Merry Christmas!!!

Well, I had good intentions of sending out my Christmas Cards. I designed it the first of November and had them printed by Thanksgiving weekend. With us being in Disneyland and spending the week before that getting ready for Disneyland, I have fallen a little behind on a few things. Sending out cards would be the one thing that was put off until I felt like it was too late to send them. Instead, I'll post it here and we'll wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope everyone has a Christmas to Remember.

Disneyland

We had an early Christmas this year and just got home from Disneyland. We gave the kids a choice last summer of what they wanted to do for Christmas and they chose Disneyland. Since we didn't want to actually be there during Christmas, we went last week. My whole family (parents, brother, sisters, nieces & nephews) was able to go together. We had a lot of fun and it was a great way to get in the holiday spirit. This was Kinley's first time to Disneyland and she was just mesmerized the whole time. She loved it. It's been a little crazy since we've been back trying to get everything else ready for Christmas. They nice thing though is that since Disneyland was Christmas, it really cut down on my shopping. So here are a few pics from our trip.The whole family minus my brother who had to go to meet clients for the afternoon.

Thankful for my family

I am so thankful for my family. I can't believe how blessed I am to have these amazing kids and such a great husband. I am so grateful for their sense of humor, their kindness, and most of all for the example that they are to me. I learn from them daily. By the way, the reason there are only individual pics of Kinley and not the boys is because they would not have their picture taken again (can you really blame them). I was lucky to get a group one of them. Kinley on the other hand, would pose forever. She loves having her picture taken.

Thanks Dad!

With today being Veteran's Day, I just wanted to tell my dad thanks for the service he has given to our country. He served for 12 months in Iraq and while I'm sure it had it's hardships, I have never heard him complain about it. My dad is such an example to my kids. They have been raised to respect the flag, respect this country and our leaders and to respect those who have served our country. He is such a strength to our family. He is currently the Command Sergeant Major for the state of Utah. This is the job he has worked for all of his career. He has been able to travel to Morraco, Germany, and many other places in the past year. We love our PAPA BRUCE and appreciate all you have done for our family and country.

A Little About Me

A - Attached or single? Attached
B - Best friend - Ted
C- Cake or Pie? Definitely Apple Crumb Pie or Lemon Meringue
D- Day of choice? Saturday - Usually a football, baseball game or wrestling match
E- Essential item? my cell phone - I actually feel lost without it
F- Favorite color? Red, Rust, Chocolate
G- Gummy bears or worms? BEARS
H- Hometown? Bothwell
I- Favorite Indulgence? Buying Purses
J- January or July? JULY - I despise the cold
K- Kids?1 daughter and 2 sons
L- Lemons? Depends what they are in
M- Marriage date? December 8, 1994
N- Number of brothers and sisters? 2 sisters & 1 brother
O- Oranges or Apples? I like to eat oranges, but hate orange juice. Hate to eat apples but like apple juice
P- Phobia & Fears? mice and something happening to my family
R- Reason to smile? My kids or wearing something new
S- Season of choice? SUMMER - like I have said before bring on the 100 degree days
T-Tag 10 people: ANY AND EVERY BODY
U- Unknown fact about me? I would love a boob job and I have to be perfect at everything I try or I won't do it again (can you say Holden)
V- Vegetable? Fresh corn on the cob
W- Worst habit? procrastination
X- x-tra special info? If I could sit and read books 24/7 I would
Y- Your favorite Yogurt? Why would you eat something that tastes like baby food?
Z- Zodiac sign? Virgo

The Girls Weekend

So I mentioned in my last post that while the boys were deer hunting, us girls got together. We had a lot of fun at Gardner Village. It was pretty packed (as you can only imagine). Kinley & Radisyn had a lot of pics taken with various witches. It was so festive you couldn't help but get in the mood for fall.
I do love fall for the colors and the smells, but I truly despise the temperature. I am a girl that could live in 95 degree weather 365 days a year. I don't need the changin' of the seasons weather. I do believe when Ted and I retire, we will need to retire to opposite ends of the earth. He loves 65 - 75 degrees. And for me anything cooler than 90 degrees is sweater weather. Go ahead and bring on menopause and the hot flashes. I might actually be looking forward to them and being warm for a change.

Deer Hunting Weekend

My boys (Ted, Easton & Holden) along with my dad and others spent the weekend up Logan Canyon deer hunting. They had so much fun. The boys are getting to the age where they will be able to hunt soon. Holden said that this was the first year he was able to wear short sleeve shirts and be warm. Ted said as they left the canyon this afternoon it was 65 degrees. They had a great weekend riding 4-wheelers and camping. While they were camping, Kinley and I headed to Draper to spend some time with my mom and sisters. We had a fun day of shopping, a great dinner at Texas Roadhouse and spent some time at Gardner Village with the witches (pics of that to come later).

