Christmas Tag

A friend of mine had this posted on her blog, so I thought I would tag a few of you out there in blog land. Copy to your blog...and don't be a SCROOGE!
WRAPPING PAPER OR GIFT BAGS? wrapping paper
REAL OR ARTIFICIAL TREE? Artificial - the hold more decorations!
WHEN DO YOU PUT UP THE TREE? Always the day after Thanksgiving
WHEN DO YOU TAKE THE TREE DOWN? Within a week after Christmas is over
DO YOU LIKE EGGNOG? No
FAVORITE GIFT RECEIVED AS A CHILD? Cabbage Patch doll, her name was Leanna Lorelle and I am pretty sure my mom risked life and limb to make this Christmas wish happen
WORST CHRISTMAS GIFT EVERY RECEIVED? I know there has been one, but I just don't know if it's smart to share...someone may get offended, besides it's the thought that counts.
HARDEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? My parents and Steve's parents
EASIEST PERSON TO BUY FOR? Cooper and Payton
DO YOU HAVE A NATIVITY SCENE? Yes - I have 4
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS MOVIE? Christmas Vacation
WHEN DO YOU START SHOPPING? Day after Thanksgiving, something about the thrill of a good deal is so enticing to me, however since Cooper came around, Steve has been the one to face the crowds...I go later in the day when the crowds have died down.
HAVE YOU EVER RE-GIFTED A GIFT? No.
FAVORITE THING TO EAT AT CHRISTMAS? Turtles, what's not to love about chocolate, caramel and pecans
COLOR OF LIGHTS ON THE TREE? White
FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG? "I'll Be Home for Christmas" sung by Donny Osmond
TRAVEL AT CHRISTMAS OR STAY HOME? Stay Home
CAN YOU NAME ALL OF SANTA'S REINDEER? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixon, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen & Rudolph
ANGEL OR STAR ON TOP OF THE TREE? Star
WHEN DO YOU OPEN PRESENTS - CHRISTMAS EVE OR CHRISTMAS DAY? Both - we open Christmas PJ's on Christmas Eve, and we get to open cousin gifts and gifts from my parents
MOST ANNOYING THING ABOUT THIS TIME OF YEAR? Greed. I wish I was able to get Christmas for every child who may not have Christmas, and take away Christmas from every kid with a Christmas list a mile long.
FAVORITE ORNAMENT ON THE TREE? Our tree is jeweled fruit, so the favorite fruit oranament is the grapes
WHAT DO YOU WANT FOR CHRISTMAS? My family all around me, and a scentsy candle.

I tag Lonna, Tawnia, Melissa, and Kenzie.

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas!!

All Aboard the Snow Train!!

Well the day has finally arrived that Steve has been waiting for!! For the last 3 years and 12 days Steve has been waiting to play in the snow with Cooper. They had so much fun and they built this really cute snow train! We had quite a congregation of kids looking at the train on their way home from school and Cooper kept yelling, "ALL ABOARD!!" The art of packing the snow just right...
The architects

Food coloring, and a spray bottle...

And VOILA!!!

WOWEE!! COOPER TURNS 3!!

Superman birthday cake of course!!
Superman t-shirt... check( I should have gotten 2 because I know this will be what he wants to wear everyday!!)

The anticipation is so exciting...

Super cool geo trax airport!! If I would've known how cool this toy was I would have made up some excuse to get it earlier!! It is so cool and so fun! Coop has played with it for hours and hours!!

Well I can't believe it, but Cooper turned 3 on Friday! I honestly cannot believe that he's been around for 3 years. He is a great kid and watching him grow and learn has been one of the greatest joys of my life. He is such a funny kid and so imaginative. This year we went from talking about basketball and playing basketball all the time, to loving trains and superheroes. His little imagination is on overdrive all day switching back and forth between batman and superman and driving trains through tunnels and over bridges. And of course I (batgirl, supergirl, or Robin) have loved playing along!! And of course we became a big brother this year. I love watching these two together. Payton absolutely in enthralled with all things Cooper and Cooper watches out for him. Lately they have been playing TOGETHER!! For the past few months every toy commercial that comes on TV is followed with, "I can get that for my birthday!" and as a result opening presents this year has been so much fun!!

Happy Anniversary!!

