Traditions New and Old

What a great Christmas. So many fun firsts for us. My son was in his real first School play. He made me nervous because you can always tell when Silver is nervous because his eyes water. So every time they would sing or after saying a part he would wipe his eyes. It looks like he is crying but its his way in getting rid of the nerves.
Gingerbread houses was something I always wanted to do but it always seem to slip from me. I actually thought it was hard. Teave loved it because there was all this candy right in front of him. But it was torture for him and at seperate times he was on the other side of the table trying to grab the candy. Little Silvers actually looked better than mine and Mias. He did his himself and I helped Mia. Seriously I should have just had my son help her. But that has now created a tradition for us. Next years will be perfect, I heard a glue gun is better.

A tradition that we have done since Silver was born is going to get pictures with Santa and displaying them every year. I put out my five favorite every year. Their is an empty frame in the picture below waiting to be filled with the new one.

Christmas Eve has been spent at my parents house where she makes a big spread, we read the Navitity and put the kids to bed early. This year mom made food from my ancestors receipes. So many different dishes, one consisted of open face sandwhiches which the goal was to pile it as high as you can. Mom really out did herself this year. She is thinking pizza sounds easy next year.

It wasnt a normal Christmas Eve though. My husband had to work from 9pm to 2pm then 5pm to 9pm. So we spent the night at my parents and then went back over to our house when Siliva got home in the afternoon. We didnt want the kids to be tempted and we DIDNT want to do Christmas without him. It was hard to have him leave right after I felt he got home. ALL the same it was amazing. The Christmas spirit is always there no matter what. I was so Thankful for a healthy, happy family. Teave gave us such a scare by going through a rare blood disorder the day before Christmas Eve. He kept bruising real BAD and his Dr. wanted to draw his blood right away. The Dr. called it Autoimmune Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia purpura. In other words his platelets were being killed by his immune system. Scared us completely. The steroids helped greatly and so far so good. Sooo when I say I was thankful for a healthy family I truely meant it. Nothing else mattered.

We finally made it to Soldier Hollow. We have been wanting to go for sometime and never did. So we were excited when we were invited by some friends to go. Loved the experience and will now use it as a tradition.
Loved December and all the Magic it brings. I am so excited now to see what the whole next year has in store for us.

This was his first plea for the sweets

he will just try and help himself

and again.......

and again......mind you these shots are all seperate, after I remove the candy from him or take him off the table.

Our frame is waiting to be filled

We just took them to go see Santa. Mia wanted a picture by the horse and I am so glad she did because this has been my favorite pix so far.

Tis the Night before Christmas..........and all the stockings were hung by the chimney with care.

Christmas Eve day we went and saw Alvin and the Chipmunks 2 and lunch after. Always fun with the Terry Family.

Ever since they made their houses they have wanted to eat them. So I told them Christmas Eve they could. Ewww. But they could hardly wait to dig in. Oh well. They enjoyed fully. I am sure their Dentist will too.

Our Christmas Eve spread

Christmas Day Magic

Every year I get so excited for them to see that one thing that they hoped for actually happen. Priceless always!

Soldier Hollow

So much to be Thankful For!

Its hard to catch up, there is always alot more writing to do. But totally worth it since it is my familys Journal.
When we started our tradition of getting together for Thanksgiving, we started at my moms house in 2006. When I look back over the years since then, there is always a fun highlight to Thanksgiving. Our first year we had a Family Olympics in the back yard. Tami creatively came up with some very fun things. Oh my gosh, I laughed so hard. 2007 we met at Teriipaias house in St.George. I annouced a few weeks earlier that we were pregnant. The family was excited because they all wanted to know when #3 was coming. Tami got a babysitter for the 8 kids so we could all go out. Another tradition had started. In 2008 the Frayers hosted it in Vegas. Surprised us all by putting in a ground pool and hot tub. They surely shocked us and we all were so excited to swim in November. Jaimee found us a babysitter for all the kids. Once again to continue our tradition. We did dinner and bowling. I had no idea the skills my mom still had. She was the winner of the night. Our husbands and father were all very humbled that a 62 year old woman beat them. GIRL POWER!!!! We also had Christmas in November. We exchanged gifts since we dont see each other for Christmas. I thought it was so fun to see the kids faces.

