Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Life of Fry

Cody and I were finally able to sneak away on a much needed date night on the 6th. We went out to dinner, did a some Christmas shopping for the kids and then to "Catching Fire". Cody had not watched it yet and I wanted to see it again. It ended up being a family affair. We ran into my cousin Matt who was going to a different movie and then my aunt Paige, uncle Jeff and cousin Garet were in the same theater we were in.

When we got home there was a backhoe on our front lawn. We knew it was coming but it still made us laugh. Who else would come home to a backhoe in the middle of their lawn? Then we found out that Foster had gotten sick and puked all over in the bathroom and my new favorite babysitter Paige had cleaned him up as well as the puke and put him to bed with a puke bowl. Most sitters would have called me to come home and deal with it, but she took care of all of it (happy mommy!). 

After I took her home I tried to get my pajamas on, but realized my dresser drawers were empty and so were Cody's. We made the mistake of letting our friends know that we were out for the night. They so graciously emptied our drawers into garbage bags and hid them throughout the house. I called Paige to see if she would fess up who was involved (even though I knew exactly who it was and found out later I was right), but she was sworn to secrecy. I found out later that she was worried that we would never hire her again because she let people into our house (she is their neighbors), but I told her it comes with the territory of babysitting for the Fry's so not to worry about it.

The next morning was digging day and our water had to be shut off while they dug up the sewer line. I plugged my flat iron in and left the bathroom to do something else while it heated up. When I came back in the bathroom it smelled like puke. I figured it was because the water was shut off and there must still be puke from last night stuck in the pee trap and because the water was off it was wafting into the room, gross!! I picked up my flat iron to do my hair and luckily turned it just right and realized that there was puke on the inside of my curling iron that was now baked on and sooo GROSS! Sometimes I'm lazy and just leave it on the back of the toilet instead of putting it away and it gets knocked on the floor by the kids which must have happened last night, but Paige was a sweetheart and picked it up for me and didn't notice the puke just like I didn't notice it. I was so glad I did see it BEFORE I used it though because I wouldn't have been able to wash my hair unless I went somewhere else.

A couple of days later I came home around 10 after being over at Chelsea's making some crafty things and I heard Gavin puking. Luckily he puked all over his blanket. He was on the top bunk so I carefully grabbed all four corners of his blanket to keep it contained, but as I was getting down I slipped, lost grip of one of the corners and all the puke ran out of the blanket onto Gavin's bed, all over the railing, onto Mason's sheets and his railing and then finished dumping all over their carpet. So much for being well contained. Ugghhh!!! 

