Thursday, February 16, 2012
Cutting Costs
We have decided the next time we fly we'll save some $$$ by checking our children as baggage, rather than ticketed passengers.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Saturday, January 28, 2012
Wednesday, January 18, 2012
Tarzan Calls
So, it's been a while. I'm back in the blogging world though. For now, I'm pretty much skipping Christmas. Basically I'm just overwhelmed by the task of holiday blogging.
We spent Christmas in Oregon with the Burnetts, and New Years in Utah with the Waltons. In spite of getting the trip off to a rather bumpy start (involving two different trains, an unexpected night in a hotel in New Jersey, and getting to OR a day later than anticipated), we enjoyed some wonderful weeks with our families.
While in Utah my family had one of our traditional "family parties". These usually involve food, costumes, games, and movies. One of the highlights of this particular party was our Tarzan calling contest (OK, so it wasn't really a contest - no winners or losers - but EVERYONE was required to participate).
This family tradition hearkens back to our growing-up days when, on random Saturday mornings, my Dad would assemble the troops in the kitchen and require us to each perform our best "Tarzan call".
Rather than embarrass my extended family members by sharing their videos from that night, I am sharing my own (I did happen to be dressed as Jane), just so you get the idea.
And now, the real reason for this post, here are the videos of my girls and their introductory attempts at a Tarzan call.
We spent Christmas in Oregon with the Burnetts, and New Years in Utah with the Waltons. In spite of getting the trip off to a rather bumpy start (involving two different trains, an unexpected night in a hotel in New Jersey, and getting to OR a day later than anticipated), we enjoyed some wonderful weeks with our families.
While in Utah my family had one of our traditional "family parties". These usually involve food, costumes, games, and movies. One of the highlights of this particular party was our Tarzan calling contest (OK, so it wasn't really a contest - no winners or losers - but EVERYONE was required to participate).
This family tradition hearkens back to our growing-up days when, on random Saturday mornings, my Dad would assemble the troops in the kitchen and require us to each perform our best "Tarzan call".
Rather than embarrass my extended family members by sharing their videos from that night, I am sharing my own (I did happen to be dressed as Jane), just so you get the idea.
And now, the real reason for this post, here are the videos of my girls and their introductory attempts at a Tarzan call.
Monday, December 12, 2011
Christmas Traditions
Tradition #1: Decorating the Tree
We always decorate our tree the Monday after Thanksgiving. We bought this small artificial tree in 2005, and it has served us well during our student days. While we decorate, we always listen to Mannheim Steamroller.
Ashlyn was sad when there were no more ornaments to be hung, so she started finding her own. (This one's for you, Angela!)
Tradition #2: "A Muppet Christmas Carol"
Russ gifted me this movie the first Christmas we were married. It has become a family favorite. We always look forward to watching it together.
Tradition #3: First Presidency Christmas Devotional
Russ and I have, of course, been watching the devotional for many years. However, 2010 was the first year we allowed the older girls to stay up to watch with us (it doesn't come on until 8:00 PM out here on the East coast). We all cuddled on the couch with blankets and hot chocolate and had such a special time together we decided to follow the same tradition this year.
Tradition #4: Dicken's Village and Holiday Lights Show
When we moved to Delaware in 2006 I searched online for holiday activities and found that the Macy's department store in center city Philadelphia puts on a holiday lights show and also turns a large portion of their 3rd floor into a Dicken's Village. Both activities are free to the public, which made them particularly appealing to us. :)
We loved our visit that year, and have returned every December since then.
Watching the lights show from the 3rd floor.
We have always made our visit on a Saturday, and found ourselves in the midst of huge holiday crowds cramming in to see the lights and waiting in long lines for the Dicken's Village. Circumstances forced us into a Friday evening visit this year, which we were pleasantly surprised with when we discovered that there was only a small crowd for the lights show and no line at all for the Village.
The Dicken's Village is basically a walk-through of the scenes from "A Christmas Carol" with elaborate scenery and characters that move and even sometimes speak.
