The Thurston Family

Punkin Patch 2011

2011-10-16T18:00:00.003-06:00

So excited for this!!

2011-10-12T13:37:00.003-06:00

My friend K'Brina and I are embarking on a new adventure. Craft Blogging!! We have started a fun site that will feature DIY crafts, recipes, and lots of tips and ideas. We are excited to share our homemaking adventures with you! So spread the word....{and become a follower!}

You're Too Crafty

So Long Summer.....

2011-09-25T11:14:00.002-06:00

Summer is over {sigh}. Dang. Was that NOT the shortest summer in history?? I think it was. My blogging pretty much ceased. I have thousands of pictures from our summer days...and absolutely no ambition to post them. There are just way too many! Oh well....someday I might put them up...or not.

Guess it's time to get excited for fall! I have pumpkin bread in the oven...and soup simmering on the stove. I even have a nasty cough which totally makes it feel like fall. And even though it is still hot outside....I am totally getting into the season. I'm even going to admit that I started decorating for Halloween yesterday!! ha!

Happy Fall, Y'all!!

it's quiet around here...

2011-06-10T21:06:00.000-06:00

and I am missing these two like crazy!

They usually spend alot of time at their dads during the summer. When they are gone, our extremely busy household is just too quiet! But they are busy racing BMX, hanging out with their buddies, trying to earn extra money doing odds and ends, and doing all those things that teenage boys do.

While I know that spending time with their dad is so important for them, it is so hard for me to share! I hope they know how much they are missed! (They should know since I can't go a day without calling them and bugging them with questions about how they are doing, what they are up to, and telling them how much I love them. I am pretty obnoxious about it...but I can't help it! I adore these two!) Love you guys!

ouch

2011-06-01T21:08:00.000-06:00

I have made it for 15 years being a mother of boys, without one single stitch.

A few broken bones, yes....

a couple concussions, yes....

but not stitches.

How did I know this little guy would change that.

Good thing he is tough, because his mother sure isn't.

That's just plain gross.

Imagination

2011-05-30T20:08:00.001-06:00

I love the imagination that comes so easily to kids. Everything, in these two's eyes, can be turned into a gun. And they are, without a doubt, the world's most fearless hunters.

If there isn't anything handy to turn into a weapon....well, Tanner's hand is a whole arsenol of weapons. A gun, a hammer, and his thumb is a knife. In fact, he ALWAYS calls his thumb his knife. He says "hold my knife" when he wants me to hold onto his thumb....or "Mom I got an owie on my knife"...he has no idea it is called a thumb.

Ahhh boys. I love their adventurous little spirits.....

their ability to turn ordinary things into the greatest of toys......

their love of life....

and the way they can inject any situation with fun and laughter.

Always a good time....always.

t-ball

2011-05-27T19:08:00.003-06:00

Cooper really wanted to play tball this year, so even though he was a little too young for the team, I signed him up thinking he would catch on pretty good. He was really excited and ready to learn. Mike spent an afternoon teaching him how to play, so even though the teams one and only practice before the first game got rained out, we thought we had covered all the bases and that he knew what he was doing. haha

They were outfield first and he was all over it tackling the ball and just throwing it around. He was having a ball. (I love how he always waves at me and yells "I love you mom!!")

Then it was batter up........

He hit the ball and knew he had to run....so off he went to third base.

The other teams coach hustled him back to first base.....

and our base coach got him straight on where he should be.

It went down hill from there. Cooper was confused as to why everyone was trying to get him "out"....and thought they were being mean to him. So he coped a serious attitude with the opposing team.

The coach told them to be nice and steared him towards second. Still had an attitude.

Off he went to third. I was worried about what was coming next...but the third baseman was so cute...he greeted him with a smile and bent down to talk to him.

Cooper still had an attitude, but he didn't attack...thank goodness.

He finally crossed home plate....and we pulled him aside for a serious talking to about being nice and being a good sport. He was so confused that we were telling HIM to be nice when the other kids were trying to get him out of the game. He thought they needed the talking to. Ahh...Perspective right? He was seeing it through his little 4 year old mind....and we had a totally different view of the situation. We had never thought to explain the concept of the game, so he would know they weren't trying to be mean to him....it was just how you played the game. Whoops.

Giving the other team a little Rah-Rah-Rah...

and off to get a treat!

and now that he has the concept down....

I think he is definitely a fan!

womens conference

2011-05-04T18:20:00.005-06:00

I love Women's Conference. I look forward to it all year long..(the conference and the famous BYU mint brownies). I really love getting to spend the day with my mom and sister to!

This year I was so excited to get to see Stephanie Nielson (nienie, see her post about it here), and her sisters Courtney (cjane), Lucy, and Paige at one of the sessions! She just radiates beauty! I snapped a picture just as they were saying not to take pictures...whoops! (It's pretty blurry because I was hurrying to lower my camera)

My favorite part was when Courtney called President Uchtdorf a Silver Fox. Hillarious!

We also heard Julie Beck (Relief Society General President) at the opening session, and Elder David A. Bednar and his wife speak at the closing session.

There seemed to be a common theme among all the sessions....I think this quote from one of the speakers summed it all up.

"God knows you by name and has a plan for your life. Magnify the gifts he has planted in your heart"

He needs us to be the women we were meant to be, and he needs us to be it now.

"Our small efforts, by each of our hands, contribute to preparing this earth for the coming of the Savior" -Stephanie Nielsen

I also loved this quote: "Eternity doesn't start when we die...it begins as a family."

Talk about a room filled with the spirit....23,000 women who have spent the day being spiritually uplifted and celebrated, all in one room. It creates alot of emotion.

I love that feeling of being united.

What an incredible day....

Ok, I have to share one more thought...and then I'm done.

"Life will shatter for each of us. We don't know what hidden pains are eating others. Be kind to everyone, everywhere, all of the time."

sigh....

2011-05-01T16:45:00.003-06:00

This WAS a homemade Texas Sheet Cake...freshly frosted and ready for dessert. Until Tanner decided it needed a little bit more flour and kneaded it in with his hands. Looks like he had little before he demolished it. I'm glad SOMEONE was able to enjoy it....

easter 2011

2011-04-29T16:34:00.000-06:00

We weren't quite sure whether we wanted to brave the elements this year and go on our annual Easter Camping Trip.....the weather man seemed to change his mind daily in the week before....but we decided that even camping in the rain and snow would be an adventure and better than just sitting home.

So off we went.

Now, our little trailer only has 3 beds....which doesn't quite fit our family anymore. So the older boys volunteered to sleep in the tent, and pitched their tent next to the river.

It was cold! Especially since Cade forgot to do up his window the first night, and woke up to a soaking wet sleeping bag since it had rained and snowed all night.

Yes, it was very cold and wet....but it was so nice to just be outside!

All that rain made the funnest playground for our kids and the fourwheelers! MUD!!!

We did our Easter Egg Coloring by the light of the lantern in the camptrailer....Fun!

And the Easter Bunny even found us hidden in the hills of Lost Creek. The boys were so EXCITED! I love how magical everything is to kids....It makes holidays so much fun!

We spent Easter Sunday digging in the mud....

and having an Easter Egg Hunt in the rain!

And wouldn't you know it....the best weather of the weekend came after our trailer was all packed up and we were ready to brave the mud slick roads to get home. Ya, that was fun. I got to drive the Jeep out....Mike followed behind me in the truck and everytime I got stuck or was teetering a little too close to an edge I got out and made him rescue me. Haha....but the kids had a blast driving the fourwheelers all the way from camp to our house. I love that they are big enough to just do their thing...and I know they are responsible enough to be safe.

It was a wet muddy weekend...but it was a fun one!

Boys.....

2011-04-21T14:14:00.001-06:00

Need I say more??

(sigh)

Power of Moms Retreat

2011-04-20T16:42:00.005-06:00

I am on a Motherhood High this week.

I am full of energy, and ideas, and insights…all because of a weekend spent with 100 very POWERFUL mothers. With a home full of that much power, how could you not soak up a bit for yourself?

I had the opportunity to attend a Motherhood Retreat in Park City.

(The Power of Moms Board...Mothers from all over the country)

It was sponsored by the Power of Moms. That is a website that I have loved being a part of for the past year. I was so excited to finally meet some of the other members of the board….and finally put a face to the names I have been working with.

It was held at the home of Richard and Linda Eyre. (If you aren’t familiar with them, they are authors and parenting experts who travel the world speaking on the subject.) They are amazing….and so, so kind.

I was lucky enough (haha) to be a shuttle driver from the parking area, up a mountain road to their home. I had a ball! I met some of the neatest women! It was so fun to get to know so many of them and hear their stories. (Now I am thinking it would be fun to drive a taxi…can you imagine the things you would learn. Lol)

After 2 days filled with inspiration….I feel so alive in my role as a mom.

I feel like I really do have power….

Motherhood isn’t something I get to survive…I can thrive!

And I actually learned how to do just that!

If you have never checked out the Power of Moms, I encourage you to do so. They are holding another retreat next month….

13

2011-04-08T15:31:00.004-06:00

Cade has gone and turned 13 on me. 13!

Wow.

(Half our kids are now teenagers! I feel old. Boo.)

13! Thirteen? 13!! So weird, right?

Cade has always been my “easy” child. He is always soooo good. SO good! I am not blind to his silly side….it can cause him to be a stinker at times….but he does it in a way that he still seems so innocent. Strange.

So here they are….13 things I adore about my little Cader Bug. (What 13 year old doesn’t like to be called something like that? I guess it’s time to stop……nah, I like it. That’s what we have always called him and I doubt that will change. )

1. Cade is hilarious! He is always making us laugh.

2. Cade can dance like nobody’s business. He has some awesome moves!

3. Cade is always thinking about how others feel….It is important to him to be kind.

4. Cade doesn’t like to say “I’m Sorry”. He will do anything to make it up to you and make you feel better…anything except say the actual words “I’m Sorry”. Even though he is.

