Christmas morning

I guess Chad can finally start adding to our Blog. Jen got a laptop for Christmas and should give Chad no more excuses to not update the family memories. Chad can no longer get lost or run out of gas with his new Tom Tom Navigation System. Jackson is on the fence of believing in Santa anymore, but this morning I think he believes. He got 3 WII games (Sonic Unleashed, Ben10, and Disney Sing IT) and Kirby and Transformers for his DS, and numerous new clothes. Ashlee was ecstatic with her Bratz guitar, makeup and array of clothes. Gavin could have received a bunch of rocks and would have been excited, he was so happy to get new trucks and Handy Manny toolbox, he was so excited, even down to the cereal he received in his stocking.

At this time of year we can't help but be thankful for all of our wonderful blessings and beautiful, healthy family. We also reflect on the birth of the Savior as we had our annual Christmas Eve reading from Luke 2, and this year we were honored to hear a beautiful solo of Silent Night by Jackson. It is amazing how fast they grow-up. Jackson has a beautiful voice and a talent for music that he definitely didn't receive from his Dad ???? Following our annual program the kids made their annual reindeer sandwiches and appetizers and we all sang Christmas carols and the kids watched christmas programs before heading off to bed. Merry Christmas everyone!!!!

Merry Christmas to all!

Wow...it's getting bad...

We haven't updated in a long time...I think most of you know to check my scrapbooking blog as I do update that more regular. We appreciate all of the emails and calls to let us know that you all miss seeing pictures of the kids! We promise to get this updated more often ;)

Let's play catch up shall we ;)

School has started for Jackson and Ashlee...they are both off to a great year! Jackson is in third grade this year and Ashlee has started Kindergarten. They both love their teachers and are progressing well.

Here's some photos of them heading back to school ;)





If you notice from Ashlee's back to school photo...she is missing a tooth. Right before school started Ashlee lost her first tooth. She was so excited! And the tooth fairy was very good to her ;)



Over Labor Day weekend Jackson decided to test his super hero skills and jumped from the 4th stair (to the bottom) into a dark basement and managed to break his arm. We had to wait out the weekend in a splint before going in to get casted, so we thought....but this actually was so bad that he had to go into the hospital for surgery where we fully expected Jackson to have to have pins put into his arm. We are so happy to report that the doctor was able to get his bone to stay into place without the use of pins. He then was casted in the office 2 days later and wore a cast until the first of October. According to Jackson the "moral" of the story is don't jump blindly into a dark basement...I have to remind him the "moral" of the story is just don't jump off the stairs! Yes, he is all boy!

Here he is in his red cast:



If you missed it over on my scrapbooking blog I talked about how Ashlee started gymnastics! She loves it! and is really looking forward to the cheer team next year. (I told her she has to have a full year of gymnastics first). Here she is:



Jackson was bummed that he had to sit the season out from soccer due to his broken arm...but rules are rules ;)

So if you have made it through all of this rambling...I bet you are wonder where our 3rd child went to ;)...Gavin is growing up way to fast! He now is in a "big boy bed" and we are working on him giving up his diapers...but so far he assures us he has no problems keeping them a bit longer...

Gavin is hilarious! He is the entertainer in the family! Here he is posing for me with a writing pen behind his ear...



Alright...wow if you made it through all of that...thank you! Now that we are pretty much caught up again...we hope to update more often!

If we haven't heard from you in a while...shoot us an email or give us a call.

Where has time gone...

Wow it's been a while since I have last "blogged" over here...this has taken a back seat to my scrapbooking blog...that's for sure :)

So since my last blog...

We traveled to a wedding...Greg and Suezann were married mid-May...it was a wonderful union...lots of family and friends were there for their special day. We are thrilled for both of them!

We did have a bit of an adventure on they way to the wedding (in Utah)...our tire blew on the way there and we ran out of gas on the way back...both required a 911 call...and some adventure for the kids. :)

We got back into town on Monday and the kids finished up their last couple of day of school. There were so many parties and end of the year things to finish up in just a few days but we survived and now are happy to just relax and enjoy our summer break.

Jackson and Ashlee are getting ready to have their birthday's...where has time gone...I will have a 9-year-old and a 5-year-old...my babies are growing entirely way to fast...here is a photo of them together...and a photo of Ashlee that I am putting on our wall...Jackson is going for "retakes" LOL (not really re-takes as I am just doing the photography myself :)...but he is in an interesting age/stage of some interesting smiles...LOL...hope to post his picture soon.





Jackson is in full swing with swimming season...we have had a hard time getting there on time...it's just seems to be so early when you have 3 to get ready plus yourself...but we are trying our best...I think we have been "on-time" only 2 times...LOL but we always make it :)

We also played the ever popular "candy bar" game with the kids...they had a blast! Of course we have to wait for Gavin to take a nap as he is allergic to peanuts...and all the candy bars are made around peanuts...so here is a few photos of Chad and the kids...











We hope you all are enjoying your summer :)

End of another soccer season

It's hard to believe that soccer is already over...we thought we had one more game due to the fact that one was canceled due to weather...but unfortunately, it will be played the weekend of Greg's (Chad's brother)wedding...so it's officially over. Jackson had a great season scoring on average 1-2 goals a game! I thought Jackson would be really bummed but he came off the field and said "Mom I guess it's on to swimming"...so I guess he is ready for a full summer of swim meets and practices.

Here are a few snap shots that I got on the field this weekend. (sorry they are blurry...but my battery was just about to die...)

So it's been a while...

Since I post last...so I guess I should do a quick "catch up"

Let's see...

Spring Break: We packed up the car and headed out on a 8-hour road trip to UT to spend a week with Grandma and Grandpa. The kids had a good time just relaxing, eating out way to much, shopping a ton, and enjoying some (yes) ...SNOW. It ended up snowing almost the entire time that we were there. Now if we didn't live in CO then this might have been a "treat" but we had already seen our fair share of snow for the year. We made the best of it and had a great time.

Saturdays: Lately, you can find us on the soccer fields! Chad is once again coaching Jackson's soccer team and Jackson is such a joy to watch. He really has come a long way..and is really enjoying the sport.

Tues&Thurs: You can find us at the pool. Not for Jackson (yet) but Ashlee is taking some swimming. She is really enjoying her swimmming lessons...and is starting to get more comfortable in the water!

Mon-Friday: You can find us all running around like chickens with our heads cut off...at least for another 3-weeks or so...until school gets out. It seems like there is just way to much to accomplish in the next few weeks.

Speaking of a lot of accomplish...I better get back to cleaning...I will leave you with some pictures of the past month. We hope you are all doing well.

Enjoying Spring Break

Well it has been a while since I was able to blog...but we are enjoying a lot of family time this week in Utah...and will be home soon...I will update with some pictures when we return.

Stop and Count the French Fries...what does that mean?

Ok...so a few of you have asked me what our family motto means...so I thought I would share here on the blog...in case anyone else is wondering...;)

Here it is...




What a strange motto to live your life by right? Well let me explain! At my husband’s graduation from the Marriott School of Management at BYU, the main speaker talked about “counting the French fries” and it just stuck.

He related a rough period of his life…he was going through a masters program and had 2 small children and a wife. They were extremely poor! It was a rough point in their lives. His wife spent the majority of the time with the small children as he was either in class or studying.

Well one day they were at McDonalds…going out to eat at that time was a very big deal as they were very poor. The children started fighting over “who had more French fries” and his wife sat there and counted out each child “equal fries”. The children were delighted that they both had “equal fries” and that moment just stuck with them!

They realized that when our life gets rough or things don’t seem fair…to take time out and count “the French fries” or in other words…count all of the blessings that we have.

My husband and I have applied that to our life as things get tough…and life isn’t easy…we often stop and “count the French fries”! We are greatly blessed.

I hope that clears it up...LOL...Yes...of course I had to scrap it...

Awh...Valentine's Day...

So it's been a few days...and I wanted to blog about our Valentine’s Day...but time and a long weekend got in the way!

Valentine's Day was fun...I love the holiday...and I would have loved more to go out with my husband alone without kids but that just wasn't in the cards this year.

So I started the day surprising the kids with some altered mailboxes (little mail boxes that I picked up from the target dollar spot and altering them...see my scrappin' blog to check it out).

I then was surprised with a dozen pink long stem roses from my sweet husband (I regret to report that I didn't take a photo...LOL) but Ashlee wasn't as happy as I was...you see...she didn't get any flowers delivered to her...

