Favorite Foto Friday

This picture always scares me a little, not because I was pregnant at the time, but if you look closely in the back ground behind the Christmas train, there is a little picture intruder hiding (it's my nephew Camden). I still think it is a little creepy just because it is dark and his eyes were glowing from the flash of the camera. What a sneaky guy, we miss you Camden and family.

Aside from the picture, is it normal to not want to sleep in the same room as my husband, because he was sick tonight? I get so nervous that I will get sick, I automatically think I am getting sick if someone else is sick. Oh well, I know he'll forgive me. :)

Yummy Icing

I am looking for a killer icing recipe. I love the one my family uses but I wanted to try a new one, anyone have one that they absolutely love?

The Brad Race 1st Semi Annual Extended Family And Friends 5k/ 10k Fun Run, Walk, or Bike

For those of you that don't know, we are putting on a 5k/10k on April 4. If interested check out this link: http//www.thebradrace1stsemiannual5k10kfunrun.blogspot.com

Happy 27th Birthday Josh!

My little brother turned 27 today, that is so weird! I can't believe how fast time goes by! Not only is he turning 27 today but he is getting married this April too. We are excited for him and his new family to be. Happy Birthday Josh and congratulations Josh, Marianna, Julie and Sean! We all love you!

Our Exciting Morning

We had a lazy morning since the kids are out of school today. Then around 10:30 our neighbor came knocking on the door and said "your truck got broken into!" I looked out and saw Brad's work truck had been broken into! I saw that my neighbor down the street had his car broken into the other day and thought man that stinks for him, well now it stinks for Brad. Actually the person that broke in must have been dumb or have gotten scared by someone driving by, before grabbing the more expensive things. All they did was brake the window and then took the navigation system. He luckily brought the laptop, that is normally in his truck, in last night. It took about 2 hours for a police officer to show up and then we had to have Brad's boss out to take pictures and a report and now Brad is getting paid just to watch them put a new window in the truck, so far he hasn't had to work 3 hours of his shift maybe he will get away with no work today. People sure are desperate for things now-a-days!

Fave Foto Friday

My kids can get a little wild at night and it usually ends in a fight. Well last night my kids were done with baths and they love to watch t.v. right before bed time, so they were in my room watching t.v. while I was cleaning up a little. When I went in my room to tell them it was bed time, this is what I found. No fighting or screaming, just kids relaxing and even sharing a blanket. I treasure moments like this one!!!

 

Top Romen

Caden gets home from school and is always looking for a snack, I ask do you want some crackers, an apple, etc. NO, his snack of choice is Top Romen. That would be fine but he doesn't want it cooked, he likes it in a plastic bag with the seasoning sprinkled on top! What's up with that? 

One of my greatest blessings ever.

Whoops, I am not doing so well with this blessing thing I was trying to do, we'll see how long this will last.  So Carsyn received an award for being a Student of the month yesterday. I know everyone has to have a turn to be student of the month, but I know Carsyn is truly a great student. She may not get the best grades all the time but she loves school and tries really hard. She is one of my blessings, ONE of my VERY best blessings!! What an awesome girl. She is my peace keeper, when the kids are fighting she will be the first to give in, or she'll give up what ever they are fighting over. I love that girl!

Sorry the picture is so bad my camera needs the perfect lighting to be able to get a good picture!

Caden's Women

When we moved our kids to their new school Caden had a hard time starting out. He wanted instant friends and was distraught everyday before school. It has gotten 1 million times easier. He has a big group of friends and loves to play at recess with all of them. The one thing he doesn't like are the group of girls that follow him everywhere. They chase him, take his backpack and just tease him all the time.  I can't believe how aggressive 8 and 9 year old girls can be. They go right up to him and say they like him. There was no way I would have done that at that age! Today I was picking him up from school, and this little girl comes up to me and says, "Caden says he is part Irish," and I said "well he has a little Irish in him, look at his red hair." She then says " Red hair is not the only thing Caden has,"  I say "oh yeah what does he have" " He has dreamy eyes!" What?? What kid says that? She then goes up to Caden (who is standing by some other girls) and says, "Caden I wanted to tell you something, I like you and you have dreamy eyes." All the other girls start to laugh and Caden acts like he didn't hear her and walks off. He has no interest in girls yet he just gets bugged by them bugging him. Carsyn better not ever be that forward!