5. Cade is a fabulous cook! He wants to be a chef and a dentist when he grows up.

6. Cade hates it when I sing. When he was a baby, he didn’t like me to sing to him…as he got older and I would rock him to sleep he would turn in my arms, put his finger to his lips say “ssshhhhh”. To this day when I sing out loud he will say….”Um, mom? When you sing you make me feel weird inside. Can you stop?” So I always sing to him because he HATES it. Every morning when I drop him off for school I sing him a little jingle and he slams the door behind him as he exits the car. It drives him CRAZY. So funny. By the way I am a GOOD singer! Just ask me!

7. Cade is really smart. He likes to learn new things and he is always googling something new online.

8. Cade is going to make a fabulous husband someday. He will take such good care of his family…I have no doubt! I know this because of the way he treats and takes care of our family.

9. Cade can’t hear. At all. He follows anything I say with “WHAT?” When he was a baby he had so many ear infections that he has major scarring on his eardrums. Eventually he got tubes, but the damage was done. We had his hearing checked and tests ran….the specialist told me that now he hears like he is under water all the time. Everything is muffled and he can’t hear certain tones at all. He took a year of speech therapy to learn to say some of his sounds correctly. He talks great now….he just can’t hear. I just know that anything I say to Cade, unless he is looking right at me, I will have to say at least twice.

10. Cade is very spiritual. He always says his prayers, tries to do what is right, and is always reminding me when it is time for FHE. (He usually makes the treat) His family is very important to him.

11. Cade is a wonderful brother. Kyler is and has always been his very best friend. They have a close bond and have been through a lot together. He is Cooper’s favorite as well. They like to make hideouts out of Cade’s bed and have sleepovers in it. He plays so cute with the little boys…they really look up to him

12. Cade makes everything fun. He always has a smile and is up for a good time.

13. Cade is a clean FREAK. I love it. He has to have his room, dresser, clothes, etc just right. It is pretty hard when you share a room with someone that is completely opposite, but Cade is a good sport about it. (Better than I would be)

Gosh I could go on and on about this kid.

I really am lucky to be his mom. He has taught me so much in our 13 years together. He has so much to offer the world and I am so excited to continue watching him learn and grow.

Can’t wait to see what life has in store for him!

What you BE, they will BECOME

2011-04-04T15:28:00.008-06:00

Ever come face to face with yourself, looked yourself square in the eye, and saw inside you to who you really are? This is what I spent Saturday doing. What an awesome experience!

I was sent to Discover Leadership Training's "Unreasonable Possibilities" workshop with about 20 of my co-workers. I wish I could have taken everyone I knew with me....I loved it!

We learned SO MUCH, I don't even know where to start to share it all. Actually, I'm not sure I want to even try.

It was all extremely personal....and I walked away with so much more awareness of the person I am, and the person I hope to someday be. I broke through a few barriers that are holding me back from being that person.....(I actually wrote my barriers on a board, and gave it a karate kick breaking it to pieces while my team cheered me on. Talk about freeing!)

I did want to share my favorite quote and concept of the day.

It is this.

"What you BE, they will BECOME"

In the context of this workshop, those words came to mean so much to me.

It became very clear to me that I need to be the person I want my children to become, be the kind of employee I want my fellow workers to become, be the kind of spouse I want my husband to become, be the kind of friend I want my friends to become, be the kind of sister I want my sisters to become.

Because I can't control others, I have to take personal responsibility for everything in my life, and change myself.

That I can do.

Do you know why?

Because I am worthy.
I am confident.
I am courageous.
I live in the moment.
I am focused on the outcome.
I am powerful.
I am positive.
I am strong.

and so are you.

Scenes from the Weekend

2011-04-04T14:44:00.015-06:00

Discover Leadership Training (AMAZING experience!)

Riding the Fun Bus

Joe's Crab Shack

Dancing on the Tables

Celebrating with co-workers

General Conference on the bigscreen

Organizing my closet...again

April Fool's Pranks. Ha!

Lying in bed snuggling Cooper and watching the snow fall

Housework....ugh

Strawberry Shakes

"This is my Now" by Jordin Sparks (Training Theme Song)

BMX Racing- another trophy!

Hot Bubble Baths in the Jacuzzi Tub

Breakfast Burritos

Being IN the moment

Banana French Toast

2011-03-30T14:19:00.008-06:00

There is nothing better than sitting down to a well-loved meal with your family.

It is chaos and comfort all at once!

It pretty much rocks.

I keep thinking I need to document some of my family's favorite recipes.

They can be such a fun part of a family's history. I know I treasure my mother's and my grandmother's recipes...I wish I had more of them!

Someday my own children and grandchildren will feel the same.

Since Conference Weekend is coming up, I thought I would share a favorite breakfast recipe.

It's a tradition to whip up a big breakfast and sit around in our pajama's watching conference while we eat.

This is one of our favorites!

Banana French Toast

3 eggs

1/2 cup milk

2 ripe bananas

dash of salt

2 Tbls honey or maple syrup

1/4 cup sugar

1/2 tsp vanilla

1/2 tsp orange juice or lemon juice

Mix in a blender until smooth. Pour into a shallow dish. Drench slices of Texas Toast or sliced French Bread on both sides. Fry on buttered skillet.

YUUUMMMM!

soccer

2011-03-29T16:14:00.004-06:00

Soccer Season has begun! This is Cooper's first year....and boy does he ever love it! We have practiced alot at home so he knows how to play, and everyday he asks if he gets to go to soccer practice with the kids.... Which is why I can't understand why he spent much of the game like this...... On the ground....rolling around.....not paying attention. I'm sure it will take a few games before he really "get's it". So until then we will just be entertained by his silly antics. I honestly was laughing so hard I was crying.... If he payed as much attention to the ball as he does to his girlfriend Alyssa....he would be a star. They were seriously soooo cute! They were always running together...and when Cooper would fall, which was alot, Alyssa was there to help him back up and get him going again. I even saw him give her a smootch. yikes.......we are in for it with those two. At least he has great taste! She could not be any cuter! So we have a few things to work on..... Like not tackling other players.....or laying on top of the ball to keep kids away.... Or yelling "I love you Mommy!" every time he runs by me. (even though I secretly LOVE that) Or acting like he is going to die anytime he gets kicked in the leg. This IS soccer afterall. But he DID make a GOAL!!! Even if it was for the other team. We will have to work on that too I guess.

But he loves it! It is going to be a great season I'm sure!!

Go Subway!!!

lessons

2011-03-28T18:18:00.010-06:00

My kids are always teaching me things

It is a fact that I learn way more from them than they will ever learn from me. That is....I learn if I pay attention.

I really think that kids have it all figured out....and as we grow up, we just learn to make things complicated. What do grown-ups know anyway??

Take this morning for instance. It snowed. Cooper and Tanner were just waking up as we had to run out the door, so I left them in their pajamas, wrapped them in a blanket and threw them in the car to get the boys to school on time.

They were so excited it was snowing! They oohhhed and aaahhhed the whole way to Amy's.

As soon as I opened the door and released them, Tanner jumps out of the car and in nothing but his pj's and little bare feet, he starts running around in the snow and exclaiming "IT TICKLES! IT TICKLES!"

The look on his face was priceless. He was having the time of his life.

He was LIVING in the moment.

He didn't care that he didn't have shoes on....(that was the best part for him) or a coat, or even clothes. He wasn't thinking that he was going to catch pneumonia or break his neck by slipping on the wet cement. No, that is what I was thinking.....HE was living it up over something so simple as putting his bare toes in snow and basking in the feeling. And I let him. And you know what? It didn't hurt a thing!

Now, was this some profound lesson I have never heard before....this living in the moment?

No.

But Tanner reminded me in that instant that life doesn't have to be so serious all the time.

Today I remembered it's ok to lighten up....once in a while.

When was the last time I wore a look of pure bliss on my face?

With nothing holding me back...

I think it's been a while.

BMX

2011-03-24T19:58:00.004-06:00

Cade is officially a BMX racer.

It started with an early Birthday present....a racing bike. We don't usually spend that much for birthday's, but when Cade expressed an interest in racing bikes, we kind of jumped all over it. He is not a sport lover, and I have struggled with finding a "hobby" for him that he enjoys....but I think this is it! He is super excited now.....but when he first got to the track....well, not so much.

Ryan and Krystal had an old bike that they brought over for Cade to ride. He was less than excited about that....he really wanted a nice bike to ride. He likes everything to be just right, and this old heavy bike didn't really measure up. But he jumped on , started his practice run...and the chain fell off. lol. He was so bummed....and embarrassed. He had been so nervous for days before the race that everything would be ok and work out the way he wanted it to...and this was his nightmare coming true. Ryan put his arm around Cade and said, "well, this bike won't really do, will it?" and Krystal came wheeling out the new bike with balloons attached and said...."how 'bout this one?" Cade was in shock....he wasn't sure what to think....his Birthday isn't for a couple of weeks. But we didnt want to wait. He was so excited! He jumped on and made a lap.....and he is hooked!

See? He was in disbelief....he had been drooling over bikes online for weeks.

Cade isn't one to show alot of emotion....but he was sooo excited!

His first lap on the new ride.....he was pumped!

His first race.

And another.....

He spent Saturday at a clinic for new riders, and learned alot....

he does better and better everytime around.

And most importantly, he loves it.

The best thing about this for me, is watching his dad support him in it. He is Cade's biggest fan. Cade has needed that for a really long time....and since it is something Ryan loves as well, it has really boosted Cade up. He can tell his dad is proud of him.

