Alexander

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In January

  We (Phil and I) celebrated our 19th Anniversary with a little stay-cation.  We rode the front runner train to Odgen where we spent 2 days discovering this historic Utah city.

We explored by walking everywhere that we wanted to go.  We watched "Saving Mr. Banks" on the big screen (great movie) and spent a few hours at the Train Museum learning how important Odgen was for transportation via trains and to the transcontinental train development.

We also went to the Peery's Egyptian Theater and saw a broadcast of the Broadway Musical, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, starring David Hasselhoff, Mr. Knight Rider himself, who knew he could sing?  Not me.  It was really an enjoyable weekend, just the two of us exploring the city together.

 

 The following weekend we spent a few days in sunny and oh so warm Mesquite, NV and St. George, UT.  Mr. P had a soccer tournament to attend and we were happy to follow him along his journey.  The weather was beautiful and the President's Cup Tournament a smashing success as his team finished 1st place.

Also while in the southern part of the state we visited with my side of the family and celebrated a new cousin, Ms. Emme.

The next weekend we upheld the Dean tradition of going tubing at Soldier Hollow.  Luckily the weather was decent and it wasn't too crowded.  This is always a favorite activity for our kids and their cousins.

For my Birthday we celebrated by going out to dinner at the Brick Oven, where we found one of our own working hard.  Yep, he now has a job.  So proud of him!  And don't worry we saved him plenty of food for when he got home.

And finally, having had enough of all the teasing about his incoming mustache, this boy got a lesson on how to shave. 

Once again I am reminded that my kids are growing up too fast.  It is cool, and exciting to experience their increase in independence and to see their growth in so many different areas of their lives, but at the same time it is sooo hard to comprehend them leaving the nest.

THANKS.

I just wanted to take a moment and say

Thank You ...

to the Cabin.

It is always there for us whenever we need a little get-a-way.

And this year it was our Thanksgiving destination.

It is small and quiet

with no phones or computers or internet-

thus, the niceness of it!

We enjoyed making and eating our Thanksgiving meal together,

then assembling a puzzle and watching a kid favorite- Home Alone.

(Where we discovered a striking resemblance between Kevin

and one of our own in both appearance and behaviour.)

But back to the Cabin.  It is so nice to just to step away from it all

for just a few days or a weekend and escape to you.

You are typically cold in the beginning (especially during winter)

but you warm up quite nicely.

So Thank you Cabin.

Thanks for the care-free, relaxing times.

Thanks for the fun memories.

Thanks for your simplicity.

And also thanks for the break post-Christmas

where I left my messy, messy home in the suburbs

to be with you and my family, and the cousins with no worries.

In. A. Week.

Every year since, my second son was born, the end of October and beginning of November have been a very fun but FULL week for me.  So in a week this is what happens.

Jayson's Birthday.
Halloween.
Tyler's Birthday.

And it would probably be fine if it were just those three, but there is always more going on.  Friend parties (not every year), family parties, halloween parties, here and at school.  It has always been a week that wipes me out and so it has been a challenge for me, but as I type that I feel like I wouldn't change it, if I could.  So here we go!

Jayson.

Yes, we still do" heavy, heavy hangover" at our house (it is a Dean thing).  This year Jays received a lot of money for gifts, which he later spent the majority on DR. WHO memorabilia because well he is a FAN.  He also requested a TARDIS cake, so I did my best.  He didn't have a friend party this year but I still owe him a day at the movies with a friend.  He has changed a lot over the past year.  He now wears shoes larger than his Father and is taller than me and quickly gaining on his older Brother (they are just 2 inches apart).


Halloween.

Who are these two monkeys!

Halloween was thankfully a low-key day because all the HALLOWEEN activities had been done earlier in the week/month.  So after eating some mummy pizzas, we got all dressed up and one by one the kids took off to be with their friends so we didn't get a group picture.

We have Dr. Who (the Tenth Doctor).

A Ninja.

Batman.

And Snow White.

We also took a few pics with the PUMPKINS they carved and then it was time for TRICK-OR-TREATING!

Tyler.

 

 

The Lego was created by his youngest brother as a surprise.   This young man is pretty simple.  I made him choc chip cookie-oreo brownies for his birthday served with his fav ice cream, mint choc chip.  He also received a bit of money but is saving it for something special.  He really wanted to get his license on his birthday but had to wait two days longer because the DLD is not open on weekends.  He spent his special day with a good friend hanging out at Boondocks.  He too has changed quite a bit these last few years, of course he is taller than me and about the same height as his dad.  He grew out his hair and now it curls and waves every which way.  And he is looking forward to getting a job to earn a little money for a car and a phone.

I feel so blessed to be able to celebrate these two young men in my life but I also fear that if I blink they will be gone having new adventures in their lives, not under my roof and that makes me sad.