LITTLE GYM

Reagan has been enjoying Terrific Tots at the Little Gym over the past few months. At the end of each semester the parents get to attend the class, while the kids show off their gymnastic skills and singing voices. At the end of the program they all receive medals.

Unfortunately for me, due to my working schedule I missed most of the program; however Dan was there to support our family. It disappoints me not to be able to be a part of all this. My kids are growing up way to fast and I hate missing out on what they love to do.

Reagan's favorite part of Little Gym is when they get to play in the gym. She has no problem trying everything. That girl is not afraid of anything. I love her fun personality! The other fantastic thing about Little Gym is she gets to go with her cousin Cash!

CHRISTMAS JOY'S!

I definitely felt the hustle and bustle of the season this year being a working mom. I can't tell you how many nights I stayed up until 2:00 or 3:00 in the morning working on gifts, shopping, baking or wrapping presents, etc. just to find myself getting up at 6:00 or 6:30 the next morning. In spite of it all, I love Christmas! I love doing things for other people and I love seeing how excited my kids get in helping others. I love watching their faces and the excitement in their eyes on Christmas morning. I love baking and enjoying all the Christmas treats that are around (English toffee, mint sandwiches, orange sticks, peppermint ice cream, cookies, etc.) I love getting up early the day after Thanksgiving and shopping with the rest of the crazies of the world. I love reading Christmas stories and hearing about acts of kindness and service. I love seeing everyone in their new Christmas outfits for church and listening to the program during sacrament meeting. I love hearing about our Savior and reading the Christmas story from the scriptures.

This year I decided to let Madi have a Christmas Party with her friends, but make it a service party at the same time. She invited most of the girls from her school class and they all came over on a Saturday night for an evening of "Sweets!" Sweet-service, sweet-treats, sweet-friends! We tied 20 blankets for the Christmas Box House and then made modge-podge stocking and Christmas tree ornaments. He had hot chocolate and cookies and did a gift exchange for the girls. They are all very "sweet" and LOUD, but had a great time!

One of my favorite events at Christmas time is the white elephant gift exchange we do with my family. We decided a couple of years ago that instead of drawing names for each other that we would do white elephants instead. Dan and I starting planning our gifts at Halloween. First we purchased the ugliest looking cat from the Halloween store and then spray painted in grey. Growing up we had a cat named kitty that had mange. Every year she would grow an enormous amount of hair and then she would shed it in large patches. Every summer we could expect to see kitty running around with wings while she was in the shedding process (it really was disturbing). With that in mind, I cut the hair on the cat and gave her wings, the final touch was the name tag we put around her neck, which said MANGE! It was hilarious when Melissa opened the box. Our next gift proved to be a gift that everyone thought of. A month ago, our family was getting pictures done and there were several emails going around about what to wear. Doug decided to take it a little further and had Becca take a picture of him in some black lingerie with the words JOY next to him. He emailed the picture to everyone stating that this was what he was planning on wearing. Dan and I then ordered post-its and a large poster of Doug for our next gift. We even threw in a Crazy Mom calendar (pictures of my mother at her best). A few others made ornaments of Doug and a framed picture of Doug. It was quite hysterical. Everyone (including Doug) had a good laugh!

I started a tradition a few years ago where I purchase a ornament for each of the kids. Something that represent them that year. My plan is then they grow up they will have a box of ornaments to take with them to put on their first Christmas tree. I remember being newly married and not having money to purchase a tree, let alone the ornaments, so i thought this would be a good way to start them out and help them remember different things throughout their lives. This year The kids received the following; Madi - Twilight ornament, Jaxson - football, Reagan - Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

Santa bought the kids some incredible presents this year. Reagan received a mini-trampoline which we put up in the playroom. Dan and I got sick of her asking to jump on the trampoline everyday. She didn't care if there was snow on it, so we helped Santa out and gave him this suggestion. Reagan also received a collection of Mickey Mouse items, including ad train, Pluto the dog and memory game. She can't get enough of Mickey. I love it! Madi's favorite this year is the Twilight series, I made her wait until she finished 5th grade to read the series and then when summer hit, she read the first three books within a few weeks. Anything Jacob she loved and she received it too (calendar, hat, puzzle). Santa also brought her a vanity for her room along with a hair straightener, blow dryer and accessories. Jaxson as always wanted sport related items. Santa is wise and brought him a snowboard, la-cross sticks and golf clubs. That boy is so active and wants to do anything where he can keep moving.

TEMPLE SQUARE LIGHTS

Every year we visit Temple Square during the holidays to see the spectacular lights and to help get us in the holiday spirit. This year was particularly cold as walked around main street and around the temple, so we didn't spend much time there; however Reagan loved the colorful lights and walking through the trees. After our short visit to Temple Square we visited Grandma English and brought her a basket of holiday treats. Grandmas always has her village up around her tree, so the kids are mesmerized by watching the moving figures beneath it.