Makes me teary eyed......

I know that sounds silly to alot of people....but that is because maybe it is taken for granted in their lives. It should be a normal thing right?...parents are suppose to always be there for their kids cheering them on and encouraging them in the things they love.

Kids of divorce get the raw end of the deal...

they don't always have the support they need and deserve.

It just happens in the situation....nothing against Ryan.

He is a good dad and he loves his kids very much.

It is just hard to always be there for your kids when they aren't with you all the time.

When it happens it makes me giddy. He even earned himself a trophy!

Great job Cade!!! You make us proud!!!

Scenes from the weekend

2011-03-21T20:39:00.005-06:00

BMX, BMX BMX...three days worth

Brownie Sundaes

Lifetime Movies

Shopping

Temper Tantrums and Whining

Peyton's Birthday Party and ice cream cone cupcakes

Playing in the MUD!

New cozy pj's

Cade's Birthday Surprise....a new racing bike

Bling Party

Craft Club

Laughing with friends

First Day Of SPRING!!!!

Blah Blah Blog

2011-03-21T20:33:00.002-06:00

I love blogging! I love looking back over posts and remembering things I would have forgotten if I hadn't taken the time to document it. I love that it is a record of moments....little ones that are special I'm sure to no one else but me and my little family. But they are oh so special to me!! My family changes and grows every day at a rate that is way too fast for me!

I want to remember it all.

So here is the goal! (you know me...I'm full of goals...a new one almost every day!)

I am going to be better at telling our story.

This is, after all, the only family history I will ever write.

I want it to be a little more complete.

{365}

2011-03-09T19:50:00.005-07:00

I love how the boys play together...they crack me up!
Kyler...always so enthused about heading off to school. Ha!

Tanner dressing himself after his bath...notice the backwards pants, no underwear, and he pulled his shirt on over his legs instead of over his head....hey at least he tries.

His new favorite thing to do? Empty my linen closet, climb up the shelves and then jump into the pile of blankets and sheets below. Nice.

When I found Tanner, he was actually standing on the top of the truck dancing, but by the time I grabbed my camera he knew he had been caught and was going to be in trouble so he was high-tailing it out of there!

LOVE this kid!

Enjoying some fresh air.

Is it too early to break out the spring decorations?

Finally! My shelf is finished!

Stick-Em-Up!

Awesome new book!

Tanner is obsessed with cleaning....if i tell someone to clean up their mess, he runs and grabs this little vacuum to help out. Too funny

Cooper has a nail biting problem. He chews his down and then looks around for something else to gnaw on. He even tries to bite MY nails. Yuck.

Fun dip is not fun for me!

Tanner didn't want to waste any even though is spilled all over my floor, so he was licking it up.

Crazy boys!

Finally a pic of Cade!
The boys favorite game....memory. Is it weird that Tanner can really beat me at this?

Kyler struggles with asthma pretty much all winter long. Anytime he gets a cold he is on antibiotics, steroids and nebulizer treatments. Poor thing!

I received a ......

2011-02-23T16:12:00.004-07:00

Stylish Blog Award!!

My award comes from my friend K'Brina. She is someone that I completely admire....she is creative, she is talented, she takes awesome pictures, and she loves her family oh so much! Her blog is one of my favorites!

So here are the rules......

1. Thank the person who gave you the award

2. Share 7 facts about yourself

3. Award 7 new bloggers with the award (and comment them so they know they've won!)

So here are 7 things about me you may not know.....

1. I love the city! I am a total city girl....so why I live here I do not know. I love all the people, the food, the shopping, I even like driving in the city. There is just so much more to do there.

2. I went to school to be a travel agent, and have my certificate, but besides working for Marriot Hotels, I never did anything with that education. I wish I had...then maybe right now I would be laying on a beach somewhere enjoying some of the perks of my job.

3. I am completely baby hungry...all the time. Love them little ones!

4. I am terrified of heights...as in I get shaky when I have to stand on a chair. It is that bad.

5. I am addicted to El Mexicano's Chicken Fajitas. I eat them at least once or twice a week. I would eat them daily if I could. MMMMmmmmm yum. (and if you haven't tried their Cheesecake Chimi's you really should. Just sayin')

6. I slam doors when I am mad.

7. I can't sleep without my feather pillows.

And now I would like to pass this award on to......

Amy

Liz

Margaret

Meagan

Tara

Tasha

Trinia

{365}

2011-02-09T20:21:00.005-07:00

Masterpiece: Cooper's fabulous Preschool art work.

He's a real MAN: Cooper wanted to put some of my makeup on while I was getting ready....so this was as manly as I can make makeup look.

Terrible Two's Strike AGAIN: This kid is becoming a master at tantrums. Pretty sure I will NEVER miss this part of my kids childhoods. {sigh}

I wish I new what this kid was thinking. Tanner burned his butt on our fireplace. {Don't laugh! lol} I have no idea what would make him think that dropping his pants and pressing his cheeks up against the glass would be a good idea....but I hope he learned to never do that again. This is after the blister had popped and peeled off. OUCH!!! (Sorry for the nudity, but now when he asks me someday where that scar on his bum cheek came from I can show him)

Hunting Expo! I would really hate to run into that bear in the wilderness. Yikes!

UH OH....Cooper's got the camera!

Rooster? Tanner calls this racoon skin hat his Rooster.....hmmmm whatever I guess. He loves anything soft and likes to rub the "Rooster's" tail on his cheek while he watches TV.

My "crafternoon" Valentine's project.

GGGRRRRRRR!

Oh the joys of potty training. I think he just likes to play..... I am actually not in a hurry to potty train him if you can possibly believe that. I am SAD that he is my last baby.....and once he is potty trained, well, then it will be official. No more babies in this house. :(

I can't leave this kid alone for one minute....here he is making his OWN chocolate milk. Apparently I got sidetracked on my way to the kitchen and so he took matters into his own hands. Plus he ground up a few crackers in the nut grinder while he was digging through the cupboards as well.

We had a short power outage. The lights went out while the boys were playing in their room, and as the house went dark I hear Cooper yell...."MOOOOMMMM! Our house ran out of batteries!!!!!!" Too funny!

Tanner has taken to dressing himself. I think he looks quite dapper.

Tanner's Prize Possesion. DO NOT TOUCH THE BLANKET!!! It is just NOT allowed.

I have the best helpers.....My garage floor now sports some fabulous cream colored stripes.

You will seldom find Cooper without a gun in his hand.....

There he is again.....this time sporting some awesome swim trunks, his pajama top, accented with a black tie. I think he has a future in fashion.

I really need to get more pics of my other kids. They just really hate it and hide their faces whenever they see me coming.....I think I might have to be more sneaky, or someday they are going to wonder why there are no pics of them. So in case they wonder why, I am telling you....THEY ARE THE REASON THERE ARE NO PICS OF THEM!!! They are just not willing participants!!!

{365}

2011-01-25T18:20:00.003-07:00

Laundry. Yuck.

Tanner can cook! Well, maybe not, but he can make his own sandwich. I found him on top of the counter making his very own snack before bed. He was hollering at me to get him down because he couldn't do that by himself with a sandwhich in his hand. But he did manage to get the turkey and a slice of cheese out of the fridge, and climb up the drawer handles onto the cupboard to reach a loaf of bread. Pretty good for a 2 year old, right?

Another dirty face picture....seriously. I must have some kind of weird mom syndrome because I don't even see the dirt on their faces until I am looking at them in a picture. I just see their cute smiles! Sorry, because I'm sure everyone else only see's a dirty child. ha (At least his nose is clean)

Story Time: One of Tanner's favorites!

Practice Practice Practice: When Kyler is not on the computer, he can usually be found on his bed strumming away.

Inspiration Board: I love this chalkboard in my hallway....I fill it with notes to my kids and quotes that I love....it's a nice reminder of what is important.

{365}

2011-01-19T17:00:00.003-07:00

Practice: Cade practicing snapping his boots into the bindings so he will "know exactly what to do" when he takes a lesson next weekend. He is excited to learn!

Off to Primary on a Sunday morning.

Tanner's favorite toys.... his horses. They are ALWAYS spread all over the floor. (...and they kind of hurt to step on.) lol

Shopping at Sam's Club. I should have snapped a picture of them on the escalators at the mall....hillarious. Why do they think those are so fun?

Lovin' them bubbles.

Me and Coop: His favorite thing to say lately is..."My way love you mom" aahhh. Melts me everytime.
Potty Training Tanner: Let's just say it's not going so good.

One of those days....when you can't wait to get home and put your feet up!

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

2011-01-13T19:47:00.005-07:00

.....MY ONLY SUNSHINE,

why aren't my kids faces ever clean??

I wash them constantly and they are still always dirty!??)

YOU MAKE ME HAPPY....

WHEN SKIES ARE GREY!!!

Enough of the cold already!

We are resorting to having picnics in our shorts on the living room floor to diminish the Winter weather BLAHS.....

Only 67 more days until SPRING!!!

{my life 365}

2011-01-11T21:01:00.006-07:00

Sunday Morning Breakfast: Mike is always the weekend breakfast cook. Every once in a while he can get a little help.

Saturday Projects: Mike and Rhyn spent Saturday building furniture! They built 2 sofa tables, 2 nightstands, a bookcase, and the coolest shelf ever and it only took them 8 hours. I was impressed. See those candle pillars up there? Ya, that was my accomplishment for the day....oh, and I made lunch! ha! But guess who gets to spend next Saturday sanding and painting....that would be me. Can't wait until next time! I already have my project plans ready...lol.

Date night! Dinner and a movie with our friends Lance and Stacey.

Terrible Two's : No explanation necessary.

