Reasons Not To Shop In December

So the last few years I decided to get Christmas shopping done early (usually by Nov 1st, I know I am crazy), so we can do fun things as a family. I absolutely love not shopping at all in December, I don't like crowds nor shopping and I love spending time with my family instead. We went ice skating, to Thanksgiving Point to see Christmas lights, took along some donuts and drinks and had the best time driving around! Also, we had to go see the Big Guy, Logan telling Santa what he would like for Christmas.
Spencer can't remember anything he wants.

Ethan trying to convince Santa that he has been good, that will be a hard sell.

We also made gingerbread houses and it was a lot of fun. Logan and Spencer were being so careful decorating the house.
And of course Ethan started eating part of the house, destroying their house. I guess that is what little brothers are good at, destroying things but they still love him to pieces, which is what big brothers are good at.

Thanksgiving Fun

We had lots of fun over Thanksgiving and the boys were so excited to have lots of visitors.Spencer made Turkey Leg bowling, and we had lots of fun playing. Spencer made up the rules as we went, he gave everyone lots of turns except Grandpa Sam, he only got ONE turn, no more.
Spencer setting up the pins.

The boys loving on their cousin Noah.

He is so cute!!!! I love his fat rolls, they are ADORABLE!!!

I thought Ethan might be jealous of his baby cousin but he just loved on him. Spencer was the one that got jealous, he told Brian, "Mom is just paying all her attention to Noah, and not to me!" I asked him to play a game with me, and he totally forgot about being upset, that is how 5 year olds are.

He is sticking his tongue at his Auntie Kim, he is a smart boy!

Look at that smile!

Logan being a good cousin reading to Noah.

Family Pictures

We just got our family pictures back, and for once I love them! I always dread getting family pictures, what to wear, trying to get all my boys happy, it is just too much. We finally found the best photographer and she is in our ward, so if anyone needs pictures, Twila Clair is awesome! So here they are:

Halloween

The boys had a lot of fun on Halloween. Logan was Indiana Jones, Spencer was Bumblebee (Transformer), and Ethan was everything including a cow, pumpkin, & Batman. We also had fun visitors, Grandpa Ric stopped by and cousins Lily & Frankie. The boys had so much fun playing in the leaves and jumping on the trampoline with their cousin Lily, they think she is sooo cute!

Fall Break in Gunnison

During the boys Fall Break from school, we went down to Gunnison because the boys think it is the funnest place to be. We tagged along with the Harris family to the pumpkin patch, Logan thinks his cousins are cool.
Braden trying to find a big pumpkin for Spencer.
Matt helping us carry the pumpkins.

All the boys, so cute! I know when you're a teenager that isn't cool, but I still remember them as little boys.

Morgan found the BIGGEST pumpkin.

Logan, Spencer, & Ethan found some Gourds.

Braden's little buddy is Ethan. Ethan loves Braden, when he sees his picture he smiles and points and when no one is looking Braden is so sweet to him!

David & Goliath, I can't believe Braden is only in 8th grade and already 6'2", obviously he gets is from his mom's side of the family! (He HATES me taking his picture, but I don't care!)

I was daring Braden & Morgan to climb up the old tree house at my Dad's house (great aunt I know). Braden climbed up with no problem, except the ladder slipped a little, probably because he is so big.

Next was Morgan, he got up half way and decided it wasn't a good idea, climbed right back down (he obviously is the smart one).

Last came me, Brian would have killed me if he would have seen me doing this but I couldn't let my nephew out dare me, duh. I know I still see myself as a kid and I still act like it, but I had fun!

Whoa, Look Out for the Hair, Back to High School

I've been tagged by Marie, and yippee it is about high school, at least I got a good laugh.

