For 2011...

Let there be peace on earth and

let it begin with me!

Contention, strife and stress rather seem to follow me around.

My resolution is to stop, take a deep breath and relax!

Also...

Seek the Spirit more earnestly

Give more compliments

Complain less

...ohh and of course, drop 5 or 10 pounds!

Happy New Year

Merry Christmas!

It is just about impossible for me to get a picture of both boys cooperating at the same time!
Trying to get a Christmas Eve pic with the 2010 home-made Christmas Jammies...

At least one boy is happy (sigh)...my camera is really slow, and they were saying cheese when I started to take this picture!

Thanks Aunt Steph and Randi for the beating sticks!

Christmas Morning!

Tanner came into the front room screaming..."Santa came here! Santa came here! He ate all his cookies and drank all his milk! We are FULL of presents...come quick!

"Look it is #3"

"Elmo Movie"

Kenny got me a microwave, anyone who has seen ours knows that we are long past due for an upgrade!

"Too Too Twain!"

Kenny's GPS... yes, we are way behind the times. You should be proud of us James!

Tanner came up to me and said, "Thank you so much for all my presents, I love you, Mom!"

Then he did the same to Kenny, he is such a thoughtful kid!

After the cute picture, the boys doggie piled me!

This is really the only present that they loved... we kept having to stop opening gifts so they could play!

I made each of the boys a super-soft and cuddly, personalized, blanket

Tanner's expressions and dialogue were so funny all morning!

The boys loved these shovels.

Tanner has already gone out and shoveled our clear walkways. I hope we get more snow soon!

Thanks Randini for the cups!

Later that day we went to Grandma and Grandpa's. Here are the boys showing off their new books. Thank You!

Thanks to all of those who sent gifts and cards! We were well spoiled and feel super blessed!

Merry Christmas and we are wishing you each a wonderful new year!

Temple Square Lights

We were lucky enough to have Kenny's parents with us at the Temple Square lights this year.

Here is our annual family picture

We had a lot of fun, did some much needed shopping, and got to enjoy a visual feast!

We usually go to a nice dinner on this evening, but the kids were screaming "Old MacDonalds" and Kenny gave in. It was all good though, because I am never one to agrue with some hot french fries!

Christmas moments...

Tanner's first Christmas singing with the primary

We went to the mall last weekend and saw Santa.

Tanner ran straight up to him and gave him a huge hug!

Tanner pulled a fast one on me! He has been saying that he was going to ask Santa for a Jesse and Bullseye (from Toy story), which Santa has already taken care of. Instead he asked for a remote control motorcycle that is as fast as Lightning McQueen!..I don't know if Santa is going to have time to come through this year!

Jack was quiet, but did ask for a tractor and a choo choo.

Jail Gang Re-unitied!

Karla hosted a mini-mission reunion last week.

There were only 3 sisters able to attend and 3 senior couples. We had a great time, even though so many sisters and seniors were dearly missed!

We sisters had 8 kids between the three of us now! I can't imagine the crew there would have been if all the sisters had attended.

Here we are

(back row) Lynn and Dorothy Page, Enos and Eleanor Heward, Rex and Colleen Bennion

(front) Karla (with Bo), Martha, Tasha

Thanks Karla for a great time!

SC is comming to town!

Tanner has been giong around the house singing, Santa Claus is comming to Town. He only knows those few words, so he just makes up words about good boys and girls. It is adorable.

Here are some fun pre-Christmas picutres.

Who doesn't brush their teeth in heels, I know I do!

I hope you are enjoying the season as well!

Gingerbread People

My nieces and nephew came over and we decided that we needed to have some fun.

Carley cutting out gingerbread people

Jack eating a gingerbread man

(he got in trouble for stealing too many)
Hailey showing off her gingerbread lady

November Preschool Memories

Tanner's Birthday

Our theme was "Read to Me"

Here is the kids with

The Emperor's New Clothes

Paul Bunion
We added a new student
Josie (it is nice to add some diversity to our mix)

A treerific tradition

When I was a kid, my family would occasion go to a Christmas tree farm and pick out our perfect tree. We had a lot of fun, but Kenny's family had a more authentic version of this tradition.

This is our fourth year to go to the mountains and pick out our 'perfect' Christmas tree.

The trees are not as perfect as those on the farm, but the memories can't be beat!

Loading up in Grandpa's truck

Waiting for Dad to scope out the tree we eventually did cut down.

After considering many potential trees, we made our decision.

We tied a tractor tire tube to the truck for some real winter fun.

We actually ran over some rocks and popped the tube, so we only had about 10 minutes of fun.

The boys weren't too upset either, they were terrified that we were going to fall off the cliff on the side of the road. I am going to have to work on their adventurous sides.

We ate some doughnuts and hot chocolate before coming home. That was the boys' favorite part!

That night Jack got really sick with the stomach flu, so I kept him home from church on Sunday. Here he is on Sunday morning with mom.

Maybe he would have been okay at church.