Brotherly Love.....or not.
Let's RACE! We are finally feeling a little better around here.

So long Christmas.... Tanner was helping me pack the Christmas decorations away. Nothing like doing a celebration dance on top of the boxes in nothing but a saggy diaper and a couple of socks he pulled out of the laundry.

My Life 365

2011-01-02T16:08:00.006-07:00

It's cold outside...all my family is sick....and I am bored.

So I decided to start something new on my blog!

I started this last year and I reached up to day...I don't even know.... one hundred and something. And then I fizzled out. But I LOVE LOVE LOVE to look at those pictures because it is my ordinary little life...day by day. So I decided to start again. We will see how far I get this year because well, I get bored really really easy.

I'm pretty sure they will never be posted daily, but maybe weekly batches?? We will see!
I love documenting and remembering the little moments. So here we go!

Under the Weather. Our house is infested with germs! We have spent 3 days with coughs and fevers. What else can I say but "yuck".

Maddie's new bed! She got it for Christmas, and we spent the day putting it together. She hasn't left her room other than to eat for 2 days. I guess she likes it!

That's it for now! Bring on the new year!!

Christmas 2010

2010-12-29T21:29:00.004-07:00

Our holiday season was MAGICAL!

Just the way I like it!

It was full of parties, treats, stories, family, traditions, and presents!

We even got to visit the lights at Temple Square...which is my favorite!

Cooper and Tanner are at such fun ages... I think it made things funner for the older kids who are kind of growing out of liking all the cheesy things we do at Christmas time. They got really into playing things up for the little boys...which made it funner for everyone.

Cooper dictated his letter to Santa Clause to me...and I wrote it down word for word. I love how he says "my" instead of "I". Someday I will correct him, but I think it's pretty cute right now :)

He signed it all by himself! He's getting pretty good at writing his name.

While we were all writing Santa letters...Tanner was entertaining himself on the couch.

Someday I will correct him on not jumping on the furniture to...but he laughs so dang hard when he does it...It's too funny.

We spent Christmas Eve at home this year.

It is the first time I have EVER done that....it was different....but I think I like it better!

We made sure to put out the magic reindeer food that Kyler and Cade's step-mom Krystal sent over for the Cooper and Tanner. They thought that was so fun!

We had a fun dinner, opened up our new PJ's and curled up on the couch watching movies until some friends came over and spent the rest of the evening entertaining us!

Christmas Morning was awesome!

The kids were so excited that Cade and Kyler were in our room at 5:30 begging for us to get everyone up. We made them go back downstairs for an hour.... but I was excited for them too, so I got up and woke up Cooper, who woke everyone else up screaming that Santa had come and dancing around in circles laughing. It was pretty cute!

Did I mention that Christmas morning was awesome? Cuz it really was.

(Even with Nerf Bullets pelting me from all directions as I was slaving

away over Eggs Benedict for their breakfast.:)

The kids were so happy and appreciative of what they got...it made all the work worth it!

It even worked out so that we were all able to be together for an hour on Christmas Day. Now that was something. Usually Kyler and Cade are gone to their dad's before Madison and Hagen get there...or the other way around. So it was nice this year to have everyone together...even if it was just for a little while.

At least I got a picture or two of our crazy crew!

Did I mention that Christmas was AWESOME?!!

Cuz it really was.

Poor Santa....

2010-12-16T19:49:00.003-07:00

My little ones really really don't like the poor guy.

They have never even given him a chance.

This photo turned out alot better than I thought it would...considering they were both screaming bloody murder 2 seconds before this was snapped. Maddie and I weren't planning on being in the picture, but we were trying to control the situation and snap. I think everyone at the SUFCO Christmas party was laughing at us trying to coerce the boys to stop screaming and just sit still and smile. (ya right! like that was really going to happen!) I'm surprised my face isn't beet red from embarrassment. I mean really! WHO DOESN'T LIKE SANTA??

When we got home, I asked Cooper how he was going to tell Santa what was on his wish list if he wouldn't even sit on his lap. He informed me that he would just "yell it at him across the room".

So the next day we were walking through Walmart and sure enough....Cooper belts out at the top of his lungs...."HEY SANTA! I WANT A LIZARD!!!" He had seen a very poor excuse for a Santa posing with kids for pictures. (I think he was like 12....Come on Walmart....You can do better than that! What about one of your greeters?)

Anyway, teenage Santa looked at him and nodded and threw him a candy cane...

so I guess that's how it's done.

O Christmas Tree....O Christmas Tree

2010-12-06T20:10:00.005-07:00

In true family tradition, the Saturday after Thanksgiving was spent in search of the perfect Christmas tree. Well, Mike, Craig and Grandma Susan went off in search of the perfect tree. The rest of us played in the snow, sipped hot chocolate, ate bowls of piping hot chili, and warmed ourselves by a blazing fire.

We stayed for hours, and then finished the day at the tubing hill, sledding until dark.

It was awesome! The kids had a ball....

Snow gets really old by the time Christmas is over...

but getting out and playing in it for the first time of the season is SO FUN!

So here is some of our day....in pictures!

Good times! Good times!!

Turkey Day

2010-12-06T19:57:00.003-07:00

Turkey Day 2010 was filled with fantastic food...
Air soft wars.....

Arm wrestling over who got out of being my kitchen helper.....

(Guess they both lost...and I won!)

Food fights......

and fun!

I am so Blessed!!!

{four}

2010-11-17T11:29:00.003-07:00

We just celebrated four fabulous years with Cooper.

Four things I ♥ about Cooper:

1} His smile and laugh! He is such a happy kid

2} The little freckles on his nose.

3} His passion for life. He is sooo excited about everything.

4} His amazing dance moves. lol

Four things Cooper ♥'s:

1} Guns...and knives...and bow and arrows. The kid is INTO his weapons.

2} Horses...and Cowboy hats...and his new spurs.

3} Preschool....He really loves Miss Jill. He pretend calls her on my phone and tells her how much he loves her.

4} His mom! He is a momma's boy and I love it!

Four things Cooper has said lately, that crack me up:

1} "Mom, I know what I want for my birthday. I want sharp things....sharp knives, sharp scissors, sharp arrows....." (I don't let him play with sharp things...it is obviously a dream of his to be able to)

2} Me to Cooper who is picking up candy out of the dirt and eating it: "Cooper! Don't eat that! You don't eat candy off the ground!"
Cooper: "It's okay mom...the Easter Bunny must have left it just for me!"

3} "Can I play with sharp things tommorow?"

4} When you ask Cooper his name....he will tell you. It is "Cooper Denny Justin Beiber" Always. He thinks he is Justin Beiber. He sings "Baby, Baby, Baby OOHHHH....won't you be mine FOR..EBER"....over and over and over again. He even has a little dance he does with it....rolling around on the ground and everything. Too cute!

Four things Cooper does not like:

1} Bedtime.

2} Wearing a coat. I tell him to put a coat on because it is cold outside...and he tells me "But I love cold momma!"

3} Food. There is only a handfull of things he will eat.

4} Holding still. What a busy child!

Happy Birthday Cooper!!!

May all your four year old dreams come true!!

Meet Tom...

2010-11-14T12:19:00.003-07:00

he will be joining us for Thanksgiving Dinner....

as the main course.

I know.....I have issues with it too! I think I would rather eat hot dogs.

HaLLoWeEn 2010

2010-11-02T18:38:00.006-06:00

What a busy weekend!

I loved that we were able to celebrate Halloween for what seemed like days on end!

I only had Cade(for a little bit before he ran off with his friends), Cooper and Tanner with me this year. One of these years Mike is going to HAVE to miss the hunts and join us....he doesn't know the fun he is missing. (Or maybe he really does....lol)
We hit the town Trunk or Treat pretty early in the day....got loaded up on sugar and by the time we were ready to hit the town, Tanner had had it. He just wanted to sleep. Isn't that always the way it goes? Well, Cooper was soooo excited to trick - or -treat. So Tanner didn't have a choice....we dragged him along kicking and screaming. I think he scared some people....into not having children. He wanted to GO HOME NOW!!! and wanted NOTHING to do with his costume. He kept ripping it off. But Cooper was having the time of his life. He even surprised me by getting out of the car and going up to houses ALONE! Now that is something. I guess you do what you gotta do! And he did.
It didn't stop Tanner from enjoying Cooper's treats though.....this picture cracks me up. The kid is in HEAVEN. I think his eyes were rolling into the back of his head in delight....haha.
I can't take any picture on Cooper without him starting his very own dance party!

Goofball!!

Why do kids have to grow up so fast??

Happy Halloween!!

2010-10-17T11:44:00.003-06:00

We finally made it out for our annual trip to Hansen's Pumpkin Patch.

It was such a pretty day! And the boys had a blast picking out their very own "punkin".

Cooper really wanted a green one...

until he found a very cool one that had warts covering one side.

Tanner didn't care what he got...he was just mad that he wasn't strong enough to pick some of them up. He picked one out that he could actually carry and was pretty happy about that one. He took his aggression out on the bigger ones however. After I had paid for a bundle of them for all the kids...he proceeded to push the big ones off the back of the hay wagon and busted 3 of them all up while I was packing a few to the car. Nice.

My little HE-MAN!

I told them to act like they liked each other for just a minute, so Cooper went in for a kiss....the kindness lasted about 2 seconds....

then it was back to this! Oh I love these boys! They sure do keep me on my toes!

Happy Fall Y'all!!

So Long Summer....

2010-10-05T20:29:00.003-06:00

Today REALLY felt like fall.

I love it!

So it's time to say goodbye to summer....

We are so lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful mountains. We love it there! We spend as much of our summers as possible there.

Cooper and Tanner have turned into little cowboys this summer. They both LOVE to ride....Mike can't sneak away very often without having at least one of them begging to go with him.

