our fairytale coming true

Skippyjonjones

2011-03-26T13:22:00.000-07:00

Mason had a read-a-thon at school and his group read a story of skippyjonjones. The siamese cat that thinks he is a chihuahua, it was really cute and Mason was Skippyjonjones. He saved the day when he popped the great bumblebeeto with his sword and got all the beans back for everyone.

Mason's Baptism

2011-02-13T21:16:00.000-08:00

Oh my heck...I can't believe that I am old enough to have an 8 year old:) Mason's day was so awesome...after the baptism we went to Jensen Pond in Syracuse and had his luncheon in the visitors center. It was so nice...no mess at my house and everyone was in the same room not half upstairs and half down! Thanks to all our family and friends that came out and supported little Mason:)
The 3 kids being baptized that day:)

new years and sledding

2011-02-13T20:46:00.000-08:00

I am so slacking:)

The kids LOVED sledding when we had snow...this year has been very funny!

Mason kept falling off and Marshal would not get off the 4-wheeler. He didn't want to fall off:) Abbie was just loving the few minutes that mom let her ride.

Happy New Years!!!!

cAtcHinG UP iS HaRD tO Do...

2011-01-16T19:47:00.000-08:00

but here it goes...

Our Christmas visitor...

We had a special visitor come before Christmas...One of our friends dresses up and goes around the ward/neighborhood and visits the kids...even though Mason knows him it is still so much fun. I remember one year their Grandpa Mathis dressed up like Santa and Mason knew him...but he thinks it is SO cool that some people that he knows is Santa's helpers. So Thank you Rob:)

SNOW!...

my boys LOVE the snow...even though it means daddy gets to be out plowing in Syracuse ALL the time! They love to go outside and shovel, my neighbors probulary think I am a slave driver:) But the LOVE it. When Mike does finally get home from work...he LOVES to play with them...

GingerBread Houses...

we made gingerbread houses and boy did the kids LOVE it....you would have thought they haven't had candy in our house for a while:)Pictures in front of the tree:)...and yes this is Abbie's new smile:)...silly girl!

Christmas... yes...Mason put these out all by himself:) and YES...there is a carrot for each reindeer!

Christmas morning was a BLAST! The kids got all they wanted plus some:) we opened gifts up and then off we went to the Stokers...were we ate breakfast and opened more presents! And after a few hours playing we headed over to the Mathis'...were we ate our lunch/dinner and what?...opened more presents!!!! Just to say we SCORED!!!!

all the "boys" at the Stoker house

Grandma got a baby doll...so Abbie and Kate had...HAD to play with it:)

Marshal got some fun "work" stuff...the goggles were the HIT!these are the "wicked" hats that my nephews got from grandpa and grandma...I hope that means that they like them:) told ya...the glasses were FUN!

TuRKey TrOT...

2010-11-21T20:47:00.000-08:00

well we as a family ran our first 5K....it was the Turkey Trot in Syracuse...it was to earn money for a little girl named Chloe so she can get a park that she is able to play in!!! She is so stinkin cute... So I made turkey hats for my kids to wear durring the run...this is how they turned out...
they all wore them proud! This is Mason with his xbox 360 which he thinks he won...they had a silent auction after the run, and he secretly placed a bid on this item with out mom and dad knowing it until we had to pay for it! Merry Christmas (early) to Mason:)

This is Chole and her dad while running the 5K...I was so priveledged to run along side of them the whole thing! and this is her family at the auction...thanks Tara for letting us be part of your day!!!

Halloween

2010-11-11T08:15:00.000-08:00

Halloween was so much fun...here's an overload of how it went...:)

we went to a trunk and treat with Carrie, Jon and Kate...

This is my cute nephew Statton...I mean this is my adorable Grandma:)

we went to see our Grandparents and Great Grandparents...SO FUN!!!!

we went Trick or treating around our grandparents and then around our neighborhood...so much candy, fun, and crazy people!!!

Black Island Farms

2010-11-10T19:42:00.000-08:00

we have this fun tradition of going to Black Island Farms in Syracuse every year with my family. Last year we missed it, I can't remember if it was because the babies were too little or if my dad was sick...anyways we made it this year...
we had so much fun! The kids ran from slide to slide and then to the train and the corn pit and then the boys went into the corn maze and was in there FOREVER! come to find out they did get a little twisted around:) silly boys!

"NEW" Tradition:)

2010-11-10T08:32:00.001-08:00

So Mike had the day off, for some Holiday and we decided that we would go for a family ride to the mountains. We decided to take a long some pumpkins and balloons...for what? We also took along some BB guns and 22's and a 357 and 410. (all guns) So we headed out for our ride and ended up by East Caynon. We pulled off and Mike and the boys set the pumpkins up while I blew the balloons up...then we got the guns out and had ourselves a fun little shoot out! We had so much fun shooting the pumpkins and the balloons. This will definatly be a tradition for every year:)yes...even Abbie got into the whole fun!

tomato soup

2010-11-10T08:12:00.000-08:00

One thing we can every year is Tomato soup, this has been a favorite of Mikes since childhood. So I got the recipe from his Aunt and have been making it every year for him. This year we changed it up a little for our new diet:) and our kids LOVE it! Have I mentioned how messy Abbie gets everytime she eats...

pumpkins anyone???

2010-10-29T23:00:00.000-07:00

we finally carved our pumpkins...YEAH! we had so much fun...Mason carved his very own this year-holy crap he is growing up too fast! Abbie just wanted to eat hers the entire time...Marshal just liked all the little saws that we had and kept stabbing his pumpkin but all of them LOVED to get oowie and gooie...what a mess...but oh so worth it!

when it rains...its a muddy mess!

2010-10-08T21:02:00.000-07:00

yep...this is what happens when it rains at our house...Mason was covered from head to toe in mud! Little stink:) yes...I did get mad at him for only a spilt second...then said oh what the heck...at least he was having fun-that is all that matters, isn't it?

our summer in a nut shell...

2010-10-04T21:43:00.000-07:00

Okay maybe in a walnut tree...we had a blast this summer, but man how time flies! I can't believe school has already been in for a little over a month and summer is gone and fall is here. So since I was a HUGE slacker on this blogging thing-I am posting it all at once-HA:) enjoy...

our last adventure for the summer was Fishlake...

we went on Mikes archery hunt. We went with friends and family-it was so much fun and there was so much that we did in such a short amount of time! Some things were...a hail storm that was straight from hell, there was a ragging river of milk chocolate, flooded roads, forest fire-close to camp, tornado winds and a car on fire! This was a year at Fishlake to remember...

The gang is all here...the family on the last day-SO MUCH FUN!!!

we went for a hike with our friends to a small creek and to see exactly where that fire was...YEP, we found it, it was not far from our camp at all! Thank goodness it was only the size of a pick up truck:)

the kiddos played so good together the entire time we were there-I love this kids:)

this is the starting of the crazy weather...we were talking about going on a drive and here cam the clouds-they came in so fast it was a little freakish:~

the boys had a blast with their cousins...it is nice that my sis in law and I had our babies so close
and Abbie even had her little group of girlies to play with-

this is the famous-butt crack rock...our boys love it! So every year when we are down that way we have to get our family pic by this rock!

I had to just throw this picture in because this is so my little girl, when she pouts...she really pouts! She was having so much fun in the wagon everytime the boys would stop she would start with the POUT!

and we could NEVER get enough 4-wheeler time:)

so the drive that we went on while it was raining/hailing cats and dogs...was to Big Rock Candy Mountain-so much FUN! They call it that because the mountain looks like a giant ice cream sundae-on our drive to this fun place we drove along side a river that looked just like chocolate milk-Marshal was in heaven-

Fishlake was a great little vaca to end our summer fun with:)

this year we couldn't get enough of all our cousins...
fireworks for Syracuse days...at Aunt Carrie's.

