Christmas Round 1

Evan had to work at the dairy Christmas morning, so we decided to let the kids open the gifts they asked for from Santa.
Riley got a purple Dora backpack.

Hyrum got his John Deere Sprayer so he could be like his cousin Elliott. And here is a photo after church where the kids were playing with their moose & pig pillow pets from Grandma Vicki. (Notice the rope on Hy's. I'm not sure if he was pretending it was a cow or a reindeer)

It really made Christmas last longer and the kids were playing with their one toy all morning. They had 3 jungle adventures with the backpack. Riley would say: "Say backpack. LOUDER! BACKPACK!!" Then she'd open her map and say, "Mom, I have to go to the jungle!". She was shooting crocodiles and everything :)

Bethlehem Dinner

I'm not sure where Mom got the tradition to do a Bethlehem dinner, but this year, I wanted to try it. So we dress like "Bethlehem-ites" and try to eat food like they do. I don't know if teriyaki jerky was really eaten there, but hey it was fun :)

I believe Hy was a "manly man" shepherd and Riley was a "Shepherd Princess". Ev is such a great sport to play along.

Happy 7th b-day Jeb!

Our angel baby would be 7. Hmmm....I don't really imagine Jeb as a baby. I often think of him as an older version of Hyrum. But I also know that they would be two totally different beings. If Jeb had lived, our whole family dynamics would be different. But it is fun to imagine anyway.

Hy was never disappointed when he found out that this next baby is a girl because he "already has a brother up in heaven". To him, Jeb is as real as Riley and the new baby, even though Hy never saw Jeb in this life. I love a child's faith and perspective. I love how much Jeb is a part of our family, even though most people don't remember or realize that he is a part. It doesn't matter to me that many don't know that we had a stillborn son, because it is very personal to me and those who do matter know.

I have realized that this life is tough and everyone is facing trials seen and unseen. I had so much love and support when we lost Jeb that I hope I can help even just one person in their trials. Time helps heal pain, but you never can forget those hardships and challenges you face in life. Love you Jeb.

O Christmas Tree(s)

We've kind of had a humble Christmas this year. Most of our decorations are put away in storage and I just pulled 3 little fake trees out for Christmas and we made ornaments out of a manila folder and aluminum foil. How fun! So each kid got a tree and one in their room. Riley put her star on upside down.

(Sorry for the dark pics) Here goes Hyrum with his star!!Hyrum is turning more into his daddy everyday with that lovely pose for the camera!

Graham Cracker Gingerbread Houses

Hy was the big ol' helper. Riley was the candy snitcher

Ta-da....This house has a sleigh with a gum-drop horse and a marshmellow snowman.

And this house has a fence. Hy was the fence-builder to be like Poppa Bernie.

Hey Baby let's go to Vegas!!!

Really, I DO NOT like Vegas. But I love the NFR. Valaine "the Pain" Palmer (an old high school chum) introduced me to the NFR probably 10 years ago. Since then, I usually watch the NFR on the tv with my hunka hunka hubby. 6 years ago, we got the chance of a lifetime to watch the NFR in Vegas in the FRONT ROW seats from Humphries.

So this year, we got the opportunity to buy some tickets and go (especially good because we don't have satellite tv) for Round 8.

To start the night off, we survived the traffic and didn't get mugged as we went to the Thomas & Mack Center. As we were walking in, we saw Baxter Black in the crowd, one of the very funniest cowboy columnists in the world. He reminds me of my father-in-law...maybe how he talks, the big moustache, I don't know....

Tanya Tucker sang the national anthem. I've heard rumors that my brother-in-law, Justin, used to have a crush on her. I think this was Kaycee Field or Will Lowe on bareback.

Luke Branquino bull dogging or steer wrestling

Cody Ohl in the tie-down roping or calf-roping

Evan & I inhaling all the fumes of the booze ALL AROUND us!! Boo-yah!

We loved watching all of the events and a lot of the contestants we're fans of. We had a ball but were very glad to get back home :)

Thanksgiving with the Yohnson's!

I always bring my camera to family functions then usually end up borrowing someone else's camera for the best pics and think I'll get the pics later. But here are two:

Cooking Grandpa's fish. The kids (and Evan) were pretty impressed with how big it was. Playing piano with Riley, Hy, & Logan. Hyrum had it about right.