Cooper has even started riding ALONE...Well, Mike rides to the side of him....but he sits on the horse alone. It completley freaks me out! I hate horses. They scare me....so the fact that I let him even on those things is amazing. But what can I do.... I just smile and stay really far back...oh, and I pray alot. I know...I'm a whimp.

But they make such cute little cowboys!

So long summer! You will be missed...but not for a few months ;)

Preschool

2010-09-22T13:12:00.005-06:00

Cooper FINALLY started preschool. He has been waiting FOREVER.

(At least his whining about it makes it feel like forever)

All last year when we would drop the boys off at school,

he would cry to be able to go in with them.

He finally got his chance....and he was super excited.

At least until we got there....then he wasn't quite so sure about it.

He was brave though and had so much fun!

When I picked him up he told me that "Miss Jill is AWESOME!"
I asked him what he had learned about.
He thought about it for a minute, lifted up his shirt to show me his belly,
and started sucking it in and out and rolling it around.
"Dat what I learned" he said.
He was pretty proud of himself.

At least he learned something! lol

He loved wearing his new school clothes too...which is funny for a little boy. Especially him! He is happy with nothing on but his cowboy boots on the wrong feet.

The next day, he HAD to wear the same clothes again.
He cried and cried until I let him put them back on.
He told me he had to wear them to Amy's...
"because Sissy (he calls Alyssa "Sissy") thinks they are CUTE."

He is for sure my stubborn child.

It is going to be a great year!

First Day Of....

2010-09-22T12:46:00.004-06:00

and...
Yep, Kyler started High School this year.

and....off they go!

I'm Falling......

2010-09-16T22:31:00.002-06:00

..for Fall

Seriously, I am in love with the season!

It makes me giddy....

I love the crispness in the air.

I love the colors.

I love the way it brings out the homemaker in me....i want to craft, and decorate, and bake.

Welcome back Autumn....I have MISSED you!

Sum..Sum...Summertime!

2010-08-22T15:57:00.003-06:00

What is SUMMER without spending lots of time in the pool?? Sometimes I am tempted to move to Phoenix with my lil' sister just so we can have our own pool! The kids love it, and I love the sunshine....you wouldn't know it from the looks of my white legs...but it's true.

I was even able to get Kyler and Cade to tag along a few times this summer. It is getting harder and harder to get them to come with me as they get older...they are just too cool to hang out with me anymore. I drag them anyways and I know they have fun anyway!

Cooper really surprised me this year. He just started diving into the water head first and staying under for an uncomfortably long time for me. I didn't even know he knew how to hold his breath under water so I freaked out on him the first couple of times he did it....but he swims around like a little fish now. He loves it! I guess I need to get him into some lessons.

Now that summer is almost over, Tanner is finally getting brave enough to get off my lap. He is usually attached to me like a leech in the water.

We Don't Want Summer To End!!!

2010-08-17T22:46:00.003-06:00

We love it way to much.

Pioneer Day

2010-08-17T22:36:00.005-06:00

We celebrated the 24th of July with just Cooper and Tanner again. {Gosh, I miss my boys!!! Holidays just aren't the same without everyone with us.} We did manage though.....:) and we had a GREAT time despite our missing children.

I had never been to the Redmond Parade before. {In fact, I don't think I have ever celebrated the 24th anywhere besides Monroe} I was really confused when I thought the parade was over and everyone started standing up and I realized they were saluting the flag going by AGAIN?? The parade had turned around and was starting over again. Never seen that before....I love small towns!!
We couldn't get the popsicles down fast enough!
After the parade we packed a picnic and headed to the hills in the Jeep. We spent the rest of the day enjoying the mountains and each other!

My little cowboy...he was on the hunt for cows and coyotes.

We had to keep hiding the ax because Tanner wouldn't leave it alone. {Imagine that right? He doesn't leave ANYTHING alone...lol} I love that he is trying to look all innocent in this picture, when he knows he is in trouble.

And this is Cooper demonstrating what could happen if you don't leave the ax alone. You will end up looking like daddy. {who had his finger cut off with an ax when he was a little boy. Ouch}

The Great Outdoors

2010-08-10T20:51:00.006-06:00

This was BY FAR my favorite camping trip of the summer {so far}. I'm not sure what made it so fun...they are all fun...maybe it was because we had Kyler and Cade with us FINALLY! They have spent the majority of this summer with their dad, so any time they are with me I am super excited!

We did a little target practice.

All my boys love to shoot their bows....I guess it is never to young to start? Kyler and Cade have been practicing like crazy since they are both archery hunting this year.

I love how Tanner is pulling his cheek back with his string....He concentrates sooo hard...lol

We did a little horse riding.

Well, not me, but the little boys LOVE to go riding with Mike. It's a good thing someone will ride with him because it definetly won't be me. I have a scar on my arm from the last time he took me on a "beginner's" ride. (At least I stayed on my horse though...the rest of the girls that were with us all hit the ground)

Mike did talk Cade into a little ride though....and he actually had fun. But he made sure we knew he was NOT a cowboy and never would be.

We did alot of just hanging out being silly.

That was the best part... just spending time with my kids...without the everyday pressures of life keeping my brain going in all different directions. I love when I can just focus on them and enjoy their company. They are hillarious.....

I love the relationships my boys have with each other. They truly are best friends...and always have been.

They can only put up with my picture taking for so long...and then they get silly!

So we had a little dance party...Cooper can really shake a leg!

He keeps going...

and going.....

Kyler and Cade joined in with a little country dancing as well....complete with their pants pulled up as high as they can possibly go. I guess that is what cowboys look like to them.

Yikes....

I love making great memories with my family...and I love that my favorite memories are so simple to create. I plan on creating alot more of them!

Happy Birthday America

2010-07-08T18:24:00.000-06:00

We ♥ the 4th of July! We went to parades, fireworks, BBQ's, and lots of games at the parks. There is nothing like the fourth in a small town....they just know how to do it right!

We celebrated for 4 days this year, since it was spread out over the entire weekend.

It should always be so fun!

Cooper was trying to learn to rope....this one didn't go so good...lol.
There, thats better.

It was nice to spend a day on the mountain away from all the crowds on Sunday. We needed a break.

It was an awesome weekend....It wore us right out.

Happy Birthday America!

Danish Days

2010-07-06T19:10:00.002-06:00

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THIS YEAR'S DANISH DAYS CELEBRATION::

*Watching the parade from my parents front lawn

*Watching the boys faces as they watched the wagons go by

*Playing with cousins

*Grandma's homemade rootbeer

*Balloons!!

*The kids riding Grandpa's crazy bikes together in the parade...and planning what crazy bikes they can design and build for next year.

*Kyler tipping over the tall bike when a little girl ran out in front of him to catch candy...and him landing on his feet....luckily.

*Cousin sleepover at Grandma's

*Yummy food

*Rides in the Big Toy

*Taking turns riding around and around and around the block on the crazy bikes

*Motorcycle rides with Daddy

and the very best part of the weekend....

Getting to spend it with my ENTIRE family!

Every last crazy one of them!

HaPpY BiRtHdAy TaNnEr!!!

2010-07-06T18:13:00.003-06:00

My baby turned two!!!

He was so excited that he walked around for weeks before the big day singing Happy Birthday to himself.

Cade wanted to decorate Tanner's birthday cake this year, so he picked out the colors and decided how he wanted to do it....then he went to town! I was pretty impressed...I couldn't have done it any better...and I have decorated alot of cakes! Not bad for a first time huh?

It turned out really cute....Tanner loved it and wouldn't keep his fingers out of it

{ fishing }

2010-06-29T18:37:00.004-06:00

We joined with the multitudes of coal miners and their families to celebrate "free fishing day" compliments of Arch Coal. They filled us up on doughnuts and hot chocolate, made the rounds all morning with soft drinks....and topped it off with a BBQ lunch.

The kids fished for prizes....Madison actually won a sweet little fishing pole.

The boys had a ball...and Mike? Well, he was a busy guy keeping everyone's lines in the water. I can't say I'm much help in that department....It's to gross.

But I do love watching the kids catch fish and play with the worms.....their faces are priceless.

High School Here He Comes!!!

2010-06-13T11:55:00.005-06:00

{8th Grade Graduation}

I can't believe I have a soon~to~be HIGH SCHOOLER!!

During Kyler's graduation, my mind kept flashing back to his Preschool Graduation. (Wasn't that just yesterday??) I kept picturing him so little with his cute little freckles and his shy little grin....and then looking at him now so grown up.

I am so proud of the young man that he has become, and I am so lucky to be his mom!!!

Focus

2010-05-24T18:24:00.001-06:00

Lately I feel like I am spinning.

My mind is pulled in so many different directions.

So many activities, so many kids, so much work to do, so many projects, so many things I’m involved in. So many GOOD things, and so little time!

I love all of them and do not want to give any of them up….in fact I have a tendency to keep adding more to my plate just because I am always looking for something new to do. ( I get bored REALLY easy)

There are so many things I want to do…so many things I feel like I SHOULD be doing with/for my kids….so many things I want to create….so many that I feel overwhelmed at times.

And I do it to myself.
So…my new goal for this summer is to FOCUS….

I am going to focus on unwinding….relaxing…..enjoying.

I am going to savor these moments in my children’s lives before they go and grow up on me. I am going to play more and stress less.

I am only going to do those things on my internal “to do list” that make me smile….and ignore the things that make me cringe (Okay maybe I can’t ignore everything that makes me cringe…but I am going to ignore everything I can get away with. Just for a little while)

I am going to FOCUS on my family and making memories.

It is going to be a fabulous summer….I can’t wait!

Hey....