Castle park...where Marshal got his first sting and where grandpa scared all us girls too death when he fell! this is the area that Marshal was stung from...watch out for those dragons:)

family from Ohio ...

our Brother and Sister and neice and nephews came back for a summer visit from Ohio-they moved back there about 4 years ago, and man we miss them! While they were here we had a blast with them, we dropped everything when they called, so we could spend as much time as we could with them...and yep we did!

we went to Whitney fishing...

while they were here we had a firework show in our front yard...

Mason absolutly LOVES Darrlynn...

Marshal attached himself to uncle Mike...he had so much fun with him the entire time they were here...

camping in the Uintahs...

my boys LOVE to take their BB guns and 22 guns and shoot with their dad...

even my little girl got in on the gun action:)

we hiked into Ruth Lake...so much FUN!!!

we went fishing every chance we got!

this was the view that we got everytime we turned around...

while we were up camping so was Carrie and Jon with his family for a family reunion...we caught up with them and had a fun time-LOVE THEM:)

Lava Hot Springs...this was memorial day weekend-I think:)
we went up to my parents property and went camping with some of our great friends-had a blast hanging around camp and exploring through the great soda area:)

this was a gyser that shot off every so often just like old faithful:)

Mason and his log cabin that he built, this kid is always building something fun!

Mason found a new favorite...Smores:)

Mike did colored and stamped concrete...this is what happens when Marshal is wondering around wet cement:)

We took the kids to Dinosaur Park in Ogden...They were in love with all the Dino's...however Marshal was terrified!!!

we went to a Raptor game-did I have any clue as to what was going on...NOPE! But we had fun with some friends:)
Abbie...loves to help with the dishes! I know some of you have said NOT to let her play in the dishwasher, believe me...it was only for a split second so I could get some pics of her:) love this little girl!!!

sorry about the length...but hey when your having fun there is no time for anything else:)

ScHoOL is IN...wheRE diD SuMmeR Go!

2010-08-26T21:51:00.000-07:00

Okay so I was going to do this whole post about the end of summer first day of school...YEAH RIGHT!!! my hard drive crashed and when I got all the info off of it, I went through all our summer pictures and yep, I had over 80 pictures! So I am starting with the first day of school and just throwing in other post here and there so there will be NO order in any of my post for a little while-welcome to my life:)

well I was lucky to get some pictures of Mason for 2nd grade. When we went to the school , I grabbed my camera and he informed me that I was NOT allowed to take it into the school. Oh my heck he is only in second and he is already embarresed of all the pictures I take!

I watched a special on back to school photos and the photographer was saying to have the kids write what grade they were in on a piece of paper...what a great idea! I remember going through pictures and wondering what grade my siblings and I were in at the time-so this is my new tradition!!! love it:)

So Mason started 2nd grade...I was a little worried about the teacher that he got, however I met her the other day and she is such a great girl. I am really excited that he loves his class and is excited about school.

Marshal started preschool...YEAH for me! I get 5 hours a week with only Abbie, so last week I came home and was able to clean the toy room and the storage room, both which you could NOT walk in are now clean and organized!

Happy Birthday Abbie...

2010-07-07T13:25:00.000-07:00

I know this is a few weeks late, but better late than never!!!

I can not believe that my baby in one...wow where in the world did this last year go? I took Abbie out and took her birthday pics a few days before her birthday...on her birthday she had a princess cake with a crown on it and she LOVE everything that her family gave to her...

she LOVED all of her little outfits that she got...she was throughing them all over herself!
she got a fun little kitchen...and absolutely had a blast with it...Kate was showing her how to play with it...so much fun!
she is such a girl...
she loved opening all the presents...after her brothers showed her how!
at first she didn't know what to do...but it didn't take long for her to catch on:)

new neighbors...

2010-05-25T22:20:00.000-07:00

So we got these new neighbors across the street...they are very nice, BUT they have pets...oh NO they couldn't just have a dog or a cat, they have SNAKES!!! Yikes...not only one but FIVE!!!

Mason is in seventh heaven...so now instead of chasing off the neighbors pet or calling the dog pound because it is being to noisy...I will just have to keep a shovel within reach...LOL:)

finally...EasTeR

2010-05-19T20:27:00.000-07:00

I know so many of you would say..."screw it" but one of these days when I get this blog printed into a book I will have this as a hardcopy...right? And I really wanted to get this Easter stuff off my chest-this year our Easter was a small celebration, we had a lot of fun, but I will have to say there were some parts that really...well lets just say...SUCKED!!!! For a couple reasons or maybe more...every year we have BIG Easter parties, dinners, hunts, laughing, almost peeing our pants! You know BIG!...not so this year.

REASON #1...my dad was in the hospital...yeah those silly doctors they don't even think about holidays-what the heck? He was in for Easter and Mothers day-anyways...on this Easter I truely thought that I may not ever see my dad again. This was the weekend that we almost lost him. So needless to say we (my side of the family) never got together for Easter. But we did witness an Easter miracle with my dad snapping out of his ordeal.

REASON #2...Mikes mom and dad wasn't here either!!! They were back in Ohio visiting Mike's sister.

REASON #3...it was conference weekend. The only good part of this was that we got to stay in our relaxing clothes all day.

REASON #4...my kids were SICK! so even if this year would have been like every other year, we probulary would not have went to the parties anyways!

but despite having Easter as just our little sick family...we had a BLAST! We all loved coloring eggs for the Easter Bunny. We waited until Mike got home from the Priesthood meeting-explains the white shirt:)

Abbie loved it so much, right after this picture she dumped the egg coloring all down the front of her-so she was pink for the night!

it is so much fun hunting for all the eggs and goodies that the Easter bunny brings...

Mason got some binos that he has been wanting!!! Yeah now he can spot that Elk that I drew out for:)

Marshal got his lawn mower that he had been eyeing at walmart every time we went there...

Abbie was just having fun scooting around finding all the eggs and her BIG pink ball.

and of course don't forget the outfits that he leaves...this is the highlight for Mason. Before we went to bed that night Mason was acting all sad, when I asked him what was wrong he said that he would only get a shirt this year. WHAT??? He said the Easter Bunny brings an outfit everyother year and he brought one last year-well thanks Easter Bunny for NOT disappointing my seven year old!~overall this Easter was pretty fun as our family. We missed all our extended family SO MUCH!!! But we did have a great time together:)

BaLDnesS is BeaUtiFuL...

2010-05-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

Where in the world did April go?...wow I am so behind on this blogging stuff...so if you see some Easter pictures come up someday don't be too surprised!!! LOL:)

my dad started his chemo yesterday and is doing well...Wednesday night we got together for a blessing, before the blessing all the grandson's decided that they would all shave their heads in suuport of Grandpa. It was so much fun!!!

I am so proud of my boys for supporting their Grandpa with this trial that he is facing and I am proud of all my nephews as well. When we got home I snapped this picture of my three bald boys-they are so stinkin cute!

I am so thankful to have the family that I have and the friends that I have to support me at all times-thanks to all of you who care:)

FYI

2010-04-24T07:09:00.000-07:00

just a quick FYI...I have updated my blogs...off to the side I have added a blog list-yes I have a few!
**one too many hobbies is my blog with everything I do that really doesn't need to be on our family blog...like sewing, crocheting, photography, and so forth. I deleted 3 blogs and made them into one!
**hugs4 Sid is my dad's blog for his cancer trials
**the other blog is a weight loss blog for myself and best friend Liesl-sorry this blog is private:( and will remain that way:)

Spring Soccer...

2010-04-12T21:20:00.000-07:00

Oh spring soccer-how I really don't like you! After sitting in the cold wet rain tonight I remember why I did not care for soccer last year! Oh well we are having fun making new friends and catching up with some old ones! We have met a fun friend, she has 3 kids and all our kids are the same age! We were talking and have decided that Marshal and Haydyn are full of it and that they should get married and have a dozen kids just like both of them!

yes we took umbrellas to keep the rain off of us-they were BOTH broken within the first 5 minutes! Love those kids:) At least they were having a BALL playing together!

Mason was playing so good-he was AWESOME! He has his ashma right now so he was coughing a lot-but he is a trooper! And so is Abbie-she was hanging out in the stroller, but eventually had enough of that-so then she sat on grandmas lap and totally watched her big brother play the game! So fetching cute-she had her eyes on the game the entire time!

So if it means that we have to fight the cold and the rain to watch Mason play soccer and to chit chat with new and old friends-then that is what we are going to do!

my daddy...

2010-04-06T22:15:00.000-07:00

This last week has been extremly hard for my family. Last week my dad took a turn for the worst. He started hilosinating (spelled wrong) and then he was completely out of it! It was so hard to see my dad this way...my brothers and sisters and I went down and spent the day at the hospital on Friday. We had NO clue if my dad was going to make it out of this-it was very scary! Thankfully he started to come out of it and get back to his old self again. Come to find out he had some type of infection! So the hardest part for me is that just as he starts to feel better my family gets SICK! So I can't go down to the hospital because then I will be taking more infections down to him!!! So I am feeling bad that I can not go see my daddy...as I was doing dishes the other day a song came on that was a dad that left a message on his answering machiene about his daughter and it said that no matter what you do or where you go I will still love you...That is totally my dad! Daddy I love you and I really hope you get feeling better and come home as soon as you can...can't wait to see you!

Abbie got tubes...

2010-03-12T20:46:00.000-08:00

Well today we had to be at the hospital at 7:15am for Abbie to get tubes in her ears. She was such a trooper...she is such a happy baby. When we got there all the nurses fell in love with her.

And so we checked in, paid our money up front!, and then they took us back.

The nurse came am took her away-oh my heck that was kindof scary for someone that has never had to hand their baby off-except for the NICU at birth! The surgery took like 3 minutes...then we went back and got her, she was whinny but I can remember how I feel when I have that laughing gas crap. She was happy and back to her old self really quick! Abbie I am so sorry that you have had so many ear infections and that you needed tubes-but you are/were such a good girl!

our new puppy!!!!

2010-03-03T13:18:00.000-08:00

So today Mike told me of a sign near RC Willeys...the sign read...Lab Puppies and then the phone #. So Mike called it and the guy told him the price...great!!! So I called it and as soon as I heard this guys voice I knew him! He was our RC Willeys salesman! Every time I go to RC's I go straight to him...so I knew that this had to be our puppy!!!! So Mike met me at his house and we fell in love with Maxie...

As soon as we got there she came running over to Mike and leaped in his arms and laid there the whole time. Then she laid in my front seat the whole way home...I hope she stays this good:)

Spring Fling...

2010-03-01T22:29:00.000-08:00

Spring is here?...hopefully:)

My kids love playing outside when it is warm enough to and I love it too.

Abbie had her first swing ride on the swingset. She LOVED it!!!

that was until Marshal decided it was his turn to push her.

But we had fun swinging and riding on their new little toy that daddy brought home out of the blue!!!

my Heros...

2010-02-12T22:03:00.000-08:00

I can not believe it is the 12th of February already...where the crap have I been?
Well today is Mikes birthday (he now is as old as I am), welcome to 34 babe! Today is also my daddies birthday! (I won't say how old he is)
I am so thankful to have both of these wonderful men in my life.

Michael I love you so much and I am so grateful that we will be together forever! You are so strong in the gospel and such a wonderful provider for our family. You are such a postive example to our boys and to Abbie. I know someday she will be looking for a spouse and you have so many qualities that she will compare them with. Thanks for being mine:) Happy Birthday babe! When I was lookign for a husband I had wonderful qualities to compare to as well...My dad has always been there for me. He has and will always be my hero. I remember a time in my life that I had done somethings wrong. And as I told my mom and dad about these things...I will never forget my dads face. But no matter how much I did wrong through my life he has always loved me.
My dad has recently been diagnosed with cancer. I know that he will be great in this trial in his life. My parents were told that the treatments will be extremely hard on my dad and that during the kemo period he will not be able to have any visitors...this is going to be so hard on my parents. They absolutly love their grandkids! Thank goodness for technology and webcams!!!
Well soon enough I will catch up on all this blog crap! Thanks for following me anyways.

Hello 2010...

2010-01-18T21:34:00.000-08:00

Let me get you all caught up with our January...

*Mason started basketball...

and he LOVES it!! At his first game he was really confussed...but he did make a point-even if it was in the other teams basket-way to go buddy!!

*Abbie thinks everytime she eats she has to get ALL messy...so she can have a bath:)

She started making this funny face and blowing her nose at the same time-everytime Mike would hold her she would BLOW her nose all over his shirt:}

*We went to Hardware Ranch as a family...

It is the same year after year-but my boys love it and it is so much fun to just spend time as a family! After Hardware we went to the cheese factory and loaded up on cheese and milk YUM...YUM!!!

*Abbie LOVES pickles...

*I learned NEVER give Marshal stickers and turn my head for 5 seconds!

*Since I got my new camera-Mason got mine as his new one and Marshal got Mason's little fisher price one! Now they both think they need to take pictures all the time-matter of fact when I took pictures the other day of a little girl-Mason thought he should be able to go along with me and take pictures too!-What the heck?

*The whole family loves the Christmas gifts that Santa brought us-we love that we can play all together and have a BLAST!

*And I am SO proud of Mike...He went to the Doctor 10 weeks ago-the doctor did blood work and it came back that he was borderline diabetic-so Mike set his mind to losing weight and watching his diet...
He went back to the doctor 8 weeks later and has lost a total of 34 POUNDS!!! I am so proud of him-We are doing this together and it has been SO much fun eating new foods and feeling younger again EVERYTHING is all around better for our family! (watch for before and after pictures that I will be posting:))

Happy 2010!!!

2010-01-01T23:13:00.000-08:00

We had such a great new years night!!! My mom had her foot operated on tuesday so we took some goodies over to their house so they could count down the new year too! They boys and I spent most the day making these 2010 glasses for everyone to wear...

We had friends and family over. We ate ALL night and into the morning, we played games, we laughed, the boys jumped on bubble wrap to bring in the new year, we had a BLAST!!! We stayed up until 3am...

I can't remember the last time I stayed up that late! So our friends left around 3 in the morning, Mike and I got to bed, Marshal was awake at 3:3oam and then again at 5am, Abbie was up at 5:30am for the day! So I have NO clue why I am still up posting about new years (maybe a little cRaZy!)

on another note...

Karen Thurgood Larsen

4-21-55 to 12-28-09

Tonight Mike, myself and my dad went to my dads cousins funeral. We drove up to Mtn Green and was able to see some family members that we usually don't see. It really hit me when I hugged my second cousin Haley and realized that she no longer has her mom to "hang out" with. I am so lucky to have my mom and dad to be able to HANG OUT with both of them. I love every little moment my kids get to be with them. I know they think I am crazy because I am always taking pictures. But these pictures are so priceless to me. Thanks daddy for letting Mike and I go to Karens viewing with you...and for giving me the whole family history lesson on our drive. (it was me asking all the questions)

Christmas...

2009-12-26T21:46:00.000-08:00

We have had a wonderful Christmas season. I am so thankful for the family that I have-My hubby is totally awesome:) My kids are GREAT! and both mine and Mikes families are wonderful!!!

