Lights at Temple Square

We have tried 3 times before Christmas to see the lights at Temple Square and have never been able to make it. It is one of my favorite things to do each year. Chad is not one for cold or crowds especially with the kids so little. But Preston loves the Christus and asks to go there. So yesterday my brother called to see if we wanted to go. I jumped at the chance. Chad was not feeling well and Colton had just fell asleep so I took Preston and Karleigh. We had a really good time. Preston loved it all and even Karleigh seemed to enjoy herself.

Camping?

I thought this was so cute. The other day the kids were pretending to be camping in the family room. Even little Karleigh!

Christmas 2008

We had a great Christmas. It was a lot of fun. All the kids were into it this year. Christmas Eve we told the kids that we needed to get to bed so Santa could come and Preston kept saying mom I can't close my eyes I keep thinking about Santa. I kept telling him it was okay he would get tired. Then I prayed he would get tired soon because I was falling asleep and how would that be if I couldn't let Santa in and there was nothing in the morning? Colton was so excited that he even went to sleep with out the "meme" (binki) That was a miracle. The boys woke up in the morning and wanted to go open presents we told them they could get their stockings but had to wait for Karleigh to wake up to do presents. She just kept sleeping so we finally let them open them.

Here are the favs.

Preston: Squawker McCaw from Nana! Also my favorite. The thing is pretty neat!

Colton: Huge truck and trailer with four wheeler from santa

Karleigh: Tea Set from Santa and all her babies.

We hope everyone had a great Christmas and felt as blessed as we did this year.

Great News

I have to share I finally finally finally got a picture of my kids. I have tried since Karleigh was born and even when Colton was born I tried to get a ;picture of Preston and Colton together except Preston has never wanted anything to do with them. I could never go to a studio because he would run screaming away he was terrified of the studios. He acted like it was a torture chamber. But today he was all for it. Karleigh was happy at first when we got there except they made us wait half and hour and by that point she wanted to go. But they still turned out really cute. I will be sending out cards and I am so excited for them this year. I wasn't going to do it this year but I have to share the cute pics.!

Got Webkinz?

Okay it is now 12:04a.m. Yes that is A.M. I have been playing stupid webkinz games since about 9:30pm I know I am addicted. I get sucked in to these pathetic little games. The problem is that Some loving family gave Preston 2 webkinz for his birthday. ( Thank you very much guys!) see he can not read yet so most the time I have to sit with him. Well he can't really play the games either to earn money to buy things for his loving pets. So what does that leave; me his loving mother playing the games earning money for him to buy things. Then I sit here and help him learn the concept of money by showing him the things he wants to buy cost too much and sends me the loving mother back to the games to earn more money. I have to hand it to the creators of this wonderful game. It does teach the youngens some great concepts. I just really wish Preston didn't get into this until he was about 8. Then maybe I wouldn't be sitting up all night playing to earn money. On the other hand I probably would have got sucked in anyway and ended up in the same place after midnight playing away. Please I need HELP!!!!

For Preston's Birthday we had a Buildabear birthday party. Here is Karleigh giving her sassy Kitty a bath. She was way more interested in to it all than I thought. She kept brushing it and brushing it. I had to fight her to get down. We had a lot of fun.

Preston's Birthday

On the 10th Preston turned 5! Wow 5 years. He is really growing up to be a independent one! He has always known what he wants right from the start. As an infant he was stubborn and strong willed and those traits are stll dominant today. though His sweetness and love for everyone is a wonderful balance. He loves to do things on his own but on his own terms. I couldn't ask for a better big brother for his little brother and little sister; oh they love him so. Happy Birthday Preston WE LOVE YOU!

I tried to post pictures from age 1-5 it was not working so here is I think 2-4 Oh well.

Palm Springs

Well I had a great time in Palm Springs with Chad. It was so fun to meet new people and make some good friends. I was all worried about nothing. There was a lady we sat with at dinner monday night and her husband she asked us why we were not drinking. I told her that we don't drink. She left it at that. Than last night Chad went to dinner with a bunch of people ( I left that morning) and he sat by her. She said it is killing me I have to ask; " are you Mormon" He said yes. She said wow my favorite show is Big Love how many wives do you have. He couldn't stop laughing. He had to explain that the show is totally wrong. I guess he totally bursted her bubble because she loves and even referred to herself as a Big Love junkie! She was very disappointed.
I have never seen the show so I am not sure what it is all about. All I know it has to do with polygamy. Anyway. Chad said she was so funny. He almost fell off his chair laughing so hard at the things she would say.
It was really interesting. I am very sheltered and like it that way. So while we were there Chad and I were blown away by the amount of drinking. There were 500 people and Chad and I and a few others were the only ones without a drink. So It was really funny to watch everyone. It takes attending these events to realize that we are the different ones. I am surrounded by members of the church and it was the same way growing up So it is hard to see what it really is like other places. Needless to say it was a really good time. We enjoyed the relaxation time and time spent together.

