Holy Cow! This Year!

Okay, so we have had a long 2015.  With all the basement problems we have had and then in November our whole house flooded leaving us essentially homeless for a couple of months.  But the end results are pretty good.  We now have a fully finished basement and a completely new house.  

Kathleen couldn't be more excited with her new room.

 The basement turned out perfect!

 Brandon got a new room as well:

 As did Cody:

 And where do the boys sleep?  In the cupboard under the stairs.  They want to be just like Harry Potter.

 I keep finding the boys on the ground in the basement next to the couch playing their electronics.  They are so cute.  The new carpet is really nice.

 We have been trying to get Cody a new hobby.  He was so cute trying out Tae Kwon Do.  He does, however, lack any discipline of any kind.  So he quit after one class.  He is trying out golf next week.  I am bound and determined to find him something he loves besides video games.

 Brandon got a tooth filling replaced and did it all like such a big boy.  Maybe he is growing up after all.

 Cody participated in the school spelling bee.

 Cody's valentine box:

 Valentine's Day:

Breaking in the basement.  It is so awesome! 

 The kids learned how to ski this winter and LOVED it.

 After much bribery, we talked Cody into reading the entire Narnia series.  He loved it and begged for some Turkish Delight.  (FYI, this particular brand is disgusting):

Cody got to dress like a cowboy for his school music performance. 

 Brandon had his first band concert.  He plays percussion and loves it (and bangs on everything in our house).

 Kathleen joined a club volleyball team (she is number 4 in the middle).  She is an amazing player.  I have so much fun watching her.

 Annabeth came to visit and Cody was in heaven.

 Cody is all dressed up for crazy hair day at school:

 Dress up like "what you want to be when you grow up" day (yes, he is dressed like Santa):

 Ryan and I ran a half marathon together.  He is so cute.

 Green dinner with the Reese family:

 Ryan took first place for men in his age group in the marathon.

 We had a night Easter egg hunt with the kids.  It was so much fun.

 Making chocolate filled eggs:

 For spring break we went all over checking out fun hiking trails and waterfalls.

Dying eggs: 

 We had a crazy hail storm, unlike anything I have ever seen in the west.  Ryan had to go run in it.  It hurt.

 We found a fun hot springs:

 Cody wanted to celebrate Stitch's birthday.  He got him last year on our spring break cruise.  So we made sugar cookies (normally I wouldn't make sugar cookies for a stuffed animal's birthday, but since we were homeless all during the holidays, I told Cody we would make sugar cookies at Easter time).

 I took the boys to the zoo.  They were soooooo much fun.  

 We ran into some fun friends at the zoo:

 Cody is working on a pinewood derby car:

 Ryan always misses out on the Harry Potter parties we have (it is tradition to have these parties when he is out of town).  So we agreed to make some of the regular treats for him during spring break.

 Kathleen and I accidentally dressed in matching colors for Easter Sunday.

 Easter dinner:

 Brandon started baseball.  He is so stinkin cute.

 We painted our playhouse and moved it to a different spot in the yard.  The boys have taken a liking to it again.  

 Playing in the leaves (a photo from the fall):

 We made a trip to visit family for a wedding:

Fall

I ran a race.  Don't worry, I just did the 10k.  For some reason everyone thinks I ran a half marathon.  But, I'm smarter than that.  I found this photo o their website.

 We celebrated present day.  I got Twister.  The kids thought it was hilarious - until I made them watch it with me.

 We hiked Table Rock.  Each kid brought a friend.  It was genius. 

 I received my diploma - that's right.  I have a Master's degree.  Apparently they will give those to anyone.

 The cutest football player you ever saw:

 We grew a couple of watermelons in our garden.  I know, I am just as surprised as you are.

 Another race photo.

 We watched the harvest moon/lunar eclipse on our roof together.

 And another race photo.  I don't know why they aren't all together.

 This cute boy:

 Brandon and some of his football team got all dressed up to visit a teammate in the hospital.

 I am not sure what is happening here.  I guess this is how Cody likes to shop.

 Cody bought something with his own money for the first time.  The cashier was so nice and patient with him.  He was so excited.

 We played butts-up in the basement.

 Brandon brought home a crayfish/crawdad.  Yay!!! (A mother's dream).  Luckily, I mean sadly, he died after a week and we were done with him.

 Kathleen's cute volleyball team.

 Kathleen has an amazing serve.

This is the only kid I know who asks to be buried in the sand with his face down. 

 Kathleen and Cody have been way into chalk art on the driveway lately.

 Homemade root beer:

 Halloween party:

 The bishopric serve scones at the ward Harvest party.  It is tradition.

 The basement has been framed.  The boys think it is a jungle gym.  Oh please put up walls before they break something!!

 Brandon dresses himself for church:

 Ryan, Kathleen and I all kind of matched one Sunday.  We all had gray and black on.

 Carved pumpkins:

 Halloween piano recital:

 Cody wore this on hat/sunglasses day at school.

 Kathleen and Brandon dressed up like a decade for red ribbon week.

 Halloween dinner:

 Our garage:

 Ryan and I did a witches fun run (he dressed up like Harry Potter).  Ryan is such a good sport.

 Brandon started wrestling.  This is new territory for us.  I was wondering how he would react when he saw the uniform.  But to my surprise, he didn't seem to  mind at all.