Visit to Grandma D's

About a month ago we drove out to San Diego and visited my mom and my brother.  Its always nice to visit San Diego.  

My brother built a fence up a Cabrillo National Monument when he was earning his Eagle Scout.  We also took some classic family pictures up there - so we thought we would revisit and try to recreate some of the pics.  

I really don't think we got close, but to those of you who remember the photos.  You can be the judge.

Aunt Laura was with us!  

Then we went down to the tide pools to check out the sea life.....can't say there was much.  We did see a seal swimming at a distance.  But that is about it.

Of course - there was Rock Throwing.....of course.

After that we went up to the cemetery - where Grandma and Grandpa Downey were interred.  It took only a little effort to find the stone.  Here is Dane Courtney looking at his namesake.

Isn't it beautiful!  Love this place.

One of the highlights was riding on the trolley downtown.

We all still call the stadium Jack Murphy....can't help it.

While the kids had fun, I am sure the passengers weren't that excited to have excited kids aboard.  Oh well.

Of course we visited the Mormon Battalion - can anyone imagine the boys really carrying guns?  One of them almost did something dangerous with the bayonet.  I can't remember who though.

We had such a good time visiting with our family and cousins.  Love to make those trips!

Twins Playing Soccer

Just wanted to share some pics of the boys first soccer game.

They love it and I am glad they have somewhere "official" to run, push, fall, kick and mess around.  Coach does a good job keeping them in line and focused though.

They are fun to watch.  Two stories I can share:

1) The first game someone from the other team pushed Dane down.   Ben turned around and ran after the kid.  His hand was outstretched like he was Darth Vader using the force.  Luckily - no bodily harm came to the other kid.  Ben just let him know that wasn't okay.  I wasn't there, but I heard from the other parents that it was hilarious.

2)  The second game of the season the coach couldn't be there. So I coached practice and then the game.  Needless to say - I was so tired of hearing Ben say:  Mommy, mommy, Mommy - I told him he was only allowed to call me coach.  So for the whole game he called me coach.  Once - coach mom.  I nearly laughed every time he said it.

Kai's 8th Birthday

Happy Birthday Kai!

I just wanted to post a few pictures from Kai's 8th Birthday.

She chose the Theme:  The Boxcar Children....and at first I thought that it might be impossible.  Luckily, Kai was not short of any ideas.  So we went with it.

After much messing around with photoshop - this is the invite we came up with:

For the goody bags I printed the photo on a label and stuck it on some paper.

The good thing about the boxcar children is that they were all about cheap and easy.

Included in their goody bags were a bandana with their name on it and a little led booklight with a clasp.  They really loved these.

I found some great wrapping paper at the dollar store and made some banners.

I tried to decorate the table with little flowers - just like Jessie would.

Brett "built" me a Boxcar Theater down in the basement where the girls could come and watch a movie.

Kai decorated it with our quilts and couch cushions.

As the girls came in they started working on a craft so that we could get ready for the Scavenger Hunt.

They made Glass Lanterns - with tea lights.

They really loved this! 

We did our craft, had an easy dinner of Spaghetti and salad.  Then was the Scavenger Hunt.  I wish I had some pictures of this.  If it weren't for a friend helping - it would not have been so fun.  We hid Kai's presents and divided the girls up into groups.  Each group had to find their own presents that they brought by rhyming couplets for clues.  Some found them easy - some took some time.  The last clue was the same for everyone.  That's where they found their goody bags.  Very fun!

Then we had cake!  This year I made my own marshmallow fondant.  First time - and it wasn't so bad!  You can't see the cake, but Ben and Kai both liked it....I will probably do this again.

Anyway, it was a lot of work....as I look at the pictures, I think - where did all that time go?  It doesn't look very fancy.  But it was a lot of fun!
Happy Birthday Big Sweetus.

Here was Kai on her real birthday

Actual Bday!

Sorry - I forgot to include these photos of Kai's real birthday.  At our house you get to choose each meal (an idea I stole from a good friend).  She chose breakfast pancakes, Boxed Mac & Cheese for lunch (gag!) and of course for dinner - Chicken Pot pie.  

Breakfast Candles - a tradition at our house.

"I'm 8 sign from Kai"

Before church with Grandma Pam

From Snow to Sun......

Okay - I know it has been forever, but finally I thought I would post a few things.

We are all still here - living the dream as always.  I don't even know what to say.  The boys are in preschool and Lainey will be next fall.  Our "littles" are getting big.

Lately, we have been praying and fasting for moisture.....we got it!  The kids had a snow delay a week or so ago.  We played for hours in the morning before school.  I have never seen them do their chores so fast.

Cody

Kai and Lainey  

Ben

Dane trying to Snowboard out back.

Then as suddenly as we had snow it is sunny and melted.  It is supposed to be 60 here today and nicer tomorrow.

Watching a show for a quick sec.

Ben Swinging from the Weeping Willow Branches out back.

Life is good.  Its good to be back.  I will try to be better.

Happy Thanksgiving! 

(I figured I should get this post up before Christmas comes.)

This Thanksgiving was a special one for us.

Here's Kai in her Pilgrim Play at school.

My parents and my sister were all able to come out and celebrate with us.

But the best part of the whole Thanksgiving Break is that while the kids were lying around reading and watching movies.......

Brett & I got to get away for 5 whole days!  

Thanks to my parents, we were able to plan and take a trip to Breckenridge for Brett's 40th Birthday.

(I really hope it didn't take years off of my parents' lives because it was a giant task.)

It was SO fun.  We highly recommend it.

Mostly we went hiking, running, sat in the hot tub, went Christmas shopping & did not cook.

There are not a lot of pics to show, but we were too busy to take any really.

When we got home, had Thanksgiving dinner and said goodbye to my parents life came back at us at full throttle.  It is amazing how out of tune you can get in 5 days.  

Then we got some family pictures taken.  My sister told me that it reminded her of our family pictures when we had matching sweaters. (that was the most "made fun of family picture" in Downey history)

  I tried my best....I guess I shouldn't try to coordinate outfits.  It would probably be better.

It doesn't look cold, but it was FREEZING. 

Lainey would not smile or even sit for anything.  So we are a four kid family for most of these pictures.

Cody and Benjo

Ben and Kai

the Girls

 Note - Lainey has a sucker in her mouth, but still crying.  I feel bad, it was so cold.

Kai's own interpretation of a "good pose"

We will probably send out the pictures of the fam in our Christmas Cards when we get them.

After Thanksgiving it was REALLY cold.  Snow and 20 degrees for a week.

But at least this time, we had equipment for it.

Apparently Lainey got over feeling cold once snow was on the ground.

I know the twins love it.  They sled and "snowboard" out back in the green space for at least an hour everyday.  

That's our story in a few pictures.  We are looking forward to Christmas this year.  We get to spend it in Utah with Aunt Laura!  The kids are excited and hopefully we will get to ski! 

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas.