Catching up on 2011

I figure that if "a picture says a thousand words", then I'm okay. I have tons of pictures and obviously not enough motivation to write a whole lot about our lives. So... Pictures are what you get! Here is a small recap of the last 3 months in pictures.

 Gary turns 39!!!

The Ashbys join the Bevans in our "Night in Bethlehem" in Emmett East Valley Ward. December 2011

Nate and Taylor Isaacson

Bryan and Keaston Hess

Gary and Jason Wood take down a cow with a broken leg in the back yard! I think Gary was in heaven. This is why we live in Emmett. (Jason got an anatomy 101 lesson from him during the process...lucky guy!)

Body parts, tractors, cows... This is the life!

Jacob is very tall compared to most of the kids his age and he has started to really enjoy that advantage in basketball. He's getting pretty good! We loved watching them play rec ball this year. I especially love that it only lasts 6 weeks and they had all the games and practices on the same days!

Eric is a natural athlete. He's always right in the middle of all the action.

We have 5 kids taking piano lessons this year! It's a battle to see who gets the best practice times. I almost wish we had another one in the basement (except I'm afraid the "practice quality" may be altered a little when I can't hear them!) Every year they perform Christmas music at the nursing home for one of their recitals...

Our Christmas Eve pajama tradition with Rod and Amy's family...(One of these days the kids are going to figure out that it's the same gift every year!)

Last week Gary had an anesthesia conference in Naples, Florida. His brother Jared and his wife Lonette are in school there (a CRNA program). Also his sister, Mellissa and her husband live there while he attends law school. So, we farmed out our kids (Dawn, Hunters, Isaacsons, Merrills, Rodney and Amy, Waters)for 8 days and took off for a great week of Florida weather and some good visiting with Gary's family. During our trip we met up with some old friends (from our days in Minnesota at Mayo) which was wonderful. We spent some time on the beach, walked through the Everglades, rented wave runners one morning and went out on the bay for an amazing view... What a great week. We loved our time there. (I think I had a lot more fun visiting and playing than Gary did during class!) We came home to kids that missed us and appreciate us and to SNOW! I'm ready to face the world again!

Backpacking 2011

 

 

 

Our annual backpacking trip was Louis Lake and then Boulder Lake in Northern Idaho. This was Jacob's first year and I think he's already hooked!

 

17 Years in love!

Oregon Coast Vacation

 

This year we took our whole family to the coast for a week. We had a wonderful time being together. Rodney and Amy Ashby's family came with us. It turned into a grand adventure for everyone!

Mission

 

My Mom and Dad are going to the Perth, Australia Mission. They enter the MTC tomorrow! We are all so excited for them!

Backpacking in the Uintas

 
 
 
 

We have an annual tradition in our family of going on a backpacking trip together with as many of us that can go over the age of 10. Rebekah got to go with us this year for her first time! We hiked the Uintas in Utah. Set up a base camp at Mohawk Lake and left our heavy packs there to go on day hikes. It was beautiful! Great times. Good Company. Making memories!