Oldies but goodies!

Here are some pictures I found that were taken back in December but I thought they were so cute that I would share them now.

March was a whirlwind

Rodney and I celebrated our 13th anniversary on the 25rd of March. We happened to be at the temple just a few days before and decided we should try to recreate one of our wedding pictures. Boy have I aged in the last 13. I know I can blame it on the 4 kids but that doesn't seem to make me feel any better. I was fortunate to marry one of the most wonderful men in the world who tells me on a daily basis how beautiful I am so I wasn't quiet aware of my aging until I saw this picture. I am very grateful for the last 13 years and can not express with words how wonderful Rodney is to me. I can name a million things that have changed in the last 13 years but the one thing that has not changes is my love for this wonderful man and the 100 % assurance that he was made just for me.

We spent spring break in Utah. Thanks to the fact that my camera was on the fritz I did not get a lot of pictures. But we were able to spend some time with Rodney's parents. I hung out with my sister Nicolle and spent a whole hour in Joanne's Fabric without any children (it was heaven), We spent some time at my parents and celebrated Samuel's 5th birthday (Thanks grandma and grandpa). And last but not least we attended Travis' wedding. All in all it was relaxing and nice.

Here is a picture of Travis, Hope, Bill and Skelly at the Salt Lake Temple. It was so great seeing Travis so happy. What a wonderful day.

Foxy Visitor

We have lived in Cascade for over 5 years now and we see foxes all the time. They are always crossing the street or running across the grass at the church. Jack got about 3 feet away from one once. He was trying to feed it jelly beans. We have also seen baby foxes in a culvert by our house, but this is the first time I have got a picture of one. It was running through our yard and I just happened to have the camera out and got it just in time.

Winter Carnival

We made our annual trip to the McCall winter carnival. It was a beautiful day and the kids enjoyed all of the ice sculptures.

This was my favorite sculpture. I guess I still have a thing for frogs even though I already kissed mine and he turned into a prince.

Skating Family Home Evening

We had a fun Family Home Evening ice skating activity at a pond in town. We had pizza, hot chocolate, skating, sledding, a warm fire and a lot of laughs

Will would not put his pizza down so he could go sledding.
The pizza was great.

Jack Playing Basketball

Jack played basketball again this year. He loves it and improved his playing over last year. He was a lot more aggressive and a lot better at handling the ball. He average 6 points a game and had a great time. This video has some high lights of his game against New Meadows. He is the kid in the cream colored shorts. The highlights are of his 3 baskets he made in that game and two great assists. Also a little example of his ball handling. I got rid of the voice on the video because I am a loud fan/parent and it makes Jack upset that I kept telling him to hustle and move his feet.

Jack as Walt Disney

Jack's class did a living wax museum. They had to read a biography about someone and then be that person in the wax museum. Jack choose Walt Disney. He did a great job and his teacher complimented his acting abilities.

Jack singing the National Anthem

The 4th and 5th graders at Jack's School got to sing the National Anthem at several Basketball games in February.

Will Singing Wheels on the Bus

Will learned to sing Wheels on the Bus in Nursery. He does the actions better without the balloon but would not put the balloon down for several days.

Keep on Truckin into a new year.

I know we say it all the time "This year went by fast" but holy cow, Where did 2010 go? I really am starting to fill like time is just turning into a blur of everyday good living. The kids go to school, play, make me laugh, and make endless messes, grow and grow and grow. I fill my days with the usual things and the days all blend into one. But when I pause to think about where I am in my life I realize what a good life I am living. My kids are such a joy and I am realizing how fast they are growing and not going to be around much longer. I am resolving this year to sit back and enjoy the everyday monotony of life. It is good. So as I march into another year that will be gone before we know it. I will be happy that life is just the way it is.

Gracie however is not so happy the new year started. Her friend Nina has moved to New Zealand for 6 months and Gracie has been an emotional little thing. I keep reminding her that she is lucky she didn't move away forever. Not much help.

Will has resolved to spend some more time in deep thought and promises to make lots of messes to keep me busy.
And we are all going to try harder to find ways to enjoy the snow.

Christmas Happenings

Nicolle and Odie came to visit for Christmas. Samuel asked me every day for a month if it was the day the Odie was coming.

We have a tradition that we make sugar cookies on Christmas eve. This year Christmas eve was so crazy and I was so far behind getting everything done that we make the cookies the day after Christmas. They still tasted great.

Will only knock over the Christmas tree twice while it was up.
The kids new way to set up their nativity
I didn't take a lot of pictures this year but this is my favorite. It has been awhile since we have had a big tree in our house. We don't have a lot of space and so for several years we have had a little tree that sat on top of the TV. Our friends thought we were pathetic and brought us this real tree. The kids thought it was great to lay under the tree and look at the lights.
Rodney and his great branch choir put on a Christmas program. They looked so cute and did a wonderful job. It was a great way to remind us of the real meaning of Christmas.
The primary kids all sang a song and Jack was a cow in the stable.

Utah Trip

We took a trip to Utah for Thanksgiving. I did take hardly any pictures. We had a great time though. Gracie and I went with my mom and sisters to see the Rockettes Christmas show in Salt Lake. We had a great Thanksgiving dinner with the Huckabys and We got together with the Eberhards. The best part of the weekend was meeting Travis Eberhards Fiance, Hope. We are so excited about the wedding and are so happy for Travis.

Travis Huckaby entertaining the kids.
We also had some great pictures taken by my brother in law.

The Eberhard grand kids
The whole Theron Eberhard Family.
This is our family picture. It turned out so great. If you happened to get our Christmas card I was a little unhappy about the way it looked after it was printed and I like this picture a lot more but I had already ordered the card. That is the way life is I guess.

Free Ski Day

Rodney found out that Brundage a ski resort by us was going to have some free ski days. They are celebrating 50 years in business. He decided that we need to become skiers. Rodney and I both know how to ski but we are still in the novice/intermediate group. Rodney hit the second hand stores around and found me, him, Jack and Gracie all skies. We went to Brundage and had a great day of skiing.

Here are mine and Gracie's skis. We were quit proud of our $15 gear.
Jack and Gracie Looooved skiing. I could not believe how fast they picked it up. Especially because Rodney and I were not that great of teachers. Kids have no fear I guess that is why they learn so fast.

The kids did not like us to ride on the lift with them. I found out on the way home that Jack saw a girl fall off the lift. They definitely would not be alone if I had know that earlier.
Jack just took off down the hill. I had a hard time keeping up with him. He still need to learn how to snow plow and turn but luckily the bunny hill was just the right slop so he could parallel down and as long as he could keep is balance he made it to the bottom of the hill.
Gracie was a little more timid but if she thought she was going to fast she would just fall down. By the end of the day thought she was able to go around the ski school cones and was really good at turning back and forth on the slope and snow plowing.

We ate lunch in the car.
Did Gracie have a good time? This face says it all.
Gracie and I enjoying the lift ride. We had a wonderful day and hope that we will be able to go a few more times. Tamarack witch is only about 30 minutes away is open this season and we are hoping that some ski time might remedy my strong dislike of the snow and long winter.