Party like it's 2010

Ringing in 2011 in Afton, Wyoming means we survive sub-arctic temperatures, piles of dishes, and super late bedtimes. To party out 2010 we spent time in the snow with some furry friends, racing snowmobiles in the back yard, and perfecting a K'Nex dragster. We had a blast! We look forward to what the new year will bring.

Buried!

12/22/10

12/29/10

In the last week we have recieved so. much. snow. Today's storm has piled on 21 more inches, and it's expected to snow through Friday... that's two days away! We are headed up to Wyoming to ring in the New Year. Here's hoping we make it there!

Caption a Christmas

It's all about presentation.
If you want a picture of the whole fam on Christmas morning, invite a homeless man to stay at your house.

Store brand fruit snacks? I don't know who you think you're fooling.

Oddest stocking gift. Ever.

Sixteen shmixteen. These presents are all for me.

Santa always brings me exactly what I want... even if I am kind of naughty.

I can't wait! I can't wait! I can't wait!

Don't ask, don't tell.

This gun was not the car stereo he was expecting.

Can you say gun on a blog? Gun, gun, gun.

Awww, twinners.

The one person that is incapable of keeping a secret was surprised by other peoples capabilities at secret keeping.

Don't ask, don't tell. Again.

Homeless training in action.

Crazy Carolyn's Christmas Eve Party

A picture is worth a thousand words...

Trouble! Right here in Heber City!!

It starts with A and rhymes with glee and ends in "nie"- that means Annie.

Trouble turned 18 months yesterday! As I write this she's walking around the living room with a snow hat covering her eyes. That girl.

Annie is picking up language fast lately with new phrases like "all clean", and "yuck-yuck". She mimics us constantly and has turned into a little jabberwalkee.

One week ago today we got rid of her binky... and that means we got rid of good sleeping as well. Annie rarely naps (and if she does it is short lived) and she is up at 6AM. I'm praying that she goes back to her old sleeping habits soon. I miss that down time in the afternoon!

She has become picky and independent- which means she is even more stubborn that before. I like to think that she will just be one of those women that sticks to her guns later on in life.

Annie loves her family, her grandmas, and our neighbors Grace and Sariah, and Morgan (even though she tortures him and can take him down, despite the fact that he's practically twice her size. She loves playing with kids- especially Will and his buddies. She's even started tattling already; if Will does something wrong or mean she'll come and find me, yell "Mommy", and point in Will's direction. It cracks me up. She's such a girl.

We look forward to better communication, but most of all NURSERY!!!! Church just got a whole lot more enjoyable :).

Annie Kate, you are the greatest gal in the whole world. You make me smile, make me laugh, and make me better. I'm so glad you are mine.

Height: 32 in (60%)
Weight: 21 lbs 4 oz (12%)
Head: 47.5 cm (80%)

Does this hat make my cheeks look big?

The best part of my day by far:

Cuddling with the munchkins, chomping on popcorn, and watching Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. I love the holidays.
PS- On Monday I drove down to the big city to do some Christmas shopping. We were listening to FM 100.3 when "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" came on. Will sang along because he knew all the words, and I cried. My baby boy is so big!

The Reason

Take the time. Watch this video. Remember his birth, his life, his death, and how he did it all for you.

My Grandma Jewel

My Grandma Jewel Loder celebrated her 93rd birthday yesterday. She has been living at Apple Village care center for the past 6 months so we haven't been able to see her as frequently as we used to. I miss going to my Mom's and seeing her sitting by the window, rocking quietly in her chair. She always loved seeing the great grandkids. She would playfully move toys with her cane as Annie and William chased it around her feet.

My Grandma has changed so much in the last couple of months since I last saw her. She is so skinny now since she refuses to eat anything, well, except for hot chocolate. She has always been a sweet tooth! She has forgotten most of us because of her dementia, even having a hard time remembering her own son Larry. She talks even less than she used to, but she told me she loved me yesterday as I gave her a hug when we were leaving.

My Grandma always set a wonderful example of love and sacrifice for me. She took good care of her family, making sure bellies were full and our needs were taken care of. I vividly remember her spending hours in the kitchen preparing an endless Thanksgiving feast for my entire Loder side of the family. With all of us crammed into the back patio, in the heat of the wood stove, she would finally sit down and rest and enjoy her meal in the presence of her family. She never asked for thanks or praise. She just did it because she loved us.

