Desert Camping

We finally decided to load up and take the kids camping! It's pretty sad, we have our beautiful luxury camp mobile and we have only had it out two times now in the past seven months! Ha Ha...! Anyway, we went down by Lake Roosevelt for the weekend. The weather was gorgeous! Matt thought it was a little hot, but I like it a little warmer than he does. The nights were still fairly cool, but it was very comfortable overall. The kids had a blast as usual exploring around camp, taking quad rides, playing games, setting traps for the wild animals, which consists of my marshmallow roasters some prickly pear cactus and rocks, and lounging around. Kylie and Tyler hiked to the top of a big hill which you will see a picture of them next to a cactus. This really wore them out, but I promise it wasn't our intention when we suggested it.. ha ha! Anyway, sorry I haven't blogged in forever, but things have been busy as usual. I'll try my hardest to get on and do it more often. I get frustrated easily tho because I can't figure out the layout half the time and I quit! Anyway, enjoy!!

Happy 7th Birthday Kylie!

Kylie turned 7 last Thursday! Time is going by faster and faster these days. We celebrated her birthday on Thursday with the family. It was unfortunate that some of the family had to miss. Kylie's papa Owens was in the hospital with a back injury so of course grammie was there too. She missed them there, but was happy to have the rest of the family with her. She chose to have cupcakes in place of a cake this year. The following Saturday we had a small party with a few of her girl friends from school. The girls came over and they got to make their own pizzas, eat cupcakes, and play like girls do. She had a good time on both days! I am so proud of what a good big girl she is turning into. She is such a great help around the house and with the little ones. We love you Kylie and hope your birthday was happy!

Tubing/Cardinals in the SuperBowl

So we don't have the snow here right now for tubing, but a couple weeks ago we did! Matt found the perfect run for the kids. It was a nice long hill with a very gradual downgrade. They loved it! Karissa especially, she never wanted to get off the tube! We have a slight chance of snow toward the end of this week, so maybe we will get to go play in the snow again! Anyway here are some of our pictures from the tubing!

Now then onto our AZ Cardinals!! I won't pretend to have been a fan because I really wasn't, but I'm still very excited to see them getting a shot at the title!! It's crazy they got this far. I really thought toward the end of yesterdays game things were about to turn around for them, but they held on and proved to belong! So Go CARDS!!!

Christmas 2008

Well we had a great Christmas. We got to spend it with our family which is most important. My sister came from California to visit and Jared and Kandra and Gavin came out from Ohio. We had a nice Christmas Eve dinner and program at the in laws which has become a nice tradition to look forward too. Christmas day we made the rounds from my parents to Matt's parents and back home again in time for a nap! You forget how much work is, especially toting four kids along! A week before Christmas we took the kids on our annual trip to the North Pole..ha ha yes I said the North Pole. We take them to the train depot in Williams for the Polar Express ride. I think I look forward to it more than the kids do! All in all, it was a great holiday. I have a lot more pictures than what the slide show is playing, but I'm having some difficulties as usual with this blog! I promise to learn it better one day!

The Christmas Tree

We took the kids out to find our Christmas tree on Tuesday afternoon. It was a tad chilly, but we still found our little tree. It's such a fun tradition for us! We take hot cocoa and have fun driving through the woods as a family. We typically go to the same area each year because we have had such luck finding a tree we love. We didn't get little Kennedy out of the truck because it was so chilly, but the other kids trudged around to help us search. We found one we all agreed on, daddy cut it down and we brought it home. It's much tinier than the last few years as we are in a smaller place. So on our way home we looked back and the tree was within a foot of being lost to the highway! The wind had caught it and lifted it up over the tailgate and a branch was saving it! LOL We got it home safely after that and brought it in to be decorated right away, we couldn't risk leaving it outside for some thief to take...haha only kidding but the kids were concerned! Anyway I got the lights on and then the kids got to hang the majority of the ornaments with the exception of branches they could not reach. I've got some pictures of our adventure for you! Merry Christmas!



Don't mind my hair..I don't lol

What I am Thankful For….