I leave for Palm Springs on Sunday. I am very excited but I am very nervous. I don't know what has happened to me over the years but I have turned into a social recluse. I don't get out much and when I do it is with my kids. Some say it is the price we pay for staying home with the youngens. I wouldn't give it up for the world but I now have to re learn how to act among adults! And to my husbands expense. Honey I am so sorry! On top of it all I have Bronchitis. I have never had Bronchitis before let alone lost my voice caused by anything. I tried in High School once to scream at a concert so much I would have thought for sure I would wake up with my voice hoarse. No such luck. I am one that loves to talk and God has never blessed those around me with one day of silence! Except now. So off to Palm Springs I go. No kids and no voice! Wow complete silence! What shall I do?

Last week I took the two little ones for a walk down Lagoon Trail (one of their favs) And the Bull Elk came right up to the fence it was really cool. He never gets close but it was a real treat that the kids loved! I will post pictures later!

Twilight

So I have been wanting to go see the movie. But I am not one to fight the crowds for a movie that will be empty in a week. So I waited.

Chad went to Boise last week for work and was sooo bored that he decided to go to the movies. Well he was going to see the new Bond but it was another hour or so away so he thought" hey Twilight maybe I will see what all the hype is about" ( that is his excuse anyway) I know he wanted to see it. So he went without me. They told him there was only 3 tickets sold so he figured nobody would know he went really. He sat middle and center. But low and behold the women began to come in. They circled him and filled in next to him. He said he was the only guy in there. I told him what did you expect it is Twilight. Anyway he hasn't read the books or anything so he was a little confused at first. But over all he liked it.

When he gets home he doesn't tell me for a couple of days that he went and saw it. Since he knew how I wanted to see it and all. But the guilt was eating him alive. He told me and I couldn't stop laughing. Needless to say Last night he went with me to see it. I loved it. I thought it was good. I had heard from friends and neighbors the and good and bad. But I thought it was good. I don't care about sets and special effects I just go to a movie to enjoy the movie and I thought It was great! I can't wait for the next one!

Christmas at the Cooper's

We put up the tree tonight. I have to admit a few weeks ago I was ready to put it up and couldn't because it wasn't Thanksgiving yet. Now that it was time to I had no ambition. Luckily Preston had been being disobedient and it was the only thing he wanted to do so I could use it as collateral. I know I'm awful! Needless to say the tree is up and I love the season and the feeling it brings.

Karleigh was so cute she was only a few months old last year so she is really seeing it all for the first time and loves it all. She got a hold of a Santa and I told her it was Santa and said ho ho ho and she took it over to Chad and began saying ho ho ho! It was adorable!

Black Friday

So I should be going to bed. After all I was up at 2:00am getting ready to leave to go shopping. Yes I am one of the crazy ones. I have gone for the last couple of years and I kind of like it. Especially when I get that one great deal!

I am so excited for Christmas. I love the anticipation from the kids and all the wishes.

ON Wed. I was sitting at Jiffy lube getting an oil change and I read an article in Womens Day about the craze we sometimes find ourselves in finding that ONE Toy on the list that is sold out everywhere and don't even try Ebay it is going for 5 times it's worth. I thought " I am so the one to get caught on that one last gift". I am thankful for a husband that puts me in my place and reminds me that Our kids are little and really won't remember what they got a week later or month later so to quite stressing. I am just a traditionalist and really want that picture in my head of the little child waking up on Christmas morning and running in and seeing the ONE there waiting to come true every year.

This year Preston doesn't really want one thing. He changes constantly so it has been so hard. DH again reminds me that he will be happy with anything. He just likes opening the paper anyway. He is probably right.

I am rambling aren't I? Sorry. I just wish you all a happy holiday and I hope to be getting pictures soon and i will post!

That's Right!!!!

You Are Pumpkin Pie

Even when people are full - they make room for you. Good or bad, your smell is most likely to arouse a man.

What Part of Thanksgiving Are You?

So I don't have any great pictures or anything. I thought this one of Karleigh was cute So I posted.

A couple of friends and Family have posted about what they are THANKFUL for. I thought Wow I sure haven't been showing my thanks lately. So I wanted to just take a minute to reflect.

