Sunday, January 29, 2012

Surprise! Dan is 40!

After many months of joking, Dan finally crested the hill and officially went over!  Since turning 40 is a very special occasion, Dan's wife Rebekah, planned a surprise party.  Dan and his family went to Fuddruckers under the pretense that some close friends were taking Dan out for his birthday.  Dan can be a suspicious kind of guy but made it all the way to the restaurant before starting to think something was up.  For everyone involved, that was a victory!  Since Dan was born in the 70's, the theme was based around that decade.

 The awaiting crowd
SURPRISE!
 Dan, Rebekah and the kids
 Ella, Josiah and Vani
The McCutchans sportin' the polyester
 The 70's party people
Blowing out the candles

Havin' fun with the fro!
 Vani
 Ella
 Oni
Gracie

It was a great night to celebrate Dan.  He means a lot to so many people (especially me!) so it was a fun way to tell him Happy Birthday and how much we care for him.

Monday, January 16, 2012

The Caribbean Cruise Countdown!

In less than one month, I will be in various parts of the Caribbean sitting on a beach.  I envision it to look something like this:


I have never been on a cruise before, but something about a warm, sandy beach in the sun gets my Vitamin D deprived body and brain very excited! 

Saturday, January 7, 2012

Where Do You Go To Find Winter?

The answer is: McCall!  With the recent lack of snow and the "winter feel" in Boise, it was time to invite myself on a trip to up to the mountains.  The Franks planned to spend a few days in McCall while Rebekah's mom, Susan, was in town as well as Dan's brother, Michael.  Such a fun group, so I decided to come too.  It snowed while we there (perfect!) so we tubed, ice skated, played games, ate good food and had a nice time as family.

 Waking up to 4 new inches of snow.
 Ella going down the infamous Camp Pinewood hill.
 Dan
 Reb - she is like a little kid and kept going all morning!
A train with Uncle Michael.  You can't see her, but Vani is in the middle.

 They are my vest twins!
 Ice skating very close to the wall.  Ella was moved away from the wall by the end.  
She was very proud!
 Also close to the wall.  By the end Vani did a walk skate technique.  
She wants to have an ice skating birthday party. 
 Josiah did a good job from the beginning!
I totally made Dan and Reb skate around holding hands.  
Then the picture turned out blurry, dah!
 I really like these two.
 The frozen Payette Lake behind us.
 Payette Lake
Michael and the local camp fox.
Little did I know that posting this picture on facebook and saying "local fox" would cause a few rumors to stir about Michael and I possibly dating.

  Don't worry online world, you will be set ablaze if I ever actually start dating someone!

McCall and its winter wonderland was a great escape!

Thursday, January 5, 2012

Christmas in Lots of Pictures and a Few Words

This year's Christmas I felt blessed through family, friends and gifts.  I got to spend Christmas Day with my three favorite families.  I started the day with coffee, some quiet time in God's Word reading the Christmas story and watching Little House on the Prairie: Christmas at Plum Creek (this is a classic and a must for me every year!).  Then I headed to church to celebrate my Savior's birth.  Can Christmas and church on the same day get any better?  I enjoyed sharing the festivities with this family that is so important to me.  Next I headed to my parents house and spent lunch and the afternoon celebrating with them, my brother and his family and my grandma.  I ended the day with my other "family" the Franks.  We ate deep dish pizza (yum!), opened gifts and watched Home Alone, KEVIN!

Now time for the pictures to tell the rest of the story.

 Notice the angel?  I made it in the sixth grade!
More crafts with Auntie!

 Grandma opening her gift of chocolates (and forgetting that she likes them)
Grandma after she threw the chocolates aside and rolled her eyes.
"What did you buy that for?" Gma
"You like chocolates." Mom
"I do NOT." Gma
I love my Grandma and I was laughing the entire time.  
Never a dull moment when those with dementia are around.

 Sawyer likes his books!
Harper was really excited about her present!

After my parents, I went over to the Franks to celebrate Christmas with them.
 Ella getting clothes for her new doll, Rahel. 
By the way, these are cool dolls and part of the proceeds go to World Vision.
The way to a teenage boy's heart?  Tapatio Doritos! (and a BSU beanie)
 Vani jumped up when she realized what she got and was sooo excited!
This girl loves sea animals and marine lamp is the perfect gift.
Our traditional Christmas picture in front of the tree. 

Well, that is my Christmas in a nutshell.  I am only a week and a half late in posting about it.  It was a wonderful day from start to finish!