Mother's Day

Oh MOTHERS DAY, how I love this day. Its the one day of the year, I can get away with anything and everything. When all the "Oh I forgot to tell you.." or "I didn't really only spend that but.." or my favorite "I bought.."
This year Chase was so excited to show me what he made me in his class that I woke up to a adorable stinky breathed blonde hair boy in my face, saying "mom, you up yet?".

The kids were all so excited to show me what they got and their cards they had written.

I found Chase's Mother booklet the cutest thing I have ever read. He was asked "My mom is beautiful as.." Which I thought it would be a 'butterfly, flower, or princess'.
Nope, "My mom is as beautiful as...MY DAD!"

The wonderful day continued with church, nap, playing with the kids and off to the Laser's for dinner done by Bruce. Which was the best teriaki chicken ever.
I also opened what looked like a letter from Kirk to find out it was order papers on the camera I have been wanting.
Very clever Kirk, very Clever.
This was a good day! Very good day!
Can't wait for next year!!!!

Grand Opening of Front Runner

My boys are so big on trains. Obviously Chase's obsession with Thomas has pretty much faded, but Smalls picked it right up a year ago. So we make sure to do some fun trips to Day Out of Thomas, Train Expo's, ride on trax(its train like, right?)

When we found out about the opening of the Front Runner April 26th, we had to go.


After three hours standing in the heat and in a huge line, which after looking back, realizing how thankful we were at our placement in line, we got on!

We drove down to the SLC Station and the train took us all the way to the Ogden Station and then back to SL.


The kids had a blast. I don't think Smalls took his face off of the window. He loved watching the tracks and how fast the train was going.
Glad we went, it was worth it.

Easter '08

This year for Easter was a blast. With 4 egg hunts, two of which were with the Laser's and then the Garfield's. Both a blast and with loads of treats
and money that will last for months.

The Easter Bunny also hopped himself/herself(who really knows which) our way and dropped goodies in all three of the kids' baskets along with some gifts.



This year, the Easter Bunny also thought it would be nice to leave out one for dad.
Which he enjoyed as well.

A little fall off of the ol' roof

So since I am having to round up my last 6 months of my life into a few short posts, I thought I would make a list of the exciting moments we've had. As this one is very far away from being an 'exciting' memory, but it was definitely a moment I will never forget.

*This was taken 5 weeks after falling, and with my camera phone*

First off, all of you probably know just how stubborn I can be. Well this was a lesson I needed to learn, just wish it happened a bit more gently.

Back in January we had a major snow storm, well several to be more like it. One morning I got up really early and noticed our dish not working. So I decided it would be a grand idea to hop on the roof to brush the dish off so our tv would work.

First time got down just fine, second time I wasn't so lucky. I got my feet on the garage roof to step onto the house roof which was only a two steps over, I noticed I was slipping and instead of slipping backwards and landing on my back onto our garbage can, I tried turning my body around.(you know my cat like reflexes) So I came down hard onto my ribs as I landed on the garbage and then bounced off that onto the concrete on the side of my head.
I was most likely knocked out for a bit because I don't remember much. I know when I got up I couldn't breath because I had the wind knocked out of me and then all the sudden I was inside sitting on my couch in shock with what just happened. I was in pain and had a major headache. But like I said, I am stubborn so I refused to go to the DR.
Well I continued to get worse. I didn't dare tell anyone because of how stupid I felt for even getting up there in the first place. My bruise was growing and getting bigger and it wasn't like any bruise I had ever seen. It wasn't like all sorts of colors but one solid purplish-blueish color. I was in immense pain and nothing like I had felt before. After speaking to my very wise father in law, I decided it would be best to get to the DR asap.
I surprisingly didn't break my ribs(well at first they thought, later found out I did), but from the fall onto my ribs on the garbage can and bouncing off, it had bruised my lungs and caused fluid to fill, which in return I got pneumonia and on top of that I had bronchitis too(I wasn't feeling well before this happened).
I had to see the DR every week for 6 weeks to see the progress. He was absolutely amazed that I hadn't done more. He see's a great deal of sports injuries and told me the likely injuries I should of sustained. I got all emotional thinking of how lucky I was and just how damn stubborn I am.

CHRISTMAS!

Owen-my beautiful nephew! Christmas Day, how can't you love this face?
IT'S CHRISTMAS!!(Well not really its almost the end of February, but we are pretending)
Well not really the end of February, but more like the middle of May now. I had typed this previously but didn't have my pictures up and saved so never posted. Now I have to post it cause it took me so gosh darn long to type. Enjoy!!!

The kids got spoiled, I got spoiled, so did Kirk. It was great. Instead of listing each and every gift they got. I will just list the one large gifts the kids got.



Chase's was a red(this was a huge deal to him)
Nintendo DS with a few games.

Kendyl's was a very adorable Girly Kitchen. (it was a gift for myself too since I had been collecting pretend food for a few years now)







Smalls a Motorized Jeep Wrangler. Fully loaded with donkey. His favorite character off of Shrek.
As for Kirk and I go, I won't bore you with our gifts either. I am always the one who over does it for Kirk on Christmas but this year I just didnt have the time to look around for him. But he sure spoiled me. Out of all of my gifts, my favorite ever, was "Wish apon a Star" DVD.
Back in Junior High my mom had I would go to a few different castings for movies or tv shows that were around town. She drove me every day for over a week way down town by West Jordan (actually Hunter) to Hunter High School to be apart of this movie. It was a great bonding time for my mom and I and alot of fun meeting all these new people.
I actually had a few cool things I had a chance to do. One of them was actually a small speaking part (more like scene) with Katherine Heigl. I got to roll my eyes and say "Gosh" as she ripped a flyer to a party at her house out of my hands.(I wasn't kidding when I said small!) Which of course I can't prove since this was cut. But you can ask my mom.
The second was being a 'stand in'. These are people that stand in for the actors while they go sit and get all dolled up. They need stand-ins to test lighting and camera shots that the actors will be doing. They choose you by how simular you looked to the actor, your height, hair coloring and size.
As I look nothing like Katherine and especially back then, they choose me to be a stand in for her. Just for this job I got 800 dollars the day I did it.

