BYU vs. Oregon State

Dec 22nd, 2009 :We endured a major rain/thunder storm that took out our satellite for several hours....I was really nervous we wouldn't be able to even watch the game. But never fear, we enjoyed the rain, enjoyed the game and loved every minute of the BYU win! Lea was the only awake when it was raining and asked to go jump in some puddles - sure have a great time. :)

Las Vegas Maaco Bowl - GO COUGARS!

Game recap: an email to my mom and dad in Norway
BYU wins 44-20. They were down 7-0 to begin, but came back to put up 37 un-answered points. Great game for BYU! :) It was super windy there and the kickers had a horrible time punting, kicking field goals, etc. There were a couple of 6 yard punts.....by both teams.

Fun to watch and very few OSU fans (part of our Twin Lakes family are avid OSU fans) - looked like mostly BYU fans, but it was hard to tell, everyone was so bundled up.

Love ya, alison

Dad's response:
WHAHOO!!! Sounds like a successful party at your house.  Rub it in at TL (Twin Lakes) this summer!! Love, Dad

(haha I love it!)

Findlays, my Jeff, Geoff and crazy haired Abbey

"BLINK"

Someone little was using my camera......

Is Lea asleep or just pretending....what do you think!?

BYU football

Utah Pregame Fireside
Saturday 11/28/2009 01:15:00 PM
Posted by Carey Hoki, BYU Athletic Communications

Last night's fireside was more of a musical fireside, with numbers by both players and coaches on the team.

The first number was "I Heard Him Come," performed by McCall Clark, a friend of the team. Academic All-American and team captain Matt Bauman, along with defensive lineman Brett Denney were next. They played "Nearer My God to Thee" on their violins, with linebacker Grant Nelson accompanying them on the piano.

Manase Tonga, Spencer Hafoka, Travis Uale, Anthony Heimuli and Tevita Hola stood up next to sing a Tongan hymn. Offensive coordinator Robert Anae, his brother Alan and Mark Atuaia added two Hawaiian songs.

The final musical number featured the entire team as it stood to sing, "We'll Bring the World His Truth."


me: How cool is that?! I love it!

Happy Thanksgiving

So Friday is Christmas, I thought it was about time we posted some pictures of our humble Thanksgiving. Maybe I'll mail Christmas cards by Valentine's day too.....maybe.

Thanksgiving is always one of my favorite holidays - lots of food, lots of people and just a lot of fun times. Well at least that's how I grew up. This time, there was a lot of food, very few people and just as many fun times. Grandma Riz came from Vegas and we thoroughly enjoyed having her stay - the kids love to have visitors as do Jeff and I. We were hoping for a few more, but we'll take what we can get. Our neighbor Kristie came over and watched part of the Packer game with us. She's a big Packer fan and it was fun to have her in our home. This is the first time in 4 years, I'm about ready to bust out of my shell and start getting to know my neighbors......we at least re-meet them every year on Halloween. (that's another story) Actually we talk to Kristie as much as we see her - she works the night shift in the ICU of St Joseph's Hospital and the main reason we hardly see her. Enjoy the photos - this tells a lot. haha! More photos to be added from Grandma Riz's camera.

I also played volleyball that night from 8 - 12:30 am....I was worn out and they played for another hour!! Went Black Friday shopping at noon... :) Still got great deals!

Breaking bread for stuffing and getting sidetracked by the Macey's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

the stash

 Got Turkey?

Grandma Riz

 

 Lucas and his puzzles - keeps him busy and learning

Lea playing "BLINK" with Grandma

new addition

A new cousin added to the Risenmay side! Kaibrey Lyn Risenmay - Eric and Sharolyn's daughter. She was born Nov 16th (yes this is a late post, but it's been a busy 2 months - Nov and Dec) at 3:19 pm 5lbs 18 oz and 19inches. She is so cute! Too bad they live in Twin Falls and we may not see her until she's 1.....oh well. We look forward to more pictures of her and are excited to have more cousins. Congrats to Eric and Sharolyn! Doesn't she have the most striking blue eyes?! And her little fingernails are painted pink.....awwwwww.  :)

Happy, happy brithday Jeffrey dear....

