A little dizzy from December

What a December we had!  I know it is always a busy month but for some reason this year seemed EXTRA busy....here is some of what we were up to!

To start, basketball season officially started for Jake.....6 days a week!!  Our life will be filled with practices and games the next couple months!  We wish him luck!  

Jake's teammate who is 6ft 7!

The month started off with a trip to the LA Temple and to Diddy Reese with the Zeediks.  This is a tradition we hope to keep going every year!

 Next, we had the most fabulous "Back to Bethlehem" ward party.  This one was extra special because it was on a ward members property.  We had week old baby goats, bon fires, candle making and story telling.  The last 20 minutes they played out the nativity with a miniature pony/donkey and a host of angels/ young women in a tree house above the manger scene.  It is a memory that no one there will soon forget.  It was such a great way to start the season.

2 of the 3 wise men

candle making

 After the ward party we rushed over to get a Christmas tree....it was very hard to find a night to fit that in!

 Something that added to the craziness of the month was that our stake put on a play called Finding Christmas. It was a huge production that was advertised throughout the community.  It had 5 shows and tons of participants and volunteers.  Jane and Aubrey were lucky enough to be in it.  Jane was in a cute little elf dance and Aubrey was in the youth choir.  I was on the hair and makeup committee that was quite fun. We have heard that the response was amazing and that many members and MANY non members attended.

 For Christmas this year we decided to head to Utah and spend it with Nathan's family.  We always have such a great time with everyone there.  We went to the lights at Temple Square, hit the BYU Bookstore and mall and had dinner at Sundance.  I even surprised Nate with a night away at the Sundance Resort...good times.

 Every year Grandma Sue has a day called "Grandma's Baking Day."  My kids each year see the pictures and are a little sad that they don't get to participate in this fun day.  This year because we were coming they waited so that the Caif. cousins could be there.  What a fun and crazy day!  Gingerbread houses, cookies, crafts and more.  I am sure you can imagine the amount of sprinkles on the floor.  What a fun tradition Grandma has!

 Can't forget the Christmas Eve jammies!

Christmas day was so fun with everyone.  The only bummer was that the stomach flu was going around and Jake spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day throwing up.   Poor guy:)

On our last day we hit Sundance one more time and the kids spent some more time with their longtime friends the Nelsons! (pics to come)

Thanks to all of you who made our December so memorable!  We had such a great time and felt so much love from you all!

We came home to a Christmas tree that was still very much alive and 70 degree weather!  We even spent today at the beach!  We sure went from one extreme to another!  Happy New Year!!

Scenes from a fabulous Thanksgiving

We had a great meal and great company at our house this year!  We were just missing Chris and Megs family who were in Utah and Wendy's kids who were with their dad.  It was a quiet year! We are so thankful for all our family and all our many blessings!  Love to all the rest of our family....see you at Christmas!!

another yummy bird done on the barbecue!

I LOVE these birds!

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Halloween and a birthday

Nate and I celebrated birthdays in Palm Springs with our dear friends the Zeediks.  Nate and Mark planned a little overnight getaway.  We had such a great time with such great friends!  We started in Palm Springs where the weather was about 104.  The next day we made a stop at the Redlands temple and then headed down to Santa Monica where the temperature dropped to 60!  This is what I love so much about Calif.  You can be in the desert and then in 2 hours be at the beach!  Good times:)

Redlands temple

 Another year older.....Jane made a sign for me that said "Your not 40 yet!"  sigh......I am 39 and holding:)

For a friends party Nate and I dressed up as Flo from the Progressive Ins commercials and Nate was Mayhem(click to watch) from Allstate...funniest commercials!

 For the ward Trunk or Treat Jane didn't want to go alone as a Hot Dog on a Stick worker so I decided to join her!

 Our "Scary" trunk.....

Halloween night.....a Celtics fan and yes that is Jake as a ghost.....being his usual weird self!  Aubs didn't trick or treat this year so no cute pics of her:(  check out her blog here for pics.....

