2008 was a GREAT year!

Our WONDERFUL holiday....

We had a wonderful Christmas at our house...as usual. On Wednesday night (Christmas Eve) we went to Clint's parents home for our annual Christmas Eve dinner and then we opened gifts. As a tradition, Clint's parents always give us all Christmas pajama's to wear and then we open our gifts from Clint's grandparents. The kids LOVED their gifts...the girls got very cute little dresses and outfits and the boys got church clothes and head lights, boy were they a HIT! It was so cute seeing all of the little boys with their lights on. We even had a struggle that night trying to get Kory to take his off to go to bed...silly little guy! Here are a few pictures of Kory with the light on Christmas morning...yes, he STILL had to wear it! He He.

Me and Clint got very little sleep Christmas eve night...we went to bed at 2:00 AM and were woke by some EXTREMELY excited little kids at 4:00 AM, that sure didn't help my morale, I must say I was a bit ornery...he he he. The kids were all THRILLED to see that Santa had come to our home and they were actually on the good list this year. The boys got an XBOX 360, remote control trucks, legos, magnext, transformers, clothes and teck deck skateboards & ramps. Rachel got a LARGE doll house, a remote control barbie car, barbies, miniature dolls, a Leapster and a Barbie Karaoke Boom box. It was fun watching them plow through all of the gifts, unwrapping one by one and seeing the surprise and excitement in all of their little faces.

After all of the gifts were open at our home, we headed over to Clint's parents home where they had some gifts for us from them. I got clothes, Clint got speakers for his Rhino & some clothes and the kids got toys and clothes too. Clint's parents are always so sweet and generous to us when it comes to Christmas, they truly work hard to make Christmas a very special time of year. We enjoyed a great breakfast, visited for a while and then headed home to get things in order for the party later that evening.

On Christmas evening my ENTIRE family came over to our house for our annual Christmas dinner. We had such a great time....all 23 of us (including Grandpa & Grandma Harding). Although it was a tight fit, it was great to get together and celebrate all together as a family! We all exchanged gifts to one another after dinner. As ALWAYS we all received nice gifts...especially the ones from Dad & Mom...wow! All the guys got wallets, and not just any wallet....these ones were all ready to go, with cash & gift cards inside of them. Then, the ladies got new purses w/ tonz of Mary Kay items and cash too! It was a great night for EVERYONE!

After all is said and done....Christmas has come and gone, we all had a wonderful time sharing, laughing, loving, serving, giving and everything else that comes with the spirit of Christmas. I always enjoy Christmas time...it is definitely my most favorite time of the year.

Let it SNOW, Let it SNOW, Let it SNOW!

Our family sure has been enjoying all of the beautiful snow that has been coming down. Clint got all of the kids some tubes and took them to the park over the weekend so that they could enjoy some of the bigger hills. On Saturday, Clint rigged up a snow plow on the Rhino and had some fun of his own. Clint is such a BIG kid when it comes to his toys....he was so proud of his plow and even prouder that he could go around and plow every one's driveways on the street. Here are some pictures of him pulling Kory and Rachel behind the Rhino on the sled, man did they LOVE that!!!!! (It looks like Kory is crying in the first picture...but he really wasn't)

Pre-School Activity Day

Rachel's school had their Christmas Activity Day last Tuesday. They made lots of fun projects, sang songs and had a WONDERFUL time. Here are Rachel's *little* hands putting together her beaded necklace....so cute!When all the activities were finished, the kids were able to frost their own sugar cookie and eat them up! I sure had a great time helping with her class and being able to be there for her, a memory I will definitely treasure!

Are we there YET?

CHRISTMAS...that is. This is always my favorite time of the year...not only because of all the beautiful decorations or even the snow (oh wait, did we have any of that this year? *wink*), but because I get to see all my family and friends even more than usual! In December, we celebrate five birthdays, our wedding anniversary, the work Christmas Party, the Ward Christmas Party (which we actually missed this year because I couldn't get Clint out of bed at 8:30 AM!!), Christmas & New Years....whew, December is ALWAYS over before I know it! We have had such a great month so far, money has been a bit tighter so we have made A LOT of gifts....who knew it would make the season that much better? So far....I have made a Scrapbook Calendar for my Mom, a frame w/lettering for my niece (Halle), Glass Ornaments w/scrapbook paper inside and lettering on the outside for all my ladies that I visit teach and our wonderful neighbors, glass blocks for some friends and a candy Jar w/lettering on the outside for the work party....WOW, it is a GOOD think that I have a vinyl lettering machine!

