O Christmas Tree

We finally got our Christmas tree up, and we are officially in the holiday spirit. We went and picked out our new ornaments for the year with the kids (a fun tradition that we started a few years ago and each year the kids get to pick a new ornament to put on the tree). Here are our 2008 picks:
Shawn-The Flinstones
Jenn-The Grinch (no similarities, I just thought he was cute)
Ethan-Harry Potter
Cole-Iron Man
Liv-Fairy( I realize that it looks like the Grinch is trying to look up the fairy's skirt, but I promise he is looking under the Christmas tree).

Black Friday

I can't believe I even attempted to go shopping on Black Friday. We sat on the freeway overpass for 15 minutes.

(Here are Ethan and Cole with my Dad and brother, Matt)

But, I think the kids has fun. Even though the fake snow falling at the mall (it was actually bubbles) was a little sad. I want real snow-atleast just for a minute, that comes with it's own snowblower!

Just a cute pics of my mom and Cole.

Eating breakfast with Liv

Is is bad that I let my 19 month-old daughter eat her Coco Puffs on the table??  

I am sure this isn't approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics-so Shawn 

and Randy stop looking, but it is the only way she will eat.

The Big 30!

Happy Birthday to the most wonderful husband in the world. Each day I continue to be inspired by your hard work and dedication to me, the kids, the gospel, your job, and so many other things. You are such a great leader in our home and the kids admire and look up to you so much, as do I. Thanks for all you do to make us happy! WE LOVE YOU!

Head Above the Water!

A few years ago Ethan took a swim class with his cousin, Brandon. There was this little girl in their class who would not keep her head above the water-she just wanted to swim. It used to scare me to death and I was sure she was going to drown because her head was under the water most of the time and the teachers kept having to pull her up. Well, Ethan and Cole are currently taking a swim class and Cole has turned into that crazy little girl. He is out of control! He won't sit on the step with the rest of the class and just keeps jumping off the steps. He won't keep his head above the water no matter where he is. If he is sitting on the top step he still leans over and sticks his head under. I have to stand right next to him on the side just to make sure he doesn't drown. Both the teacher and myself have tried to talk to him, but he just laughs! If we survive one more week of this swim class I will be a happy girl! Here is the one picture I could get of his head out of the water. Meanwhile, the other five kids in his class are crying because they don't want to get in the water.

On the other hand, Ethan is doing great! Here is a picture of him meeting with his class. (notice the cute kid next to him in the speedo, I think I just might have to get one for my boys-isn't that cute!)

Farm Kids

Despite the fact that I didn't grew up in the country on a farm like my parents, I like to think that I am not totally a city girl. There is still a little country in me, and every chance I get to go up to my grandparents always reminds me of how much fun it can be. While up in Utah this past week my kids got to spend some time on the farm. They could easily be entertained here for hours, if not days. Here are a few pictures.

I knew they started driving young on the farm, but I didn't realize they meant this young....

Halloween and a quick trip to Utah

This past week we made a quick trip to Utah. My grandpa died last Friday, which wasn't totally unexpected as his health had been very poor the past few weeks. So, we made a quick trip to Utah for the funeral. It was a little crazy with Shawn's schedule. Shawn drove with me and the kids up to Utah, then he flew home that night, then he work for 36 hours straight and caught another flight back to Utah, just in time to drive back to Las Vegas on Saturday. It was a beautiful funeral and I couldn't believe how many people were there. My grandpa was one popular man! Cole almost climbed ontop of the casket while all the grandkids were up singing, but other than that the day went very smoothly. This is a picture of my grandpa five years ago at Ethan's blessing (as you can see Ethan was not a happy baby this day).

While we were home we were able to go trick or treating with cousin's. We had a nice Jedi clan (and one very nice Anakin Skywalker). Liv got to be Yoda for Halloween this year. I know that isn't very girly, but I figured we already had the Star Wars theme going and she really didn't care. There will be plenty of Halloween's for girls costumes.

The Jedi' Clan

My cute little Yoda!

This is Maycee, my niece, with my sis Jam

Here is little Maycee

This is my mom with Liv. Liv quickly became sick of the Yoda ears.

Oh, and can't forget Shawn and Kev!