A decade over

2009 is just about over.

What a year it has been, so many things have happened and some for the better and some not so much. With life comes the ups and downs but without them how would we ever grow?

I am looking forward to sending 2009 out and starting a new decade.

With all 2010 has to offer and bring to our family we will be ready for it.

To all a very Happy and Prosperous New Year.

Merry Christmas

Make a Smilebox greeting

New Moon

I was able to get tickets to a sneek preview for Thursday at 7PM. It was a fundraiser and they rented out several theaters to do this. So happy it was not midnight.

Hunter and Julia were squaring off for their favorite team. They had fun and we all enjoyed the movie. I was amazed at how many "older" women were there. They all have their favorite Edward or Jacob and they were sure to let ya know by the howls throughout the movie.

Jewel went with us as well as Skyler. What a sport he was. Jewel made these darling shirts for her and Hunter. She did a great job. Hunter was surprised and happy to have someone be on her team. She tells me all her friends are on team Edward. Not sure why? I will just say team Jacob and that is all.
So glad we were able to go together as a family and hope everyone enjoyed it.

TICKLE TORCHER

Hunter decided to have a tickle war with me. She was not winning and in fact she was losing big time. So when all else fails you put on your karate vest and shin guards on your arms and hope it it enough to protect you.
It was not Mom was victorious. We had lots of fun and way to many laughs. I'm sure she will try again to get me back, and I will be ready.

Round 1

Battle of the Books has started once again.

Hunter, Julia and Shelby are team 11 again. They had to read 4 books: Riding freedom, The Watsons Go To Birmingham-1963, Poppy and Chasing Vermeer. They did a great job and are tied with one other team for answering all of their questions correctly. They are defending champs from last year and the pressure is on for them. Keep up the good work and good luck on your next battle girls.

Shhh it's a SURPRISE

I bought tickets to Phantom of the Opera months ago for an early Christmas present for Hunter. Really our whole family, but mostly for her. She is obsessed with this movie and has always wanted to dress up as Christine for Halloween.
We went out for dinner and then she said she was feeling kinda sick. Skyler told her this is not a time you want to be sick. We gave her hints like its something you have always wanted to do. She guessed lots of things. Then finally a play and then Phantom, however I told her it was the Little Mermaid. She knew I was teasing her because Skyler was happy and he would have been MAD about The Little Mermaid.

We have arrived at the play and she was so excited. Just like on Christmas morning.

It was such a great performance. One of our favorite parts is the chandelier and how it moves. Love the Phantom and the places he turns up in.The music is always so good. It was a great evening and certainly one we will do again. (no camera I temporarily lost it)So maddening

Trick Or Treat

Elmwood Ward Trunk or Treat

Hunter, Becky, Julia

This year our trunk or treat was on a Wednesday. Hunter went with her friend Julia.

Julia was Dorothy and Hunter was a classy old lady. This was by far the coldest night we have had in October in EVER. They were freezing, Julia was ghostly white from the cold. We called it a night and they watched a movie at our house. It was a great time by all.

Halloween morning

Hunter is on a bowling league with her friend Savannah. They had a Halloween party that morning. It was decorated and they had the lights off with crazy colored pins up when they bowled. They had food, games and lots of fun. She went as a Disney kiosk with all of her items on. Savannah went as a 70's disco girl. These 2 girls have fun no matter what they are doing.

HaLLoWeEn NiGhT

Hunter and Savannah ready to hit the streets for their loot.

They have been going together for 4 years now. They have the best time.

Hunter decided at the last minuet to change her costume. We had about 15 mins. to put it together. She wore the dress Jewel wore when we were married and we used tulle around the waist and shoulders. Did her hair with teal and black colors. Her makeup was heavy black and dark colors. She was a goth vampires bride.

That night as the girls were going to houses people would tell Savannah how cute and sparkly she was and then give her extra candy. One look at Hunter and OooH was the comment and not so much candy. We laughed so many times as she would walk away and say not again. We told her an old lady would have gotten much more candy. It was a beautiful night out and lots of candy for these two girls.

