A funny to share

Although it's not really "funny", it is.

Kylah playin' a little BBall

Makena and I were finally able to make it to one of Kylah's basketball games this year. Kylah's team was playing against a team that had several of her friends on it, so she was a bit nervous about the game. But, she did great!

She played two periods and even shot the ball a couple of times.


It's been a while since I've watched 2nd Graders play. They are quite amusing. They don't get called on many of the rules yet, and many of them already have great characteristics, so it makes for a fun-filled hour. Like when the kids are fighting over the ball, on the floor, with their own team mate.


Or basically just running with the ball in their hands.


(I wish I knew what this boy was saying to her.)

Because Jamie was out of town, I was trying to get some pictures of Kylah on my phone to text to him. But when I realized that she was dribbling down towards the basket, I reached back for my camera as fast as I could. I, of course, wasn't fast enough. (I totally failed as a photographer and Auntie here!) So I got a picture of the perfectly paused basketball just before in went in for a clean *swoosh*, and only the top of Kylah's head.

This was her first basket. I was so proud of her!

New Years!

I have no idea why this wasn't posted before... Technology has not been my friend lately.

We decided to have some people over to help us 'ring in the New Year'. It was a last minute gathering, but a full house none the less. (It was basically arranged without me. While I was sleeping on the couch with a 101+ fever and ear aches, Jamie was out to dinner with friends... Luckily I had enough meds & margaritas in my system to enjoy the night!)

As always, there was lots of food to eat. My kitchen got smaller and smaller.

Not long after everyone arrived, Jamie and Chad busted out The Big G Moonshine that they each received from my parents at Christmas. Then things started to get a little crazy and loud.

Martin was trying to convince himself to drink Moonshine here.

Then there was some talking and more eating.

Then Round #2 of Moonshine. By this point, Chad was making a speech and Martin was toasting each glass.

The younger kids controlled the living room until the teenagers arrived. Then my living room got smaller and smaller.

So Madie and Emma moved into the other room to color.

While a game of poker got started. I think the game finally ended around 3am.

Then Round #3 of the Moonshine. All kinds of things were going on by this point. Things that may not be appropriate for my blog even. And stories...always good stories from Martin!!

Just before midnight, I filled the glasses with champagne and sparkling cider, called a stop to the poker game and gathered everyone together. My house was getting smaller and smaller.

Then the teenagers did some dancing while I snuck photos.

And they all received their first New Year's kiss. Crazy kids.

I had to sneak off to bed around 1:30am. I needed to take more meds and couldn't take the ear aches anymore. I'd had a lot of fun though and was grateful to be surrounded by family and friends.

While Jamie and I spend the next year hopefully purchasing and remodeling a new, bigger home, maybe we'll also plan our New Year 2012 party. More on that later then...

Good Things

I think I've posted about The Breast Cancer Site before. Several years ago, on their website, they set up a 'Click to Give' option. Each day you can visit their site and Click to Give - a button you click on generates money for charity, paid for by the site sponsors.

Originally, there was The Breast Cancer Site, The Hunger Site, The Animal Rescue Site, The Child Health Site and the Literacy Site. In the past few of years, the Veterans Site, The Autism Site and the Rainforest Site have also been added. I receive a daily email reminder to Click to Give, and in less than a minute, I can click on each of these charities and help. It's that easy.

In 2011 Click to Give helped fund:

57 million cups of food for the hungry!
5,4652 mammograms!
80 millions bowls of pet food!
260,789 meals for veterans!
2,771 hours of therapy and research for autism!
752,067 children survive and thrive with health care!
406,051 books for children!
12,352 acres of Rainforest land protected!

You can also purchase items from each site to help support these charities as well. (I like to do this too, just not daily!)

Christmas at Home

We decided to celebrate our Christmas on Christmas Eve morning this year. I've never done this in the past, but because Makena was going to be gone for the next week, we thought it would work out best. We also intended to help out at the Senior Center early Christmas morning.

Makena, as usual was spoiled with gifts. That's why we have kids right?

The puppies got gifts too.

This was Maddie's first Christmas, so she wasn't sure what the heck we were doing.

Santa brought Makena a new iPod.

The girls and I got Jamie a bunch of new tools for the house. Every time he goes to look for something, we remember that it's up at the lake.

I found a binder that had been made out of a Queen record for Makena to write and keep her guitar music in.


Yep, that's the kind of house we are.

After we opened gifts, Jamie made breakfast. Then we layed around for a bit before my sister and Chad came over for food and football. Great day!