Christmas with Grandma and Grandpa

 

My mom is so cute.  She makes something for the kids every year.  Usually, she always makes pajamas, but this year she decided to break it up and do something different.  She made little tissue holders for all the girls

Dad thought it would be good to get the boys something different this year as well...all BYU shirts.  At least it wasn't the U.  My mom graduated from the U and dady from the Y.  So, this has led to a lifetime rivalry and revelry.  It's even rubbed off on me.  I graduated from the U, but I still can't stand their sports program and will alway be a fan of byu.  Why?  because of the papa noodle.  Oh, the influence of a father, whether for good or bad

Trouble

So, what is on the minds of these two conniving schemers?????

Sleeping time

So, I get kicked out of my own bed because of the new baby, Eli, and get moved into Ava's room.  Thinking this will only be temporary and maybe not so bad because she has a queen size bed, I agree to sleep with my little girl.  You know, our little queen gets a queen size bed.  This should be plenty of space for the two of us.  Little did I know, this wouldn't work out so well.  I first of all got shoved into a small corner of the bed.  And then, when I woke up from her right in my face, I shift over to the other side of the bed with plenty of room to spare.  Literally, within 2 seconds, as soon as I start to fall asleep again, her butt is right in front of my face.  That little pill was all over the bed giving me no space at all.  Hopefully, this doesn't last too long!  Who knows, maybe I'll have to move into Eli's crib next 

The brothers and I

A couple things I like to do with my brothers...boating at Jordanelle.  Don, me, Dad and Darin

Thanksgiving football..."Turkey Bowl"

Me, Don, Russ, Darin, Dale

4 Generations

We took this picture in 2000.  Grandma Ida Burt (Mom's mom), Mom, Me and Ethan.  When most of the siblings lived close by, we would get together one Saturday a month for a family get together.  I love ya mom and miss ya grandma

Ethan's church talk

Ethan had to give a talk today in church.  The funny thing is that he did not know he was going to have to until late yesterday.  That was when I asked him if he was ready for his talk, and then he looked at me with extreme panic.  "Are you serious, dad?"  I typically give anyone at least 2 weeks notice to speak in church, but I guess not my own son.  Steve Bunker, the other counselor, was in charge this month of extending sacrament assignments.  Well, I had forgotten he had asked me to talk to Ethan and ask him to speak.  I felt bad, but I told him he should be able to be ready to give a talk with no notice, so he did it.  He actually did a great job.  It was short and sweet.

St. George end of summer 2011

We like to go to grandma and grandpa Ralph's 2nd home down in St. George.  We love to hang out together at their pool.  Here's Ava with Reagan.  That's quite the figure, little girl

Ethan, you deserve to be beaten

Daddy and Brad

Little Reagan jumping in.  She was so independent.

Ava and Reagan playing on the rocks

Aahh, that sun feels soooo good!

Little Miss Princess

So, this is what happens when you let a 4 year old girl dress herself!

Purple tights, purple dress, black leotard, and red tights on the head.  Looking snazzy

50 miles

I did it.  I ran over 50 miles this week.  During the week, I did runs around the neighborhood and also over at the Legacy.  But, to finish the week off, I went up on a mountain trail in Provo Canyon.  I usually run with a group of guys in the neighborhood, but only 2 of us were able to go yesterday, me and Nate Younger.  Why would I be insane enough to run 50 miles in 1 week...preparation for the Provo

 Marathon next Saturday

 Up past Big Baldy looking down over Provo

So, how do you finish off the day after eclipsing the 50 mile goal?  2 bbq's.  That's right, 2.  1st, over at Nichole's parent's house and then over at my parent's house...good times with the family

and a cake to top it all off.  sweet!

Dennis The Pig

So, how did I get the nickname, "The Pig"?  Here it is.  I'm the one on the left with the face covered in chocolate and the tray smothered with chocolate crumbs.  Apparently, I obliterated my cake into nothing but crumbs.  Don't you just love the ol' 70's kitchen decor; classic!

I ate my cake and now I'm diving into Don's, and making short work of it, too.  Hence, I am "the pig" and Don became known as "the wimp."  It still sticks to this day.  All my siblings still call Don and I by that name.

After the cake eating contest, we're banned from the kitchen.