Jeff turned the big 3-1 this year (Nov 22) and it's hard to shop for someone who's birthday is right before Christmas and still have the creativity to come up with something meaningful for both days.....2 years ago, I think it was, we went to Blue Man Group in Vegas - his parents live there and babysat for us while Jeff's brother Steven and I surprised Jeff with a night out to see the Blue Man Group at the Venetian Hotel. Jeff had no idea, but happily followed us around until we were at the door of the theater about to enter. "We can't go in there, we don't have tickets." Ummmmm, "Yes we do, let's go." What the, who the, huh!? I think was the response to follow. I wish I had pictures from that - it was awesome!

Last year there was a BYU game on Jeff's birthday. I convinced all of his loyal BYU watching friends to say no when Jeff asked them to come over and watch....my brother Steven and sister-in-law (and this was just a bonus because I didn't plan this part) were coming from Wickenburg and asked us to watch their 4 kids while they went to the Temple and in return could they watch our kids......um, YES! Would you mind letting all of those friends in while we're gone as a surprise for Jeff? They agreed and so I had to listen to Jeff wonder why all of his friends couldn't come watch the game at our house - I think it was a big game too.....anywho, he was totally shocked and my friend Michelle was nice enough to decorate yummy cupcakes in the shape of a Y. She does an amazing job - so very talented that girl. My icing on cakes, cookies, always looks like I dropped it on the floor then put it back on the plate to serve (fyi: I don't do that....just looks like I do).

This year, I had an idea, but was having a hard time coming to grips with the cost of actually going somewhere nice, hiring a babysitter, going out to eat and dessert......$$$$$$seeing all those still makes me a little queasy, but I heard this little voice (erin) telling me (erin) "IT'S FOR HIS BIRTHDAY!!!" (erin). Dinner at Subway, then.........We made it all the way into Gammage Theater at ASU before he figured out we were going to see Phantom of the Opera. :) It was so much fun and we had a great time. He was shocked and totally caught off guard that I would do this. When he would tell people later we went to see Phantom, the response was "Why? Did your wife want to go and dragged you along?" to which Jeff would tell them, "No, I wanted to see it and she was the best wife ever and purchased tickets so we could enjoy the show together and with friends." (so I may have expanded his response, nonetheless, he was thinking it.... haha)

 

 

Side note: no flash photography in the theater....oops. :) Annoying to others and dangerous for the actors. But they can light flashbangs without warning and fire we felt in the middle balcony.... It was so cool! :)

To Oregano's for wings and pizookie (pizza cookie....so yum!)

Sunday was Jeff's actual birthday Nov. 22 - here's our family party.

The kids painted the frames and I had the photos for Jeff to take to work - he finally has a desk to showcase his cute family. :)

Abbey loves daddy - wahoo! haha

"Happy birthday" and Jeff was all ready to go to bed, but couldn't blow the candle out.....(family joke my dad tells every year at Twin Lakes)

Daddy love

Mission impossible: Tooth extraction 101

This last tooth has got to go! It's been rumored Grandpa Riz is not so gentle about pulling loose teeth, so we convinced Lea that her last shark tooth needed to come out. Rumors of strings, door slamming and other not so gentle ways to extract teeth. (side note: Saw Coach/Bishop Porter at church the Sunday before - he had the same suggestions.....he was teasing, Grandpa I'm not sure would be joking around). And since Grandpa Riz was coming for Thanksgiving, we convinced Lea to get wiggling and let us help her get it out. A few times we brought her to tears and took some bloody pictures to document the tooth extraction. (Just for you Jaxon! One of Lucas' friends).

This was a couple days before we helped her pull it out.

Tuesday night she was still awake and wiggling the tooth. Jeff made her get up and the process began.

 

I'm not even sure I pulled on it, she would wince in pain before we ever touched the tooth......

This one is for our little friend Jaxon - do you love it?! :)

Abbey decided to wake up and join the party - can you see the bloody hole in Lea's mouth?!

The Tooth Fairy came that night and left 4 quarters and note, same as the first night, but a different note which is sweetly displayed on Lea's bedroom door.