Joy~

That is the only word that comes to mind for this past week.

We had a wonderful Christmas Day and weekend. We had a visit from Grandma and Grandpa from Arizona, they were cold from morning until night and every minute in between. We love to have them here. The kids were tickled and hugged 24/7.

Highlights:

- Hearing the kids talking before they woke us up.

- Dylan saying Santa came he really came!

- Sophie saying WWWWOOOOOWWWW!

- Playing Go Fish about a hundred times.

- Watching Grandpa dance to Dylan's drums.

- Playing Poker

- Playing Phase 10

- Watching it snow and snow and snow.

- Watching Sophie put on every piece of jewelry that she got.

- Turkey dinner on Christmas Day.

- Sophie and I playing dolls.

- Watching Jesse open every toy for the kids (how tedious)

- All of us on the couch snuggling watching a movie.

- Doing nothing.

- Watching the deer all day.

- Pretending I was a kid again.

- Reading books.

- Going to the Gateway and hearing Grandpa and Grandma saying Utahan's are crazy, what are they thinking have an outdoor mall HERE.

- Then torturing them even more and walking around Temple Square at 8:00pm.

- All and all what more can I say, it was pure JOY!

I believe~

That Christmas is the greatest time of the year. Of course we celebrate the birth of our Savior and what a wonderful blessing that is. We also get to remember others that are less fortunate than us. The last is to be a mom of two young kids where this time of year is so magical. I get so excited for them, I think that I get that from my mom. She is still and rightfully so a true believer of Santa. I can remember even when I was older she would say to me that if you don't believe in Santa then you really wouldn't get anything for Christmas. Her favorite book is the Polar Express and I guarantee you that she hears the bell ring every year. What a wonderful thing to try and pass on to my kids. I know I'm getting to them because Sophia asks me everyday if today is Christmas. Her eyes get really big and her hands clap together and she jumps up and down. What a great moment it's going to be when I get to tell her YES, TODAY IS CHRISTMAS!!!!! Merry Christmas everyone and especially to you Grannie Joan......

Happy Birthday Dylan~

You had a Birthday shout Hooray, we want to sing to you today, one year older and wiser too, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!!

Ohh, my baby boy turns SIX today. Take a deep breath, count to ten and try not to cry.

Dylan has been such a blessing in our lives. He came into our lives that maybe wasn't the perfect time, but I can't think of a greater blessing than him. He has changed my life in such a wonderful way. I can't imagine a minute, or even a second without him in our lives. He is truly a special boy.....

I could name a thousand things that I love about him, but I will stick with ten things that I adore.

1) He is so loving, and sweet

2) He is so smart

3) He will say Mom, Mom, Mom, and before I can answer, he says I Love You!

4) He is a wonderful big brother who protects his sister always.

5) He is handsome

6) He is extremly creative

7) He gives the best hugs

8) He likes to work, and I mean work. He will dig holes, shovel dirt, or rake for hours.

9) He likes to smell good

10) He is my favorite son (I can say that because he is my only one)

What a lucky mom I am to have been blessed with him...

I love you, DD bug, dilly pick, fella, sunny, dill, picky dill, raheed, and all of the others....

Hey Deer get off my lawn~

When the snow falls the deer come down the mountain. This is one of the greatest things about living here, we can see deer out our windows. We fed them last year along with several of our neighbors. I know they say not to but it was a tough year for them and we bought the "good" hay for them. I don't really know what the "good" hay was but the locals knew. Also we were trying to get them NOT to eat our freshly laid sod and our many plants. The most we had in our yard at one time were 15. They would come down every night about the same time and we would watch them eat the hay. Several would dig the snow away in our backyard and just lay there for several hours. The kids and I just loved it. Jump head to Spring the sod was fine but what we didn't know is that the deer ate several of our plants, about a dozen to be exact. So JW decided that he was going to keep them out this year. So he went to work protecting our newly replaced plants. I think that he found a new amazing skill I like to call "Fort Knox". Ohh I would like to see the deer try and eat our plants now. My hubby has built amazing (and I use that term strongly) forts around our plants. So the deer came down and sure enough we saw the tracks and they went to the familiar spots. What is this? (I could just hear them saying) Sorry deer no plants for you!

