Our Santa Visit

Why do we make our kids sit on Santas lap when they don't want to? So we can have pictures like this I guess...

Family Picture

Thanks to my cousin Jenn for taking these pictures for us. She always does a nice job. I think we decided not to send out a Chirstmas card this year so enjoy here!! We hope everyone is happy and healthy at this holiday season!

No One Wants to be a Blog-Poser....

Ben's birthday was on Tuesday and he happened to get the day off of work! So we headed up north for a day and enjoyed the rest and relaxation very quickly. On our way back down there was quite an accmulation of snow from last weekend. We had to pull over and play for awhile.

Happy Birthday Ben!! We love you so much!

We are so excited for Christmas! Wes is learning all these new Christmas songs, it is so darling. Sage thinks all the lights are so cool, she just keeps pointing at them!!

2 things

The break down of Westins new best friend-

1. the helmet - a 25 cent find at a yard sale, can't goon the bike without it!!

2. the horn - his dad couldn't resist the addition.

3. the streamers - neighbor girl brought them over last night because she knew he needed them.

4. the training wheels - probably the most expensive part of the whole project. A must have!

5. the bike - 5$ at a yard sale from the boys down the street.

He is in love!!!

I love winter grass. This is our first year planting winter grass and isn't it so pretty?? We don't have our sprinklers on a timer so the watering has been a labor of love, that I have mostly done. Having the things you plant grow is so touching! I love it.

Three Cheers for Ben!!!

On Saturday Ben graduated with his bachelors degree!! We are all so excited for him. This is such a huge accomplishment and I know what a long road this has been for him. I'm just so proud of him for sticking with it and finishing! He officially has one more class that starts this Thursday for another 5 weeks, but the end is so close we can taste it!! I love you sweetheart!

Sage sticking it out through the ceremony

Grandma, Grandpa & SageBen getting his diplomaThe familyThe whole family

A Very Long Day!!

Happy Halloween!

From Pocahontas and Cowboy John Smith

Happy Birthday Westin!

Yesterday Wes turned 3!! On Saturday we had a Halloween costume birthday party for him

All the little cousins, friends a neighbor kids that came had a great time

(Neighbors Joey & David as Yoda and Chewbacca)

I prepared a cake walk, cupcake decorating, pinata, games and last but not least, the star of the show was my wonderful brother who brought over his train he made to take the kids on rides. It was the icing on the cake!!

Hair & Teeth

Our little girl is finally getting some of each!

The Goings Ons

As most of you know, not only know but brainwashed into knowing, there will be a boutique that I'm going to be in on Friday the 19th along with some of my other family members. In case there happens to be anyone reading this that hasn't already heard about it, let me fill you in. It is going to be at the Country Inn & Suites on Power Rd. and the US 60. It is from 10:00am-8:00pm and there will be over 25 vendors there. Everyone from Jewelry to candles (me) and from cooking stuff to things to beautify your home!! There will be something for everyone here! Be there or be square!

What is that you say? You can't make it to that boutique? Oh, just your luck we are all doing another one. This "BOO-tique" is going to be at my Sister-in-laws house on October 27th, a Saturday. It will be from 9:00am-4:00pm. The crossroads are Gilbert and Baseline, you will see signs.




Our little Wes is turning 3 on the 23rd of this month! We are preparing for a little party we are having for him this coming Saturday. Busy, Busy time of month! It is non-stop for a few months now I think.

We just planted our winter lawn, cross your fingers that it turns out. Do you know how much cow manure they want you to put on new seed? ALOT, it is ridiculous!

I think that is it for now! I'm sure I'll see you all at the boutique, right?

Best Dad Ever!!

Ben is such a great Dad!! If Ben isn't home from work by 3:30, we are pretty bummed. We know that that is early for a Dad to be home from work so we are pretty lucky that he gets off that early. Most days he works overtime so he isn't home that early but we sure like it when he is. Westin is out the garage door when he hears it open and Sage is getting closer and closer to that everyday. She lights up like no other when she sees her daddy.

