Christmas 2010

Ahhhhh. That was the most relaxing Christmas I've ever experienced. The few days before Christmas have always been a little too stressful and boys fighting and dinners and I missed something and I don't spend time with my kids, where did the reason for the season go?? etc.etc.

For some reason, this year, I have fallen in love with having a house full of teenagers. It was the season to kick back. Christmas Eve, everybody helped, dinner was low-key, with just my folks, went to bed about 10:30pm, after watching "It's a Wonderful Life" and reading Luke 2, of coarse.

I love that this year the boys went and worked out on the treadmill, and lifted weights, etc down stairs until they got themselvestotally exhausted. Loved it. They went to bed with instructions that the parents are not to be awakened before 7am. Oh please, by 6:30 I couldn't stand it and started buggin' Sam until he woke up. The kids heard us and it didn't seem like a Sunday morning trying to get them out of bed for church:) They were up and ready to rip the wrapping! It was nice to just sit there and relax while they handed out presents etc. and took care of it all.

Well, Sam landed in the hospital on the 22nd and still can't use his back well, so he took the boys with him to the farm to help with chores and I got to be home, alone for 1 1/2 hours. Ahhhhh. It was lovely. I sent some Facebook wishes to friends, finished my book and puttered around putting stuff away. Lovely. We went up to my folks later and played around for a while. Went down to the farm for Christmas dinner with the Stewart's and we were home by 7:30. Relaxed. The boys were happy. Sam was happy, and I slept well that night. ahhhhh.

I have a good life.

We're back! July '10

COme on! Life is good and I want to get better about blogging it, so, I'm going to start with today and go backwards!

Going to lunch with the ladies! I love it!

Misc. stuff from the Stewart's

We love having the missionaries for dinner. Last time we had them it was during the BYU football game so Elder Maki put his game day shirt over the White Shirt and Tie. Love it!

My beautiful Ben.

In the fall we cute down the bamboo and haul it off. Ben and Jackson usually take the first ones cut, make swords out of them, fight til they're exhausted and then I get to do the rest.

Shishkabob anyone? Jackson made himself a shishkabob with Swedish Fish. Great minds think outside the box!

Fun Fall Time of "oh nine"

Ben and Jackson chose to wear their favorite "Team Jersey" to school for Red Ribbon Week. They wanted to wear Sam's old High School Football team jersey's. Fun times.

DJ dressed up as a Rodeo clown for "Sports
Day" Those guys are great athletes! He won a prize for the most creative. Fun Times.

Looking out my front door this time of year. Here Kitty kitty!

What a great day, a wedding and a funeral

Yeah! Alyssa and Dave looked great! What a great day. I love it when good kids from good parents and make good choices! Are they not a fabulous couple?!?!?

Alexandra and Nicollette hangin' and waitin'. Alexandra was just smiling a second before I took this photo, sorry Alex!

What a good mom!

The Grandparents photo time!!

The WHOLE temple gang! Love it!

Later that day..... Aunt Vaye's funeral and burial. I was lovin' the women power at the casket!

First Day of School '09!

Jackson got Mrs. Bair (yes!!)

Ben got Mrs. Bair too!! (love it!)

Ahhhh yes! It's the first day of school and my boys are BMC at both schools this year, so, there was no stress. What an exciting day!!!! Now,... what to do... what to do.....

Flag Retirement Ceremony

The military does a fabulous Flag Retirement for the 24th celebration. We put our flag out almost everyday and we were excited to be a part of this. I love this country.

I love my scouters!!!!

After the speaker, they took down the big flag and respectively put it over the flames.

We got to see my brother, the fireman, Bruce, working hard.

Just a little video of Jackson taking a flag out. Ben was a little more competitive, he was a bout quantity, not so much on the quality.

How do you read scriptures at your house?

We're reading our scriptures and closing the day and I realize that the twins are following along in there respective laundry baskets.. What? Who does that?

Father's Day '09

When Sam came home from chores, and before our 9am church we had him open his "little" gifts

For Father's Day we had the Grandma's and Grandpa's join us for dinner and relaxed and ate and talked. We were lucky Marianne could be with us. She's always fun. After dinner we let Sam run across the street to get his "big" gift. The camping stove I won at a 5k race:)

Sam got a tractor! AND a new spray machine!!

Little Annie and Gray-bee. Anyone need kittens?

This is Sylvester. The oldest cat the farm has ever seen. Probably because I came into the family and got her fixed and shot. She's as old as our marriage.

The tractor! He has saved long enough that he found the one he couldn't pass up. A little road trip to Rexburg ID and here you have it!!

Lousy photo, but, The sprayer was a road trip to Brigham City. It's spring!! Happy Farmer!