A Bad Choice

We had to have a visit with our neighbor after a little problem with Nic and his Buddy. It seem as they where passing this red truck they were over come with the need to be naughty. While anxiously trying to talk one another out of being naughty they found the temptation to be to strong. This was the result.

Nic went first making this line.

His Buddy, not to be out done, went with the first letter of his name.

I guess he has never heard the saying about writing your name on things you shouldn't write on, it's always better to write someone elses name. Thankfully the owner decided to go with the cheap $65.00 repair instead of the $400.00 one.

Pinewood Derby 2012

Matthew finishing up his car the night before the race.

Putting on the final details.

Tuffer's car all finished and the wheels lubed. I love the special paint job!

Matthew's car needed a little extra weight at weight in. The boys did such a nice job on their cars.

The Alexander boys did great again this year though not 1st place they still placed 3rd- Matthew and 5th-Tuffer. It always nice to give others a chance to be first. ;) I think everyone was happy for that, there sure was a loud roar from the crowd when Tuffer's car lost its first race. They're cars were still my favorite! And they get to the Distric Derby race on the 24th of March.

Just for the record Matthew's Car (with Sherman's help) beat Tuffer's Car (PopPop's help).
*UPDATE*
After some wheel adjustments to Tuffer's car they both went on to the District Derby where Tuffer WON! He gets to go on to the Regional Derby in a few weeks! NICE!

The Process Begins

After many days of planning the boys are finally ready to have there pinewood derby cars cut out.

Tuffer is getting help from Pop pop.

 

Sherman is helping Matthew with his first pinewood derby car.

Now they can start the sanding!

Saying Goodbye

Thirteen years ago we brought you home, a tiny wiggle little puppy, our practice baby. You waited eagerly as we brought home our first human baby. You became his instant comforter, caretaker, guardian and friend. Keeping him out of trouble when he started to climb the fence. Tattling when he was doing something wrong.

As our family grew you were there to watch over each of them as well.

I miss those days when you were small but you never really lost the eager to please puppy that you were. You worked your way into every heart you met, have been with us forever, you will be missed. Your place in OUR heart can not be filled.

We love you Jake!

New Year's Eve Sledding Day

Hooray for another Sledding day! And on New Years Eve no less. We invited a bunch of our friends to meet us up on the mountain for sledding, chili, hot chocolate and fun! We had planned on having a nice little set up with an awning, chairs, heaters, the works. That plan was literally blown away by the gusty wind. It was so strong we didn't have a hope of setting up. But other than the wind the day was bright and warm enough to be pleasant. Annalyn taking her first run of the day. When she got up from her sled she said,"oh momma that was cool! That was cool momma I liked that!" then up the mountain she ran to do it again.

Heather hiding in her coat, Sherman and Ben.

The snow was pretty hard which made it fast so the kids where having a blast. Morgan though a little nervous at first, in the green on the left, was going down more and more as the day went on.

Even the big kids. Here are Lynett and Heather coming back up to go again.

The boys where really good about helping Annalyn get back up the hill. Shermie is reaching down to get her here:

Tristan, Tuffer and Shermie get ready to go down together.

Annalyn taking a break on Ben's lap.

left to right: Morgan, Tristan, Matthew, Nic, Shermie and Tuffer on the hill.

Annalyn getting a little help form Lynett.

There she goes. It was funny to see the four year old boy who was too scared to go down even with his parents and yet here is my two year old daughter that is all by herself (with the boys ready at the bottom). I wanted to say,"yea, she did this last year too" but I didn't. That's my girl!

We spent the whole day going up an down the hill and it was a blast! The chilis were great and even though the hot chocolate may not have been exactly hot it was still good. Thanks to every one who came you made it a really great day!
Here some video fun. I will post more pictures when I get them form Lynett.

Have a Happy New Year!!!

Christmas Day

Christmas morning was a busy one. Since we planned on going to church at 9:00 we invited Grandpa and Grandma over at 6:30 to watch the kids open their presents. It is a little bit of a shock to be woken up with the sound, "Ho, Ho, Ho, Merry Christmas" when you are dead to the world! After getting no answer at the door Grandpa, Grandma and Stevie let themselves in through the garage. For some reason the kids didn't want to wake us up and had been sitting at the top of the stairs waiting. Of all the days to let us sleep in. It was a nice thought though.

They all raced down the stairs to find the new bikes(their old ones had been out grown and very heavily used) that Santa had left.

Annalyn was making herself right at home on hers

They mowed through the presents even though we tried to keep it organized.

Annalyn had a hard time leaving her bike.

Until she found she got clothes for Christmas too!

Santa brought a very special gift this year for Shermie.

After we did present at our house we got ready and went to church with Mande and Tim in there ward. Mande had a solo in the program which surprised Tim who she didn't tell. She did beautiful.
After a quick stop home and a return to PJ's we then went to Gramie and Pop Pops for more presents and a yummy breakfast.

Cutie little Girlies!

We open presents with Uncle Mike then after Gramies we went back to Grandma and Grandpa's for a nice Christmas dinner. It was a fun packed day and it was so nice to be with so much of our family (Though we really missed the ones that couldn't make it this year and they better come next!). It was good to see Spencer, Sarah, Ronda and Stevie (Annalyn's "STEVEN" she was stuck to him like glue and fell asleep on him to night in a row). I am glad they could be here. It made it that much better.

Merry Christmas!!

Foosball

Our neighbor Sister Sherman called me yesterday to see if we could use their old Foosball table. With the four boys we said Heck yea!

The boys have had so much on it fun already. I even saw the BIG boys in there on it early. It was a great addition to the Christmas Eve festivities. Definitely a hit!  
Thank you to the Shermans!

Putting Up the Tree

Setting up the tree usually goes pretty smoothly. Usually. This year as we wrestled to keep the tree up in it's stand it look like usually was not going to happen but then we got it to work.

So up went the star who's lights were all out so down came the star...

...but up went the rest of the lights, the ornaments and the garland. We were all but done putting on the last ornaments.

Dad was tired (thanks to the NyQuil) because he wasn't feeling well so he went to ahead to bed.

I came up stairs for a minute and then I heard a big crash and then the kids yelling that the tree had fallen over. SO MUCH, FOR USUALLY! I was Thankful that Grandma came over to help me clean up the glass and mess form the tree. We got it propped up against the wall and left it till we could get a better stand.

With the new stand secured the tree is finally finished and it only took a week. Matthew and Nic got a hold of my camera and decided to take their pictures with the finished tree.

If they had not we might not have had a finished picture because I was done with that tree. Looking at it now I think it turned out pretty good. Even still after Christmas I am watching the sales for a fake tree!