I have stayed pretty busy this month with work, so I guess in a way that has just added to all the excitement....at least it helped to pick up the tab in a few places too! This week is a busy one too....on Tuesday I helped with Rachel's activity day at her Pre-School, we had the work party Tuesday night, then yesterday I helped a lady in my ward apply some vinyl lettering to some boards (7 to be exact), today is Rachel's Christmas program at her school, tomorrow is the boys Christmas Singing program at their school and Saturday is Vince's Birthday. AND in the middle of all of THAT....I don't have very much bought for Christmas, and I am seriously beginning to freak out a bit (I actually think that is why I have been WIDE awake since 2:30 AM and I am writing this at 3:30 AM). So...somewhere in the middle of everything, I need to go SHOPPING!

I am so grateful for this time of the year....we ALL have the opportunity to love and serve each other and to have our focus on our Savior. I think it VERY important that we remember to be mindful of those that have lost jobs, are out of work or are losing their homes and to help where we can or is needed. I think it is also VERY important that we don't forget to be thankful for what we do have and how blessed we are each and EVERY day! I am so grateful for our health, my family, our friends, our home.......and the list goes on, I hope you ALL are having a wonderful, spiritual and Happy Holiday Season!

Happy Anniversary!!!!!

WOW! I cannot believe it has been 11 YEARS!!!!

Happy Anniversary Sweety!

A LOT has happened in the past 11 years, including three kids, four pets & two homes! I can't wait to see what happens in the next 11 years!

The Polar Express!

On Monday night, my parents took us to ride on the 'Polar Express' (Heber Valley Railroad) for family night AND for my Mom's Birthday. We had such a GREAT time, definitely a memory that we will treasure! Here we are in front of the train, before our ride.....

.....and here we are IN the train.During our ride, we had Chocolate Chip Cookies (made by Mrs. Clause) and Hot Chocolate (made by the Elves). We sang songs and read the book "The Polar Express" and got to meet some very *special* visitors. Did you know that Mrs. Clause is the one that makes all the Candy Canes? Neither did I....that sure AMAZED Brock!

Here comes SANTA CLAUSE!!!!!

Santa gave all the kids a VERY special Bell and afterward one of the elves came and told the kids that if she could listen to the ring of their bells, then she could tell them which reindeer the bell came from....so one by one, she listened to their bells - Brock's was from Prancer, Kory's from Rudolph and Rachel's from Comet....I thought it was really great that she would do that for them, that was actually one of the first things that the kids told their teachers the next day! Here they are....RINGING their bells!

Thank you Dad and Mom for ANOTHER special experience....my kids will never forget the day that they rode the POLAR EXPRESS!!!!

Happy Birthday MOM!!!!!

Happy Birthday MOM!!!!

I hope you have a wonderful day!!!! Our family is so blessed to have you for a Mother, your beauty is NOT only skin deep...you have always put family first, even before yourself and we admire and appreciate all you do for us! You have been such a great example to us kids by showing us what really matters most in life...and that is, MEMORIES & FAMILY! I love that you have never given up on us and that we all know that if we EVER need anything...you are always there for all of us. Your efforts NEVER go unnoticed and it is just an honor to call you my Mother! You are such a great value to our family and truly the glue that holds us all together. I LOVE you Mom and wish the very best for you....ALWAYS! Muah!

(BTW, I LOVE this picture of you...you look so pretty & your eyes are actually OPEN! HA!)

So So Proud...

At the beginning of the school year Kory was somewhat struggling with his reading at school, to the point that he felt a little insecure about going to school, doing his school work and even his homework. Then came the wonderful blessing...his school provided a reading tutor for him! Now...since only FIVE 1st graders are chosen for this opportunity to spend time with this wonderful tutor, you can see how lucky Kory was to be accepted! In the beginning he was at a zero reading level...which I think is a beginner kindergarten level and NOW Kory is at about a 7 reading level....YAY KORY! His tutor says that Kory is what they call the "golden child" there because she has never seen a 1st grader progress so quickly. I am so proud of how far he has come and what he has accomplished. His attitude towards school and ESPECIALLY reading has done a complete 180....I am so very proud of him!

Yesterday, Kory was called to give the Talk in Primary. He gave a talk about celebrating Christ...His birth, His resurrection and the coming celebration, the second coming. He did such a wonderful job on his talk...and although he still needed me by his side for support, I really only had to help him with probably 10 words....words like Bethlehem, resurrection, honor, etc. It was so cute to see how loudly he spoke into the microphone and the confidence that beamed from his little face....you could really see how proud he was to share his ability of reading with everyone. I think the added bonus was having his Daddy there in the audience to experience his wonderful talk too....WAY TO GO KORY, we love you and sure are blessed to have you in our family!