We began our day at 4am...Mason came in and said can we go out? So I pulled him in bed with Mike and I and not a half hour later Marshal was in their room saying...Mason, Mason. So Mason JUMPS out of bed and said Marshal do you want to go see what Santa brought. Marshal of course said YES! As you can hear him getting out of his bed you also hear...Yes...Presents! And off they ran. After they opened all the presents they sat and played and watched new movies. Mike spent the morning cooking bacon and I enjoyed myself watching my kids and feeding Abbie. (she can take FOREVER eating)

We then went to my mom and dads house at 9am...ate breakfast and opened more presents. And as always at grandma and grandpas house...the kids were crazy! Masons present was the BIGGEST present there, he was pretty proud of that:) We had the sister missionaries join us for breakfast and then of course they had to give their little lesson afterwards...I knew all the kids were thinking "NEVER invite them again on Christmas!!" Anyways that is what some of the parents were thinking...while they were out in the kitchen LAUGHING their heads off. We had a great time there.

Then we went to Mikes mom and dads house at 1pm...opened presents (because grandma can't wait) then ate lunch. I made a picture colledge of Mikes grandma and grandpa and gave them it...When they were looking at it his grandma asked who the man was in their wedding picture..grandpa said well that is me. And she said NO he is too young and good looking to be you-they are so fetching cute! We lounged around and relaxed most the day at both houses.
In both families we were super blessed this year to have new babies for their first Christmas...of course Abbie is loving her first Christmas as if you couldn't tell by her new little or should I say BIG smile! And Kate is also loving her first Christmas, she just wanted to play with all her gifts as soon as she opened them. And Becca was also just having fun with the wrapping paper. Oh boy what to look forward to for next year-all of our trees will be half decorated and NO presents will be out until Christmas morning:)

I am so lucky to have the families that I have I am so blessed to have my mom and dad and for being raised by them in the gospel. I am so grateful for my in laws-just a quick thanks to both families for ALL our presents!

Christmas Lights!!!

2009-12-26T21:19:00.000-08:00

So we went to look at lights last weekend-we have been so busy we haven't had time for lights! We decided to go up to Willard where they have a ton of lights through the campground. We headed out after dinner and Marshal and Mason both fell asleep and Abbie screamed the entire way!!! So we decided to try again on Wednesday night...SAME THING HAPPENED!!! We went to Laytons lights and both boys fell fast asleep and Abbie screamed!!! But by the time we started through the lights they were all awake and veryy happy...Abbie was amazed:)

our Christmas Visitor...

2009-12-26T15:39:00.001-08:00

We had a special visit from the BIG guy early on Christmas Eve. It was fun to see how excited Mason was to see him. When he asked each kid what they wanted the reply was...

Mason...a YOYO...Marshal...TOYS...and of course Abbie just smiled! Mason has changed his mind 20 or more times this year-crazy kid!!!

sledding!

2009-12-17T21:55:00.000-08:00

so on my last post I said I HATE snow-well I do! However we took the kids sledding today after Mike got home and they had SO much fun! Abbie was even enjoying herself:)

Snow SUCKS!!!

2009-12-14T22:18:00.001-08:00

well I really can't think of one good thing about snow today-okay other than it is our MAIN source of water. But there are many reasons I DO NOT like the snow today...

Mike ALWAYS has to work 24/7-plowing roads, its freakin COLD!, its WET, and comes into my house from the boys, and it completely destroyed my parents greenhouses this last weekend. When I called my parents on Sunday to see how their day had went-my dad answered the phone a little out of breath. I asked him what was wrong and he told me about 2 of the greenhouses caving in. I could instantly tell he was upset. When I spoke to my mom later that night and she told me about 2 more that had caved in-I could tell they were on the devastated side:( I didn't think that it would hit me...until I went over today and seen it-WOW. It is so hard to sit and watch my parents go through the things they are facing right now in their lives. Something that my daddy has worked so hard for ALL of his life and something that he and my mom was going to retire with. I love my mom and dad and I am so grateful that I have them and the examples that they are to me. Thank you to all of you that have called to see how they are since this story was aired on the news.

visit from Ohio:)

2009-12-14T22:11:00.000-08:00

my sister in law, Brenda came for a visit:) We were so excited to be able to see her. She came in Wednesday night-Thursday morning. Abbie immediatly fell in love with her. We were able to see her first thing Thursday. She came up to see the kids before Mason went off to school. We had a dinner that night for her will ALL the family-so good to see all of them. She went with her in laws on Friday and we had to ourselves again on Saturday! We went down to the in laws all day and hung out with them and her. It was a BLAST! I am so lucky to have the inlaws that I have:) We had so much fun with Aunt Brenda and we hated to see her go-we can't wait until we can see the WHOLE family-maybe nest summer??

Thanksgiving...a little late!

2009-12-07T21:03:00.001-08:00

wow this year I have so much to be thankful for...

*my hubby and our children

*our families

*our health

*the gospel

and there is SO much more to even be able to think of right now.

We had so much fun celebrating Thanksgiving this year. It was so nice because we got together with my family on the Sunday before and ate with them and then with Mike's family on Thursday. We actually came home both nights NOT stuffed as years in the past. It was so nice-I wasn't misserable:)

let the countdown begin...

2009-12-02T21:49:00.000-08:00

well this is our new family countdown to Christmas. As I was watching Studio 5 the other day they were showing some fetchin cute countdowns. However I do have to say I fell in love with this one. It is made from match boxes, so I can put ANYTHING in them. Yeasterday the paper said to make a Christmas decoration, so the kids make tongue depresser christmas trees-turned out cute and tonight the paper read-drive around and look at lights in the neighborhood and come home and watch a christmas show-which was perfect since Rudolph was on channel 4. Something that is really sad to me...I haven't even started Christmas shopping:( Yes I am usually the one that is done by November 1st. I quess this it what I get for having sick kids FOREVER. By the way Abbie's ear infections NEVER went away-so she is on stronger antibiotics.

cute new BOWS!!!

2009-11-23T22:06:00.000-08:00

look how cute these bows are that my cousin is making-and YES she is selling them! The thing I like the most is that they are fabric, so she could match almost ANY outfit. Abbie and Kate got together today to be her models-arn't they the cutest little models! It was fun to change their outfits so many times-Kate wasn't having to much fun and Abbie could care less-she is the most content child of my three! (thank goodness)

for ALL Eternity

2009-11-21T21:08:00.000-08:00

What an awesome day we have had...we went to the Ogden Temple this morning for Carrie and Jon's sealing to Kate. What a great experience and a great memory for our family. After the sealing we were able to get some snap shots and then we went to the church for Kate's baby blessing and a luncheon. WOW I am so gratful that this day is finally here and it has all been DONE! I am so excited for Carrie-

she makes such a great mom and you can totally tell she LOVES Kate with everything. Sometimes I wish I was as good as a mom as she is-that is so sad to say because I have 3 kids and I still don't have this mothering thing down!

what a fun day the WHOLE families had!

Abbie's new ThINg...

2009-11-14T16:29:00.000-08:00

okay...I LOVE this video thing! I didn't realize how easy it was to put these little videos on the blog-but boy am I glad I do now. I am excited to have family and friends see what I get to see my kids do in action, especially those far away.

So Abbie has been sick, however she is such a great baby-she showed none of the regular symptoms of the ear infections. She takes her medicine GREAT! My boys use to gag on it until they threw EVERYTHING up. And through all her aches and pains she is still happy. She started doing this HIGH pitch squill and spitting bubbles everywhere. And here is a still shot of the biggest bubble she spit-I took about 50 pics trying to get a good one:) (thank goodness for digital)

Fall:)

2009-11-12T20:58:00.000-08:00

okay so have I said that I LOVE Fall time? Well quess what-I DO!!!!

I love when all the leaves fall and the kids can play in them and we can get some fun photos like these...

It's just too bad that the walnut trees take so long to lose the leaves...because there are still a TON of leaves on our trees!

