Where has the time gone?

It has certainly been a while since the last post on this site. Our oldest is in college. Our youngest is in Kindergarten and life is busy. I don't know how to summarize two years. Since the last post with Michael and his high adventure trip, we have been to California and Disneyland. We also went to the UK and spent eight days on a trip around England. We will have to catch you up, or delete this blog. Isn't that what you are supposed to do with these things?

Moments That Matter Most

I need to slow down a little bit. I think my kids will agree.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l70e1TfN34w&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Home Alone

The family is all in Utah, except for Michael and me. I've been working while Michael has been working it. He just got back from High Adventure.

Was so worn out at the end of it that there was utter confusion.

Had to cope with ruffing it in the wilds of Wisconsin.

Suffered through torturous vistas and strenuous activities.

Was forced to chop the wood.

Sat around a lot.

Practically starved!

Had to be outside in the dark.

I hope he recovers from the event. I don't know if he will.

Happy Holidays!

Here is Tyler in his Christmas band concert. The picture isn't very good, sorry. Tyer did very well, and was first chair for the saxophones!
Here we are makind our annual gingerbread houses. The kids look forward to it every year. I think it's because of all the candy I buy, they say that they just like making them. They did a pretty good job, even though I bought the gingerbread this year instead of making it. I just didn't have time...

This one is Hailey's. She only told us where to put the icing and she did all the decorating.

What a mess! Even though our Christmas days are pretty boring since we have no family around to visit, we all had a nice Christmas and I think the kids must have been really good this year. Santa was very good to them!

Happy 4th Birthday Hailey!

I can't believe my baby is 4 years old now! Wow, does time fly by....

We celebrated her birthday by inviting Hailey's friends, and their families, over for some snack and cake and ice cream. The cake was made with love by a good friend. Thanks Kathryn! Hailey loved having everyone over and also loved being the center of attention believe it or not.

Hailey and 2 of her best buds, Alex and Abigail

Here is Hailey's Top 10 for 2010.....

1. Music any kind, any where, but especially in the van on the radio so she can sing along.

2. Singing to Lady Gaga--Pokerface and Bad Romance

3. Dancing--she can really get down, when she thinks no one is watching

4. Preschool--Her favorite days of the week

5. Playing with friends, especially Alex and Abigail

6. Writing her name

7. Feeding the cats every morning

8. Storytime every night with mom or dad

9. Favorite foods-- PB&J sandwiches cut into shapes, mac & cheese, popcorn, popsicles, daddy's chocolate waffles, oatmeal and mandarin oranges

10. Wearing dresses whether it's "dress up" dresses, play dresses or church dresses as long as it's a dress, and she can twirl in it, she's happy!

I couldn't resist putting this one in! This is me and my "best buds"!

Me, Kathryn, Jolene and Toni

Fall '09

Isn't is really sad that I have to lump an entire season into ONE post?!? We had a great autumn season with lots of gatherings with friends, pumpkin patches, and great food! The fire below was a get-together at a good friends house. Doesn't it look inviting?

The next 3 pictures are at Hailey's favorite place to go-- Pigeon Roost Farm. We had the day off school so many of us from the ward went together...

Emily and her BFF, Joslyn in the Corn Maze...

Hailey with her BFF from church, Eden on the big rocking horse...

The kids picking out their carving pumpkins for Halloween...

Here are their finished Jack 'O Lanterns!

All dressed up for Beggar's Night! Tyler is Charlie Brown (ghost with holes all over), Michael is the Assassin from a Star Wars video game, Emily is Sandy from Grease, and Hailey is Snow White. They had a great time Trick-Or-Treating and as always, came home with their bags full! Happy Halloween everybody!

Happy Birthday Tyler!

Tyler turned twelve years old this year. I can't believe it! He is getting way too big for me. He is almost my height! I know I'm only 5'3", but still.....

Tyler had a great time for his birthday party. He and his 2 best buddies went swimming at Westerville Pool (Tyler's favorite), ate pizza, watched movies and slept over.

This was also a big birthday for Tyler as he receved the Aaronic Priesthood and is now a Deacon. He loves passing the sacrament on Sunday and takes his responsibilities seriously. What a great kid! Oh, yeah.. He also is in the Advanced program at school and is pulling straight A's. Pretty hard accomplishment, especially his math class as his teacher tells me he hardly ever gives out A's. Way to go Tyler! Now for his Top 10 of 2010 (in no particular order)...

1. Video and comuter games

2. Reading--I catch him up late reading too many nights to count!

3. Scouts and youth night on Tuesday evenings

4. Eating--anything but corn!

5. Swimming--especially at Westerville Pool

6. Golfing--Doesn't get to go as much as he'd like, but still loves it!

7. Camping--with scouts or family, it doesn't matter to him.

8. Playing the piano--he really is very good. Ask him to play something somtime!

9. School Band--He plays the Alto Sax. The very same one his dad played in high school.

10.Playing outside--running around, riding his bike, going to the playground, etc.

Happy 12th Birthday Tyler! Love you bud!

