A few reasons we didn't send Christmas cards

Reason #1: No one can stand straight, smile & act like

a normal human being for 5 seconds!

Reason #2: No one knows how to keep their hands to themselves.

Reason #3: The photographer doesn't know anything about lighting

or how to make sure all the sh#* is picked up off the floor.

Reason #4: Mom is a procrastinator & thought she could just

blame the kids for waiting too late to think about pictures & cards.

Reason #5: I was too cheap to take my kids to the mall for a quick picture

because it turns into the most exhausting & frustrating ordeal ever!

And half the time I don't like the damn pictures anyway!

Tavaci Concert

Madelyn & her cousin, Alyssa are both in Tavaci ... this is after their Christmas concert. They both did a great job singing at their concert. They looked darling.
Madelyn is all ready for her Tavaci concert at Sky View.

What a little cutie!

It'S tHaT CrAzY tImE oF yEaR!

We took the kids down to SLC for the USU vs BYU game at the Energy Solutions Arena. We went down early to do some shopping (that was a joke), to see Santa (they were all too scared, except Maddie) and to eat before the game (luckily, that went ok!) Heather was able to get off work in time to meet us for dinner & go to the game with us.
The fans were crazy! It was so loud, so fun to be there, the kids loved it! They would yell & chant & dance right along with them. It was a really intense game the whole time. We won't mention the fact that the Aggie's lost.

Maddie, Allie & Eli ... all great cheerleaders. We were going to see the lights on Temple Square afterwards, but the cheering & screaming wiped them out, so we just drove home.


Not a great pic, but hey what do you do?



My girls, they are so much fun! We all had a good day together. It was nice to be able to go & not have any meltdowns, or tantrums, of course they were threatened with Santa if they did!

It was a gorgeous day to walk around the Gateway. The kids love all the decorations & the music, so do I.

I know, I know... we are complete dorks! But what the hell... we were going to the movie opening weekend & thought we might as well join the crowd! My sister, Whitney & I (& Branden & Wiley) went to the movie, stood in line for 1 1/2 hours for a decent seat, & got to see Edward on the big screen. Yes, I felt a bit dorky, but it was fun. The movie was good, but the books are better... and we had fun!

Eli & Madelyn helped me make sugar cookies. They did the decorating... they love sprinkles!

They were both very proud of their "beautiful" designs. I'm just glad that we only make sugar cookies a couple times of year!

It's that wonderful time of year! The time of year I love best... one reason being because of all they yummy treats around! My mom's family is known for candy making. Through the years I was growing up, it was tradition for my mom & her sisters to get together the Saturday after Thanksgiving to make candy together ... I'm talking good candy! Like caramels, butter mints, fudge, fondant, penoche... all that rich, buttery, fattening stuff you eat once a year. It hasn't worked out the last few years to get together, so Heather, my mom & I have made our own tradition of making candy every holiday season. Our favorites are pecan logs, almond balls, caramels & this year we tried butter mints. Heather had a couple days off, so we got started.

We always have a lot of fun making candy; listening to Christmas music, making our Christmas lists, reminiscing our past Christmas' when we were the kids anxiously awaiting.

I love my sisters & my mom. They are so good to me. They are my best girlfriends! We laugh a lot, drink a lot of Diet Coke & have the best time ever... of course by the time we are done, none of us wants to eat any candy! At least not for a day or two!

We tried to make "Salty Nut Roll Fudge" it is so, so good. They have recently started selling it in our local toy store, Magical Moon. Unfortunately I was in there when they were just starting & offered free samples. I am not a real fudge person, but wow, this is awesome. So after searching on the Internet, I found a recipe for the vanilla fudge, & Heather & I made our first attempt to make the real, old fashioned, beat it with a wooden spoon forever fudge... it was good, not Magical Moon, but hey it was our first try!

Thanksgiving '08

We spent Thanksgiving in a cabin at Bear Lake with Branden's entire family. There were 26 people, about 12 being smaller children! So there was not a dull moment! We had a wonderful time, with the exception of 2 of my kids getting the flu while we were there!
Kyle, Jodi & Monica playing games. Branden's family loves games so there is always something to do. We played alot of Pounce, Phase 10, Pictionary & others too. We also put together a 1000 piece puzzle, although it take 4 of us about 9 hours!

Alyssa & Caiden ... the kids all got along great, which is a small miracle in itself!

Lisa, Brad (Branden's bro), Jacque (Branden's sis) & Vance

Our view was gorgeous, the lake was beautiful.

TROUBLE! Morgan, Allie, Wyatt & Alyssa

(Madelyn really was here, she just didn't get in any of my pics!) Sorry Maddie!

Monica & Jacque ... daughter & mother, they came from Elko.

Eli & Wyatt, they are best buddies.

Allie & Morgan ... aka, Blondies

Our cabin overlooking Bear Lake.