If I had to do it all over again....

I would still say yes! Happy 13th Anniversary my Joshie!


Dec 30th 1998:



1999: Boise Idaho


2000: Graduating from USU


2001: England



2002: Manhattan Kansas



2003: Niagara Falls



2004: The Uintah's




2005: Star Valley, Wyoming



2006: The Outer Banks, North Carolina




2009: Red Rock Canyon, Colorado Springs



2008: Calf Creek Utah



2009: Colorado Spring



2010: Our mountain property in Cripple Creek Co.



2011: Teotihuacan Mexico

I LOVE YOU!!!

family photos

A few months back when we went to Estes Park we took the tripod and attempted some family photos. Taking my own families pictures is always the biggest challenge of all, but I am quite pleased with how they turned out this year. I will forever love Caleb's awkward bucktooth years, Sam's toothless grin, and the innocence of Sophie's piggy tails.

Christmas Day

After our 2 a.m. false start, the kids re-awoke at 6 and we were pleased to see that Santa had found us once again (there were a few serious worries Christmas Eve that perhaps they hadn't been good enough this year).


Both Boys were overjoyed to see that they had received Laser Tag sets:




Caleb's loot:





Sophia's loot:




Sam's loot (you wouldn't believe how much he had begged for a bomber hat and refused to take it off all day):



After 15 strait hours of playing the kids crashed pretty hard Christmas night and although they might not have gotten everything on their wish lists, overall it was a very successful Christmas!

Our boys might be disapointed

December is always a busy month with Christmas parties, piano recitals, and the anticipation of Christmas. This year the boys made sure they had plenty of time to let Santa know what they wanted by writing their letters back in October. Judging by some of what they asked, Santa obviously has a generous heart and unlimited resources. Here are their wishes:

Caleb's letter:

I garantee you Caleb will not be getting a rat for Christmas. His own air force? I'll try to work on that one.


Sam's letter:
You'll see a heavy Halloween influence since it wrote the list just after that holiday. Let me translate what I can:

1. "Nerv bolits" = Nerf bullets
2. "Nerv gan" = Nerf Gun
3. "Pet huming bard roden wood pes blag bird" = pet humming bird, ? woodpecker, blackbird
4. "lasertag" (he got that one right)
5. "doo bice" = new bike
6. "dlabooks" = bla books?

7. "Popcorn masheen" = popcorn machine

8. "scop for my bee bee gon" = scope for my bbgun
9. "warewolf"=wearwolf (doesn't everyone want this for Christmas?)
10. "moxts" = mask (I think)
11. "shorp teeth" = sharp teeth
12. "I pod tuch" = Ipod touch
13. "mad sinetest" = mad scientist
14. "littl rabot kingaroo" = little robot kangaroo
15. "woterbotl" = water bottle
16. "clos" = clothes
17. "tras stuf booc" = trace stuff book
18." beer santa clos I wish you wil giv mee my presets chesmes is my faverit halodaye good by." = Dear Santa Clause, I wish you will give me my presents Christmas is my favorite holiday good bye.

After putting these letters in the mail a few weeks ago, guess who we just heard back from? Good ole' Santa himself! The letter was even postmarked from the North Pole. Santa does live!

NORAD Santa

Josh had his work party this last week. The kids got to sit on Santa's lap and tell him what they wanted for Christmas. Sophie wants a "Lalaoopsie," Sam a remote control car, and Caleb said he wanted a bb gun (which Santa replied "You'll shoot your eye out!")

Were pretty sure he was the real deal because he told the kids that they had to stop fighting so much and that they needed to make sure they kept their rooms clean. How would he possibly know these things if he wasn't the real Santa?? Brilliant Santa, brilliant.

Pink granny panties and orange slices

While at my parents for Thanksgiving we also celebrated one of my brother's and Dad's birthdays and also celebrated my dad's retirement.

Congrats Dad!

Dad made a HUGE wok of stir fry. Afterwards we gave our gifts, including a

pair of granny panties that my kids have been exchanging with their grandpa for years.

One of our (joke) retirement gifts to Grandpa: Orange Slices! As kids we gave my dad Orange Slices for every holiday thinking he loved them. Only as an adult did he finally confess that he doesn't like them - what a good sport! The grandkids had no problems making the box disappear.

Does that look comfortable?

Little kids and dogs love Uncle Mike. Lucky for him, my extended family has plenty of both.

Traditional gumdrop turkey making.

The Natural

Caleb, unlike his mother, has a natural gift for piano playing. When I was a kid, I would do ANYTHING to get out of playing in a recital. And by anything I mean, purposely slamming my fingers in a door (not the brightest idea, I realized afterwards).

Thank goodness, Caleb is different than me. He has only been playing for 11 months and is doing so well. Now if only he could understand that it is a huge no-no to wear white anklets with your church pants at your recital. Believe me, I tried to hide this fact while filming by using the kids on the front row as a shield, but it only hid so much.

Good job Cabe!

Awkward family photos

Oh, awkward family photos. We have all had them, but some of us have had it worse than others. A certain brother of mine was victim of Olan Mills, a photography company back in the 80's who are now famous for their humiliating their customers. My brothers pic was bad: a 13 year old boy, dressed in a cardigan, wearing thick framed glasses holding his pet poodle. So cool for the 80s, and wonderful blackmail material for the rest of eternity.

Unfortunately, no one in the family can find this picture anywhere other than our memories so we decided to re-create the event for my brother's birthday. We gave him huge poster of everyone posing with our poor schnauzer Trench to remind him of how much his family loves him, (or was it to make fun of him for posing with a poodle?). No matter what, taking these pictures and giving them to my brother was the highlight of our Thanksgiving.

Brother-in-law Mike has no problem taking his pants off in public. Not awkward at all :)

Everyone got in on the action. Too bad you can't see

everyone else behind the camera laughing hysterically.

Do you think my brother appreciated the gift?