4th of July BBQ 2010

We got back from our Utah trip just in time to have our July 4th BBQ. Scott and Jen were passing through so they were able to be here too. Of course we also had Grandpa and Grandma, Eathan, Pop pop and Gramie, Sean and Kelli and family also. I love it when we have a big group for fireworks.
Thanks to my mom the meat was already cooked when we got back so all we really had to do was set out the camping chairs and set up the fireworks. We were going to have a slip-and-slide but just before it was time for everyone to come over we were having a major wind storm and a little rain. I was worried that we would all have to sit in the garage to watch the fireworks or not have them at all. The weather cleared up just in time. In the first picture above you can see the storm that had passed in the background.
The kids each got a turn to help with the fireworks. Poor Katee was sick and didn't feel up to it. She ended up going to the hospital the next day with appendicitis.
The show was not quite as big as last year but it was still a good one. The kids loved it!
Annalyn loved it too, she was so excited. She kept saying ,"OOOO and WOOOW". She sat by Pop pop and played peek-a-boo with the blanket. But we went passed her bedtime and her bedtime doesn't wait.

Fireworks and Fashion

We went to get the fireworks for our BBQ. The boys had a hard time picking out what they wanted.
They kept changing their minds. They would find one they liked and then would see one they liked better. This went on until we drew the line and made them stop looking.

Annalyn on the other hand knew exactly what she wanted. What is better the fireworks that come in a PURSE!She was Sold!

Trip to Utah

Gavin was baptized this weekend so we went to visit the Utah cousins. While we were there we had a BBQ birthday party for Gavin.
Left to right, Back to Front: Nic, Savannah, Tuffer, Sammie, Eathan Keller, Matthew, Shermie, Annalynn, Sydney, Katie Keller, Macie Christiansen, Beck Christiansen, David R, Gavin Keller, Jonas Christiansen

Jessie made his cake which turned out cute. I'm sure Gavin loved the Bakugan on it.
Later that night we went to the Sugar Hill Fireworks display. It was a really great show as you can tell by the looks on their faces, especially Sydney and Annalyn.

Yep, It was Awesome!

FIshing Derby 2010

Yet another fun year at the fishing derby! It never gets old. We always have fun but this year was awesome as soon as we put the lines in the water we were pulling them back in with fish in tow. It was hard to keep up with them, unhooking, re-baiting, casting, then pulling them back in. They were going crazy! We had fun trying to land them and had a lot that got away. Shermie was good at taking care of his own line. There was a three fish limit. He was the last to get all his fish but he also had a bunch get away.
It was a good thing we had Gramie, PopPop and Aunt Nana to help or we would not have been able to keep up with all the fish. Tuffer was the second to get his fish.
Matthew was third to get his three, but I think he caught and lost the most.
Nic was the first and he caught the Biggest fish. He was the fish runner for the rest of them and ran the fish to the weigh in station after his brothers and sister got their three.
Annalyn's first fishing derby and she ate it up. She was not afraid of the fish at all. She did not want to have help reeling them in (even though she needed it). She got every excited as she watched them come in. Another fisher is born. Annalyn was the fourth to get her fish.
Here is our bountiful catch. Annalyn was wiped out from all the fun.
What a fun time!

Gardening Made Easy...er

This year My friend Amy got me all excited about having a garden. While the thought of gardening usually brings back memories of being eight months pregnant with Tuffer and sitting in the sun all day picking green beans from Big Granddad's Massive Garden, when she showed me her raised gardens I thought, "Yea, I can do that!". So with the help of my mother-in-law we gathered the needed supplies, then on the weekend Sherman, Annalyn and the boys helped us put them together.

We made five boxes, 4-5foot boxes and 1-2foot box. One for each of the kids.
Annalyn was very about the whole thing I hated telling hers was the small one.


After we got the dirt them in and Sherman put in the sprinkler system, Nicholas decided they needed worms. So we bought worms to add to our garden boxes.

Boo looks like a little boy in this outfit. (It use to be Shermie's) They all enjoyed putting the worms in. We now have planted beet, peas, carrots, radishes, pumpkin, beans, tomatoes, peppers and strawberries. (the peppers had to be replanted do to a late frost:( )

Living at the Ball Park

Well, as Spring has slowly sprung we find ourselves most night and Saturday's at the Baseball field. With four boys and a sports loving husband, it is inevitable that they play ball. And so we bundle ourselves against the cold sprintery (spring/winter) weather and fest on the culinary delicacies served up at the concession stand.

This year is Nicholas' first year as he starts T-ball. His team is the Tennessee Titans. He has been fun to watch as far as t-ball goes. He has a lot of friends on the team and they ALWAYS win. ;)Matthew and Tuffer are on the same team. They are the Alabama Crimson Tide, the mascot is an Elephant. Someone explain that to me please.

So far they are Undefeated! They both have been doing really well. Tuffer has been hitting the ball like a mad man. Matthew has made some good plays.
Annalyn has really been getting a kick out of watching them play. She calls to them when they get up and loves cheering and clapping the boys on. She also has quite the following. Whenever she decides to go roaming around there is always a cluster of kids around her. She is so popular.
Shermie is on the CSU Rams and is doing so good. He hit a triple just the other night.I am so proud of all of them. I never thought I would say it but I am perfectly happy to live at the ball park as long as I can watch these boys play.

