Before and After...

Well all I can say is I am so glad the last two weeks are done and over. Sunday I should have known our Ward had Ward Conference which was really good and then we went to Primary and I had Sharing time. Lets just say I forgot that it was Ward Conference and what that brings with it (Stake Primary Presidency sitting in). Spencer has had a really hard time going to class and he happened to throw a big fit and me being frustrated with Spencer started to cry instantly. Lets just say it did not go very well. How can it when you're crying the whole time. I did however pull it together and made it through senior primary only to cry at the very end. Any way moving on Monday comes and I help out at preschool with Kaitlyn and I got a call from Josh (which he never calls while I am there). See if you can guess what happened. I guess the pictures speak for them selves.

Before

After

It was not his fault another lady hit him and long story short we are all extremely glad he is safe and no major injuries. His truck is obviously totaled but it has all been a waiting game talking with police and insurance. Can I say that I am ready for this to be done when it has only just begun.
Also last week Kaitlyn and Hannah were both home for two days because they were sick so besides picking up Josh on Monday from the accident we did not leave the house until Saturday. In the mean time we made some awesome forts and watched a lot of movies and ate Chicken noodle soup.

I am such and awesome mom these days I tell you what. With all the things that happened Makenzie told me that she had a project due and that we should get started on it so I told her to go out and collect some grass and rocks and branches. She was to build a Native American house either a long house, sweat lodge, or tepee. I must have read the paper wrong because I thought it was due later in the week so Tuesday Makenzie wakes up and says "oh man I forgot to collect cans that are due." I asked "what are you talking about?" She responds with "its on the paper." I look at the paper and read her house project was due that day and cans are do the next. So we scramble to try and attempt to make a house before she leaves for school in 30 min. This is what we came up with.

It's her tepee and river. She also added Polly pocket dolls in it one was catching the fish using a spear or toothpick, and the other one was sitting down in the tepee. What can I say its been a rough week. Makenzie later said to me on the way to school "at least I won't fail because I have something to turn in." Oh how I love that girl even when I do mess up.
This last one is of Spencer this one happened today he was on my piano stool reaching for something and fell and hit his lip. I went running in to find him holding his mouth and blood everywhere. Upon closer look he bit through his lip on the inside and now has a swollen lip. Poor boy nothing you can do for that.

All I can say is I was told bad things come in threes and I think we have had our share. Accident, sick kids, and Spencer hitting his lip. I hope it gets better, it should because we have birthday party to plan and I only have one more week of sharing time...

Leading up to New Years

Troy and Ann's family and my Mom came up on Monday and stayed for the week. One of the things did before the weather dropped below 5 was play outside alot. They were so proud of building this cool fort. They were outside almost all day for the first two days. I am sorry I didn't get a picture of all the kids out there making it.

The reason we all were together was because my cousin was getting married. My kids call her CAUNT Rachel because she is my cousin but they treated her like an aunt. My kids loved her and we have had the pleasure of calling on her to watch our kids. She will be missed but we are so happy for her. We can not thank her enough for letting us be a part of the whole thing.

We were also lucky enough to help set up for the reception.

After the wedding on Friday which was also New years eve we had all of my cousins and Aunts and Uncles that were here over for a party. We played some minute to win it games no pictures because we got more video than pictures. We had lots of food and lots of fun. Here are the few pictures that I got from that night.
Sammy and Spencer, he rarely snuggles up with someone and he ended up sitting with Sammy for a while.

Sara, Ann, and my Grandma.

Let's just say my tiny house was full upstairs and downstairs but so worth it. We loved having everyone come.

Downstairs they had a dance party before they started some movies. The two big boys are Matthew and Daniel and the kids thought they were so fun. I think the older boys were glad when it was time to go but they were so good to them.

More dancing.

We had a really fun time with everyone here and surprisingly with that many kids in our house there were no fights all week. I love watching my kids have fun with their cousins and even my cousins for treating them the same.

Christmas part 2

Like I said before we were all sick the week leading up to Christmas and Josh was the only one sick on Christmas Eve and Christmas day. Since we were alone for Christmas we cleaned all morning on Christmas Eve and then decided to go out for dinner. The kids thought that was the best thing in the world. After dinner we came home opened our Christmas pj's. We then watched movies and ate popcorn and got our treats ready for Santa and then went to bed. Waiting to open their pj's.

Showing off their new jammies.

Christmas morning everyone was up at 6:30 ready to open presents.
Spencer got a new truck.

Hannah getting ready to open her present.

Makenzie and Kaitlyn getting ready to open theirs.

The kids all got a Zhu Zhu pet and a track. They spent all day playing with this toy and the next couple of days. I think they liked it.

Here they are showing off some of what they were given.

We spent the rest of the day watching new movies that the kids got and relaxed. I also made a Ham with potatoes and rolls and veggies for dinner. We really enjoyed Christmas this year.

Finally Christmas part 1

Well our computer has been on the fritz so I finally grabbed Josh's school computer so maybe I can get caught up. The week before Christmas Casey and Amber came into town and Josh's grandma so we all spent the next couple of days hanging out. We had Christmas early with them and had alot of fun playing, chatting, and eating. This first picture is all the grandkids except for Joslyn with their Great Grandma Owen.



