A quick stop in Wyoming

We spent a longer time in AZ than normal because we wanted to do so many activities on our POGO pass before it expired, and swim a lot, and stay for Annalen's baptism. So when we got back to Wyoming it was just a quick stay for Casey to interview at a bunch of places before we had to be back for a doctor's appt for myself. But even the short time we had there was great. The weather was BEAUTIFUL!

I loved this little scene of Grammie and Bryson.

We took a walk one evening down to the river to throw rocks in the river, look for birds, and play in dirt. It was seriously such a wonderful evening on that windy walk.

Blessed Quinn was a dreamy sleeper one morning, bless that child! Whereas naughty Bryson woke up at 3 am, wouldn't stop crying, so he slept in my bed with me and then at 5:30 feel off the bed onto Max who was on the ground, which meant the rest of us were awake form then on!

The result of Max waking up so early.

The day back from our long long trip= restocking the fridge. Our children are very unhelpful shoppers as you can see.

Christmas (festivities) with the Cutlers in AZ

For Christmas evening we headed down to Casey's brother's house, about 30 minutes away to join with the Cutler's on the rest of our Christmas festivities! We had a delicious Christmas dinner with ham, rolls, green beans, potatoes, and sparkling cider; the normal awesomeness. Maxson was excited to "cheers" everyone with his cup

The kids spent A TON of time outside on the ball pit tramp all week. Cody and Camille were brilliant to add the balls to the tramp! Sadly it was a tin bit cold all week and with the tramp being in the shade the babies didn't get to spend as much time out there as they would have liked. Whenever the door opened and closed without them going outside they had a fit crying at the door, ha. There were also lots of tears shed on the tramp from kids (cough cough Maxson) being too rough on others.

We went in the evening to see temple lights! Did I mention we loved having Tayli back for Christmas? She is such a joy to be around, truly. We love that girl so much.

The girls got pedicures one afternoon and we all thoroughly enjoyed. It was disgusted at the amount of skin they got off with literally a cheese grater! Eww. BUT the sugar scrub was so wonderful, it's my favorite part! I was stoked for my gold nail polish. On a different day the boys went golfing per usual.

We watched a few movies while together including Far from Madding Crowd, Transformers, and the Ultimate gift. There were 2 games of settlers played together, and a bunch of delicious desserts thanks to Camille!

We went to San Tan Flats for dinner one evening, that sure was a fun place! Imagine this: a "restaurant" outdoors with tons of fire pits and camping tables smooshed together as close as they could fit, loud country music, no waiters, no rules, a building close by you can go in and order great steak/cowboy food. It was just a super fun atmosphere. i wish the babies had been on year older though, they make things difficult ha. Cody and Camille came prepared with skewers and marshmallows. graham crackers, chocolate, and reese's for dessert, it was so fun! It was a little colder than we all anticipated, we totally would have stayed longer if we weren't worried for the babies being cold, oh yeah, and cranky to go to bed. But I definitely recommend this place if you're willing to get there!

The family went to Fat Cats and went golfing, then headed to Oregano's for delicious dinner! I stuck back at my parent's house with the babies to visit a cousin who came in town from SLC. Divide and conquer.

For 3 mornings straight we went to Camille's boot camp she does every morning. It was really fun and super hard! She's got a great thing going on with the group she's apart of. We were all super sore but it was fun working out as a family. Half the year they workout at a park while 2 moms watch the kids on a playground and during the really hot months of the year they workout at a dance studio in one of the rooms.

We met up with my mom at this really fun park kinda far away. It was totally worth the drive though, the Camille's and our kids had an absolute blast there. Do you see that huge structure smack in the middle? It's this super duper tall rope structure that kids can just freely climb. Totally dangerous and totally awesome. I love that these ropes courses give kids a legit challenge and once the succeed their confidence is totally boosted.

For New Year's Eve we went with Cody and Camille to Schnepf Farms! The stake rents out the facility and all are invited! The rides and food were free, the kids loved it all so much. At 7:45 they lit  off fireworks for a great end to the evening. The Cutlers had already left town that morning but my mom joined in with us and we couldn't have done it without her!

Other memories to be added:

Sleeping was hilarious. We began the week with our family of 5 in one room. We can sleep like that for one night but beyond that it's miserable and the babies wake up more and realize we're in the room with them and it's just awful. So we took our air mattress into Cody and Camille's room on their floor where Tayli was on the floor too. It was comical with all the beds everywhere. And their little boy was in their closet, ha. To add to the fun we had to blow up our air mattress like 3 times or more during the night, ha. Oh the memory making.

