One of The Best Kind of Day's

Yesterday we did nothing really productive. I cleaned house a little bit, but then I promised the kids that we would go to the park. We actually went to 2 parks and then out to Dairy Queen afterwards. We wasted the whole day, but it's one of those day's that you will always love and always remember. Nothing makes me happier than to see my kids smiling and having a good time.

Pendulum swing. The boys had so much fun on this!

Tyson spinning around and around. He was hysterical to watch afterwards. He kept falling down.

Just stinkin' cute.

Brotherly love. Melts my heart.

Piper is laughing at her brothers. I love this picture.

Turtle sundae. You tested my willpower and kicked my butt! Your supposed to indulge when you take your kids out for ice cream, right?

The kids had so much fun playing in this ravine filled with leafs. I had a ton of pictures of them throwing them in the air and their little bums were so dirty from sliding down the hill. Nobody else was at the park and we had a blast!

Last night we had planned on decorating gingerbread men. We never got to do it, although I made them last night. So today we came home from church and decorated.

Our masterpieces.

Decorating Gingerbread Men.

Who really eats the cookie?

Happy Sunday to all!

Letters To Santa

Tonight we wrote letters to the guy in Red!! It was fun to see J.D. write his very own letter! He did such a good job. The only words I had to help him with was chimney and and electric. I was going to translate, but you can read it very clearly.

Tyson actually is already writing his name. It's not all in order and written in huge disjointed lettering, but it's all the letters that are in his name! Impressed, I am. Poor 2nd child doesn't get the one on one he deserves. He started by writing the letters in his name, but then he scribbled around it so you can't really see it. He wants a Big Speed Racer and a Big Racer X car.

After we had our letters all sealed up and ready to be delivered to the Chilly Northern Pole we talked about how much we like Santa, but that the real reason we celebrate Christmas is to remember the Birth of Jesus Christ. We read The Crippled Lamb, by Max Lucado and then There Was An Old Lady Who Swallowed A Bell. And off to dream of Christmas wishes they went. I love being a Mom. It's these little teaching moments that I hope will stick with them throughout their lives. What do you want from the man in red? Me, I want a Canon digital camera and a Cricuit. Will I get either one of those, probably not, but it's nice to have a dream!

Random pictures and random thoughts

Tyson and Piper
Tyson's doing! Little Speed Racers adorn our tree!

Tangled up in lights.

Making Cinnamon ornaments.

The Holiday's have us going like crazy. I hope that the next 2 weeks, I can just focus on what Christmas really means and that I can help my kids to understand the true meaning. Tyson was so cute last night. I had an enrichment activity which was awesome. We traveled to 3 different houses and met 3 different people from the life of Jesus. But they gave us this beautiful ornament that had a picture of the Savior inside. Tyson was started jumping up and down yelling, "We got Jesus, we got Jesus," over and over again. He was also waving his arms up in the air like he had just sunk the winning shot. Such a sweetie!

One of my very favorite memories of J.D. was when he was about 3 and he was being naughty at church, so we were walking the halls and looking at the pictures of the Savior on the wall. I was showing him the one of Jesus on the white Donkey, on Palm Sunday. J.D. blurts out, "Mom, I didn't know Jesus was a cowboy!" Oh the things kids say!!

Hope everyone is enjoying the Holiday season!

The Nativity

Giveaway at Some Of This

Just wanted to let everyone know that we are hosting a fun giveaway at my other blog! Come check it out. Click here to go directly to the giveaway!

I Married A Scrooge

Didn't he know that when he married me a prerequisite was that he needed to LOVE Christmas! This was how my hubby looked last night while we decorated the tree. He hates the business of the holiday's and he hates shopping. Good thing I love him so much, the awnry old grump!!

All Tuckered Out

Tyson's Special Day

Birthday's are a big deal! Especially when your a child. I like to make birthdays be a lot of fun for my kids. One of our traditions is going out to dinner. Sometimes our extended family goes with us, but mostly we have a family birthday party. I also like to let my kids have friend birthday party's, once they turn 4. Because I'm just a crazy person, and who doesn't like a reason to party?

Here are all the kids in a big pile on top of Aunt Maggie. The picture below was how they originally sitting. We had a fun family home evening before we had cake. I did Gracious George the Gingerbread man. So cute!

This was at Grandpa and Grandma's house. We had a fun little birthday party the night before his birthday. Grandpa & Grandma gave him boots. So much fun.

Shooting the B.B. gun

Shooting the paintball gun

We went to Pirate Island Pizza! It's brand new and has only been open a week. It is the 3rd biggest restaurant in all of Utah. They Myan is first, can't remember the 2nd and then this one is the 3rd. IT IS AMAZING! They have a huge pirate ship inside the restaurant and the decor is awesome. But we love pirates.

