Sinterklaas 2011

Sinterklaas!  The beloved old gent from Spain!  The taking away of bad children by Sinter Klaas' trusted friend "Black Pete"!  Or, Dutch Christmas, as the kids would say.  This is definitely one day out of the year that the kids really look forward to!  Since living in Washington, we haven't had the banging on the door with the bag of goodies being thrown inside (this must only happen in Utah).  But the kids still enjoy it.  I think they enjoy doing the 'surprises' (gifts creatively disguised)!  Now that they are older, maybe we should work on the poems to go along with the gifts!



Steve - his gift was hidden in this magazine which was glued shut!



Doug - gift was frozen inside this duct-taped jug of water.

 

Tommy - delicious sandwich with a Subway gift card inside.

 

Tyler - Tyler abhors feet! Tyler also steals everybody else's socks!  Tyler was given a package of socks that were inside this paper mache' foot!

Ryan - Ryan loves to have other people do scavenger hunts on Sinterklaas.  This year, Ryan got to do a scavenger hunt himself!  This is what he ended up with.



Wendy was given a tub of frozen cookie dough!  Placed inside were some girlie hair accessories!

Monique - inside this foil package was no-bake cookies.  Inside the no-bake cookies was a plaque that reads "You made me laugh so hard tears ran down my legs!"

Once again, it was a great evening!  Another evening of memories that we will all enjoy for years to come.

Hawaii 2009

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Snowbird 2011

We made out annual trek to Snowbird in May this year.  We usually go the first week of October, but that was getting in the way of fall athletics at school (soccer for Wendy and water polo for Tommy).  All of us were looking forward to going in May, thinking that we could avoid snow, as it usually snows while we are there.  As luck would have it, it snowed while we were there!  More so than it does when we are there in October!

This was the first trip to Snowbird that we had the entire family there.  All SEVEN of us!  With extras!  Tommy brought his friend, Bryce and Steve brought Kelsi down for a couple of days.  Wendy was only there for the first part of the trip - she flew back so she wouldn't miss too much in school.  (I think she was more concerned about Sammy (dog) being at somebody else's house while were gone). 

This was one of the best trips we have had!  And it was also relaxing!

We were able to get some family photos taken - thanks to Wendy and her assistant, Kelsi.  Wendy staged the photos and Kelsi took the pics.  

The whole family in the snow!

The kids.

This is one of my favorite pictures that Wendy took at Temple Square.

Mormon Prom 2011

May - the season of Mormon Prom!  That time of year when Monique is trying to wrap up her classes for the semester.  That time of year when Wendy thinks she needs a new dress - to be sewn by Monqiue!

Once again, all tasks were completed.  The final for Monique's class was submitted on time.  The dress for Wendy's dance was completed on time.  I'm sure that Wendy was saying many prayers for the dress to be done!

As Wendy's date, as well as her BFF (Camille) both had food allergies, Wendy and Spencer (aka Pensha) decided to cook dinner for about 10 people!  They were able to come up with a menu that did not include dairy or gluten!  Dinner was a big hit!

Camille, Kelsey, Wendy

Pensha & Wendy - the chefs!

Catching up............

As it has been a while since we have last posted something, I'm sure many of you have been wondering what has been happening in the Robinson-Sticht World!  Here is an idea of what we have been up to........

Doug's work

Monique's work

Along with work, we have been doing the following..................

H-O-M-E-W-O-R-K

 ALL of us have been consumed with this horrible necessity!  Some of us have spent considerably more time with this horrible necessity than others.  

Along with the above mentioned, kids have been involved in:

Ryan - band, jazz band, drama, basketball, scouts, texting, growing and hanging out with friends.

Tommy - water polo, swimming, snowboarding, scouts, texting, hanging out with friends.

Wendy - soccer, sleeping, hanging out with friends, traumatizing teen age boys that show an interest in her!

Tyler - working, buying a car, trying to figure out life.

Steve - adjusting to post-mission life, adventures with Jon, and now adventures with Kelsi and friends.

Yes, we are busy, busy, busy.  Just as many of you are.  We have four different Spring Breaks in our family.  It makes it extremely difficult to try planning a family excursion.