I love my Grandma very much. I am so grateful that she was able to live with my parents over the last few years so that I could spend more time with her. I will never forget her laugh, her smile when she saw our new babies, how she always told me to be careful going home, how she could pack away endless sweets, or how cranky and stubborn she was when you asked her to do something she didn't want to do! Her name fits her perfectly. She is our Jewel.

As I write this...

McKenzie and Will are boasting over who's dad has more guns.

Kenz: My dad has so many guns.
Will: Well, my dad has a hundred guns.
Kenz: Well, my dad is getting a gun for Christmas.

... and so on and so forth.

I remember doing this same thing with Andy Wilson, my next door neighbor. He told me his Dad had a secret room that was lined with guns so that you couldn't even see the walls.

It was pure lies.

If I saw Andy today, I would tell him that my dad definitely has more guns than his dad. My dad has so many guns, he can't even shoot them all!!! Don't worry, they're locked away. (Probably in a room that is so lined with guns that you can't even see the walls!!!)

In 79 days...

With 11 other nuts, I will be running this...

In terrain that looks like this....

Which means that between now and then, I'm going to spend approximately 60 hours in the next 10 weeks doing a whole bunch of this...

What did I ever do before I took up running?

Lost In Translation

Dear Santa,
Legos. I am a good boy. I like my Mom. I got to go to McDonald's and get a toy.
From, William Nicoll

Dear Santa,
Don't worry about bringing me a gift this year, I'll just steal everything from my brother anyway. He may be bigger, but I am fierce.
From, Annie Nicoll

I should have gotten rid of these LONG ago.

Turkey 2010

Thanksgiving is over. I will never be able to get over the holiday let down; all that anticipation and then- boom- your left with piles and piles of dishes, food hangovers, and containers of turkey that smell like, well, a fart when you open them. (Don't tell Dallas that I said "fart" on our blog.)

The Nicoll family celebrated 36 people deep on Thursday. Personally, I was thankful that Dallas' Aunt Nancy and Uncle Doran have a large enough house to fit us all and allow those who want to nap to do so. Annie and Will were thoroughly entertained the whole day- what with the candy corn decorations, who needs to bother Mom for a snack, right? It was great to be together with some of the people we love the very most.

The people I am most thankful for in this entire universe.

Below- David, Liz, Kayla and Elijah Nicoll

Nancy Henrie, Rick Little, Ashley Little, Katie Henrie, Nate Henrie

Beau, Kallie, Liesel and Jordan

Beau and Grandpa Lyman Nicoll

Jordan, Liesel, Dallas, Austin, and Abby

I started the morning at the Turkey Trot in Midway. When we raced it was below zero- FREEZING is totally an understatement. When the runners crossed the finish line they were covered in frost because your sweat would just instantly freeze. I wish I had my camera to capture Dallas' brother Austin- he won an award for best frozen beard.

I raced well and was able to take 2nd place overall in women. I had a PR with a 21:47 5K- a 7:20 avg/mile. I had to push hard to beat my little neighbor boy, Zak Kohler. The kid is 10 and is a machine! I came in a minute or so after Austin which means I have a new goal- beat my bearded brother-in-law.

Zak and Mindy Kohler, Katie Nelson, Me

"That's why yamming is so dangerous."

Family. You can't live with 'em, and you can't live without 'em. That's why Thanksgiving was really invented- get together, stuff your faces, and then hurry and leave so you can drive home before the L-tryptophan in the turkey kicks in and you get too sleepy.

We celebrated Thanksgiving Wilson style on Sunday. We have short tempers and shortcomings, but we have more laughs than either of those. My favorite quotes were-

• A miscommunication between Sam and I. He was talking about the football player, Manning, on the Patriots while I was busy preparing the candied yams. I thought he said, "That's why yamming is so dangerous." Really, he said Manning. The misinterpreted quote became the most quotable line of the night.
• Dad: The other night I watched a geology special on channel 9... Sam: Did it rock?
• While waiting for the family pictures- Sam: Are we ready yet? Because this is the longest I've had to pay attention.

Alright, so these all had to do with Sam. What can I say? The guy puts the "FUN" in dysFUNctional.