Side note: You know you live in the country when you drop your daughter off at school and you have to walk her to the door because the goats are in the way. I had to fight off goats to let the kids in the door. I love it!

The tree has been trimmed (whatever that means)~

The Tree! Dill's tree! Busting out the train!

We decorated the Christmas Tree this week. The kids were asking me everyday since Thanksgiving if we were putting up the tree. JW has also semi accused me of being a Grinch this year. I told him it's only a couple of days into December, chill out. So finally before they were all going to die the tree has been trimmed and the decorations up. By the way I have new rule with Christmas decorations if you can't get them up in one afternoon to one day, um you have to much stuff. The Christmas Gods are probably frowning upon me because I actually threw some decorations away this year. But a rule is a rule. I truly love this time of year and the kids are soooo much fun at their age. Everything is so magical. I cry every year when I unwrap my ornaments. They are so special, the different times in our lives. There is an ornament with a picture of Dylan when he is 10 months old and I cry and cry, he asks why are you crying looking at my picture? I just tell him that he is so big now and I miss him as a baby with his big head. Then we laugh. Enjoy the season!

Side note after I posted this and looked at the photo of my tree..um...there are only red balls on one side of the tree....ahh kids come on now!

Thanksgiving~

All the girls...Linda, Whitney, Me, Joannie, Terilyn, Brittney,
Shaylei, Sasha, Courtney, Kenadie, Grammy, Tessa, Sophia



Five generations.... Scott, Grannie Joan, Courtney,
Grammy, Baby Cooper, Conner





Dylan's red face after running for hours with his cousins...




We had a great Thanksgiving. We reserved the church for the first time and I have to say it was nice to have enough space for all of us. The kids had lots of space to play basketball, air hockey and soccer. We had a big kitchen to work in and two ovens to use. We ate and laughed and it was truly a wonderful day. I think that when you are in a room with family there is nothing better. They all really know you, they know your weaknesses, your strengths, and they know your trials. They understand you better than anyone. I think that is the greatest gift of all.
Happy Thanksgiving!

WAY TO GO UTES!!!!

We have school spirit, yes we do!
We watched the big game on the big 13inch screen. That's right 13 inch. We had to move the furniture so that we could see the TV better. Picture the love seat and the over sized chair in the middle of the living room side by side. HA!
We had lots of food and munches, and JW lost his voice it was a great. We all laughed so hard at JW jumping and screaming at every good and bad play it was very entertaining. Isn't fun just to sit around on a Saturday and eat lots of good food and have some laughs. I think we need to do it more often.

All Rise~

I didn't think that I would ever say this but I HAD TO GO TO COURT TODAY!

We had our landscaping rock delivered (I Blogged about it but I don't know how to do the link thingy) in front of our house and we received a citation. The citation was obstruction of the street. Ok we live in a new neighborhood everyone has their landscaping materials (i.e. rocks, dirt, sod, fencing) delivered in front of their homes. Our citation was given three hours after the rock was delivered. (RIDICULOUS!) So we decided to fight it. Well just me, Jesse had to stay at work. Let me just say that I could never be a criminal. I was terrified! I had practiced and practiced what I was going to say. I had invoices showing when the rock was delivered. I had photos that the rock has been removed from the street. I had my notes all nice with bullet points, and highlighted. I had statements from my neighbors who all received 72 hours warnings. I was ready. Side note: this is truly a small town court. The secretary is also the clerk and the file clerk and the lady that types what you say. She is running back and forth from her desk to the court room and then back to run an answer the phone. It was a hilarious. So finally it was my turn to talk to the attorney. He said I see that the rock has been removed from the street and you have received your 72 hour warning. "Wait, sir!" I said, "We never received a warning." He said, "Ohh, that's interesting......I will ask the judge for a dismissal." I had planned and stressed and had a headache for that! It was that easy.... So needless to say I made JW take me to dinner for all of my hard work (ha,ha) and saving the fam $300 bucks.

