Computer's

Our computer is up and running again. We bought our computer almost 4 years ago and it is now considered a dinosaur. It's constantly doing something... just doesn't always work. 2 weeks ago I tried getting on the internet and it told me of an error and the computer needed to be restarted. So the computer turned off but when it started again another technical error appeared stating the computer was stuck in some loop. Absolutely no programs were working, let alone the internet. I can't tell you how many times we've shut the computer off and restarted it again in the past 2 weeks. Wouldn't ya' know last night Kory shut it down again. Restarted it and everything is working today. We'll see how long it lasts this time. We've had people look at it and they all say the same thing. We need a new computer. The one we have is soooo old it's not worth fixing.

So because none of the programs were working I've been taking pictures with my film camera. I hope to develop them today so I can post some of our Christmas pictures.

Our Gingerbread House

I thought it might be fun to make a gingerbread house. What an experience it turned out to be. We didn't have family home evening on Monday night so we thought we could do this project Tuesday night. On tuesday however the grahm crackers kept breaking and the frosting wasn't drying fast enough. So to the kids dismay we finally quit.


Wednesday is my busy day of the week so we didn't even try. Thursday Kory was going to be working late so I thought the kids and I could do it then. I found a recipe off the internet for the frosting that was working but the cheapest grahm crackers that I had bought were still breaking to easily. So I hopped on the net again and read someone elses problems making these silly houses and discovered she used a shoe box and a piece of card board box as the base. What a genious.
So the kids plastered the shoe box with frosting and stuck grahm crackers to it making the house. We bent the card board box making it the roof. They had a blast sticking the candies on. Our roof was full of marshmellows and gumdrops. The house is covered in M&M's, skittles(that are now missing), string licorice gummy bears and mints. So as the kids told there dad they were finally able to make their candy house. YEAH!!

Tis' The Season

I finally broke down and pulled out the Christmas decorations. After setting up the tree and everything else I am anxious for Christmas to come. Hunter and Madelyn were so excited.





When we came home form Utah over Thanksgiving we had a van packed with gifts. They both keep asking when they can open them. Hunter will sing "Happy Birthday" to Madelyn and then asks if we can open presents now. He's just not quite understanding the process here.



They certainly have had fun with the tree. Hunter is constantly plugging the lights in. At least once a day I find them playing with the nativity scene. It is too cute to listen to them tell each other the Christmas Story. So , I've decided to not get all bent out of shape when I catch them playing with the figurines. I guess it's more imortant that they know the story then the still missing broken hand on Joseph and the donkey ear that has now been super glued back on 3 times.


We will be staying home for Christmas and I'm starting to like the idea. I think we will start up some of our own family traditons to carry on. This year is going to be quite fun watching our 3 year old and 2 year old.

Family Pictures

We had our Family pictures taken this past Saturday by a friend at Fain Park. It would have been a great day to be outside if the wind hadn't been blowing. It was stinkin' cold outside. Everyones noses were red that thankfully you can't see through the pictures.


This is one of my favorite pictures of the day. I love seeing the two blurry children running in the background.






Here's our little Emily. Isn't she just precious. It was blowing so hard she was having a hard time catching her breath.









Madelyn and Emily have matching dresses on (thankyou Kerri). Having 2 girls are so much fun to dress a like. It was fun watching Madelyn choose which leaf she was going to pick up. Being only 2 I wonder what is going through her head. What is she looking for in a leaf.






This is Hunter throwing a leaf in the air. It was fun to see our children enjoying the simple things in life.


Thankyou Kerri for taking our pictures.

Is it really so...

Can it Be? Yes, this is our property and by golly there are actually people working. I'm assuming they are working on the footings, but who really knows. I've been told by the middle of January we should be able to close. We shall see!!!!

Our Anniversary

Besides celebrating 2 baby blessings and Thanksgiving we also celebrated our 5th Anniversary.


Friday night we left the kids with Grandma and Grandpa and went to the movies. It was great to see an adult movie at the theatres again with out children present.



It's amazing, this was us 5 years ago. Look at us now. 3 kids and our 1 st house on the way (middle of Jan. is the latest).