I love the relaxing feeling there is and the colors and the...oh never mind I don't like all the sickness around. Our family has had something going around for the last couple of weeks now-NO FUN! Yesterday Abbie was coughing a little bit-didn't think anything of it-today she woke up fine. By 1:00pm she was croupier then croup! A friend came over and listened to her and told me to take her in-Thank you Liesl:) So I took her in and she has croup and double ear infections! She has been the best little fart-she wasn't even acting like she had an ear infection! She is the best baby ever.

HI Aunt Brenda:)

2009-11-06T13:41:00.000-08:00

We have family that lives in Ohio...and yes we miss them everyday! That is one of the reasons I started this blog-so they could see our family grow. A little birdy told me that my sister in law is home sick for Utah. There has been 2 new babies born this year, Abbie and 6 weeks later Rebecka. My sister in law Brenda is a total baby freak! so she has been even more home sick since June. So this post today is mostly for her...so she can see what Abbie is up to now...there are 2 videos one of her talking and one of her laughing. Hope you enjoy-we love and miss you all!

Happy Birthday Sis...

2009-11-02T21:58:00.000-08:00

Happy Birthday to You!!! Carrie-thanks for being YOU!

**You have always been a great sister-even when I have picked on you and didn't treat you so well:(. You have always been a wonderful example to me-all growing up I wished that I would have been just like you. (even though you are 5 years younger) You were the best bed buddy (until I got married)-even when we were in twin beds and the cats scared me half to death and I made you jump in bed with me. You have always been an awesome friend. I love you POOH and hope you have a great birthday:)

Happy Halloween

2009-10-31T20:06:00.000-07:00

Halloween is so much FUN! I love fall time and the traditions that we have as a family. It seems like the week of Halloween is so busy. We are always trying to fit everything into a week. From the pumpkin walk, picking out pumpkins, making costumes, carving pumpkins, going to mountains for fall pictures, and then on Halloween night we go around and see all our great grandparents, then to see our parents, we always end up at my mom and dad's house for chili and cornbread-YUM! and then out trick or treating around our neighborhood. So this is how our week played out this year...I usually attempt to make all our costumes-but when the boys seen the costumes that they wanted in an ad about a month ago I was not going to argue! So we went and bought them ASAP...Mason the pumpkin wizard-as he calls himself

Marshal as Bumblebee-THE TRANSFORMER:) When we told people he was going to be bumblebee they would look at me a little strange-like I would dress him up as an actual BEE!

and Abbie sweet Abbie as a cute little lady bug

So on Halloween night we seen some of our cousins and all our grandparents...

a fun tradition that the kids and I do is always make pumpkin chocolate chip cookies-yum! Marshal couldn't wait to taste them, I am just glad that the machiene was unpluged:)
We carved our pumpkins, we let the boys draw the faces on them and then Mike carved them just the way they wanted it-and this is how they turned out-

I think this year I had the most fun making Abbie's costume. A while back when my sister and I was talking about costumes. She was just going to use a frog costume that I had with Mason-it is adorable (for a boy). So a couple days latter I was up at children's place in the mall and seen the cutest striped tightes and instantly thought lady bug! So I bought a pair for Abbie and Kate-I took them to my sister and explained the costume I had in mind, when we got both of our brains working together, which is a little scary but we are totally unstopable when we are together. We both had ideas for the costumes-and together we came up with these cute little ladybugs-

H1N1 campout:)

2009-10-29T20:33:00.000-07:00

YES...it is true-we were among the thousands of CraZy people out in the freezing degree tempetures on Tuesday. My sister Rhonda-went to the conference center in the wee early hours with her kids and camped out in line for all of us freeks! So me and the kids got there about 7:30am. The kids all hung out in the van watching movies-they were having a BLAST! On the other hand we were outside in the freezing cold. In the mean time Rhonda was soaking wet from being out in the rain and snow, so she went in the van with the kids to get warm and dry-she went to start the van and all it did was click, click, click-the battery was DEAD!
There were SO many people there, it was CRaZy. There was a guy standing behind us that this was his 3rd clinic that he had been to, to get the shot. My brother, who isn't getting his kids vacinnated says that this is a way that the government is going to get chips into each one of us so they can have complete control over everyone and everything. But needless to say-we got our shots and we had fun just hanging out in the mean time-even if it was COLD!

CRaZy HaIR dAy

2009-10-28T22:53:00.000-07:00

okay so today was crazy hair day at school-which I was a little bumbed about since we just got Mason's hair cut this last week! But that didn't stop us from doing something a little crazy...

I wanted to put the elastics all over his head-but when he started squeeling and squirming-I new it was going to be a LONG process-so I went with 3 in the front. On the way to school he was really quite and I asked him what was wrong-he said he didn't want people to laugh at him-So I told him that the only ones who would laugh was those that wasn't brave enough to have crazy hair-and the only reason they would laugh was because they were jealous. And that they were the ones that people should be laughing at for not having fun at school!-I know a little crewed but OH WELL!!!

Marshal on the other hand...

every morning when he wakes up and after we get dressed we go to the bathroom to do hair-he always asks for a "mohawk" which he just started saying the right way this week it use to be "homock" which is really funny considering that he still says "cyclemotor"

on another note...I decided to go private again! sorry but Mike is having a hard time with the whole "our family is on the internet" thing! So thanks to all of you that are following our family even if we are private:)

pumpkin picking

2009-10-26T20:29:00.001-07:00

This year we decided to not do the Black Island tradition, because it is getting so cold and we didn't want to keep Abbie outside that long. So some friends of ours has a pumpkin patch and their kids are selling the pumpkins to earn money. So we went down to their patch and let the kids pick their pumpkins. It was fun to see which ones they picked. Mason went right to the biggest one in the patch. Marshal went to the smallest "white" pumpkin. Abbie didn't get a choice -mom picked hers out. Then we snapped these fun pics of our family and kids. I love fall time and all our fun traditions.

pumpkin walk 2009

2009-10-24T20:59:00.001-07:00

every year we go to the pumpkin walk in Syracuse-it is fun to see all the different pumpkins, this year the boys were fasinated by any pumpkin that had a spider carved in it. They had some carebear, princess, TWILIGHT, cars the movie, star wars, and a whole bunch other fun cute pumpkins. There was over 1000 pumpkins there. It always gives us ideas for our pumpkin carving:)

1st lost tooth:(

2009-10-17T21:57:00.001-07:00

Mason came home from school yesterday reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope and said

"mom look what happened to me today"

then he dumped out his little cute tooth:(

I missed it, the blood and the screaming and the...WAIT-there was no blood and no screaming. He was sitting in his class and playing with it and out it fell! Well one thing that is good that now he won't be terrified to lose more teeth:)

so we put his cute little tooth in his tooth fairy pillow that his grandma and I made and the tooth fairy came and took his tooth and left his treasure-the treasure box on the pillow is a pocket for his tooth:)

growing up

2009-10-11T21:02:00.001-07:00

these are my cute little kids going to church today...
while we were at church today sitting in our fast and testimony meeting, Mason slide over to me and said
"mom I feel like I want to go up."

So I will be honest my first thought was "I will go up with him cuz he will get up there and get scared because there is to many people" So I said
"do you want me to go up with you?"

And he said NO!
So when the next testimony was over off went my little boy. He got up there and stood on the stool-and said
"I want to bear my testimony, I know this church is true, I love my family and I know they love me. In the name of Jesus Christ Amen."

Let's just say-I WAS BAULING!!!
my little boy is growing up way too fast-last night I was looking at him and I thought he is no longer in the little boy stage he is just in the BOY stage. And then he does this today-I am so proud of him and I am so glad that I am his mom-I love you Mason:)

HapPy BIrtHdAy Mommy!

2009-10-07T22:45:00.000-07:00

My mom is going to KILL me for this but oh well...The many faces of my mom...(i really love all the different colors of hair:))

She is such a good mom...a wonderful grandma...an awesome friend...and a great example. Thanks mom for being YOU! HApPy BIrtHdAy! I love you!

