Boots-a-Monkey

For some reason Tate has been lucky enough to receive this new nickname from his Ma-Ma (that is what he calls Drew... HYSTERICAL I KNOW!) Well today Drew took the kids out on the sled again and our little Boots-a-Monkey got so tuckered out he fell asleep on the sled!!!! I got a cute picture of him sleeping and all bundled up looking like that kid off of The Christmas Story. We love him so much and he just makes a person laugh! For all those wondering... I am called just plain Mom by our little Boots.

Merry Christmas to Us!

Well Christmas was a complete success! They let us sleep in until 8am and it was great! We loved watching them open their gifts and be so excited. Logan's favorite toy was the semi with monster trucks. Kenzie loved her Tracy barbie doll from Hairspray. Tate got so many things he just didn't know what to think. We decided this year to get Logan and Kenzie their very own gun and they thought it was really cool. It is a 22 with a 4-10 barrell you can switch it out with. We just played with toys all morning and rode the sleds all over in the afternoon. It has been snowing a lot this week so there is a lot of fun snow to play with and makes sledding perfect! We are so blessed and had such a good holiday. The day is never long enough, but I will take what I can get. I love being with my family and watching them have so much fun getting ready for Santa and watching their eyes light up when they open their gifts. I was telling Drew as we were getting all the toys out under the tree that I was hoping for a Christmas miracle this year... meaning that when I woke up there would be a special present under the tree just for me from Santa that I didn't know I was getting. Drew and I aren't very good at being secretive with our gifts and kind of buy things through out the month of December and just call it good for Christmas... well he informed me sadly that I would not be getting a Christmas miracle but if I had told him sooner that Christmas Eve he could have done that. Doesn't that defeat the concept of the Christmas miracle?!?! I did get spoiled with a carpet steam cleaner that I love with a passion and have already cleaned all the carpet in my house. I got Drew the Sirius Satellite radio and he was very surprised. That was the first gift I have given him that didn't have to do with hunting that he didn't hate.

Anyways, we hope you all had a great holiday and got everything you hoped for. It makes me sad it is over, but I guess I can start looking forward to next year! P.S. You should enlarge the last picture of Kenzie and Tate because it is sooo funny what Tate is doing with the barrell of the gun. What funny kids!

EA Property Care

Thanks to my little brother Garrett we have a fabulous new website!!! I am so happy that it is done and so grateful for the great job he did! Love ya Garrett!

Check it out...

www.EAPropertyCare.com

Yet another funny thought of Logan's...

"Mom, I sure wish that guy in the big brown truck would bring me presents"


Little does Logan know I only have to make a one stop shop at Cal Ranch and his holiday presents are ready to go!

Mary Did You Know

Check out my Slide Show!

The Christmas Season

Well I haven't posted pictures of my house lately since I got all my painting done and with some pretty Christmas decorations up. There are some of the tile and bathroom.. they speak for themselves.

I love this time of year! We have been so very blessed I don't even know where to start. First of all, we are all healthy and happy and that is what matters most. Second, we have a great house that we love and LOVE even more now that I have painted and made it our own. Third, I feel very blessed to have been able to get new-to-me furniture for my front room that I adore and looks like it was made especially for my taste and my room, at a very great price. Everytime we turn around it seems like we are having to buy something new or replacing something old and it never fails that we get an incredible deal that we are SOOOO thankful for. It just reconfirms to me that I do receive blessings from paying a full tithing. Fourth, we are so blessed to have such wonderful friends and family that love us and take care of us and help us whenever we need it. Drew's brother helped us SOOOO much by doing the counter tops through out the house, Robbie did our tile for next to nothing price and did an awesome job, Melissa for the couches, Tenille for helping me paint and to Bonnie for giving me such great ideas and listening to me freak out about silly things and for always being my BFF ... there are just too many to list.

Drew and I were talking last night about how things just seem so right in our lives and we see blessing from our Heavenly Father everywhere we turn. I am so very thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior who guide me and teach me and love me everyday no matter what. Drew is such a great husband and father to my kids that I couldn't have asked for anything better. My kids are naughty and crazy but I adore them and take pleasure in being their mother and thank my lucky stars every night for each of their personalities and for what they bring into our home. I do hope everyone has a wonderful holiday with their friends and family and that we can all take time to acknowledge and be thankful for all the blessings we have in our lives.

McKenzie

McKenzie took the cutest picture this year for her school picture. I love to look at her because she is just so beautiful and so sweet. I can't even believe how fast time flies and how smart and great she is. It is fun to watch her learning and growing in 1st grade but still keeping that innocence about her that I have always loved so much. She really is a good helper and a GREAT sister even though she gets a little crazy sometimes. For all those who know her best you can imagine her evil laugh she loves so much. It seems like just yesterday she was a newborn baby and today she is 6 and almost a half (her words!)