Hunter getting ready for a bite!

October happenings

Poston Boys

Skyler and some of his wrestling buddies were the Poston Black Boys. Postons colors are black and teal. Hence the name. We painted their arms and legs with black paint. It was so funny that night happened to be so windy and cold. The coldest in a long time. So here we are painting layer after layer of paint. They were freezing from the cold paint. Once they dried we put teal letters on their shirts and off they went.
Those boys had the best time and got the crowd going. They did cheers with the cheerleaders and ran around just to stay warm.

Jarom, Dallin, Skyler, Cory, Zack, Logan, Kevin

A little video of their night.

Toms a year older!

Tom had his birthday. We celebrated it at Montis in Tempe with my parents. He had a great time and loved his new shoes. I hope he knows how much his family loves him and just wants to see that goofy smile on his face.

Happy Birthday Tom.

Disneyland October Break 09

We decided to take the kids to Disneyland for October break.

We went with The Smiths: Larry, Raylene, Chaz & Jensen. We did 2 days at Disneyland. One day as a group and the second with just our family. They had a blast. Hunters all time FAVORITE ride is Hollywood Tower of Terror. Skyler's was all of them. The weather was perfect not to hot and no rain. I loved it at this time of year. It was all decked out for Halloween. So it gave the park a new look which made it nice and refreshing.

Our adventure for this trip started out on Saturday morning as we were heading to the park.
First we leave our hotel and are ready to hit the freeway, except instead some guy took the off ramp a little to fast and hit the wall head on. It looked bad and we couldn't just leave him unattended so we go check on him. As he stumbles from his car he screaming HELP. Skyler calls 911 and then hands me the phone. They ask our location and as I am telling them I realize we are connected to Arizona so they connect us to California police and we give them the info and ask the guy if he is injured. He was shaken and in shock! I would be to if I just wrecked my brand new Mazda 3. Off again we go. This time to pick up tickets that I got off of craigslist.
(This is your key to know something is wrong.) As we pull up to the office to get our tickets, 2 cop cars pull up. They ask whats up and proceed to tell us that someone just got scammed and we could have been next. Thanks to the crash we did not. So thanks crash guy. Just FYI I thought I did my homework on this and made sure it was a legit address and business. So just be careful if you decide to do this. I was told that others have and was fine . Now as we are laughing and I'm thinking I should have taken a picture just for fun. We do make it to Disneyland and that's where all the excitement of lines comes into play. We rode all the rides that we wanted to had lunch and enjoyed our day/night. Jensen went on her first roller coaster ride and she did great. Her and Hunter stuck together on most of the rides. Chaz and Skyler went on several as us parents followed up at the end of the line.

On our second day we spent most of our time at the California Adventure part, the lines were not long and we did the roller coaster since Hunter was tall enough this time. We went 3 times. Sky and Hunt went several more times. We were having a great time until we went on this motion ride. Tom who now has vertigo got sick and was done for the night. No more rides for him. But he was a sport and hung with the kids to the end.

Just a little snack and how could one resist the ears.

On Monday we woke to Skyler not being able to hear from his right ear. He complained the day before that it hurt and took some Motrin and was fine most of the night. However once he woke up Monday he was in pain and Larry Smith checked him out and said he blew out his ear drum. This is not funny however we never get the easy , simple or ordinary things. He must have done it on the Hollywood ride. There was pressure in his ear and that ride over several times must have built up the pressure until it finally burst. (he is doing fine- antibiotics to the rescue.) Now one last stop at this huge Halloween store and a few items later we are on the road and so happy since it was cold and rainy.

I am so glad to have some special, fun and memorable times with our kids and friends.

Our newest arrival....

This is our newest arrival!

Nixon as Skyler has so loving named him. Appeared in our backyard last week and has taken up residence under Toms old car. He loves it under the covered parking where its cool. Doesn't venture out much and eats very little. My kind of pet. Low maintenance.

