Christmas

Christmas Eve

We always open one present on Christmas Eve. Tuns out - it's always pajamas. This year, pillow pets were included with their pajamas. The kids had a great time.







Christmas Morning

Every year we set a trap for the kids that they have to navigate in order to see the tree and the presents that Santa left. This year, instead of a trap, they had a treasure hunt. The kids let us sleep in until 7, but then couldn't wait..... We had a great time opening presents and hanging out together. Hannah came over around 7:45 to hang out. We had breakfast casserole and then watched a movie and had a nap! What a great Christmas!!

Snow

We typically only get one big snow storm - but this year we have had several already. Cannon is facinated with the snow and wants to go outside all the time - even without shoes. Snow is a kids best friend, mom's nightmare with all the muddy/wet shoes that go through the house. Good thing I don't stress about having a clean house!! Well, maybe it's because I have so many kids (including the neighbor kids!).

Decorating the Christmas Tree

The kids were eager to set up the Christmas tree. We had a great time putting up the tree and decorating it. I have to admit that I was glad to have it done (one more thing checked off my list) - but now that it's up, I'm somewhat reluctant to take it down. There is a peace of having the tree lite up and enjoying the time with the kids.

November Updates

It seems like this time a year gets super busy. Sometimes I wonder how we manage to get anything accomplished! I missed posting about Ryker's birthday, which was on Thanksgiving this year. We went to California and had a wonderful time. The only drawback was that Jared couldn't go with us. Here are the highlights!
Seeing Santa at the Christmas Bizaare.
Seeing Picaboo the turtle in California. The kids thought this was amazing. I thought the weather was amazing - mid 60's. BEAUTIFUL!


Ryker had a great time celebrating his birthday on Thanksgiving. We had lots of family and lots of help to sing happy birthday and celebrate! His favorite gift was from Melissa - a HUGE set of lego's....

6 Year Olds

One of these days I'm going to get caught up..... but until then I have to share what Ryker did last night.

We are in the kitchen cleaning up dinner, Ryker is at the table coloring. At least what I thought. I watched him walk over to the wall and draw a line on the wall. I asked him why he drew on the wall. He looked at the crayon in his hand and said, "Weird." Then he looked truly perplexed, on purpose..... Jared told him that he would be wiping down all the walls if he colored on the wall again.

It's not like he doesn't know better. Six year olds!

School Pictures

Jaxon - 7th Grade
Gunnar - 4th Grade
Jerrick - 2nd Grade

 

Cannon - the spoiled baby

 

Monica - 9th Grade

 

Ryker - Kindergarten

 

Our annual picture excitement!

Carving Pumpkins/Deer

We went to Logan for Halloween and missed carving pumpkins..... perhaps intentional. We did buy pumpkins, just 'forgot' to carve them before we left for Logan. Everyone was so excited to go to grandma's!! We got home late Sunday night and Monday, the kids were dying to carve pumpkins. So, I gave in. A little pumpkin guts never hurt anyone, right?

Does it sound odd to anyone else that you give your children sharp knives and let them slice and dice.... okay - honestly hate the whole pumpkin thing. It's the guts that get me. Yuck!! And there is no such thing as clean and orderly pumpkin carving. But, we survived yet again. While the younger boys, Monica and I carved pumpkins. Jared and Jaxon were out carving Jaxon's deer. Jaxon got a deer on the last day of the hunt. He was so excited. More pictures to come later.... I elected to not be the offical photographer of the dead deer..... Although Jaxon was very proud when they found the bullet and insisted that I take a picture of that. Never a dull moment!

Election Results

It has been a long two months..... running for any public office is not really fun. It gets personal - sometimes too personal. It brings out a different side of people. I have never been involved to 'play' politics. I only got involved to try and make a difference. But that difference doesn't start by getting elected, or serving in an official position. The difference starts everyday - the little things, which make up the big things.

Maybe that view is what makes an election difficult. I want people to judge and vote based on my past dedication - not my future promises. I want to be judged by what I have done and what I AM doing, not by what I 'promise' to do. The whole experience was stressful. My blood pressure as already high - I think it only went higher. Add that to everything else in my life and there were a few times I thought the world was crashing around me.

Thank goodness I have a great support system - a great family and great friends who are always willing to listen. You can't ask for anything else - well, except to win. And that I did. There was a lot of pressure from a local 'questionable' business to get in three new candidates who would forward the mayor's perspective. There were some other great options. It was close - but I was happy to see that I received support that I did.

http://www.silverstate2010.com/Counties/elko.aspx

Another four years...... Cannon will be starting kindergarten and Monica will be starting college...... I feel older already! It's hard to believe when I started on the council Ryker was 15 months, Monica was almost 10.

Halloween and Fall

We spent the weekend in Logan with grandma and grandpa. The kids had a great time. They raked up grandpa's massive pile of leaves and had a great time jumping into them!







We had a great night with lots and lots of candy! We went to a trunk or treat at the church - but since it was raining, we handed out candy inside. It was nice and warm and everyone had a great time - including Jerrick who hit every door at least 10 times. His candy load was MASSIVE! We headed home, they went to a few neighborhood houses and then called it a night. Poor Ryker - didn't even make it to his bed.... fell asleep at the top of the stairs. It was way too cute not to take a picture!
Ryker asleep on the stairs..... so cute!
After having a meltdown about being in his costume - Cannon finally fell asleep!
Monica and Gunnar (I mean Batman).
Cannon and Grandma. Cannon was a little happier since Gunnar gave him some chocolate - but if you looked at him the wrong way - crankiness appeared....
Cannon's MAJOR meltdown. Without a nap, he was very unhappy about being in his costume. He wouldn't keep it zipped up - so I put a safety pin in it. He was really mad and cried and carried on for almost half an hour...... 2 year olds......
Jaxon in camo.... He's trying to hide into the wall.....
Jerbear - Iron Man. He picked this costume because Grandpa and Tiffany LOVE Iron Man!! :)