One of my many blessings

I forgot to tell one of my blessings this week. I am sitting here alone on a Saturday night and it feels all too familiar. The reason why is that my husband has 3 brothers and they all like each other, and like to hang out a lot! So if I don't plan something on a Saturday my husband is more than happy to go hang out with his brothers, it can be golfing, hunting, movies, UFC fights, or anything manly and they love it. So you may ask how can this be a blessing? Well these nights I get to get caught up on some good ol chick flicks. Right now I am watching Sleepless in Seattle and there is no way Brad would want to sit and watch this movie ever again, once was too much for him!  

Andrew, Greg, Brad and Paul

Fave Foto Friday and Facebook?

My Grandpa e-mailed me this picture of a car accident, this truck went through a railing and flipped over to the spot were it is in the picture. Notice where the railing is that it came through. Now scroll down and look at the next picture. 

Notice how far down the car could have fallen!!! Amazing! Someone was looking out for that guy!

Okay I thought I was out of the loop when I found out about blogs and how many people have them. Well I talked to an old friend the other day and asked if she had a blog, she said no but I have a facebook account. I had heard about facebook but never went on to it, well I started my own account so I could check out my friends site. I typed in a couple of friends names to see if they had an account as well, well they do and so does everyone else in this world!! I guess I was out of the loop again. I've spent about an hour of my day today and yesterday on that dang facebook, I thought blogging was addicting but I found something just as addicting. I feel bad for my kids, sorry kids, mommy's busy!!

Our MLK Day Adventure

We woke up this morning and decided today would be a good day to go find some snow since Brad was off work and the kids were out of school. Brad and his brothers went hunting on Saturday and found some snow up where they were, about an hour away from town, so we headed off to find it. We get a couple of miles from the spot we were looking for and Brad's car starts to slide, we were on a little road high up on a mountain, so I was a little nervous! He tries to put it in 4 wheel drive and thinks he puts it in 4 wheel drive but it didn't work, so now we are getting a little closer to the side of the mountain and the tires are spinning and the car is going the opposite direction of what Brad is trying to steer it to. I am clenching on to the door handle, Brad says relax but how can you relax when the car is heading near the edge and the car is slipping. We decided to get me and the kids out while Brad gets the car in control, but no such luck. He puts it in reverse and this is where the car ended up. Against the mountain and now only one tire would spin and and it is only making us sink into the icy sludge more!

  

Needless to say Brad was a little angry and not just because we were stuck, but because the guy who sold him his precious Land Cruiser lied and said the 4 wheel drive worked really well. Not!!!

Here are my little ones climbing up a mountain while daddy tried to get the car unstuck. They were climbing up to a little patch of snow which was actually Ice.

After pushing the car backwards and a few choice words. We got the car to slide down the hill to where the tires had traction. On our way back down the mountain my kids were a little sad that we had to leave so Brad drove off the road and said who wants to try and shoot my gun. (Which was only in the back of his car because he went hunting on Saturday, he doesn't just pack it around.) All of the kids got excited and said they wanted to do it. So Brad set up a coke can for a target and asked who wanted to shoot it, everyone said Not Me! Carsyn being my brave girl said she would try. All it took was one shot and the noise of the gun scared the rest of the kids, so no one wanted to do it anymore. 

Here are my silly kids.

Here is Carsyn trying to shoot the gun.

And here are the boys covering their ears since it was so loud!

After our little outing we promised we would take the kids to see Paul Blark Mall Cop, the line at the movie theater was sooooo long and as I near the front of the line they put a sign in the window that says Mall Cop Sold Out! What!! So we had to go to another theater that is a little scarier than the other one but we got right in! The movie was funny but the previews showed most of the funny parts, it did cuss a little too much for a PG movie, what is this world coming to! So we had a fun filled day and my kids are exhausted! Yes time to put the kids to bed and watch a good movie with my red head.

Oh and I want to wish my brother John a happy 36th birthday. Happy Birthday John!

