Party on the Trail

Have you ever gone hiking with 17 people? Have you ever had 8 of them be 8 or under? This Sunday we did just that with the whole family. This included the Farmers (5), Taylors (4), us (5), Nana, Papa and Neena. Quite a group! We hiked to Wind Cave and had a great time doing it!

Here are the Elite 8. LOVE that we can do this kind of stuff with them now.

Also love that they all know how to pose for the camera!

Nana and Neena

We were quite the intimdating group to other hikers. One person asked if this was a school!

The kids are so used to me that if I say their name, they just look at me and smile! Pretty Julia!

Logan

Makenna

Cam

Izzy's first hiking trip (Michelle and Scott's dog). She did great.

Taking a snack break. Notice Morgan's cast (she broke her arm a couple of weeks ago). What a trooper she was hiking with only one arm to use!

Megan playing with Mom's camera.

Camden and Daymon

Cousin fun!

The grandparents and Morgan

Delaney did a fantastic job. She really walked most of the way up!

The hike leads to Wind Cave. We ate a snack here, rested and fed the chipmunks. This was the end of the ascent for the youngest kids and a few of the adults. After a rest, they all headed back down It was 1.6 miles to this point.

My sweet husband who is so excited that our kids are old enough to hike! :)

Some of us decided to hike the rest of the way up to the summit. This included the five oldest grandkids (Julia, Riley, Logan, Makenna and Camden), Greg, Christian, Dad and myself.

Here is Makenna at the top!

And Makenna and Camden

Papa and Riley

We climb all the way up to the top and what to do the kids do there? They play house! Wish I had taken a picture, but they found four rocks that formed a little square they could crawl inside of and they played a quick game of house. Silly kids!

Then we headed all the way back down. A long, exhausting and fun hike! :)

The Funny Basketball Player Guys

Well, Makenna didn't perform at the Globetrotter halftime show this year (she is on the competitive team now) but many of the girls from the gym did. I was needed to help with the event, so I was fortunate enough to take Camden! :)

When I asked Cam if he wanted to go to the game with me, he was hesitant until he remembered when he went 2 years ago and the "funny basketball player guys pulled down one of the guys pants and he ran around in his underwear!"

Well, that did happen again this year (I don't think they change much of their act) and Camden thought it was funny all over again. We really did have a great time together and he understood so much more of the humor. I love the fun little boy he is becoming! :)

Here are Camden, Bailey, and Bailey's brother Brock (who is the same age with Delaney and they are friends..so cute!)
You aren't supposed to take pictures at the game, but here he is right as it started....shhhh. At halftime Kinetic Energy performed and did great. Camden sat with Bailey's dad, Jeremy, so he saw the whole game and LOVED it. The whole time he was dying to get a real Harlem Globetrotters basketball. How could I turn it down when it was our special time out?!

He tried to dribble the whole way to the car! Jeremey gave him the wristband too, which he kept on the whole day!

What a fun time with my little guy! :)

Silly Delaney

Goofy faces from a goofy girl!

We were getting the swing ready to take to Reegan and Laney wanted Eeyore to have a ride. :)

What a sweetie!

Reegan Bailey Taylor

Meet my newest niece...Reegan Bailey Taylor. Ross and Amy welcomed Reegan on January 4 and she weighed 7 lbs 11oz. On Saturday we all headed to Christian's parents house to see baby Reegan home from the hospital and over at Neena and Poppy's.

Makenna was very excited to meet her new baby cousin.
Grandma Berenz also arrived from Wisconsin yesterday so we were able to see her too! This is the first time (of course!) she has met Reegan.

Cam wasn't that eager to hold a baby, but I convinced him to do it (and then he could play Angry Birds on my phone!)

Delaney says, "She's so cute!"

I had a much better picture taken of me holding her at the hospital, but is wasn't on my camera, it was on someone elses! Oh well!

I can't believe I have none of Ross or Amy...and they are the parents! I will have to try and get a family picture of them.

Anyway, she is such a cutie and we are so excited to have her as a new niece and cousin!

In 2011...

Resolutions, goals, whatever they are, we have plans for 2011. I asked the kids what they wanted to work on or accomplish over the next year, here are their goals. Makenna took it more as a goal than a resolution.
1. Aerial Cartwheel (she has it but it's very low)
2. Back tuck
3. Better Leaps in dance
4. Read books every day

Camden
He just wants to:
1. Pull more flags
2. Get better at the DSi


Delaney wants to play. That's it. Just play. Preferably barbies. (I would love for potty training to be on this list!)

My resolutions:

1. Be more organized around the house.
2. Finish the kids rooms. All 3 are almost done, I just need to hang pictures, touch-up paint, etc.
3. Make a blog book for 2008, 2009, 2010. I have looked at several websites but cannot find one I am completely happy with. If anyone knows of a good one, please let me know.
4. Play barbies more often. :)
5. Teach Delaney to read. (both of the other 2 knew their letters/sounds by now, but 3rd born just doesn't get the same thing!)

Christian:
1. Work out
2. Play with kids more
3. Be less judgemental

So, we are set for 2011! Let's get to work!

New Years Eve

2010 is behind us and we welcomed 2011 at home! It was a small group this year with only the five of us, Kelley, Amy, and Ross, but there was definitely no down time.

We danced.

Played games.

Baked cupcakes.

Only relaxed a little!

Got bundled up in the cold AZ weather to do fireworks.

This is probably the last picture I will have of Amy before little Reegan is born! :)

Purple Rain was our favorite!

Delaney and Aunt Kelley stayed inside to watch the cupcakes bake.

The kids decorated the little cupcakes...

while Kelley and I decorated the HUGE cupcake. Look at this! :) I got it for Christmas and I think we will be having cupcakes more often...oh no! :)

Before I sent the kids to bed at 10:30, Makenna and Delaney drank some sparkling cider...fancy!

Overall a great way to welcome the new year!