Seattle With the Beans

Because Janae and I had some fabulous skymiles (thanks to my horrible job at GT -- having to fly around the country), our neighbor who works for Delta and the Beans who took us in in Seattle, we had a pretty much free trip to plan for. Last year, Janae and I were planning on going to Seattle using my skymiles and then I lost my job. Well, we didn't think it would be very smart to travel when I didn't have a job, because we didn't know what was going to happen at the time. So our neighbor helped us extend our tickets and then they were about to expire -- so we frantically planned a trip in a matter of days. Nothing like flying at the seat of your pants! Thanks to Stef and Roger and Grandma and Grandpa, especially, for watching the kids on such short notice...oops, we might have interfered with Kayla and Brandon's anniversary plans.

The amazing thing is the great friends Janae and I have been blessed with! The Beans and us used to do everything together at BYU. I'm surprised Rick, Anna Marie, Janae and I graduated because we spent so much time playing it is hard to think how any of us got homework and studying done.

In any case, it felt really good to know that we have such good friends and we picked up exactly where we left off. I think that's just how you know who your true friends are in life. We had such a fun time and they made the best tour guides ever!!! Thank-you, thank-you, thank-you Beans! We had so much fun with your adorable family and I came back more determined than ever never to swear again..hee hee.

Their beautiful neighborhood in Snohomish, WA

Gwen and I flying a Boeing 737

Janae and I at Deception Pass on Whidby island or as Janae calls it, "Desperation Pass"

This poor dog, named, "Tennie" (you'll see why later), all he wanted to do was play after Rick summonsed him from the depths of the sea.

We didn't take this picture of the space needle, but we sure saw it, from the top of the Wells Fargo building, thanks to Richard.

On the ferry on the way to Whidby Island

Can you see why we call him Tennie?

Whidby Island in the distance.

The Pike Place fish market, dude on the right got hit upside the head with a huge fish, we all laughed because we thought it was part of the show, until we saw him glaring at us...oopsie, poopsie.

Paine Field, Boeing Museum....Booooooooooring...not worth the money, the company sure is great though!

Is this why Janae calls it Desperation pass??

True friends.

Snowmobiling with the boyz...

Seattle Highlights Go to the Birds

Wii Resort, Competition Against Brother

Santa brought Wii Resort to our house this year for Christmas, and let me say, WE ARE ADDICTED. Is there a WiiRA group? Anyone? So Clay's favorite game on this is the sword fighting. Bray has also started learning more about how to use the Wii.

So this last week, Bray has gotten better and can actually beat Clay sometimes. It was so funny to us this morning, we had to pull out the camera. Clay wins the first round, Bray wins the second round.....who will win the third round????

Watch and see!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAWwDba8zGE

Happy New Year!!!

New Year's Eve consisted of eating amazing food and playing games with our awesome neighbors, the Ellis'. The kids made it to midnight and created quite a commotion with their horns and snaps! Let's have a look at the best and the worst of 2009.

The Worst of 2009: Okay, we all know the worst is Dale losing his job. There was much stress and sleep lost during this time. That is really all I can think of as to what was not so great about 2009. This doesn't mean I want to repeat it, no THANK YOU! I am excited to move on! Another worst was we found out Clayson has been pretty much blind his whole life. That was a shot in the foot. We felt like terrible parents and it was quite a traumatic time!

Dale's Best: Coming from his worst, he was able to spend some good quality time with the boys. They went sledding, watched a 3-D movie at the planetarium, and played tons of Star Wars Legos. Furthermore, Dale landed a great job that he is really happy at. Hard times really did bring about a "Best" moment of 2009.

Janae's Best: I finished my first year with third graders, and after being "layed off" because of bad economy, got hired on to teach 2nd Grade part time at a school less than 2 miles from the house. This also turned into a blessing. Another best: I ran my first 1/2 marathon in about 2 hours. Sure, not fast, but I was so proud of such a huge accomplishment.

Ady's Best: Finished first grade with flying colors; lost her 2 front teeth; turned 7 and had a rockin' party at Chuck E. Cheese's. She is growing up before our eyes and had a huge growth spurt this year. She has gotten so tall and beautiful, but still might just be the shortest in her school class! She also got her ears pierced for her birthday. That was quite a treat, and she wasn't even scared (see that smile?!)