Fave Foto Friday

Now this is a sad picture, my kids have never been to the snow, Caden did once when he was about 9 months old, I don't think that counts. So one day our old neighbor"s friend came home from snowboarding with his truck full of snow. He made a little hill and we got out my snowboard and this was the scene people saw, while driving down our street that day:

My kids loved it, but can you say we are Red Necks! So this brings me to another blessing of mine, Living in a town where it doesn't snow! Although I don't mind visiting the snow, I wouldn't like to live in it. I get too cold as it is!

Help Me

I have to teach a lesson in Relief Society in February and I have to pick a topic and teach on it. Anyone have a good idea for me, maybe a lesson you really enjoyed or something you would want to hear about??? I have no idea what I should talk about, Please help me and preferably it is a topic that won't make my tears start to flow! Let me know if anyone has any ideas! Thanks.

Fave Foto Friday

Need I say more:

Old family photos are always great. Check out my hair! Sweet!!!!

My cousin's wife Krissi is posting a picture a week for 52 weeks of all her many blessings. I will try to do it too, so this picture is also something I am blessed with, old pictures of my family, they always make me laugh!

Birthday Party #2

Nixon wanted to have a party with his friends from school.

We had donuts instead of cake, at their age everyone wants to blow the candles out so Chunky and Kaylee got a candle to blow out too.

Chunky playing pin the sign on Batman. They all won since they didn't want to be blindfolded. Cute kids.

Nixon opening his gifts and kaylee and Chunky helping him.

Now we are done with Nixon's birthday. We have birthdays and an anniversary every month now until summer.  I think that's why the second half of the school year goes by so quickly for me!

Happy 4th Birthday, Nixon!

Nixon turned 4 today! He is such a joy to be around and we are so glad to have him in our family. I had my hardest pregnancy with Nixon. I was sicker than ever and I couldn't wait to be done with being pregnant! He finally came and he weighed 8 pounds 15 ounces and was 21 1/2 inches long! My biggest baby. He is growing up so quickly! We love you Nixon, Happy Birthday!

Here is Big brother Caden, holding baby Nixon with the help of Granny.

Nixon 

Nixon has always loved to dress up and I think he lived for at least 2 years in cleats and baseball socks!

Even though Nixon doesn't enjoy playing on a team yet, 

he still loves to dress the part!

Our Big 4 Year Old!

The Recent Happenings

Nixon turns 4 on the 6th of January. We had a little family party for him on Saturday since Brad works during the week. He wanted a mixed up party. First he wanted a pirate party, then he said, no I want a batman party, last he said, no I want a transformer party, so he had all three and loved all of it. I can't get my kids away from wanting a pinata for their parties, they looove them. I even offered to take him to Chuck E Cheese but he said  no I want a pinata at our house! I give up!

It seems like Christmas all over again, toys and wrapping paper everywhere! I wish his birthday was further away from Christmas, it's hard to pick out anything for him since he just got so much from everyone for Christmas.

We spent New Year's Eve with Brad's brother Greg's family. The kids actually stayed up late this year, normally we set the clocks forward so they think it is midnight but actually it is 10:00. I don't know why we let them stay up late this time, they are always so grumpy the next day, when they stay up to late!

We watched the ball drop on t.v and the kids banged pots and pans, when did that ever become a tradition?

Nixon, Carsyn and Avery playing the xbox and waiting for it to be New Years!

The day after Christmas we went to the mall to return a few things, and Carsyn said she wanted to pay to get her ears pierced. She was so brave, she didn't even get tears in her eyes!

Caden acts so silly some times. He and some of his cousins were playing up stairs and he came down dressed like this. He had on about 20 of his t-shirts and said he was trying to break the world record for wearing the most shirts. He saw the world record holder on youtube and wanted to break his record, he was about 204 shirts shy of the record! What a cutie!

Here is the world record holder, I don't know how people come up with some of these world records that they have, but some of them are really strange!

The Best of 2008

I was tagged to tell 12 of the best things that happened this year, well I know I've already blogged about most of them but here is a recap:

1.My first child turned 8 and was baptized, we had a fun weekend that weekend and spent a lot of time with family and friends.

2. I ran in my first and only 5k, so far. I know I should do more, I never get around to it, running by myself makes me just as happy.

3. I got to hang out with cool people this summer. The girls in my family are always fun to be around. My cousin Emilee was here for the summer while her husband was doing a little interning and it was fun to spend time with her and her cute boys. Also going out to lunch for birthdays was a lot of fun.