Tyson is my chicken of a kid! He was scared to death because there is a talking skeleton. It looked so fake, but he was still so scared.

Cool Pirate Party hats!

They have a fun arcade and play area for the kids. It's not huge, but it is so much fun. They had this awesome shooting range, that I myself had a blast on. Tyson and J.D. ran all over playing games. They would have had fun just playing in the kiddie place, which they did for quite awhile.

I hope Tyson had a fun 2 days. Josh also took the boys to see Bolt after dinner. The lucky little guy gets his friend party this afternoon. SPOILED! But it's fun and I hope that my kids will remember the birthday traditions and the memories!

Happy Birthday Tootie!!

My Tyson is 4-years-old today! Where does the time go? He's so excited that it's his birthday. We had cake and ice cream last night at Grandpa & Grandma Doty's. Today we took cupcakes into his preschool and tonight we are going to Pirate Pizza and to see Bolt! What a spoiled kid!! But I think birthday's are important and to be made a big deal of.

Let me tell you about Tyson!! He is the sweetest kid. He loves to give hugs but doesn't like kisses. Right now he loves Speed Racer and Wall-E. But for a long time, it was nothing but Spiderman. He loves sweet tarts, skittles, and any kind of gummy treat. He doesn't really like chocolate or cookies. His favorite food is a corn dog or pizza. He loves to play with J.D. and misses him while he is at school. He loves Piper, but she drives him CRAZY! But he loves her all the same and plays so well with her, okay, well, sometimes they play well! He loves movies and is my T.V. buff and he loves to WORK! He is the first to pitch in and help outside or to go and work on the truck with his dad. He is a joy to have in our lives. He cracks me up and makes my heart want to burst all at the same time. WE LOVE YOU TOOTIE!

Gingerbread Houses

I am Thankful for my Eternal Family

This weekend marks 5 years since Josh and I were sealed as eternal companions and as an eternal family! J.D. was only 4-months old and he was so darling all dressed in white. We had been married for 15 months. It's amazing, because there was so much turmoil in Josh's family and this was such a time of joy in our lives. It's amazing how far we've come in the past five years!

What an experience it was for us. I never thought I would be able to have this blessing in my life because of choices I had made when I was a teenager. I am so grateful for second chances and for a loving Heavenly Father. I am so grateful to have married my best-friend and for my beautiful children. I am truly blessed and I am GRATEFUL!

I love you Josh! You are an amazing husband and an amazing father! I APPRECIATE how hard you work so that I may stay home with our amazing and crazy children!! I am so grateful for your love and I am so lucky that I married my best-friend. I love you!!!

The Funnest Thanksgiving We've Ever Had

We had the GREATEST Thanksgiving ever! We got up and took the kids out riding the 4-wheeler and J.D. rode his dirt bike. It was so muddy, so of course that made it that much funner. I love being outdoors and doing that stuff. We need to go and do it more.


Then we went to Josh's parents house for dinner. Lot's of fun and lots of family! Long day though. It's almost 11 p.m. and I have my 2 youngest who are wide awake. Both of them fell asleep on the way home and slept for 2 or more hours. It's gonna be a long night tonight!



Wall E or football?? Wasn't paying that close of attention, but I think since Tyson is right there it had to be Wall E.

We had the feast spread out on top of the pool table at one point. I should have gotten a picture of all the food. TOO MUCH FOOD! I came home with a really bad case of indigestion. Piper's doing a little table dance.

That's my girl! Eating dessert. Who knew pumpkin pie could be so good.

I was trying the Nie Nie thing, but it doesn't work so well for us. At least Josh let me do it. Most the time he covers his face up.

View from the top of big hill that I felt the need to climb. I got us stuck the second time going up. The sand was so soft and wet.

View of us going up the hill. Josh was driving this time from behind me and we made it the second time. Go figure!

Silly picture of me and Josh! I was driving and taking pictures. Not a great one and I can't believe I'm posting it because my tongue is hanging out, but oh well. We had a lot of fun going for a little jaunt all by ourselves. Josh's dad and Uncle had our kids out climbing hills in the jeep.

Tyson was cracking me up with this great big yellow helmet. He did not have fun. He informed me of that the whole time we were riding. He doesn't like to be cold and it was freezing.

Piper was totally content to stay in Grandpa's jeep with Uncle Graig. It was warm in there.

J.D. loves to go riding. He had his riding pants and boots on. I wish we could go out and ride more.

Josh and J.D. We wanted to let J.D. ride by himself, but there were so many people out riding and there were 2 different sets of people out shooting very close by. They had one good wipe out.