Tate's new favorite thing is to GROWL! I thought this was so funny if you don't mind me having to encourage him in the background. He is such a FUNNY boy. We went to dinner the other night and he was sitting at the end of the table in a high chair and when our waitress came to get our order he starting poking her right in the belly. It was such great entertainment. The girl wasn't quite sure what to think of it. It probably didn't help all of us were laughing so hard. We sure love our Tate!

Even is better than Odd...

Well today we went for the Ultrasound and I am very pleased to announce that we are having another little...........GIRL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So it looks like for the fourth and final we will be evening up the score with 2 and 2. The kids are very excited and so am I! I am just glad that the suspense is over and I can get planning and organizing life for the new addition! What a cute baby!

Halloween!

Well Halloween is so much fun and why wouldn't it be! The kids had so much fun at their Halloween Carnival and I completely loved being able to take them. We did all sorts of things from face painting to games and cake walks and balloon animals. Tate didn't want any part of the festivities but that is a common occurance at our house. He is a party pooper! Of course Logan wore his cowboy boots with his spiderman costume and McKenzie loved the red lipstick. I love these kids!!!

Then there is our Halloween party. I think the pictures can explain for themselves that we had the BEST time. Obviously we went as a couple from the 80's. I had so much fun getting Drew costume together and "bedazzling" my shirt. I do have to say that I was very disappointed to have to search HIGH AND LOW for Electric Blue mascara... Maybelline doesn't even make it anymore! My belly decided to poke out this week so I am looking a little large thru the middle section, but good thing for the 80's fashion... it can be hidden pretty easily! Drew was named "Don Johnson" and I am proud to announce that I WON BEST FEMALE COSTUME and won the best little gift from Tenille. You know it is good coming from her! We had a great time being with friends and acting silly and not having to worry about anything. I got this great picture of Lance and Tenille... as you can see Lance takes these parties VERY SERIOUSLY and he loved his outfit. Just picture him hanging out the sunroof in our Yukon during the scavenger hunt! I don't think I ever laughed so hard... I have to give a big thank you to Drew for being such a perfect date and for having so much fun without me having to twist his arm! It doesn't get any better than Halloween!

Halloween Ideas!

Please help with some great ideas for Halloween Costumes for Drew and Me to wear to a costume party. I am not having much luck with any ideas other than Kelseys bright one... poop and a shovel!

WHY!?!?!?!!?!?!?

I am just going to ask the question to all my friends and family... why is Drew the only person who tried to talk me out of getting this dog? We all know I don't listen to him!!!!!!! HA!

Logan

Logan was up late one night and just being silly. Of course I got the camera a little too late for the funniest parts but I thought this was pretty cute. My favorite feature of Logan's are his big brown eyes and ESPECIALLY the way he uses them when he talks. He reminds me so much of my brother Garrett... always looking off in the corner when he talks to you and making funny faces. He is so fun!

Why do kids like to eat the strangest things?

When I was feeling a little down and out the neighbor brought by some groceries (which was very nice) and she brought these corn dog impersonations. They were actually a sausage link wrapped in a pancake?! The thought of making them sounded really nasty to me so I let Drew do it and he set them on the counter for the kids to come and get. When he walked back in the room this is what he found... Tate double fisting it... so they must not be all bad????

Free Entertainment!

Last night Tate was freaking out because he hates the one piece pajamas! His tantrum was going on for a while before I finally thought about getting it on video. What you didn't see is that after I shut the camera off he threw his face down so hard that he gave himself a bloody lip and nose. It was nasty. Looks like the terrible twos have arrived a little early...

Go Diggers!

McKenzie was the best little cheerleader!! We went to the store yesterday and got all sorts of blue makeup for her to wear and she chose the way we did her hair etc. She absolutely loved the entire experience and said that she HAS TO BE A CHEERLEADER WHEN SHE GROWS UP! It is so fun to watch her grow up and get interested in things. Drew keeps asking her, "Don't you want to play sports instead of dance?" Stupid question Dad.

Fun times outside

Last night we decided to make some smores and the kids had a blast. Tate was loving the fire but just wouldn't stop saying HOT! It was so fun. The kids love being outside, especially when Dad will jump them so high on the trampoline! Our neighbors 2 doors down have a projector and they watch movies on the side of their house so the kids went down there last night and watched Ice Age just like they were at the movies. It looked so fun and they had a blast. We love having such a big backyard that we have room for all our toys and the fire pit. It is our favorite thing... roasting hot dogs and marshmallows!

