Last Post for 2009

It's time to say good-bye to 2009. It's been a good year with lots of changes and triumphs. Here are some photos from November and December.

Rachel enter the PTA Reflections competition again this year. The theme was "Beauty is...". Her painting of an orangutan entitled "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" went on to REGION this year! Rachel is very excited.













My parents celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary on December 13th. All 5 of us (my brothers, sisters and I) put together a little surprise celebration the day before Thanksgiving. We were all able to be there--which was great. My niece made these sashes for them that say "40th Partiers". Cute.









Jean spent the weekend knitting these awesome gloves!



















The Cousin's Table was THE place to be for Thanksgiving dinner...Thanks Carrie!












We celebrated Carrie's birthday the day after Thanksgiving at Brick Oven Pizza in Provo. YUM!

















This picture is only funny if your last name is Day...but I couldn't resist!















Decorating the tree...I think Sam must have had some bad memory about pre-school when he pulled out this ornament he made when he was 4! We've been getting real trees the past couple of years...and I don't know if I'll go back. The SMELL is my FAVORITE!











These little Christmas cherubs actually made the naughty list this year after they found all of their gifts under my bed! (They did redeem themselves, though.)

This year was a little bitter sweet...see those cute gingerbread people that hold treats for Santa? Well, they didn't get used this year for the first time ever. I now have a house full of non-believers--and my kids didn't even PRETEND to want to put treats out for Santa (sigh).





Sam was overcome with emotion when he met up with his beloved 1st/2nd Grade Teacher, Karen Steele. The former class had a little surprise holiday gathering for her downtown. Mrs. Steele will ALWAYS hold a special place in Sam's heart (and ours, too).
















Rachel received this hat in the mail from her BFF in Pennsylvania, Julia. She wore it for 2 days STRAIGHT!















We found that we were able to lure Dr. Stress-Pants away from his laptop with jigsaw puzzles. As soon as he finished this one (in 1 day), we bought him another one!











Our Christmas Eve traditions include having a grand Buffet--each person chooses two favorite things (no limitations). This year's buffet included: flank steak with mushrooms (aka Andy's Yule Log), mashed potatoes, spinach salad, chocolate dipped strawberries, pizza, root beer in a tall glass with ice, chicken pasta and crescent rolls. The rest of what you see here are some favorite holiday treats.













Another favorite Christmas Eve tradition is opening family gifts. In this photo Sam and Rachel are overcome with emotion upon opening Mario Kart. They were convinced that they had been seriously deprived up to this point because we didn't have it!









Isn't this disgusting?! We didn't have the energy to clean up as we opened things on Christmas morning. Perhaps the reason is that our Christmas cherubs got up at 4 (yes 4) to open their stockings. They weren't allowed to wake us up until 7. They came in at 6:00 and then at 6:59. By the time everything was opened, we went back to BED!

We've had a very lovely, relaxing time the past few days enjoying our gifts and each other (and yes, cleaning up the mess).

We are so very thankful to have each other and to be surrounded by so many loving friends and family members. We love you all! Merry Christmas and Happy 2010!

Life on Jars #27: December 20, 2009

We're baaaack. We discuss a 40th wedding anniversary, show pics of the Day family clan and review New Moon.

Annual MadLib 2009

It's our Walker family tradition. Who wants to read a plain old Holiday letter when you can co-author one about us? Okay, probably those of you who are writing your own, but think of this as semi-productive avoidance behavior. If you're looking to kill some time then fill out our Mad Lib! It includes some helpful directions for posting the results as a comment here in our blog (we love reading these). As a new edition this year you can also read the real letter.

Life on Jars #26: November 1, 2009

This v-cast is too sexy for your cat. Sam goes all nostalgic on us, Rachel discusses her online stalking of Johnny Depp and we didn't leave out the spoonerism of the week (which may need to be renamed. But bi-monthly spoonerism doesn't have the same ring).

Life on Jars #25: October 25, 2009

In this episode complete creative control was given to Rachel and Sam. (Apologies for the late post, had this up on FB, but forgot all about the family blog).

Is it really October?

Here's our favorite 3rd grader doing something he loves--COOKING! Here he made a "fruit cake"--we all thought it was delicious and he was quite proud of his efforts.

Speaking of 3rd grade, Sam is loving it (mostly). He loves the technology in his classroom (the computers, iPods, and flip cameras). He isn't a huge fan of homework, though!

Sam has almost completed his Wolf in Cub Scouts--go Sam!


(Doesn't he look huge? I'm his mother and I think he looks huge. He IS huge. He's a solid mass of boy and stink and I find myself wondering how much he will tower over me in a few years).





Here we are (some of us) outside the Logan Temple. We took Rachel to do baptisms for the first time. We all look a little dorky because we're a little wet, but in all truth it was a great experience. She loved it! (This was Labor Day weekend, by the way...we're a bit behind!)









Here's Rachel...on her 21st birthday. Actually, it's the day she got her hair cut and I had to have myself a silent little cry because she looks so OLD! I know she's only 12, but in my book she's growing up TOO FAST!

7th Grade so far has been a series of ups and downs. Rachel is still at Cedar Ridge. She's finding the course work a little more challenging and of course, the drama of being a 7th grade girl has us all wondering what to expect from Rachel from one day to the next!

Rachel joined the Northern Utah Youth Symphony this year and LOVES it! She still takes art lessons and bass lessons and goes to Young Women activities each week. She's BUSY (and so are we).






Here's Andy the night we brought home his beloved 50" plasma screen TV--the one he fretted over for weeks. The one he waited for and dreamed of and drooled over. He finally found the deal of the century and went in for the kill. All of his wildest dreams have come true!














Here are Andy and the kids on the trampoline one fine autumn evening. They were playing a game with balls that involved not getting touched by a ball or you're out. I chose this one because Andy is so valiantly trying to avoid a ball while Sam is valiantly trying to avoid Andy's butt (or so it seems!)










One of the down sides to trampoline frivolity...



















Andy and Rachel on their way to a Youth talent show at the church. They did beatnik poetry to "Popcorn Popping" with Rachel on the bass and Andy with his cool as a kat voice. They were well received--but felt slightly irreverent when a group of young women got up and sang "A Child's Prayer" right after they were done!














Rachel and Sam (and Andy) were in the Edith Bowen school "float" for the USU homecoming parade. Good times. Good times.











Just to give you an idea of the crazy weather around here: Is it autumn or winter?!

Rachel took this as we pulled out of town last week to visit family in Mapleton. We've had really cold temperatures and snow in the mountains. We want AUTUMN and DEMAND that it return...








Jen and her Mom (Larri-Lea) tied EIGHT quilts last weekend! It was crazy, but great--we now have some warm fuzzies to lounge with. Hannah and Leah got in on the action too...

Life on Jars #24: September 20, 2009

Rachel discusses options for poor children forced into watching LDS general conference. We show off our converted gun rack. We finish with an homage to beatnik poetry. Smooth man, smooth.

Life on Jars #23: September 9, 2009

We introduce a nostalgic new segment hosted by none other than Jennifer Walker. Rachel discusses moving boulders, Sam explores the possibilities of foam boards, and makes a fruit cake that people would actually want to eat.

Life on Jars #22: August 23, 2009

Episode 22 features a DIY home bowling alley, a new trampoline game and, a recap of Rachel and Sam's first day at school. Both kids make the front page of the local newspaper, and we get set straight on jazz hands vs spirit fingers.

Life on Jars #21: August 9, 2009

We're coming at you a week early because we have yet another special guest, Andy's kid sister Alexa Merkl. Alexa and Rachel discuss matters of grave importance. Sam reveals that he keeps animals in his pants and that squids 'bite.'

Life on Jars #20: August 2, 2009

For our 20th episode we welcome Julia as a special guest host. Every wish and desire of a tween and her BFF are discussed, as are the visual appeal of Daniel Radcliffe. Cupcake fueled sleep deprivation deteriorates into a recap of you tube videos of questionable quality. The war on drugs receives a bit of a slap in the face. Something random is worth the wait--be sure to listen all the way to the bitter end.

We'll be late

Jen's BFF Julia is flying into Salt Lake City tonight so we'll have a slight delay and hopefully a special guest on Life on JARS this week--you'll just have to wait a bit to see it.

Life on Jars #19: July 11, 2009

Not one but two Built by JARS segments. Rachel reports on our 4th of July celebrations (not to give things away but she got to see a band that rhymes with 'bonus smothers'). Plus also, Sam was shot. Rachel finishes by telling all about her summer camp and . . . stool.

Summer Fun!

Well, I'm finally uploading some pix from June and July. We've had lots of fun these past few weeks...here's a peek!


We decided to get a trampoline for the backyard. It took several days (and some serious digging on Andy's part to get everything set up and level).








The first jump! The tramp was ready for it's maiden voyage late in the evening (thus the pajamas). You can see that this was a moment of BLISS! We added the safety net the next day.











Tin Grins are In!

Rachel got her braces put on in June. Jen made some Smiley Brace-Face cupcakes to celebrate (please don't laugh!). Rachel has handled the new addition to her mouth quite well.










