After christmas adventure to the dunes

Something Matt likes to do with the kids is take them to the sand dunes. I am happy to stay behind and let that be a bonding thing for Dad and kids. The kids played in the sand while taking turns riding with Matt on the 4-wheeler. I was able to finish laundry and sweep and mop all the floors. (You can click on the picture to enlarge it. To get back to the blog, push the back button/arrow.)

Christmas evening

Another tradition we have is making a special Christmas dinner. We set out the fine China, nice flatware and goblets. Made a USDA choice prime rib roast (it was on a really good sale), mashed potatoes, steamed veggies, and biscuits. I forgot to buy some Martinelli's, so we just drank water. We all dressed up nice and the girls got to wear make-up. I guess I should have worn some make-up too. Then we had a little dance afterward. Jileigh thought it would be funny to take a picture of Matt and me kissing.

I took my scarf off and Safia decided to wear it as a dress. It was too cute not to add.

Christmas Morning!

One of the traditions we have for Christmas morning is that all the kids have to meet in our bedroom, not before 7am, and wake us up. Then we plug in the Christmas tree lights and get the camera ready as they line up. Beau wasn't about to budge awake, so he sadly missed the line up this year. Then they chug-a-chug-a-choo-choo up the hall and around the corner to the front room where the tree is. They happily enjoyed opening their presents and eating the orange and crackers and cheese in their stockings. The day was spent in PJs hanging out, napping, and watching movies until dinner time. Yes, Beau got a small push broom. He loves cleaning tools and has really enjoyed his broom and sweeping with mom.

Christmas Eve

Christmas eve: In the morning we cleaned up everything so we could have a clean house. In the afternoon, the kids spent hours putting together a gingerbread house kit that Matt received from a co-worker as a gift for the family. They were instructed that they could put it together if they promised not to eat any of it. In the evening Grandma Cynthia came by with her present for the kids. They all got PJs. I took several pictures of them and this one was the least blurry. We got her a digital instant-read thermometer for kitchen use.

We had set the gingerbread house back in our bedroom to dry. Jaren decided on his own that it was time to bring it back into the kitchen. Unfortunately, he tripped and dropped it. That didn't last very long. The dumpster was very happy to eat it for us.

Dec 23rd - Safia and Jaren's mess making

So on the 23rd of Dec the family was sitting around watching a movie and enjoying the warm fire. Safia and Jaren were being a little

noisy and finally left. When the movie was over, one of the older kids yelled out for me to come into the toy closet to see what the little kids have been up to. They apparently went outside first and dumped the ashes bucket into my mop bucket making a big mess in the garage. Then they went into the toy closet and dumped 2 shelves worth of toys onto the floor and busted open a package of pasta and spilled it on the floor. This was one of those times where I just had to walk away and go into my bedroom and shut the door. Decided to deal with it another time.

My little fashion models

Jileigh and Angelique like to sneak my camera, dress up like fashion models, and take pictures of each other. I am only a little bit worried!

Snow day!

December 18th the kids had their very first Snow Day and didn't have to go to school. They played out in the snow all day long. First at our house, then at Nate and Candy's house.

My silly kids!

These silly little kids love to sit in MY rocking chair to watch TV whenever Matt and/or I are not in it. This was taken on Nov 15. All of them were trying to sit in it at once.

Talon and Angelique sing at Lin's grocery store

Talon and Angelique's school choir had the opportunity to sing at Lin's grocery store for their holiday open house. As much Angelique LOVES to sing, she gets shy singing in public, being quiet and reserved. I hope some day she will come out of her shell in her public performance ability. She is quite the singer and performer at home. Talon loves to sing too and doesn't really care about where he is singing.

Thanksgiving weekend

We spent Thanksgiving day at Matt's mom's house. I forgot my camera again dang it! It was just us and Grandma Cynthia for a while. Later Amanda's family came and Aaron and Elisa showed up. We had turkey with all the fixins. Everything was really good. We enjoyed visiting and playing scattergories. Talon, Angelique, Jaren, and Safia stayed the night because Cynthia was planning on planning on coming to town the next day anyway. Jileigh originally was planning on staying the night, but felt like she should go home. Good thing. She ended up throwing up 3 times during the night. Poor kid.

The next morning, Matt got up at 4:30 and left to go shopping at Walmart. He was able to find everything that he went there for. He didn't make it there until after the 5am opening time and said that it was a mad house. Fortunately, by the time he was ready to check out, most of the crowd had left.

