My Damien

After I uploaded all these pictures, and arranged them how I'd like, it was time to type. I don't think my words could properly express how I am feeling right now as my little boy just turned 12. Of course I am happy. I love Damien so much. He is such a good boy, a great helper both at home and at school. He excells at whatever he puts his mind to. I love looking at his sketches. He draws pretty good. He's currently on the basketball team at school (trying something new this year instead of wrestling) I think I'll be able to follow along better a game of basketball :) He likes to skateboard, play with his brothers (when they aren't being annoying), play computer and video games, play with legos and his small fleet of action figures. He is now moving on to Scouting and he's very close to earning some ranks. He'll be joining me at Mutual and is only 2 years away from going to dances. Yikes! So far he has no desire to go, wish it could stay that way. Girls are trouble anyway. He has his own style, loves skinny jeans, Volcom, LRG, and various other name brands that I can't possibly keep up with, let alone afford, only if I find them on sale. All that aside, he has a good heart and I hope always he stays close to his family and people that will help him make good choices. Happy Birthday my Damien!!

How do you like to sleep?

Here is Max after he fell asleep watching some t.v. When Dad got home from work after riding his bike in the cold, Max woke up and he thanked Max for warming up his slippers :)

You better watch out...you better not cry..cause Max finally got a hair cut!! And Jesse too!

After months of encouraging..even Jesse going once to the barber, Max finally agreed to go. His hair has been growing out since the summer and styling it in the mornings like he wants was becoming a bit of a pain since when I "spiked it up" it was about 2 inches high, and that looked wierd. And this whole hair styling thing all started after he began preschool. There is a boy in his preschool class named Nickolas and he is Max's "best friend" and so, like most best friends you want to be like each other and Max wanted his hair to be like Nickolas' even though I don't completely agree with that, I guess the influence of friends begins early. Not quite sure how Nickolas feels about Max, but Max really looks forward to seeing his friend. So, as Max was sitting in the chair getting his haircut, he was all smiles, until he saw his beloved hair start to disapper. I don't think he knew quite what it was going to look like, even with all our prepping. He teared up and cried a little, which surprised the barber and I comforted Max and told the barber that he really likes his hair and is worried that he won't be able to spike it up any more. The barber was very nice and reassured Max all along that he'll still be able to spike his hair, and in the end the barber spiked Max's hair, and the smile returned to Max's face. Dad and I think it looks great! His hair was starting to over run his cute face, I think.

My Handsome Max





At the same time Jesse was getting his haircut. He was a pro at this barber thing and took it like a champ. I was going back and forth from Max to Jesse, Jesse to Max, giving directions and thumbs up while they were getting their haircuts. And I think the final product is GREAT!

My Handsome Jesse

Birthday Time x 3

On Saturday the 11th we had our first ever triple combo birthday party. As I was planning December and all of our celebrations I asked Damien when he wanted to celebrate his birthday and he suggested that him and his brothers all celebrate together. I didn't argue with that. And so we did!



I made the cake, and it is an upside down skateboard!



Anna surprised me by bringing over her laptop and Skyped my Sister and Nieces and Nephews in Idaho! We were able to talk, tour her living room and kitchen. Later they were able to sing Happy Birthday. What a great surprise! At moments like that, I am thankful for technology.



First we sang to Damien, my big 12 year old! Wow! He will now be going with me to mutual and combined Youth activities.




He was able to open the gift that my Sister and Nieces and Nephews in Idaho got him right in front of them. I think that was a first! So cool! He made a guess about the gift, he was hoping it was Star Wars Clone Wars season 2 on DVD, however it was a Diary of a Wimpy kid book, still ok!



Next we sang to Max my big 5 year old. I know it was a bit of a running joke that we sang three times the same song, but I really liked their individual reactions and they all got their moment in the spotlight. Speaking of light, I love the lighting in all the pictures, thanks Anna for being my photographer!



Next, we sang to Jesse. Can't believe you are 5! Wow! I think the pictures captured his moment well.




Then the tornado of gift opening began. The kids got all sorts of goodies. Max and Jesse got toy jets, Hot Wheels (I think they have at least 100+), a slinky (a surprising favorite), a Thomas the Train Station and trains and tracks, a Trio connectable block set (it was an air traffic control tower, complete with a heilocopter) plus they got a mini Batman, Superman and Robin that they could use with the set.





Here Damien is opening a Tech Deck swimming pool that he can use with all his mini finger skateboards. He also got some pajama pants, Spock and Kirk action figures, and to be funny I wrapped up some Ovaltine (we just watched Christmas Story) so I thought I'd get some and he could try it out and see what all the hype was about. And then he also got a Borders gift card.



Mom was the holder of the laptop. Had to make sure she angled it right so the "Awesome Idahoans" could see all the happenings. I even got to show off my Christmas Village and tree to my sister, an added bonus.



Jesse had the best reactions and I think his reaction here spoke for his brothers. It was a great night complete with family, cake, sherbert and chocolate peanut butter ice cream courtesy of Max and Jesse's pickings. Thanks to wonderful family who came to celebrate and truely completed our day.



What a busy 12 years it has been!!

(Not to make you sad Michelle but I thought it was neat that Jesse asked if you were coming to the party.)

Christmas' Past and Present

I thought it would be fun to gather all of our old and new pictures of the family in front of a Christmas tree over the years. It was a bit of a task, but I really like looking at all the pictures in one place and seeing how much we've changed and the kids have grown up.

First I will start with Damien. He is so tall now, I had to make him squat or he would hide the whole tree.

Christmas 1999



Christmas 2000

Christmas 2008

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2005
This is a funny picture. Dad really felt I was torturing the boys by doing this to them, but I am glad I did it. We still have those stockings and it is amazing that they ever fit in them.

Christmas 2006

Jesse

Christmas 2007





Christmas 2009

Us in front of the Christmas Tree in Disneyland








Christmas 2010

99 Things

99 Things
(things I've done are bolded)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disney World
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Visited the Alps
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee