Valentine's Day

2-14-17

 

 

Downtown in December

Downtown in December is one of the most bittersweet phrases that can be uttered. Although it is beautiful and whimsical, and wonderfully festive... everyone else in the valley feels the same way.  But tonight felt different. 

Why?

They got along. The whole time we were downtown they didn't fight, yell, hit, whine, or complain. Not that they always do... but they always do!  There is nothing more that I love than spending time with these creations of mine, especially when a pre-planned and potentially chaotic evening is in store... and they all get along!!! We went downtown tonight to celebrate the wedding of a young Woman from our ward and made a shopping/lights visit out of it. And even though the night started about three hours later than originally planned, we all had a good time. 

Maybe downtown in December is not so bad after all.

 

 

Hat Bowling

Was there a reason we decided to turn our day-after-thanksgiving-bowling-party into a hat party?

No. 

it just seemed like a good idea. 

And we LOVED it! 

Not necessarily because of the hats, but it added an element of whimsy that seemed appropriate for the activity. 

Thanksgiving 2016

A White family thanksgiving is a highly anticipated event. We have so much fun with each other. Although not everyone could make it, we had a blast with those who could. It was at Jamie's house this year so Adam could join us while on duty.  I didn't grow up with sisters and I love how bjs sisters claim me as one of their own. I love being part of this close-knit, supportive, crazy clan. 

Halloween!

My kids did not even bat an eye when I told them I would only put up Halloween decorations if they helped me.  Since no one offered, we had no festive decor.  It may become a tradition since no one really cared.  We still had plenty of candy... as a matter of fact, we had an abundance.  Since I bought candy about two weeks early, and BJ decided to buy two boxes of snack-sided Doritos to pass out to trick-or-treaters.  The original plan was for AJ to stay home and pass out the booty and I would go with Ash and Cars, but Aj decided, last minute, to go as a "parkourist" and collect candy with friends.  So he left, then Ash (Queen of Hearts) went with Macey Francis (White Rabbit) and Tesla Schaffer (Black Cat) and Carson ("Conner" from assassins creed) went with Joseph.  I stayed home.  It was quite lovely.  I was tempted to blow out my jack-o-lanterns and binge on almond joys and doritos, but I did not want to be left picking up half eaten bags of extremely cheesy chips for the next year.  So I put in MockingJay (part 2), and kept the remote handy so I could pause it every minute, open the door, and throw treats at kids so they could get on their way.  All in all it was a delightful night.

My favorite part of the evening was when Ash and Cars came home and sorted their candy.  I got a kick out of how carson organized his candy:
Sweet: Candy bars, soda pop, etc
Suckers: things on sticks
Sour: sweet tarts, war heads, fun dip, etc
Chewy: Starbursts, air heads, gummy bears
Spicy: Hot Tamales, Doritos
Non-Candy: toothbrush, toys, etc.
The other thing that made me laugh was after Ash organized hers (more agreeable with my logic... and probably the rest of the planet) she counted the items in each category and logged them in her notebook creating a graph of treats.  A girl after my own heart.

Happy Halloween!!!

party time!

One of the best things about holidays is getting together with other people.  I am combining my post about these two events because they happened one day after another.  (Ward party on Saturday night, Castleberry Party on Sunday night)  For our ward party we (members of the ward) were asked to bring a soup or dessert.  If we wanted, we could enter our item in a "Chili cook-off" but for all items.  We got there 20 minutes late so we did not enter our amazing chili in the cook-off, but are pretty sure it would have had a good chance at winning, because it was amazing! I used a firehouse recipe that had 4 meats, then made a second batch using only beans and veggies then combined the two and it turned out great!! (A little too spicy for me, but with enough chips and cheese it was perfect).  In addition to the food, each auxiliary (Relief Society, Young Women, Elders Quorum, etc) was asked to come up with a self regulating activity (unless they wanted to "man their booth".) Angela Howell, our new Mia Maid leader volunteered to bring her two horses and do pony rides! It was the hit of the party and totally represented for the YW.  The only pictures I took were of Ash and Cars on the horses, the last two rides of the night.  We had a great time visiting with some old and new friends.

The Castleberry party was, of course, a blast.  Grandma pretty much did the whole shebang.  She had three soups (and my second batch of Chili), rolls, and others brought a couple salads (and I brought a "Halloween Jello").  She also had a few fun activities: A marshmallow drop, a costume fashion show, trick-or-treating, a kid cake walk, and an adult cake walk.  We had three out sick (Amanda, KJ and Brooke) so we felt a little incomplete, but somehow managed to have a great time.

White Halloween Party

Jamie and Adam Stowers hosted the annual White Halloween party this year at their  new house. As usual, it was an absolute blast!  We had a delicious potato bar and tons of baked goods (really, TONS) and enough treats and candy to last us until the Halloween haul.  Bj and I went as Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf.  The kids were in love with his mask and kept wanting to try it on... except the little ones like Evelyn and Haylee.  Our kids were not seen by us for the night, or so it seemed.  AJ and Garrett went to the local school to practice their "Parkour", Ash and Gracie were who-knows-where doing who-knows-what, and Carson and Jake were in the back yard inventing new ways to enjoy each others company.  Bj and I were enjoying visiting with his siblings (his parents were in Arizona at a wedding) and terrorizing the tiny ones with realistic fangs and a concealing cape.  We look forward to this every year and are already looking forward to Ocober 2017 (where there will be a new niece or nephew to terrorize!)

Labor Day 2016

September 5, 2016

It's hard to see the background in these pictures, but we are at the Bees Game!  Bj was able to get box seat tickets from work and we are so god he did! We shared it with a few other firefighters and their families. We had a blast hanging out in the suite munching on popcorn, chips and sodas. The game it's self was not too thrilling, but enjoyable to watch. We are glad we went and have made a mental note to go to at least one game per season. 

Other Events this Labor Day included a morning stroll to Kneaders for breakfast and a BBQ birthday bash for grandpa Russ. (Although I spent most of the party in the office assembling a girls camp movie). 

We had a great, low-key Labor Day with the best company, family!

Pioneer Day/Antelope fire

July 22, 2016

Pioneer day in Utah is a pretty big deal.  We spent the day in bountiful swimming and going to the parade.  It was pushing 90 degrees and we were ill prepared, but enjoyed it nonetheless.  Everyone's favorite part of the parade was when we saw Ella on a float! She looked so cute as she went by, waving like a princess!  Later that night we went to grandmas and watched fireworks on the hill overlooking the salt lake and antelope island.  It was extra cool because the island had a show of it's own, au-natural.  It turns out the mountain was on fire! It was actually a pretty cool backdrop to the man-made explosives that were going off all around us.  

Cousins heal all

July 4, 2016

After our accident earlier today, Ashlyn was a little stiff and had everyone worried, naturally.  All she was concerned about was getting to grandmas house.  And no wonder.  Cousins are a balm for the soul.  These cute girls love each other, and were so sweet and doting on my poor, traumatized daughter.  Gracie, Avari and Brynne, thanks for being there for your cousin, she needed you more than you know.

Eaglewood

July 2, 2016

Fathers Day 2016

June 19, 2016

Fathers Day

Memorial Day 2016

Memorial Day 2016

I am glad we take the time to do this each year.  We usually go with my parents to the sites they like to visit, while taking some time to pay respects to others as well.  The kids are always really respectful and reverent at the cemetery's and are willing to just tag along and listen as we share memories as they create some of their own. 

Easter 2016

We are so glad we were able to make it to this years Easter Celebration! We were cutting it close because we were on our way home from Las Vegas (our "layover" coming home from L.A.). Mom pulled out all the stops. Not only was dinner and dessert amazing but she had a full array of games for the kids to enjoy. They had an egg roll, an egg toss, a bubble watch and more. The egg hunt was a kids dream! Since John and I were the only ones able to go, (and Camden, who was staying with grandma and grandpa while his family was in Arizona) they nearly broke their baskets under the weight of all the Easter eggs they found!  

We love this incredible family of ours and were grateful for the opportunity we had to celebrate with them. 

We headed out a little earlier than usual because we still had a little Easter surprise of our own waiting for the kids at home. Before we left for California, we backed out of the driveway then remembered we had to "check something" real quick. So Bj and I ran in and hid a bag full of eggs and brought the kids fully loaded Easter baskets out of hiding. The three minute rush paid off when we walked in the door and the kids faces lit up as they saw colorful surprises peeking out of all our nooks and crannies. 

It was a joyful way to end our family vacation. No regrets. 

Sure do love this family of mine. 

St Patrick's 2016

March 17, 2016

St. Patrick's day isn't a highly anticipated event at our house, but it doesn't go un-noticed.  If it falls on a weekend we pull out all the stops and turn everything we consume a festive shade of green and even watch a fun show like Darby O'Gill and the Little People, Into the West, or the newest addition to my list, Brooklyn. And don't forget the traditional meal of corned beef and cabbage.... Well, we did. What you see is what we did, and Ashlyn added to it by painting shamrocks on hers and Carsons cheeks. 

That was it. 

Dinner was probably the weirdest thing we've ever had. It was Ashlyns turn to cook and she made chunky cinnamon French toast with butter syrup... And potato soup. Nothing says St. Patrick like French toast and potato soup... I guess Ireland does have quite the potato production...?

Anyway. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Girl Band

New Year's Day 2016! After sleeping in we rallied the troops for the final party of the season. We headed to the Castleberry Condo to visit with my cousins, Aimee and Shannon, who were in town, from Seattle, with their families for the holidays. It was so fun to visit with them for a bit and I hope we can make a trip to see them sometime soon. After they left, Ash and Kaylee gently twisted Grandmas arm into teaching them a guitar song. They sounded so good as they started getting the hang of it! At the wind down of the evening they declared, "we should start our own band!".

You go girls!

Happy New Year!!

We love our tradition of spending New Year's Eve with our friends, the Shirley's.  It is the perfect end and beginning to the year.  We started the tradition a few years ago when they lived out our back door.  (We even bought a gate to connect our two yards and paid some day laborers to install it for us.)  Well worth it.  That gate was the wormhole to years of friendship development.  We really miss having them in our back yard, but are glad we have been able to keep the 30 minute distance inconsequential.  

This year our typical frivolities ensued.  We played games, chatted, laughed, and ate and ate and ate.  Ash had to bring her Guitar to show Madi and hoped Lauren would show her a chord or two.  Carter got a "Hoverboard" for Christmas and all the kids, including BJ, took a turn roaming the rooms on it.  Carson especially enjoyed it and actually became pretty good! The bad thing, is now everyone, including BJ, want one of their own... and the cheapest one we can find is about $350!  We'll just have to get our fix on Carters when we feel the need to roam. 

Thanks for your friendship Nate, Michelle, Lauren, Carter and Madi.  We love you guys!

Christmas 2015

Merry Christmas!!!  The day has finally arrived!  We have been so blessed this year.  So blessed.   We were fortunate enough to have a stable enough financial situation that not only were we able to spoil our well deserving children, but two other families as well.  (Feels weird typing that "out loud" but since only 2 people read this blog, it doesn't feel like boasting... I just want to write it down so the kids can remember how amazing it felt to do what we did.)   We have really enjoyed the season.  Having work off for the month of December has been paramount to a Christ focused season.  Next year I won't be so lucky, so I have to figure out how to hone in on the meaning of the season.  That being said.... This morning felt like it should have a sound track and a slow motion video montage.  It was absolutely perfect.   Bj didn't get off work this morning until 7:00 so we got to sleep in! In hopes of being able to see the looks of surprise on the kids faces, we have the tradition of putting up wrapping paper to cordon off the family room until the big "reveal".  So at shortly after 7 (which is really late considering it's Christmas morning!) the kids crawled into bed with me and waited for BJ to get home from work.  Barely paying attention to the movie on the tv in my room, they tuned in as soon as they heard the tires of BJ's truck crunching up the driveway.  They literally started running in circles while they heard him unlock the door, gasp in delight at what he saw awaiting the children, and slowly worked his way to the paper barrier.  He usually will bound through causing the kids to squeal but this year he sent trusting LuLu into the unknown as the kids called to her from beyond the veil.  as soon as the walls came tumbling down, the furry friend was quickly forgotten as the kids honed in on their bounty.  The plethora of presents posing beneath the pine were un-marked and the kids quickly learned that the wrapped item in their stocking represented the patterned prizes that waited for them.  Every year I am amazed how much ends up being under the tree.  The "4 gifts" we get the kids seem to multiply and stretch on well over an hour of blissful exclamations and expressions of joy and gratitude.   These munchkins couldn't have been happier with what they were looking at when the wrapping paper was all cleared away...

AJ got his long awaited "Pro Scooter" and the "Google Cardboard VR viewer" as well as an outfit complete with shoes.

Carson was over the moon with his plastic snowboard, nerf bow, and Nintendo 3DS-XL (which, when the three things, said in succession, comes out sounding an awful lot like a movie about a boy who wants a red-ryder BB gun)

Ashlyn wanted to take her new guitar to bed with her and almost sang herself horse with her new Karaoke machine, but her high-heeled boots are what put her in high-heaven. 

My favorite things that we got for each of the kids were music Lessons.  AJ will be learning the Ukulele from a YW in our ward, Megan.  Ashlyn will be taking guitar lessons, and Carson will be learning to play the piano from another YW, Maddie.  I am so excited at the prospect of my already vocally talented kids expanding their musical ambitions, and beyond thrilled that most of them will be learning from local talent!  BJ and I spoiled each other with new phones, and a much deserved nap! 

When we woke up, it was time to go to the White house for our Christmas party.  We use to celebrate on the 24th, but moved it to Christmas day last year.  We weren't too thrilled with the time change, but it worked in  BJ's favor this year so he was able to see how happy his parents were when we gave them this Family Tree that had pictures of their biologicals in Black and White between the ages of 3-7 with a cute little quote along the lines of "Family, where life begins and love never ends."  It was well received, along with the group gift of a camping griddle for Dad and a music box with one of Mom's childhood songs ("I love you, a bushel and a peck....") on the front, along with a family tree necklace for Mom. 

We had to jet out to try and catch the end of my Mom's family Christmas open house, missing Bj's Grandma's open house all together (all three parties started at 3:00)

We got to my mom's open house just after the last of her siblings left, but just after Rich and Carrie got there and John and KJ were already there, so we at least got to see them!  Kaylee brought her new sewing machine to show and tell, so Ash and Calla got Grandma's and joined in the merriment!  When Camden got a text from a friend, our evening took a beautiful turn and we rallied together to provide a little Christmas love.  It was the perfect way to end a perfect day.  We returned home exhausted and overflowing with gratitude for our own circumstances.

Merry Christmas 2015!

Castleberry Christmas

We absolutely love spending time with this group of people.  Right now the family consists of:
Mom &Dad

Matt & Katie: Kathleen, Kai, Cian, Liam

Rich & Carrie: Camden, Kaylee, Calla, Kade

Lizz & BJ: AJ, Ashlyn, Carson,

John & KelliJo: Jake, Charli, Sam

Ben & Amanda: Ella, Jude

Paul & Brooke

Our annual Christmas party is held on the 23rd of December (to accommodate our individual in-laws on the 24th) and tonight it was our first Christmas party in the new home! This party usually consists of a grandkid dramatization of the Nativity a gift exchange among siblings and to and from our parents. 

We made a little unscheduled change this year....

All the siblings went in on a gift for mom and dad this year: Season tickets to Hale Center Theatre.  Instead of just handing them an envelope with tickets in it, I put together a little skit.  So when mom relinquished the directing of the Nativity to me, she was really confused when Kaylee came out singing a song from Beauty and the Beast.  I won't post the script, but I will say it turned out really cute! (yes... patting my own back)  I took characters from the 6 plays in the Hale Center 2016 lineup and wove them into a disconnected non-christmasy production that the kids were beyond thrilled to present.  It was so fun to see it come together and to see so many of the kids prepared with memorized lines!

After the play, we were prepared to perform the Nativity, but mom said we didn't need to do it (Matt had to get Kai back to Christy) and we moved on to the gift exchange. After the grandkids opened their gifts from Mom and Dad, we exchanged gifts with siblings.  This year BJ and I bought for Rich and Carrie.  I was so excited to give them their sweaters we got them, and their reactions did not disappoint!  John and KJ had us and they got me a bright read, super soft blanket that said, Keep Calm, Read on. (Perfect for me!!!) and they found a compact and expandable camping flashlight/lantern for BJ (Perfect again!!!).  Every year we talk about foregoing our tradition of buying gifts for each other and instead, pool it and help someone in need... but we love buying things for each other!

Each year at out get together, we are reminded how much we love each other and continue to enjoy time spent in our company. 

I did a lousy job photodocumenting the event, but these shots are enough to recall the emotions felt during the night. 

Merry Christmas Castleberry Family!

Thanksgiving 2015