FOURtunate to have our Booner...

Guess who is a whole FOUR years old?

Booner is!

And he is pretty darned excited about it too.

He prefers to be called, "Boone Raef Gardner Bear Gorilla"

And we all comply because #babyofthefam

Boone is comprised of equal parts smiles and sass.  He loves being a friend or playing on his own.  He is a great athlete and the first to come in for a snuggle.  He loves his brothers fiercely and also milks them on the regular.  He is a FOURce of nature - and we adore him.

On this day, he slept in like a teenager.  He then had to be a patient lad, waiting for everyone to get home from school, sports, lessons and work so he could properly celebrate with presents and cake.  So, when he said, "How 'brout' we go get donuts for breakfast..." and followed it up with, "It's my BIIIIIRTH DAY!?" I had no choice.

We were loaded in the car and on the way to the bakery before I even knew what happened.

He also dutifully told everyone he met that day, "I'm FOUR today!" and everyone bowed down to the lashes and the grin and gave him birthday wishes and high fives because that is what our sweet little King was requesting with his fervent announcements.

I feel a little guilt over Boone's birthday.  It's arguably one of the least desired dates to celebrate the anniversary of your birth, but only for the obvious reasons like - The holidays just wrapped and people are partied out.  The holidays just wrapped and people are on a new financial diet.  The holidays just wrapped and people for sure don't want to come indulge in cake having just renewed their dedication to health and wellness.  

But on the plus side, Booner.  You know what happens when your birthday is on the heels of the holiday season?  You get to replenish your personal stock of your favorite holiday gifts (since you've already depleted them) - like your bath bombs.  :)

You also get to see what the other kids got from Santa and make a few hail Mary requests for your birthday and BAM you're the kid with the cool stuff x2 after holiday break.

AND people are real sick of chocolate and peanut brittle so oddly, cake with sprinkles sounds amazing if you're going to throw out those resolutions!

We made a four-layer delight for our mighty four-year-old...

And he was mightily delighted!  :)

You rock our world, Boone Doggle.  Can't believe you're four years old!

There's not a soul in the world who doesn't love you after just four seconds of being in your presence.  Keep making magic, little man!

XO

B-RING in the New Year!

Did you score an invitation?

To the most exclusive New Year's Eve party around?

We did... and it was epic!

We traveled north to the tundra also known as Paradise, to Brandon and Carrie's house for our annual gathering that included a cook-off, a white elephant gift exchange, and some other madness that you had to see to believe.  :)

Every single one of these hooligans made it to midnight.  SAY WHA?!!

We ate this hunk of flesh that Brandon smoked for us to perfection.

And acted like a bunch of lushes after we tried mocktails dreamt up by these dudes.

Then we hit the Paradise sledding hill where the only thing longer than a sled ride down is the long, steep hike back to the top.  :)  My phone literally froze right after this picture so this is the only evidence that we came and conquered.

We cheered for the Utes (for a while, then we gave up despite these hard core fans.

And Ryan committed treason by helping plow Brandon's driveway on something green. ;) 

 There were appetizer races...

 

 Dessert cook off (in which Gail wins again)

White Elephant spoils

And an epic saran unwrapping game which was a hit.

Mostly it was fun to wrap up one year and ring in another with my people.

Who are wild and fun and happy - just how we like 'em.  :)

 

Happy 2020!

T'was the Christmas Highlight Reel...

On the nights before Christmas,

All through our house,

Every creature was stirring -

(But if we have a mouse I'll move out!)

The boys had basketball, wrestling, baseball and more.

So we did what we could 

As we ran to gyms and the stores.

We decorated gingis in fast and furious style.

With old candies and sprinkles that piled up for miles.

We had Christmas sings at school, Parties at night,

We saw Santa Claus, and snuggled in tight.

We went to see lights on that grand Temple Square

And tried out the giving machines that were there.

T'was a night full of love and chatter and joys

We smiled at each other, as we watched all our boys.

And then on the Sunday before the big day

We donned new Christmas duds in a coordinated way.

We sung the good carols and delivered good cheer

And we knew the time for Santa and Jesus' birth was near.

And then on that night, after notes had been written

Cookies had been frosted and jammies had been "got" in...

Mister Claus found us in a very big way

And we smiled and enjoyed another great Christmas Day.

We saw family and friends

Saw the death of one Wren...

We played games, ate grub

And fizzed bath bombs in the tub.

We counted our blessings and counted again

And knew another great year was coming to an end.

I got a surprise that surprised me quite far...

A new, shiny, white thing with a red bow - A CAR!

When I think of Christmas in two thousand nineteen

I'll remember their faces and all the things in between

I'll think fondly on nights together that we stole away

Amidst the chaos and business of our family these days.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!