Thanks Carrie & Maisie!!

Last week we got a super duper awesome box of Swiss treats. 

Everyone was so excited. 

No kidding. It could have been a box of tootsie rolls from Switzerland and we would have been thrilled.

Because, duh! Gifts for us? From fancy lands far away? Woo Hoo! 

It wasn't a box of tootsie rolls though, it was a box of awesome.

Muh-muhs. Toffee Lollies. YUM!

And robot clocks that light up when they wake you in the morning and hold your cash while you're at school. (Or in Nate's case, FOREVER, cause that kid never spends a dime. I hope Mr. Robotos' arms don't get too tired.)

Here's Eli, making his serious artist face (which is also his football face, and his whatchyoutalkin about Willis face) while showing off his fancy pencils.

Ivy with her wooden cow. 

Next year I'm just getting her a box of wooden cows for Christmas.
"I LOVE THIS COW SOOOO MUCH!"~Ivy

Wesley received a Swiss Army Pen. He hoped that one of it's gadgets was that it writes papers for you, but so far no luck. 

He's still looking for the button that makes it turn into finished homework.

Thanks you guys!! We miss you!

Alrighty then, December.....

It appears that I wasn't very diligent in photographing all of the events of the month, coverage is spotty. Bear with me.

 We had a great/busy December. 

Here's what I can remember~
We put up our Christmas tree, then our cat wrecked it. 

Cats are stupid.

Eli went on a hike with his boy scout friends. 

Ivy had a band concert, where she played a solo. 

It was actually quite impressive.

Christmas Eve we went Jon and Misty's house for our family party.

Jase, Marianne, Brinley, Mike, & Ivy

Jackson, Brandon, & Eli

Spencer & Terry comparing phones.

Christmas morning we went to church, then came home and put our pajamas back on and had a huge and yummy breakfast. Edge & Jessica came over. It was a really good day.

Nate got a leg lamp ornament. 

Someday, when his cat stops climbing the Christmas tree he will be able to enjoy it the way nature intended.

Eli got a Beard-o. Which is a beanie with a detachable beard. 

He has worn it almost continually since Christmas. 

It makes him look very mature.

Eli also got an art set, which he takes his beard off to use.

Wesley was sick on New Year's Eve. 

We all felt sorry for him.

Eli came home from somewhere with this GIANT lemon. 

Pretty impressive, eh?

Eli and Ivy convinced me that they HAD to go to the dollar store to get supplies for their New Years's Eve celebration. 

As you can see, they know how to party.

I mean, Gatorade AND Honey Combs....who does that? 

And silly string, of course!

They finished the night off (around 10:30) with some mixed drinks. 

Sparking cider and coke cocktails. Mmmm.

December was a good month. Having Christmas and New Year's fall on the weekend was nice.

We're ready for 2012! You?

Ta Da!! Wedding Pictures!!

I know I'm behind. I'm going to try to post a December recap by Monday, but before I do that, I finally got some wedding pictures back, so here, for your viewing pleasure are pictures from the wedding. In no particular order.

Thanksgiving and whatnot

We had a great Thanksgiving, thanks for asking. 

How was yours?

On the 23rd Wesley, sweet sweet little Wesley, turned 19.

19!

And once again my life flashed before my eyes.

Here he is on his birthday.

And here is his birthday cake. Somehow he talked me into letting him fill out the order form, you'd think I'd know better by now.

19 year olds are so weird.

On Thanksgiving we met up with all of the Thomases and hiked to the Wind Caves.

These four (and their little dog) made it to the top.

Later we headed over to Jon & Misty's where we ate and ate until a couple of us exploded. Good times!

Wesley is the only one who did any Black Friday shopping this year.

He found all kinds of interesting gifts for those lucky enough to be on his list.

Hope you've been nice!

 (Or naughty....or whatever it is that gets a person on Wesley's gift list.)

30 second update

Got a puppy . Her name is Alice. Cute, huh?

Ivy & her mom went to Virginia to see these three kids and their new brother. He's cute too. You'll have to take my word for it until I find the pictures I took of him.

We enjoyed nature while we were there.

Nature is so much more colorful in Virginia. Who knew?

Ivy had her annual clogging recital. Here's a short video for those of you who couldn't make it.

And finally, as if taking PE in Jr. High could get any worse....now 7th graders have to make fake golf courses. The agony!!

Then the robots took over the universe....ahhh!

Interrupting your irregular programing to announce that last week, or the week before (my life is a blur), the hard drive on our home computer died. Sadly I am not as technologically savvy as I'm sure I've fooled you in to thinking I am. The dead hard drive held many many important things, things which I should have backed up but did not. I am a fool. In addition to 4 years worth of pictures, Sylvan's resume, and every report Nate wrote in Jr. High, all of the mailing addresses I had newly updated for Edge's wedding, as well as all of my e-mail contacts went down with the ship. It was/is/will continue to be a tragedy.

Sooo, I'm not sure anyone even reads this blog, but if you do and you would like to make sure you don't miss out on this year's Christmas Card and captivating Holiday Letter please e-mail me your address and shoe size.

Thanks!