My niece's wedding

The weekend before Thanksgiving was my Niece Kelci's wedding in Mesa AZ. My sister Jennifer from Orem picked us up (us meaning Safia, Beauchene, and me) on Thursday and we rode down with her to Mesa. We stayed at my parents house. (When I got there, I realized that I forgot my camera. I was totally bummed about it.) The wedding was on Friday. That morning Cassie, another niece, cut my hair for me. It was too long and annoying. The ceremony in the Mesa Temple was nice. The luncheon was at the Landmark restaurant and was very good. The reception was held at a country club was done up very nice. The food was really good too.



On Sunday, I met up with a former college roommate Hydee. We had a fun visit walking around the temple grounds. (She forwarded a picture to me.)


We drove back home on Monday. We arrived home at 7pm and Matt had just pulled dinner out of the oven. Chicken Pot Pie! After dinner he drew my bath to soak in and listened to me talk. What a good husband!

Jaren lost his first tooth! And then his Second!

Today, November 12, Jaren lost his first tooth. After dinner, he wanted to try to get his very wiggly tooth out. Angelique decided that she would be the "Dentist" and pull his tooth out. After several tries, she got it out. He was such a proud little boy. (He is not wearing a shirt because he was afraid that he would get blood on it.)

On the 25th of November he lost his second tooth! He wiggled this tooth for days and really wanted it out. I was so sick of listening to him that I took a square of toilet paper, asked him if I could see his tooth, put my fingers on it and pulled it out and said, "There you go!"

Beau in the oven

Beauchene has a funny desire to clean. Today he opened up the oven, pulled out both of the racks, grabbed the vacuum attachment brush and proceeded to sweep up the bottom of the oven. This was totally his idea. So I got out my vacuum and sucked up the stuff on the bottom of the oven and then he decided to climb in and brush the bottom some more. I finally had to insist that he was "all done" and that he needed to get out.

Talon's Veteran's Day Assembly

On Nov. 11, Veteran's Day, the 5th grade put on a program singing patriotic songs. Talon's teacher really complimented him saying that he was one of the best singers. Talon's teacher really tries hard to make school a positive experience. Matt had to take a day off from working last Saturday, so he chose today so that he could go to this program and attend the kids SEPs (student evaluation plan) with me. OK, so I told him this was the day that he needed to take off. :)

Beauchene's first haircut

Tonight I gave Beauchene his first haircut. The other kids decided they needed haircuts too. These are the before pics.

These are the after pics. I forgot to take a picture of Angelique before; but in Beauchene's after picture, you can see the back of Angelique's hair.

The faith of a child

Last night, Saturday, I came down with a migraine. I went to bed at about 8pm, but couldn't sleep. Matt massaged my head for me. It felt really good, but it seemed to make it worse. Jaren came in to see me and ask Matt, "Dad, can we say a prayer so that Mom can feel better." So we did and Jaren wanted to say it. It was short but very sweet. Then the kids went to bed. I then had Matt and his brother Nate give me a blessing. After they left the room, my head stopped pounding and I was able to rest calmly. After about 2 hours the pain stopped and I was able to sleep peacefully. I am a firm believer in the power of the priesthood.

Halloween 2008

Beauchene as a frog

Safia as a Barbie princess

Jaren as a Ninja



Jaren as Spiderman

Angelique as a witch

Talon as a wizard

Jileigh as a cowgirl

Group picture of my family and Candy's family and our friend Jennifer's family.

We had a No Candy Halloween party at my house Halloween night. I made 5 pizzas with whole wheat crusts and then we took pictures. Grandma Heaton came by for a little bit to see the kids and enjoy some pizza with us. Then Jennifer did an activity with the kids where they decorated a can. Then we watched The Pirates who Don't do Anything. Candy's family left after the pictures to go to their ward's Trunk or Treat. We all had a nice time and the kids got to have their fun.

I want to tell about the punch Candy brought. She called me and told me that she wanted to bring a punch with Sprite in it and asked me if was ok. I groaned at her and she just said, "Say Yes because I am doing it anyway." She had prefroze some red fruit punch in rubber gloves. So the punch was country time lemonade with Sprite. Then she put in lime sherbet and the frozen red hands. She called it ghoul punch with bloody hands and green puss. I tasted a little bit of it and it was actually really good. It was a good combination of flavors.