That's a wrap!

Christmas has come and gone and it's nice to have things back to normal. As we reflect on the recent year there are a few things we have come to realize...

We are so BLESSED! So many times we have been blessed this year! A new baby, healthy, happy kids, a warm place to live and a good job to name a few. How could we ask for anything more.

The realization that life isn't about things but small moments. People...family and friends are at the heart of it. We love you all and hope to see you again soon.

We still believe! It's been so fun this year to watch the kids contemplate the true meaning of Christmas and that wonderment in their eyes...I know that I will miss that someday. Alex staring at the nativity scene for hours, Dallin asking a million questions about how Santa gets to every house, and Derrick being happy with all the excitement in the air.

The church is true! We would be nowhere without it. I can see the truth of it in my children's eyes, and we feel the spirit in our home. We need that extra shot in the arm each week to maintain composure. In these troubled times I am so glad to have a "lighthouse" to look to while trying to teach and raise good kids. We are so grateful for good parents that had the patience to teach us such valuable things to pass on to our kids, and who are still leading by example. We hate to think of where we would be without that strong foundation in our lives.

Merry Christmas!

It's Tradition!

We decorated gingerbread houses this weekend, it's one of the boys favorite traditions and they had a blast! Including Dustin, he got way into it, he even put "stucco" (sprinkles) on it. We made them with chocolate milk cartons from the school...way easy and fun! Pictured above are some of the highlights. Notice Alex's bald spot...hard to miss. Zeke's new favorite thing is sucking on a sock. Don't worry...it's clean. I put one of his own socks on his hand like a glove to occupy him while I was helping the boys with the house decorating and he loved it. He didn't make a peep for half an hour, and the best thing is the sock soaks up all the slobber so when you take it off he and the walker are clean as a whistle. Pretty ingenious I thought. I know it's pathetic, but when you're a mom and you find a little break like a slobber soaker-upper, it makes your day...LOL!

Remember when... Derrick went running out of the room and tripped over a box and said, "Oops! Sorry 'da box'." Like it was his best friend or something. We had to chuckle over that one.

"In the meadow we can build a snowman!"

It's been so warm here lately that it really didn't feel like Christmas and I've really been missing the "winter-wonderland" of home in Salt Lake. Santa delivered early this year for me and we got some great snow. I couldn't go to sleep I just wanted to stay up and watch it fall...it was so peaceful and bright! The funny thing was to get the phone call before the snow even started falling that school was cancelled for a "snow-day". Back in my day up north this would have been considered a "skiff" and to school we would trudge. I was grateful though, it gave us a chance to catch up at home and the boys went out and played.

On a funnier (well it will probably be funny someday, right now I'm not very happy about it) note, I found a glob of hair with gum in it in the bathroom garbage the other day and didn't think much of it. I had had the "Achievement Day" girls over the night before and assumed it belonged to one of them. Nope...I'm not that lucky. Later on I discovered Alex was missing most of the hair on the top of his head. Someone had obviously helped him with the task, but no one will fess up right now. I guess we can check the "gum in your hair" off the list of things that your kids do to drive you crazy! What a character that kid!

Remember when... We were driving in the car and Alex said, "Well...if we're gonna build a snowman we have to have a carrot mom!" Very matter-of-factly. He'd seen plenty of freshly built snowmen that day driving around town and none of them had a carrot nose, it must have disturbed him...LOL!

Dallin Turned Six!

Our cute little Dallin was born six years ago on December 9th. Time flies when you're having fun. I can't believe he is already six and going to school. He has been such a good kid, I've really been spoiled being his Mom. I hope his little brothers turn out as well as he has. We love him so much and are so grateful he is part of our family. All in all he said he had a great day. Strawberry cake is his favorite, so we tried our best to make a "pink cake" as manly as possible. Aunt Kristi did an awesome job with the limited tools I provided :) Happy Birthday Dallin!

It was bound to happen sooner or later...

Well with four boys living under one roof it was bound to happen sooner or later. Last Wednesday Dustin got a call from Alex's preschool teacher that he had split his chin open on the jungle gym. Dustin went and got him...I was at the elementary playground...and he steri-stipped him up. We thought it would be o.k. - then that afternoon he went to a Birthday Party at Jumpin' Jacks. He must of cracked it open there, because he came home and the band aid was all bloody again. By the next morning it wasn't looking so great, so I took him into the doctor and they super glued him shut and sent us on our way. That afternoon Derrick bumped into him and it oozed a little more...later that night again Derrick crashed into him and sent it bleeding again...poor Alex! We took all the bandages off that the doctor had put on and it didn't look good. More steri-strips...more bandaids. The next morning he had a horrible rash from the bandaid that the doctor had used, we think he had an allerigic reaction to the sticky stuff on the bandaid...it looked painful. Now we are to the cortizone and neosporin stage...and it's finally getting better. What a trooper he is...not tears no complaining. We are so proud of our tuff little guy and thankful all this happened after family pictures! :) LoL!

Alex Turned Four!

Alex turned four on Tuesday. I can't believe how grown up he is already! His favorite thing about his birthday was the candy decorations on the table and the Ice-cream cake from Dairy Queen! Alex loves sugar...a major food junky :) We are so proud of him and all the life that he brings to our house. He is always singing so new song from school or one that he's memorized off of TV. It's hilarious! We love you Alex!

Thanksgiving 2008

It was so much fun to go to "Grandma Herb's" house for Thanksgiving! We did so many fun things and had a great time being with our family. Thanks Dad for taking Dustin and I pawn-shopping...sorry about you know what ;-)...LOL! Mom thanks for all you do! I know that cooking and doing dishes for that many people for that many days is hard...take a nap...rest up for the next visit. Cody, it was so good to see and spend time with you - hope your new job goes well. Holly - you are such a great girl...never settle you are worth the wait! Always remember we got your back! Tara and Julie, it was so fun staying up with you guys and lauging and making watches and seeing Twilight! You guys know how to have a good time and it's just fun to be around you. Love you guys!

Dustin turns the BIG 30!

Dustin's 30th birthday fell on Thanksgiving Day this year...it happens once every few years, but this one was extra special because he turned 30! I've been teasing him about it for months...he says he's staying 29 forever...ha...ha. We were at my families house this year for the holiday and the next day we had a fun "celebrate everyone's birthday party" party. We had family pictures, went to dinner and then went bowling...Dustin was a trooper and didn't even say too many bad words when my Mom got a higher score...LOL! He was so busy helping the boys bowl that I don't think his head was really in the game...or at least we'll use that as an excuse. Happy Birthday Dust'! We love you! - Amy & Boys!

School Pictures

These are Dallin & Alex's School pictures...I always thing school pictures are hilarious, espcially years later...LOL! Alex wasn't having the greatest of days, we couldn't agree on what shirt he was going to wear. At least we got it taken though.


Remember when...
Derrick called Alex "Dalex" all the time and Alex said, "My name is NOT DALEX, it's Alex"

Dallin said all he wanted from Santa this year was a calendar...easy enough!?!