Those Boys

So I was putting Corbin and Taylor to bed tonight and things were going so well...we said prayers, I read two books, no nap today, and it was 8:00, I thought they would be sound asleep fast! Well 15 minutes later I go back in their room, they were laying in bed, but they had taken all their clothes off their hangers and thrown them in a big pile and then tried hooking all the hangers together to make some kind of mechanism...ahhh! I was so upset and started to use a very sturn voice! Corbin knew how upset I was and so he said, mom do you want to hear me sing and then started singing Follow the Prophet! Oh man...how could I possibly be mad, now. So I listened and left it at that, I guess in the morning we will be cleaning up that mess!

Sick, Alayna's Wedding!!, Red Iguana, Sick, FHE

If you have wondered where I have been, well, I'm here now! At first I was sick with that yucky cold that is going around, but that's over! The funnest thing that happened was Alayna and Jeff's wedding! Alayna was the most beautiful bride. Taylor loved calling her a princess..and she was!! Everything turned out so wonderful and we are so happy to have Jeff in our family!

Coming out of the temple. Isn't her dress beautiful! Justin's mom made the robe and her veil, they turned out great!

One of the greatest things about them getting married was that it brought Jen and Ryan back into town. The boys were so happy to see their cousins!

Corbin and Jordan giving big loves!!

Taylor and Teague waiting for Alayna and Jeff to come out.

Justin feeding Levi at the reception, Levi did so good, but it eventually became too much stimulation!

Such a beautiful bride and such adorable kids!

While we were waiting for Alayna and Jeff to come out, Corbin went up to these doors and starting knocking and calling for Alayna!

Also, when Justin told Corbin that Alayna and Jeff got married just now, Corbin asked if she was going to have a baby now!

Alayna thought it was great so she grabbed Levi and told Corbin she had her baby...he didn't fall for it!

Cute Ainsley, the only girl in the bunch! She looked so adorable. Jen made her dress and it turned out so cute, she even made the bottom of her dress to look like Alayna's!

After the temple, Justin, the kids, and I went to the Red Iguana. Usually there is a huge waiting line, so when we drive by we usually just pass because we don't want to wait! But at 2:00 on a Friday afternoon, we didn't wait at all. It was sooo good! My favorite thing was the Vegetable Chimichanga...with all the guacamole and sour cream!!!Poor Corbin tried the salsa and chips and it was way too hot, we put sour cream around his lips to cool them off!
Silly Taylor!

After the wedding, I ended up getting strep throat...aah! I thought I was done being sick. All I can say is that I love antibiotics...life savor! So last night, Justin did our Family Home Evening, it turned out so well! He is so good at coming up with last minute lessons! He decided to make a Christmas list that the boys can give to Jesus. Each time they do one of the things on the list, they get to color it in and then when it is all colored in we are going to wrap it up and put it under the Christmas tree! So last night, Corbin went into his room and shut the door (and of course we eavesdropped), we could here him saying his little prayers! It just made my day and helped make me feel so much better.

After Corbin watched Justin make the list for Jesus, he grabbed some paper and went into the bathroom to make a list he wanted to give to Jesus. He came out in a couple of minutes and brought this out...we were blown away. He sounded out the letters for each of these words and then wrote them out. One of my favorites is when he tried writing cow...cao. I guess he will be ready for Kindergarten next year!

