Holiday Month

Back in November we went out to dinner at Rodizio, the boys love it. We had lots of meat, but the problem was it was the night before Thanksgiving. So 2 big meals in 2 days. And then I took one picture on Thanksgiving at my moms. A selfie after pie. 

Then December stuff...

We did our annual tradition of frosting sugar cookies at my moms. You know, she whips up 200 cookies and we sit and frost them all and take them home to our families. And one day I did lunch with Greg's sisters downtown. 

The 3 younger boys all had their Tanner Dance performance at the school. Rafe's was neat at the end they all got a candle and turned out the lights and danced a Van Gogh's Starry Night (which I love) my favorite one ever! And Bodie did the life cycle of frogs (see him jumping) in the yellow shirts. And Creed did his last dance of Elementary school. He had fun doing it with his friends but always says he thinks it's silly and dumb. His was too space and river and water.

I got a new iphone 8 and tried out my camera the week of a weird fog that left cool frost everywhere. Before x-mas break Rafe had his 1st grade singing performance. I thought I'd cry a little, since it's music with children and he's my last. But I was strong and didn't. The bottom picture he is rocking the baby Jesus. They sang all sorts of songs for different religions holidays. And we had to miss our ward party breakfast and Creed's Jr. Jazz basketball game to go to Alpine for the Bangerter Fam x-mas party breakfast. There's Greg with his cousins that were there.

Temple Square Lights with the Lorenzon Fam. A tradition to see lights and then go get dinner. We went early enough to beat the big crowds and then we ended up at Chili's for dinner. Always fun to be at Temple Sq. during x-mas time!

School got out on Thursday afternoon. Then we took the older boys to see the new Star Wars - which we were not fans of. The movie was entertaining, heck, it's Star Wars, but we were so disappointed in a lot of things, the character directions they went, the story they could have made so great we feel was a lame continuation of the saga. Thumbs down. Bummer man!

 Friday we went skiing at Brighton and had a furnace repair man come while I took the boys to get pictures with Santa. Nothing like waiting last minute. But we found the Santa Shack in Sugarhouse and the line wasn't long yet. Phew! He gave high-fives, low-fives, and bones for the boys. Jax had his arm around Santa and the younger 2 were kinda nervous but excited. They all rehearsed what they were going to ask for. Ha! Good visit with the Jolly ol' St. Nick!

               Christmas 2017! (ages 13, 11, 8, 6)

Jax the thirteenager!

Happy Happy Birthday to Jax! Homie J is 13!! And he is very proud of the fact that he is now a teenager. Like very proud. He thinks he's the bomb. He's known for a few years that he would be getting his rifle (270). He's been wanting it to go hunting with for years and has been waiting impatiently. Hooray the year finally came. He also just saved up this summer and bought his 9mm pistol so now he has 2 guns and couldn't be happier. He also got all the accessories for it, ammo, a strap, case, etc. I also got him new pj bottoms since he's grown 3 inches. And a button shirt.

That evening we went to get dinner at Costa Vida - since he likes the burritos. Me too. He also wanted a big chocolate cake from Costco. He also invited his BFF's Gradon and Gavin over to celebrate. While eating cake everyone smelled all the new x-mas candles we had out picking their favorites. Whatever entertains the boys. Ha! My mom and Amy came out to celebrate as well. He was a happy birthday boy. I can't believe I have a teenager.

I also can't believe this cute baby and fun kiddo is so excited to be older. He is always asking if we think his voice is changing. He is our built-in babysitter and claims he doesn't like it anymore and the younger boys all complain when he is babysitting. So now I bribe them all to be nice and not bossy while we are gone. We've started to use Creed more often to babysit which Jax is glad about. But we do pay him so I don't want to make it seem like we use him and don't reward him. 

We also always call Jax "baby Jax" because he eats like a baby. He makes a mess like a baby does. Food everywhere. On him, his face, shirt, the floor. He is a sloppy mess and it drives me crazy! He just laughs it off. Here in these pictures are a few pics of a messy baby Jax when it was fitting since he was a baby (1yr. and 18 months) . But as a 13 year old? Hmm.

And the naked one on the riding toy, too good not to show. I remember that day well. Sprinklers, wet pull-up diaper so we removed it and he loved being in the backyard naked and free. And a cute 4 year old face. 

I love how Jax loves to be with Greg and wants so badly to be apart of the grown-ups stuff. He loves movies and likes to watch them with anyone. He'll sit and watch the Hallmark Christmas movies with me, or a good romance, or the fun adventures - he's game. He isn't the best at getting his homework done but enjoys school. He texts me everyday to say Hi or ask if I'm home after school. If I'm not, then he goes with his friends over to hang out at the elementary school until they get out (since his friends have to wait for a ride with siblings). He has a fun loud cackle laugh, he bugs his brothers to death (sigh), he likes his room to be just perfect, he can be a good helper to have around, he loves church and loves being a deacon. In fact he just got put in as the Deacons quorum President. And this month he got his patriarchal blessing. Which he loved and we loved hearing it too! It was a neat experience.

For the most part he is a good big brother and good example for his brothers, now if we can keep the teenage attitude away. :)