Merry Christmas 2011

Thanks auntie Lindsey for the soda machine...

A.J.'s stash...

Adeline's Caboodle...

Zeus grew a beard and donned a Santa Suit...I know, I know we are totally annoying pet people...refer to previous posts to see how it all happened.

Adeline had her Christmas piano recital at the University of Utah...she rocked the Chipmunks Christmas solo! Next she performed in her schools show choir Christmas Extravaganza...WoW..busy girl!

Trimming the Tree

I am sure everyone out there has a Christmas Tree Tradition...ours just happens to be the best, wink, wink. There are a few very important main ingredients to make it just right...

Firstly-Food! Not just any old food but spray can cheese with chicken in a bisquit crackers, Katawba Sparkling Cider, Chocolate covered cherries, orange sticks and other goodies are a must.

All that "health food" really gave us the boost we needed to take our tree over the top!

Crusin'

As many of you know, every other year the Stowe, Rupp, etc. etc. etc. clan flies somewhere south of the equator (thank heavens) and soaks up the sun for a week in December.

This year we went on a 7 day mexican riviera cruise with stops in Puerta Vallerta and Cabo.

Thanks Mom and Keith...it was awesome!

Cruisin

It's Official

Those of you who know me will know a day in the not so distant past when I would snicker at, roll my eyes at and even wonder about the sanity of those people who dressed up their pets...Well, the day has officially arrived when I have become one of THEM. You know what they say...never say never...I guess you could call this Karma Kickin' my Butt!

He looks so cute though...don't you think? And by the way, he likes it...I asked him and for the record...yes, he did tell me so himself. wink,wink:)

Final Hurrah for Adeline

My cute, sweet Adeline all dressed up like a prisoner...this is her last year in a parade and party at school owing to the fact that she's in 6th grade...as for me, I was sad...sniff, sniff.

Adeline and her friend frosting the monster eye balls that I brought for treats. (doughnut holes, white frosting and m & m's for the eye color)

Monster eyeball's everywhere

Max as Elmo and Adeline with her best prisoner face....pretty good I'd say!

Thanks uncle Joe for the gnarly tats....good thing I had plenty of make up remover after the fact!

Sing and Sip

That's him...My Boy...the one in the middle with his mouth open and singing his heart out!

Again in the middle with a super cool 70's vest and sunglasses on...This is for his Jr High Musical Review.

T, A.J., Mom, Randie and Pop-Pop (Adeline was socializing and Lori was behind the lens)

Celebratory (is that how you spell that word?) Frozen Hot Chocolates...For all of those who are not aware of these amazing frozen concoctions....here's how to obtain:

Step 1: go into a Dairy Queen near you (execpt in Wyoming evidently)

Step 2: ask them for the Frozen Hot Chocolate (it's not on the menu-thus making it a 'secret')

Step 3: pay them - trust me it's worth every penny

Step 4: wait....wait....and wait some more - again trust me regarding it's worth

Step 5: EnJoy every drop - including the chocolate sauce stuck to the sides when you're done!

Big Daddy's Puppy Parlor

Yes...you are seeing things correctly...no need to adjust your screen or rub your eyes. That is big T blowcombing Zeus. It's great to have a big, strong, manly man husband who willingly shampoos (with apple scented shampoo nonetheless) the puppy every week and then blow dries his lovely locks....Your the best T!

Max Turns Two

All the Wiseman cousins went to the Discovery Children's Museum to celebrate Max's big day!
Adeline as a checker...

Adeline as a news anchor...

Adeline and crew as life flight pilot...Wow, so many options for a bright future!

Max at Lunch.

Lunch sack Craze

There is a new, hot craze hitting Olympus Jr High School these days and it's all due to a very talented auntie (Shelby) and a certain newly 14yr old boy (AJ) who asked for hand drawn art lunch sacks for his gift this year. After much consideration he chose this Olympus Titan sack to debut the first day at lunch. I am not going to lie people, I was a little nervous to see what the other cool boys at school would say...but I had nothing to fear. A.J. has enough confidence to pull off an elmo lunchpail if he wanted to. He came home and declared that all the other boys thought it was as "sic" as he did...that's a good thing, by the way. Oh, and just for those that were in on the recycle or not bet with me....he pulled it out of his folder with hardly a crinkle that night to re-use another amazing day!

Four Teen

Now it's official. I am a mother of a teen. I made myself feel a little better last year since thirteen is the first year in teenagedom so it really doesn't count...am I right? But now, I have nothing to comfort myself in, except:

A great kid who happens to be in the first year of official teendom...Happy Birthday AJ!

Enjoying the Scenery, Anyone???

So, I just spent the last blog post describing the really fun field trip I went on with Adeline's 6th grade class, right? Well, I left the best for last. Just as we reached the summit of our hike and sat down to enjoy our lunches together we spotted this beauty...look close now people. Just to the left of the hiker with baby on back is baby's mom....in a bikini. Yep, that's right what's better than a nice hike around antelope island with only your puka shells on right girls? No but really I think that the students, uh,umm I mean the boy students got a little more education than they planned on. hee, hee, hee!

Antelope, Air and Space

No, it's not some opening line in a joke or even worse -descriptions of what's inside my brain...its field trip time!

Adeline's whole class at the Air and Space Museum in Roy

Adeline....Moon Walking...sorry, that was bad...couldn't help myself:)

Adeline and friends at the top of our Antelope Island hike overlooking Great Salt Lake

Man....I am going to miss these things when she hits Jr. High next year. But for now, I am refusing to think about that and just plain enjoying it while I can!

Griff....Meet Chocolate Ice Cream Cake

Griff was introduced to his first (i think) chocolate ice cream cake thanks to an early birthday celebration of A.J.'s Birthday...I am pretty sure he enjoyed himself...what do you think?

Festivus for the Rest of Us

You know it happens whenever sisters get together for a weekend of fun.....giggles, belly laughs and slap your knee, tears rolling down your face hysteria sets in! We certainly had plenty of that and loved every minute.

Lindsey, Griff, A.J. and Shelby

Pop-Pop entertaining the babies with Adeline's help

Babies Dillan and Griff

Lindsey, A.J., Shelby and Allie

p.s. I am so mad that I didn't take a picture with Billie and Randie since they were in on all the fun as well!

Fancy Meeting You Here

A.J. and Parker (my cousin Carson's son) happened to play their football games at the same time in the same place last Saturday...and if you think the coincidences end there you'd be wrong. Billie and Dillan were here from Iowa, Lindsey and Griff were here from Oregon, Shelby was here from San Diego, Uncle Jeff was here from California, Uncle Dennis was here from back East and a whole bunch of other Rupp Clan members were there to for our little impromtu reunion.

Here's a pic of the whole crew

Great Grandma and Grandpa Rupp with Grandpa Rupp with A.J.