Smile for the camera!

Things were going pretty well when I decided we finally needed to get some cute holiday pictures to use as ornaments. We didn't buy holiday clothes, but we dressed cute and curled hair etc.. Rieley and Morgan have finally reached an age where they were cooperating and even excited for pictures.

Isn't that a pretty picture? She's growing up into such a pretty young lady!

And look at Morgan, she's gorgeous too. I love her smile. She's always so happy and silly.

Of course! We can't have everything go smoothly. Leyton is my happiest daughter.....except when I want to take sweet pictures. Why is she upset, you ask? Is she tired? Dis she fall and get hurt? Are her sisters beating her up? No, she just wants to take the picture herself. I'm not sure she'd be in it if she was taking it. So now we have some pictures with only Rieley and Morgan together......and some with a grumpy little lady. Those are now our Chrismas ornaments.


This is one that Rieley wanted to take. She also went all over the entire house taking pictures of the decorations. She wants to be big so bad.

Santa Claus is coming to town.

Santa Claus made a special trip into West Point to light the lights at City Hall. It was so cool when he showed up on top of the fire truck.


Not one of them is crying! A Christmas miracle! They were all actually anxious to see him. Even Leyton kept pulling on my hand(or "mono") as she says. I think that she caught sight of the candy canes he was giving out. Never the less, it was a good Santa Claus visit.

Even Daddy is excited. What will he ask Santa for for Christmas? I don't want to know.

Morgan is so easily excited. What a simple, happy life.

Christmases long ago...

This is our Christmas of 2007. We visited the lights at the Mesa Temple.

Here we are trying to fit the whole family into a close picture after we decorated the tree together.



What sweet little helpers we had. They were just getting to the right age to enjoy Christmas and get excited about Santa coming.

The ghosts of Christmas past

This was Christmas of 2006 just before Leyton was born. Ahhhh what sweet memories.



This is still 2006 when the girls were trying to buils a gingerbread house. Morgan just wanted to eat the candy, but Rieley was really into it.

The first year that Rieley didn't cry!

Shiver me timbers

Rieley had a Pirate themed birthday party for her 5th birthday. We chose this theme because she would have both girls and boys at the party....I'm not sure the parents want their sons in princess dresses. It was a lot of fun. We had to follow little maps on a treasure hunt to find the treasure chest of gold and jewels. Then we played pin the patch on the pirate(seen below next to Rieley). You would think that such an occassion would cause great joy in each childs heart...all but one. The most important one. The day went great and Rieley was anxiously anticipating her party. Just before friends arrived the adults dug out their cameras. Bad idea. Rieley suddenly HATES pictures being taken and will not allow it. This will be a fun party!


Rieley cried during the treasure hunt because someone else grabbed the map from its hiding place just as she was about to. I can't have the birthday girl crying so I have to announce to everyone that Rieley gets to grab the next map. there aren't enough maps for everyone to find one so now I have ruined someone elses chance. I didn't like feeling that way, but I didn't want Rieley so sad either. Isn't this suppose to be fun???


She's right in character for a MEAN looking pirate. What a good actress!

Anyhow, things eventually got better. Rieley got a ton of presents and now shouldn't have a Christmas because of it. It was great and I'm glad I'm done with parties until next May. Leyton can share a New Years Eve party at someones house.

The Great Wall is great!

Of course this is the toilet!

I'm not sure if it was one from back in the day when they filmed "Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon" or these are the accomodations that Todd was given. At any rate he's a boy and it doesn't really matter where he.....you know whats. My thighs ache just looking at it.

These are some of the super cool things that Todd got to see. I'm so glad that he got to take a fast, FREE trip to China and I didn't. Honestly, why would I want to leave the kids for 4 days and travel to a foreign land that has designer items for super cheap. I don't have time for that nonsense, PLEASE!



I'm not going to say anymore because I just don't want to talk about it.

Family relaxation

We went down to Payson for my nephew, Cayden's baby blessing. It was fun for the girls to play with cousins and by the end of the day they were tuckered out. I"m sure it had nothing to do with the BBQ we had the night before with friends that lasted until 9ish but no one got to bed until about 11 or 12. Then we had to get up really early because the blessing was in Payson(1 1/2 hours away) and it started at 9:00 a.m. It was a very rushed morning, but worth all the effort. Leyton fell asleep on her uncle Rob's tummy. She woke up a little shocked and upset, but was fine while she slept there.

I was trying really hard to get some cute pictures of Leyton but she wouldn't hold still. Or somehow the lighting wasn't right, as you can see.


This was an attempt at a cute pumpkin picture with her cute orange Halloween shirt. Maybe next year.


