sledding 2015

Katie making a snow fort

We love it when we are able to go to the cabin to celebrate New Year's.  This year Lisa's family, Paul's family and Dad were there with us.  We had such a great time!  I think the kids spent most of their time sledding.  Even though it was very cold outside, they spent hours and hours out there each day.  They even went night sledding.  It is great that they plow all the way down to the power plant because it makes such a great sledding path.  All of the cousins had such a fun time together!

Kyson going down head first

Taking a break from sledding to build a fort

Jadon trying snowboarding.  He got pretty good at it!

Jaxon was also pretty good at the snowboard thing

Kierra, Jake and Kyson having fun throwing each other in the snow

Kierra, snow angel

 



 This is one of my favorite pictures because it shows how much fun Katie is having.  She loves this little sled.  She spins around and around the whole time she goes down the path.  She goes pretty fast too.  She's quite a trooper.  She never says she wants to go in.  She will stay out for hours!

Jaxon liked to wait at the bottom and jump over whoever was coming down

 

The kids somehow came up with the idea of riding down the sledding trail hooked together in a circle.  They would hold onto each other's feet and spin in a circle while going down the hill.  It was really fun!


What a wonderful time!

Christmas 2014

 We had a fun Christmas season.  We started out by going to Airborne with the Byers family on Christmas Adam (the day before Christmas Eve)  Unfortunately, I was having so much fun jumping that I didn't take any pictures.  On Christmas Eve, we did our annual tradition of going out to dinner and to a movie.  We went to Francessco's for dinner and then to big hero 6 for the movie.  It was good!

 After we got home from the movie, we set up the sugar town.  Dale and the kids gave me two sets that I didn't have so that was fun to add to it this year.

 After that we opened our Christmas eve jammies and then watched "It's a wonderful life".  This was the first time for all of the kids, except Jadon, to watch it.  They watched the whole thing but I'm not sure they loved it as much as I do.

Chrismas morning before all the madness began!

Kyson with his new crazy cart that Santa brought him and Jake.  Too bad it snowed on Christmas day so he couldn't use it

 The siblings drew names, like always, to give gifts to each other.  Katie was very excited to give Jadon his gift.  It was a Utah hoodie.

Kyson and Jake had each other this year.  Best buddies!

 Kierra got a picture of Gladys coming up to our door on Christmas morning.  My kids are always so excited to see their grandma. They love her so much!

 Jake got a ton of pokemon cards for Christmas.  As soon as he opened them, he found a spot to sit on the floor and organize them.  He stayed there for a really long time.

 My kids and Dale gave me a toilet for Christmas because we have plans to redo our main bathroom this year.  I was really excited.  I love my family!

Katie with her elastics that go to the loom she got

 Christmas night we all went to my Dad's for dinner.  This year, instead of giving cousin gifts, we did a service project.  We made blankets and bags for the Ronald McDonald house.  It was fun!

All the cousins that were there

It was a fun Christmas but there was definitely a huge void without my mom there.  She has always been such a big part of Christmas.  Her house is always decorated for Christmas and she always made Christmas special.  Lisa made her bread and gave us all a loaf.  I love that bread and it will always make me think of mom because she always made us that at Christmas.  I had a hard time getting into the spirit this year and I think it was because I really miss my mom.  But Christmas time always makes me grateful for my family.  It is so much fun to do fun things together.  There is magic in the air that I just love.  I'm happy to have shelter and the things we need.  It's weird to think that next Christmas Jadon won't be with us.  I'm also having a hard time dealing with that.  At the same time, I'm so excited to have a missionary in our family.  Merry Christmas!

Kyson is Ten!

 Today Kyson celebrated his 10th birthday.  All of his siblings went to the store together last night and bought him some presents.

Dale explaining the menu to Kyson

 Since Kyson's birthday was on Sunday, Dale and I took him out for his birthday dinner last night.  He decided a long time ago that he wanted to go to Buffalo Wild Wings for dinner.