OK now for some picture overloads!
The triplets reading stories
Chloe dresses herself a lot now, but you wouldn't know it ; )
Gavin being a sweet big brother
He got mad because I took a picture. He's has been hit and miss on wanting his picture taken lately.
He was mad again, but look at Chloe's face, how could I not take another one?
We find Chloe all over the house in the morning a lot. Usually in her brother's room, but she must have felt like the Elf and super hero's were good company.
A little bit later
Mason was in the toyroom and started yelling for me. I found him stuck under his horse
He flipped it over and got himself unstuck right after I took the first picture
Gavin got "stuck" like Mason and wanted me to take a picture of him
Another game of doggy pile. This time on Gavin instead of daddy
Chloe after her nap
This is why I usually don't do her hair until after her nap if we are going somewhere
We got home from my parents and I looked in the back seat when we got home and was overcome with gratitude. These kiddos can be so exhausting sometimes, but they are worth it. I also love how their personalities show even when the are sleeping. Chloe is still packing around the water bottle that Grandma Blakely gave her, Mason has his coat on backwards so he can put his hood on his face and walk around "bwind" and this is Gavin's typical Sleeping in the car pose. Head back and mouth wide open! Even Foster still had his plastic sword in his hand. Love these guys!
Gavin and Daddy
Like I said, Chloe has been dressing herself
It has been FREEZING around here so we decided to take advantage of it and made some ice ornaments.
Gavin was at school but Mason, Chloe, Foster and I looked outside (quickly because it was so cold) for stuff. We found some pine cones, leaves and other tree parts. We also used some of the orange peels from our lunch for color and the kids wanted to add popcorn. We put them in the bottom of a muffin tin, added the string, put the water in them and then put them in the freezer. They were so impatient waiting for them to freeze, but so excited when I took them out of the freezer. I hung them up outside the front window so they could see them.
Mason told me, "I have a baby boy in my bewwy like Aunt Kawen."
Chloe's nickname for the day was "butt crack Betty". Her pants wouldn't stay up so every time she sat down her pants would pull her undies down
Gavin did his own hair. He spikes it up in the middle to give himself a Mohawk and then combs the sides forward. I just laugh inside and tell him how handsome he is.
The MMSC Christmas party was at Fat Cats in Rexburg this year. We ate pizza, played games and then bowled. I put a bowling ball in my shirt to mimick Raini who is really pregnant. Also the guy apparently couldn't read my handwriting because when he put our names on the screen I went from Teri to Tom and Raini ended up being Reuni. We had a good time with that. We ended the night with a good game of "Ballerium" ( I think that is what it was called). My gun wasn't working very well so I was just rounding up balls for the other girls and then throwing the rest at the boys by hand. It was fun, but exhausting. We were all glad to go outside into the cold after that game.
I helped out with Gavin's class Christmas party. They had a Christmas story read to them, played life size Candyland, they made snowflakes (the blue one on the left of his desk) and then I had them make snowman ornaments for their trees (also on his desk). They were so wild and wound up because of the excitement of Christmas.
I told the kids that they should go through their toys and find some to give to other boys and girls who don't have toys and then I jumped in the shower. I heard some banging and clanging going on but just wanted to hurry and get showered and besides I had the baby gate up so they couldn't get out of the toy room so what could possible go wrong? Apparently I took too long because by the time I got out and dressed I opened the door and this is what I found. Every single toy from the toy room was in the hall. I couldn't even get out. I had to shimmy up the door jam, step on the laundry hamper and jump over the rest of them.
I sent this picture to Cody
and then this one with the caption:
"Great news, the kids cleaned the toy room"

One day I"m going to compile a book and it's going to be called
"The Naughty things my kids do while I am in the Shower"
Chloe with her wild static hair at the Dr. Her and Mason both have nasty coughs and they both have ear infections but only in their right ear and I found out today that Grandpa Blakely also has an ear infection in his right ear. Let's blame it on him ; )


Christmas 2013

Sunday night we had our monthly Butikofer Birthday Bash (aka BBB). Uncle Kelly hosted and we had it at Grandma and Grandpa Butikofer's house. This is the first Christmas that we celebrated without either of them, but I'm so thankful and blessed that we all still get together as an extended family. 
Uncle Kelly had us all get out picture taken in front of the tree before we left. I'm hoping the Christmas party and pictures turn into an annual event. (hint hint Uncle Kelly)
 Chloe was so excited to have her picture taken
(notice the finger headed toward my ear for yet another wet willy)
 My mom and dad
Mom and I both wore our ugly Christmas sweaters but my oh so happy daughter was blocking the view for mine
My baby brother's family
Tayvri, Paul, Bailee, Erin and Brigham
We also did a gift exchange. We all brought one gift per family member and played a game to get them. We found this At Home Marijuana Drug Test and couldn't pass it up so we brought our five gifts and then this wrapped in different paper so we were still incognito. I was so excited when Garet picked it, it couldn't have went to a better person. He is a corrections officer at a juvenile detention center (and also the one trying to give me a wet willy in the above picture). 

Christmas Eve
We actually got to have it at my in-laws house this year instead of some random spot like in years past. Every year they get all the grand kids new suits and dresses.
They boys got matching suits
Chloe got a new dress with a headband that matches the boys suits
Evan is the baby of the family for now and he was having a blast playing in the paper. At one point he and Mason were swimming in it.
(Savannah, Mason and Evan)
Grandma was trying to put all the paper in a garbage bag and Mason was pulling it back out so he could play in it.
Isaiah, Drake and Aidyn made themselves some mustaches out of tape since that can't grow their own.
Every year our kids get to open one present from us and every year it's a pair of pajamas and a Christmas book
This year I found a book called "Santa is coming to Idaho".  The kids loved it because it talks about Idaho Falls and other places around here (obviously) so it hit home more for them. 

