Back to the Zoo...

With the Christmas rush over we looked for things to do to keep the boys entertained.  One thing we knew we would do was go back to the zoo. Rusty hasn't gone with the kids (other than Zoolights) so it was really his first time there too! Brenner was content just to let me push him around, and Braden and Berk loved looking at all the animals. We even got to see the orangutans who are off display while a new home is being built. I love that you can walk the whole zoo in just a few hours.

Christmas Card this Year...

Zoolights!!!

This upcoming year I am going to start seeming a bit more cultured. You see, a month or so ago Rusty was playing in a charity golf tourny for work and won a raffle that had all kinds of tickets in it! So starting in January we have tickets to the Phoenix Opera, Phoenix Theater Company, Phoenix Symphony, Gammage, and a few other venues like that. But the one I was most excited about was a year membership to the Phoenix Zoo. I have taken the kids to the zoo a few times before, but last time we went Brenner was 4 months old! I am slacking no longer! Now I have no excuse!

So, we had the great idea to activate our memberships at Zoolights! We have had so much fun since the Robisons have moved to town. We love having friends close by that we can do things with. Between us there are 8 boys (including our hubbies) so Addi and I are way outnumbered!

We started off with dinner at Chic-Fil-A. The Robisons may have a new favorite place to eat, if you ask me! Then we caravaned down to Phoenix. Let me start by saying I should have prepped the kids better, because A) They were disappointed that they couldn't see the animals. B) there was no way I was spending $3.50 on hot chocolate or $6 on kettle corn And C) the animal shaped light displays disappointed them time and again when we would cry "Look a skunk!"- and it was not a real skunk... Luckily, I have a membership now, so we promised to take them back real soon in the day to see the animals.

My camera was on a weird shutter speed, so out big group shot was funky. But still, I had to include it!

 Rusty and Blake were champs carrying one and sometimes two kids around the zoo.

 I loved these purple lights the best I think. And the zebra under the purple light tree was cool too.

Here is a perfect example- "Mom, those aren't flamingos!"

I am pretty sure when we left the animals sighed in relief, because the noise level had to have gone down significantly! Thanks Blake & Addi, we had a blast!

My Bunco Group...

A number of years ago I was asked to start playing in a Bunco group.  And here I am 8 years and a bunch of player swaps later, and we still play.  I heard a joke once that said Bunco was Greek and meant "to throw dice and gossip" I thought it was pretty funny, and true.

A little back story, if you haven't ever played before, there are rules that vary by group but we play with twelve players. Four per table in teams of two.  You roll three dice and in the end the person with the most buncos wins. Ok, that was a really CRAPPY explanation, but basically it's a girls night out each month. And a lot of fun.

The Group 2010

(L-R back) Megan Allen, Parie Johnson, Jolie Johnson, Jill & Me

Sara Dewitt, Steph Farnsworth, Robyn Jambor, Sherry Macnab, Addi Robison

Jenn Jensen and Rhonda (we missed you Dano!)

Me & Megan, we have been playing in Bunco for 8 years together with Rhonda.

Our winner Addi! Her sweater not only lit up and sand but it was vintage and it blew the rest of the competition out of the water!

Adding up. I swear this is the only quiet time all night...

Post eating and pre rolling photo!

Addi and Jill (who pulled of a nice sweater entry even tho she was a last minute sub!)

Some of the sweater vest entries (Jenn, Steph and Robyn)

Rho and I rockin our puff paint and glitter sweatshirts!

The Red Velvet cupcakes I made from scratch!

The 12 gifts... My fav was the block that said "Be naughty, save Santa the trip!"

It's always a lot of work to host, but we only do it once a year, and I always have Christmas which I love. Thanks to the many many many girls I have met and played with in the past! We're always looking for subs! 

Services for Papa...

Ok, my crazy week is over and I am ready to get caught up!

