Christmas Day with my family

This year we met at my Mom's on Christmas day. We ate good food, and share great company. Amie had asked everyone to put together their favorite Christmas story or story about Christ. She always does a wonderful job of helping us to remember to true meaning.

Me and Amie's new puppy. Harley!

Amie and I gave this pic to mom for Christmas.

Tanner and his COOL hat from Drew and Rae

Adam was very excited about his shoes.

Mom used her baby Jesus to tell her story

Trevon gave us a talk that he had also given in church the week before.

Melissa kids share some scripture and stories

Robyn read a wonderful book. It reminded us all of dad.
A few tears fell.

Everyone watching the DVD that Drew and Rae brought.

Megan made a wonderful art drawing of the nativity. She had received her easel that morning. She was happily coloring and came out and said "I just wanted to draw this so we can remember Jesus on his Birthday." I was so proud of her.
(Waiting on pic: Will update)

Landons Special Day

Landon had a special day at school. It was called "The all American Star" day. Each child gets a day like this in the classroom. We just happened to do Landon's on his birthday. Landon wanted us to make a movie about him. Brent had a fun idea on adding in some clips we thought fit. After many many hours we did not have I finally got this video made, literally 20 minutes before I was supposed to be at the school. I took doughnuts for a treat, and the dogs. For the first few minutes Landon stood in front of the class and introduced the dogs and his family. He talked about himself and answered questions. Then we watched this video. I think all in all, Landon felt special. I am so glad I was able to get it done. It will be a fun thing to have to remember. I tried for about 12 hours to get the video to upload but it must be TOO BIG.

Love you bud!

Christmas Eve/ Christmas Morning 2010

This year Brent's family was able to join us at our house for Christmas. They all arrived on Christmas eve. We had an absolutely delicious dinner on Christmas eve. If any of you have ever eaten at my house, you know I do the paper plate thing. I grew up that way, and I don't really love dishes. So, We eat almost every meal on a paper plate. Even on special occasions. Peggy and Stephanie are not so much that same way. Peggy brought down her Christmas plates from Idaho Falls. Stephanie brought the wonderful food and the fun red plates (I guess they have a special name.... I don't remember what!) to go under the Christmas plates. I have to admit I did like how the table looked when it was set. We stayed up late visiting and laughing and waited for Santa to arrive. The next morning was full of love, fun, laughing and chaos. It was a lot of fun to have little ones around to watch again.

The little kids place setting

The complete table setting

Our yummy dinner

Santa's cookies

The haul

Landon's homemade glasses made with his mini magnets

Cody... such a sweet smile

Parker and his buzzlightyear

My funny Landon and his new knife from Joel and Steph

My grown up T with his new knife from Joel and Steph

My fun loving Meg with her new painting apron form Steph

Kristen, Her haul was a tall as her..... (that doesn't take too much :))
We love you Kristen!

Yes, I did actually buy my kids some Christmas. But Steph did such a great job of getting them stuff they would love this year!

Landon turns 10 ** December 13, 2010**

Landon wanted to have a birthday party on his birthday this year. This is the first year that we have done a gift giving birthday party for Landon in December for a long time. He has previously done a "summer birthday" party. I think he will want to do a friend party in the summer. We had a lot of fun with the family. It was simple cake and ice cream, but the company was great. Ahmed was here from Egypt and stopped by.

Landon is:
spontaneously funny
mature for his age
he always has a comment on things
he thinks thoughts that even I wouldn't think of
he loves big
he makes me smile
he tries my patience
And...... I love him very much.

We have had some great changes with Landon this year. As you have read in some of my previous posts this year at school, we have had some great challenges. I have to say that I am so proud of Landon, and how he handles all of these things. He is very mature about the changes we have asked him to make.

I love you bud! You are such a very special part of my life! I am so happy your mine!

Update! Fall!

*Warning* This update is a little long with no pictures. Since this blog is somewhat my journal and my scrapbook lately I wanted to get some of things in with little time. If you would like to skip it! I'll understand! If you want to hear about us for the last few months.... read on!