FAMILY: Where would I be without my loving Husband. He is always here no matter what. My children are my world. Lately I have been Crabby!! ( to put it nicely) But at the end of the day my children still love me. I don't know if my lOving Husband does but they always do.

GOSPEL: It is everything to me. It defines who I am and who I want to be. what purpose would I have in trying to be better if it wasn't for my savior and knowing I can be perfected through him and return to live with him and my father again.

FRIENDS: I am not one of those that could endure life without a really good friend by my side. My friends are so important to me. I am not the greatest friend at times I can be very selfish but I have been blessed in this life with some very great examples of the kind of friend I hope to be one day.

Christmas: This season brings such a warm feeling. It is much more a feeling for me this time of year than anything else. It seems over the years that as life has gotten tougher and things are not always smooth that the season seems to bring more to my life than ever before. I used to be the one cursing the people with lights up to soon,decorations and celebrations too soon. This year is different. My little Preston has seen others lights and trees up and has been begging to put ours up. I have always done it the day after Thanksgiving and so I have been holding off and trying to explain to him why it is so called "not time yet". THen thinking why not. Why is it not time to celebrate the birth of our savior. I know I am analyzing it again but I am the one listening to christmas music already and wishing I could decorate. Beleive me I will on Friday!

So my cousin posted a new digital scrapbook site. I checked it out and it is extremly easy and looks like a lot of fun it is www.scrapblog.com. I am going to try it out. Check it out if you want. Let me know what you all think by leaving me a comment!

You Belong in 1958

You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

http://www.blogthings.com/whatyeardoyoubelonginquiz/">What Year Do You Belong In?

GO DISNEY!!!!!!!!!!

SO I HAVE BEEN WANTING TO GO TO DISNEY ON ICE FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER AND NEVER HAVE GONE UNTIL LAST NIGHT. I SURPRISED PRESTON WITH A SPECIAL NIGHT OUT WITH JUST MOM!!! I KEPT IT A SURPRISE NOT TELLING HIM WHERE WE WERE GOING. HE WAS SOOO EXCITED WHEN HE FINALLY FIGURED IT OUT.

WE SAT ON THE FRON ROW AND IT WAS SOOO FUN. HE LOVES THEATRE AND SO HE LOVED SEEING ALL THE PRINCESSES AND BUZZ AND WOODY AND OF COURSE MICKEY AND MINNIE ALONG WITH DONALD AND GOOFY.

I OF COURSE OUT OF ALL THINGS FORGOT THE CAMERA. SO I ONLY HAVE PICTURES WITH MY CELL PHONE AND IT JUST DIDN'T DO ANY JUSTICE. BUT AT LEAST I HAVE SOME WHAT OF A PICTURE.

ALL MORNING HE HAS ASKED IF WE CAN GO TODAY BECAUSE IT WAS SOOO MUCH FUN. I AM SO GLAD HE LOVED IT.

I LOVE BROADWAY AND THEATRE SO I LOVE THAT HE HAS A LOVE FOR IT AS WELL I HAVE A FEELING HIM AND I WILL BE ATTENDING MORE FUN PERFORMANCES TOGETHER.

EVERYONE HAS BEEN TELLING ME THAT I NEED TO GET PRESTON INTO THEATRE ACTING OR SOMETHING. BUT I HAVE NO IDEA WHERE TO START HIM. IF ANYONE KNOWS OF ANY GOOD ONES PLEASE SEND THEM MY WAY. I FIGURE I WILL JUST GET HIM ATTENDING SOME PLAYS AND PERFORMANCES AND LET HIM FIND HIS NITCH. I DON'T WANT TO PRESSURE HIM WITH IT OR ANYTHING. SO SUGGESTIONS WILL BE GREAT!

I love the fall. But I really don't like bad weather with three little kids that turn into monsters when they are couped up inside all day.
Today I braved it and took them to the park down the street. It was really cold but it felt really good to get out.
If anyone has any good ideas on what to do inside with little ones Please Please Please send your ideas to me. I feel it may be a long winter.

Ramblings of a concerned heart......

So I am not a writer I am a talker. I don't like to write because I have to go over it in my head a zillion times before I am able to write it down. In the same breath I say that writing is theraputic for a mind like mine that never shuts up. So I am sorry for anything that I say that offends those reading or listening to me. I often talk before I think and that goes for my writing as well.
I would just like to send a invitation out to all those that voted for MCain and not Obama to Please, Please, Please, take a stand behind Obama. We need to support our leaders. This country was founded on different beleifs. Nobody always agrees. So please stand up for what you beleive to be right and just but please support our leader. He is a father, husband, and now leader. The best Change that can happen is when we all work together.

