We took family pictures a few weeks ago and I am so happy with how they turned out. Blake does such an awesome job. I highly recommend him. I can't believe how much my kids have grown. This year has been eventful for all of us.

McKenzie- turned 8 and was baptized. That is such a big thing in a little girls life. She started 3rd grade and just loves it. She excells and most things that she does and it just dying to start taking harp lessons. We are going to look into that one :) She has many good friends who are so fun to have in our home. Everytime I look at her I swear she gets more beautiful!

Logan- 1st grade has been a great thing for him. He is learning to read and doing so well. Once again he excelled in wrestling... both in the spring and this fall. He added several more good medals to his collection. Logan is funny like his Dad. He makes up words and is constantly making us laugh. He is still very snuggly with me and I hope that each year that passes he will NEVER STOP!

Tate- WOW. Tate is so silly. He started pre school. He has had such a fun time and is learning to spell his name and thinks he is pretty smart. He is learning so many new things. We do miss his referring to himself as "ME" Me don't want to... Me No like it... Me love you. It was so cute. 2009 has been a fun year for Tate. He has started being able to go to work with Drew and even has his own "tools". I love my little orange haired boy. He is so sweet!

Chayse - she has had a very eventful year. Surgery 3 times. Ears twice and tonsils once. YIKES. Don't forget the fun time with Pneumonia. I think the only thing Chayse didn't get this year was the SWINE FLU. Now she has a popping in her hip that her dr is not too thrilled with. I am hoping that 2010 will be a good year for her. She has been such a happy girl when she feels good. We have loved having her in our lives. She is Drew's little dolly and he adore her. She is so adorable and learning to say so many things. We are such bad parents but we try to get her to say naughty words just because it sounds so cute. My personal favorite is CRAP! :) She still doesn't sleep well so that is definately on my list of things I hope come for her next year. And for me! Everyone still loves this girl and she is still so beautiful.

Drew- busy working, working, working. We are definately not complaining. We have taken the past week or so discussing how blessed we are. We have nothing to complain about... work is good, our children are all healthy and happy, we have a beautiful home, live in a great neighborhood.

This year has been challenging in a lot of way, but also so incredible. I know how lucky I am to have these beautiful children and a fantastic husband who loves me. I am excited and ready for the new year and hopeful it will be even better than 2009.

p.s. Drew shaved his face... it is so handsome!

We Wish You a MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Season's Greetings!

Drew, Lisa, McKenzie, Logan, Tate and Chayse

I shot this mule deer this morning! It only took me one shot at 155 yards! Drew is a great guide- even though I don't remember a word he said. I am pretty sure he was shaking worse than me though! :) It was such a fun fun time and I have now been instructed to write my story down because it is going to be sent in to every hunting magazine there is. AND- my picture will proudly be posted at Sportsmans if you want to check me out! :) LOVE YA DREW!

Chayse

Chayse had to get her tonsils out on Thursday and it was quite the experience. Most things with this child are. The day started out like this....

We were supposed to arrive at the hospital at 6:30. We woke up at 6:45. A few choice words were said, I called the hospital and begged for them to let us still come and we went out the door without even combing my hair! It was pretty sick.

We got to the hospital and waited for our turn and we opted to have them take her back before doing the IV. That way she didn't have to feel any pain. It was a good choice!! She was in surgery for just a little bit and I heard her softly crying in the recovery room so they let me go back with her. She was so cute as soon as she saw me. Those are moments when being a mom are so awesome. When you know that your presence alone makes your child feel safe and calm. For me, there is nothing like it.

We had such high hopes for our little Tilly. She woke up with a bang and ate a few awesome bites of her favorite- chicken noodle soup! I then gave her a sippy cup of apple juice and that is when the beginning of the madness came. With one sip of juice she decided that swallowing fluids was not fun and she wasn't going to do it anymore. And seriously... she did not. Would not!!!

I tried everything humanly possible to get her to drink. Drinking was the key to going home. I tried a bottle, cup, sippy cup, straw, big gatorade, a pepsi, chocolate milk, milk, formula, water, and nothing is what she wanted. So the hours drug on. Drew left me to go take care of the other kids. And we waited and tried some more. Chayse is a smart girl. She always has been. After a few hours she discovered she could spit and fight and kick to not even swallow her medicine. This is when IV drugs started. What a mess!!!!

Long story short we were in he hospital for about 36 hours until she ripped out her IV when I was not paying attention to her. She has done relatively well considering all she has been thru. The Dr. said it was such a good thing we took them out because they were full of infection and "cheesy" Pretty nasty!

In other AWESOME news Logan had his first tournament on Thurs and HE GOT FIRST PLACE!!! He pinned all three guys and Drew said he did the most awesome move that he didn't even know Logan knew how to do. We are soooo impressed with him and so glad he has discovered a talent as such a young age! Way to go Logan!!!

McKenzie and Abby

McKenzie has been very excited about having a new cousin!!! Well we all have been excited. Abby was born in August and is another little red head like Tate. She is just a little cutie! It has been so fun in the Cutler family because we had 4 little boys born all in a row and now 4 little girls born. There are lots of little kids running around but I love each of them so much. I am so lucky to be an Aunt! It is a great job!

I can't say no to those big blue eyes...

McKenzie said that to me today... "Mom I can't say no to Chayse's big blue eyes" I laughed so hard. Chayse is HYSTERICAL with a capitol H! She has started saying so many new things such as : NO, TATE, DAD, YEAH, DRINK, CUP, THANKS, SPOON, FORK and her new favorite thing is playing the piano.

