Happy Birthday Grandpa!

(Jacob, Sam, Kelsi, Jeff, Grandpma Blake, Josh, Alyssa, Karissa)

We celebrated my dad's 63rd birthday!
We're very grateful to have such a wonderful dad and grandpa! He's so much fun! And he's a great example to us. He's taught us very much through word and example over the years--We love him very much!

Karissa's science project is moving on to the district level! --Because she made district level, she doesn't have to do a project for science class this term :)

Bryan and I enjoyed going to the temple today. Tuesdays are a great 'date' day for us.
We also went to Young Women New Beginnings with Karissa--I love the new books and new jewelry and ribbons, etc. And I'm so excited that the mothers can do it too! I'm really looking forward to getting started.

"Wii" Love to have FUN!

Playing Wii!
(Jacob, Bryan, Karissa, Sam)

Wii is quite the HIT. We got some more remotes...so now 4 of us can play at a time, makes for more fun!

I got a new calling in my ward...assistant Young Women camp director. So I'll get to go to girl's camp with both Karissa and Kelsi, which will be fun! (I'll still keep my calling as Activity Day Leader.)

Kelsi had her "Nova graduation"...it's a great program at the school where kids learn some great life coping skills. CONGRATS Kelsi!

Grandma Blake came up and talked with Karissa about family history for part of her personal progress for Young Women. She got all the kids interested in looking at memory books and hearing about their ancestors.

We had a great long weekend...we went snowmobiling with our friends across the street. They have a cabin by a lake--we had a great time; the boys especially loved the snowmobiling.

Jacob got his Bear at Pack meeting tonight. We're proud of him for all his hard work in Scouts.

Jacob getting his Bear award.
(Jacob's awesome scout leader, Sis. Henry,
Mindy, Jacob, Bryan, Sam)

CONGRATS on getting your BEAR, Jacob!
(Mindy, Jacob)

Kelsi's Nova Graduation

Grandma Blake, Karissa

TEETH falling all around...

Sam lost yet ANOTHER tooth...and he did get pretty rich...he wanted to go to "Wendy's Restaurant" and use his own money to get EVERYTHING he wanted. So we took him and he got a happy meal plus an extra cheese burger and an order of chicken nuggets. When Bryan asked him if he could really eat all that, Sam answered, "Of course! I don't waste "Wendy's" food."

Extra Noodles

So what do you do when you have A LOT of extra noodles at dinner?? Try them ELF STYLE and pour some syrup on top. After all, the four staples are candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup. (according to the movie "Elf")

Tonight we had A LOT of extra NOODLES. So some of us (namely Karissa, Sam, and Jacob) decided to try them with syrup...YUM...
...turns out they quite liked it...
...And it brought some LAUGHS to the table.

Back to the "Norm" in the New Year...

We are now adjusting back to a NORMAL routine and schedule. Our Christmas break was packed full of RELAXATION, which was great...but now it's back to reality.

Karissa was set apart as the 2nd counselor in the Beehive presidency on Sunday. It will be a good opportunity for her. Kelsi will be joining the Beehives in just a few months...WOW...you think they'll never grow up and then suddenly...you wonder where the time went.

Jacob loves his new bunk bed, but he has recently ran into a bit of a problem: turning his light off at night. He wanted to be able to turn off his light from his bed. I figured he needed a "Clapper", but he talked to his dad about it and they came up with a great idea. Jacob now has a wooden stick which reaches his light switch from the comfort of his bed. Oh the simple creations that bring such JOY!

Sam has lost TWO TEETH within the past week...he's thinking he's going to be RICH!

We're excited about Bryan's new work schedule. He now gets Sundays off, which will be a great blessing.

We're looking forward to a great year in 2010!

NEW YEAR'S DAY

New Year's Day brought more fun with GREAT sledding down the Johnson's backyard hill. Bryan joined the kids and built an AWESOME fort!! I wonder who had more fun, the kids or Bryan?!

Oh what fun it is to play with cousins in the snow!
(Kelsi, Blake, Jacob, Karissa, Bryan, Blake, Makayla, Sam, Melanie)

Building the Fort.

The finished product! WOW, what a GREAT SNOW FORT!
Jacob and Blake worked hard with Bryan
the entire time building this fort.
(Blake and Jacob)

Sam

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2010!

We had a lot of FUN at the New Year's Eve party at the Hiatts! Thanks to the Hiatts for hosting.

(Mindy, Kristi, Julie, Grandma Blake)

Jacob is just a little EXCITED!

Ringing in the new year with cousins!!

BLOW that horn!

Hayley, Karissa

Rock band---really fun, what a party!
(Hayley, Makayla, Kaitlyn, Blake, Karissa, Jacob, Kelsi)

Hayley, Karissa, Blake, Kelsi

Mindy, Hayley, Blake, Kelsi, Bryan

Jacob and Sam started the New Year out together,
BOTH loosing a tooth on the same day!