pet duty

Our friends went to Utah for Christmas and let us watch their turtles for 10 days.

I am not a pet kinda gal, but I could totally have some little baby turtles. They were ADORABLE!!!!

They are cute, quiet, clean and don't get into trouble when you are gone.

The kids LOVED helping out and they didn't even complain when it came to pooper scooper duties. They didn't LOVE it, but they didn't complain. I kept getting comments like "see mom, we'll take great care of a pet"

They really did do a good job and perhaps there will be some little turtles in the near future. We'll see. I love the table our friend made for them and he even said if we decide we want some, he will make us a table just like it for FREE. He is an AMAZING carpenter and said he had left over supplies. Hmmmm....we'll definitely have to give it some thought.

I loved how cute the kids were with them. They ended up paying the kids (wouldn't take no for an answer) hmph! So since everybody pitched in and helped take care of them, we decided we are going to go out for ice cream this week for FHE and spend our hard earned turtle money, :)

Christmas Eve

The day before Christmas Eve we enjoyed a fun hayride to look at lights with friends.

It was a lot of fun. It was great weather until we got moving, then is was cold. I kept thinking about how COLD it was when we use to do this in South Dakota. Brrrr.....

We had a lot of fun.

After driving around for a bit we went back and enjoyed some yummy hot chocolate, cookies and each others company. I really enjoy watching Ryan around his friends. It's funny to hear his stories and watch the guys eat them up and ask a bizillion questions.

The kids had a great time and we were all so glad we went!

Festive food

Once the kids were out of school and on their official Christmas break I thought it would be fun to make our meals more festive. Unfortunately my camera was broken and I didn't get most of the pictures, but here are a few that we did manage to snap.

Spinach (shhhhh, don't tell the kids) flavored tortilla quesadilla Christmas Trees. They gobbled them right up. Becca said "they taste different" but she still ate them. :) the trunk of the tree was a wheat thin cracker. I also made a Peanut butter and jelly sand which one day for lunch. poking holes in the bread so the grape jelly ornaments showed. The kids loved that one.

I know these don't look very appetizing, but they were delish! Candy cane and Christmas tree shaped Chicken pillows. The corn is supposed to be the star on the tree. This were a big hit.

I made these cute Rudolph pancakes that I saw on pintrest for breakfast on Christmas Eve. Bacon antlers, banana and chocolate chip eyes with a strawberry nose. :)

We decided to make frosty cookies to leave for Santa. Kyle had his snowmans nose standing up. It was really cute but I didn't get a pic. I'm sad about all the other meals not pictured, but oh well....there's always next year. The kids loved it so much, we will definitely be doing this again. Today (3days AFTER Christmas) Becca asked me what shape I was going to give her for dinner. haha that is why I do this. :)

Random

Becca came out the other day with her cowgirl hat on.

She blinged it up just a bit. :)

<3 her!

Thanksgiving 2011

Thanksgiving this year was a lot of fun. Ryan has Thursdays off so it was nice to be together as a family and with our friends. His buddy has a fire pit and he lets anyone who wants to, bring a turkey and cook it all night long. It was tender and so juicy. I loved that Ryan took care of all of it and I did all the fixens.

We enjoyed a fun game of kick ball with some friends.

Boy did it make me relize how uncordinated we are, but it sure was fun even if I was a little embarresed.

Becca had a ball playing with her little friends and just running around.

I took these pictures later after pie with friends and it just makes me happy.

I am super THANKFUL for my three little buddies. My whole life all I ever wanted was to be a Mom. Even though I had always hoped for more, I can't believe I am living that dream. I have three of the best kids in the world, and I know how lucky I am to have them. Being a mom has been everything I had ever hoped for and more.

I am thankful for Kyle and his example of how to forgive and love everyone, even when they are not kind to you, or even care for your forgiveness. He's had quite the year for crudy friends. I get so mad when he tells me what is going on at school, but he reminds me that he doesn't have to like them or hang out with them, but he does has to show kindness towards them. What a good kid. He has such a huge heart and is good at looking out for others. He gets FURIOUS when they pick on others and then often gets harrassed even more for sticking up for that person. I asked him once why he doesn't just walk away when they are being mean to the other kids. (not the best thing to ask your kid I suppose, but I get so sick of them turning on him) His reply was because that is just as rude to leave them all alone to have to deal with it...I know how it feels. GULP!!! So true sweet Kyle. You are GOLDEN!

I am thankful for Jaden and the lesson of patience that he has taught me. He is SUPER DUPER patient with his little sister who adores him and often bugs him. He's good and putting up with her demands, and helping her move on to something else. I watch him some times and wonder how he does it. The things she does to him sometimes would drive me bonkers. But he usually resolves it before I have the chance to. He's very good with kids and has a way of making EVERYTHING fun and exciting with his crazy imagination. He is pure JOY!!!

I am thankful for Little Becca and the example she is of how to shine for others. I love taking her grocery shopping because she is a jabber box and totally makes all of the older people smile from ear to ear. She is adorable with them and yes even hams it up because she loves the attention.

It's always hard to be away from family this time of year, but I am thankful to live by so many kind, wonderful and fun people who let us tag along and remind us how lucky we are to have them in our lives.

We do indeed have so much to be Thankful for!

Birthday cont...

Yesterday when I was blogging I was on the laptop and didn't have access to all of my pictures. So here are two more pictures from my Birthday. I thought it was sooooo cute. Kyle woke up before everybody and set the table for breakfast. Complete with a too big pastic table cloth, plates, bowls and everything. He did it all on his own and is such a sweetheart. It was a great way to start the day.

Here is the cake Ryan and the kids made. He let them pick the mix and frosting at the store. Becca insisted I needed sprinkle. It was a yummy cake due to all the love that went into it. We had left overs which worked out great for Ryan's birthday too. :)

Twin Birthdays

I always LOVE that Ryan and I have a birthday next to and sometimes on Thanksgiving. I feel like it helps me to be more aware of all that I have to be grateful for as I reflect my life thus far and what I hope for in the year to come.

My mom had a cerebral hemorrhage 10 days after I was born and almost died. She is a true miracle. I always get emotional when I think what my life would have been like without my amazing mother. I am grateful to my Heavenly Father for sparing her and for the bond we have been able to share. She is my hero and I want to be just like her when I grow up.

Ryan's Birthday is the day after mine. He and the kids made my cake and spoiled me with hand picked gifts from the store. I must say they all know me so well. My friend Staci set up a lunch with the girls and paid for me. She is soooo sweet. It was yummy and so nice to get out.

Ryan is truely the greatest gift in my life. I love him more than anything. He knows me so well and has been patient with me as I suffer thru loneliness, heart break, frusteration as well as turning the good times into the BEST of times.

It is crazy to think we met 17 years ago! We're coming on 14 years married. I was smitten right off the bat. I knew right away there was something so sweet and special about Ryan. I HOPED more than anything we would ask me out. haha. I know that we are still married today, not because we were meant for each other, we were soul mates, or because of fate, but because we work at our relationship daily, we forgive each other, we put each other first (even before the kiddos), we still date every WEEK. Most importantly because of having the knowledge and blessing that our marriage is an eternal one, not just till death. I will forever be thankful to my Heavenly Father for allowing me to meet and fall in love with him. I'm a lucky girl! Happy Birthday, hon!