more christmas pics!

SO I know now why I am always behind in posting. It's because I have a fear that if I am all caught up on them I will run out of things to post, and it has happened. Not because we haven't been doing anything but because I keep forgetting my camera, everywhere we go. Thankfully a friend sent me some pics she took at our Primary Christmas party so at least I have something new to put on the blog. Even if it is from December.

Hopefully I'll have something recent to post soon.

Birthday at the beach!

This is why I live in Florida. (Ha! as if I have a choice) It is January and this is some friends and I a few weeks ago at the beach. We were there to celebrate a birthday and we all decided to go parasailing. All but one of us had never been before, so it was great to be able to all go together.

Here we are getting ready to sail

In the air
Chillin on the boat

We went to lunch after the beach to continue the celebration

and some more friends joined us there.

For New Year's Eve we had Jim's brothers over. We ate, had fireworks, and roasted marshmallows outside. You may notice that our fireworks look suspiciously like the ones from the 4th of July and also last New Years. I am pretty sure that we always buy the same package, there's not much variety for cheapskates like us. Luckily at this age the kids don't know the difference. We had our own biker gang formed with all the big wheels and scooters. Everyone was on one and they were circling the fireworks. I tried to get a good pic of it but was not able to.

Now on to posts from the current year. Yes!

Girls Day

Sometimes you just need a girls day. My friend Emily and I both decided it was time for a break so we went to lunch at Red Robin and went to see the movie Marley and Me. After all the craziness at Christmas, it was nice and relaxing to just go out and spend a few hours with a friend.

This picture is horribly out of focus, what is with the people I choose to take pictures for me?

Golfing it Opp!

Now that Jim's brother Wes and his wife Jenny live in Cali we don't get to see them very often so one of the things that we do when they come is go golfing. I think we're making it a annual thing. This year there were seven of us who went so even though we only played 9 holes it took forever. We had to let several people play through so they wouldn't have to wait for us. It was a lot of fun and we got a good work out in with all the extra searching for balls and fishing them out of the water (not me of course). I am proud to say that I think I outdrove Jim on one of my shots... although I couldn't ever find the ball so I can't really be sure... but that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

Here we lined up our carts to wait for some people to pass us.

Wes taking a swing

and Jim

and me, check out that form, I should go pro!
Jenny

Keri

Keri and Berk

Merry Christmas!! ha ha

I realize how sad it is that it is January and I am just now posting our Christmas stuff. I am not sure why I can't seem post things until weeks after they happen...oh well.

Christmas was a lot of fun as always. This year the kids slept in until 8! It was great, especially since Santa's little helpers were up late. Bill and Elaine came over to watch the kids open their presents, and brought us some breakfast. Then in the afternoon we went to their house to see Wes and Jenny (who flew in on Christmas day), and we all had dinner together and opened the family presents.

Zoie was not ready to wake up when the boys were,

so Nolan was trying to get her excited about the whole Santa came thing.

Once she woke up completely, she got excited. This is a tent for her bed that we were hoping would get her to start sleeping in her bed at night...no such luck. At least she likes to play in it.

Nolan and Aidan both got remote control helicopters. They were a big hit.
Yea, more playdoh to smush in the carpet!

Aidan, with his pitching machine. He'll start pre-T-ball in a few weeks.

Nolan got a telescope. He has always liked to learn about space thanks to his kindergarten teacher.

Zoie also got a box up dress up dresses, which she loves.

I've taught her well, she loves clothes and shoes!

Aidan and Nana
I am pretty sure that in this picture Wes was trying to talk one of the kids into giving him their money. They didn't fall for it.
Zoie felt it was her duty to stack everyone's presents.

Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve we had Jim's family over for dinner. It was really nice to be able to have them over to our house since we usually go to his parent's. We ate and played cards and the kids showed off the best that they could since they don't get to see Keri very often. She was a bit hit because she brought them candy (she knows what it takes to get on their good side).

Here is Keri, Will, Berk (Keri's boyfriend) and Jim. Aidan putting on a show for everyone.
Keri and Berk
Nolan enjoying his candy
Zoie

visit from friends

Just before Christmas our friends the Ojukwu's came to visit for a few days. We spent time catching up and the kids spent time playing. The kids played outside a lot and Jim and Austin tossed the football around. Surprisingly with seven kids together everyone all got along really well. The kids just packed themselves into the boys room and splept where ever they could find a spot.
We went to Gulf Coast Town Center for dinner, and took the kids to the little play area and then went to Bass Pro to see their Christmas display. The highlight of the night was that Austin and Ginny couldn't find their van keys so we had to pack all the kids into our van while we drove around the shopping center to all the places we had been to try to find them. After about 45 min we were about to give up and head home (which would have been a fun ride considering our van seats seven and there were eleven of us), Naya pulls their keys out of her jacket pocket. Needless to say it was a fun night. We were all so relieved that the keys were found and we wouldn't have to leave their van at the big shopping center over night.
Even with all the excitement, we always love having our friends come to visit. And this visit will give us something to laugh about for years to come!

Family Photo Shoot

It's always a treat at the Opp house when we try to get the family together for a photo. After all the craziness we actually ended up with a few good shots. Luckily my photographer, who is also a good friend, is very patient.

Here are some of the goodies...

and some of the funny ones...



GOOD TIMES!!

Christmas party

Our ward had its annual Christmas party this year and somehow Jim got talked into being in the Navitity play that they did. I have no idea how, I am thinking that maybe he didn't have a choice. Our bishop is powerfully persuasive. Anyway here are some pics from it.

Jim was cast as a wise man (HA HA). I found out the day before the party that he needed a costume for it. Luckily I had some old fabric that worked well enough.Nolan was the only one of our kids who would sit with Santa this year. Santa was actually in our ward for a few weeks! He was flown here from Arizona to be the Santa at the mall.

We should have known Santa is LDS!