Look out for your neighbors. Be kinder. Be of service to those around you. Only by the simple things great things come to pass.

Obama?.....

Well I did vote this year and it was not for our "precious" Obama. But I did have a hard time choosing the lesser of two Evils. I just say to all those that voted for our now new Pres. congratulations. I just hope we all survive!!!!!

How I met their Father.....

1. Where did you meet your husband? On a blind date set up by my little brother
2. How long did you date before you got married? dated 4 months got engaged and were engaged for 6 months. Total of 10 months
3. How long have you been married? 8 1/2 years
4. What does he do that surprises you? still thinks i’m sexy after 3 kids!
5. What is your favorite feature of his? His smile (when he actually smiles) and his eyes
6. What is his best quality? Loyalty
7. Does he have a nickname for you? nothing special just hon, honey,you know the usual
8. What is his favorite food? He doesn't really have a fav. depends on his mood. He does like Ribs though if they are cooked just right.
9. What is his favorite sport? Hunting! is that a sport?
10. When and where did you first kiss? We dated forever before he finally got the nerve. He says he was waiting to see if I would do it first. ya ya. But it was outside my parents house infront of the garage when he dropped me off.
11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? We love to go camping and Fly fishing
12. Do you have any children? 3 little monsters ( oops did I just say that)

13. Does he have any hidden talents? He can dance. He thinks he can't but he can.
14. How old is he? 29
16. What is his favorite music? Country.
17. What do you admire most about him? How he is so loyal to friends and family. He would drop anything to help out someone in need. even a total stranger.
18. What is his favorite color? He doesn't really have one but blue if he has to choose
19. Will he read this? No. I don't think he has even looked at our Blog once.
20. Who do you tag? Heidi, Melanie, and Stacey

New Hats

I have never been the one to put hats,headbands ect. on Karleigh because she always pulled them off. But I found these and she actually keeps it on. I think she looks adorable. And so grown up. She will keep headbands in as well now. So I am getting excited to play dolly with her.

Halloween at school

Preston had his Halloween Party at school. He was soooo excited to wear his costume. They paraded themselves up and down the street in front of his teachers' home. Popped popcorn and played games. What a fun day!

LIttle mommy

Karleigh is getting so cute. She puts purses over her head and crawls around holding her babies. It is so fun to watch her grow and imitate all that she sees! We love her so!

Little Punkins!!!

Our neighbor invited us to pick pumpkins for family night along with a couple other families in our ward. Afterward we went back to their home and played a couple of fun Halloween games and had cider and donuts. The kids had a really fun time.

Pictures and update

Here is Colton while we were feeding the ducks. The geese were so loud he didn't want anything to do with them. The ducks at this park are a bit aggressive since they are fed to ALOT!!!!

I feel like this right now....

Skinny people irritate me! Especially when they say things like...'You know sometimes I forget to eat!' ...Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name and my keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat!

I am trying to get pictures but it isn't working. I will soon. Today Preston was in the Primary Program in Sacrament and he did great! He loves to sing so I was so happy to see him get up there finally. He usually gets too nervous and won't go up on the stage but today he finally did. We are so proud of him.

Chuck E Cheese

Well Layton just opened a new Chuck E Cheese and Preston has been begging to go. Actually I am the one that has really wanted to go. I am a sucker for these kind of places. Anyway we went tonight and it was soooo much fun. We have been to the one in Salt lake and it is a bit run down and I get a little anxious over germs cause everything is so dirty. So going to the new one was sooo much more fun. All the games worked and it was much cleaner.

Yesterday I took the kids to the park and fed the ducks. Colton was not very happy about it. He didn't like the ducks which is surprising because he usually loves it. He got woken up and they were really loud. The geese were all fighting over the bread. Karleigh loved it and had a really good time. She loved the slides.

On monday I took the kids to Liberty Park and I met my friend with her 3 kids I said I would watch them while she went to the doctor and I was hoping to leave Karleigh home but ended up with no babysitter and so I had all six kids by myself. Ages 5 ,4, 3, 2, 1, and 8 months. It was nuts. It went a lot better than I thought but it was crazy remind me never to have 3 sets of twins that sure gave me a feel for it. The kids had a great time but it was nerve racking for me I was so a fraid of losing one. Needless to say we all survived and will not be doing that again.
Alicia I love you and I was very happy to help!

Halloween Party

We had a really fun time having a Halloween Party for the kids last night they all had a really great time!

