More Utah

We got to see Todd's side of the family for a very short visit, but it was fun! The kids are growing so fast, it is crazy!

Kia and Gage!

Luke aka Batman. Luke is a bit like me and doesn't like to have his picture taken, so it became a challenge. I got a couple!

Brynn, Claire and Luke

Batman and Grandpa Hockeypuck

Although our visit was short, it was great fun to see them.

I wanted to go to the bookstore at the Univeristy of Utah so on our way back we stopped in at Grandpa and Grandma Burt's and gave them a bit of a surprise! It was fun because they were not expecting us and I love to do surprises like that! So Grandpa and Grandma had already seen us, but I don't think they minded having to see us twice!

Thanks for spending time with us!!

1. surprise visits

2. sneaky photos

3. cousins

Utah

My sister had her 3rd baby girl on New Years Day and so a couple of weeks ago Brynn and I flew out to try to help and get in a little visit. I don't think we helped too much, but it was fun to play!

We took the girls on a couple of outings.

We went to Classic Skating and rode scooters and played in the bounce house!

We had tokens to play games and ride on the rides!

Grandpa and Brynn tried on each others clothes!

We went to the movie!! Alvin and the Chipmunks! With popcorn and treats.

A fun time was had by all! Didn't spend as much time with the baby as I had hoped for, but she is so little and cute. The pictures of her are on Brynn's camera and I haven't found the cord to get them off so maybe I can post them later!

Thanks to Grandma Sleepover and Grandpa Mustache for letting us stay with them and carting us all around.

We were there for so short a time that we didn't get to see any friends, which made us both sad, but had to make it short if I wanted to go at all. Mom duties were calling at home!

1. family

2. short trips

3. home

The Chuck

of Chuck E. Cheese!

Brynn took a couple of friends to Chuck E. for her birthday.

The pictures are backwards, but I am too lazy to redo them.

Opening her gifts!
Brynn was terrified of Chuck E. She is finally warming up to him after 10 minutes and some tears.

This was the only way she would get close to him~

In the picture is Emma, Sam and Jane

There were 2 terrified at first

Awaiting the arrival of Chuck E.

After she warmed up, she had a great time and she loved the party before she found out Chuck E. was coming for a visit!

We had a blast and loved that it was small!

(Purposely done while my older kids were in school, come to find out, they were quite bummed about it, I didn't think they would care, guess you are never too old for a little Chuck E)

One Advantage

to being sick
is losing 4 pounds.
Unfortunately, once I start to eat again, I am sure it will all come right back on.
Bummer!

1. feeling better
2. hopefully feeling better enough to get my house somewhat back
3. it is almost FRIDAY!!

Hairstyle

This hairstyle has a name. It is called..................wait for it..............

The JENNIFER!!!

Brynn asked me on a regular basis if we have time to do the "JENNIFER".

Let me explain the name. I have a friend that lives in Utah that we all love. Of my kids, Brynn loves her the most. After we would walk the kids to school Jennifer would frequently take Brynn home with her and more often than not, her hair would come home looking like the picture. She loves doing her hair like this and has dubbed the style with our friends name!

Brynn and I miss our friend Jennifer on a daily basis and it makes me smile every time Brynn asks for her hair done like this!!

Here's to good friends!!!

1. friends 2. a new day 3. great church talks

Procrastinating

I am a procrastinator.

I admit it.

I have been procrastinating my blog, my house, phone calls needing to be returned, lots of things.

It's not that I don't want to do them. I do.

I just have SO many other things going on right now that when I get a few minutes, the last thing I want to do are things that need to be done.

I have issues, I know.

I have many good intentions.

When I get distracted or have thoughts that consume me, I tend to be no good.

This week, I have been consumed by Haiti. I was told by a lady at Brynn's school about all the orphans, which I knew there were orphans, I just tried not to think about it. Now it has consumed me and I have sat at my computer for probably an hour today watching all the stories about these poor children. It is consuming me, which then leads to procrastination.

Issues, I definitely have them!

1. admitting
2. my family is safe
3. the weekend

Happy Birthday

5th

Birthday to

Brynn!!!!

5 reasons why we love Brynn

1. she is very funny

2. she is very outgoing

3. she is always up for an adventure

4. she loves her family

5. she is full of and loves life

Happy Birthday Brynn!

Brynn's Christmas Present

Brynn loves Build A Bear and has always wanted to go there and we just never have. So for Christmas, Marissa decided to have her and the boys pool their money for a gift certificate so she could finally build her bear!!

Stuffing!
So excited~she was jumping up and down!

Putting in the heart!

Giving her bear a bath!

I will have to get a picture of the finished product. Brynn chose to make her a cheerleader because the only thing she likes about Braden's basketball games is the cheerleaders and she wants to be one when she grows up!!

Funny side note~Marissa told me at a game a few weeks ago "Mom, you won't catch me dead being a cheerleader!" Thought that was funny!!

1. great gifts

2. a child's excitement

3. funny kids

Christmas

Christmas morning was its usual greatness! Brynn was SO excited, although again, as in EVERY year in the past we had to wake her up.

