"He really did come!"

 Christmas this year was fabulous!  There was hustle and there was bustle and tons of stress pulling it all together at the end, but all in all it was great!  We did everything Christmas(y) that I wanted right down to the pajama pants and sugar cookies!  (To be honest I have to give Dustin and I a little shout out this year...14 pair of PJ pants, 9 quilts...big ones for their beds, 16 pillowcases and that's just me!  Dustin was as busy as ever out in the garage getting all the last minuets things done for all the husbands who had wives that they needed gifts for LOL!) Whew!  ...and to all a good night!  Lets just say we had ourselves a good nap on Christmas Day!  These are the the cute Christmas Eve PJ's this year!  Flannel...very snuggly!

 Christmas morning in all it's glory!  They boys said it was the best ever!!!!  The best was when we had to wake up Zeke and told him Santa had come.  He cam running out and when he saw the piles of presents he slapped his hand over his mouth in disbelief!  It was priceless!  They he said..."He rearry did come!!!"  So fun!

 Some of my favorites...Yes...that is a full size basketball hoop in the house...knuckles to Dustin for staying up till three to put the thing together without any instructions.  I will forever be grateful I have a husband who can do that kind of thing!  Zeke got his gun from Santa...that's all he's been talking about for weeks...Derrick promptly broke it in half!  It was short lived.

 Angry birds all around!  Really?  I'm still trying to figure out the fascination with those weird things!  Aunt Annette gave the boys an awesome racetrack and helped me sew all the pillow pets!  I owe her big! Dustin...ACTING all excited about the quilt that I made him...again this year was a bust in trying to surprise that guy.  He's worse than the kids sneaking around shaking every box and finding everything I've bought for him.  I give up!

Julie joined the party the year.  She had to work so she couldn't go home to SL!  It was fun having her!  Dallin and Alex were very surprised they got DS lites.  They kept saying..."Mom!  You said we couldn't have these!"  "I guess Santa knows how to sneak things in!"  Dustin made sure the dogs had a sock full of treats too! 

All in all a successful Christmas season!  I enjoyed every second...and now I'm ready to put it all away!  LOL!

It's Tradition!

In keeping with tradition we had our "cracker house" (as Zeke affectionately called it) night.  It was fun...it was MESSY...it was hilarious!  It took Julie, Dustin and I to get the houses to stand up and help the boys.  Lets just say they didn't make it through the night and they boys were VERY sugared up by the end of the experience. I am going to have to research this out for next year and find a better way to get those houses to stand up on there own.  Maybe I'll get ambitious and make actual gingerbread...LOL!

Christmastime!!!

...and just for a little "Christmastime" cheer here is my all time FAVORITE Christmas song...

Merry Christmas time Everyone!  Enjoy!

Happy Birthday Dallin!

Dallin turned nine this year!  Can you believe it?  NINE!  I can not believe that my "little" guy is so big!  He grew right up and I feel like I missed half of it!  He is the smartest kid I know and very aware of everything around him!  You can't keep a secret from him if you try and he thinks he's one of the grown ups (I wonder where he gets that from hmmmmm????) Dallin loves spaghetti and lots of it!  He'll eat/try pretty much everything.  He's very into playing with friends and does his homework against his will LOL!  He's responsible...already tending his brothers for little bits at a time and a total worry wart...he gets that from me too...sorry pal...it's a curse hehe!  I just love this kid!  I love everything about him.  His face when hes laughing, the jokes he tells, the stories he tells when he gets home from school!  I'm so glad he's ours!  Love you Dallin!

Happy Birthday Alex!!!

Our little Alex is growing right up! He is seven years old today!  I can't believe how time flies.  I always mark how long we have lived here in St. George by how old Alex is.  We moved here when I was three months pregnant with him when we took a leap of faith and moved south! He is such a great kid!  He is doing awesome in school and loves every second!  He constantly makes us laugh with his funny faces and weird jokes.  I'll even admit he's a little conniving...he still loves candy and most days I find wrappers in his bed!  He very fashion conscious...hates it when clothes don't look right and has been knows to go dig his favorite pants out of the washer and try to wear them wet!  His favorite foods are chicken and stuffing casserole, chicken fingers and pizza!  He has tons of friends and loves any sport anyone will play with him!  We are so glad he chose to come to our family!  Happy birthday Alex! 

P.S.  I have now happily admitted that I hate making birthday cakes!  I am no good at it!  I asked Alex what he would like and he said an ice cream cake from the store...bless Him!  It was fabulous BTY...I would recommend Dairy Queen ice creams cakes to anyone!  LOL!

Thankful...

The Holidays are here!  This year Dustin's family came down for Thanksgiving dinner and stayed the weekend.  The boys were in heaven playing every kind of game imaginable with Uncle Tyler downstairs.  (I think Uncle Tyler was in heaven too to have some boys to rough house with LOL!)  We went to Tuachan Friday night to see Santa and watch the live nativity.  I am always in awe of that story.  It never gets old.  If you have a chance to come here and see it...go!  It's worth it!  Santa, by the way was fabulous!  He knew just how to place all the kids around him for the perfect picture and he was very good about taking all their orders!  It was so much fun! 

