Friend's Thanksgiving

Every year we get together with our Friends from College and celebrate Thanksgiving by deep frying a turkey (or three, this year). This is the sixth year in a row for this celebration and we were up over 40 people. Since most of us have kids now, they get the run of Ryan and Jodi's upstairs while the adults and some of the younger kids hang out downstairs. We usually end this tradition with putting the kids to bed and doing a "white elephant" exchange that has gotten pretty hysterical and interesting the last few years.

While I took a few good shots of the deep fry and the turkeys, I did not manage to get the whole crew in photos...so my goal next year is to actually capture this treasured event to post on here, preferably before the next season:) ENJOY!!



The true troopers, who start early and manage the coldness of weathers to fry up the AWESOME turkey!

I know that turkey looks bad, but it taste Wonderful!

Slone, our official carver.

Savannah and Joey, the cutest sisters ever! They just sat together and never fought.
Sweet girls!

Aedyn and Brody playing as usual.

Playing in the snow

Playing in the snow for the first time this winter. I have not allowed Braelyn to go out yet. She usually watches from the door and is very content with that.

His "stud" pose?

Eating snow

Snow Angel

Down the slide. What is up with his tongue out? :)

Christmas 2009

Christmas was so much fun with our kids this year. It was a really busy time and I think we were all sleep deprived but I love this time of year. I am throwing lots of pictures together since I have not blogged in four months. Please enjoy!

Christmas Morning

Visiting with Santa

She broke out in a pucker and then cry right after I snapped this shot.

Aedyn's wish list.

Aedyn with 2 of his cousins, Sidney and Brianna at my Mom's side Christmas.

All of the cousins on my mom's side. A few melt downs...including my two children!

Uncle Bill (My sister's husband) holding Braelyn and his daughter Emma.

The Slater's side. Aedyn and Braelyn with their cousins Madyson and Mayleigh

Abram and Family along with Lyndsey (Abram's sister) and her family

Braelyn sitting in my 1st Christmas Present.

One of Aedyn's favorite gift, his guitar and microphone. Little sis, watching as his biggest fan.

For the Love of the Game

Abram has coached some sort of football for as long as I have know him. For the past six years he has coached junior high football at Eastbrook. This is truly his passion. And for some unknown reason to me, he loves the junior high age! Aedyn loves to go to practice with his daddy and each football season, we have to buy Aedyn is very own pair of coaching shoes.

Abram coaching up those boys!

Ready for one of Daddy's games.

I love this picture!

Our Vacation

Okay, it has taken me a month to get these picture on the blog. It just seemed to be a very overwhelming job, so I continued to put it off. I finally made myself sit down to do it. It only took two days. :) If you want to experience our entire San Diego vacation, you'll have to read the next six posts. Here are a few pictures before arriving in San Diego. This was the first time either of our kids had flown. I do have to say that they did better than I could have ever expected! Not one single screaming or crying episode. I did have a wet lap during one flight, because Braelyn realized that everything was in her arms length and she dumped my water. :)


Here the kids are waiting in the Las Vegas airport for our next flight.

Getting ready for take off. Look how excited Aedyn is!

He looks a little nervous.

Making sure he has all the escape routes down...just in case. :)

AHHH...FINALLY HERE!

Josh and Lesli's Wedding

The number one reason we headed to San Diego was for my best friend from high school's wedding. Lesli has lived in San Diego since we graduated from college. I visited her last year all by myself but when finding out that she was getting married there, I knew I had to take my family. Here are a couple of pictures of the wedding.

This table was called "The Zoo" it was completely set up for the kids with coloring books, stickers, crayons and juice boxes. What a great idea, Lesli!
Here is Aedyn, and two of Lesli's nieces/flowergirls.

Our family

Congratulations Lesli and Josh!

Sea World

I just love this picture...my loves!

The most amazing show I have ever experienced was the Shamu show. I seriously had tears in my eyes at how amazing and graceful these whales are and how the trainers are able to interact, swim with, dive off of and ride. If you are ever near a Sea World, I say it is a must go.

These dolphins would swim right up to you and let you touch them. We stood next to a lady who thought she could get their attention by splashing them...um, we didn't get to touch.


This is a pet show that we saw while we were at Sea World. It was amazing what they had taught cats, dogs, ducks and pigs to do.

A Beluga Whale

Aedyn comparing his hands to a polar bears paws.

A very large polar bear, that got up from that spot and came right up to the glass where we were and of course my camera was not on and by time I got it on, he was gone.

The famous Budweiser wagon and Clydesdales. Aedyn was very scared of these very large horses. I was not sure what this had to do with Sea World and then found out Anheuser-Busch is the number one sponsor at Sea World.