Hubba Hubba~

Last night I spent a rare and few and far between night out with my Hubby. We had a wonderful time. A trip to the Temple and then to dinner. We drove to Salt Lake, free babysitting (believe me JW does all the calculations and figures out which is going to be cheaper) cheaper gas prices are helping out. Several times throughout the evening I had that overwhelming in the pit of my stomach rush of love fill my body. I look at him and I am so proud that I am his wife. I get to spend eternity with HIM. He is so gentle with me and is so attentive to all my needs (and some days I have many) he listens to my whines throughout the day even when I know he is busy. He is a wonderful loving dad (he kisses and hugs the kids more than I do). He is a very hard worker, sometimes I wish he wasn't but he is the best provider for our family. When I am achy and sore he will so gently tuck me into bed, which I love. As I was staring at him while we ate dinner I told him that I think that we just need to stare at each other more. He just laughed and told me I was so sweet. Seriously I think that might be my new past time. Stare at my husband and let all the memories, thoughts, and that rush of love fill my soul....

I Can't.....

Imagine.......

My Life.......

Without...........

Her!

10 - 0

Way to go UTES!

What an awesome 4th quarter, Utes down with 2 minutes to go and Brian Johnson threw nine completions and they scored a touchdown with about 45 seconds left. It was fantastic! I was screaming and cheering and Dylan told me that I was scaring him to death. I guess I was a little excited. JW is happier than a pig in poop. Bring on the Cougars!

Weekend News!

Sleeping Beauty and the Fire Chief!

Grandma and Grandpa from Arizona!

The kids had a great time Trunk-or-treating with daddy, grandpa and grandma. I of course stayed home sick. I handed out the candy at home and can I just say I hate the pillow case trick-or-treat bag. Come on mothers out there by a bag for a dollar, give your kid a purse, how about even a paper sack but please enough with the pillow cases. I am finally feeling better, thank goodness. We played card games with grandma and grandpa, laughed and I had to answer the never ending question, "mom can I have some candy?" Although I was sick I really enjoyed the kids laying around with me, we read books, watched EVERY Max and Ruby there is, colored coloring books, and talked. I think they enjoyed it too.

Sick on Halloween~

I ask, could there be anything worse?
-no candy.
-no dressing up as a witch. (which was going to be great)
-no taking Sophie to her preschool trunk-or-treat.
-no Halloween parade at Dylan's school.

-no decorating my trunk with dry ice, my jars, and my headless scary man.
-no trunk-or-treating this evening.
-no handing out my special treat bags to my little daycare kids.
-sad, just sad!

Good thing....
Grandma and Grandpa from Arizona coming for a visit at the perfect time!

1 more thing~

I am not one to really express my political views (except to my hubby or my dad) but I have been very concerned about McCain's health care plan. I have health insurance needs in a big way. JW's health insurance plan at work is not the greatest, in fact it really stinks, but I am glad that I have it. I would have to pay $265.00 a month for my medications, that's with insurance coverage, (total cost for my meds $1,400.00 a month) but I have qualified with the drug company that makes Enbrel to receive some compensation for the co-pay that I have to pay. To which I might say that I am very grateful. Anyway I ask that you please research each plan on health care for both candidates and please make a wise choice. JW has spoke with his boss (a small business owner) and if he is going to get taxed on health care coverage he will just drop health insurance all together. In this market his company is struggling already and will not pay anymore than he already is. That would be a horrible for our family! I know that both candidates have good points but really when it comes down to it what is really going to effect your family now are things like health insurance, housing market, taxes, and jobs. Please choose wisely. Peace out! Remember VOTE! People have fought hard and died for this right, it is a privilege!

