Decorating The Tree.....Twice

The day after Thanksgiving Cameron took the kids and went tree hunting. 

After spending a week in the garage we decided it was time to bring it in and decided where it would spend the Holiday season. Then a couple days went by before my Mom put lights on it for me.(Thanks Mom)

Then finally Sunday we decided to let the kids decorate it.  The kids did a wonderful job and Shane even helped.

                     

                        

After the tree was all decorated and the kids were in bed I ran to the store(Liz informed me before bed the cat was out of food).  When I returned I found an empty living room and the decorations and lights were sitting on the nearby couch. Cam delivered the bad news that the tree had fallen over twice while I was gone.  UGH!!!

So out came the pre-lit 6' artificial tree.  The kids loved getting to decorate a second tree.

                     

Hoping to avoid anymore tree mishaps we are wishing you all HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

You've had a Birthday!!

Six years ago on December 7th a precious 7lb. baby boy was placed in my arms.  I cannot believe how fast time flys.

                         

Stockton is such a joy to have in our home and we love all of his little habits and mannerisms.  He is so much like his Dad.  He enjoys anytime he can go out to the farm, go to the shooting range or just spend time with his Dad.

He is one of the easiest kids to buy presents for.  He circles about everything in the Cabela's catalog. Although I would love to buy him everything I just picked a few things. This year he got a toy shotgun, Cabela's big game hunter with a gun for the wii, and a pop gun.

                   

The kids have stayed up the last two nights playing the Wii game way past bedtime.  That has made for some hard mornings. Oh well.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY STOCKTON!!   We hope you had a great one!

Pumpkin Carving

There is nothing like waiting until Halloween Day to carve pumpkins.  Lucky for us it fell on a Saturday.  With Halloween on a weekday there never is enough hours in a day, but this year Halloween is on a Saturday.  It seemed like we had plenty of time to just enjoy the day.  Cameron came home for lunch and brought KFC. After the kids gobbled the food down they were very eager to grab the pumpkins and start carving them.  Each kid always draws their design out onto the pumpkin with a marker first and then it is time to have Mom & Dad help with the cleaning and carving.  I didn't get pictures of the kids with finished projects but here are some of the action.  And yes you do see some of me this year. 

Kindergarten Field Trip

Every year the Kindergarten class gets to go to the pumpkin patch and pick out 1 pumpkin.  This year it was Stockton's turn.  I was excited to go with him and help him pick his best pumpkin.  When we arrived to the pumpkin patch (via bus full of very excited children) we filed out and on to hay wagons pulled by tractors.  We rode the hay wagon out to the field FULL of all different sizes and shapes.

Once Stockton was off the wagon I had a hard time keeping up with him and his buddies.  I think I would have been better off just staying in one place and letting him find me. After several minutes of walking the rows and rows of pumpkins he finally found the perfect one. 

After having a picture taken for his class they all went for a walk where his teacher Mrs. Chappell showed them the different types of pumpkins and gourds.

Then we loaded back on the wagon and went back to the bus.  After arriving back to the school it was time to go home for the day.  Yep, No school that day just a Field Trip.

MILEY!!!

As most of you know last month for Liz's Birthday we gave her tickets to go see Miley Cyrus.  I know, I am a little late posting. (I am going to try to post once a day this week). Anyways, on September 29th we all loaded up and drove to Salt Lake.  Cam and the boys stayed with Carson and the boys and the twins and Angie, Chandlie, Liz and I left to go grab dinner at the Spaghetti Factory and then we were off to the concert.

                     

The Energy Solutions Arena was packed with screaming girls and parents with smiles knowing that their children were loving the concert.  After the first song Miley disappeared from the stage for what we thought was a costume change.  When her back up singers finished the 2nd song for her we couldn't help but think something was wrong.  Sure enough her Stage Manager came to a mic and told everyone that Miley was not feeling well and that she was going to take a few minutes to recoup and then she would be back on stage.  We took that time to go and grab a T-shirt.  After about 20 minutes Miley returned and finished the concert.  She may have  taken a few more minutes during costume changes but the concert was still GREAT! 

Liz & Chandlie had an amazing time and just the smiles on their faces made the ringing in my ears that much more bearable.

            

Good Times and Bad...We always have COUSINS!!

Ok so I know this is WAY past due.  Last month Sean had a football game in Nephi.  We let Candy & Angie know ahead of time when it was in hopes they might make the drive. Candy and Tyson called and let us know they were for sure going to drive down so Sean made a phone call and asked if McCade could please ride down with them.(Thank You Candy & Angie for making the arrangements)

Sean & I left Richfield around 3:30 and met Cameron in Scipio and continued to Nephi.  Shortly after the game started Candy arrived with McCade and Tyson.  Although it is hard to see Sean's face with the helmet on I am sure he had a HUGE smile on his face when he saw his Cousins.