I am so thankful for my little family.  For my husband who tries to hard to make me happy and for my four little rambunctious, sweet, hilarious boys! I am thankful for good parents who taught me right from wrong and their never ending support.  We are truly blessed!

Trick or Treat! 2011

 The boys were all creepy and ready to hit the school parade early Friday morning.  (Yes...we had to dress up and do Halloween at school Friday, go all weekend and dress up again on Monday!  What the heck?!? LOL!)

 Dallin - "The Hulk"
(Funny side note: when Grandma Herb' came that night Dallin still had traces of black paint in his hair and she said, "Good grief it's been so long sense I've seen them their hair has gotten so dark! LOL!  Dallin couldn't quit laughing!)

 Alex - A creepy zombie Mummy

 Derrick - A Vampire (He finally decided on this the night before he was supposed to be dressed up for school.  He is hilarious!  I think they liked the hair spray paint the best!)

 Zeke- "Hook"  (For weeks every time I asked Zeke what he wanted to be he always said "Hook"  he never changed his mind and he was thrilled when he finally got to get in the costume and wear it around.  So fun!)

 All our little monsters! (Yes...Alex changed his mind for trick-or-treating and went with the Batman costume in the box.  He usually does this every year.  He said it's fun to be a "few things." That kid cracks me up!)

 Trick-or-Treating with the Humphries!

Grandma Herb' left cards to open on Halloween!  The boys loved them...more than the candy I think.  They all hid them in their pillow cases so they wouldn't steal each others.  It was funny!

Herbison Family Fun!

We had TONS of fun this weekend with our family!  Grandpa and Grandma and Holly and Byron and Tara and Jonathan and Cody and Julie all came for a visit!!!  We packed in all the fun we could while they were here!

 So "Aunt Holly"!!!  She secretly thinks she's still 5!  Derrick said, "Holly is so fun Mom, she 'rode all the rides' at the park!  Why don't you do that?"  Uhhh...ya right!

 Holly and Byron came down Thursday and we spent the day hanging out.  Took the kids to the park.  Went to the school Halloween parade and had a fun time laughing it up waiting for the others to get here!  Zeke FINALLY hi the ball.  He was over the moon!

 Saturday was a marathon of fun....Julie and the guys went golfing first thing after a yummo breakfast.  Us girls went straight to Krumpets...it was fabulous!  Tons of thanksgiving decorations for 75% off!  Wahoo! Then we all met up for more food and a trip to Anti-Gravity!

 Word of the weekend... PLANK!

 Tara!

 We were pooped after our trip to Anti-Gravity!  We all plopped down on the grass and took a breather.  Classic Herbison style!  Where's the cokes!?! LOL!

I am so thankful for our family!  What would we do without them?  We are missing Julie, she was dispatching, but we love her too!  We ended the weekend with Mom's yummy Thanksgiving Dinner with ALL the trimmings, right down to the perfect pies!  Thanks Mom!  I was in heaven!  It was so good to have all of them here.  We miss them already!

Fun Times...

While Dustin and I were busy at the Boutique the kids were "helping" Grandma and Grandpa at their house.  They were all very excited to tell me about their trip to the dump to get rid of the rest of the garden.  (Boys are easy to please I guess LOL!)  They carved some pumpkins from the garden.  Here is their masterpieces...

...Then we all took a trip down to the clinic so that Dr. Craig could give us all a flu shot...

Not even one tear!  Can you believe it?!?

We came home Sunday so we could be ready to get back to school and work.  I decided to try a new venture and started tending a few kids during the week instead of going to the school to watch the playground kids.  (I admit...I am getting old and turning into a wuss and couldn't take another year sitting in the cold through the winter)  It's been so fun having these three-year-olds running around here and it keeps Zeke entertained.  

...and can I just say Play Dough...who knew it could keep kids entertained for that long?!?  Genius!! 

In other news...

The other day Dustin was making Tuna Helper for dinner...I know gross!  But the kids love it!  Alex was reading the box and asking Dustin what "Tuna" was?  Dustin said it's the meat you like in these noodles.  Alex says, "Hmmm...I like tuna!"  Derrick pipes up from behind the couch and yells, "...and I like Helper!"  Funny!

Boutique Time!

Whew!  We did it again!  The Fillmore 2011 Boutique was a HUGE success!  Keep in mind that the whole left side of the booth we had this year is not even showing!  Looking at it now I can not even believe we pulled it off, but the proof is in the picture!  Dustin's tables were a big hit and we came home with lots of orders and not a lot of stuff so everyone's happy!  Can't wait 'till next year!

My Daddy and Me....

 See any similarities?  HAHA!

In other randomness...I loved how my shelf turned out for Halloween next year.  I had to take a picture so I would remember it for next year LOL!

Having Fun with Fall!

Everyone knows that we Love - love - LOVE fall at our house!  Mostly because it FINALLY starts to get a little cooler around here, but I love the smells, the decorations, the FOOD, all of it!  It's our busy season though and we are are hoppin'!  Here's what we've been up to every spare second that we're not working, doing homework, doing dishes or other household chores getting ready for the boutique season...