Easter Day

Happy Easter! We started out Saturday night with people getting sick and continued on through Sunday. So it was a lazy day yesterday.

The boys and Boo with their Easter stash.


Annalyn had a lot of help finding eggs, maybe a little to much. Her brothers would find them and bring them to her or take her to them.


For breakfast we enjoyed Stuffed French Toast that Shermie helped me make the night before. If you notice the sausage in the bottom there, we didn't finish eating it. My father-in-law brought it over. As we were eating it he asked if it tasted alright. "Not really", "Well I think it might have been bad." We all had a good laugh about it and luckily no one got sick. (or sicker I should say)


And Deviled Eggs. Yeah, I know kind of weird to have at breakfast but they are good and its eggs after all.


Stuffed French Toast

1/2 C butter
1 C. brown sugar
1/2 C maple syrup
1 C. chopped pecans
12 slices bread (egg, White, raisin or ??)
1/2 C butter softened
2 C canned fruit well drained (peaches, pineapple)
8 eggs beaten
3/4 C sugar
2 teaspoon cinnamon
2 C. heavy cream
2 teaspoon vanilla
1/2 C. butter melted
powdered sugar to sprinkle on tom
softer 1 stick butter

Drain fruit thoroughly and slice thin or use crushed pineapple well drained
Heat 1 stick butter, brown sugar and syrup in skillet or in microwave on high 2 1/2 min
Spray 9X13 pan with Pam Poor syrup mixture in pan sprinkle with pecans.
Spread one side of bread with butter top 6 slices with fruit, top with other slice of bread which is spread with butter (inside sandwich). Cut in 1/2 put in pan on top of pecans. Press down firmly fitting into pan. Do NOT overlap, squeeze in.
Beat eggs with sugar and cinnamon, add cream and vanilla blend well. Pour over bread and cover with plastic or tin foil. Refrigerate overnight
LET STAND OUT FOR 20 MIN before baking
Preheat oven to 350 rack in center of over. Remove cover melt 1 stick butter drizzle over top
Bake 45 min approx until top is brown. (I have noticed it takes longer)
LET COOL on wire rack at least 5min to allow syrup to absorb
Sprinkle with powdered sugar

Our Turn to Help

Each week there are families assigned to help clean the church. This week we had the opportunity. We woke up early on Saturday and headed to the church. I was a little apprehensive about trying to clean with all the kids but knew it was a good way to help them to do service. They were all excited and took it seriously. They did a great job and we all had a good time.


Even Annalyn got in on the fun. She thought it was great to wash the windows. I followed her along getting HER hand prints off after she cleaned. It was really cute.


What a wonderful way to spend the morning.

Playing at Grandma's

You never know what you can find to play with at Grandma's. She always has the best things a boy could want. Like a wooden sword and a trash can lid shield.
Annalyn likes the boat.
Nic found a pole that works as a sword and a horse.
Grandma's is great they even have a hole to dig to China in. We love Grandma's house.

Baseball is in the Air

The weather was so nice today we got the boys out to practice some baseball. This year all of the boys are playing. That means three different teams, three different practices, three different games. It should be fun trying to get everyone to the proper place and time.

Annalyn wants to play! This was the first time she got to play on the grass and spend time outside.
Running at the the end of practice.

Valentine's Day

It's a tradition we have to make heart shaped pancakes for Valentine's day. The boys love it and it's fun for me too.
The pancake also have sprinkles in them and color to make them pink.
Annalyn's first Valentine's Day!

Halloween '09

Batman and Gang

Rt to Lt: Two-Face(Matt), Robin and Cat Women, Joker(Tuffer)

Riddler(Pop pop), Penguin(Grandpa) and Poison Ivy (Annalyn)

Batman(Nicholas), Mr. Freeze(Shermie)

We had a lot of fun this year with the costumes and I'm glad that I finished them all in time (thanks to Grandma). The ward party this year was over flowing. Matthew won the scariest costume. They had a fun time trick-or-treating which they did inside because it was raining out. (the rain later that night turned to snow)

On the day of Halloween we went to a costume contest that the furniture store was holding. we registered as a family and the kids as individuals. Mande and Tim were there and entered Ava with Annalyn. They won first (Ava) and second (Annalyn) second prize was 2-gift certificates to my favorite kids clothing store, pizza party at Chuck E Cheese,and some other stuff. First prize was a photo session (think we have that one covered so I'm glad for second,hahaha). Matthew got second in his group and Shermie got third in his. I think when it came to the family group the judges figured we had gotten enough prizes and I have to agree. All the kids looked Awesome!

That evening before we were inundated with all of the valley's trick-or-treaters, Mande,Tim and the kids came over for dinner. Sean,Kelli and the girls stopped by to deliver a treat, homemade spud nuts. Yum. It was a great evening.

Fall In

Fallen leaves are always a blast. This is the first batch of the year. Annalyn's first fall. She tried to eat a leaf.
I think we racked them at least a dozen times but it wasn't getting old. The were trying to out do each others jump into the leaves.

The boys made themselves human rakes to get them to the street.

Can you spy all four boys?