something different and special with the kids. I was going to be a daddy/son date, some good quality time with just Evan (aaron is too young to enjoy this) but when Megan heard what I was suggesting she said that she would also like to go.

Where you may ask.......to Rexall Place to the Monster Truck Jam of course. They went on the first Saturday of February. They got tickets at the door and we purchased ear plugs for them.

Motorcycle jumpers, crushing cars, races.....

After the show they told me that it was ok, really noisy. I asked them if they would like to go again next year they both said "no thanks" I wasn't constant entertainment. There would be lulls in the program and the noise was too much. Good....now we can start to refine our tastes on what we consider fun/worth while entertainment. As a family we perfer to be more active.

Here is some of what Spencer captured on video:

Lazy

If the truth be told I think that I'm a little bit lazy; especially when it comes to blogging. I have been enjoying reading everyone else's blog but have been to lazy to up load pictures to use for my blog. Really what is an entry with out pictures....nothing but boring. So keep scrolling down for catch up entries with pictures......

January

I told Megan at the start of the month that January is the longest month of the year cause of the dark, cold, snowy days and I have not been wrong. I'm ready for February and am already looking forward to Valentine's Day and dreaming up what our celebrations will be.

Here is some of what we have been up to these past few months.....

My baby no longer looks like a baby....now he's a little boy with short hair. (He picked the barbie jeep to ride in)

There is Megan on the end...singing with her school choir at the Festival of Trees.

Spencer and I all dressed up ready to go to his work party. We had a good time and even stayed later this year for the dance portion.

This one is worth celebrating...Megs finally! lost a tooth. Her permanent tooth was already growing in but the baby one just wouldn't let go. Megan would not allow Spencer or I to help with the removal, we were only allowed to wiggle it. Then one morning as we were sitting down for breakfast it fell out on the table.

Our Christmas celebrations

Sorry for being so busy/tired and couldn't be bothered to post pictures of our Christmas celebrations as of yet. (Actually we didn't take too many pictures this year for some reason, I'll find some to post later)

I'm personally taking some time to do so now. (Most of you would have already heard/experienced some of our celebrating by now anyways....here goes...)

This Christmas rolled by faster than I was prepared for, but all the important things got done.

Some things that kept us busy include:

• sledding on the warmer days
• trying our hand (or feet and skill) at skiing. (We think that this will be our new family winter activity; we survived one day anyways. Megan was able to take a lesson, Evan was too young. It was a struggle to help him, when neither Spencer or I have been skiing in years. Our best success came from having him take off his skis and walking a little way up the hill then helping him back into them and sending him down hill. He loved that. But kept asking if he could take the tow rope to the top of the bunny hill and when he would be able to use a snowboard. Yikes! One ski day at a time. He'll get there eventually and so will Megs.)
• watching despicable me at the cheap theater while eating a large popcorn! The kids finally all stayed fairly interested and in their seats for the whole movie! (actually I told Evan that if he didn't; as he typically likes to scale the seats, visit the arcade and washroom etc. during the movie; that I would no longer take him to the theatre to watch movies) It worked!
• Went swimming at a wave pool, and played at a real indoor park
• Of course the usual errands and grocery shopping (nightmare with 3 kids in tow!)
• Forever cleaning the house together
• Decorating cookies with grandma.
• Pushing and shoving our way through various stores to find the "perfect" gifts for others
• Attending Spencer's work Christmas party (looking fabulous in purple)
• going to our Ward Party
• Watching Megan's school Christmas party
• sending/receiving Christmas cards
• I did no Christmas baking, but opted to buy a few treats (time and stress savor)

Now for a more spiritual side of activities:

• Listening to Christmas music
• Decorating the tree together
• Spending time with family
• Not rushing too much through out the day
• Selecting a few people in our ward to drop of a stocking of goodies too to help brighten their Christmas ( one carol was sung!; Megan joined us in delivering these stocking, while the boys fell asleep in the van due to the long ride and wait. BTW we were wearing elf hats/Santa hats)
• Having one Christmas dinner with good friends and another after Christmas with family.
• Having our own version of Christmas Eve festivities, we each shared a talent and watched a Christmas video from the church website.
• Attended a live Nativity (PS. it was the coldest night that week to be outside but we were bundled and ready, then the kids enjoyed their dinner at Rotten Ronnies)
• Christmas morning brunch and relaxing with new gifts and spending the day together

Of all our favorite Christmas traditions that we have done my favorite are:

• writing letters to each member in our family that we read aloud Christmas morning (part of our stockings)
• doing a food hamper/stocking with gifts for those in need in our ward

both of these things help us to more focus on the real meaning of the season and include a way to show love and service to others, just as Christ would do.

There are typically other things that we do that didn't happen this year....like taking a night to drive a look at lights, or attending the tree lighting downtown and going to the legislature. We had a more relaxed and slow Christmas which turned out to be perfect. Maybe next year we will find time to include all these other things, but for now we are happy with how our Christmas turned out.

Slurpee Snob...

That's right, I'm too good for Slurpee's. I didn't even buy myself one this year and I only think that I treated my kids to a few. (Maybe because the summer wasn't so hot!)

My drink of choice comes from Booster Juice....and the drink of the Christmas season has arrived....their wonderful Eggnog booster juice. A light eggnog taste with banana and frozen yogurt. Megan and I give this two thumbs up! Any other time of the year I enjoy the original and the orangsicle (taste just like an orange popsicle). A bit more of a pricey treat but healthier and tastier.

Funeral

My Grandma Herget passed away on the last day of November. It has been such a long time that I've been to a funeral (both of my grandfathers passed away around 20 years ago). Spencer stayed at home with the kids and I went down to the funeral with my sister and brother in law. It was such a quick trip. All of her kids and grand kids were there (minus one). It was great to see everyone.

It is amazing the effect and influence that one couple can have. My grandparents had 5 kids and 29 grand kids and 68 great grand kids. She lived a good life and loved many and worked hard. She will be enjoying this Christmas with my Grandpa Herget. Merry Christmas Grandma. I love you and will miss you.

Movember three weeks growth

This is what we all had to live with for the rest of Movember. He looks great in a gotee but a moustache is a little different. He reminded me of a french inspector....we are all glad that it is over with now and we have our Spencer back.