A Reason for the Season

Before I start with my annual montage of Holley-Day Hodge Podge, let me share my favorite Christmas song, along with a fabulous video I got off of You Tube last year. (Pause my playlist to enjoy the music with the video).

.Happy Thanksgiving.

This year I have much to be Thankful for, but I am going to limit it to one thing: my husband! I am thankful that he gets me and still loves me for it!

Since I have mastered the savory part of Thanksgiving, ie; turkey, stuffing, sauce, gravy, potatoes, etc. I have moved on to desserts! This year I am taking on two new ones, a Triple Chocolate Pumpkin Pie from Martha Stewart and a Cranberry Ribbon Apple Pie from Bon Appetite, if they are a hit I will post recipes, if not, I will post the aftermath. I do have two back up pies thanks to an awesome deal at Albertsons last week, so we will not starve!

Here's hoping your Thanksgiving is richly blessed with family and love, and of course, good eats!!

Update: Enjoy a few of our Thanksgiving photos!!

Here is a picture of our 25 pound Turkey, he was so delicious!!

We made these cute luminaries to decorate our walkway!

My first apple pie, it was so scrumptious, and super easy, why have I never made one before!!

Worth a Thousand Words

This summer was the first time all of my siblings and their families were together. What an amazing time we shared. We couldn't let this moment pass us by without getting some family photos, and I wanted to post a few here. Mostly because I think my family is dang cute, but also because we have the most fabulous photographer of all time! I love how she can capture the essence of my children in a photo, what a gift. If you are in need of a great photo shoot, give her a call, her name is Jolyn 541.601.6379 or check her out at her new site http://www.daveeblu.com/! Good luck on your new adventures girl, you deserve much happiness!!

The real A Team

(Anden, Ashden, Austin, Alek, Andrew, Aiden, Annika, Adeline & Alyssa)

I love, love this picture.

Four crazy siblings, and the loves of our lives!

Bonded for Life

Sorry the images are so small, but I pirated them off of Facebook, so you get what you get!

First Day of School

Last Tuesday was the twins first day of Kindergarten. What a proud moment in a parents life. I don't know who was more excited, me or them! We had a back to school party the night before, with a special dinner and dessert. We made special banners and decorations to commemorate this once in a lifetime event. The boys weren't really sure about all of the fuss I was making over school, so I am not sure if the party was more for me or them. We ended the night by reading the school handbook, and then Ryan gave the boys a Father's blessing. I am thankful for that gift he is able to give the boys. I hope they realize how much we love them and are excited for this new journey in their lives.

They were not excited about the picture taking, enough already Mom!!

The boys wanted to ride the bus on the first day, but I put my foot down, I needed pictures in front of the school, and I couldn't just let them go that easily. They did ask me on the way to school to please not cry in front of their friends, so I saved the tears for the car ride home. I did get a little misty eyed, but my super huge sunglasses hid any signs of the waterworks. I wasn't sad to send them off, I am just so proud of the little men they are, and I know that they will have a fantastic year ahead of them. I promised the teacher that I wouldn't dress them alike on the first day of school, which I am sure she was grateful for. Although, I am impressed that both Mrs. Bjorge and Mrs. Lewis can tell them apart, high five ladies, we are excited to share this journey with you both.


I am looking forward to my first PTO meeting and volunteer training this week, maybe I need to go out and buy myself some back to school outfits too!

Why I Love This Man of Mine...

In honor of Father's Day, I thought I should post something about my main man. Ryan doesn't get much blog time, it is mostly about the kids, so here is his little piece of the puzzle.

Ryan is first and foremost a wonderful father and husband. He enjoys being a dad and loves spending time with his children. The boys cherish their 'daddy nights' which consists of watching movies and eating snacks late late at night, after everyone else has gone to bed. He coaches their sports teams, and teaches them all kinds of crazy games he makes up using random household objects and toys. The boys think their dad can walk on water, and that he can do no wrong. He is definitely not the disciplinarian. He is the fun dad, and I am the boring rule abiding mom. I guess that is whats keeps us in balance.

