NoVeMbEr

 November's happenings:  early on we got to babysit McKenzie... (don't mind the suspicious look she's giving Lou, they LOVE each other, quite cute). 

 ...and Braydon (who the boys adore as you can see).  These 2 twinners belong to Matt's sis Katie & hubby Andrew for any who may sadly not know this.  It was fun for our family to get 1 on 1 with these cuties.

 We got one snow day, though it didn't last too long

The snow play ended satisfactorily

 

 I gave my living room a lighter look, in barely beige. 

 Matt and I ran a 5K on Thanksgiving day, and we both now own a brown shirt with a turkey on it

 Thanksgiving at the Martineau's was fun.  This is Alyza w/ her bosom buddy Charlotte, they are only 4 days apart.  I thought it would be fun to make them matching "Rella" dresses.  They are both big into the Disney princess scene.

 Headed to Pomerelle to hunt a Christmas tree.

 Peters make good pack horses

What words could ever describe this beauty?

 

 Those that joined the tree hunt: Matt's Aunt Kathleen w/ her daughter Megan, then Boyd, then my kiddos, then Peter, Matt, and Sam

Sam is now 22, and still single ladies! He doesn't read this blog that I know of, so it's okay that I type this I think. He is such a good guy, we're proud to be related to him. Ever since his bday, Alyza has been singing, "Happy Birthday pooooooor Sammy!"

Grandma Clawson (Sherry's mom) came from California to have Thanksgiving with the Binghams, as did Aunt Ann (came from Tacoma WA, not pictured)  It's fun to strengthen bonds with these great women who we don't see as often as we want to!

 A little family resemblance here?  Except Grandma's smile needs more cheese to match Garrett's.

Definitely some good family resemblance going here between Alyza and Aunt Katie.  These are Lou's angry eyes!

Fright Night of 2012

 Alyza Rapunzel!

 Smilin Cowboy Shay!

 Preschool party!  Shay's best preschool buddy is Ivan who is in the dragon suit.  We carpool with Ivan, and he is one hillarious, fun kid.

 Garrett was in a Halloween play in his class.  He and his friend Finn played the skeletons.  Garrett knows how to ham it up, and can even give a skeleton (a dead thing) quite a lively performance.

 Garrett was a ninja, and Alyza decided to ditch Rapunzel on the very night of the fright.  She looks a bit frightened of the cowboy in my opinion.

Our GREAT across the street neighbors, Wes and Joan (pronounced Jo-ann) Miller.  They spoil our kids and us!  They are Matt's best bud's grandparents and they treat us like family.

Disneyland, the Halloween Edition

We had a most fun trip to Disneyland, we didn't even know we would HAVE so much fun!  Even Matt and Shay had fun, and they are not your typical "yay for Disneyland" type of guys.  Matt is even discussing the "next time" we go.  Alyza's favorite rides: Pooh Bear and Ariel's Undersea Adventure.  Us other family members all liked the Jungle Cruise, California Soarin', the Toy Story rides (you get to shoot targets), and the World of Color show in California Adventure was amazing.  We also LOVED Radiator Springs.  It plays 50s songs, and feels so cool to be there right in the movie itself.  We had a great trip!

Huntington Beach

 Each picture can tell you how each family member felt about the beach.  Garrett loves water, especially with waves and seashells in it.

 Shay was cautious about the waves and preferred to play in the sand.

Alyza thought the whole experience was quite interesting; she loved it.

 Should have heard Alyza's squeals when the waves touched her legs.

Matt was content to help the sand architects, while I mostly played with Garrett in the water. 

JDRF Diabetes Walk 2012, Idaho Falls

JDRF Diabetes Walk, September 15 2012.  We created a poster about Garrett (a new thing they asked us to do this year).  It always makes him feel special to do this walk, and all the family and friends that support him in it.  And what a good cause, we appreciate the donations, and hope they will help towards advances in diabetes treatment.  We had a good time!

school days

Garrett's first day of second grade in Miss Thomsen's class.  He tells everyone who asks that she has 30 IPADs!  But even besides the ipads, she is a very nice teacher.  His favorite thing is p.e. and playing soccer at recess.

 Shay has started preschool now.  He has seemed to big for so long, I'm thrilled for him to have this to look forward to each week, and who better than Miss Andrea, the funnest of fun, to be his teacher?

                                                         My beauty-ful, sassy daughter

 A photo from our last camping trip to Thompson Flats, Albion.  This is Matt and Scott (good buddies) looking down on the valley during our 4 wheeler ride.  We had a tornado warning on our drive home from camping, but all turned out well.  We were all just a hare nervous about that.

 Alyza eating a snack in the camper.  She can get pretty down and dirty for a girl, she loves camping.



We're Headed to the County Fair

 Fair week is maybe second only to holidays and birthdays for these boys.  This year they each entered in a drawing.  Garrett's won a red ribbon (it has a blue frame).  Shay's is the big ribbon above where he is pointing. He was the only entry in his category; but it deserved a big ribbon whether he was the only one or not. 

They dress themselves, and they have inherited their father's wierd genetics.  If he'd read this blog, he might have some pull in what I type. 

Chloey

This past year has been dominated by our black lab Chloey.  We've enjoyed her playful puppy antics.  The boys have learned responsibility.  We have had disagreements about how to deal with her destruction of the yard and many other things.  We expected she would be with us for a long time because she didn't chase cars.  Sat. after our return home from camping, Matt was moving the camp trailer and Chloey had been laying under the wheels and moved the wrong way instead of getting out of harm's way.  I was more heartbroken than I thought I would be!  I am so missing going out to the backyard and her being there.  Garrett was heartbroken too.  Anyway, though I cursed her on a daily basis for the list of naughty things she did, I miss this friend.  Chloey was good to my kids, and loved to kiss Garrett's face.  She loved to meet Garrett when he was walking home from school.  She LOVED water.  We will miss going to Lake Walcott with her.  She loved any time we spent with her; blowing bubbles with the kids, running with the boys when they rode their bikes, camping; she was part of our family though  for a short time.  I am grateful for the experience we had with her.  She'd be 1 year old this very day, and of course ironically I had just taken her to the vet for some shots and a checkup.  I am grateful for the year we had with Chloey.  We learned a lot, and hopefully after a few months of healing our hearts (forgive my drama) and getting a better dog run fixed up we'll get another dog. 

Matt's BDay Campout

 Our first camping trip of the summer.  We went to Thompson Flats which is near Lake Cleveland.  Shay's favorite thing is always the 4 wheeler.

 So excited to really be camping!

 There was at least 10 pictures of the kids goofy posing.  I picked just a few to put on.

 Fishing at Lake Cleveland.  Chloey is such a water dog, we had to tie her up after awhile so we could fish.

 We had some beloved visitors, the Turpin family.  They are such fun friends.  They even birthday-ed Matt with some beautiful trailer decor- pink flamingos, and a spinning rainbow charm which is simply enchanting. 

 Took a four wheeling trip in the rain with the Turpins.

 This thing is so fun.

 Birthday boy turns 92.  I mean 29. 

 Matt's family came for dinner, we had fun even though we were cooped up due to rain.  Yay for the new camper, we love it!

We played a great round of the Things game, it was a fun camping/ birthday get-away.