Decemberish

December started off looking so great!  I had gifts bought, wrapping paper stocked, menu ideas galore.  Then as happens every year the last couple of weeks got the better of me.  Don't get me wrong, it's been SO fun to see the girls at ages 2, 4, and 6 enjoying all the Christmas fun

BUT it's a heck of a lot of work! 

The one picture I have from Merediths Christmas program.

Poor Quinn was all ready to go skiing.  We left her home that day.  Maybe next time!  I just have a sneaking feeling there will be a lot of screaming when she does hit the slopes.

Here's Quinn at Delaneys Christmas program.  She took to the stage before the preschoolers arrived.  The audience loved her version of the ABC song.

Her's Charlotte - Delaneys BFF.  Seriously.  They loooove each other.  As do their older sisters. Works out for me and Erin!

Pretty excited to finally be on stage!

Standing next to Case and Grayson Porter.  Our cabinmates!

Annual Kids Christmas party did not disappoint!  It was a record year - 30 something kids.  I hope they all hade fun.  I was the toy Nazi and put every single toy in our house away the

afternoon of the party.  Sorry kids!  Somehow they survived.  I couldn't stomach the thought of picking up 987987 Barbie shoes.

Full house for Santas arrival!

Baby Summer not so sure...

Meredith loves to pretend Thomas is her little brother.  Hi Ava Mae!

Excited Delaney!

Quinn loves Santa this year.

Lola wins for best exit.  We are running out of babies to laugh at when Santa is around!

Old pro Meredith is on to this Santa.  She said "Mom, that Santa looks alot like Papa.  Is that Papa?"

Not ready for that conversation!

December 2012 - Week 2

December in Idaho is great - sunshine, warm days...

Actually I found these old pics on camera I had stashed in a drawer.  A little look back on August!

Marcus and Delaney having a little lawn snack.

I think the dirty, Ariel swimsuit went in the trash that evening.

Half of the kids on the tube were actually asleep.

Delaney calls this look 'bloody eyes'. 

And now back to actual December.
Sara and I made our annual trek to the mall to see Santa.

This pretty much sums up the trip. 

KK made her famous gingerbread houses for the kids to decorate.
I think this was day 4 of grandparents being in town.  TIRED kids.

Taking decorating very seriously.

Quinn - not so serious.

Always BFFs these two.

About as 'normal' a picture as I can take of the three girls.

Meredith wiped out on the playground and scraped her lip up.

We had a fun wintry weekend in McCall.  We hit up the North Pole Trek in Ponderosa State Park that the U of I puts on each year.  There are clues hidden around the park that the kids find that

lead them to Santa.  Meredith read all the clues.  The other mom that was in our group had a little black lab in her coat.  Too cute.

Hippie Elf Guide

They found him!  And just for the record, this guy was fooling no one. 

Horrible Santa attempt.

Delaney asking for a Barbie airplane...again.

Quinn was super happy about the hot chocolate and candy cane at the end.  She was also pretty excited when she asked Santa for a 'Big gun'.  Hmmm, hadn't heard that one before.

And back to the mall...these are Saras pictures.

Eli is actually 6 months younger than Delaney.  That girl needs to grow!

Hamilton Girls + Richins Boys

October 2012 - Week 3

***This is a long lost post I just noticed never got published***

I was single parenting last week so the camera didn't come out much. And when I did remember the camera it was out of batteries.  So once again handy iphone pics to the rescue.

We had a girls dinner with Delaneys friend Charlotte after soccer practice one night.

 Someone is reading chapter books!  Hopefully this will cure the "I'm bored" syndrome which runs rampant through out house.

 Soccer practice according to Delaney!

She got ahold of my phone, this is what I found..

 Quinn brings her lopsided blue bouncy ball everywhere we go.  She spends most of her time dribbling...she's better than me I think.

 Said blue ball with chatting Mom in the background. 

 Heading home, getting chilly!

 Second to last game, Meredith scored a goal!

 Delaney is getting lots of one on one Mom time with Meredith at school and Quinn napping.

She gets to do all sorts of naughty things like sit on the counter, play with dough and get filthy.

She also said to me today "Mom, you're not fat.  You're just old".  I can't decide which is worse?

 Pumpkin carving at the Greers!  1 mom, 3 kids and 3 pumpkins.  Not a good combo.  As you can see I finally just handed Quinn a knife and let her go at it. 

 Knives away, forks out.  Thanks Jilly and Shaun!



December is here...

The BIG month is here.  This time of year is crazy busy but a ton of fun.  We are looking forward to all the fun parties and plans we have coming up!  We kicked off the month with Eli and Sam coming over for dinner one night.  We love the Richins boys.

Quinn also really loves Sara, and to impress her decided to go potty on the toilet. 

Thanks Sara!  Hopefully I've bought my last box of diapers.  After almost 7 years I can't wait!

KK and Papa Jim came to Boise to take the girls to Disney on Ice.
Just like Disneyland, 2 waters and popcorn = $18.

We had GREAT seats and I have to admit it was a pretty cute show.
Meredith bit the dust on the playground last week - note the scabby lip.

Still 'going' strong!

 BFFs at it again being silly. 

Rare family photo

It's started - 40th birthday parties.  Good and bad, it means we're getting older but it almost means fun parties!  Our friend Fred turned 40 and we got to help celebrate last night at this place.  We had a great time eating, drinking and playing cowgirls and cowboys.  Oh and line dancing.
Dylan and Stacy were there too - bonus!

Stacy and Jesse were born 100 years too late.

Line dancing lessons. 

Cute Beesons.

Shiny Hamiltons.