Mother -Daughter Princess Night

It was to be a mother daughter night out. However this turned out to be the same night as my play.

Jewel graciously said she would go with Hunter. They had a great time and enjoyed some one on one time together. They made each others crowns and hung out together. Thanks Jewel for taking her and being their for me when I was not able to be. This picture does my heart good. To see the love they have for each other.

This was a sister's night out for sure.

LEGALLY BLONDE

Yes I went to Legally Blonde the play.

Their was eight of us crazy women and boy did we have a good time. We started our night our with dinner at Z Tejas. It was great food and great conversations.
The play was good but did not follow the movie and had a different ending that was surprising. We all enjoyed it and had lots of laughs. We saw more gay men in pink than I ever could imagine. Even if they got more of the jokes than we did. They made us laugh. Thanks Cyndy for getting the tickets and making our night alot of fun.

Cross Country

Skyler has decided to do Cross Country this year for endurance to help him in wrestling.

He is doing a great job. Just the fact that he can run that and finish is an achievement.

He is determined to make the most of this sport and keep his weight down for wrestling. I never thought with 3 girls I would have a son worrying about his weight. Life is funny sometimes.

Great job Skyler and your half way done with the season.

It's all about the EYES

There comes a time in every girls life to grow up.
(Not if their dad has anything to say about it)
This is Hunters time.
She had just went to Darla to have her eyebrows done. Nothing much just to tame them really. She was so excited then horrified by what might happen. Darla was so great and as always did a super job. Hunter is now happy to have them done and not be to thin. One would never notice unless you knew.
She loves to freak out her dad so she has started to wear mascara also. I'm not sure if he can take much else.

Good thing for him no more makeup until 7th grade.

FIRSTS..... now gone

The first day of school has come and gone. The first week too!
Skyler is now a freshman in 9th grade. WHAT!! Where did the time go?
Hunter is in 6th grade. She is now queen of the hill.
You will notice this year has come and gone with no pictures. WHY you might ask? They are to BIG for pictures. They informed me that I no longer need to document their first day like when they were in kindergarten.... WHAT..... Since when did they get so big that mom can no longer take that priceless picture to forever sit in a box or now on the computer.
I have to say I am so sad that they won that battle thus far but their is always next week.

More Lake Tahoe

This was the view from our condo.
Fools gold in the water
A Beautiful sunset.

Some random shot of us on the jet skis and getting ready to anchor.

On the corner bottom left picture you can see Colleens legs

it is a great example of how clear the water was

This is the hail storm that we encountered. So glad that we were able to sit it out. It would rain and then it would be clear beautiful skies again.



This was by far one of the funniest and most memorable vacations.

Just a few funnies for ya!!!!

The first day out on jet skis the guys tried to find a nice beach area to dock and have a snack.

We would go by one after another and no not this one, until we found this perfect area. No boats or jet skis just a few people. We all got the feeling that they were looking at us strange but hey the guys want a soda. To our utter shock and horror it was a nude beach. Yes I said that. We could not believe it. We just turned and jetted off in a hurry. We laughed so hard that we were a little over dressed for that beach. No wonder they were looking at us strange with our wetsuits on and all. Once we got to another beach we asked a few people about that. The said yes clothing was optional. Hey to each his or her own.

We later saw on the map that is was called "Naturalist Beach". What ever floats their boat.

Our condo was nestled up in the mountains. One morning we took a hike up and just looked from each direction at the beauty that stretched for miles.

One bike ride was to go up UP UP UP and around the whole area of our condo. Yes I emphasized UP because it was straight UP. It liked to kick our butts, but no we made it and the down part was fantastic. I went so fast that I almost used up my breaks. Needless to say once was all we needed for that. Our other bike rides were just breath taking. So many wonderful sights to see. Old wood boats and 100 plus year old homes that had the most amazing wood work and detail.