Conference weekend...

2009-10-07T22:04:00.000-07:00

We had so much fun this weekend...Mike has been gone since Wednesday so I have stayed over at my moms and dads house-On Saturday night the girls "and kids" went out to dinner-we all met at Red Robin-it was so much fun!

Okay can you say like mother like daughter??? Kate is such a cute little fart and she acts and looks just like her mommy-I love you pooh!

So on Sunday this was the story...We watched conference with my mom and dad...well we tried it was hard since Marshal was playing with a balloon and trying to pop it thankgoodness it finally POPPED!

So when the balloon popped we got the blocks out and Marshal started building a Temple-so hopefully he got something out of conference even if it was a new Temple in Brigham City.

2009 Hunts

2009-10-07T21:56:00.000-07:00

Well Mike went on a couple of hunts this year...

One was his dads elk hunt out by Vernal...They had a lot of fun together

getting this elk for his dad-The other was a deer hunt in Wyoming, Mike took Mason on this hunt so he had a blast! They had a BIG group-there was Mike and Mason, Mikes dad, Randal (a friend from Vernal, Brad and his son Ketin (friends from Syracuse), Lonnie (our Brother in Law) and his dad, Gary and his son Adam (friends from WestPoint). Mason will always remember this hunting trip he went on with just the BOYS!

and she still has the Utah deer hunt to go on...so we will see what he comes home with on that hunt!

family canning tradition...

2009-09-22T20:38:00.000-07:00

Whole Tomatoes...
Every year my dad, brother and I get together and do all our canning in my parents garage. It is so nice because then we don't have the mess and stickiness in our homes.

My dad is always a champ. There have been plenty of times that he has been sick or that we put up something the my mom and he doesn't want, but he is always there doing it with us and he is always the one to stay until all the jars have processed. He always lets me go take care of my kids or my brother to go drive bus. THANKS DADDY!

This year was so much fun, my dad, brother Wade, sister Carrie and myself was canning. While my mom and Rhonda (sister) was in taking care of the babies (thanks mom and Rhonda). The other kids Sidney and Marshal with Kaden a neighbor friend, decided to help by putting all the rotten tomatoes in a bucket...before we knew it they were having a blast with those tomatoes!

This is my favorite of Marshal...he looks like "I should be getting in trouble for this but my mom is taking pictures instead! Today was a fun day of canning for everyone, except Mason who was in school.

Happy Anniversary

2009-09-17T19:57:00.000-07:00

Today my parents are celebrating their 41st anniversary. They are such a great example to me. They are and always have been completly in love. I remember when I was little watching them kiss in from of us kids, I loved that. It showed us kids that they truely loved each other. I am so greatful for my parents and for everything that they taught me through my life. And the things they are still teaching me. Thanks mom and dad for being such a great example and the best parents in the world-I LOVE YOU BOTH:)

Labor Day

2009-09-06T20:41:00.000-07:00

Every Labor Day weekend we go up to my parents property in Lava Hot Springs. It is always so much fun just to go and relax and let the kids play with their cousins. We had a baby blessing that we had to come home for so we woke up Saturday morning and started out at 6:30 am, it is only an hour and half drive so it wasn't to bad. We got up there and relaxed and had some fun time with my parents and my sister and her little family. Where ever we got I like to get a family picture of our family...so this is labor day. My dad and Marshal are BEST buds! They are always having fun together. If Marshal has a say to go with grandpa or grandma it is always "bapa Stoker" I am so greatful that he has such an awesome grandpa.

This is my sisters cute little family, we had a lot fun taking pictures of our families and of our little girls.

This is the swing that grandpa built for all the grandkids to play on, my mom and dad LOVE it when the kids go up to their property.

My dad loves to take us for rides on his 4-wheeler and show us all the new building going on and tell us stories about all the people up there. This year was a story about a family burying tires on their property. Sometimes we hear the stories 3 or 4 times, but we love it because my dad loves to talk about the property.

Marshal had the BEST time ever, he was dirty from head to toe! He loved just to roam and find all new things.

My BRAVE little boy & his dad

2009-09-03T20:41:00.001-07:00

Mason had a calcium deposit (there is a fancy name, but I can't pronounce it little lone spell the thing!) So we went in to get it removed. There was one stipulation...his daddy had to go with us and get 2 moles removed so Mason could see how it was going to be done. The Doctor called in a cream so that it would be deadened by the time we got there and he wouldn't feel the shot, however the instructions were written wrong so it was absolutly NOT deadened. But Mason was so brave and strong. He got the shot while squeezing me so tight. Then we went into the OR and the Doctor removed it.

okay this thing broke apart when the Doctor pulled it out. The main part that they are testing was about the size of the eraser on a pencil. And it was as hard as a rock. I kind of looked like a piece of coral rock.

I am so proud of both my brave boys. After we left the doctors office we went to tasty donuts and got breakfast, it was a fun little outing for the three of us-okay well maybe it was just fun for me!

Farewell to Summer

2009-08-28T08:19:00.001-07:00

Well after the first week of school, I guess that summer if officially over!:( This summer was kind of strange for our family. We are use to going camping ant least twice a month, but with Abbie being a new baby we kind of just hung out around home. There are a lot of time spent outside. These are a couple of my favorite pictures of the summer...

washing the truck will never be the same for Mike, Mason has always helped with washing the truck, but now that Marshal is there to help watch out! Mike could always tell Mason not to do something and he wouldn't, Marshal does it three more times!

We pulled some bushes and the boys loved it, they had so much fun getting all dirty! We did have a lot of fun as a family this summer, just not our usual fun summer. But we did get the best thing this summer, our little ABBIE.

Potty Project

2009-08-26T20:27:00.000-07:00

well take a guess what we have been doing??? Last week Marshal was is pull ups all week and we had a crazy week-end, so I thought okay first thing Monday morning we are going to start this thing again. First thing Monday morning came and he woke up and yelled at me to come to the bathroom and he went all by himself! Yesterday he was outside with Mike and Mike was mowing the lawn and Marshal ran in and told me that he had to go to the bathroom (he did that all on his own) Mike came running in because he did not know where he had went to. I am so proud of this crazy little boy!

My BIG 1st grader!

2009-08-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

Well this is my BIG 1st grader-Mason. WOW I can't believe he is in 1st grade! It seems just like yesterday that we brought him home from the hospital. He got to chose his own outfit today, it was a toss up between his new green shirt and this one, but he said since grandma "loves" this shirt he was going to wear it (in other words mom has no taste!).

His new teacher is Mrs. Dean-she seems really nice and a little quite. That will be perfect for Mas.

and off he goes! Good luck buddy! By the way he is a lady's man! He is with his favorite girls... Morgan and Alana.

When I picked him up from school at 1:25 (early out day) He ran up to me and gave me big huge hug and yelled "that was so much fun"-I am so glad it went well and he had fun. The only complaint he had was he only had 11 minutes to eat lunch-go figure!

School Shopping!!!

2009-08-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

Today was the day for our school shopping. I took Marshal and Abbie to my mom's house and Mason and I set out for a day of shopping. If you know me well...I HATE SHOPPING!!! So this was scary for me. But my little Mason (who is going in to 1st grade) LOVES to shop, so seeing the excitment of spending all of daddies hard earned money was totally worth it for me.
We shopped all morning:( and then went to our fav...Chick-Fil-A and this smile was on his face the whole time we were shopping.

Some of the places we went was...Walmart, Target, The Mall (Crazy 8, Children's Place, Gymboree) and Old Navy.

I do have to say Mason was a little like me today, he seen a backpack with his Aunt Carrie at Walmart yesterday that he had to have, so that was the first store he demanded we go to. He walked right in and found his backpack first thing. At that moment he knew today was HIS day and he was calling all the shots!-Thanks little buddy for letting me spend the day with only you. (Marshal would have had the whole mall torn down within 5 seconds!)

