Christmas Blessings

We had a wonderful Christmas!!  As a family we were able to Skype with Mitchell for about an hour.  He performed two songs for us.  One he composed and wrote himself.  The other was one that he heard and then learned to play.  We are blessed beyond measure!

Fully stuffed stockings.

The tree in all it's glory!

Mitchell serving his mission in sunny Redding, California.

Warm & Toasty

Mom learned how to crochet this year so the boys could be warm and toasty while bringing in firewood and shoveling all the snow.  Now they all have a beard and hand made hat to stay warm!!

Stockton's Haul

Here are the gifts Stockton received from his family this year. . .

The latest Michael Vey book

A snazzy new scarf

A boss coat that reeks style (yeah, I picked it out-LOL).

A watch from Brigham

Parker's Gifts

Parker, likewise had a very nice Christmas stash from family. . .

Nike sport shoes for his pre-basketball game outfir.

Pants, so he no longer has to steal Stockton's!

His favorite movie.

A shirt from Stockton that "chicks will love"-ha ha!!

Brigham's Christmas

Brigham received some great gifts from his family. . .

A pocket watch from Parker

A Transformer "piggy" bank from Parker

A Lego video game.

His shark tooth necklace repaired by the elves.

Pants to fit a growing boy.

He also got a new flash drive for school so he doesn't have to keep borrowing his mom's.

Santa Still Shows. . .

Even though the boys are teenagers now (except Mitch, who surpassed the milestone this year), Santa still dropped off a gift for them.  Unfortunately, our tv's are so old, we don't have the right connection.  So until we find an adapter they can't play it--didn't think of that did you Santa?!?

The much anticipated and desired xBox One.  It came with Halo (for Stockton).

A game for Briggs--Minecraft.

A game for Parker--NBA 2K14.

Ernie's capers continue. . .

Here are more of that naughty elf's adventures. . .

Getting all zen like with some yoga

Decided to delve into the books Felicia was reading.  Man, he sure gets into character-(scar, wand, glasses and all)!

Playing a little Christmas tune on the player piano.

Playing some wild party games.

Parker had a basketball tournament, so Ernie decided to have his own match-up.  He is getting killed by the wise men.

This looks a little fishy.  I wonder was a dare would be in this game of spin the bottle?!?

Tiny pancakes

Now, those are the boys' kind of kisses!!

Down to one concert for Christmas now

What a great year it is. . .we only have one concert to go to now instead of two, yeah!!!!  Stockton is participating in Jazz Band, Swing Choir and Concert Band.  Parker and Briggs are both in Concert Band as well.  Here are some shots of them sharing their talents.

The only french horn player in all of Joliet

Jazz band

Swing choir

The swing choir did a number with one of the dad's playing the violin, it was awesome.

Parker rocking the tenor sax.

Ernie: And so it begins. . .

That naughty elf of ours is back again this year for more pranking!!!  Here is the first installment. . .

Starting the year of eggs-iting things off right

Snap, Ernie, Pop

Did the boys put him up to this?

After watching A Christmas Story as a family, Ernie decided that Schwartz was dumb to take the triple-dog dare!

Parker has been bugging his parents every day about getting his license.

Ernie offers him a ride

He can't see over the steering wheel, so he needs a little help

It's official, Ernie got his license before Parker-ha, ha!!!

Giving us a little memory of watching Frozen.  Man, Olaf sure is looking tasty!!

Ernie made a screen saver of all his past antics so we could reminisce with him

More to come, stay tuned. . .

Another teenager in the house

We now have three teenagers in the house. . .Brigham turned 13 this year.  He had a batman cake and got another robot to fuel his robotic/programming passion.

Apparently, the photo I took of him blowing out his candles didn't turn out.  Oh well, you get the idea.

Can't "beat" a 15th birthday

Parker turned 15 this year!!  I didn't get a photo, but here is the gift he wanted (which, by the way, one side of them blew out after less than 2 months).

Now he just has to get all of his hours in and he can get what every 15 year old Montana wants. . .a driver's license.

Skipping school to fish at Monster Lake

How great to be able to skip a day of school to fish, right?!?  Dad enjoyed fishing on this private lake so much, that he decided to take Briggs along for an adventure.