I had jokingly told the older kids that I didn't want to see them until 7 am and being the obedient kids that they are, I didn't see them until 7 am. I couldn't believe it! I was just joking!

It is always so fun to see the excitement in their eyes!
Opening gifts

Braden, being on the basketball team wanted/needed some new shoes. I bought him a size 12 and they were too small. Had to take them back for a size 13. Hope those feet don't keep growing or we will have trouble finding shoes!

Brynn is in love with cameras. Being that she ALWAYS takes mine, that is one of the things Santa gave her for Christmas. Now she no longer uses mine!!

It was a great day by all. This year I decided to make a blanket for all the kids and Todd, as we were always wanting the same blankets and Todd and Braden complained that they weren't long enough. So, I made 5 blankets. I won't do it again! It took forever. I didn't get Braden's finished, which turned out nice, because Todd and Braden helped me finish his blanket.

We had my cousin over for dinner~ham, and stuff and it was fun to see him.

1. Christmas

2. new blankets(I bought one that plugs in!!)

3. staying in pjs all day

Christmas Eve

Our Christmas Eve was spent in the same way as we have done most of the years we have lived in MA.

The kids act out the nativity and most of them are still really good about it. They change rolls, except for Braden who has the recurring role as Mary's donkey.
Shepards

The Star and the narrator

Mary and her donkey

Good times are always had with lots of good food and company!

1. Christmas

2. GREAT friends

3. good food

Basketball

Braden is playing basketball for the JV team at the High School!

He is loving it and it sure has been keeping us all busy. He isn't getting a lot of playing time, but he is a freshman and doesn't have a ton of experience.

In this video he misses two shots, but I pulled my camera out because he made the one right before!!!!

I absolutely love the sports and have thoroughly enjoyed going to the games. Unfortunately, my girls don't feel the love of staying for the varsity games, so we haven't stayed as long as I like, but it is fun as long as it lasts!

1. Braden 2. basketball 3. patient coaches

Let It Snow

At 5:38 AM I got the phone call. One I was expecting but the words on the other end made me a bit upset.

SCHOOL IS CLOSED TODAY due to inclement weather.

It was the closed part that disappointed me. Not that I don't love having my kids home and a day off of school is always nice, it is the fact that now we have to make up the day at the end of the school year. We weren't supposed to get out until June 18th and today just pushes us that much further into the summer.

What I was hoping for us a 2 hour delay. Didn't get it, so I am just enjoying the fact that I had something to motivate my kids to get their jobs done and quick this morning.

They wanted to play in the snow.

And playing they are doing. They have already been out for over an hour and they are in heaven!!!

The boys are totally loving the hill on the side of our house, they have their snowboards out and can't wait to get to the real mountain. Braden has been praying for snow since August.
The girls enjoyed sledding down the hill for a bit, then decided it would be fun to make a snowman. They used sticks for the arms, a towel for his scarf, carrot for the nose and sweet tarts from Halloween for the mouth, buttons and eyes!!

In their eyes, their day is pure heaven!

1. kids

2. being able to stay home in yucky weather

3. snow (only because I can stay home)

Rachel's Challenge

This is Rachel Scott.

She was the first student who died at Columbine High School in April 1999.

Rachel wanted to start a chain reaction. She wrote an essay called "My Ethics, My Codes of Life" a few months before she died.

In it she said she has a theory, that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same. People will never know how far a little kindness can go.

Yesterday at school, Rachel's brother, Craig, came to talk to the students about starting a chain reaction. He had an hour long presentation that he presented to students in 8-12th grade.

Last night, he presented it to the public.

Brandon and I went. Braden saw it at school, so he didn't want to go again.

It was a moving experience. There were not many dry eyes in the audience.

Rachel's Challenge is basically this:

1. Eliminate Prejudice....by looking for the best in others

2. Dare to Dream...set goals, keep a journal

3. Choose your influences...input determines output

4. Kind Words...small acts of kindness=huge impact

5. Start a Chain Reaction...with family and friends

Craig told the kids that it is ok to be nice to someone that is different.

He did it in a way that was different and cool, not a parental way!

I am taking this challenge. I will start a chain reaction.

Each day I will say something to someone that I wouldn't have otherwise.

Will you do it too??

Check out her website:

http://www.rachelschallenge.org/

1. moving experiences

2. people willing to talk about their tragedies

3. change

Marissa

This girl's mind seems to go a million miles a minute. Todd walked into the bathroom this morning and this is what he saw......

This note was on the mirror...
The sink full of water!

Where does she come from??

1. Marissa
2. funny things
3. Grandma in town...nuff said

Happy Birthday Braden

Happy 15th Birthday to my boy!

15 reasons we love him:

1. he is a peacemaker

2. he loves the gospel

3. he is a great big brother

4. he attends seminary everyday

5. he is very knowledgeable

6. he is outgoing

7. he loves lacrosse

8. he loves music

9. he plays the guitar well

10. he is kind to people

11. he usually makes his bed in the morning

12. he is usually willing to help out

13. he is responsible

14. he is a hard worker

15. he is a gentleman

Happy, happy birthday!!!!