Clayson's Best: Even though we thought the glasses were horrible, when he put them on he said, "Mom, did you know there are rocks in the road?" Wow!! Pathetic we never noticed, but really we did just by the way he would look at you out of the tops of his eyes. We just thought it was a Clayson look. Now his eyes went from 20/100 end of December 2008, to 20/80 with his glasses in April, to 20/25 with his glasses just this December. Pretty amazing what a pair of glasses can do. His doctor was very impressed!  We have learned a lot about glasses, and 6 pairs later, we learned that Walmart really does have the best glasses and warranty. Another big deal for Clay has been starting preschool and turning 5. I've never seen a kid happier than Clay when he turned five!

Brayden's Best: This kid is crazy!! Our biggest accomplishment from 2009 was potty training. We tried in the summer, but he was too stubborn and had to have things done his own way. Over Thanksgiving we finally started and now we are fully done! It was quite the road with him, but I think we learned a lot along the way. Thank heavens we are done with that! Brayden has learned to really hold his own and loves to attack and beat up on his brother and sister. He has no fear, and in fact, they are quite scared of him. Dale said the other day, "If I was a little kid, I think I'd be scared of Bray." AMEN! We are teaching him to be a little bit kinder, and behind his little devil smile he is the sweetest little guy. He has such a love of trucks and cars and turns anything into a track. He's been so much fun this year.

Things we look forward to this year: Dale and I will celebrate our 10th anniversary in August! I cannot believe it's been 10 years. I thought when I was young that seems forever and you would get sick of the person by that time, but can't say that's happenin'! I turn 30 (gulp!!!) and am deciding if I have it in me to do my first full marathon. But the training was hard enough with my time on the 1/2, so we'll see. Also, we have a baptism coming up for Ady! She is growing up! Clayson starts kindergarten! Brayden gets to chill this year. We are also planning a Disneyland trip. Let's see what we find in 2010!

Christmas Traditions 2009

Christmas was quite a busy time for us this year. One of the activities we have enjoyed is going to Christmas Village in Ogden with our neighbors, the Ellis's. However, Dale was a bit sick this year after standing in line on the coldest day of the year to see Sarah Palin, that we decided to change venues. We actually just drove through Layton City Park and were surprised at how cute their lights were. The kids had fun, we stayed warm, and it was quick. We then ordered Mandarin and came back and watched Star Trek, while the kids watched another show. Fun tradition, right?!

We also went to Salt Lake and went ice skating with Santa. Our neighbor had tickets with her work. It was awesome to watch all of our kids learn how to skate and they were able to skate a little bit on their own.

Another thing we enjoy doing every night is opening a bag under the tree that has a Christmas book in it. We read one a night, and then open a chocolate from the advent calendar, Grandma's gift to us every year. The kids look forward to this. Although this year Brayden decided to eat all of his chocolate the first night.

Christmas Eve was spent at my parents' house. It was so relaxing this year. We ate dinner, then let the kids do a couple talents, which included singing Rudolph and Ady signing the words. Then we read the nativity and let the kids put it up. After is the presents that the kids give each other. This year the kids were very excited and found elf prints outside as well as reindeer prints. Their imaginations were on fire! Simple traditions, but it wouldn't be the same without them.

I remember long ago when we were all little and we would have a talent show. Stef, my oldest sister would always play a duet on the piano with my sister Kayla. I would always do a dance, and Blake would play the trumpet, which didn't last long. He played the piano after that. Grandma would do a reading, from one of her old stories, and Grandpa, when he felt like it, would play his trumpet. One year he and Blake did a duet. It was cute. But Grandpa loved Blake playing the trumpet, and I'm afraid Blake didn't feel the same.

Christmas Eve when we get home was getting cookies and milk ready for Santa and spreading some reindeer food on the snow. They went right to bed, but could hardly get to sleep. Clayson kept asking all sorts of questions and was just wondering what was going to happen. I love it!

Christmas morning, besides Clayson's 1:30 am visit to our room asking if Santa came, started at 7:30. They first ran to see if Santa ate his cookies and were disappointed when they found a couple bites left. They then ran to stocking, and found their presents, where we started youngest to oldest at opening them. They were so excited about all of their presents! Easy to please!

Mom and Dad came out to see what Santa brought and we fed them cinnamon rolls and Egg casserole.

Then we headed down to Provo to see Dale's family. We were able to visit, play, and eat down there. Grandma J. always gives them new jammies. Don't they look adorable?!

We were also able to talk to Uncle Stu clear over in Fiji. Granddad downloaded SKYPE, which is an internet video phone, so Stu was able to see us.
He was at an internet cafe, so wasn't able to have video, but it still was fun. He even blessed Christmas dinner in Fijian! Very cool!
It was a nice Christmas this year. The kids are at such a fun age that makes Christmas magical!