More Summer Fun.....Zoo!

What is that?!?

Can anyone take a good guess at what this picture is?

You're right! These are flamingos sleeping. Pretty funny huh?

Before school started, I took the kids to the Columbus Zoo. Their favorite part is feeding these green tropical birds who eat right out of your hand. Got some pretty cute pictures below. Tyler and Hailey were the only ones that would let the birds sit in them, but they had a great time anyway! Fun day....

Summer Fun!

Yes, I am playing catch up! I haven't been on my own blog for months now, and before it's gets much later I thought I'd better do some work on it before I forget what has even gone on this past 7 months. So...... here's some things we did this summer while in Utah. Every year we drive the 1700+ miles across the country, from Ohio to Utah to spend time with family and have fun. Enjoy......

The day after we arrived in the valley, we toured the new Mount Oquirrh Temple with some family. Here are our kids with Natalie and Jeff's little girls. While touring the temple we saw Elder L. Tom Perry. What a neat thing for the kids to witness an apostle of the Lord inside the temple with his family. The temple was so beautiful inside! I'm glad we had the opportunity to let the children see it.

Happy Independence Day!!!

Provo Freedom Festival Parade on July 4th. Everyone had a great time. Eeven though it rained just a bit when we got there, the day turned out really nice. Afterwards, we went to the Howards home for a picnic lunch.

Ah, swimming in the summer! Nothing beats a good dip in the pool on a hot summer day, and eating iceream afterwards. This year Michael wasn't much into swimming, I think he got wet for all of 20 minutes, but we still had fun!

Spanish Fork High School Class of '89 20 Year Reunion!

How and when did I get so old? Here's a picture of me and my two best friends from high school. Amy and Melissa. It was great seeing everyone and catching up!

That's me in the Fiesta Days parade with the class of '89


Fiesta Days parade!

Hailey looks a little mad, and she was! After the parade, we went to my aunt and uncle's new house for a picnic and some swimming. We forced Hailey into this Barbie life jacket just because there were a lot of kids in the pool and I wanted her to be safe. She HATED it at first, for about 30 minutes, then realized that she could go anywhere she wanted including jumping off the side of the pool by herself and not depend on clinging to her dad to be in the water. She had so much fun, she now won't go swimming without one!

Last day of Summer Fun in Utah. Here's mine and Natalie's kids. Yes, she's got 3 year old triplets! What fun they were! My kids had so much fun getting to know them this summer! We can't wait to go back!

What a "SPAcial" Birthday!

Happy Birthday Emily! She is now into the double digits! That's right, 10 years old. Can you believe it? Emily decided she wanted to have a spa night for her party and it was so much fun! The girls had manicures, pedicures and facials done. Below is the girls relaxing with their mud masks and cucumbers. Too cute!

Here is Emily's Top 10 for 2009. In no particular order......

1. Listening to music- Right now her favorite is Taylor Swift

2. Dancing- her favorite style of dance is Lyrical

3. Playing with friends, anytime anywhere

4. Clothes

5. Flip flops

6. Swimming

7. Reading

8. Drawing- she bought a new easel at a yard sale

9. Shopping

10. SWEETS!

Happy 10th Birthday Emily! We love you!

Michael's Mission 2009

Yes, Michael is only 16 and yes, he went on a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints - for the period of one week! Along with everyone else, he and another youth were paried up with 2 full time missionaries and lived and taught as missioaries for 7 days. Michael was a little nervous knowing he would be teaching and tracting, but when we picked him up a week later, he was wanting to stay longer! He loved it so much! They worked hard everyday, ate crappy food (his words) walked a ton, and didn't get much sleep, but the rewards he felt within his spirit, the things he learned and the experiences he had were worth it all! Now he can't wait to go on his own mission. He will get to do this a few more times before he actually goes. I am so grateful to our stake leaders for their inspiration in this program. The impact is immeasurable! I've included a few pictures below.

"Before"

"After"

Even though it was only a week between the 2 pictures I saw a difference in him. I dont' know how to explain it other than he was glowing.....

Everyone who participated in the "mini mission" experience. This is our future and I am so excited for it!

A Week with the Ohio Trauntveins!

This month Leonard and Myrna were able to come and play with us for a week and boy did we have a ball! Here are just a few thing we did in 6 days.....

This is at a place called "Old Man's Cave" the most beautiful area in Ohio. And a fun place to hike/walk around!

They were able to go to Emily's dance recital and see one of her Lyrical routines.

I just had to add this cute picture in. That day we had not only been to Emily's dance recital, but then we went to see some ancient earth mounds and then went to a place called Dawes Arboretum. Inside there, there is an old pioneer cemetery which is wehere this picture was taken. By then Hailey was just a little tired and ornery. Can you tell?

Columbus Zoo. The petting zoo was Hailey's favorite part. She loved brushing the animals! I thought this also was a fun picture. Grandpa "rode" the warthog with Hailey.

Thanks Leonard and Myrna for coming and spending a week with us. I hope we didn't wear you out too much. We, on the other hand had a lot of fun! Come again soon!