Tate eating RAVIOLI... need I say more?

My appliances have reached the new age!

For some this may not be anything exciting, but for me it was worth calling my BFF and talking for 30 minutes about how wonderful it was. I finally got a new washer/ dryer combo! Luckily for me our old washing machine broke and wasn't worth fixing, but this came at the same time our refrigerator had a leak and ruined our kitchen floor! If only I was loaded with so much money I didn't know what to do with I would be able to replace both and not think twice. I haven't found that money tree I have been searching for (well I know someone who thinks they have but I won't go into that for the sake of "privacy" ha...?) but when I do I will let everyone know. Anyways, my new washing machine works like a gem and the dryer seems great too! For now the kitchen floor will continue to be in a mess and Drews suggestion for it is to buy a big rug?! He's got his priorities straight!

P.S. Please try not to be scared of the blue walls and the nasty floor. That is my next project!

Just for fun..

I thought it had been a little while since I posted some pictures of the kids. They are doing great. Kenzie starts dance tomorrow, Logan starts school on Thursday and Tate is learning all sorts of new things. He especially likes his drinks from Sonic!!! HA! We are enjoying life and getting into a good routine so we like that. Drew is staying very busy with work and I am once again doing my annual job of registering all of his employees for their school classes so they can go to school and work. These poor guys need wives!

First day of FRIST GRADE!

McKenzie started her first day of school and was very excited to be going to school ALL DAY! I was definately more nervous than she was. Her teachers name is Ms. Jill and she is great. She's been around for a long time... she was Drews first grade teacher. Can you believe it? I made her a lunch for her first day but today she wanted to do the school lunch because it was a lot "cooler" because nobody had a sack lunch yesterday. She was just glad she lost her first tooth before she was officially a 1st grader! She's the cutest!

My little Tater Tot

Tate was getting ready to get into the bath and was just looking so cute sitting at the top of the stairs waiting for me. He is such a good boy with the most hysterical personality. The only problem is just how spoiled he is!!!

Big Brother 8

I don't know if many of you know this or not, but I am a huge fan of BIG BROTHER! It is my favorite summer time show and this year is especially JUICY! I actually gave in this year and did some voting of my own online (and I snuck a text message in- good thing Drew doesn't see the cell phone bill ) So for all those of you who are as big a loser as I am... I hope that Dustin goes home this week. HA!

I WANT THAT BOOK

I am very sad about the fact that I have searched high and low for Eclipse - the 3rd book in my series of being infatuated with vampires- If you can imagine every store (all 2 of them) that would sell it in Rexburg are sold out. Hopefully they will be getting more in soon because I can't wait to read it. Bonnie says the loves scenes between Bella and the yummy vampire get much better. Too bad this author is LDS or we'd really get some good reading!!! Oh how I wish Drew were a vampire... heehee!

Tate needs a haircut...

I am so sad to cut his hair. It doesn't look cute here, but it just fits his personality to have long, crazy hair. Drew keeps threatening to shave his head if I don't cut it soon. I guess it's time before he actually follows thru! Look below... he got one :(

Is this bad?

I walked into the office to find Tate being a little adventurous! As I took this picture he was saying "HOT!" Yes Tate... that might not feel very good. Needless to say, we are taking care of this problem ASAP. Isn't he cute though?

Bear Lake!!!

We were able to go to Bear Lake this weekend with Drew's family and it was the best time! I don't think I have ever seen our kids have so much fun. McKenzie and her cousin Hailey were in the water all day and we couldn't even get them out to eat. Logan and his cousins played in the water, and loved playing the sand with all of their trucks and shovels and other boy toys. Then there was Tate... he wanders aimlessly around making all sorts of funny faces and having a great time. He got a horrible rash all over his entire body. We weren't sure if it was from the sun or sunscreen. We did succeed in making sure he didn't get any type of sunburn with his fair skin. It was great. We rented some jet skiis and had every kind of floating toy you could imagine.

Drew hurt his knee earlier in the week so we weren't sure if we would be able to make it, but it was definately worth getting there. I have to admit that I was the only person using "help you tan" lotion instead of sunblock. I really do miss being around water.

RAIN!!!

Well as many of you know, we are having some really hot weather and there hasn't been much relief. We don't have A/C in our house but we did get a couple of window units that help. Today for the first time in at least 6 weeks we got some RAIN and the kids went crazy. It was a pretty good load of rain also. The best part is that my lawn got some watering. Sprinklers are the next on our list of MANY!

Our Crazy Kids!

It's Official!!!

I am officially trying to step out of my box and create my very own family blog. We'll see how it goes, so bear with me!