Thanksgiving 2009 was at my house. Once again another pregant sister right before Thanksgiving. Yea #4 is coming to the Teriipaias home. We also had a new visitor come with the Teriipaias....Zeus, an American Bulldog. He looks alot more intimidating than he really is. Loveable is more a word to describe him. We were able to get a few very candid shots of Zeus trying to join in on the fun. I felt bad though we had to keep him outside most of the time. Mostly because of Teave. Between asthma and dog hair to Zeus' large stature and TK's little body. One brush of Zeus against TK and he goes flyin.

As the hosts this year we wanted to have a Big Game night. We put together a game where everyone had to stand up, perform a talent and then Pick box 1 or 2 for a prize. I was very impressed with everyone, and how creative they were. We also played Sedarahc, Charades played backwards. Once again laughed way too hard.

Friday Julie took pictures of Tamis family while we went to Ikea. Later that night is when I found a babsitter for all 9 kids. My sweet Melissa who I have known since she was 12 and now is in College took care of everyone. Dinner and the movie Blindside. I was choked up almost the whole movie. By far my favorite of the year.

We were able to finish the week up by going to Ogden to see my Grandpa, eating at an amazing Asian Buffet, visiting Temple Square and seeing my cousin Andy and his family. It was so good to see Andy because he has been out of the state with the Military, and only back for Thanksgiving. Sunday was the cherry on top because our ward asked Silver and I to speak and we included our whole family in the program by having them sing. Then went home and celebrated Julies Bday. She loves Thanksgiving extra more for that. Because she always has the family in town. It was a very joyful day!! The entire weekend was splendid. Tami and Kaleo are up for this next Thanksgiving in St. George. I already know what the highlight will be for that one. Tami will have just had their little one in July and my other sister Jaimee just announced they are due in Sept. Soooo we will have 2 little ones to all fight over. CANT wait already.

So of course the following are just some of the pictures through the years and current. I knew my family would enjoy them.

Thanksgiving 2006

We are ready to WIN this Family Olympics.


Mom and Dad with their legs tied together

Silver having to spell out his name while jumping and we are supposed to be playing leap frog but obviously I was laughing to hard to accomplish this.

Thanksgiving 2007

Thanksgiving 2008

Silver missed his Kindergarten Thanksgiving party, and was thrilled that he got to go to his cousin Tristins school for his party. Even more fun my sister teaches at the school as well and got to be in her class. She is such a great teacher, it was fun to be in her element.

Allana and Tami

Jaimee slaving Dad! One of my favorite silly pixs of my sisters

The kids made the cutest turkeys for our feasts center piece

The winner and the winning form!!!!!

I dont even remember the place we ate but that we all ordered salads that we thought would be great and it was just a giant bed of cabbage and a few veggies here and there. I think we thought we were eating straw. But Julie got a yummy sundae for her Bday. yummm

Thanksgiving 2009

my two sistas

Waiting......waiting......waiting....... Goooooo!!!!!

He so wanted what we ate when we were up there, so when we left he checked it out to see if anything was left.

After we ate we had a few bored kids. Yes that is my EMPTY linen closet. hhmmmmm guess where the linens are? Ohhh my cute niece and nephews....you notice my kids arent in there, they knew how much trouble they would be in. heheehhhe

My moms candy pilgrim hats were a hit!

Like father like son....see what too much turkey dinner does to you......

Family Game

Playing a Japanese song game

He was in pure bliss eating his candy pilgrim hat until it was gone....now he's mad!

I had to do this one...Stevie and Mia doing a dance to Mamma Mia. Stevies hair steals the show.

Here it cracked us up because he was going to start to breakdance.

Tristin was being a little shy and so silver decided to help him out by moving his arms to the song.

My sweet Allana wanted to tell jokes for her talent

The boys all got these foam swords, truely the favorite

A deut from the High School Musical.....yes Jason knew all the words. Rock it!

Jaimee loves her prizes, especially the new nightie :)

Heeheheh I had to get this calendar because it looks like her dog

IKEA...how come you can never get a normal picture with guys

Visiting Grandpa in his assisted living place.


This just goes to show that no matter how hard you try, you will never get a good picture of Everyone

Watching the BYU game

The Asian Buffet in Ogden. This plate made my Husband giddy. I could barely sit by it. The baby octopus alone scared me.

You cant beat finishing the night on Temple Square

Us sistas......we had so much fun


Dont kill me for this pix Tami. I just loved this pix of Kaleo and you just happened to be eating a big tasty fry.

My cousin Andy, his lovely wife Amber and family. We were so lucky to have seen him

Plyaing Sedarhc

I had no candles, so this is the best I came up with. Beautiful cake!

Julies Bday spankings.....nice Tami. Julie has the younger sister role can you tell?