Has Reid mentioned that he LOVES his pleather jacket?!

Thanks Grandma! It is perfect!!!

Beyblade stadium!

Grandma Nori sure can pick the right gifts! Luke's been going at it all day!

Christmas lounging

Reading the Lego Book, getting ready for Legoland (next week)

Christmas 2011!

Going to Church on Christmas! Great looking family!
Connor with his new Tri-Bike the "Blue Angel!"
Preston with his new snowboard!
Adin with his new paintball gun!
Mia with her new pink bike!

Christmas Eve 2011

In our PJ's before bed!
Christmas Walk right after reading "The Journey". It was a beautiful Colorado night!
Best Christmas dinner! Crab-stuffed tenderloin roast! WOW! and HOMEMADE ROLLS!

Awesome!

Merry Christmas!

Barbie finally got her Ken.

Mia!

Connor and Preston!

Adin!

Sledding on Christmas Eve!

Merry Christmas Eve!

We came up to Leavenworth, WA yesterday morning with 2 families from our ward for a fun pre-Christmas celebration! Yesterday we went on a two-horse-open-sleigh ride and this morning we took a "Polar Plunge" in the outdoor hot pool. Now we are heading home to get ready for Santa to come! Merry Christmas!

Little Miss Helpful

I'm stoked that Jane got some of Grandma Nori's & Aunt Alyson's genes! She has turned into my little organizer, ever since we gave her her own bedroom (Joey and Luke now share). What a great little helper! (And yes, I know that Jane doesn't literally share genes with Alyson) ;)

Jane's ballet recital

Jane is in the very back row, furthest to the left. (stage right)

Another good one

Letters to Santa

While we were reading stories today Jane informed me that she has to stay up to see Santa to "perform a beautiful dance for him and his wife." Glad to know I'm not doing something wrong and some of my kids do simply believe in Santa. A far cry from Ethan, who at the same age, tried desperately to convince me to admit that Santa didn't exist, because (according to him) what if he became a parent and didn't buy his kids presents because he didn't know the truth?! Ironically, Ethan wrote the best letter to Santa this year--- I haven't heard his doubts for a few years now.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday to my Hero! He spent his birthday fixing Connor's mistake of not putting oil in his car. He's always been bailing me out!

Wrestling is Back!

Adin and Preston wrestled like champions yesterday in a VERY tough tournament. Preston was in the hardest division there I think! Adin had to come from behind to win every match and ended up taking 3rd out of 14 kids!

The joys of motherhood

Ethan gave me the cold shoulder today and didn't say goodbye when I dropped him off at school because I made him practice piano this morning. I felt rotten driving home and then I looked in the rear view and saw these two little faces. At least they still love me. For 10 years or so, anyway. Or until one of their tantrums later today.

Brainwashing our children

You can never start too soon....
Fun trip down memory lane and preparing our kids for the future at BYU campus.

Turkeys trot!

Monday

Sometimes I wish my little girl would never have to grow up.

Thankful

>
> Today I just have this surge of gratitude for a wonderful family and a wonderful life. Just moments ago as I carried sleeping Joey up to his crib for his nap or snuggled Jane as I got her settled on the couch to watch Sesame Street, it was hard to put either of them down. Moments to just sit and snuggle are hard to come by-- usually because they are little busybodies with minds of their own. And yet these are the only moments I have to accomplish anything beyond diaper changing and preparing or cleaning up from meals. I am so grateful that right now, that is my trial. Just trying to determine which, amongst the unending mountains of tasks, will command my time each day. And I recognize that it's really not a trial at all... in fact, I don't take for granted the fact that in this season of abundance and good health and happy relationships, now is the time for me to prepare my family for hard times to come. Because they always do come.
>
> This morning there was a little bit of bickering going on during breakfast, but as Derek prepared to walk out the door for work, we all went to the family room for our new tradition of morning devotional (we began doing this at the beginning of this school year-- and I'm glad to say it's a habit now!) It was amazing how, despite some scowling faces and under-the-breath comments, the Spirit changed the atmosphere of our home, and by the end of the spiritual thought and family prayer, we were all laughing and giving hugs before we all went our separate ways.
>
> Today I think about Tyson, and Fred & Nori, and try to imagine how they feel. Last night as Derek and I had dinner with friends we talked about Tyson and took time to stop and think about what he must be doing now and who he really is--- what his valiant personality is really like, since we didn't get a chance to truly know him. I'm sure his parents had a better glimpse of it than any of us ever could have. I am so grateful to Fred and Nori for enduring their trials so well, that the experience of having Tim and Tyson in our lives is one of our greatest blessings. It's those types of trials that can make or break a family, and in my opinion, it has really made the Weavers. In different ways for all of us, it has made us more compassionate, sympathetic, empathetic, patient, long-suffering, understanding, humble.... Knowing these young men added depth and meaning to our lives, in a way that no other experience could.
>
> I marvel at the blessings that Heavenly Father has given me. I am constantly reminding my kids that we live in one of (if not THE) wealthiest countries of the world, in the most affluent and productive times in all of the history of the world. We literally live like kings and queens.
> I am amazed that I have known only good and righteous men in my immediate family (including my in-laws.) I have never been subjected to the hand of abuse, and the more I read and learn about history as well as the world in which we currently live, I feel like this is a miraculous blessing. I can only imagine how my self-esteem and understanding of my divine nature could have been altered had I ever been mistreated by any of the men that I have loved and trusted. Thank you Dad, Derek, Fred. I know that great men are few and far between, and I am so blessed to be personally connected to all o-- you.
> But the greatest blessing is the light and truth of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ-- that most of God's children have had to endure life on this earth without.
>
> I look forward to preparing for Thanksgiving with the Weavers (and I can't wait to see my Hatch family in December!) I love our wonderful families.
>
> Although we are far from family, we are blessed by dear friends who make Sunnyside feel like home. I am truly enjoying this season of my life. I am so grateful to live in this fruitful land and for this time to really learn self-reliance. Gardening and preserving food has been one of my greatest thrills this year. Second only to raising 5 of God's greatest creations, alongside my best friend, who truly becomes better and better with time (even though I thought he was pretty stellar to begin with.) :)