We picked 4 different kinds of wings, his favorite was the regular buffalo flavor

 We had a such a great time with Kyson.  We always love spending one on one time with our kids.

This is the super yummy dessert that Kyson picked, dessert nachos!

Kyson is such a great little kid.  He always wants to do the right thing and he loves to do things for people.  He is such a wonderful brother, especially to Jake.  He is always reminding Jake of the things he needs to do for school so he doesn't forget.  He is super smart and does really well in school.  He told me he didn't want to ever miss a day of school because he will miss learning something and then someone might get smarter than him.  He is really good at getting his homework done and I never have to remind him.  He also loves sports.  Since it is football season, he is into playing football.  Nearly every day after school, he rounds up kids in the neighborhood to play football in the backyard.  He also loves to watch the Utah games with Jadon and Jaxon.  Kyson is just an all around good kid.  I'm so thankful that he was sent to our family.  I love you Ky!

Katie is Six!

 Katie was so excited for her birthday.  She made a countdown calendar in the beginning of October that went to the end of the year.  She loved knowing how many days it was until Halloween and then her birthday and finally Christmas.  She decided that she wanted to go ice skating for her birthday. Her favorite thing to do is stand in between two adults and hold their hands while we all skate together.  We wanted her to learn to skate by herself and she did a pretty good job balancing and standing still but couldn't quite skate without holding on to the wall.  We all had a good time.

 

Katie trying to learn to balance by herself.

 That night we went to Golden Corral for dinner.  My dad decided that we were going to go out this year for Thanksgiving Dinner.  Since we couldn't get a private room on Thanksgiving Day, we decided to do it the night before which was Katie's birthday.  She loves the cotton candy and the chocolate fountain so she was happy about that.

Katie opening presents
She loved everything that her siblings gave her!

 Katie is growing up to fast.  It's hard to believe that she is in Kindergarten.  Her teacher says she is a joy to have in her class.  She is a friend to everyone and is always happy. 

 Katie is full of personality.  She's a creative, sassy little princess!  She loves to play and is super good at playing by herself.  She has a fabulous imagination.  I will frequently catch her talking to her dolls or whatever she is playing with.  She is very spoiled.  She is used to getting her way and isn't very happy when things don't go her way.  We are working on that.  She has been such a joy to me.  She's been my little buddy for the last 6 years and I have enjoyed our time together.  She's a sweetheart and I love her!

swim team

 Kierra has always loved to swim and this year she decided to join the Copper Hills swim team.  It is quite a commitment!  She has practice every morning from 5:30-6:30 and then again every day after school from 3:00-5:00. 

 Yesterday was her first swim meet.  We have a lot to learn about the whole swimming thing because this is new but it was fun to watch her.  She definitely can swim faster than anyone in our family.

 We are really proud of her for deciding to do this.  Especially since it is such a huge commitment!  I hope that she will stick with it an enjoy the season.

At least everyone didn't beat her!

Jaxon - 14

Jaxon in Gobin Valley.  He loved jumping from rock to rock

 This week Jaxon turned 14!  Wow!  We told him he's grown up now.  Jaxon is quite an adventure.  He always keeps our lives exciting.  Never a dull moment with that kid.  I have experienced every emotion with him.  Happiness, scared, surprise, frustration, proud, anger and love.

Jaxon pitching

 Jaxon has this unique quality about him.  He seems to be good at anything he tries.  He is very athletic and loves to play whatever sport is in season.  Right now, it's football.  Every day after school, he and Kyson round up the neighborhood kids and play football.  When winter comes, it will be basketball.  And, of coarse, in the spring there will be baseball.  My favorite.  I love to watch him play.  He knows the game so well and is so good at it.  He has only come across a few things that he doesn't seem to naturally be good at.  Unfortunately, when that happens he gives up on that and doesn't want to try it anymore. 

