Lookie lookie, there's a cookie...

Today Brock was in a gingerbread man play with the 3 kindergarten classes at his school. So cute. He was a rancher and sang his little heart out! Afterwards there was a little gathering in the classroom... His teacher is the bomb. She has taught for years and years (and years) and has her system down! I hope and hope Wyatt gets her next year!
Monday they made gingerbread houses with their 4th grade buddies... As you can see- Brock doesn't mess around when it comes to decorating gb houses. Annnnnnnnd, I wish I got a picture of that thing tonight b/c all it was was a sorry looking frame of a gb house. The boys munched it! I need to do better regulating their sugar intake!

My baby is five!

Love this kiddo. He's got spunk. He came 4 weeks early and has always proven to want to keep up with his brothers. This year he has ruled his preschool, learned to ride a motorcycle, born his testimony at the pulpit, been a great help (most the time) to mom at home. He is the only one of his brothers that 'loves' my cooking; "awh, I love it mom!" Gives me compliments, or says "sure mom!" when I ask him to unload the dishwasher. He can sweet talk me into anything. He has an unhealthy obsession with matches/candles/ etc. He has been telling people lately that they need to grow a baby, he already talks about girls and he is a little carbon copy of his daddy. He also says the sweetest prayers. Love you Wyatt Stanley.

It is great to be eight!

Bodie had a birthday. I went in to wake him up and said- good morning birthday boy! He sleepily came to- opened his eyes and said: I'm EIGHT! I said, yes you are- it's good to be eight! And he said- no, it's GREAT to be eight! I'm getting baptized! :)
Hard to believe- he is growing up so fast! Out stake does baptisms the first Saturday of every month- so he will be getting baptized January 7th!
We recently started basketball. He had practice then we went out as a family. Good times!

The piece of cake that no one ate! :) (all the boys just wanted ice cream!)

Doing his homework tonight while jammin' to his tunes! (I can't do that...)

Sunday

Love Sundays. Love fast Sundays. Today a baby got blessed. I felt the spirit. - need to journal that experience.
Our ward choir is gearing up for our Christmas program next week. I love singing in the choir! I always have.
December is such a busy/wonderful month. Consciously making an effort to not let myself get stressed- to enjoy each day and focus on the Savior.
Enjoyed the First Presidency's Christmas devotional and an evening with the boys- jess is working. Most the time life is just chaotic and crazy but every so often there are quiet moments and conversations with my boys that I am so grateful for.

So Bodie has been loosing teeth like crazy. Jess and I are horrible tooth fairies! Several times we have cut it close with almost forgetting to put something under his pillow! Last night we dropped the ball and actually did forget! It's been snowing, and I told bodie the tooth fairy must have been delayed- that seemed to suffice! Man. Mist not fail tonight!

Sister Daltons visit

A few weeks ago our YW were blessed to have Sis. Dalton visit!!! Our ward YW were able to sing at the fireside she gave, it was such a wonderful opportunity. She is an incredible, loving, sincere woman who speaks with the power of the holy ghost. I was able to chat with her for a few minutes at a luncheon before the fireside. (along with sis. Barbara Thompson and Sis. Esplin!) after the fireside she shook each young womans/leaders hand and posed for a group photo. I have to get ahold of the pictures others took of our YW with her! That night I was able to go to a special training in Holbrook. All I can say is that I am so grateful to have been spiritually fed and NOURISHED. I know I have a father in heaven who loves me and is mindful of me and is mindful of each and every one of us- that he loves and cares. There were many small miracles that day.

Thanksgiving

This year, our little family went down the hill via Oak Creek for thanksgiving.
It was absolutely beautiful.

visiting Papa at work- *sigh* Gorgeous!

We rode motos before sitting down to an amazing meal Marilyn put on. I love thanksgiving and reflecting on all there is to be grateful for.

  

Our boys are getting sooo big!!

Getting their 'exercise' in

They crack me up. Especially when I hear them ask each other if they want to go workout/do their exercises. :) I hope they always have a love of exercise.

Halloween

Testing....

Got and iphone and thought blogging/sharing pictures would be SO easy.... hmmm. Not so much... Still haven't worked out the kinks. Any tips would be lovely and greatly appreciated! :)

Enjoyed a wonderful *warm* day in Sedona by the creek. Yesterday was amazing in Flagstaff as well. SPRING is here! :D Although I don't believe we're in the 'clear' just yet- I'm sure we have a few snow storms ahead... but the warm weather makes me so HAPPY. It breathes life into my bones that I hadn't realized had been missing... does that make sense? I love having the windows/doors open...Summer is my FAVORITE. I am in anticipation mode... for sure.

