Just Us: December 2011

Wednesday, December 28, 2011

Go Colts!

Our good friend, Eric scored 4 tickets to a Colts game a couple weeks ago. It happened to land on the same weekend as Indy Bus Tour. Brandt was supposed to speak the day of the game, but was able to move his presentation to Saturday night, thereby freeing him to go to the game with his friend. It is a testament to what you can do when you are highly motivated. Brandt brought Brandon and Eric brought Sam for some good old fashion father-son bonding.

Brandt said the boys loved watching the players run out on the field. They also, thought the huge American flag was pretty cool.

Sam and Brandon are the biggest goofballs when they get together!

I guess the boys also loved dancing to the music between plays. They thought if they had good dance moves then they would make it on to the jumbo-tron. Brandt filmed them getting their dance on...

Monday, December 19, 2011

High Stakes

My grandparents have had this game since I was a small child. Somehow it has endured the ages and now my girls love to play it. Essentially there is a metal ball that sits on 2 metal rods. The rods are on a a slight upward angle. The goal is to get the ball as high up as you can and drop it in the point circles. the further you can make the ball travel the higher the points. The last 2 circles are 500 and 1000, incredibly difficult to get these. Brianna was playing and got 500 points. Brandt accused her of cheating and bet her $100 she couldn't do it again, with him watching. She got it again, but he looked away. I vouched for her but he was incredulous so he doubled or nothing her. She did it again and won $200!!! You can see the sheer joy on her face!

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Family Ski Day

Brandt and I started having kids so quickly after we married that I've had a diaper bag on my shoulder and an infant in my arms for the last twelve years. As much as I miss the baby phase, I am growing to love this new phase. We took the kids to Brighton for Family Ski Day. Everyone including Sam was on skis. And it was so fun for everyone to be participating and enjoying the same activity!

We put the three oldest in lessons. Samantha was just shy of the age minimum. Brandt and I took turns with Sammy on the bunny slope. She had a toe clip that helped a lot, but it was amazing how much she learned so fast and so young. She kept wanting to go faster and further, but stopping was hard for her. Luckily Tom and Molly came to be spectators. So, we put them to work. Tom was the official catcher. We point Sam down the bunny slope and Tom would stop her at the bottom. It was hillarious! My favorite was watching her lean her entire body to try to turn the skis. Brandt even took a run with Samantha. He had to ski backwards to keep her from speeding away, but she loved it!

Sammy trying to turn.

I love how happy she is!

Brandt skiing with Sam

Brandon was supposed to be in a group lesson but ended up with a private one on one lesson for the group price! Love that! He was the first of all the kids to get on the hill.He mastered the "pizza" and "french fries" pretty quick. Half way through the lesson I was talking to his instructor and he kept interrupting. When I finally asked him what he wanted to tell me he said, "Mom, this is my thing." He kills me. Brandt also made me laugh when the three of us were skiing together. Brandon was going down completely unaided. Brandt was so proud and with a goofy grin on his face said, "I'm so happy!"

Brandon in ski school

Hailey and Brianna were in the same class together. And even though Hailey said on the drive up that she was scared to try, she and Brianna both did amazing! They had the biggest smiles on their faces all day. I know it was because they were having fun but I think it was also in part because they were proud of themselves. The only time I didn't see them happy was when we told them it was time to head home.

Hailey and Brianna with their instructor

Brianna

Hailey

Friday, December 16, 2011

Visiting Grandparents

I couldn't go all the way to Utah and not see my grandparents. Both my Dad's parents are in their nineties but incredibly independent and energetic. In November, my 92 year-old grandpa beat his two sons golfing! This might tell more about his sons golf ability than Grandpas, but still.

Us with Grandma and Grandpa Baugh.

My Mom's mom, Grandma Wez, had heart surgery at the end of October. she also lives alone so, I made time to stop and see her every day. I never got to stay too long, but I was thankful for every visit. We even convinced her to go to dinner with us one night.

Us and Wez.

Evan & Erin's Wedding

The youngest in Brandt's family got married Saturday in the Mount Timpanogos Temple. We really like Erin. She'll make an awesome addition to the Adams family.

After the wedding, Tom & Molly hosted a dinner for close friends and family. Brandt toasted the couple. It was nice because he mentioned Poppy in the toast and we were all thinking about him a lot that day.

Afterwards was the reception. The food was great, everything was beautiful, but oh my the receiving line was long. They stood there shaking hands for over 2 hours!!

Brandon and his cousin Cameron. Love those forced smiles!

Me and my SIL Ali. We miss their cute family!

Brandt and Dallin grew up together in New Jersey. They were trouble then and trouble now.

Brianna with her cousin Malia. Malia is only 2 months older than Brianna but a whole lot taller.

My favorite photo!!!!

Hailey with her cousin Eli.

4 of the 5 Adams boys. We missed Aaron.

Brandon and Eli.

It was a long fun day, Sam was done!

The Things Kids Say...

Sammy's favorite saying is "Cause I say so." It can be used to answer any question such as, Why aren't you eating? Why are you crying? and my personal favorite Why are you naked?! Oh, did I forget to mention she loves being naked?

