Who's kids are these?

So, on our ski trip to Utah last week, we were driving from Layton, where we met some friends for dinner, when the kids suggested that we drive by the Salt Lake Temple so they could see it.  So we did.  They then all asked if we could skip skiing on Saturday and go tour Temple square, and the Conference Center.  What do you say to that?  Of course, if your kids would rather go to the temple then go skiing you better do it!  So that is what we did!  It was a great experience for all of us!  I am really proud that they decided and chose the Temple.  Now I just have to make sure they keep that attitude!  Wish me luck!

Back, and a little bit better!

We just returned from our 2nd snow ski trip of the year to Utah.  Everyone is a little bit better at skiing, and a little bit more motivated to work hard so we can go on another family vacation!  We had a great time together and I think we even converted our nephew Brett over to the snow ski side. (He was previously a snow boarder!)

Valentine's Dance- Remember When

I loved when the girls were little, the cute clothes, the head bands, black paten leather shoes, all of the girly stuff.  But I think I love the pre-teen/teen age just as much!  Wednesday night for mutual there was a stake Valentine's Dance.  I helped the girls curl their hair and paint their nails, and get ready.  I can remember doing these things with my mom, and it doesn't really seem like it was that long ago!

Our 1st real project!

For Christmas I got this little machine called a Cricket Expression.  It cuts out letters and pictures.  So this week Alyssa had to make a poster for FBLA (Future Business Leaders of America) for a conference they will be attending.  It was the perfect chance to try out our new toy!  It think we are going to have a lot of fun with this thing!  It can cut, vinyl, paper, card stock, and fabric. I can't wait to make something else!

I am not sure if they are listening?

This is the scene in our family room every morning before school.  We get up at 6:45 am to spend 5 minutes reading scriptures and have family prayer. It works for us, but I am not really sure that anyone can hear what is being read to them while they are "just resting their eyes"!??!

18 Year Valentine

Justin asked me to marry him on Valentine's Day 18 years ago!  The night started out so great, my mom made me a new dress wear (now that I am older I realize that it would have been a lot easier for her to buy me a new dress!) that was perfect, and beautiful!  Justin picked me up and took me to a really nice restaurant for dinner.  I must have been nervous because while I was eating my salad I went to fork the cherry tomato, that was covered in ranch, when it went flying through the air, hit the ground, and rolled under someone else's table.  Now, if that was not embarrassing enough later while I was looking at the gorgeous ring that he had just given me, I dropped it and it got stuck in the track of the seat in his car!   I can't believe he was still willing to marry me!  Happy Valentine's Day to all!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO OUR MAN!

Today is Justin eve, because tomorrow is his 43rd birthday!  I talked to the kids and we came up with 43 reasons why we love him, admire him, and are grateful he is ours!

Addy said:

1. He is nice

2. He is a fast worker

3. He has a good smile

4. He is a good planner

5. He gives good horsey back rides

6. He is a good teacher (at boat driving, and knot tying)

Tanner said:

7. I like when he wrestles with me

8. I love you dad

9. He taught me how to drive a jet ski

10. He is cool!

11. He showed me how to fix a stool

12. He showed me how to mark and cut wood

13. He takes me snow skiing

14. He buy's me good toys!

15. He takes me to cool places! 

Amanda said:

16. He is funny!

17. He has good clothes (this is very important to Amanda!)

18. He is a hard worker

19. He is good at getting people to do what he wants them to do

20. He is a good boss

21. He picks good vacations!

Alyssa said:

22. He is a great water skier

23. He has very white teeth

24. He is a great snow skier

25. He is a good, fast driver

Melynda says:

26. Justin is a Great husband

27. He has a very positive outlook on life

28. He buys me anything I want (luckily I am not very demanding!)

29. He takes me on a date at least once every weekend!

30. He always kisses me when he leaves

31.  He tells me he loves me everyday

32. He is really fun to go on vacation with

33.  He likes to go on vacation!

34.  He smells really good!

35.  He is faithful

36.  He works hard to do what is right

37.  He is a great provider for our family

38.  He is a good dad and loves his family

39.  This is how old I am, and he tells me all the time that he can't wait until I am 40 because older women are hotter!  (we'll see)

40.  He is very confidant and takes charge (this was one of the first things I noticed about him)

41.  He has a strong testimony of the gospel

42.  He tells me I am beautiful, and that I look nice all the time

43.  HE IS LOVED BY ALL OF US SOOO MUCH, HAPPY BIRTHDAY JUSTIN!

Flashback! - Mud Monster!

Justin is scanning all of our old pictures into the computer, and he came across these pictures the other day!  Can you guess who's big black eyes are behind the mud mask?

Yes, it is Adyson!  When I went out in the back yard and found this scene, I asked Alyssa what she was doing and she said "making her"  and I said "making her, what?"  and Alyssa said, in a very excited voice "I am making her a mud monster!"  I can remember when this happened, just like it was yesterday, but I didn't think I had any pictures of my little mud monster!  I am so excited we found these!  It was so funny, and I can remember thinking, how am I ever going to get her clean again??!!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY AMAZING FRIEND WENDY!

Saturday night we celebrated Wendy's Birthday with a really fun group of friends!  Wendy and Loren, Toni and Hugh, Bryon and Joanna, Molly and Andy, and Justin and I.  We had a great time eating at BJ's (yummy!) and laughing!  By the way you get a free pazookie at BJ's on your Birthday!

