Snow Days!!

Anyone for some Football!?! Snow Football!!

Our first snow was welcomed

with a football game!!

For a kiss and a hug,

Justin and Gracie can talk Mac into ANYTHING!
Including, braving the cold snow...
in the dark!!
I felt brave going out to take the pictures!

The kids love when we have snow,
that actually stays, so they can build snowmen!
Mitch and Justin built theirs on the trampoline. :)

These girls make me laugh

everyday.

Can you tell Gracie loves to be like her big sis!?:)

13 going on 30!!

hApPy BIrThdAy

Our Mandi Girl!!

turns 13!!!!

How we love this girl.
Just thinking about what I could say about this sweet teen
puts a big smile on my face and my heart.

I love this girl.

She is such a light in our home,
and such a huge part of what makes our family,
our family.

This girl has had her dad
wrapped around her finger
since the day she was born-
when she slept the entire first night of her life
in his arms.
She slept peacefully, as soon as she heard his voice.
I will never forget the sweet instant love between these two.

And for me...
she is one of my favorite people
in all the world to spend time with.

She is fun, witty,insightful,
responsible,
thoughtful,beautiful-
(inside and out)
and one of the smartest people I know.

She is my right arm (and the right side of my brain!)
She helps keep perspective in times of chaos and can bring order to my scattered brain, (in my ADD moments!:))
I can't imagine life without her,
and so grateful I don't have to!

Mandi felt so lucky to have so many family members celebrate her day! She was surrounded with people who love her.
Grandma and Grandpa Whiting,Uncle Justin, Uncle Jeremy,
Uncle Randy and Aunt Leah were all there to make her day special.
We spent the afternoon at Randy and Leah's,
who hosted a great birthday party!

Scrabble, bingo, ice cream cake, and the movie "UP"
were some of the party highlights!

Goofy picture taking...
also took up much of the afternoon!
:)

Mandi has always had the ability to see and understand things beyond her years. She has a strong sense of who she is and is quick to learn from her mistakes...

(the 2 mistakes she has had in her life.:))

Mandi has a calmness about her that has brought a lot of peace to our home

Although, don't let her fool you...

she also has quite a spunky teasing streak in her!

Amanda Noel Buhrley

We love and adore you,

everything about you.

We can't wait to see you take on the world!

Thanksgiving Fun....

Thanksgiving with the Heaps !

I may not have time to get our Christmas cards out this year,

or put up decorations,but...I had to take some time for this post!

I couldn't wait to record our

fun weekend with the Heaps.

I also know from experience- if I wait too long before posting,it may not get done!

It may seem odd to start our

Thanksgiving post

with Leo as the focal point-

but Leo, was the focal point!

"At least I can live out my dream

for one weekend"

comments like this one said by Mitch, were commonly heard.

OK, I must admit- I even enjoyed

seeing Leo run around the house

and sleep with the kids.

I have always said,

If we could just find a dog,

that didn't poop

and didn't smell like a dog... ??

The Heaps tell me Leo's poops are sooo small-

they practically don't count...

Hmmmmm.

The Turkey Trot!

The traditional Thanksgiving morning run!

My injury is still not allowing me to run very much,

so it was definitely a "trot!"

I felt bad holding them back-

but Jacqueline sweetly said,

"Birds of a feather, flock together!"

By my side they stayed-

I'm sure Jac felt like she was walking!

Dinner is served!

We had quite the feast which included,

Matt and Lou having a

Sweet Potato showdown!!

(I think it was a tie vote, both delicious!!)

Jill made her famous homemade rolls.

All of us working in the kitchen together

made for some good memories.

With a broken dishwasher,

we opted for paper plates

and had the easiest

Thanksgiving clean up, EVER!

I know-

they really had to twist my arm on that one.

The only time we had to "parent"

the kids at all...was

getting them to stop playing long enough to eat,

and getting them to bed!

Oh... and when we had to occasionally

step in while Justin was practicing

his new found favorite hobby,

teasing 2 cute little girls.

:)

We also found some time to relax.

Mac got a soothing foot rub

after he bribed Gracie with a new lip gloss,

and Justin lost his FIRST tooth!

This made me a little sad.

First they loose a tooth, and before you know it-their in High School.

Justin really only had 1 piece of advice

for Gracie on loosing a tooth.

"Just don't let Aunt Jill touch it,

and it won't hurt at all!"

Classic.

Black Friday!!

I have never attempted the

Black Friday experience.

We decided- this was the year.

These are pictures

we took before heading out at Midnight.
We flunked the Black Friday test.
We really needed Monica or Wendy with us.
We saw the line at Toys-R-Us

wrapping around the store,
lines for Target and Old Navy starting-
5 hours before they were even opening...
and went home!