This is proof that I have a good sense of humor because I am putting these pictures on of myself when I look like the biggest dork! Why did my mother let me out the door?
1 Did you date someone from your school? No
2 What kind of car did you drive? I drove a dark grey Ford Festiva, basically a roller skate, and I loved it till it died!
3 Did you pass your driver's license test on the first try? No, and I was so embarrassed I wouldn't tell anyone! I failed the driving part, the whole going slow by school grounds and parallel parking, why is that important?
4 Were you a party animal? No, but I had friends who were (especially Marie), I was always the designated driver.
5 Were you considered a flirt? No, I was a big nerd, but some boys thought I was stuck up.
6 Were you in a band, orchestra or choir? I signed up for band one quarter (because I heard they were going to St George) and played the big drum, I didn't have a clue how to read music, I just hit it every once in a while!
7 Were you a nerd? In high school, some people probably didn't think so but I was a big nerd! Here is proof, our varsity cheerleading squad, I think 1989 or 1990:

I am middle top with the black eyes and the 10 inch bangs, Marie is on the bottom with the massive cleavage. Oh the late eighties, early nineties were not kind, someone should have knocked some fashion sense and a hairbrush into me.
8 Were you on any varsity teams? Cheerleading and volleyball.
9 Did you get suspended or expelled? No, I was an angel, never got into trouble.
10 Can you still sing the fight song? No, I can't sing!
11 Who were your favorite teachers? I would have to say Mr. Bjeergard and Mr. Anderson, guy teachers seemed to like me better.
12 Where did you sit during lunch? I would go get something at Dairy Queen or at home.
13 What's your school's full name? Gunnison Valley High School
14 What was your mascot and colors? Bulldogs, Blue, & White.
15 Did you go to homecoming? Yes, I think I went with friends, I don't really remember, it was the first year of football at Gunnison.
16 If you could go back and do it all again, would you? No, anyone who says yes, needs to get a life!!!!
17 What do you remember most about graduation? I don't remember much about graduation, except I couldn't wait to move away from Gunnison, small town life, I left after the graduation parties and drove straight to Salt Lake to start living.
18 Where did you go on your Senior Skip Day? Honestly, I don't remember.
19 Were you in any clubs? Speech and Drama.
20 Have you gained some weight since then? Yes, I tried on my old cheerleading skirts and my husband told me to give it up.
21 Who was your prom date? Derek Anderson, he was a great friend, and I had a blast.
22 Are you planning to go to your 10 year reunion? I am way too old for this question!
23 Did you have a job while in high school? I worked at the grocery store, Savers, it was a lot of fun. I remember going out to the dairy to visit Marie at night when she was working, I was a good friend, it stunk so bad and there were a million flies.
This totally made me laugh, I had lots of fun in high school but you couldn't pay me to go back, my life is much more fun now... I tag Cindy & Caradee.

Off to the Pumpkin Patch

Every year we go to the Big Red Barn in October for a family home evening and every year the boys think it is so cool. I think we are raising city boys even though we live in Payson, they are always amazed by tractors and farm animals.

All my boys are so cute!
Ethan is always climbing on a fence wherever we go.

Spencer loving the tractor ride.

Two scary ghosts!!!

"Hey where did everybody go?"

Logan acting like Christopher Columbus, "That away!"

Juvenile Diabetes Walk

On Saturday, September 20th, we had the opportunity to support our two awesome neighbors, Zach & Tyler, in the JDRF walk, which helps raise money to find a cure for Juvenile Diabetes.

"Ready, Set, Go!"

Logan after the walk, tackling the climbing wall. Spencer going down the slide, "Whooooooa!"

Ethan's Horse Therapy

Instead of Ethan's regular therapy class on Thursday, he got to have Horse Therapy, and he had so much fun.While we were waiting for our turn on the horse, we got to see some of the animals, Ethan kept yelling, "Duck, Mom Duck!"
"Hey, look what I can do!"

Spencer having fun swinging on an old tire swing.

The other children were crying and were afraid of the horse, not Ethan, when he got on the horse he had the biggest grin. Throughout the ride he kept making horse noises and saying, "Getty up!"

They were so nice, and even let Spencer have a turn, he thought it was great fun also.

Spencer Sort of Playing Soccer.

Spencer loves playing soccer, or should I say he loves going to the games, but doesn't really like the actual running and playing. His favorite thing to do is to play goalie, I think because he doesn't have to run. He looks so mean (must take after his Mom).
Ethan wants to play soccer so bad. He cries until I put one of his brothers uniforms on him, he has to wear one to every game, and then he gets his ball and proceeds to go out on the field with the big kids. I think he is going to be our soccer player, he can already run and kick the soccer ball really good!