New Years Day 2014

The traditional shooting of the Gingerbread houses!  A tradition of 7-years in the making.  And one of our favorite ways to end the holiday season. And can I just say that Josh and I have some beautiful children? 

Piper and quite possibly, her most favorite person ever, Uncle Gabe.

This girl is going to be TROUBLE!

My Family

 I love this crazy family of mine!  I think Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he sent them to me!  He knew we would love each other unconditionally!

This picture sums us up in so many ways.  I'm just happy to be there.  Piper and JD our resident funny people.  Dads looking at us like we are all crazy and sweet Tyson just along for the ride!

 And man, we aren't bad looking either!

 I am so blessed to have such an amazing husband.  He may seem all gruff and tuff, but the guy can be seriously sweet most of the time.  And my amazing kids bless my life in so many ways. I am truly blessed!

All of this, because two crazy people fell in love, so many years ago!  I am so grateful for Heavenly Father intervening in my life.  I'm so glad I listened to the spirit, at a time when the spirit was probably not dwelling with me often,  and it changed my life in so many ways.  I got the gospel back in my life and I met my amazing husband. We have been blessed to have the most amazing life.  I love him and my kids with all my heart. I am truly blessed!

Piper

I'm in trouble.  Look at that beautiful face!  This girl is full of spice and trouble!  She is the craziest girl I have ever met, but I love her to pieces, even though we don't always get a long.

Piper is a social butterfly and a people person. She is the life of the party, the crazy one, the one who never stops talking!  That sums up Pipster perfectly.  I wouldn't have her any other way.  Love this crazy girl!

Piper is a dog freak and would have a million of them, if I would let her. I am so glad that I am not Roxy!

Piper loves to snuggle and still crawls in bed with us most nights.  I don't know how to break her of the habit and most nights I don't even realize she is in our bed, till she kicks me out!  But she's my baby and so I'm not overly worried about it.  I'm just enjoying that she wants to snuggle me!  She's terribly scared of the dark and of monsters and it's another thing I can't seem to break her of.

The girl has a stubborn streak.  Oh my, does she ever. Whether is be about her clothes and hair, or about what she eats and how many cups of chocolate milk she has in a day.  She's a girl with her own mind.

Love you my Pipster.  Always keep that spunk you have alive!  It's going to take you far!

Tyson

This kid melts my heart.  Literally melts it.  He is the sweetest boy!  And he's a momma's boy.  He'll tell you that himself.  He's a lover, not a fighter.  He's a pretty serious boy.  Not that he doesn't like to have a good time, but he tends to be a little more on the serious side of life.  He shakes his head at his dad often!

He's super into Ninjago right now and loves Lego's.  Any kind of Lego's really, but right now Ninjago is his obsession.  He tends to have OCD about things.  He still loves Spiderman after all these years.

He's starting to do really well in school and that is such a blessing!  It's been a bit of a struggle, but things are starting to head the right direction.  He's not much of a reader, but loves to cuddle up with Mom is she is the one doing the reading.

Tyson is a homebody and loves to be home or going to town with Mom.  He really is mom's kid and wants to be wherever she is.  It makes me heart smile.  I sure love him!

JD

Oh, let me tell you how much I love this boy!  He is the sweetest boy and I am so blessed to have him as my son!  He is a good big brother 90% of the time.  The other times, they fight, but that's what siblings do.  He is so good to help me with anything I need and is always willing to jump in and help Tyson and Piper with projects, to play with them and to read to them.

He is a good friend.  He takes those, who don't have many friends, and takes them under his wing and takes care of them.  He is amazing with those who have special needs and has many lifelong friends because of it.

He loves to have a good time.  He's got a lot of his dad in him.  But enough of his mom to keep him "somewhat" grounded.  He loves to shoot guns and ride 4-wheelers.  He'll be a huntin' fool and probably his dads best friend, because of it.

He's also dang smart.  He loves to read books, but especially loves war books and The Lord of the Rings series.  He loves to play video games and loves movies.

I am so blessed to call him son!  Love you Jader forever and for always!

Merry Christmas

 JD was so excited to get his shotgun.  He earned that baby, page by page.  The deal for him to get it, was that he had to read the entire Book of Mormon, cover to cover and he did a great job!  He got to be a missionary along the way, while he read it.  He  now has several friends reading it as well!

 Piper was excited to get her very own bb gun!  Josh took Tysons old gun and sanded it all down and painted it pink, so she could have her very own.  I love how she hugged each of her gifts.  She was so excited about all of them!

Tysons reaction to his bb gun was the best!  Seriously, the best!  Hysterical laughing followed by jumping up and down while he held the gun above his head.  And of course he got some Spiderman stuff and his Ninjago lego sets.  He spent all morning putting all his Lego's together and then spent the rest of the day playing with them.

Christmas Eve

Got together with the Doty family for our annual Christmas Eve dinner and party!  We had so much fun playing games, eating good food and enjoying each others company!  Maggie got Josh the coolest, Zombie Survival Kit.  She made it all herself and it was so fun!

Christmas at the Temple

Cutest baby ever!

 Piper and her mini me!  They could seriously pass as sisters.  I can't wait to see how Owyn looks when she is bigger!

 Ooohhh!!  I wanna nibble on her!  I wish we lived closer.

 She's going to be the most loved baby ever!  My kids adore her!

 Chilling with Jaders.

Piper is going to dote on her forever!  Brushing her hair and sweet Owyn has the look of why, oh why!  I love it!

Christmas in the Canyon

Tuacahn is one of our favorite traditions. This year was awesome.  We walked right up to Santa, there was no line!  The weather was great, we watched the nativity and we came home.  All in 45 mins!  It was the quickest time we have ever done Tuachan in.  It's one of those traditions that really bring the Christmas spirit.  So glad we live so close to such a fun place!

Oh Christmas Tree & a little sledding

I was so worried we were never going to get a tree!  We finally had a chance to head up to Pine Valley and the boys found me a beautiful tree!

Piper looked like a pink, stay puff marshmallow!

We went and hit the sledding hill afterwards. Always so much fun!

Look at dad getting in on the action!

It doesn't even look like he is moving, but I promise he is booking down that hill.

Face first, not always the best idea, just sayin' Tootie!

And Piper kept falling off, each time she hit the jump! I don't know if she fell off or bailed off voluntarily.

It was a beautiful day!  So grateful that we could spend it together!

Snow and lots of it!

I live in St. George for a reason!  That reason is no snow!  But look at this!  What the heck?

Snowed all day today!  And it looks like it's going to stick around for awhile.

The kids had a blast making snowmen, snow angels and forts.  Oh, and throwing snowballs at the camerawoman.  I had to RUN for my life!

Tootie turns 9

Tysons birthday was a pretty low key event this year. Last year it was a month of partying, so we decided to tone it down a bit!

We opened present that evening and then we went out for our traditional dinner.  And as alway's Tyson chose Denny's. The kid LOVES pancakes!

And he is obsessed withNinjago lego sets as well!

For his friend birthday, we took a few friends with us to see Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs.  We opened presents and had rootbeer floats before we headed in.

Tyson hugging Olivia. She is the sweetest girl ever.  And the only girl Tyson invited.

He tells me all the time how nice she is. She always plays with him and is super nice to him and he loves her. I am so grateful for her!!!  It's nice to know he has a friend who is always nice. And of course there is Bentley. That boy!  Love him to pieces!

Awww!  I love this kid.  He's such a stud!