THANKSGIVING SWEATERS

Dan and I hosted Thanksgiving for my family this year. We decided to have an ugly sweater party and had the best time planning the festivities.

First we sent out invitations to everyone with a turkey in an ugly holiday sweater and asked everyone to wear their holiday best! The invite was entitled "Thanksgiving Holiday Style!"

Due to the nature of the event we decided to make it really festive, combining both Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations. The tables had Christmas table clothes with orange plates and Thanksgiving napkins. The centerpieces had a combination of Santa's and Christmas trees, next to corn-a-copias and turkeys.

We spent a few weeks preparing for the event by making the kids their fashionable holiday sweaters and shopping at the D.I. for Christmas vests and turtle necks. We made Jaxson's shirt into a Christmas tree and let him decorate it with lights and ornaments. We topped it off with a festive Christmas hat including a start for the top. Madi's sweater became an advent calendar, full of surprises in each numbered pocket. Reagan had a beautiful red velvet Christmas dress, decked out with ornaments. Dan decided to go with the Uncle Eddie look from Christmas vacation, but more festive, sporting a red holiday dickie and a thin white sweater, accompanied with a holiday vest. I was decked out with a poinsettia turtle neck and custom made Santa head sweater vest. I must say we were dressed to the nines! The best part of preparing for this holiday afternoon was spending time with our family and laughing the entire time as we came up with our attire.

During our feast we had a CD playing of the worst Christmas music we could find on itunes. We hosted a contest for the best holiday sweater and the winner received the coveted prize - FRUIT CAKE! We also played BUNCO and the dollar game; no one left empty handed, we had prizes for everyone.

It was a fantastic evening, such a fun party that included everyone. Not sure what we are going to do next year to top this!

HALLOWEEN CUTIES

I always look forward to Halloween, the decorations, fall weather, picking out costumes for the kids and yummy treats! This year because Halloween fell on a Saturday I was able to spend the entire day with the kids. So I decided to start the morning out right with a good jack-o-lantern breakfast.


I made pancakes with bacon for the mouth, candy corn for the nose and I froze jellie bellies in gummy lifesavers and vanilla pudding for the eyes. Madi and Jaxson could not figure out what they were and didn't want to eat it, but Reagan dug right in (no fear in that child).



Madi and Jaxson both had friends to go trick-or-treating with, so off they went as I took Reagan out. She enjoyed trick-or-treating this year; when we got home she started taking candy from the bucket for our trick-or-treaters and put the candy into her own bucket.


As always we had our traditional dinner in a pumpkin with spiced cran apple juice! No spud nuts this year because Mom was in Denver; however I make sugar cookies instead to make up for it. They were delicious.

MOAB

We decided to take the kids to Moab in October. It has been a favorite destination of both Dan and myself since we starting dating back in 1993. The first trip I ever took to Moab was with Dan - I am still amazed today by its beauty. Since that first trip, Dan and I have come back several times, river rafting, 4 wheeling and hiking through Arches National Park.

We thought the kids would enjoy the beautiful scenery and being outdoors. My cousins Troy and Chris were nice enough to rent us out their condo so our family along with some extended family all drove down for a long weekend.

We spent some time in Arches National Park, our favorite Arch (still) is Sandstone Arch, as we are able to climb all around this area and on top of the arch; in addition the hike to the arch is covered in soft red sand, the little ones loved it as much as us adults.

Our favorite part of the trip had to be sledding on the sand hills across the street from Arches National Park. We all went to the dollar store and purchased sleds and spent the entire afternoon sledding down the hill. I don't think Jaxson will ever come clean. The kids were hilarious and along with the BOYS of the trip (if you know what I mean). It is fun to be a kid again!

PUMPKIN PATCH

One of the things our family looks forward to every October is a trip to the pumpkin patch. We are lucky enough to live very close to the best pumpkin patch around! The kids love running through the corn maze and using the wheel barrels to gather up all of our pumpkins and I love taking pictures of them.

We also enjoy decorating our porch with all of our pumpkins, straw and skeletons.

The pumpkin patch was a little different this year because they put all the pumpkins in huge rows, usually we get to pick the pumpkins right off the vine (which is my favorite part). Once we got there, I didn't care as much about picking the pumpkins off the vine because it was freezing! As much as I enjoy the pumpkin patch, I enjoy the warmth more! The kids couldn't of cared less about the cold, they wanted to ride every tractor, takes lots of pictures and run through the corn maze dozens of times. Despite the cold, I still loved every minute of it!

LAGOON

We took the kids to Lagoon for Labor Day, it was so fun just to spend the entire day together as a family. The kids were so happy and it was evident on their smiling faces. You have to cherish the days as a mom when everyone gets along and there is no fighting or crying. This goes down as one of my favorite days for 2009!

