Hawaii

BRETT FLEW TO HAWAII FOR A PRE-DEPLOYMENT CALLED LAVA VIPER

Brett is on a "pre-deployment" in Hawaii. He is there until the middle of February. He says he is working, but I think it is a little work and a lot of play.(ha, ha) Hopefully, he is finding good places to see so when I go out there one of these years he can take me to the cool places. We miss him here, but life is pretty good here in Cali. I can't complain. My mom and sister came out for a few days, and other than that we have just been busy with Brynn's cheerleading and school.

SWEET KALI

Sweet Kali. She will be 5 months old this Thursday. I can't believe how quickly time goes. I love my sweet baby. Everyday she gets cuter and cuter ( I know I am bias).

KANGAROO ZOO

We can't go to Utah without stopping in at Kangaroo Zoo. We went there on New Years Eve, before we celebrated the New Year. After we celebrated the New Year we drove through the night back home. We had a great trip, but our family of 6 definitely need to get back home.

Alan with all the grand kids in the hot tub.

SUN VALLEY TRIP

KALI'S BLESSING

Brett gave Kali a beautiful blessing. We just did it after church while we were still in Sun Valley. It was nice having so much family there. We are so blessed by having Kali in our family.

PINATA

BRYNN WENT SKIING

Brett taught Brynn to ski. He said she did a really good job. After Brynn got home she said she wanted to ski everyday.

GRANDMA CARLENE

My grandma Carlene spend so much time and money making this Christmas so special and memorable. We stayed in a huge cottage called Symphony Cottage. It was on the Sun Valley Lodge property. It was so beautiful and comfy. It was just such a wonderful Christmas being with all my family, and really feeling the true meaning of Christmas. I even got to go for a beautiful crisp air run on Christmas day in my new running shoes Brett had gotten me for Christmas. That night we just laid in our beautiful room and Brett and I just watched a movie together. I think having Brett in the military and not knowing if I will get to spend the next Christmas with him, really makes the Christmas I do get with him so special. Thank you so much Grandma Carlene. :)

CHRISTMAS MORNING

CHRISTMAS EVE - SANTA'S VISIT

CHRISTMAS EVE'S NUTCRACKER ON ICE

We went to a nutcracker on ice Christmas Eve. It was a nice idea in theory, but it was for sure single digit outside and super super cold especially for us Californians. As you can tell the two youngest kids weren't loving, but Brynn and Aubrey loved all the girls ice skating.

CHRISTMAS ( A FEW DAYS EARLY) AT THE BANKS

We did family picture in the early evening then we had dinner and exchanged gifts with the cousin. It is always so fun and nice at the Banks, and the kids love being with there cousins and grandma and grandpa. They also LOVED the snow.

"Tis the season to be JOLLY"

BRETT'S HELICOPTER SQUADRON'S WORK PARTY

We had an awesome Christmas party at Brett's work. Santa flew in on a helicopter. Brett got some great footage. (see below). We had breakfast, a jump house, balloon making, crafts, and the kids loved sitting on Santa. lap and getting presents.

FAMILY PICTURES

My sweet friend Jenny came over before church on Sunday to get some family pictures. It is very challenging getting six people to look and smile for a picture. Regardless if we look perfect in the pictures, I really just like having family pictures because I like to look at them later and see how truly blessed I am to have such wonderful children and a great husband.

BRYNN'S CHEER LEADING

Brynn had her first cheer leading game last Tuesday. It is so fun seeing her in her cheer uniform. Sometimes I have flash backs to the good old days when I use to do that fun stuff. (ha, ha)

OUR FRIENDS VISIT

Our friends came to visit on Thanksgiving weekend. We had a great time. We were definitely a full house, but it was great. We got to go the beach, an awesome rainy bike ride, Legoland, watch a movie, and laugh about when we were younger. Toby, one of the guys that came and stayed out here, is the one that set Brett and I up. We will always be indebted to him.

THANKSGIVING DAY

The kids homemade puppet show of the pilgrims and the turkey.

My brother Daniel and Kylie, newlyweds, came down from LA to be with us. They are breaking the wish bone. It was so nice having them over.

We made our tradition fruit turkey and then added a baby turkey this year. I am not sure who has more fun making these things the kids or me. ( ha, ha)

My cute family, whom I am so grateful for at this season.

BRYNN END OF THE SEASON SOCCER PARTY

I was in charge of Brynn soccer party. I think over all things turned out good. I told Brett I think next time I will just coach soccer. I think that is more my cup of tea. I wanted to be soccer mom, so I could help make soccer fun for Brynn, and after the party she said she wanted to play again, so it was worth it . She never really got into it, but if she at least wants to keep playing maybe eventually she will like. :)

SANTA ARRIVES OFF THE HELICOPTER

Halloween Week

Spirit Day at Brynn soccer

We tried to have everyone dress in purple. Our whole family had purple except for Brett and Brayden so I made them wear lays. Brayden had purple in his hair like the rest of us, but Brett refused. I tried to get him to just spray his mustache, but still no good. :)


PUMPKIN CARVING

This is one of Amber boys. Brayden is right in the middle of her two boys. He loves playing with them. It is so nice for him to have boys around. :)

We went over to my friend Amber's house for FHE to carve pumpkins.( She was a former roomate, and now she like one street away from me, yeah). We had a soup pot luck with some friends and then carved pumpkins. The dads and moms worked hard carving the kids pumpkins. :)

APPLE BOBBING

After we were done carving pumpkins and most people had gone home, my girls decided they really wanted to bob for apples. Jacob and Caden (Amber's boys) had never done it before, so my girls showed them the ropes. Everyone got very wet, and everyone ended up with apples.

HALLOWEEN KIDS

Brayden loves holding Kali, but most of the time it doesn't last long. She gets rather scared.

Aubrey got to have a pj party at her school on Friday. She was so happy because she got to wear here glow-in-the-dark Halloween pj.

Brynn got to wear black and orange on Friday. Also, the night before she lost her front tooth. She was so excited to lose it. I thought it was a perfect time because she was being a witch for Halloween, and they are always missing teeth.

These are the girls at the ward trunk or treat. The two girl with Brynn and Aubrey are their little friends from school. Brynn says Emily is her "best friend".

Brynn was a witch. Later on in the evening when Brynn was trick or treating she told Brett she felt sick. I think from looking at this picture I should have known she wasn't feeling well. :)

Aubrey said she was a "princess" ghost.

Brayden was Luke Skywalker. He was so excited to look the same a Dillon. Dillon and Charlie (Jenny's boys) are Brayden's idols. Brayden got his costume made a week before Halloween, and he wore it everyday. He also laid it next to him when he slept. It was so cute.

Here is our decorated truck for the trunk or treat party.

Little Kali was a bunny. She didn't really like the hat, but I made her wear it because it was so cute on her.

Brett enter a ugly mustache competition at work, so yes this is his really mustache , but not really hair. :)

Brettt and I had a 70's party a week before Halloween, so we just decide to keep the costume for our other costume parties.