Emily's Blessing

Emily was blessed the Friday afternoon after Thanksgiving. The blessing was held in Hurricane, Ut at my parents home. Emily's Grandma Heaton made her beautiful blessing gown. She was just gorgeous in it. Thankyou Grandma you did a wonderful job.


Two days before Emily was born her cousin Ruth was born. I was suppose to be induced on the 20th and we would have had twins. Oh well they will have their own birthdays this way. Aren't they just to cute. Grandma Heaton also made Ruth's blessing dress. Ruth was blessed the Sunday after Thanksgiving.



Hunter and Madelyn are quite photogenic. I do believe Emily has also inherited this traite.

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving this year took place in Alton, Ut. with Kory's family. Everyone was there except one sister-in-law and their 2 kids. It was a great time to catch up with everyone. We had a ham and a turkey with plenty of pies to go around.






As soon as dinner was over these three little rug rats (Hunter, cousin Anthony, Madelyn) decided it was time to go back to Grandmas house. As soon as anyone stood up one of these three was right there to stack their chair (dinner took place at the church). Before anyone new it the majority of the adults were no longer sitting and visting with one another but all standing up because their chair had been taken away. They were so very proud of themselves.

It's not often this many of us are all together. Mom decided since we were only missing 3 from the family to do a family picture. There are 9 kids. 8 of which are married and 29 grandkids. Who only knows when the next time will be when this many of us will be together.

Is it that time already ?

It's hard to believe that Christmas is only 35 days away. Yes, only 35 days.





We are trying to take all of the Christmas presents we are giving to those who live in Utah with us at Thanksgiving. This way they will actually have their gift by Christmas and I won't have to ship anything.




Hunter and Madelyn had a blast helping to wrap all these presents. As soon as they were wrapped they of course wanted to put them under the Christmas tree. They still don't understand why we have christmas presents but no tree.

I'm A Big Kid Now !

The other day I put on my Secretary mode for our business. Unfortunately doing everything that needs to be done can take several hours. I usually try to get the kids settled playing with something that will hold there attetion for quite some time so I won't be interupted too many times.


This time however I didn't think it would take to long and figured the kids could handle themselves. About 11 am they both started in with the "I'm Hungry" routine. I kept puting them off. After an hour of hearing "I'm Hungry" and them hearing moms reply "I'm almost done give me just another minute."

I turned around to discover this. I really must have been into whatever I was doing. I didn't hear the fridge open,or drawers/cabinets being opened and shut. When they get the utensils out it can be quite loud but I didn't hear a thing.

Feeling bad about making my 2 and 3 year old fend for themselves I appologized for not getting them lunch. Hunter replied,"That's O.K . I made my own jelly jelly budder sandwich and me am helping Maddie. I growed last night cause now I'm a real big boy." He's really funny. Almost every morning he asks if he grew, if he's a bigger boy then yesterday.

Oh how cute. Is it a Boy or Girl?

For the most part everywhere we go I hear "Oh how cute, she's just beautiful." Yep, I have to agree with them. However it's surprising how often I am asked if "IT" is a boy or girl. Twice last week I was asked this silly question "Is it a boy or girl?" So I took pictures of what "IT" was wearing on these occasions and thought I'd ask you. Is "IT" a boy or girl? I must admit I have never seen a baby boy dressed in pink let alone with a bow on his head. Have you ? With as often as I am asked I wonder if there are little boys being dressed in pink and wearing bows and I've just never seen them. Some people !!!!

Grandpa Hunter

We have not seen my Grandpa Hunter since Madelyn was about 6 weeks old. The kids and I were able to meet up with our truck driving Grandpa in Cordes Junction at Mc Donalds.






We had so much fun. Madelyn threw a fit when she realized Grandpa wasn't coming home with us.

Family Home Evening

Yesterday was just a hectic day and I didn't plan anything for Family Home Evening. So I pulled out different types of noodles (macaroni, curly, bows), cheerios, pretzels and glue (what kid doesn't like to glue stuff?).

Hunter and Maddie had a blast. For an hour and 15 minutes I sat there to offer help. This activity most definitely held there attention.I think this was our longest family home evening we have ever had. I bought glue before school started for $.10 a piece. I bought a dollar worth so I let the kids do the glue by themselves since we have plenty. What a good investment.

