Cheer Camp

Cheer Practice

Carlie and her cousin Kenzi

Cayden with his cousin Zach

Carlie's cousin is a Cheerleader at Copperhills so she got to participate in the cheer camp again this year. She always has a fun time doing this with her cousins and looks forward to the game when they get to perform. They performed during half time at the basketball game. Carlie was really excited that it was basketball season this time instead of football so they could dance inside instead of outside in the cold!!

What I have been doing lately......

Helping with Teacher Appreciation Week at Carlie's school

Baking cookies....lots and lots of cookies for preschool activities, super bowl parties, Valentines Day

Making Christmas Crunch, (thanks Shantell!!) we are completely addicted now! I think I am going to rename it "Every Occasion Crunch"!!:)

Christmas Crunch

2 C. peanut butter Cap'n Crunch

2 C. Rice Krispies

2 C. spanish peanuts, cooked (we just use regular peanuts and think it is just as good and easier to find)

1 pkg. almond bark (white or chocolate, both are addicting)

Melt chocolate in microwave. Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Spread out on piece of foil. Flatten with back of spoon and let completely dry (will not look shiny anymore). Break into pieces and store in airtight container.

Playing in the snow.....

I am so ready for the snow to be gone and to have warmer weather!! This was the first time this year we actually went sledding. None of us like the cold so we tend to stay inside!!! The kids had a lot of fun though and can't wait for it to snow again so they can go sledding again!

How thoughtful.......

This is what was left of Caden's package of Skittles!! He told me that Carlie can have the rest:) Lately whenever he is eating something he saves the very last one for Carlie! I guess 1 is better than none!!

Happy New Years from St. George!

We rung in the new year in St. George! Lance went mountain biking, we enjoyed hiking, shopping and eating out with family and friends:) It was nice to get away from the snow and bitter cold even if it was just for a few days!

The best and worst of 2009.......

January Lance and I got to go on a cruise to the Western Caribbean for our anniversary

Cayden turned 3 in May and got to ride on Thomas the Train (he is still obsessed with trains)!!

In June the Oquirrh Mountain Temple was completed and we got to go to our first temple open house

Lance rode in his first bike race in July, the Tour de Donut (he placed 5th place in his division)!

In July, after training for several months to run my very first 1/2 marathon I found out (three weeks before the race) that I had a hernia. While in surgery they found out I actually had 5 hernias, not just 1!! I ended up in the hospital for 3 days! VERY, VERY painful and then once I came home I was on bed rest for a week! Didn't get to run the 1/2 marathon so this next year I am going to make up for it and hope to run my very first MARATHON!!!

Carlie started 1st grade in August. A week after she started we found out we had made it into a charter school. We decided to move schools and it was the best decision we ever made! Carlie loves her teacher and her friends:) She has learned so much including writing in cursive (which is now the only way they can write) and she is learning to read!

Cayden played his first season of soccer, his team was the Black Autobots!

Lance's Aunt Marjie lived with us for a couple months while his Uncle Ralph was in a rehab in Provo after having complications from heart bypass surgery. Uncle Ralph unfortunately did not recover and ended up passing away on October 13th, after a 5 month battle (while we were away in California). He is now in heaven happily watching over us with his daughter waiting for the reunion he will have one day with Marjie and the rest of his family.

Went to the "Happiest Place on Earth" in October and got to visit my Uncle and cousins while we were there.

I had my tonsils removed the week of Halloween. I was scheduled to have this done during the summer before I knew I had 5 hernias! Everyone that says it is horrible as an adult to have your tonsils out is right!! It was so painful I cannot even tell you how painful and I was so swollen that I did not eat anything but soup broth for 3 weeks (it is a quick way to lose 15 pounds but definitely not worth it)!! It didn't help that I had to have emergency surgery 2 days after the original surgery to stop bleeding!

My Uncle Mike and two cousins, Ben and Luke came and stayed with us a week for Thanksgiving. The kids had so much fun having constant friends to play with! We missed being able to see my Aunt Carrie, she is serving our country in Iraq right now. We hope she will be able to come home soon:)

Carlie turned 7 years old!

Christmas 2009

Christmas Memories.......

Carlie dressed up ready to read the Nativity story, Cayden was very upset about dressing up and did not want to have anything to do with that this year:)

Carlie and her cousin Haylee had matching pajamas:)

Waiting to see if Santa came! Carlie is always the first to wake up, Cayden would rather sleep!

Santa brought Cordoroy the Bear:)

Santa brought "Thomas the train that goes through the hole"!!:)

We celebrated Christmas Eve with Lance's family. The kids get to wear there new Christmas pajamas! Carlie and her cousin had matching pajamas this year:) We got up Christmas morning and opened presents and then went over to my family's for breakfast. It has been a nice quiet Christmas day and we haven't seen much of Cayden because he is too busy playing with his new "Thomas the train that goes through the hole" that Santa brought him (he luckily made it on Santa's nice list this year)!!:) We are so thankful for everything we have and for how blessed we are to know the true meaning of Christmas!

Christmas Lights

We went to Temple Square tonight and got to see all of the pretty lights!

Happy Birthday Carlie!!

7 years ago today Carlie came into our family! I was so excited to be having a girl!! I was induced because my Dr. was going out of town for Christmas and with a due date of the 27th I didn't want to chance having her born on Christmas (since I had the choice):) It is hard to believe that 7 years have gone by so quickly. Carlie likes being in 1st grade and is excited she is learning to read! She likes to play with her friends and make crafts. She loves to dance and is always showing us some new dance she made up:) She has a giggle that is contagious! She is a great big sister and we are so happy she is part of our family!

Italian Party & Santa

Tonight we had the yearly Italian dinner and visit from Santa with Lance's family. We eat real Italian food (Lance's mom is Italian) and then Santa comes and each grandkid gets to sit on Santa's lap.

Birthday Celebration

Tonight we celebrated Carlie's birthday with both of our families. I think every year I am going to make the cake until I get overwhelmed with the millions of things we have going on and I end up going to Sams Club! They do make great cakes:)

Rockin Around the Christmas Tree

We always try to fit as much into one weekend as we can in December:) After having breakfast with Santa and a Birthday party, Carlie was tired and not so excited to have one more thing besides the fact that she has a major ear infection! Tonight was her first dance recital with Elite Dance Academy. She really does love dancing and once she got out on stage she had her smile and personality that comes out when she performs! She did a great job and remembered the entire dance:) I am just sad that I didn't get any better pictures (it had been a long day at this point and it wasn't worth fighting)!!:) Afterwards we got to go to Carlie's favorite place for dinner, Red Robin.