Enjoying a relaxing, mellow spring break. We are enjoying family time. Made a pit-stop at the in-laws, going to Phx tomorrow... going to try to hit a spring training game, and there are a few things at IKEA I'd like to check out.... :)

I love spying on my kiddos. They make good times happen. :)

It's BACK! But is starting SOON, so don't wait to sign up!

WELLNESS CHALLENGE 2011 -January 9th

Each item is worth 1 point, with a possible 10 points per day

1 7 hrs. of sleep (not necessarily consecutive - naps count too!)

2 48 oz. of water

3 45 minutes of exercise (not necessarily consecutive)

4 2 servings of veggies, 2 servings of fruit

5 No soda, beer, wine, unhealthy snacks (ex: potato chips), or bad fast food

6 No sweets. (Desserts, pastries, sugary snacks & cereals) * Sugar-Free alternatives are OK.

7 No eating after 8pm or dinner (whichever is later)

8 15 min. of scripture reading (or spiritual text if you don't do scripture)

9 One journal entry (any length)

10 One act of kindness

Note: You have one free point, PER CATEGORY, PER WEEK. One free point for

exercise, one

free

point for soda/fast food/unhealthy snacks, one free point for

sweets, etc. You do not have

10 free

points to use however you choose -they are

NOT interchangeable and if you choose not

to use a

free point in a category, it is

gone at weeks end. You could also just choose to have one

"free" day

where all

points are free (which is less confusing), but we are allowing for flexibility and success!

Exceptions:

-You are excused from the sweet rule on YOUR BIRTHDAY.

-You are allowed three sick days where you are excused (only) from exercising and eating veg/fruit/water [if you can’t eat/drink] This is ONLY to be used if you are indeed sick. "

Winners: The top three challengers with the most points will split 80% of the pot. 1 other challenger who gets an average of 6 pts. or more a day will get the remainder of the pot.

SIGN UP ON THE SIDEBAR!!

Once I get a confirmed purchase, I will send you the link to the google spreadsheet where we keep track of points. Be sure to email me the names of those participating (if you sign up for more than 1 challenger at a time)

Wyatt turns FOUR! (my BABY!) :)

(McKay, Greysen, Wyatt)

Wyatt wanted to go to the Aquaplex for his birthday. He invited some friends, and much to his brothers dismay, had his party during school hours!


Jess was a trooper and swam with the kiddos (not that it looks like I twisted his arm or anything!) -they all had a great time!! :)


Afterwards we took them to McDonalds for ice cream sundaes (and nuggets). We had them sufficiently worn out! :)

That night we celebrated with our little family w/ some cake... Wyatt put an extra candle on for 'good luck'.


Wyatt is a fun kid. He loves life and loves to be in the middle of everything. He's a charmer and tries to get away with anything and everything. He's too cool for me though -I have to wrestle him for a kiss, but has no problem taking them from Miss Angie! He really, really, really loves going to pre-school and gets upset when I come pick him up. And he says the funniest things... Oh, I wish I would write them down! Happy birthday kiddo.

Pictures with Santa from our Ward Christmas Party!! :)

Bodie turns SEVEN!

Gosh- it's really hard for me to believe my children are getting so BIG. Bodie is a sweet kid. He's kind and considerate. Often he will ask me how it's going, give me a compliment or give me a hug. He's also a goof-ball and pretty "squirrelly" :) He loves little gadgets (um, pocket knife!) and working with his hands. He does well at math and works so hard on his spelling words to get 100% each week. It's pretty cool to see. We threw a low-key party and it turned out great. I made up a few obstacle-course like games to play, we ate pizza and then came in for cake. All had a good time = success. :) Love you Bodie!!!

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Jess and I were going to host, but then I asked my Mom if we could have it at her place....much nicer weather. But it was fun preparing my first turkey and menu! :) Jess's parents came and Clancey & Ava came up too, but left a sickly Kim at home. :I

My mom reading the boys a bedtime story. Ava and Bodie (always thought they looked like siblings!)


The boys enjoying the hot tub in the morning.... Mom and I went on a nice walk!


Table setting and yummy food: turkey/gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams, green beans...




Ava girl! :) Jess showing Steve his video of Baja

Holding on to Trouble.


Watching a movie and eating.... again. :)


Oh how I love this picture! :)


Yummy Turkey Soup I made from the leftovers! MMMmmm!! :)