My Bunco Group Christmas Party...

I have been playing in a constantly evolving Bunco group for the last eight years. I host every December and we have done a bunch of different things at it. We did an ornament exchange a few years and those were fun but getting 12 new ornaments every year is a bit much so last year we started a new tradition. So here are the pictures from the 2nd Annual Bunco Ugly Sweater/Sweater Vest & Turtle Neck/ Holiday Accessory Party.

 I made these two for the prize pool. My Dad cut the wood for me, and I used my Silhouette to do the vinyl.  I actually made one more that says SNOW, but I had to keep it, it was too cute!

 Here were the rest of the gifts.

 All out on display. You can see Berk pointing to the super soft blanket. He was very happy that I actually ended up with it.  He has since taken ownership of it and I will never see it again...

 Here are our two subs. My sis Chelli ( who plays with us a lot, like a perma-sub) and Jess, who used to be in the group and we love when she gets to come sub. They both came early to help me with the kids.

 Jess got Boston to sleep, and he stayed asleep for hours. I told her she had to come over every night.

 All the girls playing. We usually throw a stuffed pig and yell "Travelers" for one part of the game, but we threw a little Santa and had to yell "Santa", it was pretty funny.

 Kim brought her baby Klohe to bunco. She's pretty cute. Kim and I actually had our babies on the same day (she delivered HOURS before me, lucky) but we labored across the hall from each other and were texting all night and day.  It's a fun memory.

 Rhonda's sweater was definitely in the top of the contenders, her turtleneck and antlers put it over the top.

 Me and Jess and my homemade ugly Tshirt.  It was fun to make, and I will be archiving it for future Christmas parties.

 Dano, Jenn and Scarlett were looking pretty fine that night. Wowza.

 The Rasmussen sisters in their holiday finest. Man, we rock. For the record my turtle neck has scotty dogs and Rhonda's had poinsettias.  Mine was was uglier.

 Our 2011 Bunco group (minus Sherry and Parie).  Sara (between me and Rho) was the winner. Everytime I looked at her sweater I giggled.  Minnie Mouse, blinking lights in the sleeves and jingle bells on the band.  It was truly amazing.   I even made ornaments for the winner of this year and last.  Love you ladies!

(Back) Scarlett, Jenn, Danielle, Addi (last year's winner), Jill, Chelli

(front) Rhonda, Sara, me and Kim

Soccer Star...

Oh what a difference a few seasons make.  Berkley is loving soccer this year.  I was a mean mom and told Rusty he couldn't coach because I knew I would have a hard time with Boston being so little.  He is on the Tigers this year with two of his best friends Max & Jack, and they have a few players from last season too. It's so fun.  Here are some pictures from the first few games.

He loves to throw the ball in.

 He has learned to get aggressive going after the ball. He can dribble amazingly!

Buddies Max and Berk rip it up when they play together!

The Sharks-- errr I mean Tigers, most of these kids played before together and their Mom's (me) have a hard time remembering which team this is.

 He loves playing goalie and is getting so good at it! I think he just likes to be able to touch the ball with his cool goalie gloved hands.

We think we will put him in club next year and see what happens when he actually gets to play real, organized soccer.

12K's of Christmas...

Rusty has developed a LOVE for running. The race season is just beginning here in AZ, so stay turned for plenty 'o running posts in the coming months.

His last one of 2011 was a local one called the 12K's of Christmas.  I like this run because it goes right by my in laws home so we can cheer him on and because they give everyone santa hats to run in.  But people don't just wear the hats, oh no. They wear tree costumes, dress as elves, ornaments, and the dogs are dressed up too (it benefits some dog organization so a lot of people run with pets). It is the best people watching race. And for the runners there are carolers along the route. Fun huh? The kid in the full blown Santa suit was in the top 10 or 15 runners. Dedication I tell ya. That thing had to be hot.

 I mean look at the grandpa in the green tulle skirt and tights! Hilarious.  There really isn't a lot of places for people to watch this race, it runs along a canal, so people thought the boys were so sweet for being out there.  They gave and got so many high-fives. The runners would go out of their way to come to the boys at the fence. Nearly all said "Thanks for coming out!" The boys thought it was so cool.