Poof~

Sophie was telling me that she thought there needed

to be a "pretty" jar of "stuff" for Halloween. So of course I thought Princess Potion.

I made pink water jewels with glitter. I put on the tag

"Put a dab behind your ear and a beautiful pink dress will appear!"

Well needless to say she loves it and now we have a "pretty" jar.

She tried it...... and look what happened!
It really works!

Who knew these would cost so much,

but would be so fun!

We had our landscaping rock delivered today (side note: the wrong rock uh!) and the kids

thought that they where in heaven. They came in the house and they had red dust in every crease and crack on their body.

Good times!

Bad mom~

We had ice cream for dinner! Ever since Grannie Joan took the kids to have ice cream for dinner they have talked about it every since. I had a very long day so I thought, no complaining about what I fixed for dinner, no "how many more bites?", and most important no DISHES! Santaquin has the best ice cream in the world at the Red Barn. They also have apple cider slushies that you can get a scoop of vanilla ice cream in. (that's what I had.) My mouth is watering typing this. Anyway we went to the Red Barn for dinner! Great idea uh, until an hour later. Bounce, Bounce, Bouncing off the walls! Ohh well, it was a great dinner.

Sophie Love~

I had the most wonderful conversation with Sophia today.
One that I hope I'll have with her for many, many, years to come.
Soph: Mama, I love you.
Mama: I love you too sweetheart.
Soph: Mama, I love you so, so, so, much.
Mama: I love you so, so, so, much.
Soph: You're the bestest mama I could ever have.
Mama: You're the best girl I could ever have.
Soph: Mama, I love you more than all the things.
Mama: I love you more than anything.
Soph: Thanks Mama!
I love her!

Ok I'm done!

After a couple of hours, completely losing my blog, then finding it again, and a couple of naughty words, I have finally figured out how to "spruce up" my blog. I know many of you out there are saying what's the big deal? Well I don't read instructions! I like to torture myself and try to just figure it out on my own. Finished! Hoorrrayyy!

Enjoy the Journey~

This afternoon while I was shoveling and I mean shoveling raviolis in my mouth out of the pan over the kitchen sink, (which I don't even like) I was thinking of all the things that I needed to do in 15 minutes:

1. Get 2 girls and 1 boys hair done
2. Change two diapers
3. Get 4 kids shoes on
4. Make 4 kids go potty
5. Go potty myself
6. Get two backpacks
7. Have 2 kids brush their teeth
8. Brush my teeth
9. Get six kids in the car to take two of them to school.
10. Separate 2 kids immediately
Then I had just one more thought go by, "enjoy the journey"
I thought I can't think of that at a time like this. Then I "heard" yes you can.
The sweet words of our Prophet reminding all of us to "enjoy the journey". I tell Dylan all the time will you be five forever? He just laughs and tells me that he needs to grow up. Then I ask Sophie will you be three forever? She answers, no I want to be sixteen! Uhhh! I think often times I become overwhelmed at the speed that my kids are growing up. I tell Jesse that we don't have much time, there is so much I want to teach them and so many things that I want to do. Will there be enough time to teach them to love this gospel and to never leave it? Will there be enough time to teach them to love their Heavenly Father and turn to Him when ever they need Him?
As I heard the Prophets words on Sunday I felt reassured that I can have enough time and I am doing my best to teach these things to my children. I need to do better, much better, but I felt like He knows that we all try to do our very best.
Enjoy the Journey!

Sleeping Beauty~

Don't you wish you were three again?
Ahh, nap time...