This movie was something I had wanted for over ten years. Something I had wanted to share with my kids and just have for myself as a positive memory. I have many scenes where you can see me, even if its just me walking past the camera or my head. But there was a scene with me dancing with 3 boys as the camera was on me for over 15 seconds!!

Anyways, to make a post that I meant to be much smaller, much to long. I will end.

Christmas was wonderful and memorable. I love this time to spend making memories with our families. And for our kids having wonderful time spending with their cousins.

Christmas PJ's

We always do Christmas pajamas for our kids. Kirk and I use to do it for one another but neither one of us could get what exactly each one wanted so we bagged it and focused on the kids.

Its amazing how we have done this every single year for them and still they are always wondering what the present is going to be that they get to open on Christmas Eve.

Maybe next year they will start seeing a pattern there.

Chase's Class Christmas Program

Chase's 1st Grade class along with the other first graders had a Christmas Program for students and family and friends.

So Grandma Kimmie, Grandpa Vance, Aunt Bevany, and his cousins Keigan and Mia came along to watch with Kirk, Smalls and I. (Kendyl was at Montessori)


As it always goes with kids, always hilarious to watch. Chase was one of the loudest and most serious singers as usual. We've discovered Chase's animated facial expressions that he normally make are much more dramatic when singing. (NOTED-The top picture of Chase pretending to pray very possesed)
Thanks to all you who came along. I know it meant a lot to Chase that he saw a bunch of family he loves.

Chaser and the "Chick"munks

It was a big hit with the kids. I was a tad bit bored but I am happy it all worked out in the end. We weren't planning on Chase coming along but happy he came to hear his and all the girl silly giggles over the chipmunks voices.
Can't wait for the next time we get together girls!!!

Where have I been, you ask??

I know its been a few months since I have blogged. With Christmas, New Years, Family things and My fall off of the roof, its been quite the last 3 months.

Well I'm back as promised to some of you..(my mom and bevany mainly)
I have loads of stories to catch up on telling you and pictures to go along.
Here we go.

What do I say....

You do realize that I was just teasing when I typed in "chickmunks" to go as "chipmunks". Not sure why, guess I've been saying 'chipmunks' wrong this whole time. I really thought they were 'chick-munks'.

Pretty sad when the poster I posted had it all written out and spelled correctly for me!

Alvin & The Chickmunks

So ladies, its that time I promised this Friday. The release of the highly acclaimed "Alvin and the Chickmunks"
Now Olivia, Keigan, and Kendyl this movie comes out this friday the 14th. I am thinking 2:30pm showing would be a fun afternoon.
Talk to your mom's and get back to me.
I'll get back to you on details when I know this can work out for you both.


So excited, I'm just "NUTS" about it!

Who's HUSBAND is this?

Someone else just joined the "crazies" club.

Temple Square

So last minute we decided to head down to Temple Square and check out the lights. It's been a few years since we've gone.
We called up Erik and Hilary to come along for the ride. Which, amazingly they wanted to join.

It was a bit nippy and a bit packed so we didn't stay very long..

But a fun evening.

We finished our evening off with a stop at Trolley Square at the Spaghetti Factory. The food was not so great, but fun to have the company.

He's just a Big Kid

ERIK OR 'EWIK' has become my kids new favorite toy. He's been a great new addition to our family.
How great to have 'Jo-Jo' our kids second(and at times first) Mother, be married to the best toy in the world!

Christmas Tree Hunting

Every year now, for the past few years, we've gone up to Mt. Green to cut down our Christmas Tree. We do this with my side and its been a fun tradition. Afterwords, we join at my mom's and have our bacon, eggs, mini french toast, and our 'Eric Stradas'.

It's been nice to have the family get together a little more offen this year then what we normally have done.

Good times!

"I LOVE YOU MUCHO GRANDPA!"
(Dancing to G-PA's Tunes!)

I'm Thankful for...

So this year we wanted to go to St. George for the turkey day. But we went down a week earlier and thought with everything that had gone on (My grandma's funeral) we figured we would just stay up North.

We spend Thanksgiving with my folks, which ended up having all my family members joining who lived in Utah.(Not Jeff-Ce and OJ-Miss them!)

It was a full day of family, fun and of course FOOD!









Which leaves me with my title:
What I'm Thankful for...
which has always been family and friends. I include some very close friends, my family. There's nothing better then being able to rely and be with family. I look forward to these times spent with one another. I Really do. I love that I get to live close by my nieces and nephews and be apart of their lives. Thats why it breaks my heart that Sarah and Jeff don't live closer. But I am happy that they make as much effort as they can to come up.

Family is a great gift to have.

Zion's National Park

So the week before Thanksgiving, we had gone down to St. George for my Grandma's Funeral. I have no clue why but I still get a little emotional talking about her funeral. So I won't.

But on our way up, we decided to take a detour and head over to Zion's for a family hike(well EVERYONE came besides 'b' and 'e', which I am not sure why) I wished they came. But it was a great time. I want to continue with our family hikes. So starting Spring, we are gonna take a camping trip, with hopefully most of the family.