Birthday and Christmas Pictures

Happiness comes from family

It's that wonderful time of year, my favorite to be more precise. From Thanksgiving all the way to New Years'. The time that we get to eat what we want, and spend tons of time with loved ones.
This year was no different and I am very thankful for that.
Thanksgiving was spent with my family in Blackfoot, it was a nice relaxing day, except for the fact that the grey cloud of Black Friday was looming over Jeremys' head all day long. This year he was part of a "Response" team and had to go in at 3:30am, needless to say there was an exceptionally early bedtime for him that night.
The day after Thanksgiving the tree went up, Walker and I stayed home while Jeremy went and "played" with all the crazy shoppers. I have been known to attend the crazy Black Friday events, but this year with Jeremy working and no one crazy enough to go with me and lack of childcare I was lucky enough to avoid it all :)
 I love watching Walkers face light up with the joy of Christmas. He loved decorating the tree with all the ornaments that he has made over the last few years, and picked out his "favorite" store bought ones (the blue sparkle ones). For a craft one day we made a Christmas Countdown paper chain and he enjoyed taking a chain off every night and really liked when it was getting closer to his birthday, without any thought of my own the countdown served two purposes!
For Walkers Birthday this year we decided to stay home and just invite a few people over for cake and ice cream, it was so much nicer and quieter than the place that Walker would have chosen, but I prefer it this way.
Christmas Eve was here before we knew it and Walker kept asking every 10 min if it was time to go to Gigi's house for dinner, he was so excited to go spend time with his various family members. Christmas Day was just as neat, we started off the day by opening presents at home and seeing what Santa had brought him, then one of my favorites Breakfast at Kris and Donalees! After stuffing ourselves and having great conversations, we headed down to Blackfoot to round out the day.
I am so thankful to live close to both of our families. They are all amazing people and I am truly blessed to have all of them in my life.

As the year winds down, I start to think back on the events of this past year. So much has happened both good and bad, but we are all happy and healthy and have loved ones close that we can spend time with. For all of you reading this, thank you for all your love and support, we love you so much and look forward to another great year filled with many fun memories!!!

Still Here

For those of you that follow this blog....We have not dropped off the face of the planet. I've been so busy with getting christmas presents made and trying to keep the house in order, I just haven't been able to find those "extra" minutes in the day to post.
Walker was a Ghost for Halloween and he was so neat, he made all the ghostly noises. I have a pic of his finished costume but its still on the camera, so as soon as I get it uploaded I will post it so everyone can see how "cute" he is/was for that great candy day.
Jeremy is still busy busy busy at Wal~Mart getting everything ready for Black Friday and all the Christmas stuff that follows.
I've just been spending my days, sewing, crocheting, and trying to keep the house cleaned. I have decided that I am backwards in my thinking, I don't usually do spring cleaning, I do it all in the fall (I know there is something wrong with me) so on that note, I have been deep cleaning every room and trying to organize it all so when I go looking for something its the first place I look instead of the last.
I'm looking forward to spending Thanksgiving with my family, and Christmas with Jeremy's family. I love this time of year, it's my favorite!!!!
Until next time,,,,,,,

Road Trip Pictures

For anyone that didn't already hear, my sister Keri took a job with the Air Force in Alabama. She made all the plans to drive across the country and I went with her so she didn't have to do it alone. It was tons of fun and I thought that I should post some of the pictures that I took along the way.

The Antler Arch in Jackson Hole

An Elk in Yellowstone

The Tetons

taken in Grand Teton National Park

Devils Tower

Bambi at Devils Tower

Another shot of Devils Tower

Mt. Rushmore

Its so majestic

An original Sun Stone from the Nauvoo Temple

The Nauvoo Temple

So amazing!

The Mississippi River

Snake River Youth Jam

The Snake River Youth Jam was this last weekend, it actually ran from Thursday to Saturday but with all our other things that go on we didn't get a chance to make it down there until Saturday

It was a little chilly but we bundled up and Walker had a blast

Here he is painting the big xylophone and then he grabbed a mallet and played it for a little bit too

The graffiti wall, he thought it was really neat that he got to paint on a wall and not get in trouble for it, I had to make sure to stress that wall painting is only ok at the river...lol

This is Junk Jam, they have all sorts of things strung up and there are bats and sticks and tennis rackets to bang on all of it, he had to make sure to hit each and every thing that was up there and told me all about the different noises each one made

He wanted to go to the little overlook thing and see the falls, I couldn't pass up the chance for a cute photo

"The Duck" every year there is a duck race you can adopt a duck and if it is one of the first ones to go over the falls you win a prize. Walker thought this duck was "AMAZING" he told me that he had to have a picture because "its bigger than daddy"

The Fireman Challenge was here this year, we started to watch some of it but as Walker is only 5 he got a little restless, they had this area set up for the kids challenge but it wasnt going on while we were there, the nice people let Walker put on a hemlet and fire jacket so we could take a pic.

It was about 3 hours well spent mommy and Walker time. I love the fact that things like this take place along the river, its something different to do and helps break up our semi boring lives

Camping

What a wonderful weekend we just had, spending time with family out in the great outdoors.

The "Family Reunion" Camping trip turned out wonderfully. Tendoy is such a beautiful place, so quiet and peacefull (even with the kids running around crazy)

There was lots of time to chat and catch up with each other and everyone got a chance to ride the 4-wheelers.

Regan and Leah Playing

Sara, Nancy, Grandma, Natalie, and Abi playing cards while waiting for dinner

Uncle Wynn and Uncle Paul hanging out before dinner

Eric

Kris working on the ultimate "Harry Potter Stick" for Tal

Donalee and Tal playing the bean bag game (I can't ever remember the name of it...sorry)

Im sure that Donalee got way more pictures of everyone and better ones as well, I was doing too much "relaxing" I think to take many pictures.

All in all it was the best weekend of the summer. Walker's first camping experience, first 4-wheeler experience and first mosquito bites lol.

I look forward to doing it again next year!!!

Thank you everyone for all the work you put into planning and excuting this fabulous weekend!!!

6 years

I can't believe that it has been 6 years already....where does all the time go?

Jeremy,

I love you, you have made my life so wonderful. Thank you for all that you have done and continue to do for us. Thank you so much for being such an amazing husband and father. I am truly blessed to have you in my life.