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December 2014 We did it!  After 2 1/2 years we finally got a family photo :) 

Family Christmas Bucket List

In no particular order:

1. Family talent show/Christmas party
2. Skype Jeff
3. Family 5k
4. Make and decorate gingerbread houses
5. Game night
6. Date night (kid-less)
7. Pictures with Santa and train ride at the railroad park
8. Watch Christmas Vacation
9. Family service project
10. Make/eat pomegranate/avocado salsa
11. Organ Stop Pizza... anyone, anyone? My kids loved it last year, so I thought it might be fun.
12. Gingerbread houses
13. Push-up contest

I was going to say car caroling, but we don't have a big enough car for that anymore. :(  Other ideas are welcome, but we can't let the list get out of hand or we won't have time for it all. Have I forgotten any essentials?

P.S. Be on the hunt for white elephant gifts. I already have ours and I loooove them.

Wes and the Union Pacific, January 22nd

 This kid loves trains!  Future
railroad engineer.

Union Pacific Yard,
7th Street downtown by the
Ball park.

McCormick Stillman Railroad Park

Jake Takes State (Again)

Otherwise known as the day that I peed my pants because I lost all bladder control from screaming my lungs out as Jake approached the finish line. Not to be confused with the day I peed my pants at the Grand Hyatt New York and then tried to make it look like I spilled something. I was standing on grass this time AND wearing a flowy skirt (bonus!), so it was totally inconspicuous.

But really, dad made this video (good job dad! I didn't know you had video editing skills) and even though this is kinda old news now, I thought it was family blog worthy.

Just savin' it for later

I was going through the pictures on my phone and I found this one that Ellie sent me. Since she has abandoned blogging, I thought I'd post it here because it's pretty funny...

Ellie's photo caption... "What is that, you ask? Why, it's Sophie's quesadillas stuck to the fridge with magnets. Duh."

Life in Plastic, it's Fantastic!

I think I'm going to start a weekly Barbie dress up blog segment.

It's just way too much fun.

Lolo, this post is dedicated to you. Please don't hurt me for playing with your barbies.

Babooshka Esmerelda hair wrap, modest(ish) pink top, plus Ariel fish legs... 

I give you:

Only because I know for a fact that these are the only two Native American names Lolo knew (anybody knows?!), so if she were to play barbies using these outfits, clearly this is what they would have been called...

I don't know what to say about this picture except that I should apologize for forgetting to put pants on Barbie, and Ken should apologize because what the heck is going on with his hair? Just because you're in a storage box for 10 years doesn't mean you get to look like crap whenever you want.

Yes, Ellie. There were plenty of fringe cowgirl outfits available. 

But this dress just spoke to me for some reason...?

Speechless.

Actually no, I'm not.

http://compare.ebay.com/like/130730214276?var=lv&ltyp=AllFixedPriceItemTypes&var=sbar

YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW TEMPTED I AM TO BUY THAT.

But Byron would kill me. And, no one has cassette players anymore.

Off topic. Cute or creepy? I think cute.

Especially when Brooke is squeezing her to death.

That is all.

Elder Wynn

I can't believe he is gone! I keep having the urge to text or call him to see how things are going, but then I remember I can't! I'm sure he is doing awesome, it's just a weird feeling that we can't talk to him whenever we want. Anyway, here is the list of his FAVORITE things that I got out of him...

1. He likes to be called Jeff not Zach. (blah blah blah)
2. Favorite holiday = Thanksgiving
3. Favorite candy bar/treat = none
4. Dessert = mom's cheesecake
5. Beverage = cranberry juice (this is just my opinion, but I bet he actually likes the cranberry fruit cocktails)
6. Temple = Timponogos (of the ones he has been to so far)
7. BoM story/hero = Teancum
8. Color = dark grey, charcoal
9. Toothpaste =  anything that burns
10. Xmas tradition = none (lame)
11. Hymn = #100 Nearer My God to Thee
12. Restaurant = Chick-fil-a (really?!! First he actually said "none." What is wrong with him?)
13. Mom's food = mashed potatoes and rolls

**Also, mom says that he doesn't want packages unless you send one for his companion too. He saw  how one elder in mom and dad's ward got tons of packages and letters and the other elder never got anything and it made him feel bad.