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year

I am so excited for Christmas this year! The boys are a year older and we are so blessed to have Levi added to our family! You might think I'm crazy, but we got out the Christmas tree on Monday and on Tuesday we decorated it. Last night I couldn't wait to turn out all the house lights and only have the Christmas tree lights on, it was so beautiful.
You would think that my favorite holiday was Christmas, but it's not, it's Thanksgiving. When Christmas is here, then it's all over, but when Thanksgiving is here, it has just begun. I just feel like Christmas decorations need to be added to Thanksgiving to make it even more fun.
I have to thank my parents for always making the Christmas season so special. I have so many wonderful memories of Christmas time growing up and I just hope that my children will have just as many. I remember every year my mom and dad would tell us that this Christmas wasn't going to be very big because money was tight, but every year they out did themselves and with six children presents were piled high to the ceiling!
One tradition I remember was when my dad would get these christmas chocolates and we would all stand around the counter and take turns picking one out until they were all gone.
Every Christmas Eve (as long as I can remember) we would have my mom's delicious ham loaf, potato rolls, and all the trimmings. We still get to do it every Christmas Eve, but we have gone from a family of 8 to a family of 31!
On Christmas Eve night we would go to bed and in the morning we had to get up and do the paperroute. I remember taking the newspaper to different families and they would have their windows open and I could see all the kids inside opening presents. I thought that is just wasn't fair, but once I got home, my parents definately made up for it!
Many of you know that my dad is a wood worker and he builds so many incredible things. On Christmas, dad would usually build us something and, for some reason, whenever I smell varnish, I think of Christmas! One of my favorite things was my bear house (it's a log house). The detail is amazing and a couple of years ago, my dad got it out of the attic and gave it back to me! But the most wonderful thing my dad has made for me happened a couple years ago when my mom and dad came to our home and wanted to give us our christmas. We were expecting a check, but then dad walked in carrying something big. My mom and dad have a clock at their home that is so beautiful and dad had made the same ones for my grandparent. When they passed on, my older sibling got them, but this year my dad made three more for the rest of us. I was blown away! I couldn't believe he did that for us. I don't know how long it took him, but it is the best present I have ever recieved!
Thanks mom and dad for making Christmas the most wonderful time of the year!!

New Blog

I am starting a new blog that I have wanted to start for a really long time, but I am finally, sort of, getting to it!! One of my favorite things to do is cook and bake and especially try new recipes out. This blog will be full of recipes of any kind. I wanted to post it here to see if any of you are interested in being added to this new blog so that we can all go on and share recipes. Please let me know if you do, I already have a lot of addresses, so just let me know and then I can add you! Thanks!

By the way, I am only leaving my blog non-private for a couple more days, so anyone who cares to check out my blog every now and then, please let me know. I have been so excited with all of you who want to stay connected...it really does mean a lot to me!

Elections

All I can say is I am so glad that the elections are finally over! It was way too long of a process and even though it did not turn out the way I wanted it to, life will go on. At least I still have a wonderful family, the gospel, a home, Justin's job so I can stay home, food to eat, and the list goes on...

Yesterday my friend Jen babysat Taylor and Levi, so that I could take Corbin to vote with me. This was our conversation before going...

Mommy: Corbin, do you want to go on a date with me.

Corbin: What do you do on a date?

Mommy: You can go to dinner, go see a movie, or go vote.

Corbin: Why are you going to go vote?

Mommy: We need to go vote for a new President.

Corbin: Why, did President Monson die?


Thank goodness, no.

Sorry...will you send me your address

I watched the news last night and there was a segment on blogging! Go to ksl.com to find out more information. It is just sad what people will do, how pathetic can you be? Anyway, I feel like I want to go private now for a little more protection. Please send me your e-mail address. Thanks everyone, and sorry

Happy Halloween

Here are some pics from Halloween! It was lots of fun to have Mandi, Jon, Hunter, Jaina, Alayna, Jeff, Alisa, and Jerry over for a party! Of course, Corbin was a pirate and Taylor was superman! My sister-in-law made an awesome Black Widow costume that I got to wear...sorry no pictures. Justin held Levi most of the time - so he said he was a mom. This year has been my favorite Halloween so far, the kids were so excited and they had so much fun getting ready for our party! We found some really cute ideas from familyfun.com - great website.

Can you tell what these are? The boys helped me put the gummy lifesavers and M&Ms on. They thought that it was so cool and so gross!

Pretty scary witch. I thought we needed to add something besides candy to our menu!

These were my favorite thing...thanks to Mandi for helping me out with this, she did most the work! They are mini caramel apples, except we didn't use caramel, we used melted peanut butter chips and metled chocolate! They were so yummy!

Hunter, Taylor, and Corbin...Trick - or - Treat!!!

Alayna asked Corbin what she should be for Halloween. He told her to be a fairy...so she was! Isn't that so sweet? Corbin told Jeff that he should be a pirate with him. ARRR, matey!

On Monday, I did my grocery shopping and found these costumes half off! The boys were soooo excited and they have been playing Knight in Shining Armor for the last 24 hours!! We have the book Sleeping Beauty and so Corbin, of course, has to act out the book. He said that he was Prince Phillip and I was Princess Aurora, such a sweetheart!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween! Now I really look forward to Thanksgiving and I've been loving the Christmas music!!....I just love this time of year, it's the best!!!