Halloween 2011

So this year was honestly one of the best Halloween years by far I think! Not sure what came over me but felt like a kid again and had the BEST time being w/friends and family that night! We do pretty much the same thing each year but this year we added some neighbor/friends to the mix when we trick or treated and it turned out so awesome! We live on really steep hills so the only way to do it here and have a great time is pulling trailers behind our four wheeler - it truly makes it an adventure!

Also my best friend/sister-in-law came w/her 2 kids and stayed the night so that was a lot of fun too - even though we always stay up so late talking then have to wake up early to do a workout BUT it's the best moments w/her b/c we get to chat and talk w/absolutely NO kids interrupting us so it makes it ALL worth it :) Love it when she stays! Also I usually don't ever dress up and feel like a loser mom - but this year I decided to change my whole mind set about it and have fun w/it instead of feel so stressed out and try to enjoy the holiday! So I put on an old Bee costume from when Brooklynn was a toddler and had lots of fun w/it! I've realized as I'm getting older that no one makes your happiness we are in control of how happy we want to be or can be and although 'some' people in our lives can have an effect on it, it still is truly up to us to be happy and make each moment in our life a positive moment and try to look at whatever it is in a positive way! I had a blast and the kids were smiling from ear to ear w/the loot they got that night so I know they enjoyed themselves as well!

Grandpa Hirschi came over and Uncle Jeff too for dinner, our traditional Halloween night Chili in a Pumpkin w/scones! Grandpa came trick or treating w/us for a little while then they went home - We were w/some great friends and stayed out the latest I think we've ever stayed out - we do stay out a long time usually but this time took a little longer b/c we went up to the top of all the hills to the houses that were handing out FULL SIZE candy bars - it will definitely become a yearly tradition I think and hope all of you had just as great of a time as we did this Halloween and now onto being thankful this month and being grateful for what we all have :)

 Our scary corpse bride...

 Cutest Hershey kiss ever and the other awesome hero of a Spiderman!

 Out on the trailer w/the crew!

 Randi and her kiddo's!

 The scary faces of the Hirschi Family! (well from some of us anyway) ;)

 The duo superhero's, they both ended up wanting to be Spiderman this year! Spencer is on the left Gavin on the right..

 Is everyone ready??!! We had two trailers and four wheelers between us and made it work!

 Trick or Treat...

 My sweet little monkey!

Before the rest of the crew came aboard :)

Out with the old & in with the new!!!

But will always treasure the memories this last year has brought! We just got back from Washington for Christmas and are all missing the family already but finally getting settled back into everyday life. Here are pic's of the fun trip we had together w/lot's of fun adventures!

Waiting at the airport for our plane to board!

The first night we got in all the boys took the older kids to get our 'real' Christmas tree for the upstairs. Grandma loves getting to watch the grandkids decorate the real tree so we got a super deal since it was only 4 days before Christmas! They got a $60 tree for $8 bucks! There was a lot of snow in Yakima before we came but the day we came in it had warmed up and rained so most the snow was gone but the kids found a snow pile and immediately started throwing snow balls

For Family night dad & Brian put the lights on the tree, the grandkids put all the ornaments mom had from all the years of us kids growing up on the tree and us girls finished up decorating mom's house w/the rest of the decorations that hadn't gotten up yet! And of course we couldn't have a day w/out the daily wrestling match between all the kids! Spencer was in HEAVEN...He loves to wrestle and all the kids in our family love it too so he got to wrestle someone everyday while we were there...and most the time his wrestling partner was either his 4 yr old cousin Logan or his grandpa! Grandpa is usually always the instigator but the kids love it! What a first night to start out our holiday vacation - bring on the fun!

Here is the end result when the kids were all done!



The next day was big kid day w/Brian & Adam at the slopes! They went up to White Pass ski resort w/Brooklynn, Danny & Ezzy! This was Brooklynn's 2nd attempt at skiing & both Danny & Ezzy's first time ever along w/their daddy Adam! So basically Brian was the only one up there that really knew what he was doing but it all turned out great! The kids LOVED it, no injuries, and I think Adam even had a great time even though he was learning too! I have a feeling Brian will be making skiers & snowboarders out of our children b/c so far they LOVE it!