It was so fun to sit and visit during the game.  After the game we were able to go and grab a bite to eat together before we headed our separate ways. 

Although the 6th grade Jr. Cats had a loss that evening we still had a winning night because of Sean's wonderful Cousins.  Thanks again Candy, Tyson & McCade for making the trip.

CELEBRATE!!

This past weekend was Labor Day and of course we had nothing planned, except for a Family Birthday Party for Liz.  Monday the 7th was Liz's 9th Birthday.  I am not sure who was more excited for her present me or her.

We had decided because of the holiday weekend there probably wouldn't be many of her friends in town so we decided to wait a couple of weeks to have a party with her friends.  Much to our surprise her cousin Chandlie showed up on Friday night to surprise her and boy were we ALL surprised.  Thanks Chand for coming.

I decided I wanted to make her cake.  I wanted to try and use fondant.(Not a good idea, it didn't go so well.)  So I ended up using Vanilla frosting, from a can, and then used fondant to decorate.  Ta Da!

    

For her presents she got a couple of CD's she has wanted and also a create a tag kit from Maycie. Now for the BIG surprise, which I had been keeping for 3 months.  I am taking Liz to see Miley Cyrus!!  I think she would have been a little more excited if big bro Sean hadn't played what if.

                                

I can't believe she is 9!!  Time flies by so fast so be sure and take the time to make every minute the best.

          

First Day of School

Last Wednesday marked the First Day of School for Sean and Elizabeth, but today was Stockton's First Day.

Last Wednesday I sent Sean off to his first day of Middle School.  At first he wanted me to walk him in but once inside the door I was excused to leave.  Crazy, I have a child in middle school!

                            

                (Picture taken after school.)

Then it was off to Pahvant Elementary with Liz. 3rd grade.  WOW!  I walked her in and to her class and then of course she wanted to go out and play until the bell rang.  She too was in a new school.

                                 

                    (picture taken after school)

Today was Stockton's first day of Kindergarten.  I don't know if he was just excited or what but he was in a big hurry to get rid of me.  He kept saying "k mom bye."  I keep telling myself he was just excited.  I started to get choked up as I was leaving him in his classroom.  What's wrong with me!  JK.  I know I am emotional. 

                                  

Are you ready for some FOOTBALL!!!

We officially kicked off Sean's (#27) first season of tackle football. 

Our first game was against Manti and was supposed to be here in Richfield. The game had to be moved to Salina because of a water line break at the Richfield football field. 

Upon arriving at the field we found that they were running a little behind.  The 8th grade team had finished up with our 1st win of the day.  The 7th grade team was in the 2nd quarter.  While waiting for the game to finish up we waited under the shade of a tree.  With the 7th grade team taking home the 2nd win of the day it was time for the 6th grade team to take the field.  Woo Hoo.

I am not sure if I was nervous or excited or both.  With both older teams taking home wins we couldn't help but be excited to see the outcome of our 6th graders.

Entering into the 3rd quarter the game was 0-0.  I was starting to wonder what would happened if no one scored.  Then finally we got a TOUCHDOWN!!

With a second Touchdown we finished off the game with a win 14-0.  All 3 Richfield teams had wins!

Here are a few pics from our LONG, HOT but  EXCITING day!

           

BIRTHDAY BOY!!!!

I can't believe how fast this year has gone.  It was a year ago that we put you so carefully in the care of  Dr.'s, nurses and the life flight crew.  We knew you were in good hands but it was still so hard to know there wasn't anything else we could do but pray and let you go with them so you could  grow stronger.

Look at you now.  You are such a joy in our house and we love you more each day.  It seems like you do something new every day.  The day before your birthday you started walking.  WOW! 

For your birthday we had Grandma Jonnie, Grandpa Potts, Grandma Suzi, Aunt Shoie , Boden, Bryken, Uncle Christian, Kami, Tylar, Maycie and of course your brothers and sister all here.

Grandma Jonnie gave him the cutest Superman pj's.  The top even has a cape.

Kami gave him a car track and he loves watching the cars race.

                     

Of course the favorite of the party was the cake. 

Once Shane got a taste of it he wasn't about to let it go.  We finally had to pull the cake away and put him in the tub.  He was a SWEET greasy mess!

                                   

                           

Thank you everyone for the wonderful well wishes and especially the prayers this past year.