Hunter and Madelyn are always doing things together at the same time and I forget there is an age difference between the two. Madelyn just put glue where ever and put noddles anywhere. To help her I traced her hand and she followed the lines with cheerios. She wanted a big girl with piggies (pig tales) so she could give her a bow.

Hunter made all sorts of stuff. He made a sun, flowers, rabbit and a house with a garage for daddy's deliveries. He would watch me put the glue on Maddies paper and copy it. He was able to do most himself. He surprised me how good he did.

This is one activity that the kids will anxiously do again. It's going to be perfect when its too cold outside to play and the play dough and painting doesn't hold their attention anymore.

What happens when this van and this phone meet ? ? ? ?





















THIS ! ! !







I have 3 pairs of pants that I have been rotating quite regularly. Then a few days ago I sat down and heard that dreadful sound. I looked down to see my knee poking out a gaping hole. Now I'm down to 2 pairs of pants and doing laundry everyday. It seems I am pooped or spewed on several times a day by our precious little Emily. After hearing JC Pennys advertisement all week how the entire store is marked down 20-60% today ONLY from 6am-12 noon I thought I could get me a new pair of jeans.

So this morning I loaded up all 3 kids and headed to JC Penny's by myself as Kory was working. I finally walked through the front doors at 9 am. As I was drawn to several different racks claiming to be 60% off I decided someone must have uped the price the night before as nothing was under $20.00.

At 9:15 Hunter starts the potty dance so we make a trip to the bathroom. We begin the search again. At 9:30 Madelyn starts saying in a rather loud voice she needs to go poop. I tell her just 15 minutes ago she said she didn't have to go potty (like she understands time). I ask her why she didn't go when we were in their as she claimed she didn't need to? She says she doesn't have to go potty she has to go POOP! (AHH !) Let's not forget that just 45 min. ago we were home and both children used the bathroom before we left. So we head for the bathrooms again. Madelyn relieves herself and we start the search. Not 15 minutes later I hear a gagging sound. I look down and Emily has spewed all over herself. Her hair and clothes are just covered. So we make ANOTHER bathroom stop. After changing Emily and making sure the other two do not need to go potty or poop or anything else that might take place in a bathroom we start the search again. By this time the store is packed and I'm having a hard time keeping both my walking children close to me. I finally find a jean rack that states buy 1 get 1 for $.99.

After debating with myself whether or not to just buy them or to try them on I decide I really don't want to come back any time soon (especially by myself and the kids) so we make our way to the changing room. As I am taking off my pants in a rather loud voice Hunter asks " why are you getting naked mommy?" I reply I am not getting naked I am simple trying on these pants. Hunter still in a loud voice asks "Why, did you go poop or pee in them?" In a rather hushed tone of voice I tell him I didn't do either I am just trying them on. Meanwhile I am trying to wrestle with Madelyn quietly as she keeps laying on the floor looking under the divider into the next stall. I'm hoping the poor women next door isn't noticing my 2 year old watching her change and I am praying Maddie won't make any comment on the women getting naked as she just heard Hunter and my conversation. I decide the pants are good enough and get out out of the room before my neighbors are done.

I am thankful no one is in line at the check out. As I give the young girl behind the counter I hear a crash at my feet. I look down to discover Hunter and Maddie had each pulled out a gift card holder and I have at least 50 cards scattered around our feet. I just picked them all up and handed them to the young girl apologizing (whoever thought to put those stupid things at the eye level of little kids. I never notice them until my kids point them out). My pants are paid for and we can finally go home. As we proceed out the doors there is a display of red and gold balloons. Both kids run up to the diplay grabbing at them and in an excited voice screeching " look mom balloons, I want one, I want one one." They of course knock the display over. With a crash everyone again is looking at us. I pick the pole up trying to be thankful the balloons didn't pop and nothing broke. I feel like I can't get out to the van fast enough. So for $32 I bought 2 pairs of pants . Definitely not what I as planning on. However I was not about to go to any other stores.

