17

Nike Hoops....Jake's DREAM store

17 and its killing me.  Today everyone ditched school and we shopped and had lunch.  It was fun to spend the day together.  Time just goes way to fast! I need to be better about enjoying every moment.  Although, it is hard to enjoy a 17 year olds EVERY moment.

can't even fill his new shoes.....

Happy birthday Jake!  We really do love you.

all the going ons

Busy weekend here at the Lytle home! We started off with the Cub Scout Pinewood Derby.  Avery loves scouts and looks forward to it each week.  Dad and him went to a friends house and created a great car.  Avery ended up getting first place in his den! He was very happy.

Thanks to Bro Maynard for helping with the winning car!

Friday night Jake had the chance to go to Prom.  Around these parts the school proms do not provide the best environment.  Due to that, 8 years ago our Stake decided to start having a "Mormon Prom".  What's  different about this Prom is that there is a strict dress code enforced and wholesome activities provided.  Each year they encourage the boys to ask a date in a fun way.  This year it was down at the Science Center at USC. It was fun to see the kids in the Stake all dressed up and to watch Jake stress about going on a "real" date.

luv

the ward friends

fun to have a cousin to double with

Lastly, we got to go see Aubrey in her Spring dance concert at the high school.  Instead of taking a P.E class she signed up for dance.  It has been a really fun experience for her.  She has been working so hard and was very excited to participate in the Spring concert.  It was amazing and she did such a good job.  They had 4 shows, each about 2 1/2 hrs long.  After opening night she texted me that she had just finished her dance and that it was the "best night of her life".  I am so glad that she has found something she really loves!  Keep up the hard work Aubs!  She is going to sleep good tonight!

a little fog

This was the fog rolling into our neighborhood last night.  It had been a really hot day so we were surprised to see this rolling in from the coast!  The temp dropped 20 degrees!

learning the painful way

What Avery taught us today.......

 Smelling a hot pan of lemon bars is not a good idea...

 you will end up with a nice burn on your chin!  He is hoping it will leave a scar, thinks that would be cool, big kids, Nate and I think it is funny:)

a little talent and a little getaway

This past week Wildwood had its annual talent show.  Avery once again was willing and excited!

Last Friday we took the kids out of school and tagged along with Nate on a business trip to San Diego.  We spent the afternoon down at Sea Port Village and then that night went to the Mormon Battalion Museum.  Loved it and is a definite must see next time you are in San Diego.   At the end of the tour the kids get to pan for gold....Avery loved it.

After that we went down to Old Town and ate at a fun restaurant.  As you can see we were entertained by Jake.  Notice no more braces!  

 On the way home Saturday we hit Laguna Beach, Ikea and then the J Paul Getty Museam.  

As you can see these two were less then thrilled about going to the Getty. 

 How amazing is that view!  It is such an impressive place to visit.

 Avery has Art Masters at school where they study a different artist each month.  He was very excited to see a real Monet & Van Gogh.

It is amazing all you can cram into two days and one night!  Thanks to dad for the little getaway!

Goodbye Strawberry, Hello Swift

We officially have another teen in our home...yikes 3 at a time.  You can say we have many emotional ups and downs in our home!  Our sweet baby Jane has now entered the teen years.  So sad.  Most of you remember Jane's obsession with Strawberry Shortcake.  Starting at about age 4 her life revolved around her and her sweet smelling gang.  Birthdays, Christmas gifts and Halloween costumes always revolved around that freckle faced doll.  Now that she is 13 Strawberry Shortcake  has been put away for safe keeping and a real life girl has taken her place.  Jane's side of the room is now filled with pictures, Cd's, perfumes, bags, necklaces and t-shirt's of Taylor Swift.  She had the chance to go to her concert this past summer and since then it has been all about her.  For her 13th (Taylor's favorite #) Jane decided to have a Taylor Swift themed party.  She and her friends....the 13 of them watched the concert on DVD, jumped on the trampoline and just had a good time.  

she still loved her at 11 years old:(

Jane really wanted a cake shaped like a guitar so while I was the soccer mom Nate stayed home all day working on this fabulous cake...... I told him he should quit his day job:)

I found these perfect cupcake toppers on Etsy..they were a hit!

Jane is lucky to have such a great group of friends....such thoughtful cards and gifts.  They all know Jane so well.

On her actual birthday we had a fun girls day shopping with Grandma Bluth

It will be interesting to see what comes next....

A little dizzy from December

What a December we had!  I know it is always a busy month but for some reason this year seemed EXTRA busy....here is some of what we were up to!

To start, basketball season officially started for Jake.....6 days a week!!  Our life will be filled with practices and games the next couple months!  We wish him luck!  

Jake's teammate who is 6ft 7!

The month started off with a trip to the LA Temple and to Diddy Reese with the Zeediks.  This is a tradition we hope to keep going every year!

 Next, we had the most fabulous "Back to Bethlehem" ward party.  This one was extra special because it was on a ward members property.  We had week old baby goats, bon fires, candle making and story telling.  The last 20 minutes they played out the nativity with a miniature pony/donkey and a host of angels/ young women in a tree house above the manger scene.  It is a memory that no one there will soon forget.  It was such a great way to start the season.

2 of the 3 wise men

candle making

 After the ward party we rushed over to get a Christmas tree....it was very hard to find a night to fit that in!

 Something that added to the craziness of the month was that our stake put on a play called Finding Christmas. It was a huge production that was advertised throughout the community.  It had 5 shows and tons of participants and volunteers.  Jane and Aubrey were lucky enough to be in it.  Jane was in a cute little elf dance and Aubrey was in the youth choir.  I was on the hair and makeup committee that was quite fun. We have heard that the response was amazing and that many members and MANY non members attended.

 For Christmas this year we decided to head to Utah and spend it with Nathan's family.  We always have such a great time with everyone there.  We went to the lights at Temple Square, hit the BYU Bookstore and mall and had dinner at Sundance.  I even surprised Nate with a night away at the Sundance Resort...good times.

 Every year Grandma Sue has a day called "Grandma's Baking Day."  My kids each year see the pictures and are a little sad that they don't get to participate in this fun day.  This year because we were coming they waited so that the Caif. cousins could be there.  What a fun and crazy day!  Gingerbread houses, cookies, crafts and more.  I am sure you can imagine the amount of sprinkles on the floor.  What a fun tradition Grandma has!

 Can't forget the Christmas Eve jammies!

Christmas day was so fun with everyone.  The only bummer was that the stomach flu was going around and Jake spent Christmas Eve and Christmas Day throwing up.   Poor guy:)

On our last day we hit Sundance one more time and the kids spent some more time with their longtime friends the Nelsons! (pics to come)

Thanks to all of you who made our December so memorable!  We had such a great time and felt so much love from you all!

We came home to a Christmas tree that was still very much alive and 70 degree weather!  We even spent today at the beach!  We sure went from one extreme to another!  Happy New Year!!

Scenes from a fabulous Thanksgiving

We had a great meal and great company at our house this year!  We were just missing Chris and Megs family who were in Utah and Wendy's kids who were with their dad.  It was a quiet year! We are so thankful for all our family and all our many blessings!  Love to all the rest of our family....see you at Christmas!!

another yummy bird done on the barbecue!

I LOVE these birds!

Happy Thanksgiving!!