Snow In Fort Collins

Last Wednesday we got 8 inches of heavy, wet snow. Because most of the trees were still in full leaf there was a lot of breakage. Tyson's tree was a victim. It had not even changed color and so was very vulnerable. It made Dad and I really sad. For me it just symbolized the "broken" life he had to live. It lost it's center spire and lots of branches. We'll just have to wait and see if it survives.

Halloween At The Grandparents House

Because our House is so torn up we can barely answer the front door, Grandpa and I are going to dinner and a movie for Halloween. Sad commentary on our present life :(

wazup

hi this is et i was wondering if all of u guys could come to utah for thanksgiving it would be cool if we could get together again. call my mom- et

Halloween with Weavers in WA

Believe it or not, we are still alive out here in WA. This year we are learning that we can't do it all, so we are sorry to have let the blog fall through the cracks. But we will try to do better.

Who can correctly guess what we are all dressed up as for Halloween?

Timmy's Birthday!

Wow, 31 years ago our little Timmy was born! We could all use a little more Timmy love in our lives that's for sure! I know we all miss our brother/son/cousin/uncle! What a great example of a peace-maker.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DEREK

34 years! Unblievable! So many memories.

Connor is 16!

1st date with Kelsey Treat.
1st kiss...MOM!

Connor turned 16 this week. Got his license. He is right now on his very 1st date ever for Homecoming. Un-Be-Lievable!

Recent Events...

Nobody seems to post on the blog anymore. Here are some recent events in our lives...
1) Alyson and me riding a Harley in Vermont (I also did the USAT National Championship the next day).
2) Connor ran the Georgetown to Idaho Springs 1/2 marathon and took 2nd in a blazing time of 1:19!
3) Preston was ordained a deacon! This was the crew that was here to celebrate! What a group!

Hope everyone is doing well!

Weaver Reunion

That reunion was a ton of fun! Here are just a couple of great pictures from the rafting trip. There are a TON of them! I'll have to burn some CD's for everyone...

Preston is 12!

I am so proud of my son Preston! He's such a great son and he's now 12! He's having a great summer and it's only getting better! I am a lucky dad to have another one of my boys holding the priesthood as well! Happy Birthday to my great son!

Ethan news

allo my frends i cant wait 4 the family reioion it will be so fun! ps me, preston, and hannah are reserving the downstairs couch for EPH meetings. (don't ask) we also call all the candy ha ha

thank you earthlings -E.T.

Middle-Aged Mormon Man

You all have to check out this blog. It is pretty funny without being irreverent. I have read a few posts that lead me to believe that Fred might be the author. I know Derek will particularly enjoy the "Misquoting the Savior" blog post.

http://middle-agedmormonman.blogspot.com/

Khan Academy

Thanks to Papa Fred for suggesting this website! All three boys can't wait to get through chores to practice math!

Adam breaks 4 decades

I always have interesting thoughts around father's day, because I remember my first father's day. Mom was still in hospital with our new son and she told me that she had bought me a new pair of levis for my first father's day. I was so proud to be a father and so inthralled with a new son. It was a major day. Happy Birthday Adam. Thanks for being my son. How in the world did 41 years go by so fast? Love dad

New toy!

Another One Down!

I'm now done with another phase of my life! I finally taught Mia how to ride her bike without training wheels. We tried last summer, but it didn't work out so well. Today, it went great! She just needed some alone time with Dad and no brother's around (they're visiting Grandma and Grandpa Stewart this week). Her smile says it all!