Our Crazy Little Family

Our Crazy Little Family
December 2009

Wednesday, January 6, 2010

My little Oompah Loompahs!

Bryce and Katie were able to be in the Queen Creek Community Play of Willy Wonka Jr. They were both Oompah Loompahs. They had so many kids that they divided them up into colors. Bryce was a white oompah (front and Center) and Katie was a pink one.







The final night of the show the family went to see it. All the kids loved it and asked if they could be in the next one. We'll see... Good job Katie and Bryce!



Sledding in Eagar

We left up to Eagar to visit my parents Christmas day and Clint took the kids out sledding/tubing on Saturday. They had a great time. Too cold for my valley-ized thinned blood!
We don't have official winter clothing, so we just take whatever we can find at Grammy's to bundle up in. Bryce

Katie... do you think that face made her go any faster? :)

Seth taking the tube back up... my least favorite part.

David looking warm in his overstuffed layers of clothing.

And yes, Isaac a boy after my own heart. Went on a couple runs, but preferred the warmth of the car and some bubble gum for company.

Merry Christmas 2009!

The Children were nestled all snug in their beds...

Oh no they weren't... they were waiting for presents, instead!

Tradition is that they have to come wake mom and dad up and dad goes to see if Santa really came.
Katie with some new clothes.

Bryce with a puzzle...

David with his Zoom-O.

Seth with his R/C motorcycle.

Isaac with his boxing gloves...

And finally... princess Cassie.
Merry Christmas from the Mortensens!

Friday, December 11, 2009

Rome, Italy... Loved it! Still glad to be an American...

I made a pretty monumental goal for myself and when I finished it, I went to Rome. It was an amazing vacation with so much to see I could have never seen it all in the week I was there. Even with all the amazing things to see, I was really glad to come home and grateful for the country that I live in. However, it did expand my world views and words can't express the difference I feel after being there. Thanks Jan!


Proof that I was there... Less anyone wonder! :)
The discus thrower.


Angels and Demons anyone? A trip to Vatican City is absolutely necessary in Rome.


The frescos painted in the Vatican are absolutely stunning. Neither words, nor pictures can do them justice. My appreciation for ancient artists has greatly increased.


Yes, this is one of THOSE pictures... one that you see all the time in books and magazines and here I am seeing it for real! Michaelangelo, DiVinci, and Raphael all pictured here.

The view from the top of the Basilica. You actually have to pay for the opportunity to climb all 551 steps to the top. The view, is totally worth it , though.

One of the buildings behind the Basillica. We didn't know who lived here, but it was sure nice. Can I move in?
In front of St. Peter's Cathedral.


Day trip down to Pompeii. AMAZING ruins. Whole city covered by the eruption of Mt. Vesuvius. When you know what went on there, you'll know why it was covered!


However, that aside, the excavation process is amazing and to be able to uncover an entire city with so many amenities... even though they were ancient is absolutely undescribable. Those people were brilliant. Using gravity to create water pressure for fountains... AMAZING!


Daytime view of the Colloseum. Talk about one amazing structure. Even going to a NFL football game cannot come close to the awe inspiring creation the Romans built!
The view under the floor where the gladitors trained and the animals were held for the games.


A view from farther away.


I think these are the steps where Cesear was killed. I mean, we walked right there, on those same stone streets that were built in the BC period! Can't get over it!
This guy, I think his name is Marcus Arrelius, who no one really remembers anymore, thought so much of himself that he built a monument to himself. His mustache is 5 ft long! His horse is over 42 ft long. I guess he really wanted to be remembered. What was his name again?


Went to the Borghese Art Gallery where there were some amazing paintings. We were only allowed to be there 2 hours. That's all you get. Wanna see more? Have to come back, but have to purchase your tickets early because these guys don't sell tickets at the door. They sell out too fast.


One of the excavation areas in the Jewish ghetto. Jews had to live outside the city for hundreds of years in this ghetto area, forced to see Christian churches as they would leave for work and come home each day... hoping they would convert. Got to eat a shwarma there. YUM!



And now, the weary travelers head home. Thanks for all the memories Jan! It was truly an amazing experience. It was tough to choose my favorite pictures from this trip, and I didn't want to bore anyone, so here's some highlights!



















Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Halloween Dress up

So, I've about decided that it's time for a new camera! All my pictures are coming out blurry and I don't know why. Maybe it's been dropped a few too many times. Christmas is coming... :)
Isaac decided a LONG time ago that he was going to be a dog and I told him that would be fine. I didn't know it was THIS costume that he wanted... which was way to small, but he would not be detoured.
The night before Halloween was so cold at our ward trunk or treat that we had to dress Cassie in a warm costume. I'm glad it warmed up so she could be the little ballerina.

Cassie was off to the block party. Didn't matter if anyone else was coming or not. She is giving me a lot of gray hairs!

Here are all my kids right before heading over to the neighborhood block party for hot dogs before trick or treating.

Katie decided that she wanted to be a dice this year. It was a little inconvenient to move in, but she loved the attention she got from it!

I don't have any idea where the obsession with Vampires came from this year, but Bryce and David both decided they needed to dress up like them.

David LOVED it! He wanted to know why I didn't like the "scary" things of Halloween. Rather than explain, I gave in and let him be a vampire.

Seth was determined to be Anakin Skywalker again this year. Thanks Mary for the costume!

Anyway, this year for Halloween we had a great time trick or treating, but came home with WAY too much candy. Even giving it out at the doorstep didn't even touch the amount we had. With 6 kids trick or treating, we definitely come home with more than we give out!

Fall Break Fun

For fall break this year, we decided that it was time to go camping. So, we drove about 45 minutes from our house into the mountains to find a nice place to do it. We went with Clint's sister and her family. It was a good time.
Isaac and Lawana posing for a picture while dad tried to figure out the camera.
It was at least 75+ degrees outside at this point, but Seth was so excited to wear his hoodie that he just had to put it on.

David quickly followed suit and sat right up close to the fire to stay "warm" at 75.

Katie was a huge help in gathering firewood. We can't camp without a fire, right? I mean, what would S'mores be like anyway?

And then it was off to bed. It took a little while to settle them down, but they all just love camping and were happy to be in the outdoors.

Clint and Jeff were our official breakfast makers after enough comments on how our sheep herders stew didn't measure up to "dad's".

Jeanette was the designated dishwashe... or maybe she took the job, knowing how to do it the best.

Cassie and Jenna posing for the camera... Never a dull moment with these two!

Skylar, Katie, Cassie, Jacob, Bryce, Isaac and Seth. About half way thru the hike. It was 80 something degrees so they decided it was too hot to hike.


The hiking group. Sorry it's so blurry. Jeff and Jeanette with Jenna, Logan, Skylar, Katie, Jacob, Cassie, David, Bryce, Seth, and Isaac. Wasn't very long because of the little ones, but it gave us something to do and we even found a dead rattle snake along the trail. Good thing it wasn't alive because then I would have been dead from a heart attack!