The Sunday before Thanksgiving Rusty's Papa died, so we traveled on Thanksgiving Day to Littleton CO. By the way, the airport was NOT busy at all. We walked right through airport security, and none of us had to do the body scan thing (on all three of our flights with all 11 of us, only one had to do it). People are nice and laid back, and the kids were super good killing time till the flight. We landed, headed to the hotel and then some of us went to the viewing and then we tried in VAIN to find something to eat. Just so you know, unless you want to eat movie theater popcorn, or drive all the way into Denver, the only place in Littleton open to eat at was Village Inn or the Del Taco drive through. You've got to admit, it was memory making that my kids' Thanksgiving meal was chocolate chip pancakes, macaroni and cheese and fries.  We did get pie though!
(I should say that we actually did celebrate Thanksgiving dinner on Wednesday before we left, so don't feel too bad for us.) The following morning was another viewing and the funeral service. It was beautiful.  I did not take one single photo that morning. I have a really hard time with funerals, but it was heart breaking to watch my sweet Braden go from sobbing to a small cry throughout the service. I loved learning new things about Papa, there was a lot of humor in the service. Rusty's Dad gave a talk, Jill sang a beautiful hymn and all the grandkids sang also. All the talks and music were amazing. It was sweet to see the chapel packed with so many friends and family members.

A huge THANK YOU to the Jardine/Burkinshaw/Conroy families for watching Brenner and Jaci so we could focus on the service. It was good seeing you all, even if it was for 10 seconds! And, I mean really, in that crazy house did you even really notice two more kids?!?

Right after the yummy luncheon we headed right back to DIA to catch a flight to Utah. We got settled in to our second hotel and headed to get some dinner at our MUST EAT place, Training Table. It was closed. I was shocked! So we went to Zupas instead and that made me feel a little better.

The graveside service was the next morning. Papa was a WW2 veteran, so we had the privilege of seeing all the military pomp. It was so neat. When those guns went off I had goosebumps, that is after the shock of how loud they were wore off! I was so moved by the folding o the flag and the presentation. And I thought it was extra cool that they gathered the shells of the rounds the fired and gave them to the family.

 Audrey and her three sister in laws.

(Ron, Donnie, Cheryll, Baum, Russ, Marianne) 

It was nice to meet Papa's three sisters and their families. And all of Rusty's 1st cousins were there. How often does that happen? We had another luncheon and a little tribute to Papa in Pleasant Grove.

 All the cousins, oldest to youngest.

 Close Up of the eldest grandkids- Rusty, Angie, Brit, Bobby, Brian and Chris

 Baum with her grandkids and great grandkids

 Braden and his great grandma. He sure loves her!

After the lunch we went back to the hotel, rested and then headed to Highland to Ron's house. We spent the day watching th BYU/UofU game. And the boys got to play in the snow in the backyard. The big boys loved it and were out there for hours. Brenner, not so much.

We enjoyed a family dinner, and got to hear Baum play the piano. Even playing with only one hand, she is still amazing.

It started snowing in the night on Sunday and it snowed ALL day and was still snowing when we went to bed! The boys thought that was so cool. I thought it was amusing to watch Rusty clean snow off the car!

Sunday Rusty, Kelcie and Braden made a trip up the mountain to go snowboarding. Braden had fun and they were there all day. The younger B's and I spent the day at my sister's house in Sandy. Berk and Draven played in the snow forever. It was so cold! Brenner finally got a much needed nap (first all weekend) and my brother Loyle came over to visit too!

They said even with the constant snow there were still some crazies skiing without shirts on. Weirdos. 

It was a long, cold, day but a super fun one. Monday was a lazy day, our flight wasn't until dinner time, so we took our time, went to a few stores and headed to SLC to try to eat at Training Table again, and it WAS CLOSED! "Thanks for 30 Great Years!" the sign said! I was so upset! This place is a family tradition for us! Anyway, we ended up at Cafe Rio and then headed to Temple Square. It was so pretty from the snow the day before. Brenner and Rusty stayed in the car, because B3 was asleep. So the older B's and I bundled up and walked around and through the Visitor's Center. It was so nice. 

The flight home was LONG. Ok, not really, but Brenner was so over being on planes. He and every other toddler/baby on the flight screamed nearly the whole time. Poor kid. Did I mention he was cutting his molars during this trip? Anyhow, it was good to be home, great to see family, and sad all at the same time.