They've Been in LA TOO Long!!

We went to 3 stores searching for boots and gloves.
We spent way too long in the garage digging up our hats and scarves.
We stopped at Pep Boys to buy chains.
We made everyone very hot with layers of clothes and socks.
We stocked up on snacks and drinks.
We drove 2 1/2 hours.
We spent way too much money on a sled and gloves.
We finally got to the snow.
We sledded down the hill for about 45 min.
Jordan cried because she was too cold.
Kya cried because she was too cold.
Tyson cried because he was too cold.
Mike and I could have stayed there all day.
But after 1 hour, the kids were ready to go home!!
I wonder how they would do living in Canada?!

We Had Ourselves a Merry Little Christmas

We really had a great Christmas this year. It's so fun having our own little family traditions. While it's hard to be so far away from the rest of our family, the kids make the whole season magical.

Tyson wanted to leave a note for Santa explaining that the apple was meant for Rudolph

The kids sorted the presents up so we could take turns opening
(wonder who they got that from?!)

Gotta love the Christmas mess:)

Jordan's Loot
(I hope she wasn't too disappointed that Santa didn't bring the itouch she asked for)

Kya's Loot
(she finally got the "swim to me puppy" that has been on her Christmas list for 3 years)

Tyson's Loot

Stanley

I absolutely LOVE "The Elf on the Shelf"!!! I saw it last year on a friend's blog and I just had to have one. I think EVERYONE who has small kids should get one...

We named ours Stanley:)

Christmas Sunday

Our ward Christmas program this year was probably the best one I've ever heard. The primary kids sang two beautiful songs and Kya also participated in a musical number with a couple other primary children. They all did a great job...so great that I was holding back the tears.

Here's our traditional Christmas Sunday photo. The kids actually cooperated, but the weather was so rainy and miserable that we had to do it inside.

He's Still The One

I can honestly say, after 11 years of marriage, Mike and I can still talk for hours and laugh until we cry!! What could be better?!

December 17, 1999 Salt Lake City, UT

Tell Me Why....

...Tyson goes to school with a tiny hole in the knee of his pants AND comes home with giant rips all the way across both pant legs? This has happened about 4 times in the past month!!

(Notice Tyson's right pant leg? This was after school!)So, now he has quite a few "cut offs" for this coming summer.

Our New Year's Pumpkin

A few months ago, while Tyson and I were shopping, we passed by a big display of seeds. Tyson really wanted to buy some, and since they are only a few cents, I had no problem letting him pick out a package. Well, he picked out some pumpkin seeds. By the time we got home from the store, Tyson had forgotten all about the seeds....and so did I.

A few weeks ago, Tyson found the seeds and without asking me, he and Kya planted them in the backyard. The other day I noticed a strange week growing in our backyard...it reminded me of a pumpkin plant....then I remembered!!! So now it's almost Christmas, and we have a beautiful flower growing on our pumpkin plant. I guess we will celebrate the new year with a nice orange pumpkin:)

O Tannenbaum

I don't think I'll every get a "FAKE" tree!! I absolutely love the tradition of picking out a tree together as a family. It always reminds me of picking out a tree when I was a kid. My Dad didn't quite agree with my opinion that a tree should be as big and tall as could possibly fit in the house. One or two years he even cut down trees from our yard to use as our Christmas tree (those of you who know my dad, would not be surprised by this:)). This year, I think we got the perfect tree (I no longer have the same criteria to judge a tree as I did when I was a teenager).

Here we are picking out our tree
(Tyson, of course, not cooperating)

Jordan

(with the "side ponytail" she requested--I never thought that would come back in style)

Kya

It was Jordan's turn to put the star on!
(she didn't even need Daddy's help this year)

The finished product!