Happy 6th B-day, Jeb

Monday was Jeb's birthday. I really had a lot of memories this year--it is the same day of the week as 2004. Just like 6 years ago on Sunday, I was bustling getting Branch gifts ready. Just like 6 years ago, I was enjoying the Christmas messages at church. But unlike 6 years ago, I was able to come home and enjoy my kids and enjoy my evening. I miss Jeb and think of him everyday. I can't believe he'd be 6!
Hy & Riley blowing out candles.

Ev & Hy got into a whipped cream fight after they blew out the candles. I'm sure Jeb would have had his face covered in whipped cream as well ;)

Ely's Polar Express

It's probably too pricey and not long and the cars are old.....but HEY! IT'S THE POLAR EXPRESS. Hy & Riley were all dolled up in their pj's and sooo excited to meet Santa. We even had dancing waiters/waitresses serving us the "hot, hot, hot, hot chocolate"! The conductor guy. It was hard to get a good shot b/c I was soo close.

The man in red. I had pointed out the library to Hy and then just a little further we stopped. I hope Hy doesn't think the North Pole is really that close to Ely's library. His main concern was where the elves and reindeer were. I said in the toy shop and in the barn. That satisfied him.

Girls Day!

Hyrum went with Evan for the day, so Riley and I decided to make it a "girls' day." We're watching "White Christmas" and Riley pulls my blue shirt from the laundry I'm folding to sing with the girls. I'm training her young.

Henry and the new puppy

Evil Aunt Jessica told Prince Hy and Princess Ri that they needed a kitten. They believed her. They named him Henry.

Hy "trained" him to chase the string.

Sneaky, cunning Dad decided that there needed to be yet another dog on the ranch. But Dad was smart; he got one that is cute. (Even if he likes to eat little children)

The ending of this story is that the good queen Mom got to find about 4 children playing in and with kitty litter today (one trying to bathe Henry with it) and 3 clumps of dog poop on the front porch. SIGGHHHHH

Hyrum's Santa Letter

You can tell where Hyrum dictated his own stuff and where I coached him. :)

The new hat

Riley wanted to be in on the pics.

Hy finally got his ear-flap hat like his dad. What menly men...

Hello Baby Logan

I got another nephew! Logan (JC & Sara's baby) came a month early and so Jessica and I travelled up to Idaho to meet him. Needless to say, we were all smitten :)

*Please note Riley's new "smile" for the camera.

So long, Farewell

Evan's sister, Kalene, left for her mission to Argentina Rosario last Wednesday. We got to go see her before she left at Jan's house. I'm sure going to miss her. She's one of my heroes!

Sunlit curls

Riley and I were enjoying an autumn day and I just fell in love all over again...

Don't you just love those golden curls peeking out from under her hat?

My First Triathlon

Thank you for all the comments...I know this is late, but here are the details. I've been so excited about my bikes that I really wanted to do the BEGINNER'S triathlon in St. George. Mind you, it is an 8-length swim, a 5-mile bike, and 1.5-mile run. Sooo....I'm sure any of you out there could do it. It was a big deal to me, but to the general public, it is just a walk in the park! But I loved it.

My goal was to accomplish it in under an hour and I did it in 50:16:09. How fun!! I talked Jessica into doing it with me, who in turn talked Steve, then Jeremy (her husband & brother-in-law) into doing it as well. Jeremy (an avid cross-country runner) who decided a week before the event to participate, WON overall. He's speedy. Steve got 4th overall and did great too. Jessica met her goal of under an hour, so we were all pretty excited.

Evan and the kids were there cheering me on. It was a great day for me! Next April they're doing it again in St. George. Any takers?

Halloween Party I: Story Hour Trick or Treat

There once was a boy who ate all of his oatmeal. His dad told him it would put hair on his chest. And his upper lip. Because he had a moustache, he got a horse and a cowboy hat. There once was a beautiful girl named Snow White. She liked a party. So she came with the cowboy and his horse.

The cowboy was excited.

The fairy Story lady told all the children there would be treats in the library. And there were.

(The little horse looks concerned about two things. 1) Mom, I'm done being in this outfit and 2) Shouldn't you be watching the road?

Unfortunately, after Snow White ate the poisonous apple, the handsome prince didn't get the memo to NOT eat the apple and kiss her. He just saw the apple and was hungry.And then the pony was hungry as well and finished the apple up.

So much for the moustache.

Halloween II: Convention Center

Amber let me and the children come to Ely for the Community Halloween Party. Basically the politicians and businesses give your children a bunch of candy in hopes that you'll support them.
Bryson: moto-cross, Austin: cowboy, and Hyrum: hunter with a 'stache.

And the ladies.....Brooke: Snow White (please note hand on her hip), Amanda: alien, Riley: horse, and Ashlee: cat.

Halloween Party III: Center's Party

Seth, the squirrel hunter, Bryson the moto-cross racer and Riley, the pony playing bean bag toss. Hyrum the....er....special....hunter.

Riley with her nursery leader, Ellie. Riley felt that something had come between them that night....

And I was "white trash" and Ev was a gorilla. I was sad b/c my "trash" (newspapers) blew away off my shoulders.

Holy Blazes!

He's 31! [Sad story: I made Ev his pear crisp and stuck 31 candles in when it had just gotten out of the oven. With the flame on top and the heat on the bottom it turned into "wax crisp". We didn't eat it :( ]

Love you, Izzy :)

More Four!

Happy Birthday to my little man! You bring me smiles everyday and make me laugh. I love it that you want to be a Manly man and just like you're dad. You're quick to say sorry and always want to do what's right. I love you :)