Coach Ryan -2009

Ryan being very inventive in his sled making- 2007

Riding the Bull -2009

Ryan rockin' out with Ashden - 2006

Ready for drug raids - 2007

Ryan is also a wonderful husband. He is very thoughtful. When we first started dating he would buy me flowers and write me little poems. Some were the cheesy I love you stuff, but others were very funny. On my first mothers day, he dressed the twins up really cute and had their pictures taken. The next year he sent me on a shopping spree. The year after that he and the kids made me GIANT homemade cards with hand prints and a cute poem that he made up and took pictures to coincide with the words. This year he took all the kids in the garage and they each painted me a homemade card, and even after five mothers days and me telling him each time that Mommy is spelled M-O-M-M-Y, he still spells it M-O-M-Y, and Daddy D-A-D-Y. Whenever we give each other cards or gifts he always writes, To my wife, love your husband. I think it is the little things that I love about him the most. He has such persistency and never gives up. He is always willing to try new things, and he forever feels like he is 21. I guess that is a good thing considering he is now back in college at age 36. He is a hard worker, and very determined, he isn't easily discouraged, and tries to look at the positive. I love that he doesn't care what other people think, (most of the time), and that he wears socks with his sandals. Every night without fail he has to have a fourth meal, which he justifies by telling me that he never really eats both breakfast and lunch.

Graduation - 2007

Once you get to know him, Ryan is very funny, partly due to his one liners, and partly to the fact that the man is the klutziest person I have ever met. Seriously, he is one giant accident waiting to happen, and the worst part is that he doesn't realize it! Following are the pictures resulting from one of his 'accidents'. He needed to get something on the top shelf in our closet, and thinking that a plastic laundry basket could hold all 240 pounds of him he turned it over and tried to step on top of it. Obviously it did not work and he fell through the basket knocking him and all of the clothes in that basket as well as the other baskets on the floor. I hear this yelling from our closet and I come running in to find this.......

Ryan definately keeps life interesting and entertaining.


Ryan has a soft side too. He doesn't like to admit it, but he is a crier. A quiet crier, but still a crier, especially when it comes to the kids. He cried after reading the blog I did about the twins turning five. He cries when they get really sick, or when Ashden had to have his two surgeries.

I am proud of his commitment to the Lord, and for his decision to be baptized last year. I have seen such a difference in him, and I know that as he continues to rely on the Lord for guidance and strength he will become an even better husband and father. I hope all who are reading this will think of the strengths your own spouse has, and remember that we really are better as one, and that each of us brings something unique to our marriages and families, and I am thankful for the role that Ryan plays in my life.

Baptism Day - 2008

Happy fathers day husband, I sure do love and appreciate all you do for us! . . .

Ashden wanting to be just like Daddy - 2009

Say Goodbye to Training Wheels

Today the twins learned to ride their bikes like the big boys! What a proud moment as a mom. They probably could have done it months ago, but why do today what you can procrastinate for the future?! So, after months of begging, Ryan and I finally took the wheels off and we headed over to the field to embark on the next step of childhood, riding a bike. Now they are officially apart of the old cliche, 'it's just like riding a bike'.

I have to say, I did cry a bit, and not for the obvious oh they are growing up and they are no longer little boys, but because they were so determined and wouldn't give up. They didn't get discouraged or upset when they fell down, but instead just got back up and grabbed the horse by the reins. I was so proud of them, I hope they always have that dedication, and aren't easily discouraged when things get tough. They were so proud of one another, and were determined to go at it together. Anden figured it out first, but only by about 20 minutes. He was so concerned about Aiden, and kept saying things like, 'Mom, Aiden will get it, and 'Aiden keep going buddy you can do it'. And Aiden, after seeing Anden ride around the track by himself, yelled at the top of his lungs to all who could hear, 'Anden, you're doing it', (as if he didn't realize that himself!). So watch out Twin Creek walkers, they didn't name the park after you, so get out of their way already, because they probably will plow you over once or twice before they learn to maneuver around you!

Good job Bro Bro's, we are so proud of you!

Hot Dog Anyone?

Meet the latest addition to our household....the little Pumpkin Eater!! Isn't she just down right adorable. She isn't actually ours, but my Mom's little wiener dog, or daschund for those who are more politically correct than I. We get all the fun of having a dog, but not much responsibility. She spends the weekdays down in Yreka with Granny, and comes home on the weekends. The kids just adore her, as you can see in the pictures. It has however caused many fights over who gets her first when Granny comes home, and she is the first thing anyone goes for when they wake up in the morning. Ashy carries her around like a little rag doll, and Adeline just tries not to choke her! She really is so much fun, and the kids love when Granny has to leave her to go out of town, they get 'paid' to babysit pup while she is gone. They love the responsibility, and I love that they are learning to take care of someone else.

I don't know who loves her more, me or the dog!

Just a boy and his dog!

He wanted everyone to see how long this 'hot dog' really is!!