I get out to the van and am litterally opening up the back of the van when a car pulls up behind me and then proceeds to back up. I can't believe it there is clearly an empty parking space three spots up but this lady is going to wait for me. I get my bag in the back, throw 2 kids over the back of the seat and am walking around to put the baby in when I notice there are 2 other cars behind this lady waiting for my spot. Emily's in, I put the stroller in and then climb into the van to fasten Hunter and Maddies seat belt. The honking is starting. I don't know who is doing it but I'm beyond frazzled by this point. Everyones in their seat belt I back up and start to drive up the isle when the thought comes to me "where's your planner?" I pull into the nearest spot, turn around and I spot my planner in the van on the floor, a sigh of relief and a quick thankful prayer I put the van in gear to reverse when another thought enters my head. "Where's your phone?" I once again put the van in park and turn around in search of my phone. I can't find it. I get out look in the stroller, in the bag, under the baby no phone. I decide I must have dropped it getting everyone into the van or it's somewhere in the store. So I drive down the isle (these isles are one of these one way only's) looking for my phone. I'm asking myself if I can't find it, is it worth going back inside with 3 kids in search for it? I really don't think I can do it. I spot the phone on the ground between 2 cars, I hop out offering another thankful prayer that I don't have to go back inside. The phone is in 2 pieces (it hasn't quite registerd that my phone is destroyed. I am still just thankful I don't have to go back inside in seach for it). I get back in the van and proceed to drive down the isle (It's finally starting to register that my phone is broken. I or someone else ran over my phone.) Another car starts to turn up the isle (I have one more car to pass and then I can turn out of the isle onto the main road). He is quite upset that we both can't be in the isle at the same time, I have nowhere to go but forward. He sticks his head out the window yells something (my windows are rolled up so I'll assume it was something nice), honks his horn, sends me friendly wave ( I want to believe) and proceeds to back up so I can turn. I send him a friendly wave (yes it really was friendly) and I honestly can't get home soon enough.

On my way home I pass the Alltel store and decide my morning can't get much worse why not stop. I leave my kids in the car (hoping no one will turn me in), run in and tell them I ran over my phone and need a new one, it is confirmed I do not have phone insurance and it will be $135 for the cheapest phone. This poor young man must have seen my distress and said in a whispered hush before buying a phone from them I should check ebay to see if I can buy one or if someone is upgrading there phone and I can use there old one. It just needs to be an Alltel phone. So I am on yet another search. As of this evening there are no alltel phones on ebay so I'm relying on your help. If you or anyone you know is getting rid of one of the following STOP!! I want it. It can be any of the following: Motorola W315, Motorola E815, Samsung a645, Samsung U420, LG AX490, 355 or 5000. If your not sure, you can look on the Alltel website or e-mail me and I will look into it. I thank you ahead of time.

Halloween

Our little ladybug was so much fun to watch. Madelyn is almost 2 1/2 and loves candy, especially chocolate. I thought after trunk-or-treating a few cars she would get the concept, and in a way she did. At each car after she was given a piece of candy she reached into her own bag and handed a piece back. To cute!!


I can't believe how many compliments we recieved on the kids costumes. I bought all 3 of them during the past 3 months on ebay and spent less then $25.00 for all of them including shipping and handling. I guess people aren't thinking costumes in August.



Obviously Madelyn is a Ladybug, Hunter is a Roaring Dinosaur, and little Emily is dressed as a cow.










Emily did great trunk-or-treating. I thought she would have slept the evening away but instead rode in the stroller wide eyed.















Our little dinosaur had such a good time. Everyday he asks if can go to the church again to get more candy.

Nintendo Junkie

This is Hunter are little Nintedo Junkie.

So this is Donkey Kong running from the alligator.

Donkey Kong just isn't going fast enough maybe he'll go faster if I stand up.



Nope! Still not fast enough.


Maybe this will help!!!



So once again this is how he starts off. Legs together and crossed. His hands almost resting on his thighs.


Donkey Kong has gotten away from the alligator but now it's time to jump over the porqupine. So our little legs come uncrossed and start to spread as our hands start to rise higher.

Donkey Kong just isn't jumping high enough.

This one's sure to do the trick!!

We are bouncing on the bed like this yelling "Jump, Jump, Jump".

It's just too funny to watch. You must see this in person. The body movement must help this little 3 yr. old boy,as he can now beat the 1st level in Donkey Kong all by himself.

Way to go Hunter!!!!