Today was one of those best Dad ever days. What do you do when your kid wants to fly a kite but there is no wind??

That's right, you hop on your bike and ride laps around your neighborhood while your son holds on really tight to the string! When life gives you bikes and kites, make wind!

Oh ya, I also made Sage's little Indian Halloween costume today! It turned out so stinking cute. Just a few more finishing touches and she will be done.

Way Too Much Fun in the Sun

We had a play date at the park yesterday with some other kids and moms from our ward!! It was hotter than we thought it would be. But the kids were still having fun digging in the sand and going down the slides. That is until they discovered the irrigation. The relatively clean, harmless fun was over. Water for kids is like a moth to a flame!! They had so much fun!!

Family Quad Riding!

Nate & Jake watching the June bug on Grandpa's finger

This weekend we went quad riding with some of Ben's family. We had such a great time. There were these huge bugs flying around us, and I get really freaked out by this. Ben's Dad said they were just June bugs and that they were harmless, but that means nothing to me. He told us that when he was little he would catch them and tie thread to them and then they just fly all around, like your own little remote control airplane/bug. So we tried it out, it was very funny!

Uncle Dave holding Sage

Ben & Wes headed out for a ride

Wes, Grandpa & I riding the sand rail, it was really fun!

We love having friends over!

Sage & Sally giving kisses (I think thats what you call kissing cousins)

Wes & Sally

Cuties

Consider this an invitiation to you all!!

Busy Couponing

I'm over due a new post but the only thing I can contribute is my new found love of Coupon Sense. This week I have thought about little else than this. I'm even dreaming about it, which is annoying! I love it though, I've gotten some really good deals.

Ben & I got to hear Elder Holland last night and today at our Stake Conference. He is such a neat man with such a powerful testimony. It is so fun to get to see these General Authorities personalities come though where there is a smaller audience.

There is a new show on PBS in the mornings that is called Super Why, and it teaches children letter recognition and letter sounds. It is a really cute show and Wes has grown a very strong liking to it. I haven't sat down the whole time to watch it with him yet so i don't really know what all goes on in the show. I do know that there are 4 main characters and they are all unique and cute in their own way. The main guys name is Super Why which is similar to Super Wes. This morning Westin noticed this similarity and said that Sage could be the Princess. Then he said, very seriously "Princess Pea, at your service". It was very cute, even cuter to actually hear rather than read.

Happy Birthday Betsy & Troy

Today is my sisters birthday and also my little 5 year old nephew. I hope you guys have a fabulous day!!

My sister and my mom left for Hawaii today!! They are going to have so much fun, but I'm going to miss them something fierce! My sister and her husband (no kids ...... What is that like??) are going to be gone for a week and my mom and Paul are going to be gone for 2 weeks!! After much hard work over the last five years I think, Betsy has earned a trip to Hawaii through State Farm. She passed multiple insurance related exams and is going to be graduating in Hawaii. Congratulations, you deserve it! I love you guys!

Labor Day in a Nutshell

This weekend we went to Rocky Point Mexico for some beach fun. Grandpa Dell and Grandma Lorri treated Betsy & Brent and their family, Joseph & Erin and their family and us to a wonderful time!! Thank you Grandpa and Grandma, we had a great time!!!!Kids relaxing in the non-sandy area

Wes and me, chilling in the pool





Westin, Troy and a little of Uncle Brent


Dad and Sis

Westin, Cole & Troy being good and actually eating (Dad and Lorri's balcony)
Sweet little Sally with her mo hawk. The babies were such troopers

Sage loved just holding onto a sea shell




Me and Betsy (Morgan was our photographer)



Ben and Wes


Hardly can be considered a family picture, the kids were not cooperating

What is going on here??

Is this my 1 year old, teaching my almost 3 year old new tricks?? I'm amazed....