Catch Up

Where has the time gone? I can't believe it is the middle of October. Well to catch up a bit, Holden is finished with football. His team had a great season finishing 6-1. The road to playoffs wasn't so pretty. Holden is so much fun watching play ball. Whether it is watching him play noseguard and getting through a huge O-Line to sack the quarterback or just tackling someone full force. This kid loves to hit and is not scared of anyone. Everything Holden does is 110% all of the time. Good job again #21 Holden. We are so pleased with the great person you are becoming.

Easton's "regular" football season is over. They are still practicing for a tournament they will be playing in over Thanksgiving weekend. Easton (#56) has also done a great job this year. He has so much heart and works so hard in every position he plays. The team he plays with is so much fun. They are an amazing group of boys that are such great friends on and off the field. I feel like a mom to each one of them. Easton's team played in a tournament the first weekend of October called Octoberfest. They played 3 games in about 4 1/2 hours in a downpour. The last two games they played were back to back. They ended up taking 2nd place in the tournament. You can see from the pictures how hard it was raining on them.

These are two of Easton's good friends.

Easton isn't in this picture, I just wanted to show how hard it was raining.Kinley is still just Kinley. She is dancing at Dance Factory. She has her regular ballet/tap class on one night and then on the next night sh is taking a partner clogging class. She went to her first class last week and has talked about nothing else ever since. She has loved it. The only thing she didn't like was that she wanted her partner to have "dark" hair like her dad. But after the first class she told me that it's okay he is blonde. She is a little opinionated.

Last Friday night was Bear River's Homecoming. Ted was taking pictures of the football boys during the game so Kinley and I just tried to stay warm. The boys rode in the motorcade with some of Easton's football team. Cindy & Nikki did a great job decorating the truck complete with Tigers being drug from behind. The boys wanted their faces painted to show their BRHS Spirit. They did a good job with their face paint.

More Family Pics

For my birthday a couple of weeks ago, the one thing that I asked for was new family pictures. Ted very innocently reminded me that we had just done our family pics in May. But I really wanted them done in the fall leaves. So he very sweetly complied. Here are a few pics from Sunday. Easton & Holden took the pics of me & Ted. They are getting pretty good at it. Kinley had to pose us and fix my hair, feet and necklace and also told me how to tilt my head. I do believe she has seen her dad take pics one too many times.

Thanks again babe! I promise I won't ask again for at least a couple months.

Happy Birthday Holden!

Wow, I can't believe Holden turned 10 years old today. Truly where does the time go? I just want to wish Holden a happy birthday. He is such an amazing kid. Who would have thought that the "blob" from 10 years ago would develop into such a deep thinking, smart, very athletic, gifted boy. We were so worried for the whole 1st year of his life. On top of being almost 5 weeks early, he was so sick the first year. He wasn't a giggly happy baby like Easton was. He just liked to sit and observe everything that was going on around him. You would practically have to stand on your head and twirl just to get him to smile.

We are so pleased with the young man that you have turned in to.
Happy Birthday Holden. We love you!

Kinley's 1st Day of School

Kinley had her first day of school yesterday. Wow, where does the time go. That tiny little girl has developed into quite a little diva. She had to pick the exact outfit she wanted to wear, along with exactly how she wanted her hair. Not quite what mom had in mind, but she knows her mind. After posing for a couple of pictures, we headed to school. She is going to Ms. Nicole's Preschool. She was so excited after visiting there the night before. Kinley told me that this wasn't "real" school she was going to. "Real" school would be next year when she went to Holden's school. She was waiting outside with her teacher when I drove up to pick her up. She gave me the biggest wave and said that she had a great day. She can't wait to go back next week.

Getting ready to go into preschool.

Ms. Nicole showing Kinley her cubby.

FOOTBALL, FOOTBALL & MORE FOOTBALL

Holden is the kicker for his team

This is Holden flying in for a tackle.

It's hard to tell, but this is Holden's diving catch for 2 points.

Easton making a tackle.

I know that I have a lot more pics of Holden than Easton, but that is because Easton's games are so much more intense and stressful to watch that I forget to take pictures. They tied against Box Elder 6-6 after double overtime. Holden's games have been pretty relaxing. They won 36-6 against Ben Lomond. I love watching these boys play ball. They have the best coaches that are so great with these boys. Ted & Jon Nessen coach Easton's team and Troy Fonnesbeck is the coach for Holden's team. GOOD JOB BOYS!!!!

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

I can't believe that school is back in session. While part of me is grateful (my food bill will be smaller and my house will stay cleaner) I also have a hard time with the fact that time is flying by so fast. Easton is in 7th grade so he is the oldest at the Intermediate School. Holden is in 4th grade and so far he told me that this is the best year ever. He was elected Govenor for his class yesterday so that topped things off. Kinley will start preschool next week. She is dying for her school to start. I hope that this is the best year ever for them.