2010-05-16T16:39:00.002-06:00

at least he stopped to put on his boots before he snuck outside

to check on his baby chicks...

he knows what's important!

{april catch up}

2010-05-04T20:43:00.004-06:00

I can't believe it's already May....April buzzed right by me I guess. Time for a little catch up of a few April happenings!
Cade went and turned 12 on me.....

12!

Already??

(Man, next year we will have 3 teenagers in our home. Yikes!)

Maddie finally gave in and got glasses!
She looks really cute in them...

when she will wear them.

Hagen got to build a car with his dad, and race in the Pinewood Derby....

I love how all my pictures of him show his anticipation with his hands up by his mouth.

He must have been nervous!

Kyler and Cade have been busy with Jiu-Jitsu classes. They LOVE it!

They are constantly practicing on each other, and teaching each other new moves.

They are REALLY GOOD.

I love going to the studio and watching them.

Maddie and Hagen have been playing soccer.

I love to watch them learn...they get better every year.

This picture makes me laugh....Hagen battling for the ball with his own team-mate, while the other team watches ... too cute.

Doesn't Hagen ROCK that pink jersey???

Cooper is the kid's biggest fan! He likes to cheer from the sidelines....I think it embarrasses them a little, but they like it. (His dad bought him this new cowboy hat and he won't take it off!)

And then there's Tanner....what a busy kid! He is giving us a run for our money! You can see the remnants of what was a HUGE goose-egg on the side of his head in this picture. He climbed up on the bar stool to get his own drink of water, fell off and landed on his head. He ended up in the ER with a concussion. After we got him home, he slept for 5 hours straight....woke up, went into the kitchen, pushed the bar stool back over to the sink and climbed up on it again! Stubborn kid!

So there you have it....April in a nutshell.

Bring on May!!

This Crazy Spring Weather....

2010-04-28T22:02:00.003-06:00

Isn't getting these boys down!!!

Who needs sunshine and waterparks when you can just grab your swimsuit

and head to mom's shower? They think this is just as fun!!!

I, on the other hand, am TIRED of the SNOW!!! ugh....

The Power of Moms

2010-04-25T19:00:00.000-06:00

Being a mom…..how do you even describe it? Its crazy, hard, silly, wonderful, heartbreaking, heartwarming, frustrating, painful, joyful, difficult, and fun ….and that doesn’t even touch the surface of what it is. To me being a mom is everything! I love it!! But it is hard, so I am always on the lookout for ways to improve and grow as a mom. I take it pretty seriously.

I was so excited and impressed when I found The Power Of Moms. It’s filled with tools designed to empower mothers. Their goal is to nurture the woman inside the mother, to help mothers be truly happy. I love it! In fact, I love it so much that I have found myself on their board….I am so excited to work with this group of women! I have already learned so much from this network of moms going through their own adventure in mothering. You can too!

If you love being a mom, but are in need of some nurturing ….check out The Power of Moms. It will uplift and inspire you as a woman….and help you to realize that what we do as moms, really does matter.

**If you live in my area and want to participate in a Mothers Learning Circle (read about them here)…please let me know. We are getting one together, and there are a few spots left!

easter 2010

2010-04-18T15:26:00.003-06:00

I can't forget to post Easter! While we were spending time with family in Phoenix, Mike was holding down the fort with the other kids. It sounds like they had a ball hanging with Dad. I had a really hard time being away from the little ones....especially since it was Easter and I didn't want to miss their cute little faces, and the squeals of excitement. They make everything so much fun! But Mike was great...he made sure to take pictures for me so I didn't feel so left out.
Their plan was to go camping, but the weather just wouldn't cooperate this year. It just kept snowing! But it didn't stop the Easter Bunny from visiting....he sure delivered this year!

They had a fun Easter Egg Hunt at Grandma Susan's house.

Madison and Hagen even stopped by for a while.

The weather was good enough in the afternoon that they went into the foothills and dutch-ovened ribs...oh my mouth is watering at the thought of them.

This is the boy's FAVORITE thing to do....hunt in the hills with their toy guns. So they were in heaven! They are OBSESSED! Whenever I ask them what they would like to do, they tell me GO HUNTING~

I love this pic of them just hanging out. It is classic Cooper and Tanner....Cooper looking like he is going to cry and Tanner scowling. That's my little cowboys!

Happy Easter!

spring break

2010-04-07T22:25:00.009-06:00

We had the BEST time in Phoenix visiting my little sister Elizabeth and her family. It has been way too long since we visited...so I took Kyler and Cade and tagged along with my parents (and my nephew Wyatt) on a road trip. It was just what we needed!
After 10 long hours driving, we finally found the sunshine...and I couldn't have been happier!

Of course we have to make a few stops along the way to break up the monotony of the drive. We always like to stop at the Glen Canyon Dam and check out the view....

We spent Friday at a really fun interactive zoo and aquarium....the boys liked the animals and I loved just being able to spend time with them. It is really hard at our house with so many kids, (especially with little kids), to get to spend alone time with these two. They are older and don't really need me as much as the others, so they don't get as much attention from me as they used to. So it was awesome to get to focus ALL my attention on them for a change. It really made me realize how grown up they are getting, and how little time I have left with them under my roof. I need to stop taking that time for granted!!

These are my cute nephews...Zach and Darian. They were pretty excited to show us around. I have never met such smart kids in my entire life. They are like little walking encyclopedias. WOW! They taught me a thing or two let me tell ya! What some awesome little tour guides!

Kyler and Wyatt cooling off a bit.

This zoo was really fun because you got to really interact with all kinds of animals and sea life.

The animals are super friendly...a little too friendly at times.

This turtle really wanted Cade's drink....

My awesome little sister Elizabeth and my nephew Max.

This goat wanted to eat Cade's shoelaces....

and I'm not sure what this goat was doing....see? a little too friendly.

This deer kept sucking on Cade's shirt....I wish you could see Cade's face better. It was pretty funny because he was really disguisted by this. lol

Kyler got to feed the baby giraffe.

This one was a little too close for me....

and this one too! Kyler wasn't too sure about reaching up to touch the sleeping leopard...we didn't want him to wake up in a bad mood.

Wyatt trying to make a new friend.

After the zoo we went down to the Mesa Temple and watched the Easter pagent that they put on there every year. It was amazing! What a cool experience! I didn't get any pictures because, well, I was too lazy to haul my camera bag around. But I wish I had! The temple grounds were beautiful too...all the flowers in bloom and the palm trees. WOW! It even smelled incredible!

I soaked it in let me tell you!

So, the next day we spent at the Science Center and Planetarium in downtown Phoenix. This was really fun...especially for Cade. It is full of all kinds of science exhibits that are hands on. This was perfect for him because he has to fiddle and play with EVERYTHING and here, no one tells you to leave it alone!

We watched a cool IMAX movie that totally creeped me out.

(I hate snakes and creepy crawly things. Especially in 3D)

Kyler trying on diffrent glasses that simulate diffrent levels of blindness. It really made him greatful for his eyesight!

Kyler trying out the bed of nails. OUCH!

I am so grateful for my parents. They are awesome! My kids have so much fun with them.....and they are such good examples to my boys.

I am really lucky to have such a great family!

We had alot of fun with Elizabeth and her family as well. We talked and ate, and laughed and ate, and shopped and ate. They definitely can cook at that house!

On the way home, we stopped at the Glen Canyon Dam again, and this time got to go on the tour down into the bottom of the dam. That was pretty cool....except the elevator ride. Creepy. That is a LONG ways down.

This is what is at the bottom....just some pretty big generators.

But it was fun to learn how it all works.

And it wouldn't be Easter without a picnic and a few Easter Eggs on the long ride home.

It was a fabuous weekend with some fabulous people!

busted

2010-03-22T21:27:00.003-06:00

I really don't know what I am going to do with my 2 little ones...all I can think of is if they are still doing at 12 and 14 what they are doing at 1 and 3, I am in big trouble! Tonight I busted them, trying to go for a jeep ride...all by themselves.

I was cooking dinner when I realized my house was way too quite. So, I followed the trail of toys out to the garage where I could see them playing in the jeep. Don't ask me how they got the door open and got up in there...its pretty high up for a couple of little boys. But they managed! I grabbed my camera and snuck out....I pulled open the door real fast and snapped my picture, not really sure what I was going to catch them doing. I caught them trying to start the jeep with a set of keys they had somehow managed to get off the top of the washer....They even had the keys in the ignition! And notice who the instigator is....my 1 year old!!!

Then he sat down on the seat and told me "bye bye" , waved and blew me a kiss.

Seriously?

monkey

2010-03-16T21:40:00.002-06:00

It's time to put my little monkey in a big boy bed. I am really struggling with it...he's my BABY. Gosh, I have issues...ANYWAYS. Tanner has found a taste of freedom. He has learned to escape the crib. He swings his legs over the side and slides down the bars...and he never falls. It's enough to give me a heartattack every time he does it (he's quite an acrobat...you should see what he does at Amy's! He does a somersault into the pack and play that he naps in! See? He IS a monkey.)
Tonight should be fun...we'll see how he handles a new bed. It can't be worse than last night when he went from being my sweet baby who goes to bed at 7:30 without a whimper, to being a screaming monster until midnight because he kept jumping out of his crib and I kept putting him back in. I really could have used Supernanny to cheer me on. But I was glad to know that her bedtime routine really does work. After doing it for HOURS, I FINALLY won the battle!

It's always an adventure with Tanner around!

home

2010-03-10T19:58:00.005-07:00

I guess it's time to decorate my walls. We have lived in this house for a year now. As odd as it sounds, it has taken a while to feel like home and I haven't been inspired to do much yet. So far the only things on my walls are a couple things in the boys rooms, and Mike's deer horns from this year that he put up temporarily to admire and never took back down. So....it's time.

