Ford Museum with the Ramas

The Saturday after New Year we had a really fun outing to the Ford Museum with our friends and neighbors the Rama family.

The kids got to put on goggles and help put together a real Model T!

Right now they have a costume exhibit that has a bunch of costumes that were used in famous movies (ghost busters, batman, Indiana Jones, Star Wars, The Wicked witches original black hat, etc.)

This is a picture of our Super Hero's and the REAL Batmobile!

The airplane exhibit was really great too.

This is one of the largest locomotives ever made!

They even got to climb inside and try to drive it.

Hot dogs finished the outing off just right.

It was really nice to get out of the house after we had kids sick that week,

and we had a great time.

The best part was that Rob was off work and came with us!

We love this place.

Thanks Rama's, let's do it again soon!

New Years Bash

New Years Eve our Stake through a big pizza party.

They went all out with the decorations...

They had their own "American Idol" type program including Ryan with a bunch of kids in a lip sync,

Elvis Presley from the Stake Presidency who was actually really good,

and Ellie and Lolly mom did a hip hop dance with some other "hot mama's" (as they nick-named our group) and their daughters.

We danced to "I believe" by Yolanda Adams

Ellie, Emma, and Eliza stealing the show!

I tried to upload the dance but I guess it's too big.

Afterward we all danced Zumba and line dances. We finally left when after 10pm we had some tears from the exhausted boys.

What a party!

New Years day our good friends the Cuffs and the Whites came over to play games and watch movies. Mike had a good dose of beginners luck and won Settlers even though it was his first time playing, not that we were surprised. We had yummy food and it was relaxing and fun.

Welcome to 2009!

Kayaks and Cousins

The day after Christmas we planned an escape from the cold

to soak up some rays in the South with my brother Jon and his family in Georgia.

On the drive down we went through an ice storm for the first few hours, and we were very blessed both with safety and with missing the closure of the freeway by only about a half hour.

We made it to Georgia Friday night just in time for a few hugs, yummy tortellini soup, and to tuck everyone into bed.

Saturday morning (after a delicious pancake breakfast, thank Kristy!)

the girls all decided to dress up in black and pink and have a photo shoot.

Ellie was in heaven in the middle of the three Anderson 'Southern Belle' sisters.

They really played perfectly together, and were absolutely adorable.

Rob and I had turns playing the new Wii with the boys.

Tyler won me in Tennis.

I wasn't a bit surprised. :)

I enjoyed watching the kids pair up together.

Ryan and Natalie are close in age, and both full of plenty of spunk.

They enjoyed making each other laugh.

Trevor and Katie Jane are only a few months apart as well and they had fun together too.

After lunch Rob and I got to take a beautiful bike ride.

I got to try out Kristy's new bike she got for Christmas (talk about a sweet ride!),

and I tried to convert Rob to road biking but it didn't work. There's still time. ;)

We saw a red cardinal, and after being couped up in the cold Michigan weather it was so refreshing to be outside enjoying some fresh air!

We also loved having a little dance class with the princesses

(and Ryan who can't be left out of anything).

The sky cleared up just in time for us to get to Kayak on the lake behind their house.

This is Rob and Jon racing with kids on their laps. It was so fun.

Ellie even tried to kayak by herself...for a minute.

Talk about the best way to exercise,

Bike rides and kayaking make for a fabulous, (and super fun) total body work out.

We loved it.

I loved getting to spend some time with my sister-in-law

Kristy whom I absolutely love and admire.

Trevor loved being outside!

He put up his hands just to feel the breeze.

GIRL PARTY! All the girls got new dolls for Christmas,

and Ellie brought hers so they could have a girl party. What a girl party!

Princess movies, french braids,

and sleep overs!

So much fun.

Sunday after church (and another tasty meal)

all the kids help put together a Gingerbread house.

Tyler ended up covered in frosting

(not too bad of a situation, in my opinion).

The Gingerbread house didn't appease the sweet tooth,

so we had to have ice-cream too.

Jon, Kristy and Rob took turns playing the Grand piano, and we played some games (duck, duck goose, a homemade game around the table, and Balderdash).

Balderdash was hilarious with Scott, Dallin and Tyler...I'm sure you can imagine.

Monday morning we grabbed some grub and took off for another day full

of movies and beautiful Midi-west scenery.

Thanks again Anderson's for having us, and for making fun memories together.

Tag you're it!

We'll see you in Michigan next time.

Christmas Day

Santa came to our house!

(there must have been a little more nice than naughty this year...)

Mom and dad forgot to add the sleds to the splendid array of presents until after after these pictures were taken, and the kids were being restrained from running down the stairs. So, if you want you can imagine four sleds in the background of the packages to complete the ensemble. Here come the kids!

I loved watching Ellie and Ryan sprint to the presents in complete ecstasy, hand in hand.

We loved having kids old enough to really get into it this year.

"I got everything I wanted!" -Ellie

"Man, I tooted on Christmas!" -Ryan

(I wasn't going to put that on here as we're not encouraging laughing at that,

but when we asked him about his presents that's really what he said...)

Trevor was pretty overwhelmed, but got into by and by. My favorite part of the morning was watching the kids give each other presents.

Ryan gave Trevor some of his cars because Trevor is always wanting to play with them

and doesn't have any of his own. It was his own idea, so sweet.

Trevor gave Ellie a weaving loom, that she had "always wanted!"

Trevor gave Ryan an "all a dollar" bow and arrow

that turned out to be one of his very favorite gifts! (of course)

Many other gifts were given,

but I loved this moment when Ryan gave Ellie a

fairy skirt he had made himself.

Another favorite gift from Santa...

umbrellas!

Rob started a new tradition this year by making a

Busche de Noel

(French Christmas Cake that looks like a log)

from scratch, all by himself!

I'm down with any tradition that involves Rob doing the cooking,

it was very impressive (and scrumptious).

We had our friends the Rigby's and the missionaries for a nice,

relaxing dinner

(stew, rolls, salad, the "log", and yummy raspberry cream hot chocolate).

It was a wonderful Christmas!

One we will always remember.