Wendy and I knew each other when we were little kids.  We were in the same ward and our parents were really good friends.  When Wendy was 7 her family was in a car accident and her mom and little sister died.  Wendy and her dad lived in our ward for a short time after, and then they moved away.  Then, 6 years ago I joined a charity organization (Golden WHEEL) that my friend Joanna was the president of.  Each time I would go to a meeting I would see this woman and I would find myself staring at her, and she would do the same to me.  I could not figure out why I thought I knew her.  Then about 6 months later, we (all the ladies in the organization) went on a retreat to Park City, Utah for a weekend.  I was rooming with Toni and Joanna, and Toni asked me if I knew Wendy's story.  I said, no, I have been trying to figure out why I feel some sort of connection to her.  Toni then told me about Wendy's mom and sister dying in a car accident when she was 7.  All of the sudden I remembered the whole thing.  I ran down stairs to find Wendy and tell her who I was, and how we knew each other.  When I told her she remembered and we hugged and cried for a long time.  

Wendy later told me that she had been praying for ways to know more about her mom.  It was then that I realized for myself how Heavenly Father works through other people to help us with our trials.  I was able to tell Wendy things that I remember about her mom, and she was also able to talk to some of the women I know, including my mom, that were friends with her mom.  

Wendy is an amazing woman.  She has 5 beautiful children, 2 of which were foster children that she and Loren adopted.  She has had more than her share of trials in her life, and she continues to be one of the strongest people I have ever known.  I love her and want her to know that she is truly one of the great examples I have had in my life.  Thank You!

Mini Racers, More fun than we thought!

The whole family loves these things!  They are so much fun!  They go 10 miles an hour, and adults can even ride them!  

Our kids got these mini racers for Christmas, and they still ride them everyday until the battery needs re-charged!

FINALLY, After 7 years!

Finally, after 7 years of not having a front tooth, Tanner's front tooth is coming in!  It is a little funky looking, and I think it needs some braces on it, but yes there is finally a tooth!

If you don't know, when Tanner was 8 months old he fell out of his crib and knocked the baby tooth out, that had just started to grow in.  So needless to say we have never seen Tanner with 2 front teeth!

This is what happens when you are a SMART BUTT

Yesterday after school Alyssa and Amanda were folding laundry in the other room and I turn to look at them just as Amanda holds up a big baggy pair of Justin's pants and says to Alyssa "Are these your skinny jeans?"  All night, every time I would think about it, I would start laughing again!  I guess when you are a smart butt to your kids they pick up on it and start being one too!  At least it makes for a lot fun laughter in our house!

I love reading on my friends blogs the funny things their little kids say.  I wish I would have had a blog when my kids were little so I could remember all of the funny things they use to say.  They are big now, and the funny things now are usually sarcastic!   It really is fun though to see them grow up, and see how each of them has a different since of humor!

A Suite Time!

At the Golden WHEEL auction a group of us bought a suite for the Phoenix Suns Game last night against Atlanta. It was really fun!  We enjoyed eating (it is crazy how fast you can use up a $750 food credit), visiting, and watching the Suns win the game!  And as an extra bonus I found out last week that my niece Karrah would be dancing in the half time show at the game!  It was a great night!

Christmas Morning- It's Finally Here!

Every year, my parents and Justin's parents come over Christmas morning and watch the kids open their presents and then we have home made Cinnamon rolls for breakfast (I make them every year on Christmas Eve).  I think I will be sad when our kids get too big and they don't want toys anymore!

Santa

I few weeks ago in primary we were having a lesson on faith in our primary class (I, along with a team teacher, teach Addy's class), and the other teacher asked the class if there was anything that they had never seen, but really wanted to see. The first boy said, snow and Disneyland, and then Addy raised her hand and said Santa Clause. She then asked the class how they new that these things really existed.

I know that Addy is the age (she just turned 10) to "have the talk" with, but she was so sweet and innocent when she said that, that I just could not bear the thought of ruining that for her.  She is so sweet and so believing. I just love that about her.   

Christmas Eve Pajamas

We have the tradition of new pajamas every year on Christmas Eve.  We had this tradition when I was growing up, and it had been fun keeping the tradition alive for all of these years!

Alyssa's Favorite Christmas Present!

All of our Christmas pictures were on Justin's camera, and then on his computer.  I didn't know how to transfer them to the family computer that I use.  So, I just got the pictures today.  So now I can post Christmas pictures (2 weeks late)!  Oh well!

Alyssa, asked for Hair Extensions, contacts, and to get her braces off for Christmas!  She is definitely a teenager!  Here she is with her Hair Extensions.  I think she looks great with long hair!  She has tried to grow it long her whole life, and it just does not grow!  She is loving having long hair now! 

Christmas Vacation!

We took complete advantage of our "Christmas Vacation" and took a trip to Utah and enjoyed "The Greatest Snow On Earth"!  We skied 2 days at the BEST SKI RESORT IN THE WORLD - ALTA, and 1 day at Brighton. The trip was great, we had great snow, and can't wait to go again! 

This is our annual picture we take in the giant rocking chair at a gas station in Beaver, Utah.

In line for our first run of the new year!  January 1, 2009!  What a great way to start out the new year. Doing something we all love together, as a family. We tell our kids all of the time "these are the good times"!

Justin with his friend Trever Figgins.  They served together in the Tennessee mission 24 years ago.  Every year when we go to Utah, Trever and some of his kids ski one day with us!  It is always fun to catch up!