Christmas Time (Picture Overload)

We had a great week leading up to Christmas. We had my work Christmas party where we walked away with some fun stuff (very nice blue-ray player that we won’t ever use J and a Bose sound dock which we ARE using) and some $$. Always a great time at that Christmas party.

Steven got me my Christmas present early so I could use it before and during Christmas and that was a new camera! I love it but I still need to learn how to use it! I just experiment for now but it’s still fun. So anyway, Tuesday night before Christmas we went out to Buckeye and hung out with Steven’s family. We played lots of games, played with the kids, had a little scare while I was running (seizure or dehydration-not sure which one) so I spent Wednesday resting and not having too much fun. At the doctor on Wednesday I was told I couldn’t exercise for a couple weeks so…no more half marathon for us! I was really bummed but there will be others I’m sure.

Anway, we celebrated Christmas day on Christmas Eve because Steven’s dad had to work Christmas day. We woke up and opened presents (which were great—thanks everyone) and then Steven and I packed up to head down to Benson. I love Christmas Eve in Benson! When we got there the girls were wrapping presents so I joined in and then we started/finished the preparations for the Christmas Eve dinner. I think we had around 30 people there. It was great!

Surprisingly we finished early with dinner and just got to relax because we had for once, done all of our wrapping before!

Christmas Day we opened presents of course and had a blast and then spent the day playing with what we got and lounging about.

We had a great time with friends and especially family. Of course we all got hit with the stomach flu on Sunday, which was horrible but we’re grateful it waited until after the holidays. Hope everyone had a merry Christmas!

Brelee and Macy looking at their twin cabbage patch dolls from Grandma

Kathy looking at her calendar--Alli makes one every year for her

The boys playing on the computer

Alli and Derek modeling their new pajamas

Macy practicing walking with Alli

playing games--i love having in-laws that love playing games!

One of Kathy's Christmas trees

Another tree :o)

Steven and Macy playin'

Kids opening presents

Kati and Brelee

Some of the stockings (they don't all fit on the hearth anymore)

Kenzie-baby

Travis and Carson

Waiting for Santa to come down Pomerene road on the firetruck

Grandma and Grandpa Fenn

Hanging around--waiting for Christmas Eve dinner

My wonderful cousin Clarice and her boyfriend Jaron

My cousin's son Luke

My mom got us all socks but...I forgot mine :( She gave me them like 2 months ago--how was i supposed to remember?

Family tradition--lining up in the hallway youngest to oldest before going out to open our presents

Carson in his new Tonka truck

bad lighting so if you can't tell, it's a cow hoof mate cup. If i would have known Steven would have loved this so much, this would have been all I got him ;o)

SUPER cute idea (way to go Alliene)--family friend (practically family) got my mom these playing cards for one of our favorite games "Up Up Down"--there's a different picture on each card. I'm thinking I just might have to get some

Braden and his new bike he got for Christmas

Eric trying out his new airplane that Amy got him for Christmas

While Eric was testing out his plane, we threw the frisbee around. Here's Travis being...Travis

Steven's action shot

Josh and Kenzie

This was Eric's second attempt at getting his plane to fly--this was right before the plane almost hit me...seriously

Carson playing in uncle jeremy's truck

Dad teaching Amy how to throw a horseshoe :o) We had a little horseshoe tournament. First it was the brothers against the sons-in-law then sisters against the daughters-in-law, then the winners which were...the siblings. Amy and I barely lost :o)

Kayleen and her "ringer"

A Lot of Catching Up to Do

Well, here's a quick re-cap on what we've been up to lately (not much but here it is!):

--Thanksgiving was spent in Buckeye with Steven's family. Lots of yummy food and great company! We didn't do the whole shopping on Black Friday (never have, probably never will), instead we drove down to Benson for my cousin's mission homecoming and to visit with my extended family since quite a few of them were in town. My cousin and his wife also took some pictures of us while they (and us) were in town! Below are just a few of the ones I loved! The first one is from Steven's family pictures done in October.

--Decebmer--we decorated and got ready for the Christmas season. I loved every minute of this Christmas season. We looked at Christmas lights, sat in front of our tree and watched Christmas movies, baked goodies, listened to lots of Christmas music, went Christmas shopping, and just had fun with the whole thing!

--I finished my semester at ASU with a 4.04 GPA (yes , the .04 matters...to me at least! :o)

--Steven's still plugging away at school. Finished GREAT in his chemistry class and is now on to more UOP classes. I give him major props for starting a class the week before Christmas!

All in all we've just been having fun with everything! I'm very excited to have some time off from school to get everything back in order and relax a little bit. I've already read 3 books for FUN. It's wonderful! Anyway, I'll have to do a Christmas post separate since there will be so many pictures.

THIS JUST IN

The Rocky Point triathlon is going to be held April 24th, 2010. There is a 5k, 10k, sprint tri, olympic tri AND an olympic relay and a sprint relay (new). Anyway, as of right now we're planning on going again! We welcome all who want to come with us because it's a blast!! If you can't swim or don't have bikes, just do one of the runs!

Visit:
redrockco.com for more information.

Catching Up

I feel like I haven't blogged in forever but, you all know the feeling when you just don't feel like you have much to blog about, right? Anyway, a little that's been going on with us...we carved our pumpkins (see pictures below), started training for a race, went and saw Phantom of the Opera at Gammage, have been SUPER busy with school BUT, we're almost done for the semester :) My cousin Marcus got home from his mission 2 weeks ago and last week on Veterans day he and my aunt came up along with some of the RS from my home ward and I went to the temple with them which was fun.
Anyway, other than that we're just trying to finish the semester with good grades and then survive the holidays! much more fun than school of course :)

My pumpkin (left) and Steven's

4th Trip to Apple Annie's (and Carson's B-Day Party!)

Well, we made the annual trip down to Benson to go to Apple Annie's pumpkin patch (actually in Willcox). Travis and Brooke couldn't go with us last year because they had just had Carson! This year he got to come with us! Kayleen came too, along with my parents and Brooke’s parents! We had fun picking our pumpkins, eating kettle corn, snow cones and NOT being in the city. Oh how I miss living in a small town. Anyway, when we got home my mom and I threw together a little cake for Carson. It was a last minute thing that we just made as we went but I thought it turned out cute! Everyone came over for the party, Carson wasn’t really interested in his cake but oh well J Then our ward had their chili cook-off and then we played games with Brooke, my mom and Brooke’s parents. It was LOTS of fun. I always say it but I love being in Benson. It’s my mini-vacation. I love the way my mom has everything decorated for fall/Halloween and the fall smells and her cooking! Anyway, here are a few pictures!

Carson with Brooke's parents--he loved the kettle corn!

Kayleen with her pumpkin!

I love this picture! His face cracks me up every time I look at it!

My cousin Audrey's son Luke pushing Carson on his 'mater thing

Our little truck

Another one that cracks me up. Poor guy seemed so tired. I think we all were! I imagine him saying something like "okay folks, let's just get this over with"