NEW YEARS EVE

WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT A BON FIRE IN THE BACKYARD WOULD BE SOMETHING TO DO FOR NEW YEARS IN SNOWY UTAH! WE HAD OVER ALL OUR FRIENDS, AND IT WAS SUCH A BLAST. WE STAYED OUT TIL 2:30 IN THE MORNING, AND HAD TO FINALLY MAKE EVERYONE COME IN. I HAVE TO GIVE ANDY ALL THE CREDIT, IT WAS ALL HIS IDEA. HE USED HIS TRACKHOES TO DIG OUT ALL THE SNOW, AND THEN DUG UP DRY SAND AND PUT IT ALL OVER SO OUR FEET WOULD NOT BE WET. THEN HE GOT TONZ OF WOOD STUMPS AND MADE A HUGE FIRE. IT WAS SO WARM, AND I DONT THINK ANYONE WAS EVEN COLD AT ALL. THE KIDS SLEDDED DOWN THE HILLS IN OUR BACKYARD, AND ANDY EVEN MADE THEM A HUGE JUMP TO HIT AT THE BOTTOM. I THINK ALL THE KIDS HAD A HAYDAY SLEDDING ALL NIGHT, WHILE THE ADULTS HUNG OUT BY THE FIRE. I THINK EVERYONE HAD SUCH A BLAST, AND WE MIGHT JUST HAVE TO MAKE THIS A TRADITION EVERY YEAR.

Christmas

Christmas this year was so much fun. My kids are just at the best ages, and seem to make the holiday so much better. I think everyone got just about everything they asked for, and maybe a little bit more. It always seems to be so busy, but we try to enjoy every minute of it, because its always over way to soon. Even though Aspyn was a little doubtful this year, we told her, "You have to believe to receive".

White Elephant Party

We had a white elephant party at our house this year before Christmas with a few our closest friends. We had SO much fun, and loved every minute of Jesse's sweet Christmas sweater. He always pleases us with his creativity. We got some pretty amazing gifts, and loved hanging out with my besties for the night!

1st Day of School

It's time for football

Ronin has started football again this season. He has been loving it so much more this year than last. He is finally getting the game down, and always gives it his best everyday. He is such a little stud, and we are so proud of him for the hard work he gives all week long (even when he really wants to play with his friends instead)! He ran the first touchdown of the season in the first game. I was such a proud mama!

Tree House

Jay and Kim came into town last weekend, and Jay was so insistent on building a new tree house for my kids. We do have the perfect tree for it, but Andy has been SO busy with school this summer and work that he has not had time to do it. So Sunday night before Labor Day, we were sitting in the backyard hanging out, and Jay said lets go get some wood right now and bust this thing out. So Andy, Jay and Kory all went down to Home Depot and bought the stuff. They worked on it all night, and then again on Monday and got it finished up. Can I just say my kids were in HEAVEN, and still are. They are loving every second of it. Now they said all they need is a roof on it with a heater so they can still play out in it for the winter. Maybe soon! Thanks boys for making it for the kids. Or should I say making it for me ( Kids are finally out of my hair)!!

So "SPECIAL"

My little brother Chris was in the special olympics last week. Can I just say that I look so forward to this all year long. I know he does too, he can't stop talking about it. It is just so fun to see them come to life, and do all that they can do, even if they don't even come close to winning. He took the gold in the shot put and was sooooo excited about it. They also took the gold in the 400m relay. But when it comes to him running on his own, he came in dead last. He could care less, he is there for the fans, and the fans only. He ran a slow jog and just waved and waved and blew kisses the entire time. He had the hugest smile the entire time. I love to see him when he feels like he is on top of the world. He's is literally SOOOO SPECIAL in our fam, we couldn't love him more.

Memorial Day

Usually we don't do much for Memorial Day, but this year Melinda invited us to a Memorial Day service that they were honoring Clayton at. They had made a memorial for he and Linder (the other guy who died with him). It turned out so awesome, and it is somewhere that people can go visit to honor them. It was a full afternoon of a service, and they even had a real apache there for the kids to sit on and look at. Its such a sad thing that happened to him, but good that they are still doing things to honor him almost 2 years later.