Me and Sister!! I had Piper in front of me on the 4 -wheeler, Tyson behind me and I was trying to drive and take pictures. Doesn't Piper look cute in a beanie??

Hope ya'll had a great day! I love a good reason to do nothing, but spend time with your family! And I'm off to take down the fall decorations. Let's get this Christmas season started!!

My Sweet Tyson

This kid knows I have a soft spot for him in my heart. Today we went to deliver Alison's Pantry flyers and we went to his little friend, Asly's house. As we were pulling away, he said, "I like Asly, mom." And of course I said, "OOh, like a girlfriend." And he replies a bit indignantly, "No, you my girlfriend Mom."

He makes me so happy! What a little blessing he is in my life. It's funny how you love each of your kids in a diffrent way, but this one just melts my heart. He alway's calls me in his room at bedtime so he can whisper secrets into my ear. It's alway's the same thing, "Your my friend, mom." He absolutley makes my heart want to burst!!!

Giveaway at Some of This and Some of That

Over at Some of This and Some of That, my other blog (because I'm crazy like that) we are having a great giveaway for a darling set of loung pants for YOUR darling little boy~ That's right were doing a giveaway for boy stuff. Such a rare find! Ends Sunday night!

I'm Giving Out Awards!

My friend, Stacie gave me an award!! She is so sweet!! I love her to pieces. We first got to know each other when she started to babysit J.D. when he was only 6 months old. She watched him clear up until he was 2 & 1/2. We had so many good talks and I was honored to go to the temple when she and her sweetheart were sealed!! Even though we haven't seen each other in quite a while, it is nice to be able to keep up via the blogging world.

I am privleged to pass this award on to 5 beautiful ladies, whom I love and here you are in no particular order~

Mandee ~ Because she's awesome!! And I love her and she is my BFF!! She is a great mom and friend. Also because she is crazy and not afraid to be herself no matter what other people think. She went to a New Kids on The Block Concert last weekend. Need I say more? Oh, and she bought a t-shirt! Love ya, though!! Oh, and we share this crazy blog!

Candice ~ Candice and I went to High School together and lost track of each other, but recently found each other agian via the blogging world. She is such a sweetheart and she has the cutest kids! Her little Brant cracks me up. She also has a HUGE heart and recently undetook a huge project. She is making quilts for Nie Nie's children with blocks of material that she recieved from all around the world. Go check out Quilts of Love if you feel like being inspired!

Andie ~ Just because I love her!! I love to see what her boy's are up too and to keep tabs on one of my Piute friends! Because one of these day's I'm afraid her and I will end up living there. Not that, that is a bad thing! Go T-birds!

Kris ~ This is my sister-in-law and the antics of her two boy's keep me in stitches! I'm not sure how she keeps up with everything, but she does.

Misty ~ Stanton and Josh used to work together and our familes became friends. I love being able to keep up with this crafy chic and her fun family. She has 5 beautiful children 4 girls and one darling little boy! And her playlist if FREAKIN awesome!

Enjoy ladies!! Copy and paste the directions and graphic for your blog. Have fun with it. You truly do have wonderful blogs and I enjoy reading them.

Now it's time to list my 5 crazy addictions!

1:Checking my blog for comments every 20 minutes

2: Garage Sale's

3: Coupon Clipping

4:Taking Pictures of my cute kiddo's

5:Modge Podge

Here are the rules to receiving this award:

1. You have to pass it on to 5 other fabulous blogs in a post.

2. You have to list 5 of your fabulous addictions in the post.

3. You must copy and paste the rules and the instructions below in the post.

Instructions:On your post of receiving this award, make sure you include the person that gave you the award and link it back to them. When you post your five winners, make sure you link them as well. To add the award to your post, simply right-click, save image, then "add image" it in your post as a picture so your winners can save it as To add it to your sidebar, add the "picture" gadget. Also, don't forget to let your winners know they won an award from you by emailing them or leaving a comment on their blog.Now get to it I can't wait to see your creativity in recreating your own blog awards!

I'm Going On A Date

After months of not having a date night, we seldom go out, we're going on a date and I am so in need of one. WE ARE GOING TO TWILIGHT!! My sweet husband bought me tickets as a suprise and I AM SO EXCITED, I'm thinking about doing a dance! I'll let you know tomorrow what I think!! Mandee found this great blog that has free backgrounds, so in honor of Twilight, we changed to a fun new background. Atleast until Christmas rolls around.

We Have Pigtails!!!!

We have real pigtails!! All of Pipers hair is pulled up into pigtails!! Yeah. And do you like her bangs? I got tired of them being in her face, so I cut them into little bands. She looks stinkin' cute!!