OrEgOn!

While Matt had some time off we decided to take a drive to Oregon. We are thinking about moving there once Matt is finished with Dental School. We wanted to get a feeling for things and Matt had a few meetings set up with some dentists and other professionals while we were there. We had a very fun and successful trip. Matt was able to figure some things out on the dental aspect of things. We are still trying to figure out where we need to be and what would be the best for our family. This has been a long, drawn out, continual discussion that I am sure will continue for a while. The kids had a great time. Easton kept asking to make sure that he could just go outside and play and run around with out us having to be with him all the time. Him and Austin found the creek many times over and loved exploring the open fields and the river. Matt and the boys even played golf in the fields! Oregon is very beautiful and we always have a good time when we go there. Hopefully we will be able to figure out what the heck we are supposed to do!! I had to include this picture of Ava. She was such a little rat in the car that we ended up taking two days to drive home, so this is here in the hand towel at the hotel. She is so little she does not even need a full size towel!

SleDdINg!

There was so much snow while we were in Utah that the kids spent as much time outside as they did in. The great thing about where Matt and I grew up is that there is plenty of open fields that are great for SLEDDING! The kids spent days outside with cousins and friends sledding and ridding on the snowmobiles and four wheelers!

MeRrY CHrisTmAs!

We were able to spend two weeks in Utah with my family and Matts this holiday season. It is nice that Matt has three weeks off around Christmas. The kids had a great time with cousins, grandparents and more snow at Christmas time than I have seen since I was a kid! It is always fun to be with family around the holidays. We were able to get to all of the parties and Christmas morning breakfast at my grandparents with my grandpas famous sour dough pancakes! Sami was very nervous with the whole Santa Clause issue, but she soon got over it when the presents came out! And Ava was more interested in cereal instead of her new toys! We had a great Christmas and it was great to be with our family!

Parade of LiGhTS!

Samantha marched in the Boulder City Parade of Lights this weekend. She was so excited and had been asking for weeks when her parade was coming. Matt was studying for finals and made it to the parade about 2 minutes before Sami walked by us, so I had to leave her with her teacher and take the other kids and go and find a place to sit. I told Sami to stay with Miss Brenda and not to leave, she kept telling me she was fine and I could go and find a place to sit. I was so nervous to leave her, but she thought nothing of it. She marched with her class and thought she was so big. She happened to be on the other side of the street when she came by and with my great and wonderful camera I was not able to get a picture of her walking. Here are a few of her before and after her grand adventure and the rest of us waiting patiently!

Happy Birthday EAsToN!

Easton turned 7 today! Man my kids are getting so old. We had a great weekend of celebration. He had a friend party on Saturday and then we celebrated with our family on Sunday complete with Eastons choice of T-bone steak for dinner!
Matt is busy with finals, so we needed to celebrate when he was home. Easton was most excited about his new robe that he got! What child wants and is excited about a robe?

We had grand plans to go spend his birthday money and go to lunch today, but Ava decided to get sick and earned us all a trip to the hospital. Easton was so sweet when I apologized to him for having to spend his birthday in the Drs office and the hospital but he said,"It's ok mom I just want Ava to get feeling better." That shows Eastons true nature and personality.

A few things that I love about Easton are

* He has one of the kindest, most tender hearts of any one I know.

* He always tries his best and does not give up.

* He tries hard to be obedient and to do what he is asked.

* He is all boy, he loves to wrestle, play hard and work hard.

* He has no issues playing tea party with his little sisters!

* He has a genuine concern for other people.

I am grateful for Easton in our family. He brings such happiness and laughter into our home.

Happy Birthday East, we love you!!

(And seriously WHAT is up with my camera!)

Life is too short to be SHoRT!

Ava has earned a few nick names around our house because of her lack of stature; munchkin, midget ( I know that one is not very P.C., but oh well), shrimpo, well you get the idea. She has used her evolutionary skills of adaptation and figured out how to make her life easier. She has taken to toting her trusty stool around with her so she can get into and on top of what ever she deems necessary. She is still to short to get onto the couch with out assistance! Here are a few examples.... Please excuse the grainy pictures, my camera does not seem to like me lately!

Family Pictures!

Last week we had our family pictures taken. I have not had decent pictures taken in a long time, so I was very excited and I was not disappointed. Here are a few pics of some of the cutest kids around, (and the parents don't look half bad either!) Enjoy!!