Yesterday at lunch...

I love these kids!  Ashley played in her basketball game yesterday morning and then we all went out for lunch at Chronic Taco (pretty good if I do say so).  Peyton had a birthday party to go to in the afternoon and Ashley and I went to a bowl-a-thon supporting Junior Achievement.  Jeff stayed home to pack up the camper van; yep, another overnight trip to Bogus Basin!  Ashley and I stayed home while the boys went night skiing, slept in the camper in the parking lot, and woke up early to hit the slopes again this morning.  Those crazy boys loved every minute of it.  They came home telling us they jumped off tables in terrain park.  I don't want to hear that!  Glad they had fun, though.  Ashley and I went to see a kissy-face movie and then came home and played wedding dress up while watching 27 Dresses.  I love having a girl.  Today Peyton's basketball team Club Fuego / Boise Blaze played a scrimmage against another team from across town.  These teams are pretty competitive and the boys play on 10' hoops.  Peyton and his team did great and lost by only 2 points--Peyton himself was all over defense and did a great job at running the offensive plays Coach Ludwig taught them.  It really made me realize how grown up he is.  And how old Jeff and I are getting.  Actually, we're watching the Grammys right now and there are several bands we've never even heard of--that's a pretty sure sign of our age, huh? 

Miscellaneous Pictures from Jen the Procrastinator

Peyton plays soccer (September 2009)

Ashley and Mom go to Art in the Park (September 2009

Ashley learns to ride her bike without training wheels! (September 2009)

Hyde Park Street Fair (that's held at Camel's Back Park - go figure)

Girl Scouts

This is Ashley's first year in Girl Scouts - she is a Daisy and seems to enjoy it even though all the girls in her troop go to a different school.  She is shy, but always excited to go and play more with the girls.  This is also Mom's first year as a scout volunteer.  Whereas Dad was an Eagle Scout and can therefore counsel Peyton on everything boy scouts, Mom has had no experience in this area.  We are learning together and it's quite fun.  I will say this - Girl Scouts got it together.  All of their badges are super-strong-iron-on.  Boy Scout badges do not stay on, even though they claim to be iron-on, and require sewing.  Unfortunately, Peyton hasn't earned his sewing badge yet so that falls to Mom.  Good thing I have Deana's hand-me-down machine or I'd never sew a stitch! 

More cute girl scout daisy pictures to come...

P.S.  Girl Scout cookies on sale until Thursday, January 28th!

Cub Scouts

This is Peyton's first year in Cub Scouts--he is a "bear."  He earned his Bobcat badge in October and we are working on his bear path and other sports/academic awards. 

Peyton says the Cub Scout Promise ~ Dad awards him his Bobcat Badge

(Ashley's there 'cause she just wanted to stand up front with Dad and Peyton)

In early December his den took a field trip to the Sheriff's department. Two of the den parents work for the State Prosecutors office so we were lucky to have them arrange it. The boys (and their siblings) got to see where the Sheriff cars go at the jail to unload prisoners and even got to sit behind the wheel and sound the siren. We also got to have a tour of the Dispatch room, got fingerprinted, and tested out the SWAT gear. I think all the kids enjoyed themselves, except now they think the jail is "cool" place to go...how do I dispell that myth?

Geoffrey, Peyton, and Jack check out the cop car

Peyton and Jack each get a turn in the driver's seat ~

Ashley was a little too shy to sit in the driver's seat, but she still wanted her picture taken with the car!

Everybody smile for the camera!

Everybody make goofy faces for the camera!

Mom's favorite part of the Dispatch room - this lights up when it's time for a Bud Light.

OK, it really stands for Back-Up Dispatch, but I think it's better as a signal for a beer break.

Testing out the SWAT gear - it was HEAVY! And my kids are so tough they didn't even want help!

Peyton designs his car for the Pinewood Derby (with Mom's help)

Peyton ROCKS the Pinewood Derby!

Peyton did a good job on his car but we didn't take it too seriously.  You can imagine how excited we were when he kept winning!  In the first round he won 3 out of 4 races!  He and 3 other boys from his den made it to the Finals where there were a total of 6 kids--his den and 2 older kids from Webelos.  Peyton did not end up in the top 3, but we were so excited for him that he made it that far and had such a good attitude about the whole evening.  His friend Finnley took 3rd place and his friends Jack and Ted were the other 2 that joined him in the Finals.  All in all it was a fun night--thumbs up and fist pumps all around.  Even Ashley enjoyed cheering on her brother and the other boys.  The Pack Leader awarded Peyton's car the "Grease Lightning" Award based on its cool design.  Way to go, Peyton!

Christmas

Due to lack of time off (too much fun had during the summer) and winter driving conditions, we opted to stay in Boise over the entire Christmas break.  It was good for our family to spend time with just the four of us (not to minimize our love for the dogs and hamster, but you know what I mean).  We went to church on Christmas Eve, followed by a very traditional Christmas Eve meal at Tepanyaki Japanese Steak House.  By the time we got home the kids were dying to open presents!  I made them open the pajamas first.  Let's just say that Jeff was more excited for his new camper van (more on that later) than the family's matching jammies, but I got him to pose for this picture as long as we covered him up.

Jeff and I also give each of the kids a Christmas book to open and read on Christmas Eve.  It was so cute when they were little and we could snuggle and read with them.  These past few years, they politely say thank you and look for another present to open.  I have hope that in the years to come they will treasure those books!  I'm an optimist.  Ashley's book this year was the Spirit of Christmas and Peyton's was Christmas Magic.  Maybe they'll read them to their own kids some day.

The following pictures are for the grandparents--the kids loved opening their presents from you and holding them up for the camera.  Thank you for making sure the kids did not get bored during Christmas break!  Unfortunately, after remembering to take pictures for Grandmas and Grandpas, I neglected to take pictures of anything else.  Oops!  Peyton was really excited for his electric scooter from Mom & Dad and electric guitar (with amp!) from Santa.  Ashley was in awe with her new BIG girl bike from Mom & Dad and Barbie house from Santa.  She said to us, "Santa must not have seen me be bad!"

Candy & Graham Crackers & LOTS of Frosting!

The kids talked me into doing our own houses with graham crackers this year (no ready-to-go kits).  And they had fun picking out various candy decorations.  After spending way too much money on frosting and candy (I did go with pre-made frosting, I'm no Betty Crocker), we had 3 masterpieces!