Family Photos

After several attempts, we were

finally able to have family photos.

A BIG thank you to

Heather Telford Photography.

Heather did an amazing job!

We are not use to the changing 

weather that Utah has.

The park Heather took us to 

was the perfect setting.

This was the coolest tree 

I have ever seen.

I love this family of mine

and feel so fortunate to have

one spectacular husband

and three amazing children.

Happiest Place on Earth

In April we did a spur of the moment

trip to Disneyland.

We left on a Thursday afternoon,

went to Disneyland on Friday

and drove home Friday night/

Saturday morning.

Disneyland was open 8-12

that day. We spent

13 hours running around

the "Happiest Place on Earth."



By 8:30 we had been on

Space Mountain twice

and were running to the other rides.



The boys on "Screamin."

Alec is not tall enough to see

They are in the 2nd car.

Love the photos taken during the ride.



Beautiful scenery at Disneyland.

We had fabulous weather!



 We had a blast running around Disneyland

with these three.

It was our first time with the kids as

teenagers, and we went non-stop

for 13 hours.

Love this photo.

Shades on and having fun!

We left Disneyland after "Fantasmic."

We drove to Scott's favorite pizza...

Round Table.

Picked up 2 pizzas, 5 hour energy,

lots of Diet Pepsi and headed back

to Arizona. We arrived home

at 4:00 AM Saturday morning.

Yes, we were exhausted, but it

was so worth it!

We are packing in a lot during our

last bit of time in Arizona.

Game Day

College Football is starting today!

We are a divided family.

With the start of football one would

think that Fall would be here...

not in Arizona!

It is still HOT!!!

Go BSU!!

March Madness

This weekend brought March Madness.  Each of us fills out a bracket and we keep track of points.  The winner gets to be "King or Queen" for a day. Needless to say the whole family watches game after game.  It is crazy at our house.

I must give a "WOO HOO" to BYU and Jimmer.  Here is a video in his honor.

Enjoy!

Christmas 2010

What a great week we had last week.

We made a trip to see the Temple Lights.

Christmas Eve we had Scott's family over.

My cute nephew Ryan LOVES my rolls.

Sisters on Christmas Eve

Alec and Kenzie on the piano Christmas Eve

Christmas Eve we set the table for Christmas morning breakfast.

After checking out stockings and Santa gifts,

we have a break for cinnamon rolls and egg casserole.

In their Christmas PJ's

Santa brought Kenzie a GPS for her car

Santa brought Alec a guitar

and Santa brought Jensen her Kindle.

We have had a lot great bonding.

This is the last year with all of us under the same roof.

Scott is now commuting to Utah and

Kenzie leaves for BYU in April.

How time flies!

It wasn't that long ago that the kids were all little.

Now, one is getting ready to leave the nest,

another one is preparing to graduate High School

and one will be finishing elementary in a year and a half.

I don't know if I am ready for all of this change.

I love the holidays, traditions and all the great memories

that are made.

We are so blessed!

~Merry Christmas~

Merry Christmas from our house to yours!

~friends~

Life is so delicate, fragile and precious. We never know when our path will take a twist and turn. Recently I found out that a friend and her family had received horrible news. News that changes your life. Today I found out that my friend is losing her battle. As I absorb this and think of her family...she has 2 teenage kids. My heart breaks for them and what they are enduring. Then, I reflect on when did I last see her? I should have done a better job at keeping in touch, I certainly didn't do my best at being a friend. I let life get in the way.

As I ponder the "I should have," "I could have," and the "why didn't I," I get ashamed at my lack of being a "TRUE" friend. It is so easy to let LIFE take over and push things to the side. Laundry will always be there, the dirty floor will still be there and most definitely the grimy bathrooms will still be waiting. But, friends are not always there. Boy, did I miss out on some great memories and times.

In January I picked "I Can do Hard Things" to focus on this year. And let me tell you, I have had plenty of "hard things" to tackle and overcome. Amazing how life works that way. I have had physical, emotional, spiritual and character building opportunities. I am grateful for each of them, as I have grown and learned through doing them.

Now as the year is quickly coming to an end, I have decided that I need to do a few more "hard things." I need to serve more, I need to put aside the "To Do" list and talk to a friend, I need to make more contact with family and friends near and far. The thing is, if I don't make an effort than who will? Someone has to take the first step and I missed opportunities with my friend. I don't want that to happen with anyone else.

When you look at the big picture what really matters and what can you take with you? The clean house is not a priority and it can't go with you. Family, friends and relationships are what matters. I need to set the example for my kids to follow. I hope to be more thoughtful, observant, caring and considerate. So that my family and friends will know that I am there for them.

Spring Break

We took a family road trip for Spring Break. I needed a get away and was dieing to go skiing. Off we went to Utah. This was the weather the first couple of days.

Winter wonderland!

Cousins hanging out and getting to know each other again. Alec was the "Big Brother" to all his little cousins. They loved hanging with him.
Friends...together in Utah! We brought Jenna along with us for some fun and relaxation.

Sledding in my parent's backyard on Saturday night.

Playing a little "Just Dance" on the Wii

Brighton

Ski day
It had been over 20 years since I had been on a

pair of skis.

So much fun!!

The "old " lady still has it!!
Kenzie getting the feel of it.

It was the first time for Kenzie, Jenna, Jensen and Alec.

They all did so good!
Speedy Gonzales...Jenna

Jensen figuring it all out!

Alec working the slopes.

And this was the weather at the end of our trip.

Sunshine, warm temps, flowers, cousins and

Friends.

There were a few more highlights of the trip...