FALL FOOTBALL

What a difference a year makes, Jaxson really got into the groove of football this year. After last year, I wasn't so sure he would play again; however we was aggressive and loved handling the ball this season. It wasn't a surprise to see him get a touchdown almost every game. We are so proud of our little athletic boy! I love watching him play the game, whatever it is.

LAKE POWELL

Dan and I got to experience our first trip to Lake Powell this summer! WOW - what a beautiful place it is. I think If I would have been Brigham Young - I would have said Lake Powell is the place!

What made this trip so amazing was the fact that we were with some of our best friends, in addition to having no kids with us. It was pure relaxation for 7 straight days. At first I didn't know what to do with myself, but I soon fell into the groove of laying out, reading, taking a little dip in the lake, and starting all over again.

I think we all gained 5 or more pounds on the trip because everyone made incredible meals, plus the fact that we snacked all day and night. Brad even made of Pina-Coladas! Each couple was in charge of 2 meals, so for the majority of the time we were waited on hand and foot.

The weather was perfect other than the sandstorm we were in Saturday night. It was a monster of a storm, however we didn't realize how bad it was because we were protected in a little cove and the guys anchored us into the beach really well. We waited out the storm inside by playing games.

Over the course of the week, we all tried surfing behind the boat, wake boarding and some of us even got to experience cliff jumping. WHAT A RUSH! The Master Craft boat the Willden's hooked us up with was fantastic. All 12 of us were able to enjoy boating together. The surf board got so much use that it had to be ducked taped together to get us through the entire trip. Ryan and Heidi were crazy enough to get up on the surf board together, they made it look easy; however Rusty and Brad proved that theory to be wrong later in the trip. Chip tried to barefoot ski, boy did it look painful. Brad took a few hard falls on the wake board as well. But the scariest fall Brad took, was when he was setting the timer on the camera to take every ones picture on the beach. He set the camera on the 2 floor of the house boat and then jumped down to the first story, he slipped on the way down crashing on his back on the metal ramp. We were all gasping when he jumped up and ran up the beach to take the picture. It worked well; however after the adrenaline rush was gone, he was in a lot of pain.

The funniest night was when we all played Bear Bear, Moose Moose! Everyone chose to be an animal and the guys were very creative (Chip's flying squirrel and Rusty's unicorn were the hit of the night). If that wasn't enough we played several rounds of Mafia throughout the trip. Night volley ball was interesting with the bats flying around. Melissa was nearly attacked by one, it was hysterical!

Dan and Chip came out one morning wearing short, shorts! They happened to be 1990's Jazz shorts in purple and white. WOW - did they look good flaunting those bad boys around!

Other things on the trip that will be remembered:

1. Brad trying to spear a fish and Rusty actually doing it on his first try.
2. Being invited to play beer pong by the neighbors.
3. Fellow campers blow up doll "DOLLY" being blow away in the sand storm.
4. Watermelon
5. Queen of the O**y Tube
6. Jen out racing Ryan on the tube
7. Carmel Brownies and Bliss Bars
8. Ski boat coming untied from the house boat and almost hitting into the rocks (twice in the same night)
9. Diaper baths - in life jackets
10. Helmet dives off the boat
11. Truth or Dare (Heidi being rejected)
12. Sharing our dreams for the future
13. Stoney saying "That's a good shovel."
14. House boat looking like it was on fire and all the guys racing back to the boat to see if the ladies were OK.
15. Fun friends and forever memories!

COWABUNGA

We celebrated Madison's 11th birthday at Cowabunga Bay! Having a summer birthday, this was actually the first time we had ever done a water party. She was super excited to have her party there, and so was I. I usually put so much time and energy into the kids party, that this was a breeze not having to do anything. I took the day off from work and we played all day.

During the morning we had breakfast with Dan's family and then it was party time! The girls had pizza at the house and each of them were given a beach towel before we left for Cowabunga Bay. Madi and six of her friends had the time of there lives running around the park. We left Reagan with my sister Melissa (For which I am truly gratful) so we wouldn't have to chase her around the park. We rented a cabana and enjoyed the rest of the afternoon soaking in the sun.

We almost had to cancel the party because the day before Madi had a head injury at McKensie's house. The girls were making a fort in the basement and she jumped up and hit her head on the cabinet corner. She bled for at least 30 minutes, her swimsuit was covered in blood and we debated if she needed to get stitches (we probably should have, but after it stopped bleeding we figured she was OK) Looking back at the cut she definitely could of had a few. We worried that having water pour on her head would open the wound, so she had to be extra careful at the park.

Madi also had a stomach ache right before the party and she was on her bed sobbing minutes before the girls arrived. We offered a prayer that she would feel better and gave her some medicine and she was as good as new!

During the party we had cupcakes and ice cream sundaes. Madi received some darling gifts, including some jewelry, purses, watches and gift cards. The girls were darling and had so much fun. I think that was the easiest party I have ever done.