Dennis' new car

Well, we did it! We bought a new car.  Dennis has been talking about how he would love to have a car that he could go around in that wasn't a work truck.  We looked on line for a few months and found this dodge journey for a great deal.  It was only a year old and had 17,000 miles.  It will seat 7 and gets pretty good gas milege. The kids wanted to drive to school the first few day in it and kept asking if we could take "Dad's" car any time we went somewhere:) I guess it's a hit with everyone!

Christmas tree time!

I forgot to post this one before the Christmas Eve post!  We went and picked our tree (it was actually Brad's turn) the first weekend of December.  I think the poor thing was already almost dead because it only drank the first few days and then just turned brown and lost a ton of needles. We let the kids take turns picking out the tree they like best.  This year Brad picked but I think next year we need to go as soon as they get them set up on the lot.  We were about two weeks after they put them out so they were really dried out.  (Eli was asleep in the car so I stayed with him and just got out to have my picture taken with the fam). Oh, and the kids made sure to remind Dennis to not drive into the garage because there was a tree on top of the car! (Last year he forgot and almost ruined the tree;)

Presents from Santa 2013

I always try to take a picture of each of us opening up or holding the present from Santa each year.  This year Santa brought Eli a train table (which is still not set up), Ava a "Doc McStuffins" doll, Jake a realistic doll (it even breathes), Brad a card with a 100 dollar bill, Ethan some headphones,  Mom a pair of running shoes, and Dad an ironman watch.  Everyone was excited and very happy with their gifts this year-just like every year;) After opening our tree, we got ready for the day and then went to Grandma and Grandpa Merrill's and had Christmas dinner there.  It was a magical day!

Christmas Eve 2013

We had Christmas Eve at Don and Jill's again this year.  We got together early in the day so people could get home before it got too late.  Dennis and Darin had to work so they didn't make it this year.  We did the traditional Christmas story with Grandpa reading from the Bible and the kids being the different characters in the story.  Alexis and Cassidy even dressed as angels (check out the pose:).  The kids always enjoy the "pass along" game that Anita started years ago.  We buy dollar gifts and wrap each one 4 to 7 times (more or less) and then play Christmas music while the kids pass them around and when the music stops they all tear off one layer until they are left with a gift.  If a boy gets a girl present he can swap it with a girl and vice versa.  Jill made a wonderful lunch of Café Rio burritos with rice and beans etc.  She and Anita tried to help with Eli who was a very fussy boy.  Grandma made all the little girls nightgowns and the big girls aprons.  The boys got sweatshirts, either BYU blue or Utah red:) Actually, I think Nick was the only one with red.  It was a fun day, we only wish Dennis and Darin could have been there to celebrate with us!

Dennis' 41st birthday

Dennis Robert Ralph turned 41 on December 12.  We had asked him what he would like and of course he responded that he would like tri gear.  So we went to a running store and picked out a winter running jacket and a head mask to help him breathe the cold air without ruining his lungs.  We also bought him a big birthday cake and we went to the Texas Roadhouse for dinner.  He was so happy with his jacket that he wore it immediately.  I took pictures of the kids, each giving him a gift.  Ethan is going to kill me but he looks so much like me!!  Poor kid;) It was a fun evening as a family!

20% Man 80% Machine

Dennis never ceases to amaze me! He just started running a couple of years ago and has done so many triathlons and races since.  He even took first place for his age group in the Ogden Valley Tri!  He has been going to the gym every day and is now comfortably swimming 2 miles (at a time) a few times each week.  He really wants to do a full Ironman event.  He has done a couple half Ironman Tri's but I think he will never be satisfied until he does a full.  I just don't know where he gets the energy to do all that he does.  He works out from 5am until 6:30 or 7 am., goes to work and does what most would do in 2 or 3 days in 1 day.  Then he comes home, grabs a bite to eat, does his church responsibilities and then goes back to gym after kids go to bed.  He rarely gets to bed before 11 pm or midnight and yet he somehow has the strength to repeat this schedule over and over.  I have come to the conclusion he is part machine!! I sure do love and admire him:)

Cousin Time

While the Daddy's and older kids were playing football at the park, the younger kids were doing their own thing.  They were so cute, all huddled together playing different games.  I am so glad they all get along so well and have so much fun together!

Thanksgiving and a little Turkey Bowl!

We had Thanksgiving here at our house this year.  Ellie and Elena and their families came and Brittany, her friend Shelby, and Lex came as well.  It was so fun to all be together and the kids just enjoyed having their cousins around. After the dinner, all the boys, men, and Lex went to the park for a little football (I'm not sure why Tanner is setting a pick on Lexi-I guess he decided to incorporate a basketball move into the game;)  Anyway, they sure had a fun time and probably the "old men" were a bit sore the next day;)

Family Photo for 2013

Thank goodness for Ellie!! We still hadn't taken our family picture when she and Elena came home for Thanksgiving so she went with me to target to look for some coordinating clothes.  We started with Ava's vest and went from there.  I really wanted turquoise and mustard and then she suggested the maroon pieces.  I really like the colors and am happy with how they turned out:)

Halloween 2013

Our numbers are dwindling when it comes to trick-or-treating.  This year Ethan had to work and Brad decided he was too big to go and stayed home with me to pass out candy.  Dennis went with his usual attire, an Eagle's jersey, Jake was a dead rock star, Ava was High School Musical's Sharpei (?), and Eli was a cute little bear. We had great weather; Mr. Eli stayed out way longer than I thought he would.  I guess he loved it:)

More of Grandpa's 79th

Lexi was at the party for Grandpa too. (It's so nice to have BYU so close!) Mom's face is so funny.  Moments before, she had bent down to pick something off the floor and her bum was right in Dad's face so I snapped a picture.  This was her reaction to seeing it! (I decided not to put the insulting picture on here but it really is a funny shot)!  That Grandma is always setting herself up and giving everyone else a good laugh:)   [Ok, after seeing and reading my original post I thought I'd better put the "insulting" picture in because it just doesn't make sense without it;]

More of Grandpa and his Grandkids

Here we have three of Dean and Alisa's girls, McKenna, Kate, and Eden.  Two of Rachel and Shane's boys were missing so just Dillan and Autumn got their pictures with Grandpa.

Grandpa Merrill's 79th Birthday

Grandpa turned 79 on October 27th.  All the families here in Utah were able to get together to celebrate.  I thought we needed to get a picture of all the kids with their Grandpa Merrill on his special day.