Well from the events of the day, you wouldn't know that Steve and I are celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary...Cooper is sick (what else is new), and the day became a wash because we are both tired and confined to home so as not to spread the stomach flu. Nonetheless, our wedding day has been playing like a movie in my mind and I feel like it was yesterday, not 6 years ago!! I looked through our wedding pictures today and had forgotten that some people had been there and that some had not, I was surprised how different everyone looked, and I laughed at the family pictures of Steve and I with all of the nieces and nephews...so many new ones have come, and one has gone. But what didn't surprise me was how quickly the memories of my time with Steve on that day came. I remember very clearly walking down the hall in the temple to be united with him. He looked radiant. I remember sitting in a sealing room alone, and laughing over trivial things, like it was any ordinary day. I remember prompting him to say "yes" from across the altar when the time came. I remember the way his hands felt in my hands, mostly because they still feel the same way. I remember being so tired and running solely on adrenaline. I remember feeling overwhelmed before our reception and Steve sensing that and scooping me up off the floor to dance me back to a calm state. And I remember watching the clock waiting for the reception to be over so I could have him all to myself. We have made it through trials that I never thought we would have to face, and through joys that I never knew were possible. We have brought 2 amazing boys into this world, and I am always amazed that we made them!! He is truly my best friend and I know that we can do anything as long as we do it together! I love you Steve!! Happy Anniversary!

Have you ever...

I pulled this off of my friend Lonna's blog. I thought this was a fun list to share, and I hope others do it too! Just copy and paste the list and the highlight the ones you have done. I am so far behind on posting pictures that maybe this will give me the motivation to get blogging again. And here we go.
1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band, the oboe in 6th grade, a band is a band!!
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea, not at sea but over a lake
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child, nope but I have adopted cats!!
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept on an overnight train, nope but many an overnight bus trip...no fun!
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitch hiked, when I was 12 or 13 all the way to the mall, fortunately a friend's mom was the one that picked us up!
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Ran a Marathon, no, but I will run a half marathon in JUNE!!
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run--if kickball counts then yes.
32. Been on a cruise, just a lake cruise which was absolutely fantastic, and I hope to go on a REAL one someday.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied, not anymore but it was fun while it lasted.
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain.
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie, just the home variety.
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies--nope but I sure have eaten my fair share.
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy, not a toy, but a book.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chickenpox
89. Saved someone's life, my brother saved mine, I fell through the ice in the dead of winter, and he pulled me out...thanks Bob
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club, anyone who has read Twilight belongs to a club!!
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee

BATMAN

Cooper was ab;e to see one of his hero's at the pumpkin walk this year. He is very into superhero's and we often hear him singing the batman and superman theme songs.
Here is our little superhero in action.

When he is in this costume he does not refer to us as Mom, Dad, and Payton. It is Robin, the Joker and the incredible hulk.

To the bat Cave Robin!

Just a Happy Baby!!

Just a little post about Payton! He is such a happy baby and we love having him around. You know they always say that your first 2 babies are complete opposites, well that's true for us in so many ways...but we were incredibly blessed to have 2 happy, smiley kids!! There are a few differences...Payton is a EATER!! He eats like crazy, he is one of those kids that if you put a cereal on his high chair tray he will stay there happily content for a LONG time. Payton sleeps on his own...HALLELUJAH! Cooper was terrible about going to sleep in his crib, as a matter of fact we hardly even used it with Coop. He is incredibly curious and everything goes in his mouth. He has really started to be able to get around and we have to make sure the coast is clear because we know if there is the slightest crumb on the ground it's going in. The list goes on and on but I am still befuddled about how different they look. Cooper has the whitest hair, and these beautiful milk chocolate eyes and they Payton comes along with brown hair (which is going a little on the blonde side) and these beautiful dark blue eyes. We love the differences and just can't get enough of these two!!

Fun with Kyle

It's been a fun filled weekend with our cousin Kyles. Yes Kyles. On Thursday and Friday we got to play with Kyle Dorius and then today we got to play with Kyle Bollschweiler. Cooper loves his Kyles! I wish we could see them more often! Thank you Kyles for making our days so much fun!

My personal challenge!!