This fall has been a very busy one. I must admit that it has been a bit better since football ended. I took a six week course to be certified in intensive care, and I have also gone back to Weber State to work on completion of my bachelors degree. Brent is going to school two nights a week at Bridgerland. He is working on Mechanic/Electrical something or other. I honestly don't really know what he is doing. But, I am proud of him for going to school.

Tanner is in the seventh grade. He is starting to look more like a teenager, and he defiantly acts like one. He loves his cell phone, texting, computers and the PS3. He is still a good kid and helps me with the kids and around the house. He has been testing his boundaries with us a bit lately. He is enjoying scouts and is planning to go on his first snow camping trip this weekend.

Landon has had a pretty crazy fall. I think I have made some comments prior to this about his difficult start to the year. He is improving very much. He comes home and does his homework everyday (most days without an argument). He loves his dog Lucy and his friends. He is kind of a funny kid. As we we have been getting ready for Christmas we have had many many ideas for Tanner and Megan. Landon, well... he is not really into anything. He just likes to be with his friends and otherwise it seems all we do is home work? Kinda sad..

Megan has just loved kindergarten and is learning to read. She can sound out just about any word with just a little help. That is if you can get her to sit still long enough. Megan is so loving and gives us hugs and kisses every day. But she has been very emotional lately. Today she hugged her dad three or four times at lunch. When he went to leave she didn't get to hug him again. She cried for 20 minutes because she was unable to hug him goodbye. I think we only have about 18 more years of that to go! She is also Mrs. Destructive! She ruins everything in her path. Seriously, my boys were nothing compared to her. She is harder on clothes, shoes and her room in NEVER clean. We love her very much anyway!

The boys have been bird hunting. They have really enjoyed taking Lucy out. She is doing.... well OK. She did better when the colder weather came because the grasshoppers were gone. She would rather hunt grasshoppers and bugs than birds. Until it snowed and got really cold. They took her out the day after Thanksgiving and she just shut down. She was to cold.

I guess I must include Tank. Tank spends his days sitting in front of the heat vent or hiding in a blanket in the spare bedroom.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving. We met up with the Izzy clan at the church. We visited, played basketball, and ate lots of good food. After we went to my moms with all my bothers and sisters. I didn't take a single picture. We played games, cards, ate more food, and mom and Melissa took ALL the kids swimming. It really was a fun day. I truly love the days that we all get together, the kids play, we visit and the men watch TV. I reminds me of being a child. I loved hanging with my cousins. I am so grateful that my kids and their cousins are close.

I have taken a few family pictures. I just have not had time to post them to my photography blog. Sorry! I am looking into taking an online mentoring class. I think it will be just another step to improving my photography. I am looking forward to it. I just wish that I had some more time to put into my favorite hobby. I have been thinking lately that we have to choose the things that we are going to strive for. Sometimes I want that to be school and my education. Other days I want to quit school and put more focus on taking pictures. I also have joined the Sports Academy and Melissa and I have been working out together. I really like the time we spend together. It is amazing to me that when we work together, and then go to the gym together, we never run out of things to talk to each other about. She is a wonderful sister and friend. I also have had the chance to go to Amie's Zumba class. I LOVE her class. It's not just Zumba that I love. It is her class. I went to the class at my gym and it was not so great. Amie is so talented at teaching. She really is fun and makes everyone there feel that they are amazing. She was born to instruct in a gym!!

We are ready for Christmas and looking forward to happy holidays! We wish you the same.

Football Fall 2010

Landon and Tanner both played Sky View Jr. League football this year. Brent coached Landon's team. The boys both played great. Football this year was a better experience that the last time that Tanner played. I still miss soccer sometimes but Tanner does not. It is hard to take pictures of the kids in football. Everyone looks the same. It makes it hard when they wear a helmet. Landon would wear bright colored socks to help me find him on the field. Tanner wore arm guards but this is not as obvious. I think Brent really enjoyed coaching. Football is very demanding. All three boys were gone from 5-7:30 four nights a week and games every Saturday. I think they will be doing this again.... even still!