Once a Year.... I can do that!

I just happened to get on blog world today.... I was clicking on some blogs, seeing if I was the only one who has fizzled out on this.  I am not the only one, there are a few out there who have a couple years between posts... and there are a few that are regular posters!  I noticed that it was exactly a year ago today that I last made a post.  So, why not?  I can do anything once a year right?  That's not too hard to commit to.

Here is a brief catch up on the past year.

• School started - Cole was a Junior at Alta, Maddy was an 8th grader at Indian Hills and Tenley was in 5th grade at Altara (it was a year of  "lasts for us") Cole's last year at Alta, he will finish high school at the new Corner Canyon High School in Draper.  Maddy's last year in Middle School and Tenley's last year at elementary... no more elementary for us!
• Maddy turned 14 and started going to Stake Dances.
• Grandma Gray turned 60 and we had a great surprise party for her
• Cole was kidnapped to be asked to a dance.
• We went to Bear Lake over Conference weekend with the McRaes and Dereigs.
• Tenley was a Wonka Bar for Halloween, I was an M&M and Maddy was little red riding hood.
• Norm's parents and sister Becca came down for Thanksgiving and we kicked of the Christmas season by our first attendance to The Savior of the World performance and we hope to make it an annual event.
• Christmas festivities:  Tiny Tim's Toy Shop, a new event of Christmas Stocking Shopping at Target on Christmas Eve
• New Years: a random tradition we have done a few times, everyone brings their favorite food and that's what we eat...we had alfredo, pf changs wannabe lettuce wraps, guacamole, smoothies, potato chips, etc... We had photo booth props for fun
• Downton Abby finale party
• A couple floods in our basement: one in Maddy's room in January and one in the basement family room in April.  Lots of wallpaper stripping, painting and new carpet!
• Valentine's Fondue dinner at home with the family, the zoo on presidents day
• Several rescued lost dogs, thanks to Maddy and Tenley
• Sydney and Alex's wedding in May. It was great to have most of Norm's family all together and even more fun to have them living close and seeing them about once a month!
• Mother's Day dinner and Grandma's. I made her a flower and noodle necklace with my primary class. Grandpa made us bananas foster and Kam and Riley got serious with a level measuring everyone's height on the pantry wall.
• Tenley had her last Trio dance recital and we are going to miss Miss Tricia!
• Memorial Day at Bear lake... Maddy brought a friend, Holly, Grandma, Grandpa, Adrienne and Lindsay and her kids were there.  Maddy and Holly made a trail around the cabin on the four wheelers.  We had a fantastic warm day at the beach. We played Hearts and Ryder discovered that you do not want the Dirty Nora..."Better luck next time, you better not get the Dirty Nora Grandma"
• Tenley did her state report on M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I and we helped her do a power point presentation.
• Norm was a Watch D.O.G.S. (dad's of great students) He spent the day at Tenley's school walking the perimeter, being out at recess, helping in classrooms. It was a new program they started this year and they tried to have two days at the school everyday all year.  Tenley was super excited to have her Dad at school.
• I helped with my last field day :(
• Adrienne started teaching Maddy and Tenley piano lessons!
• We have been swimming several times at Grandma's pool.
• Fourth of July we had a little bbq and our own fireworks show at Grandma and Grandpas with Lindsay and her kids.
• Cole spent the Fourth in Moab with the scouts on a river trip.
• It's now July 10th and we are leaving tomorrow to go to Idaho Falls for four days so hopefully I won't wait until next year to post about that...only time will tell.