Tom, Colleen and I followed by Dan in the truck, took one last ride on our final night. We pulled off the side of the highway and found this bike trail. Off we went and it by far was one of the picturesque rides ever. It took us through some down hill winding roads that dropped us onto one of the most amazing streets ever. With big sprawling estates the backed up to the lake. They were old and stately. As the sun was setting the view became just a vision for us to remember our time at Lake Tahoe. Once back to the highway we loaded up for our next adventure.

We jet skied the most, 3 glorious days on the water. For me their was no better to way to view the entire lake than from the waters edge of the shoreline. These homes were right at the edge of the lake with their own light house and beach areas. The history that we were able to learn about and stroll through made us want to return to see more. The water was cold, but like I said that's what wet suits are for. One of our favorite spots was Emerald Bay. It was just breath taking. Huge trees and crystal blue water that seemed to never end. On our second trip we were trying to out run the storm as in the video. It was by far one of the craziest times in my life. Those waves were so huge with no rhyme or reason unlike the ocean. They went any direction it felt like going. As we were heading to ward the launch site I told Tom is this something we tell our children to stay clear from. We loved every minuet of that ride. On our third day we set out for the last area to cover by water. More beautiful beaches and home. It just was amazing how this body of water was nestled into the mountains so perfectly. Heavenly Father sure knew what he was doing when he created this world. Sights for us to use, see and take part in. This was the day we got caught in the rain and hail storm. with wet suits on we ventured towards town. Bought some great cookies and snacks from the local farmers market baker. They were YUMMY. Found our favorite restaurant The Blue Agave and eat. Twice I might add. The second time he did not recognize us at first. I'm sure he was happy to know that we do wear things other that that wet suit.

One final adventure for Friday night was a car show. If you know Tom he was frothing at the chops for this to come. Colleen and I went shopping so those guys could enjoy every last car there. To our surprise they caught up with us at some shops. This was a little strange. Tom not at the cars??? When we asked DONE already? He answered I have more cars in my back yard. I know our children get this joke. This time it was no joke there was only 3 or 4 cars. Due to the weathers unpredictable self. We all laughed and said so true. I felt bad, he was so excited like a kid in the candy store. Like they say ALL good things must come to an end as was our case.

Saturday morning came and once loaded we started our 12 hour plus drive home. This never ending drive as we go through Death Valley. There is a reason it is called that. Desolate and what can I say NOTHING that's what that has to offer. That was only the beginning. We missed our turn off, so we flip a U and continue on our way. Only to be pulled over buy the Highway patrol. He said he pulled over Dan for multiple reasons. We all looked at each other. Then he asked for Toms and my DL. I gave him mine, Tom could not find his. We were getting tickets for no seat belts as passengers. I was hot. I always wear my seat belt. He said if we couldn't find Toms DL it would take longer. YIKES. We looked everywhere. Finally I said a prayer and found it. So happy 2 tickets no 3, Dan got one too off we go on our super long drive. As we are about 50 miles to Arizona, Dan says no not again. Sure enough here we go again. Yes we had our seat belts on. However Dan got a ticket for speeding. We were all a little confused but hey are you really going to argue that you were not speeding. Off again like snails for fear of getting pulled over again. We entertained ourselves with songs like :"I can't drive 55, and others that don't come to mind. We were never so happy to see Arizona now we can drive 75 and not be bothered

We arrived home safely and tired. That took us 14 hours!!!!

No matter how long it took this was by far the best VACATION EVER. Tom and I were able to enjoy each other and reconnect as adults. Sometimes you must have to have that time alone to keep things going and moving forward. I love him so much and am grateful we threw everything out the window and picked up and left town. Not something we have done in years, and we certainly will do it again when the chance comes along.

A special thank you to Dan and Colleen Millett for inviting us and helping us have the best time. We will have many laughs for a long time. We hope many more to come.

Lake Tahoe Vacation!!!!!