Wednesday was a fun night too but I didn't capture any pictures! I made the famous Applesauce bread for my dad so we could do our traditional caroling drop offs to his families he home teaches! It was fun to see the families we visited that I grew up around. And the singing was fun too! On the way to one of the houses we drove past a parade of BIG trucks (semi's, coke truck, etc.) all decked out in Christmas lights & decorated w/Christmas decor! They also played holiday music w/a loud speaker on there trucks as they drove by it was a really cool sight to see and I wish we could of taken pics but it was too dark and they were moving so they wouldn't of turned out anyway. There was about 5 of them all driving slowly like a parade it was a perfect ending to our caroling night!! And Brian actually sang too!! He's such a trooper...love that boy :)

Christmas Eve day Rachel put on a cookie decorating party w/yummy hot chocolate! She had some friends from high school come w/their kids and it was fun seeing them, what a blast from the past! Brooklynn was digging this activity she is very crafty! I was shocked that all Spencer wanted to do was play outside when there were cookies to be had! This was his reaction when I tried getting him to come in and decorate cookies (if you can see it w/those big sunglasses on, he kept those things on the whole time he was outside, he thought he was pretty dang cool) - so I let him play and he just enjoyed eating the cookies after they were decorated he is a true boy that's for sure!!!

Then for Christmas Eve night we had lot's of family over for a Christmas Program! It started out with the Christmas Story that my dad narrated while all the kids were in their costumes and played the parts in the story! Brooklynn was very lucky and got to be Mary and Spencer well let's just say he was a wandering Shepherd! He of course didn't stand around Joseph & Mary like he was suppose to but hey at least he kept his outfit on and he was good until he decided it was more fun to try and use the cane as a weapon ;) Very humorous night - let's just say all my family and extended family really got to see how full my hands are w/this boy! Then at the end cousin Victoria (the Angel) sang Silent Night to everyone and it was very beautiful she has a good voice! Then each of our families were in charge of doing a devotional which we read about how the song Silent Night came about. Then it ended w/some fun games! We all got presents & lot's of candy by the end of the night - Thanks mom & Leticia for putting on those cool games it was a lot of fun! Definitely many laughs and love going around that night at the Penning home!

Then there was Christmas Day! Kids all woke up early and started on the stockings! Then all the kids opened up their gifts from Santa, Grandma & Grandpa! Then once the kids were done and playing w/their new stuff us adults got to open ours! Started out a little hectic but ended very nicely and of course went by way too fast like always. Then onto making Dinner - very busy doing that so I didn't get many pictures that day. But the dinner was fabulous and delicious as always! My mom is the best at Turkey's it was so moist and yummy! Later I attempted some Oreo balls dipped in Chocolate (thanks to Colleen Widmer & sharing her recipe) and oh man they are so good, very rich but so worth it! Then no more cooking -- Turkey sandwiches and leftovers for the rest of the day and night! We relaxed & played games the rest of the day! And spent some time w/our good friends the Gagnier's and Fox's! It was a good day and the best part I think were the pies and games, games & more games! Oh ya and the Turkey sandwiches too.


Then on Saturday the last day w/the McCrackens before they left back to Vegas we had a sledding day! Had to drive a while to get to snow but they all had a blast so it was worth it. I of course can't sled so I didn't go and stayed back w/my mom & sisters. Rach had to pack for the trip home and that was a perfect opportunity since everyone was out of the house! So it was some nice quiet time at the house which didn't happen very often.

During the trip the kids had so much fun even just at the house! They watched Christmas shows, played together, played outside a little, the little one's rode bikes since there the little trikes that can be inside and whenever I couldn't find Spencer he was inevitably upstairs in my sister's apartment playing w/Logan & Haiden and their awesome boy toys! He loved it up there!!! Him and Logan really got along so well this time I think their both coming into a good age and play together so well, most of the time! It was really nice for both mama's!!

Then that evening (Sat night day after Christmas) we celebrated Logan's 4th Birthday! His Birthday is Dec 26th so Adam & Lindsey made an awesome Spiderman Birthday cake...They put a lot of time into it and it turned out amazing! Adam LOVES decorating cakes so Lindsey is always excited for his cakes every other Christmas when he's around to decorate it for her! And while we were doing it we sang to Brooklynn and gave her presents as well since we were all together and her Birthday is Jan 6 which is this next week! I can't believe I'll have a 9 yr old ~ Life sure flies by so fast! Thanks Logan for sharing your Birthday party w/Brooklynn what a fun party!

Then Sunday I got to go to the ward I grew up in and see my dad up on the stand conducting since he's the Bishop and this was his month to conduct! Saw many familiar faces and it was a good spiritual day! My lifelong friend Josie and I are only 4wks apart in our pregnancy's so we had to get a picture together before I left! She is due Feb 8th and having a girl so I had fun picking out a gift for her, I love buying girl gifts!! It's crazy how many of my friends/family are pregnant at the same time w/me and so close together too. It's an amazing experience and won't ever take it for granted.

We left Yakima on Tuesday afternoon and that was a very sad day for me. I miss them all so much already and especially all the game playing I got in too! And the chocolate pie, laughing so hard I cry, just being in the same room as my loved ones, making yummy meals together, baking yummy desserts together, the leftovers, laughing at the kids while wrestling w/grandpa or eachother, the togetherness of family all of it I miss so much and I don't know what I'd do w/out being able to have memories to hold onto cause that's what get's me through until the next time I'm w/all of them. Thanks family for being the best family ever and having such loving hearts, love you all! Hope everyone has a great New Year w/many loving memories to hold onto as well!