Jaxon shooting his Dad's gun

 When we went camping to Goblin Valley, Dale brought his guns.  Jaxon loved shooting them and was quite good at it.  He was also very good at throwing the clay pigeons in the air for people to shoot.  Must be all the baseball.

Jaxon jumping into the pool

 When we got our pool this summer, Jaxon wanted to move the trampoline next to the pool to use it to jump in.  At first, Dale did not like that plan.  He felt it was unsafe.  Jaxon's persistence won and he was the first one to jump in the freezing cold water.

Jaxon at the NJHS ceremony

 Jaxon doesn't love school but he gets pretty good grades.  I think the competitiveness in him is what keeps him doing well in school.  He doesn't like it when someone is better than him.  He is on the National Junior Honor Society and is a member of the Ambassadors, a club that tries to stop bullying. 

Jaxon has many wonderful qualities.  He's my little hugger.  He always has been.  He gives me many hugs a day.  He is turning into quite a little gentleman.  I took him out to lunch when he got his braces on and I felt like we were on a date.  He opened the doors for me.  He carried the trays of food and anytime I needed anything, he got up and got it for me.  What a sweetie!  I love one on one time with him and wish that I could do it more often.  He's also our teaser (Not necessarily a good quality).  He loves to tease Jake and Katie.  He can't stand being in the room without teasing one of them.  It drives me crazy and is the biggest source of tension in our relationship, but he also takes care of them.  Whenever Katie falls asleep on the couch (which is almost every weekend) He loves to carry her to bed.  If Jake ever gets hurt or is upset (by something other than Jaxon) he will jump up and try to help him. Jaxon is really funny.  He always makes me laugh.  He is a huge presence in our home.  If Jaxon isn't home, it's a completely different place.  I love him with all my heart, even though he is the reason for my grey hair!

Remembering 22 years ago

Dale sent me a text this morning that said "Happy Anniversary".  Our wedding anniversary was in August.  Today is the 22nd anniversary of the day we got together.  It wasn't our first date.  We were having a party with friends from work and we got together at that party.  Our first official date was to see the movie Sarafina.  I think it is so cute that Dale always remembers this day.  I spent a good portion of the day remembering all the wonderful memories from the last 22 years but mostly memories from when we were dating. I just want to list some of them and hopefully when I read this in 20 years, I will still know what I'm writing about.  Dinner at the Red Flame in bountiful where he told me he didn't want to do the two week thing.  Running across the Pace parking lot to listen to Broken glass in his car because my stereo wasn't as good as his.  My sister telling me he was a "player" and to be careful.  All the roses.  Watching for him to drive up to my house to pick me up.  Christmas work party.  Hot mustard at South Seas. Trip to Arizona and Palm Springs. Making me drive his car. Picking me up when I ran out of gas. His house in the winter listening to old country music and eating chili.  Meeting his mom for the first time.  Babysitting. Getting our pictures taken together. Werthers at the Haunted House. Snowmobiling at the cabin. Going to Logan and he wouldn't bring a jacket even though I told him it would be freezing.  Outrunning the cop.  Brushing my hair in the hospital.  Disney stuff. Stereo at RC Willey. Parallel parking at temple square.  Catch a Falling Star tape.  "The Letter" picture.  Wave runner crash. Dine and dash at La Puente. 100% tip.  Skycoaster at Lagoon.  watching TV while I cross stitched. Taking Jordan and Adam to the zoo.  Rubbing lotion on my legs at Pace. Our wedding day. The most perfect day!
He has always been so good to me and taken such good care of me.  He always has put my wants and needs above his own.  We are so blessed to have the kind of relationship that we do.  We get along very well and through all these years, it has remained the same.  We have a different life now.  It mostly revolves around the kids and we don't get to spend as much time together as we did back then but I still love to go on dates and spend time with him.  I love to get texts from him and still am happy when I see his car pull up to the driveway.  I honestly can say that I love him more than I ever thought I could.