A few hours later Chad showed up with a cute bouquet of Daisies and carnations for Ashlee...she was delighted! I pity the boy who is brave enough to date her...she is way too spoiled!

Here is Ashlee with her flowers....




The day before Valentine's Day Ashlee had her school party...here she is decked out in her Gymboree Valentine's Day clothes!



Don't you just love Gymboree!

Mid-Day on Valentine's I headed on over to Jackson school to do the room mom thing...I had made over 100 sugar cookies and planned to have some other goodies brought in...it all turned out great! The kids had a great time...and I still felt pretty good and not crazed afterwards...LOL.

Later that night I made dinner...and the kids headed to bed early...and we relaxed...we have some big plans in a few weeks...so I guess you could say our "Valentine's date" will come later in the month.

So it's been awhile....

So yes...we have been MIA....

Sickness has hit our family! I think this is the year for our family as far as sickness goes...I have also heard that many of you have been under the weather!

In the last month we have had strep, colds, fevers, chills, nausea...you name it we've had it...and knock on wood we hope it is gone.

Jackson had his first Pinewood Derby this past month and his car did very well...in fact he ended up taking home 2nd place...but you all know how competitive Chad is...he had to challenge the winner to yet another race and Jackson came out victorious...so they both Jackson and Chad proudly reported to me they "tied" for first place. I say "reported to me" was home sick...I was sad that I had to miss it...but the boys had a great time! Jackson also earned his first bobcat badge so Mom is back to the drawing board on getting yet another badge on his shirt...you would think that I should earn something for sewing on all of these badges...perhaps I should contact the scout master? Or is there someone at a higher level? (LOL)

(A little more about the car) Jackson was so cute as I helped him decorate his car...he told his Dad that Mom is just amazing at making things look good. He was very proud of his cute little car...Chad was all about the speed and Mom was all about the looks...so I guess you could say that Chad and I (oh and I guess the Jackson..LOL) work well together ;) Poor Jackson...he was born into such a competitive family...LOL

Here is his car (he named it the batmobile)





Here is our little cub scout as he is heading out (Dad grabbed a picture for Mom as...she was running a fever of 102!)



Here are a few fun pictures of us just hanging out during the past month....very random and all involving sports ;)







Well...We're sorry we have not blogged in a while...I know many of you have asked us what is going on...but tomorrow Ashlee has her Valentine's Day party at school and Jackson will have his on Thursday. We hope to have lots of pictures to share after the weekend!

Have a Happy Valentine's Day everyone...we hope that cupid brings each of you something lovely :)

Caught Sharing

It seems lately that Ashlee and Gavin are constantly fighting like cats and dogs! I think it is more of Gavin is growing up a bit and is sick of taking orders from his older sister.

So this week...when I witnessed this act of sharing betweent he 2 of them...of course I had to catpure it!

Here they are sharing a sprite





We hope you all had a great week! and are doing well!

Christmas Ramblings....

Well we had a really nice Christmas and New Year...and we were all really spoiled!

I did manage to fool Chad this year...last year he received a video ipod and this year...I got him the Bose system to play it on. But the "fool" was that I purchased a lot of little silly match box cars and wrapped those up in big boxes and put them under the tree...the kids giggled as he opened each car...and Gavin was in heaven because as we all know he loves cars! I think Chad was getting a little concerned and then we let him open up his real gift.

Jackson revealed to us this year that he had his doubts about Santa...until Santa was able to pull through with the very so hard to find and popular Wii...he was so cute when he told Chad and I that he now has proof the man really exists ;)

Ashlee was in heaven with all of the Brats Make-up...I don't even think she played with anything else and we have all received so many "make-overs" to the point that we all feel like fashion models...her latest victim is Gavin and he is so patient and holds really still while she smears make-up on his entire face...you just can't help but laugh!

Gavin...well let's just say that the boy has more cars and trucks than 1 child should have...he is really enjoying them all! Lucky duck!

I of course was spoiled...that husband of mine goes way over board...what can I say...I am one lucky gal! I received the cricut expression and design studio for Christmas! Along with a few other goodies...Gotta love a man that will go into a scrapbooking store with a bunch of ladies! He's a keeper!

We also enjoyed "ringing" in a New Year...and are excited for all of the possibilities of 2008!

We hope that you all had a wonderful holiday season! I will leave you with some pictures!