It's pretty tough to try to start at one point, not wanting to seem that I might be overly thankful for one person or thing than another!
Let's just start with Matt, my wonderful, giving, caring, unselfish, husband! He's truly my best friend. I'm so thankful for all he does for me and our little family, because without all his hard work and dedication to us we wouldn't be where we are today. I love you babe!
My beautiful, healthy and sometime patience testing children; Kylie, Tyler, Karissa and Kennedy. I couldn't be more thankful to have been blessed with such wonderful little babies! They can make me feel like pulling my hair out, locking myself in a padded room and screaming, but you know what…it's all worth it! I love them and all the new things they have brought to my life.
My siblings, Nicole, Ryan, Joshua, and David…although we don't live nearby they are always on my mind. I am thankful for having them all to grow up with. I of course am especially close with Nicole, being my sister and closest in age, but thankful for all the playtimes with all of them growing up, all the wonderful memories.
My parents, the ones who gave me life, who afforded me the opportunity to become who I am today. I am thankful to have them live nearby, that they can share in my life and my children's lives. I know the kids are also thankful for this as they love gramma and grampa dearly!
My in-laws, mother, father, sister and brothers! I feel thankful because I know so many people don't have good relationship with in-laws, probably particularly the mother-in law, but I do! I am fortunate that they live nearby as well and my kids can spend time with them and have a close relationship with them.
All my extended family, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I love them all, am thankful for the relationships I have with them and wonderful childhood memories I have thanks to many of them!
My wonderful friends be it the old friends that can complete my sentences, although there are the new ones I don't doubt can do that as well. I am thankful for so many fond memories and look forward to many new memories with the new friendships I have formed!
I suppose I could list a lot of material possessions that I am thankful for, and trust me I am thankful. I am thankful for the roof over our heads, that keeps us dry and warm, the vehicles we have that carry all of us from place to place, the toys we have that let us have fun together and spend time with one another, etc…etc…
Lastly, but certainly not least I am thankful for the MAN who created all of this, our Heavenly Father. I may not seem like it at times, but I do not forget Him and the many blessings He has bestowed upon me and my family.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Trying to update...

I'm having some trouble getting the page updated. I spent a long long time creating a slideshow and it won't work on here! :-( So I'll try to slowly post some random pictures now and some more in the next few days, just bare with me. Everyone is yelling that I haven't updated in a long time...sorry!
As most all of you know we had our little girl, Kennedy Paige. She was born on October 8th, after a few long and uncomfortable days of contractions! She was healthy and all went well. Kennedy weighed 6lbs 10 oz and was 20 inches long! She's doing great as she is already a month old. Time sure does seem to fly these days!
We had a fun Halloween. Kylie was a kitty, Tyler was batman, Karissa was a lion, and Kennedy a bumble bee. The weather was pretty decent that night, not too cold. We took them to the trunk or treat at Bison ranch and they made a pretty decent haul!
Tyler just had his 5th birthday last month and Karissa's 2nd is coming up in just a couple more weeks. Kylie will be 7 in January...now that's really sad for me to think my first is getting so old...you would think she is 16 if you talked to her! ha ha!
My school is almost over for the semester and I'll admit that I'll be glad, even though I only have 3 classes, it has started to feel a bit overwhelming having a new baby on top of the regular every day life demands of running a household and all that great stuff. I'm grateful for the support from everyone tho! Matt has been wonderful, helping to watch the kids when he is able to so I can go to class and or get my school work done! My mom and Laurie (mom in law) have also been a tremendous help in this department. Thanks!!
We have TURKEY day coming up...YUM YUM! I guess we will be going at it on our own this year, as plans just aren't working out to get together with everyone...that bums me out cause it's great to be with family, but things just don't always go as planned you know!
Did I ramble on enough and update everything? I think so...I hope so! Well here they are as promised..random pics for your enjoyment. Now leave some love..take care until next post which I promise to do better at doing much quicker!
This is Kennedy in her coming home outfit..

The kids shortly after getting the baby home

Kylie being a big help

Kennedy on her new blankey from my friend

The pumpkin patch