As I go through each room spring cleaning, I need to start decorating. But I'm going to be picky! The things on our walls are embedded in our minds because we view them everyday. I want my kids to know they are valued and loved, so I want LOTS of pictures of our family. I want sayings that uplift us, pictures to help us remember what is important, and things that make us smile! I want it to feel like home. I can still remember everything on the walls of my home growing up. It's funny what an influence those things can be, and I had never really thought very much about it before. I am excited to do it with this new perspective.

I have alot of decorations all in a pile waiting to be put up, but I want to add a few things. I have seen this idea all over the web. It's a list of family rules. I have wanted to sit down and make up my own list...but I never seem to have the time! I was excited to find a set of rules that was just what I wanted, so I copied her list and made my own picture to be framed. (She has some great ideas, so you will have to check her out.)

Hopefully, by the time our kids are grown up and moved out, these family rules will be embedded in their brains!

spring cleaning

2010-03-08T23:26:00.002-07:00

Our annual Spring Cleaning Frenzy has begun...and my kids are excited.

Just look at those faces!! We will see how long THAT lasts...lol

I have to admit that teaching my kids to work ( and doing it with a smile) can be a challenge sometimes. It is honestly just easier to do it myself sometimes and I give in to that temptation far too often. But I really want my kids to learn the value of hard work and to enjoy the rewards that come from it. I have found some great ideas that hopefully will help in the areas we struggle in, so for the rest of the month I am really going to focus on putting them into practice. My goal at the end of the month is for my house to shine..and for my kids to be able to clean a toilet and smile at the same time...(haha because I know that has NEVER happened in this house)!

tanner

2010-03-02T21:15:00.004-07:00

Tanner is a biter....and he does it ALOT!
I have been trying to figure out a way to get him to stop it because it is getting pretty ridiculous. He not only bites when he is mad (which is alot), but he bites just for fun. I can't tell you how many times I have been laying on the couch and he will sneak up and bite my toes...HARD. And then he will laugh....HARD. It is really getting old.

Now, judge me if you will, but because nothing else was working, I decided I was going to try a new approach that people kept telling me works. The next time he bit someone, I was going to bite him back. Not hard or anything. I just wanted him to know how it feels...and ten minutes later I had the chance. He bit Cooper for absolutely no reason at all. So I scooped him into my lap, took a deep breath, pushed aside the guilt, and bit him. He stared at me for a second, blinked away a couple of tears and told me "NO! NO!" then he jumped off my lap and ran into his room. I'm pretty sure it was harder on me than it was on him, but I was really hoping he learned his lesson (haha) and went in to do some laundry. A few minutes later I was bent over, putting some clothes in the washer, and I felt his little teeth clamping down on my arm! Hard. And then he stepped back, held his arm out to me and said "bite me". He wanted me to do it again! This was not the result I wanted...I wanted him to know it hurts to bite and never do it again. All I taught him was a fun new game!

So I am throwing it out to you.....anyone have a great idea to stop a biter??
(Because NOTHING is working!!)

Today I'm...

2010-02-25T19:28:00.003-07:00

Living in the moment!!

I am not thinking of things I should be doing, or planning dinner, or dwelling on the fact that a load of laundry is waiting for the dryer. Instead I am going to remind myself that this IS what I should be doing...and I am going to live each moment and focus on the faces in front of me.

I am definitely not going to feel guilty for not being productive...

because really what is more important?

I'd Forgotten

2010-02-24T22:22:00.003-07:00

I'd forgotten what it feels like to spend a whole day doing nothing but snuggling my babies. It's been a while. Not that I like the circumstances that made them want to spend a whole day in my lap...being sick is never a good thing. But I soaked it up for sure....even the fist fights over who got mommy all to themselves was kind of cute. I don't know why they can't share me...my lap is big enough for the both of them if they would just hold still.

I really dread the day my lap is empty. Maybe we should adopt...
JUST KIDDING MIKE!! sort of....
It's just that this feels kind of awkward.....

My New Obsession

2010-02-23T16:17:00.001-07:00

This blog has become my newest obsession....
If you love Pottery Barn or Land of Nod Furniture you have to check this out.

She has COMPLETE plans, instructions, and supply lists....FREE

I want to build one of everything!!

ANYONE WANT TO JOIN ME? BRING YOUR HAMMER AND COME OVER!!

The Dinosaur Did It

2010-02-22T19:12:00.002-07:00

If you ask Cooper where he got the scratch on his face....
he will tell you a dinosaur did it.

If you ask Cooper why Tanner is crying....
he will tell you a dinosaur did it.

If you ask Cooper who made the mess of all the toys...
he will tell you a dinosaur did it.

So when Cooper asks me who ate the last of his Valentine's candy I will tell him...
a dinosaur did it!

SWEETHEARTS

2010-01-28T21:27:00.001-07:00

Check it out!

2010-01-20T13:38:00.005-07:00

With the new year, I decided to start a new project. Check it out here. It's a new blog. I have seen these all over the web, and I love the idea. Taking a snapshot of each day is a great way to remember all the LITTLE MOMENTS that normally don't make my blog, but that I cherish just the same. They are moments that I don't want to forget....so why not document them. At the end of the year, I want to make a photo book of all our day to days.....I'm excited! I can pretty much guarantee that I won't be posting to it everyday...but I do take pictures everyday....and they will EVENTUALLY get posted. Wish me luck!!!

Cooper's Snowman

2010-01-20T12:48:00.006-07:00

Cooper has been begging us to help him build a snowman....

so today was his lucky day.

oops....lost the glove...again.

Tanner decided for a split second to help....

must have been too much work because it didnt last long

♥ Cooper's Masterpiece ♥

{ice fishing}

2010-01-20T12:44:00.003-07:00

Mike decided to take a few of the kids up to Fishlake ice fishing on Sunday.....

I have to admit I wasn't very excited about the idea because I couldn't be there to make sure that no one fell in. (Not that I could save them if they did...but that's what I do when I go ice fishing....keep everyone away from the holes.) I have a cousin that wears an innertube around her waist when she ice fishes in case she falls in. I thought that was an excellent idea (LOL) , Mike thought I was out of my mind.

{Sledding}

2010-01-02T20:57:00.000-07:00

We brought in the New Year with a day of sledding. The kids had to try out some new sleds/tubes that they got for Christmas.

That darn broken collarbone kept Cade off the hills....but Cade has a talent of making his own fun no matter what. He still had a good time!

Madison was the brave one. She hit the biggest hills she could find.

Cooper found a way to sled without the sled. Gotta love those slick snow pants.

My favorite thing about sledding is watching the kids faces as they go racing down the hills and hearing them squeal and laugh. The worst part is the tears...someone always gets hurt. I think we had four injuries that day....a bruised tailbone, a bloody lip, a twisted wrist and a fistfight over a sled with a kick to the mouth. We even brought in the coyotes with all the crying...they must have thought there was a dying rabbit somewhere nearby. Sure sounded like it. But still, look at these faces! The tears dried up fast and we had a great time....despite the injuries.

Christmas Rocked!

2009-12-26T22:28:00.000-07:00

The kids were so fun this year! So happy and grateful for everything....makes all the work worth it, doesn't it? We were excited to finally have Madison for Christmas morning. We have never had her for that, so it was fun! She was so cute with the little boys...sharing in their excitement. We missed the older boys though.

Merry Christmas 2009

Dear Santa...

2009-12-22T21:30:00.000-07:00

Cooper is finally starting to grasp the whole Santa Clause thing...so when I told him to write Santa a letter to let him know what he would like for Christmas he was all over it.

Here it is...the final product. In case you need help "reading" it, it says he would like a MOTORCYCLE. Where did he come up with that one...and why can't he get it out of his head???

Julander Christmas Party

2009-12-19T21:58:00.000-07:00

Christmas would not be Christmas without a party at Grandma and Grandpa's house. It is one of my favorite traditions! I felt bad I didn't get very many pictures...it was a little chaotic with my 2 little ones.
The candy bar game....looks like Cade was a winner.

Grandma made the little ones vests and chaps....They LOVE them!

What some cute cowboys!

What is it with my kids and Santa?

2009-12-19T21:40:00.001-07:00

They ALWAYS cry.
He doesn't even have to do anything. Just being in his presence makes them scream in terror.

Poor little guys.

These two smiled...for the picture at least. Talk about embarrassing....right Maddie?? I know secretly they loved it though HAHA....(even if it was just for the bag of candy). I'm glad they were such good sports. I needed one picture with Santa of a child not acting like the world was ending.

After the kids sat on Santa's lap at our Ward Christmas Party, we sat down to eat breakfast. We were sitting pretty close to Santa Clause and Cooper kept staring him down. Finally, he asked me where Santa's reindeer were. I told him we should go ask him...so we walked over to Santa. Cooper wouldn't get very close, but he got closer than I thought he would. He very timidly asked Santa where his reindeer were. I was so proud of him! Silly I know, but he is so scared of him...that was a huge step! Santa explained that he had left his reindeer on the mountain in the snow because they liked it there. Cooper thought that was pretty cool and ran back to tell his dad. Maybe next year we won't have tears!

King For The Day

2009-12-18T21:17:00.002-07:00

Cade got to be the boss for a few days....we were completly at his command. He broke his collarbone wresling in PE and it really put him down for a few days. Not the funnest way to spend Christmas Vacation!

Deck The Halls

2009-12-09T23:02:00.003-07:00

We finally got out the Christmas Decorations...and boy did I have alot of help!
Tanner knew right away that socks go on your feet, so he decided to get dressed. He put on his hat and a couple socks.....it didn't work out very good for him after he tried to walk on the hardwood floor and fell a few times.
Cooper found a tree just his size and decorated it all by himself for his bedroom.