My little climber!


This is Rieley, Morgan and their friend Riley. She lives two houses behind us and they play nearly every day. It is so fun to live here.


Well, let's see.....we bought a new camcorder because ours was stolen along with our home videos. We figured that we needed one pronto for the holidays and so we splurged. I hope that we are using it correctly...it is a DVD one and they seem to have very specific instructions. I don't know how to rewind it to make sure it is filming. We'll see. But we are glad to have it. We have also now purchased all the furniture needed to furnish our 3 separate living areas. We went on to ksl.com and found some great deals. I love that web site. Todd has been called to be the Young Mens president. I think he will be perfect and what better way to get to know the ward. I am now the Family Home and Personal Enrichment leader. I like this calling...and I finished my visiting teaching this last month, wahooo! Way to go me!!!!

Trick or Treat?

For Halloween this year I decided to make the girls characters from movies I used to watch back in the day. Plus, I always like to use Morgans red hair for inspiration. This is Rieley as Pollyanna. Who doesn't remember her?! We did have to rent the appropriate movies so that the girls understood who they were dressing up as. Then they were excited.


Can you tell who Morgan is??? "Pippi Longstocking is coming in to your world....a freckle face, red haired girl..." That song is now constant back ground music in this house. Leyton was a little more tough. I didn't have many ideas for a baby...and then.....I thought of Pebbles from the Flinstones. Maybe I should have saved that for Morgans costume next year(her red hair and all). It was pretty easy to accomplish and I like the bone in her hair.


I don't give my own costume near as much creative thought so I'm always rushing to come up with something suitable. Then come Halloween night and I'm irritated that I don't have anything clever and nothing in my closet that will work. This year as I was looking online on Halloween day, I saw Wonder Woman. My hair is now short, but I figured I could atleast curl it and get that awesome body that Wonder Woman has. Then I found a top that was red, a bottom that was blue..and wasn't a swim suit, I covered my belt in tinfoil and made a crown.

Too bad none of the adults at the trunk or treat were dressed up. Needless to say, I was sensitive because I wasn't able to come up with an awesome costume and then I felt a little stupid because no one else was dressed up. What a day! And it was only Tuesday, Halloween wasn't until Friday. I stayed home and passed out candy that night.


That's the spirit, Morgan!



It's always funny to see Todd with hair. We may have used this trick in AZ, but we're in new territory here and nothing's off limits.

Let it snow!

This was our first snow storm in Utah. The girls were ready to head out as soon as they woke up. I think we need to get all of their winter clothes pronto, pink cowgirl boots don't quite take the place of snow boots.


It was early Sunday morning and we still have to get ready for church. I guess we won't be walking.


The first snowman. There's nothing wrong with a little junk in the trunk.



By Monday afternoon it was almost gone. It is now Saturday night and we have had another awesome week full of sunshine. Strange that the weather can change so quickly......I'm not complaining. I'm not quite ready for months of snow.

THANK YOU JASMIN! I WAS IN DESPERATE NEED FOR A CUTE BACKGROUND AND NOW I CAN'T STOP CHECKING OUT MY OWN BLOG.

The leaves are changing

We decided to take a Saturday drive up Ogden canyon on the way to Eden area. it was so pretty and nice. I love the feel of Fall with the crisp autumn air, the slight chill in the breeze and the fresh smell. It is very relaxing to sit in the car as you drive through the canyon watching out the window.



I wish that I could have gotten better pictures. We were driving most of the time and didn't stop for the prettiest pictures.

Better than bikes!

We have discovered the total joy of having a sidewalk and a nice neighborhood to be cruising. My girls both have bikes, but their scooters have proved to be much more enjoyable. I even like them better. Rieley and Morgan both have princess scooters with two wheels in the back. Well, Rieleys friend has a two wheeler so Rieley always likes to ride that one instead if her friend stops by. She can't go very far but is very impressed with herself when she can hold it upright.



Leyton looks like she is in mid-ride, but it was actually windy. She likes to be like the big girls and ride on their toys even if they aren't moving.




Morgan.................................Hmmm................well she rides hers too, but I wanted to show this picture because this is the only view I get of her these days. This was right after I asked her to come here. Does she look like she headed towards me???? She is not known for her listening skills. Little Stinker!

Would someone please just tell me in detail how you change the background on the blog. I am really tired of looking at this blue and green neutral stuff.......and I'm sure you all agree.

Change was inevitable

Well, I have been thinking about this for a very long time. I finally decided to go through with it.














I think I like it. It is different, but I was ready for a change. It is also a little darker than I wanted, but that will change next time. Kind of fun, huh!?