Midnight Madness 2009

Each year our ward has a Midnight Madness Enrichment Activity! I've not ever done it before but thought it would be fun to see what it's all about! So I signed up for a few crafts and gave it a go. Basically you pay a certain amount of money for each project for the materials and then you make them that day/night w/everyone. It was so much fun and I'll definitely be doing it every year that I can from now on! I guess before, when I was "younger" I just always thought of "Enrichment" for the "older people" and just never had the desire to be "older".... Well that proves that you really can't judge things without trying them out and seeing for yourself before you assume you won't like it! I guess maybe now that I'm "older" w/kids and a home to fill w/fun little crafts it's more appealing but I sure wish I would of just attempted more of those activities sooner in life before I just assumed they weren't for me. You really can't judge a book by it's cover!! I love my ward and my neighbors they are so amazing and so quick to help in any situation! We are blessed to have them and I am so grateful for everything we have these days.

Just thought it would be fun to post this picture below b/c of how crazy it is that their are so many girls in my ward pregnant right now along w/so many in my family! These girls are all my neighbors and good friends! Love them all! And by the way there was 2 missing from this picture too by the time we took it they had left.

Catch up...

Sorry I've been a little slow on blogging this month. Lots going on and not enough time in the day! We had an awesome time celebrating the New Year! Thanks Brent & Randi for hosting a great party! Brooklynn had her first experience staying up till midnight and she loved it! We played games, rock band & ate tons of junk food but it was so worth it! Also had a fabulous dinner thanks for everything you guys! We also decided the girls will wear the hats and the boys will wear the tiaras...I was surprised the guys actually did it-thanks for being such good sports boys! Then on New Years day we all went sledding and snowmobiling in Bear Lake where we were staying at one of our cabins. It was a great day and we were all worn out by the end of it!

Then soon after - we celebrated Christmas with Brooklynn once we got back home from Bear Lake. She was with her dad this year so we did it later and her grandma and grandpa Hirschi came over to celebrate it with us! We then had Brooklynn's birthday on January 6th! She turned the big 8! She is having a lot of fun being 8 and doing such a good job on preparing for her baptism coming up in February! We've decided on her baptism date which is Feb 14th the time is still to be determined for anyone who is interested, we'll let you all know when we know! We threw a big party for her and she got a lot of fun gifts. Thanks to everyone that came on such short notice we all appreciated you coming especially Brooklynn! I also threw in some pics of random stuff we've been doing this January. Brian took the kids out and some of their friends sledding up the top of our hill again which they LOVE doing! Also Brooklynn has been playing with her little brother more lately and it's really cute to see so there's a few random pics of that, it had to be documented of course! Brooklynn also plays a lot w/her neighbor friends and they were over the other night and I caught a cute moment they shared after getting out of the hot tub, apparently they were scheming a plan so they could also get a movie night in but no dice...it was too late but I thought it was cute how they were in a football huddle-what it would be like to be 8 again?!?!?! I think I'm ok where I'm at though!!!

(Pic isn't the best quality sorry,also this is a pic of me w/my dear friend Jenylyn...Her daughter Katrina & Brooklynn are best friends but they moved to Florida and so we don't see them much anymore. Also she's not the one that got married I couldn't get Tomi alone she was so busy w/the wedding and such! Jenylyn was her Matron of Honor)
Then we also went to Provo the following weekend for one of my friends' wedding. Thanks to Brant for putting us up and being a great host! We played a Sequence Tournament and that was a BLAST! My good friend Deanna was able to come over and play w/us, I hadn't seen her in a long time and it was so nice! Thanks for the beautiful gift D...I love it! I of course forgot my camera that weekend but rememberd we can take some w/my phone. So we got a couple but thats it. Tomi my friend that got married had a beautiful reception and was a gorgious bride! I was able to see some really good friends there too that I havn't seen forever! Such a great weekend! We didn't want to come back home-thanks again for the fun Brant!

Then we also were able to make it to the twins' grave at the Orem Cemetary! I don't ever get there b/c they are buried so far away from me but it was so nice to go since Spencer hadn't ever been there yet. It was sad not having Brooklynn with us but she was w/her dad that weekend. We did get some good pics w/my phone there so here they are...just for you mom I knew you'd want to see some! I found the cutest stuffed animal to leave on the grave w/their flowers. It was a bear w/wings. So we left them an angel to protect and watch over them it was so special and I cherished that visit so much! We love you boys! Also it was Brian's first time being there since we sealed them to us so it was very special for Brian as well! I love having the gospel b/c when I'm there I always feel at peace w/where they are and know that I'll have that chance to raise them again and it is so comforting.