12 Days of Christmas Count-down Callahan Style

On the 12th day of Christmas my true love gave to me 12 Family Parties...

ok maybe not 12 but we got to visit almost all of our family at some point. And let me tell you we may know how to do loud and crazy, but we sure know how to do fun! Niederhauser family party at Jared and Jessica's house on the 23rd.



 

 

 

11 Deer in pantyhose

 

10 kids a laying

At the Callahan Christmas party on the 19th we played some fun games including the "reindeer game" where teams try to blow up balloons, and fit them into pantyhose then stick them on your head as antlers. The first team to complete the task wins!

Loved getting a picture of all 10 kiddos watching a movie together.

 

9 dolls a dancing

 

8 snow angels

 

7 half eaten doughnuts

 

 

Before the Callahan party started Grandma Peggy helped the girls make tutus for their dolls. In fact a lot of the Christmas gifts for all the girls were centered around their dolls!

Brad, Maren and I made snow angels on Christmas Eve!

While playing the White Elephant game Maren won half a dozen doughnuts, one with a bite out of it ha ha She was so excited you'd think it was all she ever wanted.



 

6 sugar cookies

 

5.. biffs ...on...sleds!

 

4 crazy elves

 

 6- Making cookies to leave for Santa on Christmas eve is one of our favorite things to do!

5- Also going sledding in this case on Christmas eve instead of Christmas day!

4 - And my sweet zany elves!(Brad included!) make for a great Family Day

 

 

3 beanie boos!

 

 

The first thing that my kids saw peeking out of their stockings on Christmas morning were new beanie boos. Something that each of them wanted very much.

 

 

2 happy kids

 

 

And a Diamond Engagement Ring!

At the Niederhauser Christmas party Jaxon and Jerzee unknowingly helped their Dad (my brother Jared) propose to their mom Jessica! Since we have a tradition of playing Pictionary he had both kids drawing pictures for us to guess. Then as soon as someone guessed "proposal" he walked over to Jessica and got down on one knee! It was a great moment to be able to be a part of. Congratulations to them!

 

And a Very Merry Christmas to all

 

We've had a great month trying to fill 31 acts of service in the name of our Savior Jesus Christ and in the spirit of the season. It has been a great experience for our family and something we've decided we should dedicate more months than one to.

We felt the spirit as we watched and read stories of the birth of Christ on Christmas Eve. I'm so grateful for the gift He was to the world on that first Christmas Day.

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

So Thankful it's Scary!

Ok we'll start with the Scary part.

Here are my little munchkins for Halloween!  And then the rest of the Great grand kids too! We all celebrated at Papa and GG's house.

 

My friends and I opted for the Witches Night Out at Gardner Village this year. Fun for a change of pace. But as you can see not very many were able to go. We missed them.

 

 

 

Apparently I didn't do a very good job of documenting our Thanksgiving festivities. . . . I swear there are more pictures somewhere. .. Here Grandma with technical support Garrett puts on a show with the other grand "babies"

 

 

Aunt Morgan helped the kids to a craft before the feast and the adults played some games too.

 

I reflected on all that I have been blessed with. I think sometimes we take for granted things like this... like a Thanksgiving dinner, being with family and traditions that we love. They are not ours to automatically have. I can't even say that I "deserve" them. They are a blessing for which we should be grateful everyday.

Infirmities

Maren tore the skin off her toe (which I previously mentioned, don't run around outside without shoes).

 

Embrie had an increasingly alarming reaction to a flu shot. Probably because for the first time ever she decided to totally freak out while getting the shot. And when I say totally freak out that is probably an understatement. Anyway... the medicine had a hard time spreading through her body and we had to get some advice from the dr. office on how to deal with it.

 



Garrett spent a night in the ER ... for who knows what reason! He had a severe stomach pain for 3 hours at home until we were unsure what to do. Finally we took him in they treated him, but we never found out what was wrong. However, due to no sleep that night he got to stay home from school the next day.

 

 

I was in the midst of training for a half marathon that I really was looking forward to, and the beginning of Women's Stake Volleyball, which I also love ....

 

The 2nd volley ball game of the season found me with a torn calf muscle and for no good reason! I don't even have an amazing story to go with it. Why do I have to be getting old? Long story short I had to sell my spot in the race. I walked around on crutches for a week and limped with it wrapped for another 5 weeks after that. Then a total of 9 weeks later and several rehab exercises passed off  I have been able to get back to some regular activity. Guess it's time to make up for all those nights sitting around with ice cream... :)

 

 

While Brad also enjoys the aches and pains in his back from being in his late 30's he can claim to not have a major injury to speak of... lets keep it that way!



Cowboy!

Introducing the newest member of the BS ranch, Cowboy!

My kids are beyond thrilled especially little Embrie. They brushed him, rode, him and Embrie got some riding pointers from Grandpa Blaine.

So Far So Good

Garrett and Embrie participated in the Reflections program at school this year. The theme was "Let your Imagination Fly"

 

Embrie chose to do a 3d art of a unicorn covered in all different kinds of buttons, (this is imagination after all).

Garrett chose to do a drawing of a uniform and helmet for a Salt Lake City NFL team. He is dreaming big already! Maybe some day he'll be the coach, announcer or player?

 

 

 

Embrie loves, loves, loves to read.

 

 

All of the kids had a great time running in the school Fun Run to raise money for their school!

Back to School 2015/16 Pictures with a fun twist

Hitting the books!

Back to School this year is another bitter sweet.
Garrett going to 4th grade (What!?!?)

                         Embrie in 1st grade (..all day school???)   

                                                Maren last year of Preschool (no way!)

 

Garrett didn't want to pose for a 4th grade picture (you are NOT too old or too cool for that Mr.!) but at least even though he has decided that he doesn't want to be the center of any picture he totally fine with photo bombing So at least he is in there somewhere.

 

 

Embrie was super excited for school. Garrett couldn't sleep the night before.

 

And I can't believe it will be my last year with this little one home majority of the time. These next two will fly by so please don't let me forget to enjoy it!

 

 

Summer 2015 finale

I feel like we really took advantage of our summer this year maybe we decided not to take our 6 weeks for granted. With year round school you never know when you'll end up with 3 weeks instead.

Here are our final activities....

My brother Kalvin got a surprise birthday party from my sister in law Morgan.
He's such a goof ball! It did allow us to get a sibling picture.

 

We took the kids to Antelope Island (which none of us had been to except for Brad). It was actually really fun to see the "old sheep farm" I am a huge fan of old buildings and artifacts. I love the feel of history they leave behind. They loved playing in the sheering barn, my little sheep. We took a hike ( a pretty steep one since I am a go big or go home hiker) and checked out the buffalo.

 

 



And here are some random pictures that I took of the kids this summer that just make me smile!

 

Kids enjoying the IHC employee and family party :) yay for face painting!

 

Maren running around without shoes on and tearing the skin off her toe, ouch!

 

Another hike, one that started out with the whole family, but dad and the girls headed back early while Garrett and I kept exploring to find a hidden water fall.

 

 

$1 movie with our friends the Johnsons!

 getting caught in the rain

 

 

 My little entrepreneurs and their summer sucker stand (they made them!)

 

My kids just might be weirdos. Their  love of learning about wild animals inspired this "National Geographic" moment where they pretended to be predators catching and eating zebra....hmmm. Should I be concerned?

 

Chore day! Weeding the garden. Get to work kids!

 

Garrett's final day of school in July was field day (here with friend Keaton)! Maren and Embrie helped me keep the 3rd graders in line.

 

and finally... washing every bike, scooter, wiggle car etc. from the garage. We like to keep it clean around here. 

 

Happy Summer!