Ashlyn in front of the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ebenezer Scrooge.
So, here's a look back at our family visits to downtown Philadelphia:
And we always end our chilly walk back to the car with donuts and hot chocolate before heading home. :)
We always decorate our tree the Monday after Thanksgiving. We bought this small artificial tree in 2005, and it has served us well during our student days. While we decorate, we always listen to Mannheim Steamroller.
Ashlyn was sad when there were no more ornaments to be hung, so she started finding her own. (This one's for you, Angela!)
Tradition #2: "A Muppet Christmas Carol"
Russ gifted me this movie the first Christmas we were married. It has become a family favorite. We always look forward to watching it together.
Tradition #3: First Presidency Christmas Devotional
Russ and I have, of course, been watching the devotional for many years. However, 2010 was the first year we allowed the older girls to stay up to watch with us (it doesn't come on until 8:00 PM out here on the East coast). We all cuddled on the couch with blankets and hot chocolate and had such a special time together we decided to follow the same tradition this year.
Tradition #4: Dicken's Village and Holiday Lights Show
When we moved to Delaware in 2006 I searched online for holiday activities and found that the Macy's department store in center city Philadelphia puts on a holiday lights show and also turns a large portion of their 3rd floor into a Dicken's Village. Both activities are free to the public, which made them particularly appealing to us. :)
We loved our visit that year, and have returned every December since then.
Watching the lights show from the 3rd floor.
We have always made our visit on a Saturday, and found ourselves in the midst of huge holiday crowds cramming in to see the lights and waiting in long lines for the Dicken's Village. Circumstances forced us into a Friday evening visit this year, which we were pleasantly surprised with when we discovered that there was only a small crowd for the lights show and no line at all for the Village.
The Dicken's Village is basically a walk-through of the scenes from "A Christmas Carol" with elaborate scenery and characters that move and even sometimes speak.
Ashlyn in front of the Ghost of Christmas Present and Ebenezer Scrooge.
So, here's a look back at our family visits to downtown Philadelphia:
2006
(in front of the Christmas tree at City Hall)
(in front of the Christmas tree at City Hall)
2007
(mural outside the entrance to Dicken's Village)
(mural outside the entrance to Dicken's Village)
2008
2009
2010
2011
And we always end our chilly walk back to the car with donuts and hot chocolate before heading home. :)
Wednesday, December 7, 2011
Thanksgiving in Tennessee
Every year since moving to Delaware we have been able to travel to eastern Tennessee to spend Thanksgiving with Russ's Aunt Janet and Uncle Allen.
This year was extra special because Russ's brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Emily, drove down from Chicago to join us.
Here are some highlights from the trip: (in no particular order)
Presents from Aunt Janet
This year was extra special because Russ's brother and sister-in-law, Doug and Emily, drove down from Chicago to join us.Here are some highlights from the trip: (in no particular order)
Kaylee & Ashlyn's spelling bee
(Ashlyn's words were limited to "Ashlyn", "Kaylee", "Mom", and "Dad")
(Ashlyn's words were limited to "Ashlyn", "Kaylee", "Mom", and "Dad")
Football, football, and more football
(this was probably only a highlight for Russ)
(this was probably only a highlight for Russ)
Uncle Allen's incredible model trains
Thanksgiving necklaces
Spice drop turkeys
The real turkey
(cooked on the outside grill and always AMAZING)
(cooked on the outside grill and always AMAZING)
Pom-pom hair
Reading, writing & coloring
(the fact that these things were done with Emily made them even better)
(the fact that these things were done with Emily made them even better)
Presents from Aunt Janet
Back rubs
And the best part of all . . . being with family!
No one was quite ready to say good-bye when it was time to go home. :(
Friday, November 11, 2011
Rock Stars
Kaylee and Ashlyn each got new boots at the store today. They felt it necessary to try them on as soon as we got home. The boots, apparently, made them feel like rock stars.
They decided to dress the part.
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