Vampire

Preston my Actor! He is totally ingrossed in Character. He was so cute. He kept posing and posing. He just couldn't get enough. He wants everyone to see him. He asked if we could go to the store so people could see him. He is such a shy one yet put him in character and his true self shines through!

First Snow!!!!

So this morning Colton wakes up and is soooo excited that it snowed. He wanted to go outside right away. I thought he would see how cold it was and want to come in. I was wrong. I made him come and get a coat and then he kept begging for me to come out with him. So we went out and built our first snowman of the season. I have to admit I was just like him as a kid I loved the snow!

Colton looks like a little snowboarder to me. He is just built like one I am afraid. The other day he was on our back porch standing on his much older cousin's board and telling me that it was his and he totally had the motion down. He is soo flippin cute! The last picture is of him sliding in the snow and twisting around doing cool tricks! He thinks he is so much bigger. Amazing him and Preston are such opposites.

Advice........

It is really strange the last few weeks I have been having some friends going through some really tough things and have asked me for advice. I am usually not shy about giving my thoughts and opinions but latley have found it really difficult. I haven't had any one to really talk to in a while and I am usually not giving advice more than recieving it for myself.. That I feel a litttle out of touch. I am glad they came to me but I wonder sometimes why. I used to pride myself in being there for my friends and just casual accquaintences. Latley I just have been out of commission with my own troubles that I have had to really rely on the spirit to help my friends. It is funny how quickly we forget our own troubles and how we made it through them. Needless to say I feel that I have followed the spirit in both these situations and am Happy to report that I know I am not as smart as I once thought I was. Yes that is my way of saying I think I have been humbled. Well I hope those friends realize that their struggles are helping me with some of my own.

New JOB!!!!!!!!!!

Conference weekend was great! We actually had Chad home on a Saturday! Bonus thanks to bad weather! On the flip of Bad weather every year we go up to Mueller Park for family picutres with Chad's family and This year we couldn't because it was to wet and cold. I am totally bummed because I was really hoping for a new family pic. Since we don't have one with Karleigh yet. I absolutley love the Autumn it is by far my favorite time of the year. I love the colors and the weather and all the time we get to spend as a family. So again I am sad not to have a picture with the beautiful colors and my beautiful family!

Other Great News Chad got the new JOB! Wonderful news for us. Not so wonderful news for my Dad. Chad starts on the 20th. Which is in 2 weeks. He is sooo excited.
I just want my dad to know how much we appreciate all that he has sacrificed for our little family. I love you to death and will always. I know that the transition is not the greatest! We are truly grateful and will make it up to you! I love you Dad!!!!!

I am just sitting here putting off finishing the laundry so I thought I would post picutres of Karleigh. Isn't she sooooo cute! I really love having a girl!

Tonsils and Surgery!!!!!

Today Preston got his Tonsils taken out. He was so scared. He ran away from me this morning and was crying and yelling that he didn't want to go. I knew he was just really scared. He did awesome though. Chad and I asked him if he wanted a blessing before we left and he said no. He is so resistant to them. We have tried other times to give him one and he always refuses. He won't even pray. We prayed together before we left but during the prayer he ran off to hide. I am really trying to figure it out. He loves to go to church though. He always gets up and gets ready first and makes sure we all go. I don't get it. Oh well. When we got to Primary Children's he did great. He was so brave. We are proud of him.

Isagenix

So I started to use the Isagenix nutritional cleansing. I am not sure if I can do this for a whole month. My mom and I are seeing who can lose the most. I don't have a choice but to continue on but it is not fun. It really is not that hard it just is not fun. I have lost 2 pounds so far. If that counts for anything. I tell myself a pound a day that's good. Anyway. I will let you all know. When I am done and I post the sexy picture of me than you will all be wishing you did this! I keep telling myself that. Hopeful thinking!

Rings of Fire!

on Sunday we went on a drive up to the Beaver Ponds with the kids. On the way back we were listening to Johnny Cash. And Preston said "turn it up this is my favorite" It was Rings of Fire. Soon all of us were singing along even Karleigh. The cutest part was colton singing "down down down and the flames went higher" I told Chad we really need to video it so you all can hear it. He is such a character. I forgot the camera of course but we had a great time throwing rocks in the pond and picking up Fall Leaves. They are gorgeous this year. Even Karleigh was trying to throw rocks but because of age limitations she couldn't figure out how to let go of the rock. So cute!

I am trying a new Nutritional Cleansing (diet!!! AHHHH do I dare use the cursed word) It is called Isagenix. I will have to let you know how it goes. It will be the hardest thing I have done but I really am desperate to lose this baggage.

Finally Almost done with the house