Thanksgiving 2014

Thanksgiving was in Utah this year.  It was fun to get away and have some time with my side of the family.  We stayed with Brooke and Issac.  Dinner was at Dustin and Jeanie's.  Brooke and Jeanie provided the cute hat project.

 The guys getting the meat ready

 The Feast:

 And that was A BUNCH of dessert:

 Waiting for the feast

 Archie and Abbie Snuggling:

We were able to go to the Museum of Natural Curiosity and Thanksgiving Point.  Way busy day.  I wouldn't recommend the day after Thanksgiving.


  We finally went to see Barry's house and the boys went motorbiking with the cousins.

 Saturday night we took the train to Temple Square to see the lights.  The ideas sounded great.  But, it wasn't the best night to go.  It was so busy we didn't get to see a whole lot.  My favorite part, the reflection pool was pretty much impossible.  But, the kids had fun and that is what we wanted. :)

Waiting for the train:

 I have always LOVED this building

 Here are those who decided to fight the crowds

 Bryce and Amie

 Brooke and Issac

 Us :)

A Well Deserved Family Bowling Night!

We have all been working REALLY hard to get this bowling party!  Finding time for family scriptures and prayer can be difficult to say the least.  But, since school started we have been getting up at 6:30 to have family prayer and scriptures to start our day of right.  Most mornings have been pretty good.  The kids don't whine and the older kids have learned to sit and listen.  I'm not saying it's perfect, but we are getting it done and they are interested in the stories.

I have found that the kids love any battle story and Samuel the Lamanite.  They also like the story of Abinidi and King Noah.  We have tried quite a few different ways to do scriptures over the years.  I was reading a book and it suggested reading the stories that are more familiar to the kids and letting them pick which story they wanted and make a list rather than just reading chapter by chapter. We've been doing this and it has really helped them sit and listen better.  As of right now I just read while everyone listens.  At some point I will have the kids start reading, but for now I don't want mess things up. :)

We went to Rigby Bowl.  I didn't realize it was Cosmic Bowling or we would have worn some brighter clothes. :)  The kids had a blast.  Brayden ended up winning by 28 points.  I had to laugh that the youngest won by so much.  Even with bumpers up I got last place and I didn't even lose on purpose.  I am the worlds worst bowler.

 Hailey waiting to see where her ball went:

 Conrad pushing off:

 Caleb being his cute self:

 Jackson posing for the camera:

 Brayden bowling with his head.  He decided that wasn't the best way to bowl.  Silly kid:

 Bo was our score keeper.  The bowling alley also does a uhaul products business and right after we got there our neighbor, who was moving showed up to buy boxes.  We have an endless amount at the warehouse so he left to get her some and made it back in time to watch most of the game.

Jackson Being Jackson

So the kids are always going into the office and making a mess with their legos or art projects and I am just plain sick of it if you want to know the truth.  I told them that they weren't allowed in the office for a week because they never clean up after themselves.

At some point in the day Jackson snuck in and spread thumb tacks all over the floor to help keep the kids out.  He then proceeds to tell me that he kept a pathway for me to get to my desk.  Hmmm....I can't quite decide what to think about that. :}  I wish I would have gotten a picture.  Oh well, here are a couple of cute ones.

I love this boy.  He always keeps me on my toes.

Family Pictures 2014

I am always hoping for the perfect family picture.  This is such a silly notion because nothing about our life is perfect.  With five young kids in our family, life feels more like a circus and the ONLY time it is quiet is when the kids are sleeping.

But we were able to get some pictures that turned out great!  They aren't "picture perfect" as in everyone is looking at the camera and smiling their perfect little smiles.  But, they are all there.  As I have looked at these pictures, it has made me reflect on how blessed we truly are.  We get to have all of these beautiful little people in our lives  And even though our family isn't "picture perfect" and to be perfectly honest some days a really long and so busy I can't wait for bedtime, I wouldn't have it any other way.  We are all happy and healthy and we love each other.  We have knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and that brings us peace in an increasingly troubled world.  I just love this family!

Bo age 33
Celeste age 31

Hailey age 10

Brayden age 4

Conrad age 8

Jackson age 6

Caleb age 22 months

This is just a glimpse of what the pictures were truly like:

Diggin for gold

Missing a kid

Silly faces

I'm outa here

Are we done yet?

Everyone in the picture but nobody ready for a picture to be taken.


I just want to say thanks to my Dad and Bo for taking our pictures!  Not an easy feat!  I love them!

Happy Halloween

Halloween week is always eventful and this year was no differnt.  Monday night was the school carnival.  The kids had a blast!  There were tons of cake walks.  Hailey was the only one who went in the spook alley.  She wouldn't sleep alone for a couple of days.  I'm glad nobody else dared go in. :)

Tuesday night was our ward party which is also a carnival.  Conrad won 5 pops, Hailey won two.  Plus, they won other treats and then they did a trunk-or-treat.  By the end I think they had enough candy for the month. :)

The kids had a bit of a break Wednesday and crazy me thought it would be a good idea to do family pictures on Thursday.  I'll fill you in on that eventful time in my next post.

 Friday of course, was Halloween.  It was a gorgeous night!  We couldn't have asked for better weather.  After school went and got pumpkins and carved them just in time to have dinner.  Then Grandma Porter came for a visit and we left for trick-or-treating.  We trick-or-treated until we dropped.  In fact, Brayden told me that he was "tired to death" at the end.  He actually quit before the other kids.  He was too tired to get out of the car.  I had to laugh because he LOVES candy.  He didn't care for any more though.

Outdoor Explorer

Ninja

Ninja

I couldn't decide between the two pictures...

Tween Cleopatra

And we got great use out of this cosutme.  All of the boys have been a lion around this age!  I still love this costume!