Thanksgiving

We had a great and relaxing Thanksgiving at the Yates house this year. We had Blayne's Mom and Dad and some friends from our ward. It was fun, I was able to set my table all nice and formal and then have the traditional "kid's table". After lunch the kids watched the new Ramona and Beezus movie, which is great if you haven't seen it.

So with November behind we are ready for winter and Christmas. Blayne is so excited, the mountain is due for an epic season this year. There have been a few days where they have gotten up to 36" of snow. The kids are all decked out with new boots for their snowboards. We went up opening weekend as a family and enjoyed the beautiful snow. Definitely gets you in the Christmas spirit.

The kids are thriving in the new charter school we have them in. They are still working on all the signage and mascot pictures for Victoria's chosen Timberwolves. We are excited to get t-shirts and sweatshirts.

Here's hoping everyone has a great holiday season and please enjoy preparing for a great Christmas!!!

The votes are in!

At the beginning of the school year each class was asked to come up with a mascot and school colors they would suggest for their new school. So Victoria's teacher extended the task to each student as a persuasive argument writing assignment. After helping Victoria with several suggestions she chose the TIMBERWOLVES. She proceeded to get online and research what she could about TIMBERWOLVES in our area. Sure enough they are here. Her class went on to choose one idea to put in to be voted on by the entire school. Her class chose her TIMBERWOLVES. Very excited, she has been waiting for 3 weeks for the voting to be done and tallied.

Victoria and Gavin's school voted last week on the school mascot nominees. This morning they had an assembly and announced that Victoria's idea won. They are officially the Oregon Trail Primary Academy TIMBERWOLVES!!! Victoria was so excited, slightly embarrassed but excited. To top it off they also announced that she was elected Student of the Month.

I am so proud of her. She is doing so well even though attending a new school was not her choice. WOOHOO! Good job Victoria!!!

Where did summer go???

A real smile from son #1 !

Mom & Sean top of Yosemite park

Sean & Dad

Don't fall off Sean!

Sean& Doug at Hotel in Yosemite

Sean worked on this hotel last year

G'pa Doug & K

On cruise around San Diego G'pa & K

Funny little man, K!

These two were laughing at inside joke!

Panning for gold @ Mormon Battalion

K thought this was so fun!

Papa Doug & K on beach

Meeting "C"

"K" LOVES water!

Aerin napping in the hammock!

I love this pic of M bugging G!

Blayne, G &aM in the hammock

V hangin' in the hammock

Aerin 

Smores/campfire!

M & G'ma Mary 

Blayne with his winning trophy for
his VW bug!

G, Blayne, and my friends, Heidi & E & VM kitty!

The end of September already?  I'm sure summer just started and now it is time for that cooler fall weather.  I am in sunny southern CA right now visiting with Brenton & Melissa, Kingston, and new baby Chayse!  Ahhh, those sweet little precious newborns!  Mmmm, that newborn smell.  Cuddling a newborn.  Watching Kingston learn to walk.  K giving C kisses!  Kisses n hugs from K!  Walks with K.  Walks on the beach!!!!!  B, K & I went for a walk on the beach yesterday morning.  The tide was really in; so not much sand to walk on.  It was fun to watch the surfers and we got to see some dolphins.  We got wet several times.  K loved it!  On our way down to CA; Doug & I stopped to see Sean and went up to Yosemite.  WOW!  It is beautiful up there!  Gorgeous views!  It was fun to see where S has been working this summer. We went down & toured the hotel that he worked on last year. Pics just don't capture the beauty of God's creation there! We stayed at his new place and met some of his roommates & friends.  Stopped by to visit Doug's sister and her family.  While Doug was in CA with us; we went to San Diego one day and did a boat cruise that was awesome and also visited the Mormon Battalion.  Went to the beach a couple of times and enjoyed some nice walks!  Papa Doug left on Saturday and baby C was born a couple of days later.  K and I did fine while Mom & Dad were at the hospital.  Doug spent most of the summer with work & school.  We did manage to go camping a couple of days with Blayne & Aerin and the kiddos.  It was very relaxing and fun!  Enjoyed the campfires and just being outside.  It was fun to share a tent with V!  My friend, Heidi and her daughter E stopped by to visit one Sunday in August.  We had a great time down memory lane!  Doug is back home busy working on our master bath remodel that we started the end of May.  He is taking a short break from school and will start back up here shortly.  September also brought V going into 3rd grade and G starting kindergarten.  They are growing up so fast!  Poor M doesn't know what to do while her siblings are at school!  I will attempt to add some pics of the rest of summer and beginning of fall!

Me & blogger are trying to get to know each other; but I think I need a one-on-one tutorial!  :)  

Love 'n hugs, Mary  :)

Walking & time at the park

While B, A, & T went to CA for the family reunion; D & I got to watch G & M.  We really had fun and it was a nice warm weekend!  D also studied and G hung out playing games.  M and I did errands and laundry.  It was a busy weekend; but loved the time together and glad the rest of the family returned home safely. 

More Fourth of July

We enjoyed a nice day with Blayne and family for his birthday and celebrating the fourth with family 'n friends!  The weather was cool; but at least it wasn't raining.  Great BBQ and music from the neighbors.  The guys enjoyed their fireworks and wars! :)