I am still in love with the "Chunky" letters so of coarse we have "FALL" set!  I have been making superman capes by the bucket load for a store in Texas...(I will admit I am kind of sick of making those...it's tedious).  We've made about 200 pumpkins so far and have already sold most of those, so I'm sure we'll be doing another batch soon LOL!  The pilgrims are a must!  I still love that cute couple and they are a sure seller.  Fun to make too! Dustin has been kicking out jewelry hangers like crazy!  The ladies love them...he even sold mine in a pinch and has yet to replace it LOL! They are very handy...don't worry I'm on the list for a new one.  We've added toy bow and arrows and rubber band guns to our list of fun things to make and sell and I'm having a hard time keeping up with all the new ideas and fun things to try and make.  I'll keep you posted as they come to  life! All in all we are always buys and somehow staying sane and keeping it all together.  They boys are LOVING school and HATING homework! LOL! Time is flying by and yes...it's a few degrees cooler here and fall is in the air!

HAPPY "Fall"-idays everyone!

Cute Little Avery!

We have such fun news!!!  We have a new DARLING little niece/cousin fresh from heaven!

Her names is Avery Janea - Born July 27th!

We went up to Dustin's parents over Labor Day to see Ryan and Kim who were visiting and attended Avery's blessing.  We had such a good time seeing family and I of coarse couldn't get enough of that cute baby girl!

Here are a few pictures I shot...so fun!

 Cute little Avery---Love those big eyes!

 Who doesn't LOVE newborn feet!  So sweet!

The whole "Flamily" as Derrick would say LoL!

We are boiling!

When your out of options the only thing you can do is get out the kiddie pool and jump in!

 We are roasting down here in SuNnY St. GeOrGe!

I have to admit this is the hardest time of year for me.  The kiddos hate it!  It's too Hot!  The only thing you can do is get wet....all the time!  Saturday we were at the end of our rope so out came the hoses and the kiddie pools and then neighbors and they all stripped down to their Spider Man underwear and jumped in!  They had so much fun!

First Day of School!

Hi Ho! Hi Ho! It's off to school we go!

 Dallin and Alex started school today!  They were so excited!  They were up with the chickens and couldn't wait to get to the bus stop.  So FuN!

 Dallin - 3rd Grade - Mrs. Chadaz

 Alex - 1st Grade - Mrs. Wavagal

 Derrick - Kindergarten - Ms. Gardner

Thanks grandma for all the fun school clothes!  We loved them all!  It was so fun having you and Grandpa here for our first day of school!

*In other news...

      - I am trying to get used to the new school schedule.  I must admit I am a little frazzled getting used to keeping track of where everyone is supposed to be.  The other day I sprayed my hair with window cleaner instead of hairspray!!!  I really am trying to pull it together...HONESTLY!  Note to self---put the bathroom cleaning supplies away where you're done using them! (In my defense the window cleaner looks a lot like the hairspray...same color lids, same kind of can.)

      -Alex has been watching the Jungle Book lately and singing all the songs ALL THE TIME!  The best part is when he sings, "Forget about your worries and your stripes!"  So funny!

       -Zeke is obsessed with water.  He is always playing in the sinks! This drives me crazy.  He gets wet and then bawls and makes a mess all over my clean mirrors!  The other day I told him if he didn't get out of the sink I was going to spank his bum! He turned around and said, "I fine mom...my butt not hurt!"  and kept on playing.  Sigh!  That kid is a crack up! 

Summer Fun is Finally Done!

 

Ok...Ok...I admit...I am VERY READY for the kids to get back to school.  This summer has been great though.  I think I got everything on my summer to-do list accomplished or at least started and in progress.  Some of those things included:

 * A diet.  I wanted to loose 25 pounds by the end of summer.  I am down 20 with 5 to go before I set a new goal for Christmas.  Hard work but worth it!

* Potty Training Zeke.  I am happy to report we are finally done with diapers!  He's done great too!  The first week was rough, but he caught right on and has been a champ!  Can you believe we have been buying diapers non-stop for 8 and a half years!  I am very excited not to have to do that anymore!  Wahoo!

* We went camping and fishing and to the park and to Fillmore and on four wheeler rides and tons of other fun things as a family!

I worked on a few sewing projects...there never seems to be enough time to sew all the things I want to but I did finish this bag that I've been meaning to try out for a while...

 This bag was so much fun to make!  I think it turned out pretty cute for my first try! I'm going to make more it was so much fun!  I gave this one to my mom for her B-day, but I liked it so much I'm gonna have to make me one too!

Are you impressed?  It even has a pocket inside!

 * I've also been learing to crochet dishrags and other fun things.  I'm gearing up for Christmas...LOL!  Everyone's getting dishrags!  You'll have to be surprised though...I'm not posting picture of those.

Bring on the fall decorations!  The minute the kids get on the bus I'm busting out the fall buckets and decorating the house!  Hurray! Can't wait!