Birthday Boy

We all know that Shayne knows how to party... well, he didn't let us down this year.  The theme was "white trash olympics" - I'm not sure we really kept score or decided an overall winner - but there were definitely a few stars along the way.  First we went shooting on the west side of the lake.  I brought my camera but I failed to put the battery in it... so sad... no pictures.  Here's how the rest of the day went.

Ringing in 2011

We had our "Superfriends" over for the evening.  I'm so glad that Boyd and Kandi came all the way from Hawaii just for this!!  (jk)  

the boys enjoying the train under our tree

Not picture perfect - but can you believe how big this crew is?!?

Wish Jen and Amos had been here too!  ;-(

Let me introduce the happy couple.... well, he still needs convincing.

Kandi and Danny had lots of "shoot outs"

All our friends left before 10pm.... that left Grandma and Grandpa and us to ring in the new year with lots of noise.  My boys were THRILLED to be up past midnight.  

And we also had a overnight guest, my boys said they missed Clayton for the next 3-5 nights... it just wasn't the same when he left.  So sweet.

Happy 2011!!!

Christmas!

This Christmas....

we saw a Christmas tree fall from huge amounts of tinsel

 we let the boys play unlimited video games with their cousins and daddy...

we had a little illness that took us by surprise (which explained why Cole decided to sleep in the middle of the hallway on the hard, cold floor!)

we discovered that Danny loves to be the photographer - mommy guesstimates the direction of the camera and he does all the work...

we played with bubbles, the cool way...

we lounged and ate, and ate, and played games and ate some more...

we cooked as much as we ate... but truly it was fun to cook in this fabulous kitchen!...

we had our annual Christmas program - highlights were all the musical talent, Grandpa's gift of family history and Grandma's video of Christ's life...

we had our own little nativity - a donkey...

...a king...

...a baby Jesus who couldn't figure out why had to be swaddled and held...

we saw angels and shephards...and sheep...

we stood back and wondered how all these children have grown so much!...

we had stockings

we saw happy faces...

we  played...

we cheered...

we shot guns... (nerf guns, of course)

we took pictures...

we gave gifts... (a memory book of our family reunion last summer brought tears to Grandma's eyes!)

we shot more guns...

we saw amazing views from our back porch...

we stopped by Nana's and Papa's on the way home -

we enjoyed more presents...

we found treasures that would provide HOURS and HOURS of enjoyment...

we discovered that Nana made custom pillowcases for each of the boys and they love them!

Those were just a few of the HUNDRED pictures from our amazing Christmas with all of our family!  Truly, Christmas means two things to me: the Savior's birth and being with family.   What a joyful holiday it was!