Often when we're with the Cutlers it feels like I'm living in the beginning part of Home Alone (without the really mean Uncle). There's so much hustle and bustle and noise and people working in every direction, children making mischief, but an overall sense of happiness of being together. And it's always really loud with the children awake.

A week or two later while writing this I know there's fun details I'm missing but oh well. It was a fun time together, Cutlers. Glad we were all able to meet up!

(The big) Cutler family pictures

Since everyone was there we took some family pictures before church on Sunday! It is quite convenient being a photographer and we can choose the exact time (15 minutes after the original time we hoped for!) and location (right outside the front door in the street!). It's funny we never say what colors we're all wearing but it works out enough!

From left to right it's Tayli, Derek, Kerri's family, Brad and Nan, Karle, Cody's family, Casey's family.

Pre pictures= crying children.

It was SOOOOOOOOOOO cold outside! The kids were NOT having for the grandkid picture, haha, this is pretty much the best we have, no joke

The Cutler family.

Love me some Cutlers!

Sister Cutler comes home from her mission!

The main reason we all drove our way to Wyoming for Thanksgiving was to welcome home Casey's younger sister from her 18 month mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Billings, Montana mission. It was a much anticipated reunion for one and all, those last few months just went so slow! She was such a faithful, diligent, obedient missionary!

The anticipation building at the airport! She didn't come in until 8:15 pm on a Saturday night! It was a long day of waiting!

Everyone was really cure standing there waiting for Tayli and then there was Max, running everywhere, pushing buttons on the vending machines and just being crazy, we all survived, that's what matters.

Waiting...thinking they see her with each person going by.

And here she comes!

The grandkids couldn't hold it in and ran up to hug her in excitement.

I played photographer all night and got pictures of her saying hi to everyone!

Tayli was very excited to hold a baby after 18 months of not doing so.

The welcoming group.

I'll need to do a comparison picture later but at Casey's high school graduation 10 years they took this picture

We definitely did not get enough with this cute girl that weekend. We stayed up until 2 am talking with her asking her questions about it all. I couldn't believe how much she has grown and matured, she is one super great girl. The next day she reported in church giving her homecoming talk to her ward, it was so wonderful to listen to her speak (for 40 minutes eloquently with no notes! That girl is close to the spirit I tell you!) I felt the spirit so strongly during so much of her talk (of what I did get to listen to with taking the kids into the hallway). She is so beautiful, inside and out. It's already been so nice to text and FaceTime her whenever we want. I can't wait to see what the future holds for her!

Grammies Christmas Party 2015

So while in Wyoming for Thanksgiving Grammie threw her annual Christmas Party while a bunch of the family came in town that weekend for Tayliann's homecoming! All the kids loved it as usual, she spent so much time making it personal and fun, it tires me out just thinking about it, she is such a great grandma to these kids, onto some pictures!

Sitting around as she explains the unveiling of the "Christmas themes!" (My mother in-law's own mother did a special theme for each grandchild where each each year that would get a present that had something to do with their theme. The theme was announced by sitting in a special chair, reading a special book that had to do with their theme, receiving their special gift and getting to ring the special bell for Christmas stations. Casey and all the siblings LOVE it and they were all so excited that this year she began the tradition in their family again!)

 Max very thrilled for his turn.

 Oh ya know, just picking his nose like usual...

 Porter had the best contagious spirit and excitement for each person, it was amazing and adorable.

 Maxson's theme is TRAINS! He received the Polar Express book and a little Thomas the Train set that he is OBSESSED with. This theme so represents Maxson in life since he is on the go go go with much power and force behind his movements!

 One Max received his gift he didn't pay attention at all to the others, ha.

 Some of the Christmas stations included making signs for Tayli's homecoming that night, a paper chain,

 decorating Christmas cups,

 and of course the crowd favorite sugar cookie decorating.

 There was Christmas bingo too when kids lost attention to other activities or finished too quickly.

 Later that evening Cody and Camill's family arrived and received their themes as well as the twins who were asleep before.

 We had Bryson and Quinn go together, it was so stinking adorable, I love their little tummies.

 Bryson's theme is bears (he's kinda the more cuddly twin so I see the bear as fitting) and Quinn is a Snowman (he's always the jolly old soul ;) When the unveiling of themes began Nan talked at how she prayed individually for the children's theme to find one that was special and meaningful to each of them, and it definitely was.

So that was Grammie's Christmas Party of 2015!