Look kids, deer

Family Night~

Have you ever had this wonderful idea in your head about a family activity and then you are in to this activity and wonder why?
6:30
Leave for Payson Canyon for dinner and enjoy the beautiful leaves.
6:35
Dylan: Mom I'm hungry!
Mom: I know we are going to eat soon.
6:40
Dylan: Mom I'm starving!
Mom: I know we are going to eat soon.
6:42
Dylan: Mom we have been in the car for 10 hours!
Mom: Son we have been in the car for 12 minutes.
Sophie: Mama look at all the pretty leaves. (thanks Soph for recognizing)
6:45
Dylan: Mom why are you stopping to take a picture, I'm starving!
Mom: Look at all the deer kids!
Sophie: Mama do you like the orange ones? (again Soph thanks)
6:50
Dylan: (crying) Mom you've passed lots of places to pull over and eat.
Mom: Dylan we are trying to find a nice spot with a picnic table not to just eat in the car on the side of the road.
Dad: I think everyone had the same idea as you.
Sophie: Mama I sure like all the pretty leaves. (thanks Soph)
6:55
Mom: We are just going to have to pull over and eat on those logs over there.
Dylan: Finally!
Dad: Where are we going to put the food?
Mom: On our laps, hurry is getting dark.
Sophie: This is fun Mama. (isn't she great)
7:05
Dylan: Munch, munch
Mom: sigh
Dad: Munch, munch
Sophie: This is so much fun and so pretty here.
7:07
Dylan: can everyone please be quiet, I want to hear the peacefulness.
Mom: (?)
By the way, there was no lesson taught, no singing, no spiritual moments, just us, a family and it was night.

Spells and Potions~

Thanks to my great friend Libby we had a fun crafting weekend. We got a little excited about the Halloween decorations this weekend. We made potions and spells with fun things called water jewels. We all couldn't stop touching them, they feel like cool, soft, squishy balls. The kids just wanted to stir them with their fingers. I personally wanted to fill the bath tub up with them and soak for a couple of hours. I'm starting to think that we are a little hard up for some entertainment we enjoyed ourselves WAY too much with these water jewels. Thanks Libby!

Proud Mama~

Sorry I have to brag about my son. We went to parent teacher conferences last night, (it made me feel like a real live grown-up) anyway, we go into his classroom and sit down and his sweet teacher says "boy are you going to like going to SEP conferences with this little boy." So my thoughts are racing, is this good, bad, is she being sarcastic? Then she says he is truly a wonderful boy. Ahh shucks, I was so proud of him. I know, I know, he has only been in kindergarten for a month now but I feel like it is only going to get better. Ok I'm not done, then we hit the book fair and he picked out a safari animal book. We got home and of course he can't wait for me to read it to him. So as I was reading about the animals that like to hunt and stay awake at night, he turns to me and he said "that means they are nocturnal mom" I can't even spell nocturnal. WOW! Ok, I'm done.

Big O Tires

Car service right in my own house~

Ok, my Dylan is at it again. He has opened a Big O Tires in his room. How convenient!He has a place where he can hook up his "machine" with wires (string) to your car and find out what wrong with it. We gave him our old keyboard and mouse so his "computer" will tell you what is wrong with your car. His Big O Tires even has an Exit sign and Nascar posters. I love his imagination, I can't wait for the next thing he will dream up.

End of the rainbow~

I know that I think Santaquin is cool, but now all of you doubters have to agree, I live at the end of the rainbow. How cool is that. I took this photo on the back deck a couple of days ago after a light rain. I'm going to send Dylan and Sophie out to find the pot of gold and the leprechauns!

I did it!

Ok, I have finally arrived at the 21st century. We received a computer a year ago and I thought I was flying high. We also have the Internet, I know it's crazy. Now I have decided to Blog. Funny because I just found out what blogging was about3 months ago. I have made a personal goal to journal about my kids once a week, they say such wonderful things and I want to remember them forever. So after hearing about blogging I have decided to journal here that way all of you can keep up with us. I will try to be diligent at updating the blog and of course downloading the pictures. (notice the computer terms, oh ya!)
So join me in this wonderful journey called LIFE...