Brianna was crying because Brandon pushed her. I asked why and he said "Cause she's fighting with me. She's trying to kill me!!!" Brianna only got out "nu-uh," before Brandon blurted out "Liar, Liar, fur on fire!"

Last night in family prayers, Brianna blessed Spirit Week at school.

We were outside when I saw a lizard, and pointed it out to Brandon. I asked what it was and he responded a lizard. I told him he was right and he promptly asked, "Can I kill it?"

Sam and Brianna were taking a bath when I heard Sam start to cry. I asked Brianna what happened and she said, "Sam was trying to get out of the bath and she hurt her VIRGINIA."

Brandon told me he loved me so, I told him I loved him too. "No, I love you more," he says. I laughed and said "Brandon, you're a good boy." "Yea," he says.

I told Brandon & Sammy that they were going to have friends over. When I told her it was Brandon's friend Sam and Sam's little brother Max. She complained that she didn't have a friend coming and I told her she was. I said, "What about Max? You are in the same preschool, he's your friend." To which she replied, "Nu-uh, I hate that guy."

Brandon is very eager to grow up. We've had some very odd conversations with him as a result. Most recently he's begun showing us his armpit and asking if he has any hair there yet. The other common occurrence is for him to ask his dad to spray him with "man spray" aka cologne. There was also one other strange conversation where he asked why his weiner wasn't growing. I told him to ask his Dad. He did.

At Brianna's birthday party this year I told her to be sure and introduce her school friends to her church friends. She went in, sat everyone down, and told them to go around the room and say their name and one thing they like about her. She's insane!

We always make our kids try a couple bites of something new before they say they don't like it. One night as I am insisting Sam try some new food and she is protesting adamantly, claiming it was disgusting. Eventually, she took a bite and then exclaimed, "Hey, mom! That disgusting stuff tastes good!"

We adopted a friend's birthday tradition this year. We each went around and said something we liked about the birthday person. Sammy liked everyone's eyes (It was kind of random). But my favorite was when Brandon told Brandt that he liked that his Dad farted a lot and picked his nose. We all died laughing!

At dinner we were discussing the origins of Halloween. Hailey said that it used to be a celebration of the dead and that we still do that. As I was thinking, trying to figure out what she meant when she said we still do that; Brianna scoffs, "Yeah, right. Like we would be like, It's Halloween, let's go to the Seminary." I nearly died laughing. I know she meant cemetery but I went to early morning Seminary and I know I have seen the walking dead there!

Okay, this isn't really something my kids said, but a kid did say it, so it qualifies...

There is a boy at Hailey's school that likes her and she likes him. They've been texting and talking a lot. One text he sent her said, "I have to tell God that he's missing an angel." SIXTH GRADE!!! And so it begins...

We were in the hardware store and got Brandon two of the 5 gallon paint stick stirrers. He loves using them as swords. He handed me one and says, "Here Mom, now we can have an epic battle!"

Hailey is lactose intolerant. She has become a bit dramatic over it. So, an ongoing joke in our family is quoting a movie line wherein the Dad calls for his kids to come and yells, "kids, come and get your flan!" When we yelled this the other night to call Hailey, Brianna quickly adds, "come and get your lactose free flan!" We died laughing!

Sammy and I were working on her reading and she read a hard sentence. I told her "that was perfect" to which she replied, "Holla! I'm awesome!"

Brandon wants to grow up so fast. It's led to many funny stories. Most recently he has realized that his dad always has cash in his pockets. So, he asked Brandt if he could have some "dollars" so he could be like him. Brandt said sure and gave him some coins for his pockets. Brandon is no fool he said no Dad, I want DOLLARS, like you. Brandt caved.

PART 2:

Today Brandon was fishing through Brandt's pockets and happily retrieved several bills. Brandt snatched them back as Brandon moaned. Brandt said, "Fine, you can have a bill if you can name it correctly." (You think he would learn by now) Brandon, again -- no fool, grabs the largest denomination and says this is $20 bucks." Incredulous Brandt says, "Why do you think that's a 20?" To which Brandon replied, "Because it has a 20 on it!"

Today at lunch Brandon said that T-Rex eats meat and that he also likes meat. So, he's a "carnibore." He asked Brandt do you know what that means? Before Brandt could answer Sammy interrupted, "That you're a dinosaur." Brandon went on to educate us all on what "carnibore" and "herbalbore" mean.

Sammy (age 4) asked to watch a DVD. Apparently it was her favorite movie when she was 5?!

Brandon was eating pizza at Sam's club and he was licking the grease off his fingers. Brianna told him that that was grease (with a disgusting look on her face). To which he replied, "mmmm, this is good grease."

We just got a new home line. Brianna gave the new number to all her friends. It turns out she also told them all it was her private number. Oh, that girl!

I was playing Trouble with Brandon. And he rolled a 6 I asked if he was going to get a new man out because he was moving another man along the board. He said "No, I'm living the dream." I don't even know what goes through his head.