Pictures that were missed:

• Ev's dutch oven turkey



• The YUMMY food and Mom's beautiful decor
  


• Hyrum and his four trapped gophers



• Black Friday shopping for the first time in my life and the people running in at Target



• Zumba with the younger sisters

We had sooo much fun and loved getting away and spending time with family! Thanks to everyone :)

Yum-yum

For our wedding, someone gave us an icecream maker. Finally, after 8 years, we got it out this weekend and Ev made some icecream! It was delicious!! One of our family friends returned from his mission and spoke in Garrison, so we went there today. It was SOOO good to go back and see all of our dear friends there. It was definitely a highlight.
We also visited Jeb's grave. After our family prayer at night we put our hands in the center and say, "Sure do love you" (something I did growing up). So here we are putting our hands on Jeb's headstone saying "Sure do love you." We miss our little boy!

What in the world?

Does this look slightly disturbing to anyone else?
I asked Ev to get some potatoes for the upcoming week from the potato cellar. He didn't have a sack, so he used PREG CHECKING GLOVES (non-used ones, of course) to carry them in. Then he says, "Kind of looks like the arms Ammon cut off of the Lamanites, huh?"
I'm so glad to be married to such a creative, practical, "use-what-you've-got" type of man.

"Worst Mom in the World" Award

....goes to me. Hands down. I mean, who else would take this:

And destroy all the happiness and love? Me. We found this cute little white kitten where the dogs are and I let Riley love it. And she LOVES it. Like Elmira from Tiny Toons...remember her? JC will.

Anyway, after bonding with it for a half hour and "smooshing" it and kissing it and petting it and holding it by the tail, I decided it was time to leave. And I decided to just drop the kitten off at the owner's home. Even Evan told me to leave it in the trailer until the owners came. But no. I was being practical.

(Just look at that face).

After prying it from her hands, I let the little kitten run free. And the whole way home, all I heard were sobs. Lots and lots of sobs. Usually I'm not a softie. But this time my little shoulder people came on my shoulders and said:

Shoulder Devil: That's right. You're the mom. You're the law.

Shoulder Angel: Yeah, but over a kitten? Really?

Shoulder Devil: Don't be a softie. She'll get over it.

Shoulder Angel: Why say "no" when you could say "yes." She LOVES that kitty.

So the Shoulder Angel has won out and I talked to the owner last night. Sometime this evening, Riley AND Hyrum will both be getting new kittens.

Hyrum's one REQUIREMENT

Somehow the little "hon-yock" and I were on the discussion of his future wife.

He looked at me and said, "Mom, the one thing my woman needs is (and I'm thinking to be a good mom, a cute girl, a girl that goes to church....but no) to like John Deere tractors."

So that is it. It will be fun to see if it comes true :) That's my tractor man! (His latest game is to "fish" in my window well).

Ho, ho, ho, Merry Halloween!

My poor children are going to be confused. First of all, this happened earlier this week:

Secondly, ever since last years Halloween party, Hyrum has wanted to be Santa. And he didn't even change his mind like most kids do. So, he will be Santa for Halloween. He was a HUGE hit at the carnival on Friday. And Riley is a PINK PIG.

What Evan does at the dairy.

(Sorry, I always get these pics in reverse order)
What we do at the dairy while we visit dad:

Daddy gives bovine pedicures :)

Birthday Bonanza Part 3

Miniature Golfing! Ev had to get his back adjusted, so we partied hardy in St. George for Hy's b-day. We loved watching the kids just try to hit the ball. Ev and I had our game faces on. I think I kicked his trash, BUT he did get two holes-in-one....dang! So, maybe he did beat me...

The 5-year old at Hole #5!

Me and the kids at the end!

Birthday Bonanza Part 2

Hy got a trailer for his tractor for his 5th b-day. He was so excited, checking it out!

Testing it out in the house

And outside the rest of the morning!

Birthday Bonanza Part 1

Hyrum's cake

So after our late night with Hy's b-day, being the great wife I am, I woke up at 5:15 ish to make Ev sausage, bacon, eggs, and German Pancakes. Yeah, he owes me big time :) (I love Riley laying on the floor with her pink blankie!)
And that night with his Banana cream pie from Veyo Pies...yum, yum.