Abbie's Blessing...

2009-08-02T21:16:00.000-07:00

today was so much fun! I had such a great time with my little girl. So much fun to get her all dressed up for her BIG debut. I love that Michael is able to bless our children. He gave her such a beautiful blessing, although she screamed all the way through it (SCREAMED). Thats a girl for you I guess! the boys were so excited for her blessing day, they were excited that their cousins were coming to our church and then to our house to eat. We had a great time with our families. We ate lots of yummy food and just hung out and talked.

I am so glad that Abbie's grandparents came, it was so much fun having all of them there. Even though is was such a great day it is a wonderful thing to have behind us now!

We R so Blessed...

2009-07-25T21:06:00.000-07:00

At this time of year I like to think of our Ancestors, you know the ones that gave everything to walk FOREVER, and completely leave everything that they had and knew behind. Some gave their lives, their husbands lives and some lost their children. I am so grateful for my Ancestors for giving me a better life in this wonderful country and state. For the 24th we went out to breakfast with my family. It was the first year that our family had went with them since we are usually camping every 24th. It was so much fun!!!
We are so blessed to be able to live around family...I know there are times that we say we would like to move to Corine or Vernal or even another state. But I truely love having family around. Mike has 2 Grandmas and a Grandpa still living and I am so thankful the my kids get to know them and get to visit with them. This week I took Abbie down to meet

one of her Great Grandmas, Since Grandma doesn't get out of the house very often.

Happy 24th of July to all our family and friends

Abbie's BFF

2009-07-08T13:37:00.000-07:00

Kate and Abbie love to hang out together...or maybe it's just their mom's liking to hang out together! I love spending time with my sister. I remember when we were little kids, my mom and her sister would always get together and do laundry together and have a coke and a candy bar. It was so much fun getting together with our cousins.

So today Carrie and I got together and we really didn't accomplish anything except getting these cute pictures of our girls. But we had so much fun hanging out and eating tacos. While we were taking pictures Kate leaned over and started chomping away at Abbie's hand. It's so much fun having little girls at the same time-I hope they will grow up and be friends forever.

2 WEEKS!!!

2009-07-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

Oh my goodness, I can't believe it has been 2 weeks! We took Abbie to her first Dr appt today. She is growing-when she left the hospital she weighed 5lbs 15oz, today she weighed 7lbs 5oz and she grew an inch! I am so gratful that she is doing good-she is such a good baby they only time she cries is when she thinks I am starving her! Her brothers can't get enough of her (she is going to get really sick of them) They love her so much! When I was taking pictures today she was more interested in her binky than the camera!

Everyone keeps asking when I am posting new pictures of Abbie-they keep asking me if I am having so much fun dressing her up and all that fun stuff. To tell you the truth I am a little nervous-I am afraid that I will break her. And Marshal has said if he breaks her mom will through her in the garbage! But I have started to dress her up! So here comes the pictures!

I took this picture the other day with my cel phone to send to her daddy at work to tell him hi.

our week with DAD!!!

2009-06-28T12:09:00.001-07:00

Michael has had this whole week off of work. He has been such a trooper with keeping the boys extremely busy. He said at one time that he didn't know if he was going to run them into the ground or the other way around. On Saturday they went fishing up in the Uintahs. Mason caught almost all the fish, of course with daddies help. Mason was so excited to go, he came running into our room at 1:30 am and told his dad to get up it was time to go fishing. They had so much fun they were gone for most of the day. I am really nervous for Monday to come because it will just be me with all 3 kids! Thank goodness for diet coke!!!

Happy Fathers Day!

2009-06-23T14:13:00.001-07:00

Okay so I am a couple days late, what do expect I just had a baby! We are so gratful for the daddy that we have. ~We love you daddy!

Our Little Abbie...

2009-06-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

This is our little Abbie, so small and delicate. We are so blessed to have her here, and she is healthy, and beautiful. Thank you to all who had our family in your prayers!

Happy Anniversary

2009-06-12T18:22:00.000-07:00

WOW, it has been 13 years since Michael and I were married. I can't believe it has been that long. Sometimes it feels like it was yesterday. I still remember everything about that wonderful day. The night before I slept on my parents floor. Our ceremony was the first one in the Salt Lake Temple, so we had to be there early. Our sealer was Ned Winder, the day was beautiful and I felt like a princess, until all the ants started to crawl all over my dress while taking pictures! We had our luncheon at the 49er in Clearfield. We had to be back to our reception at 4pm for pictures, our reception wasn't suppose to start until 6pm but we had people coming at 4:30 we were suppose to be done at 8pm but were there until like 11pm. We drove to bountiful for our first night and sat in construction for 45 minutes!!!

I am so blessed to be married to the man that I am. I always knew that Mike was going to be a good man and a good dad. I knew that we would always go to church and have a close family. But I never knew that he would be the man he is today. He always thinks of others before himself. He is so kind and understanding towards me, expecially when I am pregnant. He has completely surprised me with the gospel. We are more active than I thought we would be. I am so blessed to have him as my husband. Our family is so blessed to have him as the provider and the leader of our home.-I love being your wife Michael!!!

The waiting game...

2009-06-11T18:34:00.000-07:00

Well we are now officially playing the waiting game!!! I have the laundry caught up, the bathrooms are spotless, the dusting, vaccuming, and everything else in between is done, I just finished the stove and oven and scrubing the kitchen sink!!! So whenever Abbie is ready she is welcome to come. However she is a girl, so she is probulary STUBORN (like her daddy) which means she will probulary stay in until the 17th. So on the 17th we will be going to the hospital at 6 am and she will be here! I am scared too death!!! First of all cuz she will be a new born! which scares me with all my kids. Second of all she is a girl! although I have had a ton of fun making bows and braclets for her and I am super excited to have a little girl the same time my sister has a baby girl too, I am a little nervous because I am use to boys. None the less I am super excited to have another baby and to be done being pregnant!!!! So watch for an update in the next week-oh my gosh!!! Less than a week:)

My Sisters Miracle

2009-05-17T16:01:00.001-07:00

We have been so blessed with a new little neice. As most of you know my sister and her husband have been through hell and back with their trials on adoption. I am excited to say that they have their little miracle in their home. I am so grateful for her birth mother and for the wonderful gift that she has given my sister. She placed my beautiful neice in my sisters arms the friday before Mother's day-what a great mothers day gift for my little sis. She is going to be such a GREAT mom and I know Jon will be a great dad, but I think a trial like this hits women hard! I look up to her since she never once lost her faith. So many people would tell her to keep her faith, or what ever happens happens for a reason. And that is one thing that her or Jon never did was question anything that Heavenly gave them. She is such an example to me. Just want to say thanks to all our family and my friends that I know were praying for them. You will have to check out their blog for their new family picture.

K so I SUCK at this posting stuff...

2009-05-17T15:24:00.000-07:00

It dawned on me today that I haven't even posted Easter pictures yet-what the HECK!!? So I decided to do a fast catch up before my life gets real hecktic with a new baby...

Mason got to go on a fieldtrip to the Zoo. I was able to go with him and ride the bus. The way down was okay but the way home was really bumpy! I was a little nervous. He is excited to graduate from Kindergarten and excited for summer, until we informed him they would have chores and he would have to read to me everyday. I think he is just really excited for his baby sis to come. About that I went to the doctor and I am scheduled for the 17th of June for my c-section. But the doctor and I both think she will be here sooner than that. I will laugh my head off if she sticks it out until then. I don't recall being this miserable with my boys. Marshal is still 2 and yes some days that is terrible! I have NO patience during my pregnancy. I just hope they don't remember everyday.

