Holy Snow!!!

I've lived here for about 17 years and this is the most snow I've seen in Utah at one time! It snowed for about 2 days straight- we got over 24 inches! The second morning of snow, the school district cancelled school! No one that I have talked to can remember another time when they cancelled school for snow. The kids had mixed emotions at first because it was their party day before Christmas break... and then it turned to a day of neighborhood fun! Every street was buzzing with kids of all ages! They were sledding, 4 wheeling, snowball fighting, building snowmen... you name it! It was actually kind of fun even to sit and watch from the inside. We went through SOOO much hot chocolate that day!

This is our neighborhood mailbox- the snow is as high as the bottom of it

the swing set- the swings were almost touching the snow

and this is our regular height trampoline...
Yes, we didn't get it taken down and now it is hopelessly frozen in place!

fun in the snow!

This is Macie's 1st time in the snow that she can really remember~

SHE LOVED IT!!!

December 20th and 21st, 2010

Gingerbread Houses

Every year Grandma Connie has the grandkids come and decorate gingerbread houses. This year for my family... it was on the verge of CHAOTIC! You can't tell by the pictures, but mental note for me... we need to work on this one for next year! :o) On a positive note, the kids always have a blast doing it!

The grandkids that were there that day and their houses~

1 GOOD reason....

... NOT to put the ceramic crock pot insert on the stove to hurry dinner along :o)

I'll give you 1 guess what Santa had to bring us this year for Christmas~

FYI~ It makes a big HOT mess when the bottom decides to crack and fall out while cooking a Sunday roast with potato's and carrots! Do not try this at home kids!

Brinley turned 5!

Happy Birthday Brin!

She is so excited to be 5 and get to go to kindergarten next year! Time is flying so fast! She is too smart for her own good! She is already learning how to read the simple words and do simple addition and subtraction. She loves to play with her brothers and sisters and is permanently attached to Micailey's hip when she is around! We are going to have double trouble when they are both older! She is also her Daddy's girl! If he is home~ he gets to do everything for her... Mom is no longer needed :o) We love you Brin and hope you have a fabulous year being 5!

She had a little party with a few of her friends.

They watched Barbie Pegasus and had LOTS of movie candy!

It took her about 5 or 6 tries at blowing out her candles to get them out this year :o)

After about the 4th try it started to funny :o)

Awe! Finally :o)

Our Christmas Photo's 2010

A huge THANK YOU to Kasa for the awesome idea and for taking the great pictures! It was a fun adventure and our family will treasure these photo's forever! What a memorable experience and teaching moment for the kids to look back on. The Nativity meant even more to me this year and emotions were closer to the surface thinking of sweet Mary cradling her new little baby boy and the journey they had taken and the journey of His life ahead. I'm so thankful for Mary and Joseph and the sacrifices they endured and for Christ and his example and sacrifice he gave for all of us. I hope you all had a wonderful and Merry Christmas this year!

Rylan at 8 weeks

My handsome little boy

8 weeks old

12.5 lbs

1st Smiles :o)

November 23rd

Smiling really good now!

Rylan's Blessing Day

Rylan James

blessed

November 7th, 2010

We blessed our cute little Rylan on Sunday, November 7th. Thanks to everyone who came to support us! It was fun to see every one. It's sad to think that he is most likely our last little one to join our family (knock on wood) but it is also fun to think of the new chapter we are entering in our life. We are so happy to have another boy to join our family. We are even all the way around now- we are an even number so everyone has a buddy, there are 4 boys and 4 girls, & we started with a boy and now we are ending with a boy. We feel very blessed!

He smiled for the first time today at me. I didn't know if it was on purpose at first, but then a few hours later he smiled at my sister Terri who was holding him. He smiled a few times through out the rest of the week and now he smiles all the time. :o)

We love you Rylan and are so happy that you have joined our family!