Daddy and Baby

I guess we were both tired.  Eli sleeps all the time, and then awakes every 2 hours for eating and pooping

"I love being naked and getting changed,"  Eli's thinking

Halloween 2011



Nichole...herself? hmm. I guess she's just a "mom." Ethan's supposed to be a scarecrow. He just stayed home and passed out candy this year, which is what he's done like the last two years. Jake is a biker...without the leather jacket. Brad is the devil. That fits his personality perfectly. And little Miss Ava is the precious mermaid, Ariel. She looked so hilaious with her mermaid hair and that spunky smile. I have been an Eagles fan my whole life, ever since Ron Jaworski was the quarterback and Harold Carmichael the wide receiver. I was able to go around with Ava, Jake and Brad. We had a great time! 

Pumpkin Carving

Ava didn't get to carve a pumpkin this year.  You know, the whole knife thing and being only 4.  But, she still had fun even though she sure did cry to try and get her way.  Nice try little girl!

Brad always has to be different.  He had to carve a white pumpkin instead of an orange one.

 

This proud carver originally bought a green pumpkin, but when it came time to carve, it was the orange one that got the knife.

Ethan the Great White Hope

Ethan made the freshman basketball team this year. I was proud of him for, first of all, wanting to play, and then making the team and then being a starter. He did well, but the team pretty much struggled throughout the season. I felt bad because they went "defeated," not winning 1 game. It was a great learning experience, though.

What has been fun this year is that Ethan and I would go play basketball together over at the Legacy. We'll go practice together on shooting and a little 1 on 1 and other things. It's been a good bonding thing for us to go and do. Lately though, he hasn't wanted to go with me. I think it's probably the whole thing of being a teenager and not wanting to hang with the parents. I guess I'm just not cool anymore. But, it was fun while it lasted. Now, he just wants to go over and meet his friends. I'm okay with that. It's good for him. As long as he's not getting into trouble. Although, it was fun playing some pick up games with him and his friends. This old man still had game against those young kids. I just had to show them that white men really can jump. It seems like I always had to guard Ethan. He didn't like that because I never took it easy on him.

Brad

No longer my short haired boy.  Brad's with Nick, who's in the background

Brad getting ready to take off for school

Jake

Cute smile

Jake, for the longest time, has always worn 2 shirts.  He's so funny like that and his funny little quirk...so modest.  I don't think he gets that from his daddy.  Daddy hates wearing 2 shirts all the time

At Grandpa Merrill's house.  Jake also wears his shirts backwards.  Isn't he funny.  He doesn't like to show off any part of his chest.  He even wears a pool shirt when going swimming.  Again, he's not really like his daddy.

"soul surfer."  Jake loves these kinds of movies.  He loves mermaids and anything "pretty."  Oh wait, I guess he is like his daddy!

Ava

Here's "trouble"

Dancin' Ava

This little girl is just so precious and beautiful, not that I'm biased.  I just love her fun and sassy personality.  I think I know where she gets that from...Nichole!  The apple didn't fall too far from the tree with this one

, 

Ava loved her teacher, Miss Jenny.  They were best buddies.

Girl's Camp 2011

Last July, I was able to go to my first Girl's Camp, one of the perks of being in the bishopric and then also having a wife as the girl's camp director.  Girl's Camp is a 5 day and 4 night campout adventure for the young women.  So, I came up for about 2 days of that time to spend with the girls.  On one of those days, we went on a hike up the Timpanooke Trail and passed Scout Falls.  The waterfall was awesome, amazing and beautiful. 

The hike we went on was about a 6-mile trip up the trail. One inspiring story, during this hike, was of a young woman who was really struggling to make the hike up.  This young girl was in our group.  She was a little bit emotionally slow and overweight.  She was in tears after just the first mile and thinking it was impossible to continue on, pleading to return.  There were about 6 or 7 of us in our small group, and one of them was a sister leader.  This leader insisted that the rest of us continue on while she stayed back with the struggling girl.  We did as she asked us to do against our will.  We wanted to end together after starting together.  But, the leader persisted, and we went on.  After making it to the top of the trail where the rest of the girls from camp were, about 2 hours later this leader and young girl come walking up toward to an excited crowd of young women.  The girls let out a thunderous applause.  It was pretty touching to see how these youth grew to love each other and offer support.  We then had a great spiritual devotion overlooking the whole valley.  Beautiful!  

    

Jazz game

Brad and I went to the game last night against Portland.  Brad's so cute.  He had to get his pizza and soda

You know what's sad...I don't even know who plays for the Jazz anymore, because we got rid of our tv service. This means no sports...talk about withdrawals. We do have netflix, but that's it, and the kids control that. So, I've watched 3 Jazz games this year and they are the 3 I've gone to. We have season tickets through the company, but the company gives the tickets out as part of its marketing/pr strategy.

12 days old

Is Eli so dang cute, or what!  I just got home from work, and there he was with his eyes wide open