She's a Beaut!

The kids bathroom remodel is mostly done!  There are a few little things left to do but overall it is great!  These picutres do not do it justice but it will give you an idea of the transformation.  So hurry and book your next trip to stay with us!  

Still trying to decide on paint color.....

Love the shampoo holder!

awesome river rock bottom!

little shoes.....big dream

Most of you who know Jake know that he has a love of basketball.  Not only does he love to play the sport but he loves all that goes along with it.  Meaning....the shoes, the shoes, the shoes.  This kid LOVES his basketball shoes. He loves the smell of a new pair.  He even goes so far as to keep a magic eraser close at hand to wipe off any marks.  His hope and dream one day is to own his own shoe store.  He spends plenty of time researching and looking at all the shoes online.  He is more knowledgeable the ANYONE at Footlocker:)  Nate and I didn't realize what we started when he got his first pair of Air Jordans at 2.  If he had the choice,  every gift he receives and any money he makes goes towards shoes.  The other night he was describing to me how he wanted to display his shoes in his room on the wall.  Who displays their shoes on their wall???  Well, when he came home from school I surprised him by putting together a display. I tried to do what he described but of course I was needing this to be cheap. He was pretty excited and now has plans to buy more shoes and add more cubes......uh oh.  It is nothing special but I am sure tonite as he lays in bed with the little dimmer light shinning down on  his shoes he will dream about the shoe store he will one day have.

Demo has begun!

When we moved into our fixer upper house 61/2 years ago we had BIG plans.  Before we moved in we did some major home improvements like new windows, floors and paint inside and out.  Kitchen, bathrooms and roof were going to have to wait.  Well, the wait is over for a least ONE bathroom.  Having three full bathrooms is great except when you find out how much a bathroom remodel costs.  Ouch.  We have begun the demo, which we did ourselves to save money.  Fun, Fun!  Thanks to a great husband who suffered injures to the feet and legs and breathed in who knows what for 2 days while demoing this 35 year old bath!  To all those who have stayed at our home and have had the pleasure of using the lovely bathroom upstairs, this is for you!  Next time you come you will have a beautiful place to get yourself ready for the day!  Yay!  I will keep you posted on the progress......

can't be good for the lungs!

New river rock bottom

A fun and Swift first day!

First day of school 2011!!  All went well and Aubs survived her first day of High School!  Another year of driving to 3 schools.....yay for me:)

Highschoolers! (9th & 11th)

Junior High (7th)

Elementary (3rd)

 Not only did Jane have the 1st day of school today but she also went to her first concert!  She is a HUGE Taylor Swift fan and was lucky enough to get a ticket to go!

Aubs getting her ready to go!

a very excited Jane:)

last lytle getaway

We deceided to do one last little getaway before school starts this week:(  WHAT a bummer.  We headed down to Newport for the night and met up with all the cousins the next day.  Every summer growing up  my family would pack up and head for a week to a beach house in Newport.  What great memories we have of those weeks with our cousins and friends.  It is such a fun place!  Because it is so darn expensive now adays to rent a beach house we try every summer to go down there and spend the day doing the things that we love.  Eating at the Crab Cooker is top of the list!  After luch we spent a lot of time on the beach. Later we headed over to Balboa Island on the Auto Ferry.  We ended the night letting the kids spend a few quarters in the arcade at the Fun Zone.

It was a great end to a great summer.

Jane's Corndogs!  She really wants this cement bench.

On the ferry over to Balboa!

Little guy, Big day

Yesterday Avery had his big day....he was baptized!  Thank you to ALL the family and friends who took the time to share this day with him.  He felt so loved.  Jane played the piano and Aubrey gave a talk.  We loved hearing Avery's two cousins from Utah play their violins.  Avery couldn't have been happier and we couldn't have been happier for him:)  We love you Avery, you are such an example to all!

Grandma and Grandpa Lytle

Grandpa and Grandma Bluth

Utah Cousins!

The After Party:)