New Year's Day

We couldn't decide what to do on New Year's Day.  Everyone was a little tired/grouchy, we didn't want to go to a movie or spend money, and we wanted to have fun.  So, we decided to drive out into the desert and just run around, jump off of the car, and cut up cacti.  It was windy, and everyone got cold/bored in about 20 minutes.  It wasn't our most fun adventure.

 Later that day, I snapped a picture of Calvin jumping off of the half wall.  He does it quite often, and it was fun to finally get a picture of it.

 This last picture tickles me.  Cyrus is being Wyatt's puppy.  Cyrus holds onto the exercise band, while Wyatt runs through the house with him.  

Christmas and New Year's Eve 2014

We got a fancy camera for Christmas in hopes that the quality of our preserved memories will improve.  Thus, why I'm going to try and resuscitate our dying blog, which has been comatose for at least a year (if not more).  So, without further ado, pictures with witty captions from Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Bingo.  It's the annual Christmas Eve tradition that keeps the kids away from the presents under the tree for at least a couple of hours.  Noah has taken over the prize buying, and he always does a wonderful job of getting something for everyone.  Note:  the Ninja Turtle bubble bath was a HUGE hit, and the bottles are still being played with today.  Each year the boys get a little better at putting their markers on their boards, and this year we were able to make it through several rounds at a nice pace.  

We attempted family pictures in front of the tree with the new camera and a tripod.  Almost everyone made into this shot.  There aren't a lot of pictures of the Mr. and I lying around, so I'm a big fan of anything that documents that we were in the same place at the same time.  Given the fact that we are dressed up, still, and smiling, well, you could just take me out to the graveyard and bury me today I'm so happy.  

 Ole' Handsome Brown Eyes.  I never get tired of this guy.

 Although he wasn't super cooperative, he was at least still. Gotta love Wyatt.  He is a charmer.

 Cyrus crawling up my lap in is new Christmas Jammies

 More Modeling of Christmas Jammies

 Christmas Morning After The Unwrapping Went Down

 Many Lego sets were received, and many Lego sets were assembled.  Amen.

 He is so nonchalant about his loot, but he was actually pretty happy.  He got art supplies, stickers, tangegrams, and books.  He promptly put together a very large mural of piles of stickers covered with marker and glitter (mixed media, of course).

 Silly face. Yes, they received Pringles from Santa.  He's a smart man, that one.

 Later that night, I took a few pictures with my camera to just expirament.  

 New Year's Eve was actually quite a bit of fun.  We started the evening off by making a large banner that had drawings from things that we did/were important from 2013 (thank you Cyrus for donating your art supplies for the cause).  Some highlights:  watching Nacho Libre as a family, camping (Dad's favorite), Cyrus' hurt hand, Wyatt's newfound back massage skills, Minecraft, Mom's job at PAWS, and Ninjago.  We hung up our banner and watched it fall down several times throughout the evening.  

 Before the party, Wyatt gave Dad a knee massage with a suave look.

 Cyrus trying to jump on top of me.  You can see the balloons that we hung up for our party.  We popped one every hour or so. Inside was an activity/fun thing to do.  They included: making homemade pizza, playing hide and seek, watching Nacho Libre (again) while eating nachos, making t-shirts, making duct tape wallets, eating candy, and toasting at midnight.  They had a great time, although Cyrus only made it until nine, and the big boys were asleep by 12:09.

 Cute Cal

 Strong Cal in a Yoshi t-shirt

 The Pizza Making 

  The drinking

The end.

Trip to Tennessee Summer 2013

This is a big photo dump from the trip to Tennessee.  We had such a great time, and we miss everyone so much.  

Dinner with siblings and without kids and Noah. :( The Cruze Family Fund paid of for a delicious meal at the Cheesecake Factory where choosing what we were going to eat was half of the fun.  I've never seen Cally come up with so many great suggestions.  The best moment was the check:  confirmation that the Terrible Cruze Math Gene is alive and kicking.  

Two trips to Metcaffe Bottoms in the Smokies.  My boys were initiated into crawdad catching and river wading.  I was initiated into lots of muddy shoes!!!

Lori Cupp always has the best ideas:  tying the boat to a tree and letting the kiddos play around in the boat.  They  loved it!  The downside was when I took all of those small, small kiddos down without life jackets!  Mid jaunt, I thought, "If this thing tips, I'm screwed!"  It was a touch scary.

I also don't have a picture of cally floating on her stomach down the river.  I wish I had snapped one.  She looked so peaceful!

Wyatt enjoying, no, savoring, his first trip in the bed of the "trash truck."  We took a little drive around the old farm.  Luckily we weren't chased by any bulls or cows.  Phew!

Shaf......such a great picture.  I also love that it's Sweet Emily holding his picture.  

Another picture of a thrilled Wyatt.  I promise he seemed to be having a good time.  

We went out on Norris Lake with the Atkins Fam.  We had such a fun, fun time! Wyatt was terrified of the water, though he did get in.  He cried a little when he fell off of the tube and slid off of a bank.  Cyrus had the time of his life:  jumping off of the boat, being pulled on the tube, and driving!! You can spot Calvin being pulled on the tube.  He would have stayed all day if we let him. 

Eldon twirling the kiddos on the floor.  Fun times!

Cyrus being tortured by said Uncle.  

We also got to spend some time at Jump Jam.  We do love the trampoline parks!! Wahoo!

Shaf is such a great grandpa.  I told him I wanted to put up a tire swing, and he did all of the work. It reminds me of a sweet picture of Shaf pushing Noah and Nathan on a tire swing when they were little.  The boys loved it!

I love this picture of Grandma Daniels.  It was so good to see her.  

As we were leaving Scott's house one night, he pulled Wyatt out of bed to put him in the car.  He had him on his back, and Wyatt stayed asleep.  Even as Scott squatted down, Wyatt slept.  So funny.  

Lori humorously gave Cyrus as many towels as he wanted when he complained of being cold.  

We were ready to come home, and the trip back was a doozy.  

We missed the connection in Texas, but they put us First Class for the last leg.  It's too bad that after we had been in the air, they turned around to have us board another plane (some kind of malfunction).  I'm glad that we were on a safe plane.  They stuck us in first class again, but because it was so, so late at night (1:00 a.m.), we didn't get the full experience.  I had heard rumors of candy bars being passed out of beautiful baskets in first class, but all I got was two cups of Dr. Pepper in a glass cup.  *Sigh* Next time, I will get my candy bar.  Mark my words!!

The time went too fast, and we were sad to leave.  But, we were so glad to be back in our own beds.  I don't have any pictures of the Shafers.  I am bummed that I didn't catch all of the fun that we had together.  They spend hours playing with Mimaw and pepaw.