In my failing efforts to drop a few pounds...I have finally decided that what I really need is a personal challenge, something I can work towards. And I'm not talking about a day at the spa or new clothes (those you can have or do anytime) I mean something to really work towards. So I am putting it out there...I have decided to train for a half marathon! I will be running in the Bear Lake Half Marathon in June. I have conned Emily Merkley to run it with me...I didn't want to have to suffer through it alone! Anyway the more I think about it the more excited I am. I am so excited to have a goal that I can see all the way to the finish. It's kind of like giving birth you spend all this time waiting to get it over with and then when you do, you think, "I did it! I pushed the baby out!" that moment after with all of the adrenaline flowing is what I am seeking (and losing weight along the way will be great too!). Anyway I am putting it out there, so now I am absolutely committed to following through, cuz people know about it now. So Em, can't wait to run 13.1 miles with you in June!!

Can you guess what I'm doin?

My poor kids. They are going to have to go through a life of their parents embarrassing them. This is how Payton wanted to pose for our morning photo session in the crib. Now for all you who don't know the slang Paytons crib is his home, the hood where the homy hangs out. Or, it might just be his crib. Sorry Payte for sharing your morning BM with the world.

I Vant to suck your BLOOD!!

Some friends of ours brought over this cute little binky, and it is hilarious!! It's funny to see our cute little Payt with vampire fangs!!

It was a ZOO-tiful day!!

I am so grateful that summer decided to stick around a little longer than normal, because everything that was on our summer to do list, didn't quite get accomplished. So we took advantage of the great weather and headed to the zoo!!
I think Cooper truly believed that Spiderman had been to the zoo and spun one of his mighty webs...
Coming out of the SPOOKY OLD TREE...

Oh to be as tall as a giraffe, here is daddy and Cooper trying to measure up!

Even Squishy was enjoying all of the animals!!
What a grrrrreat time we had with the lions and tigers and bears...oh my!

Crocodile Coopee

And the highlight of our trip...the 3 minute train ride!!! I wish I had a video to share of this whole experience, because I have never seen ANYONE so beside themselves with happiness, thrill, and joy. He had to give the conductor a ticket, the conductor yelled, "ALL ABOARD!!", blew the whistle quite a few times, and away we went!!
And who would've known that a huge granite ball with water would be another huge highlight. Who needs animals when you have slides that look like snakes, granite balls with water, and a miniature train?

I love this drinking fountain... I remember it from my days of childhood... so does Steve.

And I don't know why, but my favorite animal at the zoo is the elephant, I just can't help to think that they are so cute and huge at the same time!

Fun with cousins at Bear Lake!!

We absolutely love to play at Bear Lake, so I'm not exactly sure why we only make it up there once a year... but at least we make it once. This year we took Brian, Alison, Evan, and Miss Mia with us, and we had so much fun!! We started out with a little football on the beach

Here is the cute Miss Mia and Atsy, the wind was blowing so hard, it was hard not to squint to keep the sand out
Squishy didn't mind the wind...he just loves to be outside and to be a part of the action, and of course having our favorite toy to chew on didn't hurt

When you have lame parents who forget beach toys, you are forced to improvise... nice work boys!!
Don't get swept away...
Boys + Sand = FUN FUN FUN!!
Me and Payton trying not to blow away. He is such a happy baby!!

When we got to Bear Lake it was a nice 80 degrees, and then the storm rolled in and we were forced to leave... quickly! The temperature dropped to 59 degrees and it was frigid!! It was a short, impromptu trip that turned out to be so much fun. Can't wait to go back again... maybe next year.

Food for thought!!

I can hardly believe that it's time to feed this kid food! Didn't we just bring him home? We started trying to feed him cereal a couple of months ago, but it was NOT received well. So after lots of trying we have finally found success!! And now he can't get enough!
And we have even branched out...

here is an attempt at SQUASH...

That's kind of how I feel about squash too.

the Lazy Days of Summer

Last weekend we took the family camping with Steve's parents ...and it was oh so relaxing. You can imagine how relaxing sitting in a hammock with a 2 1/2 year old and a 4 month old!!

As soon as we stepped out of the truck and he surveyed the campsite, he looked at me and said, "I love this place!" He was dirty from the time that he got out of the truck, to the time we got back in 2 days later to go home and he was in heaven!! As you can see here he also loved that Grandma brought plenty of cans of lemonade and pop. It didn't matter whose can it was, it always ended up in Cooper's hands!