All three of my kiddo's we dead set on what they wanted from Santa this year so we didn't have to worry about them changing their minds and luckily for us there were no creepy crawly things like tarantulas on the list this year. 
Gavin asked for Skylanders Swap Force
(and luckily the "W" had it on sale for $37)
Mason asked for a "big dump truck and suckers
Hardest thing ever to find!! Practically no one sells the big metal tonka trucks anymore. You have to buy them online and then the shipping it outrageous.  I  Santa went to practically every store in Idaho Falls and Rexburg that I thought would have them. Finally I  Santa was at Toys R Us looking getting something else and happened to check one last time and they had one and only one so I Santa snatched it up!
Chloe asked for a baby Cinderella
Santa found one and the best part is her clothes are her body so there is no taking them off. She is never going to be naked and I don't have to redress her every time Chloe takes her clothes off and can't get them back on
Our tree
Don't be deceived, we didn't spoil our kids the gifts were just bigger and the smaller ones were boring things like socks, undies, gloves, etc

Christmas Morning
We don't let the kids go peek to see what Santa got them until we are awake because we want to see the look on their faces. Gavin's room is right above ours so we have him yell down the heat vent when they wake up. 
 
Chloe and her baby Cinderella
Mason and his big dump truck with suckers
Gavin and his Skylanders Swap Force
and he's off!
This is fuzzy, but I love it! Chloe calls Cody "my baby" and will hug him and pat his back so it was cute to see her sitting on her "baby's" lap while holding her baby
Showing me her princess shoes
Mason got a very noisy "boo tar"
Examining his new Beyblades
I got Cody a pair of "ballroom"(not for dancing) fire hose pants that he has been talking about for months and a couple of duck calls since that is his new favorite hobby.
Mason just chilling eating some "buggle gum"
It didn't take him long to get his Skylanders up and going

We headed to my mom and dad's and I made them hold Glenna (my best friend from high school's mom) hostage so I could see her before she left. Uncle Kelly was there with us too this year which was an extra special treat. 
The big window made for terrible picture taking but here is everyone from left to right.
Tristen, Kenny, Keylee, Kaitlyn, Faith and Paul's butt ;) On the couch is dad, Brigham, Erin, Uncle Kelly and Mason
Faith, Chet, Megan, Karen, Madisen, Bailee, Taylor and Braxton
Chet has a thing for weird random bear shirts so this was perfect
Faith, Chet, Megan, and Karen
G&G got Gavin some more Skylanders for his game
Dad, Keylee playing with the paper, Kaitlyn with bows on her face, Erin, Uncle Kelly putting the ninja turtle mask on Mason and Faith
Mason loves Uncle Kelly and wanted to sit on his lap so he helped him open his presents
Chloe with her Princess dress from Taylor
Princess Barbies from G & G
Princess Crowns and shoes!
My sister had my name and she knows me too well. I ended up with the rock and she wrote "Smoke Alarm Hero" on it. She bought me Sock Monkey gloves, an infinity scarf and then...well let's just say it made me scream and throw it when I realized what it was!!

Back story: Years ago we all went to see "The Grudge" at the theater and it FREAKED.ME.OUT!! I spent most of the movie with my eyes covered and had my feet up on the seat for fear it would reach out and get me. For months, yes I said months, I had to sleep with a night light (and Cody was so excited about that), I left my closet doors open (so I could see that it wasn't hiding there) and when I would get up for work in the morning I would quickly stick my hand in the room, flip the switch and then peer in to make sure the coast was clear before going in. I would do the same thing when going out the the garage to get into my car. Ridiculous, I know, but that's what happened. 
My brother Paul also broke into my house and hung a big poster of the Grudge on the back of my bedroom door. I closed it and then I was trapped in my room having a near heart attack. I couldn't leave without going near the poster and I couldn't crawl out my window (believe me I thought about it) because my bedroom was on the second level of my house. 
My dad would also randomly make "that noise". You know what I'm talking about, that creepy creaky noise that the Grudge would make. Needless to say they have been teasing me about my ridiculous fear of that movie for almost 10 years now. 
Cody is convinced that if I watch it again I will realize what a stupid movie it is and that I shouldn't be scared and I reluctantly agreed. We couldn't find it on Netflix so my Mandy is letting me borrow hers. Wish me luck!