The brothers with Grandma.


This one is Kaitlyn and Spencer getting ready to box. Ryan thought it was a great idea to get these for Christmas and leave at Josh's parents house. We all had a fun time with these.


This one is Makenzie and Kelsey. Look at Kelsey's face she is trying really hard to put on a mean face.


This one is Josh's sweet Grandma putting on her game face. Really who could fight with her.


Kaitlyn got Josh.


Josh and Cory throwing punches.


We had a lot of fun with everyone and glad that Grandma Owen could join us for an early Christmas. After we all went home everyone was sick for the next week. Being sick on Christmas was no fun for anyone but we enjoyed having a quiet Christmas this year.

Tis the season...

We decided to go see the man in the red suit and took a picture with him. Then the kids took turns telling them what they want for Christmas. Its funny when you ask Spencer what he wants he says "A Merry Christmas". He knows what Christmas is but I don't think he knows that your supposed to ask Santa for what you want. Its cute watching him every time he sees Santa.


Later on the way home we stopped and watched our neighbors light show. They do and amazing show every year. The minute my kids see them putting lights up is the minute they start asking if we can go and watch them. They would probably be parked in front of their house every night if we let them.

Finally Thanksgiving

Wow I am finally getting these pictures on because our computer has been doing some weird things. Anyway we had a fun time this year with Josh's family always entertaining. A couple days before Thanksgiving we got a ton of snow and snow blizzard warnings. Josh was out clearing off the driveway and when he finished the kids begged him to take them for a ride. They all piled on the sled and had fun getting pulled around the yard. They were out there for a while in 8 or 9 degree weather. Nobody wanted to come in until Spencer got thrown off and his gloves fell off then they all started to come in.


The ladies who were in the kitchen. And the crazy fun time we had shopping the Black Friday sales. Kenna, Stefanie, me, and Lynette. We were only missing Amber, because of the weather they were not able to come.


While we were in cooking and the boys were downstairs watching a movie, the kids went outside in the cold weather and had a good time. They built tunnels under the drifts and made houses.


Hannah taking the sled down the slide.


The only picture I got of anyone sitting at the table for dinner was of these cuties. Spencer, Rachel, and Kaitlyn. Our table was really pretty Tyler set it up all fancy. I'm sad I didn't get a picture of it.


After dinner we went downstairs and Tyler did some "challenges" for the kids. Challenges are Tyler making up what he wants the kids to do for example sing a song by yourself in front of everyone, or see how far you can throw the ball, or see who can push who over the line, or for the adults see who can drink this, little things like that. The grandkids love when he does that because every time they attempt to try it or do it they get a dollar. After the challenges we ended in a dance party. Music blaring and everyone dancing.


More dancing.


Spencer did not want to dance and when I went looking for him this is where I found him. He loved cracking and eating the nuts.

We had a fun Thanksgiving even though it was freezing cold outside.

Candy store and Veterans Day

Kaitlyn's preschool class got to go see how some different candies were made. They each got to dip their own cinnamon bear and marshmallow in chocolate. They showed us how they melt the chocolate and all the different things they dip. They showed us how they make their fondant and passed out samples. Kaitlyn really enjoys going to preschool and I don't blame her because they are always doing fun things. Spencer and I went with them to the candy store and Mrs. L was kind enough to let us watch.

This is some of her class but behind them is the machine that they use to run different things through to get covered in chocolate.


Spencer and Kaitlyn enjoying their cinnamon bears and marshmallows. They also showed the kids how they boxed them up and wrapped them and then mailed them off it was a lot of fun to see.
On the same day at the elementary school the kids did a veterans day program. Hannah says she told me that they were singing but I either didn't hear or forgot so I am sorry Hannah. I forgot the camera but she did a really good job singing with all the other first graders. It was a really good program like always.
A little journaling. The kids had their parent teacher conferences last week and their teachers had nothing but good to say about them. I was shocked first of all because for the last two years Makenzie has done nothing but test the waters for the first quarter because she wanted to see what she could get away with and then after the first parent teacher conference she was willing to go with the flow. So you can imagine I was gearing up to hear the same report as I had for the last two years. I was so excited to hear some thing different that she was so well behaved and has had no problems (well a few minor ones, nobody is perfect). Hannah's teacher was the same way she said Hannah was so willing to please, always on task, and so quiet that she wanted to clone her. Josh and I thought that was pretty fun because she is anything but quiet at home lately. Kaitlyn like I said loves preschool and she really needed something this year. I am lucky enough to go help on Monday's at her school and I love watching her interact with the teacher and the other kids. She too is a quiet one and will do just about anything her teacher asks her to do. Spencer gets to go play at a friends house on Monday while I go help out at the school and we get to watch those same friends on Wednesday while she helps out. Spencer has had a really hard time going and I feel so bad for her because at the beginning he would cry the whole time. The last two times he has gone he has not cried at all so there is hope for him people. Every time I pick him up he tells me if he cried or not and he has been so proud of himself the last two weeks, he tells Josh about it as soon as he gets home. I love to see how well my kids are doing or not not doing when I am not around. It makes me happy to know that some of the things we teach them in the home really is etched into them and they show it.