Gingerbread Houses

I was talking to Kellie earlier today and she had such an AWESOME idea to make some Gingerbread Houses tonight...so I stole her idea and we did them also for family night! It was so fun to see each one of my kids' creativity and their own personal idea of what made the house look great. Although Kory had to *ANALYZE* the entire situation for the entire night we still had a great time....listening to Christmas music and building our houses! I think they turned out pretty GREAT!

Thanksgiving Weekend

We sure had a great time for our Thanksgiving Weekend! On Thursday, we went to my sister's house for lunch/dinner/feast...then we went to the movie "Bolt" in 3-D with the ENTIRE clan, all 21 of us! The movie was VERY cute and we all had a wonderful time. On Friday (Black Friday) me and Sky woke up at 3:30 AM and hit the shopping! We went to Toys-R-Us, Old Navy, Bath & Body Works, The Disney Store and quite a few clothing stores. We had such a GREAT time....it is always great to hang with my little sis, it seems I enjoy acting like a teenager again from time to time, although I am sure Sky would say my actions resembled more like a five year old instead...but hey, we had FUN and that is all that matters, he he. We got back from shopping around 9:00 AM and then me and my family headed to Mesquite for the weekend to visit Clint's grandparents. We took our Rhino and did some four-wheeling and Clint took his gun's to go out shooting with all *the guys*, the weather was AMAZING and we all had a BLAST!

The boys were THRILLED that Clint brought his BB gun this time so that they could try it out. All went well, but Clint did have to give Kory some *Hunter Safety* tips after Kory shot the gun, hit a bush, the BB ricocheted and barely missed Clint....WOOPS! Oh well, you live...you learn!!!!

Family Pictures

So....here are our Family Pictures for 2008!!!!! I think that Kellie (my sis) did an AMAZING job! These are only a FEW of my favorites, it was so hard to choose from all the great photos that she took, I am so excited to have prints made so that I can hang them around my house!

(Okay Kellie...in case you were wondering, you can NOW post some pics on your photography blog! You are AWESOME, thanks again for taking the time for my family and being so talented and doing such a great job...LOVE YA!)

Life is BUSY!

Yep...I CANNOT believe it has been 10 days since my last post! WOW! I must say that 10 days ago seems like it was yesterday...that is how busy life has been here!

In a matter of 10 days, I completed our Enrichment Craft Night, we got Family Pictures taken (thanks Kellie), Kory got detention for three days at school, Kory got suspended from school, I completed 150 saying for tiles that our Stake RS Presidency will be using in January...only 150 more sayings to go (300 total), Clint painted (2) VERY LARGE Man-Lifts for my dad, I completed signs for all of my dad's equipment, I put together (5) painted projects that I have been meaning to finish and of course, the usual...cleaning, cooking, laundry, etc.

Can you say WOW???

The sayings that I have been working on for the Stake are quite TIME CONSUMING, but I think they look GREAT and will really give an added touch to the meeting we have coming up. Here are the boys *helping* Mommy out with her very large project....

...and here is Clint painting my Dad's Man-Lifts...boy was that a big job, poor Clint came home each night with bloodshot eyes and a bit stoned. But, like always...Clint is always willing to help when someone is in need!

As for Kory....a bit of an update from last time (detention), I met with the Vice Principal & Kory's teacher, I guess he had been in a bit of a *tiff* with another kid in his class and so they both received detention for three days as a consequence. Kory now is on a system where if he has a good day he gets a smiley face, if it is a bad day...he gets a frowny face, then after 5 smiley faces...he gets a PRIZE! As for the suspension...the other day he had some girls chasing him at recess and he told them that if they didn't stop that he was going to do something to them....I won't really go into details, but it was a form of a threat. He was suspended that day which made me really upset and dissapointed, but after talking to the school psychologist I found that it is pretty age-appropriate for kids his age to say things like he did. So anyhow, we are still working on getting Kory's behavior under control at school. The psychologist will be observing Kory's class in the coming weeks to see what is triggering his anger at school because here we just don't see this kind of behavior. I will continue to hug and love Kory whenever he is around and just pray that things will get better for him....my sweet Kory!

Anyhow, there is your update to our crazy & busy lives! I can't wait for THANKSGIVING, oh and DEFINITELY *Black Friday*!!!!! S.H.O.P.P.I.N.G!!!!!!