Braces off!

Brittany got her braces off this morning.  After four years of braces, look at that pretty smile!  She got her first set of braces on five years ago and had them for two years.  She had a one year break while waiting for permanent teeth and then got them back on for another two years.

Family Fun

Michael and the kids making Sunday dinner.

Silly, wonderful kids and friends

Tyler's turn with Curious George from his classroom

Happy Birthday, Nanny

Nanny and Papa came over last night for Sunday dinner and to celebrate Nanny's  birthday.  We always love to grandparents come!  Happy birthday, Nanny.

Happy Birthday, daddy!

Tyler got daddy a flag football game.  As a family, we love to play either soccer  or wiffle ball most summer nights.  Now we can  add flag football to our evening game list.

The final Pirates movie from Emily and Brittany.  I got him a brand new 40" flat screen  TV .

Happy Birthday, honey.  We all love you so much!

Jr Jazz Basketball

Tyler had a lot of fun playing junior jazz this year.  He had a great team and they did well!  Tyler usually was put in as point guard because of his great dribbling.  As you can see from the pictures he was always paying attention, ready, and a fast runner.

Mid season the kids were invited to a local junior high to meet a Jazz player.  Gordon Hayward was the Jazz player. He did some fun activities with the kids and gave them all an autographed picture.

Emily's first date and school dance

Preference

Traditionally the drill team goes to Preference together.  They planned a fun day date to go tubing at Soldier Hollow, but with the bad weather it was closed that day.  Instead they went to Jack and Jill's to bowl, play laser tag, and play video games.  Before the dance they went to dinner at La Jolla Groves.

Amber fixing Emily's hair

Marco Pesci and Emily

Michelle, Brynn, Emily, Hanna, Lark, Ellis, Clancy, Jaylee, Janessa,
Jessica, Sydney, Makayla, Emily M, Alyssa, Brooke,  Holly, Chelsea 

Happy 9th birthday, Tyler

Tyler developed a high fever and sore throat the day before his birthday.  He was going to have his birthday party Friday night, on his birthday.  Matt and Jack were going to spend the night.  He was disappointed that we had to change it to Monday and that meant no cousins spending the night.  Once he finally decided to give Motrin a try the afternoon of his birthday, he felt so much better that he could actually enjoy his birthday.

Emily and Brittany decorated his room!

Opening family presents

A Lego game from Nana, a new cub-scout book (he is now a Bear),
 a soccer ball from Emily and Brittany, a Ripstik from mom
 and dad, and a Wal-mart gift card from Amber 

♫  Happy Birthday to you  ♫

Tyler's sisters love to kiss him, but he doesn't like it!

Monday finally came, Tyler was well again and had a fun birthday party.  He had a Lego themed party.  We played Reverse Charades, a pass and build Lego game, a pass the present game where everyone ended up with a Lego guy that we used to play our final game: a homemade version of the Lego game, Pirate plank.  Tyler then opened presents, and then we went upstairs for a hot dog dinner and cake and ice cream! 

The boys are putting together their Lego guys

♫  Happy Birthday to you  ♫

Christmas 2011

Christmas Eve

We had an extra special Christmas this year.  We had the whole family home and Nanny and Papa Jones came and spent the night with us!  We especially enjoyed curling up at Nanny's feet near the fire to listen to her read to us.

Nanny read us two Christmas books on Christmas Eve.

Christmas Morning

Look what Santa brought!

A soccer ball bean bag for Tyler, a beach cruiser for Brittany!

Opening stockings

Tyler, giving Amber a gift.  He wrapped all of his presents this year completely by himself!

We went to Papa and Grandma Nancy's for Christmas dinner

Our family and the Kester's gave papa a huge box of candy!

My adorable niece, Lila Tayte Kester

Andrew, Ben, Rebecca, Ryan, Connie

Enjoying the comfort of Grandma Nancy and Papa's home!

Joseph

Gingerbread houses

For Family Home Evening, the Monday before Christmas, we decided to create gingerbread houses. It turned into a fun Harry Potter theme when Amber, Emily, and Brittany decided to create Hogwarts!

Creating Hogwarts

Tyler and mom created the Hogwarts express.

Mike created the Burrow, the Weasley home

Jordan and Ashlee created Hagrid's hut.

Amber, Emily and Brittany created Hogwarts!

The back view of Hogwarts with the Whomping Willow

We had so much fun that this will become an annual tradition!

Jones family Christmas party

We met at Thanksgiving Point for a wagon ride through Electric Park!

Melissa, Amber, Tyler, Jack, Matt

Chris, Emily, Katie

Lauryn, Emma, Sydney, Brittany

Nanny, Papa, Lauryn, Emma

Ashlee, Anna, Abbey

After the wagon ride, we went to Nanny and Papa home for our traditional Christmas sleepover.

Jayne, Kerstin, and Matt performing a funny version of "Hark How the Bells" for the family talent show.

The Nativity

Emily and Katie surprise us every year with which animal they dress up as for the nativity. It's always fun to see their creativeness!

A fun night of games before going to sleep!

The kids are excited for the cousin gift exchange!

Brittany had Emma's name for the gift exchange and she made her some of her "signature" pajama pants!

Papa and Amber at breakfast