 But they were really out there watching for this tall skinny guy we call Dad. So when we saw him we were excited.  We waited for him to make the loop that came back by us before we left. We saw some other friends (Betheas) and Rusty's aunt Alison running too!

Rusty had his best time ever. And I really was quite shocked how close to the front of the pack of what I call 'real runners' he was.  Way to go Rusty!

Boston's Newborn Pictures...

Once again my friend Ashby (who took my maternity pictures) delivered some amazing newborn pictures of Boss. We had to try on two different days because he just didn't want to go to sleep! He did pretty good the second go round and I LOVE them! Now I am a little mad at myself for not doing these with the other boys!  I couldn't pick just a few, so here they are!  Thanks Ashby!

 We couldn't get him to leave the paci out for very long, dang it!

 He has the skinniest feet of any of my kids!

 I don't know what it is but this one above is my favorite,

She was great, brought so many props and background changes, if only little mister had been up for it.  But I love what we got, and that it shows off my favorite room accessory, the blue rag rug. He looks so big now in my arms and this was less than a month ago!

Beck Family Pictures...

I don't think I ever blogged this because I was waiting for the Christmas cards to come out first. But here are our family pictures from this year.  We used the same photographer that took my favorite family pictures last year, Amanda Crookston. Boston was just 2 weeks old when we did these, so I was elated that they turned out so good!

 The gang

 The older grandkids...

 My Boys

Poor Berkley was running a fever by the time we were done with pictures, so that's why his face is a little glum. But we did get a kick out his seeing his facial expressions, so I had to make a collage of them for your enjoyment...

Trust me, there were plenty more like this. Funny and sad at the same time!

New "B" Shirts...

Was this really just two years ago??

Sure do love this silly guys.

Halloween Week...

Halloween week started the usual way, with the Mortensen Family Halloween party. There is always a huge number of family there and it is a great time for the kids to get to know 2nd, 3rd and 4th cousins. This was the only night Braden wore his 'entire' costume, it was just too hot for it on the other days. He was Shawn White this year.

This was also Boston's big first time out, I was a little nervous, but he was a good baby and slept for most of the party. Brenner shed the top half of his monkey suit and was content to skip the games and drink his root beer. Berkley's Dash costume didn't make it intact the whole night either. He took off the mask and gloves because they were hot.  Only in AZ. Jill made Jaci's Strawberry Shortcake costume, and Maryn and Nana Solomon sewed her Greek Goddess outfit.  So cute. 

We had our ward Trunk or Treat on Saturday night, and I only got few pictures, mainly of Brenner because the older boys had taken off and were playing! (Lower Left pict is from that night). Halloween day both big boys got to wear their costumes to school/ preschool for Halloween parties. After school we went to my Mom and Dad's ward party. It is a HUGE event. They block off an entire street and hundreds of people come. The boys were loving the snow cones, popcorn, homemade root beer, and cotton candy. I love that I get to see a lot of my friends who come back to their parents ward party like I do. So fun.

 Then it was straight home and time for trick or treating. Boss was a good sport to wear the teddy bear costume for the few minutes I took pictures. The rest of the night he helped us hand out candy.  The last few years my parents come and hand out candy here since their neighborhood doesn't get a lot of t-o-t'ers. Rusty took Brenner to a handful of houses and the big boys did the neighborhood with our friends and neighbors the Smiths. It was a good night, and by 8 we were able to turn our light out. The kids came steady from 6 on.

 Nothing gets bigger smiles than CANDY!

Thankfully the Great Pumpkin came just two morning later and took a HUGE bag of candy. In return he left the Cars2 movie, the boys were thrilled, so was I!

I couldn't do this post without including one of Rusty. He dresses up every year for work. This year his team coordinated. His boss Aaron was an iPhone 5, his co worker Erin was a maintenance worker, and Rusty was a cell phone tower.  It was so fun to put it together.  He made the 'hat' and I made the shirt. (I love my Silhouette machine, by the way). I need to take a picture of the back, it is funny. Way to be a good sport Rusty!