Jill captured some great "game faces" during Bowling!
As you can see, we all took it very seriously.

I LOVE this picture of Emily and Gracie!

They just couldn't watch!

Many times after my turn, I felt the same way!

Random craziness!.

See what happens when sisters get together?!

(and this was only 2 of the sisters!)

The kids wanted me to take pictures of them-

"sleeping".

Can you pick out the 1 picture

where they are actually "sleeping?"

Thank you Heaps Family

for spending Thanksgiving with us

and starting out the

Holiday Season

in full swing!

We love you!!

Come back soon,

and don't forget to bring Leo!

Garage at Midnight

Black Friday

in the Buhrley garage! I forgot to add these pictures

to the original Thanksgiving post.

It just didn't seem right leaving these out-

This was our

"Black Friday" experience!

Black Friday...

the most fun I've had

at midnight in my garage!

First date!

Mac's first date! Our kids grow up knowing their first date

will be with mom (the boys) or dad (the girls.)

I will get 3 dates out of the deal and Lou only 2!

Friday night I get a call on my cell,

"Yo, wanna go out?"

I laughed and said, "No, I'm busy!"

He called back and tried another approach-

which of course, I accepted!

We had a a really good time.

After a few dating 101 moments,

notice the chopstick picture...

he is ready to hit the dating world!

He opened doors, was a good listener, made me laugh,

told me I was beautiful...I have no worries. :)

Maybe that is the worry-

he is a little too charming!

I really lucked out on this Friday date night!

After Mac and I got home he watched the little ones,

while Lou and I went out for date # 2!

Thanks Mac

for a

great date night!

p.s. So Sorry that you "lost" your wallet!

I hope you find it by your next date!

Trick-or Treat!!

Happy Halloween!

We started out the night with our traditional

veggie chili and cornbread.

I think this was the 18th year of this tradition.

I had to put in this picture of Gracie as she is saying,

"delicious!" and also because yes,

she is in a swim suit.

I thought this stage would pass! Why do I buy her clothes?!:)As Mac said,

"This is kind of a strange holiday

if you think about it....!"

Yet, it is one we look forward to and enjoy!

Our church Halloween party was a lot of fun.
Between school, church, and trick-or- treating,
we had 3 days of candy celebration!
By the end Justin was giving away his own candy
to kids that came to our door!
I think now he wishes he had it back!:)

Lou and I with a few of our fellow hippie friends!
We used our "Whiting Idol" costumes of
Sonny and Cher.
( I will eventually post pictures of this event!)
Many did not even recognize Lou.
He truly transformed into Sonny!

Halloween 2009!
Let the Holidays begin!!!

Sweet Sixteen!

Happy Birthday Mckay! I know people always say this, but it's true...

where has the time gone!?

I can hardly believe Mac is 16 !!

I love this picture of all the kids.

It was taken 2 days before his birthday

and the way Gracie is lovin on him,

speaks volumes.

He really is the center of our home and

is loved by all.

If you know Mac, you know he does not

like to speak of his accomplishments

nor does he define himself by success.

The only time he has held a trophy or medal

has been for a picture we have pleaded for.

So for me to write anything about him

is pretty risky on my part!

But I think he will allow this because

he knows it means a lot to me!

16 facts about Mckay:

***Every teacher since Kindergarten

has told me the same thing.

Mac is a friend to all.

(and... he talks a little too much. )

"Mac is nice to everyone."

a common phrase said by both teachers and peers.

**Mckay would give away anything

he had if he knew someone really needed it.

He is not driven by money or "things"

but by his huge heart.

**He is very humble and compassionate.

**Mac is a leader.

He has never done something just because someone else does.

**He is very self motivated,

driven and disciplined.

In first grade he woke himself up

by his own body clock so he could read for 2 hours

before school each day-

to win the hot air balloon ride! He did win...

but has never read that much since.:)

**Mckay is competitive but not only with others.

He is continually striving for his personal best.

**Mckay loves his Heavenly Father

and truly wants to follow him.

**Mckay works hard and plays hard.

**Mckay is always looking for ways

to live life to the fullest. It is never a dull moment!

If it is-it is his mission to change that.

**He has an amazing sense of humor

and loves to tease.

**He loves and appreciates a variety of music.

**He loves his family.

**People are drawn to him.

**He is a very loyal friend.

**His has a smile

that can get him pretty much

whatever he wants.

**When talking on the phone he always ends with an

"I love you"-always.

These pictures brought back

a flood of sweet memories.

We are so grateful for this

strong, faithful ,kind hearted

16 year old!

Happy Birthday Louis Mckay,

Mac, Mac attack, Mac-a-Dude, Big Mac...

We Love you!