Soccer is over for this season-thank goodness. Spring soccer is really COLD! Mason had so much fun though and made some really good new friends-all boys not girls like in his primary class. I swear that is all he gets to play with sometimes. We know everyone was really busy but Grandma was able to come to all his games-Thanks Grandma for your support (even when is was raining).
On one of those days where I wasn't paying 24/7 attention to Marshal he decided to do his own hair! This is a perfect shot of just how much gel he used. I think he used half the jar since we ran out really fast this time.

These are the outfits that the EB brought our boys this year. Mason was relieved since he didn't think he would bring them any clothes! GO FIGURE He is going to be my fashion man!

My boys loved Easter. Marshal was sick so Mike and him had to stay home from Grandma and Grandpa's houses. So Mason got twice the candy and eggs, but he did have to share when we got home! We had so much fun coloring eggs. It was a little rushed since we just got home from Idaho. It took us twice as long to get home since Marshal threw up like five times! YUCK so when we got home and situated we colored our eggs for the Easter Bunny. We had a lot of fun (like we always do) at Grandma and Grandpa's houses.

my little sis...

2009-05-14T08:36:00.000-07:00

My little sister and I have been best of friends all our lives. Even when my brother and I use to tease her when our parents went out for the night. She is going through such a hard trial in her life right now and I wish so bad I could just take it away and make everything better. I just want her to know how lucky I am for having her as my sister. She is such a great example to me and she is so strong through her trials. I am praying that everything turns out great for her and her husband and hopefully their beautiful little daugther-I LOVE YOU POOH!!!

Our getaway to Idaho Falls

2009-05-06T20:49:00.000-07:00

Okay it's been a while, but here we go...
Over spring break we went to Idaho for my cousins wedding. They were married in the Idaho Falls Temple. I thought it was so nice because the sealer really talked about families. And how they were starting their family, even though it is just the two of them they are still a family. It was such a beautiful ceremony.

We were lucky to be able to go as a family, my mom and dad drove up and we met them at our hotel right in Idaho Falls. Their room was just a couple away from ours and the boys loved it! We went out to eat with them and Mason ate like nothing cuz he was so excited to get back and go swimming.

Even at the Temple boys will be boys!!! Mason had so much fun playing with his second cousins. It is pretty sad we had to travel so far to see the family members that only live 5 minutes away.

Marshal was having so much fun running and playing in the DIRT!!! Yes he found it even at the Temple! But as soon as he seen the Bride he settled right down, she did look very pretty.

This was so much fun to go with my mom and dad, we don't get to go with them very much. They go camping in Lava and we usually stick to the Uintahs. So it was fun to get away with them even for a night. This picture is such a good one of them-we usually get one with they at the hay ride every year but this one was so much better!

And of course this is our cute little family. We had to make it a family vacation since I am not going very far from the hospital for the next couple of months! So we made it fun for the boys and stayed an extra night and went to Bear World the next morning.

Our family at Bear World... If you look close Abbie is even in the lower right corner!!! The boys loved that.

Kite Flying

2009-04-13T08:49:00.000-07:00

We bought the boys kites and they wanted to go fly them so bad. It was a little too windy, but they had fun anyways. While we were flying them, they both got tangled and all of a sudden Mason's string broke and flew away into the fence, and Marshal's string broke and his kite flew into the tree. What was even funnier was that Mike seen Mason's break and not Marshal's and I seen Marshal's break not Mason's. Mike asked me why I wasn't holding onto Marshal 's string anymore, and of course I was a smart alic and said...I can't when it's in that tree over there! Even though it was a little okay a lot too windy, we had fun as a family anyways!

Mason's 1st game...

2009-04-13T08:38:00.001-07:00

Okay so Mason's first game was so much fun! They won 2 to 0-YEAH!!! I know it's like preshool soccer-but it is sure fun for them. And even better, Mason made the last score! And of course Mom didn't see him make it but Dad and all his grandparents did, so I guess that's all that matters-(mom's the black sheep to Mason now!) Way to go Mason-great job!!!

Abbie's Nursery is DONE!

2009-03-31T07:54:00.000-07:00

Well her nursery is finally done! It was so much fun to go in and do this girly girly room for her. I still can't believe that I am having a girl after 2 boys. I still don't think I will know what to do with her (yes I am a little nervous). Well we only have 10 to 12 more weeks until we meet her and we are all so excited!

PIG HUNT!!!

2009-03-18T12:03:00.001-07:00

Mike and Mason went on a PIG hunt with some of our friends. They had so much fun. They were able to take their 4-wheelers and it sounded like they had to drive through the rivers and back. They came home with mud everywhere and the 4-wheelers were covered! Both the hunters got their pigs. Mason had so much fun when he woke up this morning, he told me he wanted to go again today. That would be Mikes son:)

Soccer Season

2009-03-18T11:50:00.000-07:00

Well Mason has started soccer. He decided that he would volunteer his dad to be his coach. So YES Mike is the head coach of his team. When we went and signed Mason up, the girl asked if anyone would be able to be the coach and of course Mason said "MY DAD". So we are all excited to start the season. Although Mason was a little nervous for the first practice (OK a lot nervous since he was too sick to go to school that day. But we made him go to practice and after wards he said "that was so much fun, when can we do it again?"

what the @#%$?

2009-03-09T13:18:00.000-07:00

OK what is up with this SNOW? Last week we finally had a few good days that the boys were finally able to get their christmas gifts out and ride them, now they are back in the shed. Just an FYI...I like the warm days better than the cold days.

MAJOR milestone for US!!!

2009-03-08T20:56:00.000-07:00

Oh my GOSH!!! Mike and I went to the SFW Banquet Saturday night. We decided that after a 12+ years of marriage and over 6 years of parenting it was time to try leaving the kids overnight. So we dropped the boys off at my parents house around 5:00pm and off we went. The boys were so excited to have THEIR time with grandma and grandpa. They slept overnight and we didn't even get a phone call. Mike and I got home around 11:00pm, the house was so quite:) But I will say it was a little weird-too quite. I had the hardest time falling asleep (I couldn't hear any other breathing in the next room, no tossing, no snoring, and no MOM-come sleep with me!) But when I finally fell asleep I slept like a LOG-until 7:00am (which is sleeping in at our house-even on Sundays) Then I went over to get the boys while Mike got ready for his meetings. Marshal ran to me and has been very clingy all day. Mason thought he was all cool because he slept there all night and on the way home he asked if he could do it again. Grandpa was already at his meetings, but this picture tells you how I found the boys with Grandma. -Thanks Grandma and Grandpa for our FUN night as a couple again!

It's OFFICIAL!!!

2009-03-04T13:12:00.000-08:00

We went to our 3-D ultrasound today and it is finally official...IT"S A GIRL!!! We told the ultrasound tech to make sure she got a good shot between the legs, and within a few seconds she said "it's a girl" I asked her if she was sure (that was very quick). She was sure and told me to start decorating!!!!YEAH...pink and brown daisy room here we come:) So if anyone hears of any little girl clothes for cheap let me know after two boys I will definitely need them.

Boys will be BOYS!!!

2009-02-27T16:38:00.000-08:00

OK, so when Mike came home with an OLD bb gun, I had no idea what was going on. However he informed me that he was going to fix it up and make it shorter so the boys could shoot it easier. But, this bb gun looked really BAD-it was rusted and it was really loose (you could wiggle it and it looked and sounded like it was going to fall apart!) Bless his heart, he tore it apart and cleaned it up, it actually didn't look too bad. Then he cut off part of the stock, to make it shorter. Brought it to me and asked me to paint it like Mason's wall, camoflaugh. So I have to admit this was such a fun family project. I never thought that I would ever rebuild a gun, oh the things we do when we are wives and mothers. Mike of course cleaned and rebuilt the gun, I painted it, and of course the boys are having a BLAST shooting it. As you can tell Mike has just as much fun if not more with the little thing. I am so glad that he thought to do this and to involve me in the process-I LOVE YOU BABE!!!