- Scott was sick with a sinus infection

- Spent a day at BYU getting questions answered for Kenzie

- BYU creamery...the BEST ice cream

- Training Table for lunch...Yumm

- Temple Square and the Lion House

- New cell phones for Kenzie and I

- Eating lots of Cinnamon Rolls

- Shopping at the "Holy Cow" Boutique (only in Pleasant Grove)

- Scott and Alec playing Basketball at the church (benefits of having your mom be Stake Relief Society President)

- Playing Just Dance on the wii

- and the long drive....oh, ya...Scott getting a speeding ticket on the way home just outside of Page. Big Bummer!

It was a great Spring Break and a much needed getaway. Now it is back to reality.

What are you doing?

Well, here we are with Spring Break upon us. I thought I would take a moment and list some great ideas for Spring Break. The possibilities are endless.

• Declutter the house....kids closet's and clothes, pantry, garage, anywhere that is a dumping ground. If you don't need it, use it or want it; just TOSS IT! Make piles to donate, garage sale, garbage, etc... Maybe you take one area each day to work on. Your house will look amazing at the end of the week.

• Organize...I personally LOVE this. Perhaps the pantry shelves need some work, kitchen cupboards, drawers, kids toys, rooms. Find a system that works for you. For example; I line up my can goods in rows in the pantry. They are easy to see and find. Toys are kept in plastic tubs, red bins or cubbies depending on which room they are in. Each dresser drawer is for one clothing type; pants, shorts, Tshirts, and underwear and socks go together. Easier for my kids to get things back in their proper places.

• Yard Work...beautify the yard. Plant flowers, a garden, get rid of the enormous amount of weeds. This is great to do as a family.

• Road Trip...great family bonding if you decide to hit the road. Perhaps you are seeing family, taking a short jaunt to California, seeing a new area or just checking out Arizona. So much fun to be had with the family on the road. I LOVE road trips with the family!

• Local Fun...Perhaps you are staying home and taking in the fantastic weather that Arizona will be having. You could see a movie, go to the Grand Canyon, go skiing, Ice Skating, Basketball, chilly swim in your pool, Barbeque, backyard movie and smores, hiking, Kartchner Caverns, golfing, bike rides or a fun game night.

• Deep Cleaning...Think of all those endless areas in the house that don't always get a little TLC. Blinds, cleaning the carpets, baseboards, light fixtures, ceiling fans, scrub the walls, light switches, dusty niches, windows (in and out). I am tired thinking about it, but if the kids help you and you do a little each day, your house will SPARKLE!

• Home Improvement Project...paint a room or two, paint the cupboards, redecorate a room, rearrange a room, redo the tile, new baseboards, new faucet, new light fixture, new door knobs, hang some shelving for more storage or work on your landscaping.

Spring is in the air! Whatever your plans are, I hope you have a FABULOUS Spring Break. Enjoy your kids and the week of no schedules, no homework and unlimited bonding time. I know I will! :)

~Week in Review~

What a week!

It started Monday with the YW Camp Fundraiser.

We hold a Ward Family Home Evening with

dinner, dessert and lesson.

It is always well attended and the

ward is so generous.

Boy, was I glad Monday night when that was over.

A lot of work, but so fun for the ward.

I love this picture of Alec.

I took it last Saturday at his game.

It shows how far he has come in basketball this year.

Aggressive and committed 100% to getting the ball.

Although he got a foul, I LOVED it!

*Kenzie is still pondering college decisions.

*Jensen is suffering with a nasty ear infection and sinus infection.

*Scott is now playing basketball 3 nights a week.

*Ward FHE night, Blue and Gold Banquet.

*Alec has had a lot of projects...birdhouse for Scouts, book report, ALP story.

*Tuesday and Wednesday were late starts for the girls.

*LOTS of YW stuff

*Book Club

*Olympics, Olympics, Olympics (can't get enough)

*Hot Yoga, spinning and weights

*Talking about summer plans, birthdays and a graduation.

*Getting Scott ready to spend next week in Jackson Hole

Another busy week. YEAH for the weekend!

New Family Room Decor

Now, this is not your usual family room decor. A month ago we bought a spinning bike for the home. We put it together and it has stayed in the same place for a month. The plan was to take the bike upstairs with the rest of the workout equipment. HMMMM.

This kid LIVES on this bike. He no longer sits in a chair or on the couch. Every free minute is spent on the bike pedaling. I mean EVERY minute!

Here he is this morning after breakfast before school. On the bike.


Look at that face. He is serious and I love the fact that he is barefoot and flipped the pedal over not to use the cage.

I think it is great how much exercise the kid is getting, but is there ever too much? There is also the fact that I think this bike is quite the eyesore in my family room. What to do?

Perhaps he is the next Lance Armstrong!!

On another note I have to document a HUGE accomplishment for me. In September I injured my back and had to stop running. Running was a part of my life, it was an early morning ritual. Well, here we are the middle of February and I still had not been able to run. Until....this morning. I have been feeling great! Pain free and yoga has done so much good for my back and overall body.

I decided to test the streets again. I went for a 3 mile run. That may not seem long to some of you, but this morning it felt like a marathon. Indeed I was much slower, but I found my groove and I was able to run 3 miles. YIPPEEEE!!! I wanted to jump up and down and shout. It had been 4 1/2 months since I had been able to do this.

The back felt great! No pain what so ever and it was fabulous to hit the pavement with my IPOD in my ears. It had been way too long.

Yoga has strengthened my back and is now a part of my exercise routine. I am addicted!! And now I am able to put running back into the routine. I am one happy lady!

FHE

This is one of my new favorite traditions. Thank you Shawni.

This year the kids really got into writing a personal and special message on each heart. They really opened up and expressed themselves.

Kenzie thanked me for our open relationship, Jensen thanked Kenzie for letting her tag along with her and her friends, Alec thanked everyone for playing with him and as parents we put what we love about each of our children.

They are beautiful messages and I love reading them several times a day. This was a great family night activity.