She even acts as though she knows how to play and turns the sheet music. We love her so much and are continually reminded how blessed we are to have her in our lives. :)

P.S. Yes her face is dirty... I swear I do clean her up every now and then. :)

5k Run and my 10k

Last weekend my friend Tammie and I ran a 10k here in Rexburg! We started running together a few months ago and decided it was a good idea to work towards something. Last year I did a few 5ks and I thought this year it would be a good idea to push myself a little harder. We trained really hard for a month or two and I was very proud of us for the time we got on the actual day of the run. We didn't even get last place! :) We have decided to continue on with our running and getting in shape. It has been really fun to have a partner to do it with and have someone motivate me. I am not really a self motivated person most of the time! :)

I heard from my friend Melissa about a little boy they know who was disgnosed with Leaukemia last week and there is a 5k fun run already set up in his name. We are going to do it and we have gotten our kids involved as well! There isn't any greater feeling that doing something to help people in your community! Anyone and everyone should sign up to run, it is for a great cause!!!

Logan!!!

Logan has been saying this awhile and we love it. I think he is so hysterical and I just love the kid so much!!!

Tate's First Day

Tate started preschool today and he was sooo excited. We got him a new back pack and some new shoes and he was READY to go. We LOVE LOVE LOVE his pre school teacher- Mrs. Jill. She is the most amazing woman and I can't wait for Tate to spend the next two years with her!

All in a days work!

Today I have done a lot of things... drove the kids to school because they missed the bus, snapped green beans, canned grean beans, waited around the house for the dryer to get fixed and then waited for my new couch to come. I am TIRED. Tate and Chayse have been playing all day like crazy kids! They have so much fun and LOVE LOVE LOVE eachother. We had a delicious lunch of mac and cheese and they didn't disappoint in the entertainment department for me!!!

OH MY!

Tate woke up about 10pm and was crying and walked into the bathroom. After about 30 seconds he was quiet so I went to go check on him. This is what I found!

Family Pictures 2009

Here are just a few of my favorites! Bonnie is SO talented and did some really fun things! Thanks Bon, I LOVE YA!

First Day of School Pictures

Logan and McKenzie started school yesterday! It is hard to believe that my little baby McKenzie is in 3rd grade. She seems so old... she is so old! She has a great teacher and I know she is going to have a great year. Here is something she said to me yesterday that just REALLY made me look forward to the future with her....

we were in the car driving back from Alta WY and both Kenzie and Logan were out of seat belts and laying all over the pick up floor and I said "Get in your seat belt now." Her reply was (SCrEAMING at me) WHY DO YOU HAVE TO BE SO STRICT!

I am pretty sure I have never used the word strict. :)

Logan is in 1st grade. He was so excited to go to school all day and eat breakfast and lunch there. Our school this year does free breakfast so they just get off the bus and eat breakfast. It works out really well for us all! When I picked him up yesterday he said the best part about 1st grade is that you get 3 recesses. He was so cute and it was AWESOME because he had homework on the 1st day. I love his teacher!

Unfortunately last night Logan woke up about 1am and threw up. Not sure why. He never acted sick before or after so it was weird. I told him when we were brushing his teeth again that he probably wouldn't be able to go to school tomorrow becuase he might be sick and he replied "I HAVE TO GO. I promised Slade (his cousin also in 1st grade) that we would chase girls at every recess together" What a stinker!

Yellowstone and another year...

This past weekend we took the kids to Island Park and stayed several days. It was so fun because my little bro Garrett (aka GARY in our house) came for a few days as well. We LOVE LOVE LOVE this cabin in Island Park that we stay in and this year we decided to be true tourists and go to Yellowstone because we have never taken the kids. On Saturday we went to the cabin and rode the dirt bike and four wheeler around and PLAYED in the hot tub. The kids love the hot tub... even Chayse.

Yellowstone was an adventure! The kids had a hard time accepting that they got to look out the window a lot! They waited and waited for something really exciting to happen and eventually it did when the buffalo were standing right next to our car! It was such a fun day being together and we were able to make some great memories and will NEVER forget or let Tate forget the way he freaked out at the bad smells of the sulphur pots and we won't EVER forget Chayse's blinky eyes or never ending patty cake and we will NEVER EVER forget how rough it was to "camp". I love Island Park. I love Drew for making these opportunities for us and working so hard that we can do things as a family.

And we also were LUCKY enough to have my sister Jennifer come on Monday to babysit the kids overnight at our house while Drew and I stayed an extra night at the cabin for our anniversary. Drew's grandpa told me once "Don't start counting the years you have been married, it gets depressing with how far you have to go!" Of course he was being a jokster, but I always laugh when I think about it. We have been married now for 9 years and it has been a great 9 years. Busy years, but great ones. I am very very very lucky to have Drew in my life. He is so great to me and to the kids. Here are 9 things about Drew that still bug me... even after 9 years...

1. Paces when he talks on the phone.

2. leaves his hair on the floor when he gives hair cuts (for me to clean up)

3. never does the dishes

4. tosses in his sleep

5. won't ever fill the car up with gas ( only does 30 bucks at a time)

6. NEVER wants to have dessert when we go out to eat... who has to be hungry to eat ice cream?

7. tracks mud in my house

8. is a packrat

9. has unfinished projects I BEG AND BEG AND BEG for him to do until I just do them myself.

HA!! I thought it would be so funny to not go on and on and on about how awesome Drew is and how perfect and fantastic etc. :) Obviously he has millions and qualities I LOVE.

We are sad at how fast the past years have gone but look forward to many many many more years to come!!!