Swimming Lessons!
Sam finished a 2 week round of swimming lessons at the end of June. Rachel decided we needed to celebrate this event, so she made him a Lego Pool Party cookie extravaganza! (He loved it by the way!)













Happy Father's Day!

Andy got his long awaited Rock Band 2 game. Rachel made him a foam hard hat with rocker stickers all over it...so he can look like a really spankin member of the Village People while he's jammin!











Jen and the kids made Andy a snazzy Wii-mote cake.















Sam helped his Cub Den retire an old American Flag during June's Pack meeting. Sam's favorite part was throwing the battered stars and stripes into the fire!










Happy Birthday, Jen!

Jen had a grand birthday. She loved her new iPod docking station and the chocolate peanut butter Cold Stone cake...BUT her favorite gift was Andy's "Cache Cab" game! Thanks again to all of you who provided questions. It was great!











Sam had a great time at Lagoon-a-Beach at Lagoon. He got inside an entire stack of tubes and hid from his cousins!
















Andy grillin some serious dogs on the 4th of July!













Jen's Uncle Dan invited us over to their house in Mapleton to ride their new kid sized 4-wheelers. Our kids have never done anything like this before...and they had a super fun time exploring this new form of entertainment!











Sam wasn't as confident, so he needed some help from his really cool dad!














Look out! Uncle Dan let Andy try out one of his Big Boy Toys!















JONAS BROTHERS!!!! (insert your own stadium full of screaming girls sound clip).

Rachel and cousins Lydia and Morrigan had a screamin' time. Thank you, Grandma Day for taking us!

Life on Jars #18: June 28, 2009

Special guests Lydia and Morrigan join Rachel as co-hosts for this week's Life on JARS featuring a game of Cache Cab (a gameshow exclusively about Jennifer Walker in honor of her birthday and based on questions from her friends from all phases of her life as well as her family). Will the cousins earn spending money for Jen or wind up on the roadside hitching their way to Lagoon? We finish with a something random throwback from Ren and Stimpy.

Life on Jars #17: June 21, 2009

We've got a bonus father's day Life on Jars for you this week, featuring our best Open Up a Can of JARS ever. Rachel flashes her steel smile, Sam shows off Lego Transformers that are more than meets the eye. We cap things off with a musical spoonerism that must be heard to be believed.

Life on Jars #16: June 14, 2009

Rachel does her very best seal impersonation (the mammal, not the 90s pop singer). We open open up a can of JARS for the second episode in a row. Built by JARS tackles our biggest project yet, and Rachel turns back the clock with our first Life on JARS flashback. Jen makes not one but two rare appearances!

Every other week

Life on Jars is going to an every other week format, we just need a way to make Sundays a bit less hectic.

Life on Jars #15: May 31, 2009

We mourn the passing of our cantaloupe and watermelon (alas poor fruit, we knew thee). Sam opens up a can of JARS and Rachel opens up a can of helium. Up! gets a glowing review, viewers are cautioned from combining pickles and cheese.

Life on Jars #14: May 24, 2009

A week of fine arts, from a full orchestra to Shakespeare. Rachel and Andrew put on an acting clinic and Jife on Lars introduces . . . spoonerisms. Thanks for the inspiration Aunt Carrie! Thanks also to Randy and Larri-Lea for coming up to see the live version.

Finally...Some Photos!

This picture really sums up how I feel about our tiling project. And that's all I have to say about that.


















Easter at Grandma's house is always the BOMB! Here's Rachel decorating eggs...



















And the Sammers doin the same. If our kids look older and bigger and taller to you...it's because they ARE! Both kids have grown a TON lately. Well, maybe not a ton. But you get what we mean.















After a thrilling treasure hunt, the kids found their Easter baskets in the dryer. Hooray!












Here's Jacob doing what all good uncles do...teaching Sam how to make Jelly Belly "recipes". This new revelation was life changing for Sam!
















Proof that we went to San Diego. It was a fabulous get away--even though the weather stunk until the last day. Another big thanks to Grandma Day for staying with our kids--THANK YOU!!!!








I bought Rachel some bras a few weeks ago. She took them out of the bag and made a "brobile" out of them. She's a funny girl!

















You all saw how the Mother's Day Sticky Buns came together--but I'm here to attest that they were FABULOUS! What made them taste even better is that they were served to me in bed!











HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!













I finally have a diagnosis for my hands and feet (they turn red and feel like they're sunburned--usually at the end of the day). It's called erythromyelalgia. Good times. Good times.












Sam getting out the jitters before his performance as Friar Lawrence in Romeo and Juliet. He did a bang up job! We are SO proud of him!


















Friar Lawrence with the fabulous Mrs. Steele!