Christmas 2012

 Christmas was really fun this year. As our kids get older it becomes more and more magical. We still had to wake up our kids at 8:30am, because we were ready to get started and didn't know how long they'd sleep. I bet that was our last year doing that :) Emmett walked out to the living room and saw that new horse and immediately said, "thats mine!" Adah went straight for her giant Pooh Bear. She loves stuffed animals and anything she can cuddle. We looked through our stockings, made breakfast, and then opened our presents. Later that night we went to Emily's house for a little Christmas dinner and did a gift exchange. The kids all brought their favorite presents and did a show and tell with the family. It was cute watching them share their favorite toy. Emmett took his cows and chute and showed everybody how to put a cow in the chute!

Christmas Eve Jammies

Christmas Morning

He said," That's my horse!!!"

Adah loves Pooh Bear

Adah's Stash! Pooh Bear, Blanket, cash register, elephant/ball toy, tutu, cowgirl hat, clothes, hair bows

Bret's Stash, wranglers, guitar, and George Strait concert tickets

Amy's Stash, Running jacket, Garmin running watch, slippers, money for a mini vacation without the kiddos.

Emmett's Stash, Horse, Hungry Hungry Herd, bow and arrow, clothes, puzzles, cow chute, cows

Family Pic

Loves these people!

Cody & Carly 2012

This picture makes me giggle.

My stud muffin

She likes having her picture taken

Ben's Christmas Party 2012

 There is nothing I look forward to more then Ben's Christmas party. He starts preparing and decorating in October. We all have special assignments and it's not to be discussed with anybody else in the family. This year Bret and I were assigned to sign a Christmas opera. There are prizes given out for Best Performance, Best Costume, Best Food Dish, and Best Christmas Spirit. Bret and I took first place in best performance and we tied for first in best costume. We had so much fun. It's an adult only party, which is fun because we never get out without our kids. We really missed Kurt this year. It wasn't the same without him. Last year he played the guitar and sang Christmas songs for our family. (he won best performance that year).

Mike Warren, Tayla Warren, Big Der, Jeff Heaps

Nana & Jude

Ben's decorating

Winter Wonderland

This is where you can take somebody else from the party and confess something to them. If you've wronged them, had immoral thoughts, etc... lol. Ben also had a courthouse this year at the party. He was the judge(of course) and you could take somebody to court and dispute your differences. Ben has always found joy in helping people solve their differences and he laughs at the drama. Court was really fun. I took Bret E to court for using some of my canning jars without paying for them. Cowboy took Emily to court for trying to kick him off the family softball team this summer. It was so funny. Ben is very creative!

 

 

Sisters

St George Marathon & Halloween & Ear Tubes

I ran the Top of Utah marathon and the St George marathon this year. They were 3 weeks apart so I ran the TOU very slow and careful as I wanted to do good in St. George. They were both great races but I have a deep love for St George. Our family friend Kurt Evan was going to run St George with me and died in a car accident two weeks before the race. We're are all so heart broken about this. He's been a part of our family and we love him so much. My heart goes out to his kids and family. Kurt was a fantastic person and father. I called the race director and they let me run with Kurt's number. After the race I gave his bib and medal to his wife. Kurt ran his first marathon with me in 2009 and has run several since. While I was running people people behind me would yell, " go Kurt". It was really special for me to run for him. Bret's brother Blair also ran this first marathon this year. He did great and trained and worked really hard. He told Bret that it was the hardest thing he's ever done, physically or mentally. I was happy to have him tell Bret because then he hears it from somebody besides myself. Marathons are never easy, I'd quit doing them if they became easy. I finished St George at 4:01:00. Pretty average time. Larry and I had a great pace most of the race. We had a bathroom stop, band aid/blister stop, and talked to the family too long at snow canyon, which hurt our time a little but we ran well. I sure love running with Larry. He turned 60 on Nov 1st and still kicks my butt. He's in awesome shape.

Picking Pumpkins

Oct 2012

Halloween 2012

My little lady bug

Emmett insisted he was a bull not just a cow.

Adah had to get ear tubes put in again. One fell out and with the upcoming cold season and already meeting our insurance deductible we decided to have them put in again. She caused a big scene at the hospital anytime a nurse even looked at her. The doctor was running a little behind and we had to wait an extra 2 hours before her 15 min surgery. She had to fast and that made me really fussy. We walked the halls for about an hour and she looked so cute in her gown. She waved at almost everybody that walked past her and people couldn't

help but smile. She slept a lot that day, which was nice for me and she's been happy since.

4th of July 2012

 We had a fun 4th of July this year. I bought the kids new outfits from the Gap (my favorite store) and they looked very cute. We took the kids to the Provo Freedom Festival and I want to do that every year. They had free crafts for the kids, a snake from Scales and Tails (which Emmett loved), and much more. I know I've basically lived here my whole life and this was my first time going, but it was awesome. That afternoon we had a swimming party at my moms house and then fireworks on the curbside for the kids.

Check out the next three pictures of a good game of Peek-A-Boo!

Adah was a little scared of the first works and kept getting down from my lap to go sit with Nana. I thought that was adorable! Nana is good with babies.

Easter Weekend

We went to Minersville/Out West for Easter weekend. We made a day trip out the lodge and had a lot of fun. We colored easter eggs, had an easter egg hunt, the guys built a fort for the kids, ate good food, and rolled easter eggs. This was a new tradition for me. The only people I know that do this is the Albrechts and apparently the White House. You take your hard boiled eggs and roll them down a hill until there is nothing left of them. The person whos egg lasts the longest wins. It was really fun and I enjoyed it as much as the kids.

Emmy & Emmett 2012

Family Photo 2012

Emmett didn't understand the concept of hurrying to find as many eggs as you could. When he found one he opened it and ate what was inside before moving to the next egg. I'm sure next year he'll understand "the race" part of an easter egg hunt.

Adah's Easter dress

The Easter Bunny hid Emmett's basket in a good spot :)

Adah and her basket!

We enjoyed our church meetings and I paid extra close attention to the gospel doctrine lesson as I start teaching it in my own ward this Sunday. Please pray for me! I'm so nervous I could almsot throw up just thinking about it. Luckily our ward is one lesson behind and I'm teaching the same lesson that I heard on Sunday. I'm hoping I'll only be nervous the first time or two and it becomes easier for me. I feel inadequate to teach in an older ward... I'm 28...not 68. 68 Should be the minimum age limit for this calling. It's time for me to get off the computer and continue studying my lesson.