St. Louis

Having breakfast at IHOP at 1:00 in the morning with some friends: Sherri, Brian, Adam, and Sarah.

SNOW!

There was an underground museum under the arch that we walked through.

I thought Davin looked awfully cute with his hoodie.

There it is! The St. Louis arch.

This last weekend, Davin and I went to St. Louis for a leadership convention. We had such a great time. I definately came back inspired to be a better person. I have decided to make changes in a few areas of my life. I am very glad we went. But it was cold! It snowed most of the time we were there and the wind was biting cold. We did get to go see the arch, though. That was pretty cool.

President's Day

Most of the kids time was spent in the water. I am glad I took an extra pair of clothes.

Kelsey spent a lot of time doing this with the little ones. She is so awesome.

The kids had the day off school again and Davin and I did not have to work either, so we went out to Queen Valley with my mom and dad, Sheri and her kids, and Jason, Vanessa, and Boe. We picniced next to a creek. My dad recently purchased a new toy, a souped up EZ go golf cart. So we had fun riding this and the quad around. Kelsey spent most of her time on the cart. It is a really fun toy, because all the kids can go at once. It is really fun for mom when all the kids go at once. I spent most of the day sitting around, which was wonderful! Davin and the boys went shooting guns for awhile too. They took Grant, and even though he was not allowed to shoot, he enjoyed it. It was a fun day.

I am spoiled

Thank goodness for sisters and sisters-in-law who take care of me and my blog. The new look this time is in thanks to Vanessa. Isn't it cute? Thanks girl, I love it! I'll let you know when I need another update!

Emma's new "do"

Yesterday, Kelsey, Emma, and I went to get our hair cut. Emma really got hers cut. We finally got rid of all that yucky baby hair. But not the curls! However, Riann did flat iron it. I thought she looked completely different! When she looked at herself in the mirror, she didn't like it. She said, "I want my curly hair". I still think she is the cutest thing! (Thanks to Sheri for the pictures. I can always count on her to have the camera)

please sir, I want s'more

This picture is funny. I kept trying to get a picture of the chase, but I could never get it, so Davin and Emma posed for this.

Winding down.

I am the Achievement Day leader in my ward over the 11 year old girls. Last Friday, we had a daddy-daughter date in our backyard, making smores. So since I had leftovers and had three firepits still, Davin and I thought it would be fun Saturday night to make a fire and have smores with the kids. The older kids came out, made a smore, ate it, and went back inside. So much for that. Davin, Emma, and I stayed out all night. Then Davin and Emma spent part of the night playing and chasing each other. That made it worth it. I love to see that.

MLK day trip

on the way up the trail - Emma's taking a break

Enjoying the ruins at Tonto National Monument

We decided to put Grant and Emma to work

Playing at a creek

Tortilla Flat

These were the doors to the bathroom stalls in Tortilla Flat. Looking good!

We had a fun day yesterday. Since it was MLK day, the kids didnt have school and Davin and I didnt have to work. So we decided to take a road trip. We had a couple of extra kids that I was watching for a friend and my mom and dad came too. We went to some indian ruins, Tonto National Monument. We had never been there before. On the way home, we stopped by a creek to let the kids play. We also stopped in a little town called Tortilla Flat near Canyon Lake. We had a good time. I love days like this.

It's not funny!

Did you ever notice that God has a sense of humor? I have been bragging up until now that my family just doesn't seem to get sick. You guessed it. I think God was up there laughing, saying "Oh yeah, we'll see about that." Sunday night, I woke up to Kelsey telling me that Kaylee had puked in her bed. So of course I was up all night with her. Then Monday morning, Kelsey called me from school sick. Tuesday night it hit me and I just got over it this morning. So now I am crossing my fingers and hoping no one else gets it. I have been humbled.

best friends

now, everyone has to have a bathing cousins picture, right?

We have had Boe over a lot lately because Emma daily asks for him to come over and play. It is acutally quite nice for her to have someone to play with and these two get along so great. I took them to the park the other day and they had so much fun.

16 wonderful years

Today is Davin and mine's anniversary. 16 glorious years! I can actually honestly say that. I really did marry my best friend and I love him more every year. I also thinks he gets so much better looking the older he gets. I look forward to spending the rest of my life and eternity with him.

Disneyland

Emma and I spent alot of time together. She was just a little under the size to ride the big rides,so her and I would do what she wanted when the others were on those rides. This was at the Tarzan house. We also went on the Jungle Cruise when the others were on Indiana Jones. She really liked that ride. Her total favorite was the Casey Jr. Train Ride. We did that three times. This was the Honey I Shrunk the Audience show. Emma HATED it. She looked like this through the entire show.

We were on the Riverboat ride when we passed the pirate island and saw Jack Sparrow doing pictures. Kelsey wanted a picture with him so bad. Unfortunately, he stopped doing pictures right before we got over. So we had our picture taken with these guys. They were fun. On the way back from the island, Jack Sparrow was on a ferry going over and we just missed that one too. Bummer.

We spent 15 hours at Disneyland. The kids were so pooped. It was so crowded. I could not even imagine that many people. It sold out. The standard wait for the good rides was 1 1/2 hours. I would never go at the holidays again. It was fun, but it really was crazy. More time was spent waiting than anything else.

Mickey! Need I say more?

The end of a long day. We were so exhausted. Happy New Year! 2008 is going to be great!

Christmas

Sorry, I dont know how to make my pictures turn, so you will have to turn your head.

Jason and Boe spent Christmas Eve with us.

What a wonderful Christmas we had. Christmas Eve we spent looking at Christmas lights. Then we watched Luke II and decided what gifts we would give to Jesus this year. As is our tradition, the kids all got new jammies that night.

Christmas morning was a lot of fun. The kids, except Emma, were up early. We eventually had to go wake up Emma. The kids are allowed to look in their stockings only before breakfast. After breakfast, which of course none of the kids have an appetite for, we open presents. The favorite gift was the last one. The kids opened a family gift with a picture of Disneyland. WE ARE GOING TO DISNEYLAND! I got the proper excited response I was hoping for. It was great.

After Christmas at our house, we took off to Grandpa and Grandma Standage's house. Oh my gosh, did my mom go crazy. Presents for 12 grandkids. It was a little crazy and so much fun!

After dinner at the Standage's, we went to Davin's cousin's house. They haven't seen each other in years, so that was fun. More socializing and food. Christmas was busy (the way I like it) and so much fun, and of course spent with the family which always makes it great.

Christmas Angels

I wish I had taken my shoes off. I look like a GIANT!.

We have had a nice weekend. First, Saturday night my parents took all of us out to dinner WITHOUT KIDS! (Merry Christmas to us). We went to Chareston's. Then they gave us all a nice gift - 100 dollars. After dinner, my mom pulled out more gifts...chocolates and candies from Sees. We tried to play the white elephant give exchange where you can open one or steal someone elses. That didn't work so well because they were all so good and not many people didnt want their gift. It was a lot of fun.

Sunday, my kids were able to open one gift, their Christmas clothes. The girls were excited about their dresses, of course. Grant, in typical boy fashion, looked at his clothes, threw them to the side, and went about his business. They all looked really great though.