Playin' Guitar & Eatin' At Denny's

Last Sunday we headed over to Grandpa & Grandma Martin's house to hang out since we are going to see them on Thanksgiving this year. The last time we were there Owen had so much fun playing guitar with Grandpa, but I forgot my camera. This time I came prepared...

Owen has always loved music and he really enjoys it when we all sing Bible songs.

Love this cute mischievous grin!

Last time Jack wasn't too interested, but this time around he wanted to give it a go.

After hanging out at their place for a little while we went and visited Great Grandpa & Grandma who live just one street over. Then we went to dinner at Denny's. We had a buy one get one free coupon and it was kids eat free so we ended up getting four dinners (well breakfast for dinner) for $10!!!

We got the boys these cute baseball pancakes! All in all it was a really nice evening out!

Ella's Hutch

Michael's Mom and Dad just recently moved and they needed to get rid of a couple things that wouldn't fit in their new place and this hutch was one of them.

Michael's Dad actually made this years ago from reclaimed barn wood. I love it! I have always loved it and I'm so glad he decided to give it to us. I knew immediately I would put it in Ella's room. I want her room to have a shabby chic feel so this will be perfect. I can already picture this cute crystal lamp sitting on it with a frilly lampshade. I am going to make one adjustment though. The bottom part has chicken wire covering the doors and I love the look, but on the inside it's not finished off very kid friendly so we are going to cover that so no kids get poked and I'm going to get some cute fabric to put on the inside so you won't be able to see all the stuff that's stored in there.

Christmas Eve

We spent Christmas Eve at Michael's Mom and Dad's house. I made Taco Soup for everyone for dinner. It was SO yummy! We had a good time hanging out with family. The boys stayed up WAY past their bedtime, but they both did great.

Grandpa Martin had to work, but he got home around 7pm so we waited to open presents until then.

Paige was so excited this year because she's 4 now and she can eat dairy. She's been horribly allergic to it since she was born, but they started out giving her a little bit each day and she's doing great so they think she's just grown out of it. YAY!!! I couldn't imagine being allergic to dairy!

Cooper and Avery are growing up into such handsome young men!

This is a self portrait I took...I wasn't even trying to get Michael and Owen in the background it just worked out that way...I mean I'm just talented that way.

Owen was having fun rocking in this chair I even caught him checking himself out in the mirror that was behind him.

Paige opening her baby doll.

Camryn loves to play dress up so this gift was spot on!

New sheets for Becky!

Jack got an animal parade, but Owen seemed more interested in it than he did.

Samantha got a Cabbage Patch Kit named Bridget.

Here are our annual Christmas tree pictures. Michael's brother Steve and his family weren't able to come this year because they both had to work until 7pm plus they live in Lacey so it was too far to come that late...especially with all this snow.

Grandma & Grandpa Martin

Rick, Michelle, Avery, Cooper & Paige

Jon, Becky, Camryn & Samantha

Michael, Lyndsay, Owen & Jack

Fear

Owen has pretty much always been a scaredy cat when it comes to loud noises. He cries at loud kitchen appliances, people cheering and lawn equipment. So last Saturday when we visited Grandma & Grandpa Martin's house I shouldn't have been surprised when he freaked out at the riding lawnmower. Still I thought once he got on it with Grandpa that he would see that it wasn't going to hurt him and he might actually enjoy himself...

NOPE!!!!!