Cade and Hagen were in charge of the pickle this year. It's a tradition in my family to hide a pickle in the Christmas tree....whoever finds it first gets all the good luck that year. They must have hidden it really good, because no one has found it yet....

Kyler is so good to help the little ones participate.....even at the expense of his face. He was scratched and dug letting Tanner hang some ornaments. lol

After a whole lotta chasing the little boys up and down the ladder, they were sent off to bed so we could actually get some decorating done....I do love my little helpers, but sometimes they make things a little too crazy!

Birthday Wishes

2009-12-04T22:51:00.000-07:00

Hagen got a camera for his birthday. He has been asking us for one for a while...so he was pretty excited to get one finally. He spent all weekend taking pictures. Every time I would pull out my camera, he would get his out too. He took pictures of Madison during her whole basketball game, trying to get a good shot of her. He would try all diffrent positions and angles. He told me he wants to open a studio for kids and take lots of pictures...sounds like fun to me! I laughed pretty hard when he told me the one thing he has learned so far....it is to always wipe Tanner's nose before you take his picture. (Good thing to remember since that is something I can't quite seem to do!)

The Countdown....

2009-12-02T21:36:00.007-07:00

has begun!

We are baking.....

We are crafting.......

We are celebrating the season!!!

O' Christmas Tree

2009-12-01T23:07:00.005-07:00

Can you believe it's this time of year again? Seriously, where does the time go.....it seems like we just did this!

I have to be honest....hunting the perfect Christmas tree kinda makes me crazy. I am sooo not picky about a tree....just cut one down and lets go! It's cold!! Mike on the other hand....is very picky. It has to be just right. Lucky for me this year, we found the perfect one right off the side of the road. Yay! I was excited this year to be able to get a really big tree....and it is huge!

The kids had a ball playing in the snow. There is nothing like watching your babies do something for the first time. Tanner kept saying "OH! OH! BRRRR! OH! OH!" He didn't really know what to think of the snow. And Cooper couldn't for the life of him figure out what in the heck we were doing with that tree. He thinks it's hillarious that we took it home and put it in our house. He can't figure out what is going on. It makes this time of year so much fun! I love seeing life through my kids eyes....it makes everything magical.

We had to stop and roast up some hot dogs for lunch. By this time we were all pretty much soaking wet.....so that fire felt mighty fine!

{30/30}

2009-11-19T22:36:00.000-07:00

{29/30}

2009-11-17T22:21:00.001-07:00

Kyler is the BEST brother....he helps me so much EVERY DAY....and he doesn't complain! His teacher told me today that she wishes all her school kids were as good as he is.....I have heard people say that alot about him. He is without a doubt, one in a million! I am so glad he's mine.

{28/30}

2009-11-16T22:10:00.003-07:00

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! WE LOVE YOU!!!

Cooper's Birthday {27/30}

2009-11-11T20:41:00.000-07:00

All Cooper wanted for his Birthday was dinosaurs...actually, he just wanted a "Big, Big Blue Dinosaur". (I couldn't find one anywhere, but I don't really think he knows what the color blue is yet...so I think I'm safe)

He had a hard time holding his pinky down to show how old he was....he would scrunch his face up in concentration everytime...and he had to physically hold the pinky down with his other hand. Sooo funny. At first he kept argueing with me telling me he was five and holding up four fingers. He said "my daddy says five!!" So I told Mike he needed to correct him, because he didn't believe me that he was three....so Mike showed him the right way, and now when I ask him he tells me "My daddy says three"....it's so funny to me that he would only believe his dad.

He got so many fun toys....

HAPPY BIRTHDAY COOPER!!!

{26/30}

2009-11-10T22:30:00.003-07:00

I need a RAINCOAT to survive bath time at my house. It honestly took 4 bath towels to soak up all the water they flooded the floor with tonight! What a mess.....but they are oh so cute! I can never stay mad for long.
Tanner has an obsession with the bathtub. He won't stay out of it! (He can even climb into my jetted tub...and it's quite a climb.) He dumps all the tub toys in, climbs in, plugs the drain and turns it on.....he doesn't even care that he is still fully clothed and has his shoes on! The other day I had to change him out of wet clothes 3 times, right in a row. Gotta watch that little one close!!

{25/30}

2009-11-09T22:05:00.000-07:00

Soooo Yummy! I have made 3 pans of these in the past couple of weeks....they disappear fast!

{24/30}

2009-11-08T20:48:00.002-07:00

I had the MOST amazing weekend! My mom, 2 of my sisters and I ran away from home for a few days (We missed you Elizabeth!!) We went to St. George to "Time out for Women". It was SOOOOO good. (If you ever get the chance to go...GO!) I learned so much.....not just from the presenters and musicians at the event, but from spending time with my family. I have the most amazing mom and sisters! I admire them all so much...they are the best moms and wives and well, they are just amazing women! I am constantly learning from their examples and I am so so grateful for them.

We met Mary Ellen Edmunds. (in the red shirt) She was one of the presenters at the event. She is hillarious!

I came home completly inspired to be a better mom and wife...I think I returned a better ME!!

Don't you just love to run away sometimes?

{23/30}

2009-11-05T22:45:00.003-07:00

The boys and I have started our Thanksgiving Countdown. I had been looking for something to help us celebrate Thanksgiving by teaching them to be thankful...and I found a cute idea here. Everyday we draw a slip....it tells us something to be thankful for, and has a little activity that goes along with it. It's pretty cute!

{22/30}

2009-11-03T20:22:00.001-07:00

Cade has been practicing magic tricks...

he is actually pretty good, and quite entertaining to watch.

I love that he is so good, he even amazes himself! lol

{21/30}

2009-11-02T20:15:00.001-07:00

Cooper goes to bed prepared....every night we have to tuck an arsonal of weapons and a few horses into his bed with him. Tonight he had 2 guns, 3 horses and his bow beside him.

You never know what you might need in your dreams!

{20/30}

2009-11-01T20:43:00.000-07:00

{19/30}

2009-10-31T20:26:00.001-06:00

We had an awesome Halloween!!!

My little monkeys.
They were so cute...they would walk around making monkey noises.
They were really into the candy.
Tanner had a melt down after a few houses....he just wanted to be left alone with his loot.

He was eating it as fast as he could...wrappers and all. He was so mad at me when I put it up and told him no more.

Kyler and Cade used to let me dress them up cute for Halloween. Ya, those days are long gone.
Now its all about gore and scaring the snot out of your little brothers and then laughing your head off. Not so cute boys...not so cute.

{18/30}

2009-10-30T20:13:00.002-06:00

Rhyn and Lori's Fabulous Halloween Party!

Seriously....she went all out. It was sooo much fun.

There was even a tarot card reader.....my future?

I drew the "love shines eternal" card....sounds good to me!!

She said I was a lucky girl....I think she's right.

{17/30}

2009-10-29T20:21:00.000-06:00

Cade's classic response to my constant picture taking.

He is THRILLED!

{16/30}

2009-10-28T20:23:00.002-06:00

You would never believe how much these two fight.

and I mean all.the.time.

Tanner is one tough little dude....

I guess this is evidence that these two actually like each other...sometimes.

{15/30}

2009-10-27T19:56:00.006-06:00

This has been our "everyday" for the past few weeks....we have been feeling a bit under the weather. We have spent alot of time together snuggled up on the couch, watching movies. The boys have had a bad cold....and I......well, I have spent the past couple weeks basically thinking I was dying. My heart went a little crazy on me....it was scary. But, I had a heart scan on Friday, and today the Dr told me that everything else looked good. So once I get used to the medication to control it....I should be good as new! What a relief....nothing like your life flashing before your eyes.

Cooper was feeling "under the weather" too....he fell and broke his front tooth in half.

So...we had to have it pulled. Mike promised him a new machine gun if he would be good for the dentist....he came home with 2 of them.

I'm hoping our "everydays" around here will calm down just a little bit!!

Happy Birthday Maddie!!!

2009-10-24T19:54:00.000-06:00

{14/30}

2009-10-14T20:39:00.000-06:00

{13/30}

2009-10-13T20:36:00.000-06:00

{12/30}

2009-10-12T22:40:00.003-06:00

The Thurston Family

Punkin Patch 2011

So excited for this!!

So Long Summer.....

it's quiet around here...

ouch

Imagination

t-ball

womens conference

sigh....

easter 2011

Boys.....

Power of Moms Retreat

13

What you BE, they will BECOME

Scenes from the Weekend

Banana French Toast

soccer

lessons

BMX

Scenes from the weekend

Blah Blah Blog

{365}

I received a ......

{365}

{365}

{365}

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE

{my life 365}

My Life 365

Christmas 2010

Poor Santa....

O Christmas Tree....O Christmas Tree

Turkey Day

{four}

Meet Tom...

HaLLoWeEn 2010

{{Pumpkin Heads}}

So Long Summer....

Preschool

First Day Of....

I'm Falling......

Sum..Sum...Summertime!

We Don't Want Summer To End!!!

Pioneer Day

The Great Outdoors

Happy Birthday America

Danish Days

HaPpY BiRtHdAy TaNnEr!!!

{ fishing }

High School Here He Comes!!!

Focus

Hey....

{april catch up}

This Crazy Spring Weather....

The Power of Moms

easter 2010

spring break

busted

monkey

home

spring cleaning

tanner

Today I'm...

I'd Forgotten

My New Obsession

The Dinosaur Did It

SWEETHEARTS

Check it out!

Cooper's Snowman

{ice fishing}

{Sledding}

Christmas Rocked!

Dear Santa...

Julander Christmas Party

What is it with my kids and Santa?

King For The Day

Deck The Halls

Birthday Wishes

The Countdown....