Ok, back to Christmas. So the last gift from my sister was a cell phone case, but not just any cellphone case, it has a picture of the Grudge on the back of it. At first I thought it was a lizard or dinosaur, or plants. It was green, but it only took me a second to realize what it was and I screamed and threw it. The room went quiet except for the laughter of my sister...my evil sister ; ) and everyone was staring at me.
Cody, Chloe, Tristen, Mandy, Keylee, Kenny, Kaitlyn and Faith in front

(Mandy is my brother Kenny's girlfriend that we absolutely LOVE! He is so happy now and a completely different person! He is the Kenny that I remember from growing up. She is already a part of the family. Her kids are Tristen, Kaitlyn, Braxton and Keylee. They are perfect together and Kenny has always wanted a bigger family and more kids so it makes it even better)
Paul, Bailee, Erin and Tayvri
Chet, Madisen, Karen, Megan and baby Chase hiding under Karen's shirt. He is making his debut on January 7th and I can't wait!!
My spoiled Chloe with her Princesses
Mason and Keylee
Look at those Baby Blue eyes!
My family : )
That's the scarf my sister got me

Flash Back to Childhood! This just happened!
We use to have the game "Ready, Set, Spaghetti" when we were little and we played it all.the.time! My sister has been trying to find it for a few years and I even tried to find it for her for her birthday last year, but alas, we couldn't find it. Karen mentioned it in front of her in laws at Thanksgiving and the hunt was on. They don't make it anymore, but Karen's MIL found it online and gave it to Karen for Christmas. I was as excited as she was!! She brought it Christmas day and we played it.
I was a big meanie and wouldn't let anyone except us four Blakely's play the first game, just like back in the day. It was SO MUCH FUN and I felt 20 years younger. I'm smiling now just thinking about it, it was that awesome! Our spouse's still think we are crazy, but we were all 4 excited and giddy.
Everyone watched us play. It was pretty much a big deal ; )
Everyone has their own plate and fork with their "spaghetti" attached to it. To start the game everyone drops their "spaghetti" into the middle of the game board and then everyone puts the "toppings" on. You want to try and tangle everyone else's "spaghetti" up as much as possible. Once the game is set up you roll the dye and you take off the corresponding topping. You want to pull off the toppings that have your "spaghetti" tangled up. The first one to get their spaghetti rolled up on their fork is the winner.
I won of course and then it ended up being a three way tie between the other three. Karen took second, Kenny took third and Paul came in last. Good game siblings, good game.
Here is the awesomeness!

We also played Wackee Six and taught Uncle Kelly how to play too. He even ended up getting a "Wackee" before we quit playing.
Then we watched "A Christmas Story" while others napped. 
Paul, Brigham and Bailee
Tayvri was playing with her dads foot and trying to eat his toes but quit as soon as I tried to get a picture
On the way home we stopped at another house that had lights set to music before heading home. Mason and Chloe had fallen asleep by then so it was just Cody, Gavin and I.
Playing with her Tangled dolls
Christmas Pajamas
Skylanders, Princess and Dusty from "Planes"
The kids got some super cute pajamas from the other Grandparents this year too. I can't wait to have them wear them.
Mason dressed up in Chloe's princess shoes and crown
Even though we didn't have a fun trip getting our tree this year and even though ended up being much bigger and bushier than we had anticipated it still smelled so good and I loved that it still had pine cones on it. I wanted to remember the little details about it before we took it down. 
Mason asked if we were taking it back to the forest. Wouldn't that be awesome, I wish we could.
Annual picture of our house at Christmas. Not much snow and what looks like a grave for the Jolly Green Giant right in the middle of our lawn thanks to our sewer line excavation.
The next morning the four of us were at Target when they opened so we could replenish our wrapping paper, bows, name tags and other fun things we could find.
Erin, Mom, Karen, Me and the floor cleaner!!

 Our Christmas card this year