4. Moved out of a rental house and purchased our 3rd home. I'm wondering if I should put this as one of the best things of 2008, but I am still hoping we start enjoying it a little more!

5. Attended a dance and piano recital for Carsyn. I hope she finds the the thing that she is interested in, after trying ballet, cheer, ballet, then hip hop now piano, she can't decide which one she enjoys the most, yet. 

6. Received my most challenging calling, EVER, at church. I dread every time I have to get up in front of all of the ladies. I know it is a blessing in disguise. It will only make me stronger, I hope!

7. Went to Bass Lake with Brad's family, enjoyed every second of it, even the infestation of Mosquitoes, and the fact that our boat was out of commission this year. We have made sure that it will be ready to go for 2009!

8. Went to Leo Carillo with my family. Also loved every minute of it! We have tried other beaches over the years but some how we always end up back at the oldie but goodie, Leo Carillo!

9. Watched a lot of Caden's soccer and baseball games, love the games, but don't love the practices so much.

10. I faithfully attended girls night out every month, minus the girls weekend that I missed out on! It's always fun to catch up with what's happening in this wonderful town we live in!

11. Nixon started a little pre school once a week and is loving it. He loves his friends Chunky, Kaylee and Blake. He feels so big when he goes to school and every Thursday that he goes to someone's house he has to tell his big brother and sister all about his day at school. I will be sad next year when he goes to preschool 3 days a week! What will I do with myself?

12. This is not the best thing this year, but it did happen this year, actually a couple of days ago, We said good by to my sister and her family, as they moved to Utah. They will be missed.

So there are 12 of the things that I could come up with. Any of you that read this, are welcome to do it too! Have fun!

Fav Foto Friday

I know this isn't a photo but a video will do, since it is so darn cute. This was Nixon when he was just starting to walk. I love it!

Christmas 2008

This year we had our Traditional party at my aunt and uncle's house. I sooo look forward to that every year. We eat appetizers and dessert, everything is so good! Then we have a little program, after that we do our white elephant gift exchange. We always let the kids open one present on Christmas Eve, and they get so excited. They put out Smith cookies for Santa and a DR. Pepper. Someone told my kids Santa doesn't drink soda, and they looked at me like they were worried, so I had to say, " Santa gets sick of milk sometimes and wants some soda" They always believe their mom. Brad and I finally went to bed at 2 in the morning, and of course Caden woke us up at 5:20 this morning, that sure makes for a long day! We ate breakfast at The Race's house. Brad cooks up a bunch of breakfast burritos that are to die for! And after a gift exchange we are off to my families get together, for lunch and another gift exchange. My kids have received so many gifts I don't know where to put them all! I love Christmas, just for the get togethers! 

It's Almost Christmas

I can't believe Christmas is finally this week. It seems to have come so fast, it seems like school just started. We have already done most of our traditional Christmas things, put up our blow up Santa (that the kids love so much), looked at Christmas lights, decorated the house, made Christmas goodies, attended a few Christmas programs, almost finished Christmas shopping, and last night we had our traditional Nativity reenactment at Brad's parents house. It seemed to be a smaller group this year, but my kids always enjoy it. We also celebrated Brad's brother Paul's birthday. Happy 31st Birthday Paul!

My Camera's battery died so here is the best I could do with my phone's camera.

The Three Wise Men, and Joseph, I think it took the guys an hour just to get their facial hair just right. They turned out great! 

Here is the whole crew, with Baby Jesus (Kenneth) and all. 

Paul 

My Favorite Foto Friday

I am copying some of you that do Favorite Foto Friday's because I think it is funny to see old pictures and because I am out of blogging ideas. So here is one picture that I thought was funny now that I look back at it. This is right after Brad and I had our wedding reception. As we were leaving our family decorated our car, of course. Well the thing that makes me laugh is that out of all of our many gifts, Brad decided to take only one with us on our honeymoon, it was a gun! My friend Aaron Bailey gave it to us, mostly Brad. Should I have been scared?

Carsyn had her first Christmas program at school. They sang Christmas songs and all looked so cute. We had to get ice cream afterwards, of course!

Superman

Nixon wanted to dress up, like always, but this time he wanted to be someone we didn't have, Superman. So we made do with what we had. I think he is the perfect superman!