Lake Tahoe was an ADULT only vacation. Tom and I went with Dan and Colleen Millett and what a time we had. This is a collage of the sights we saw from the jet ski. The water was so clear and turquoise blue. You could see the bottom of the lake and it had fools gold in it. Cold yes but that's what wet suits are for. It had some great beaches and we enjoyed the lake from top to bottom and side to side. My favorite was Emerald Bay. So beautiful and lots of history.

This is a video that Colleen took ( she was brave enough to do this while on their jet ski and in the storm) of Tom and I on the jet ski trying to out run the storm. Notice the black clouds. The waves were so big and we were getting some major air. Tom said it perfectly the water is ANGRY. It was a crazy ride but SO much fun.

These next pictures were from our bike ride. We went on this bike trail and it was great. Over some winding forest parts and some old wood planked bridges which had creeks running through them. this was one of my best bike rides, we had it all, wind, rain and a nice sandy beach to park at and swim to cool off. How could one not love this. I loved being able to just enjoy the ride as well as the beautiful scenery. No matter where we went we had the best views and a lot of historic places that we stumbled upon on our rides. We had the ultimate weather and great friends to enjoy it with.

This picture is at the Blue Agave where the day before we ate lunch at in our wet suits as it rained and hailed on us. We anchored our jet skis and waited out the storm. We had the best chile relleno ever. Tom and I with Colleen and Dan had some cultural entertainment at the Lake Tahoe Shakespeare Festival. We saw "Much Ado About Nothing". A modern take on Shakespeare. Once we found our seats which we thought were assigned we learned quickly that you just take any lawn chair on the sand and that's your seat. Us girls found a row that was somewhat in the middle and got comfy. Until we realized our seats were rather upright. I commented that i need to fix my chair and this couple behind us said with a laugh get the shovel man. We laughed and thought it was a joke. Until this lady asked if we needed anything to which I stated a shovel man. Waiting to be laughed at, she called her husband over to shovel out our seats to make them more level. Hence the photos.

This was the stage. It was right on the beach and it was a laid back evening with BYOB and food. It was at sunset and the weather could not have been more perfect. A beautiful evening with my wonderful husband. The play was great had some laughs and came away with a new understanding of Shakespeare.

Tom and I - Colleen and Dan

This was the perfect get away for us. I will make this a 2 part post. There are so many pictures and things to tell one will not do.

Just for Skyler.....

This was Skyler's first time to EFY. It was at BYU in Provo, Utah. He went with his friend Kevin. He loved it. I am so glad that they went and had a great experience. As you can see its all about the GIRLS! His counselors were awesome and a lot of fun. He said he would do it again next year.

Destination Home: Arizona

This is some random shots Skyler took as we were driving home.

It went fast but there were some pretty big Thunderstorm's. It rained so had after we left Page that the roads were flooding and I had the windshield wipers on full blast and it could not keep my windshield clear. That was one of the hardest and shortest rains ever. I don't mind the drive and it does have some beautiful things to look at. However getting home is always heaven.

Utah family Vacation

The family went to Utah for the 4th of July. We spent the week at Kim and Tylers. Joe and Jewel are there now also. We had a fun filled time. Went to Temple Square and saw the Joseph Smith movie which was really good. That day was so full of rain and the loudest thunderstorms ever. From their we went to dinner and Ella so enjoyed the rolls no really just the butter.








It was Lilly's princess birthday party. They dressed in their princess dresses and had a grand time. Grandpa was a hit or so he thought.





We spent the 4th quading. It was a beautiful day and the best ride ever into the mountains. The weather was perfect: cool and sunny all in one. When we returned from our ride they were having a water fight. They were having such a great time. I love to see all of them playing and laughing.

We had fireworks in Kims culdesac. The kids love being able to set their own fire works off. It was windy but who cares when your having fun. It was a great week with them and then Tom had to return on Monday for work. Skyler went to EFY for a week and that left Hunter and I to hang with Jewel and the kids for a week. We had a great time and took the kids to a pool play area and they loved it. Saw Transformers and The proposal. I laughed so hard it was a great movie. No picture because Skyler had my camera with him. Grateful to have such a great family and we love spending time with them.