It's cold outside...

Yes...it HAS been a LONG LONG time, AGAIN! So much has been going on in our lives since Halloween! So...I will just try to make a list!

~ First of all, it has gotten really REALLY cold! Ugh!

~We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving. We went to Misty's home and enjoyed a WONDERFUL Feast! And...of course, me and Skyler went out shopping the next morning for BLACK Friday! We were so crazy this year and began our adventure at 1:00 AM!!! Holy Smokes...and Holy FREEZING! We didn't complete our shopping until 10:00 AM in which we ended in a laughing spree that confirmed to us that we were WAY to tired to continue any further!

~I have moved my business from my home to a State Street Location. We officially opened on December 5th, in which we had our BIG Open House. It went really well!!! Things have been busy and the work is definitely coming in! We just payed our first months rent and are beginning to feel like this is REALLY meant to be and I think it will be a GOOD thing for us! Thanks to my Family, Clint & his brother Justin...the place turned out BEAUTIFUL!!!

~Rachel got her first "SHINER" or in other words, black eye. Apparantely it is NEVER a good idea to turn off the XBOX while your big brother is in the middle of a REALLY hard level. Yep, that is what happened...Kory pushed her down because he was not happy at all. Poor girl!

~We celebrated Clint's, Halle's & my Mom's birthdays.

~I had a lump on my left side behind my arm pit and went to the doctor to have it checked out. Turns out it was only a syst, but because it had grown three times in size in just a week and a half and was really sore to the touch, I had it removed. I will HONESTLY say that was probably the SCARIEST thing I have EVER endured! (keep in mind, I HAVE had three C-sections) The doctor had to give me SIX numbing shots around the syst before he could begin...and they HONESTLY were the most painful thing I have ever had! I cried and threw up and just in all was traumatized, lol. Thank heavens my Mom was there for support because I am not sure I would have made it without her!

~We have been receiving snow...FINALLY. I cannot say that I am a FAN of snow, but really...if it is going to be freezing outside, then we might as well have snow, right? Plus I am still praying that Clint might get more work because of it!

~Me & Clint celebrated our 12th Anniversary yesterday! It is so AMAZING how quickly 12 years can go by! I am so IN LOVE with Clint and really do know that me and him were meant to be together FOREVER. We went to dinner last night and just really enjoyed our time together...just us. We did a little bit of shopping afterwards and found that we probably should have begun a little sooner, but you know....when you don't have the money, well it just doesn't always happen the way you plan! Luckily my kids haven't asked for any IMPOSSIBLE items, so I guess we should be fine!

~I am so grateful for so many things at this point in my life. I know that making the decision to move my business was a BIG one, but the amazing things that I have seen happen and all the many blessings that have came to pass have definitely made it all worth it!!!!

~Finally...I felt I MUST post these super cute photos of my kiddos on the first snow day of this year. They went out ALL BY THEMSELVES and built this super cute snowman! Aren't my kids the CUTEST? Well....most days that is :)


Okay, I probably shouldn't forget to talk about the smallest member of our family...TEX! He has really became such a great part of our family. It is so cute to me how much he has become attached to Clint. When Clint is in the tub, Tex will wait by the tub for Clint to get out...then he will lick his feet until they are COMPLETELY dry. In the mornings Tex has found GREAT comfort in snuggling up on top or next to Clint until he is awake. Tex LOVES to play fetch and will now drop ANYTHING at your feet until you give in and play with him. We sure have enjoyed the little guy and so far have NO regrets at all!

hAlLoWeEn

Okay...I KNOW that I am late at posting this, but you know...LIFE happens! :)

So...here are some pictures of our Hallween....beginning with our cute CARVED pumpkins all lit up and ready to be in the presence of Trick-Or-Treaters.

Here is Rachel...she was the first to be ready for Trick-Or-Treating and INSISTED on me taking some pictures of her. I'm not sure what she is doing in this pose, but maybe she was being a scary Minnie...hmmmmm?

And...here is the rest of the kiddos...all dressed up for a fun, candy-filled evening! They look great, I think!

Even Tex dressed up! What a trooper :)

The first spot we went to was my parents' Wards Trunk-Or-Treat at the Church. We loaded up on some candy, then stayed for their annual Chili Cook-off (which my Mother's Chili took first place...way to go Mom, no wonder why I LOVE food so much!). Afterward....Clint took the kiddos trick-or-treating in the Ranger around the neighborhood, while I stayed home and passed out candy. It was a great night...and even GREATER that the kids decided to crash at 9:00 PM! I guess eating the candy while trick-or-treating for it can lead to a serious CRASH afterwards! I hope everyone else had a wonderful Halloween too!

Rachel's Halloween Program

Rachel was so cute at her Halloween Program today! She sang her little heart out and threw in a few poses along the way...including this one:

There was LOTS of fun things for the kids to do at the Carnival after their program, here is Rachel waiting so patiently in line for her turn!

Here we are at the cake walk....and Rachel jumping away....and sliding SUPER fast down the blow up slide....and last...eating pizza with her daddy! Thanks for such a fun time Rachel!

Pumpkin Carving

Tonight we had such a GREAT night being together as a family. We started out with a "special" Halloween dinner, which included soup in bread bowls that looked like pumpkins, green jello and apple juice. We then carved our BIG pumpkins and finished up with some WARM apple pie and ice cream. It is so much fun sharing memories and time with my kiddos...it is times like these that I will NEVER forget and will cherish ALWAYS! Here are a few more pictures of the pumpkin carving adventure...enjoy!

Crazy Hair Day

SERIOUSLY! EVERYONE needs a kid like Kory in their family! Today was "Crazy hair day" at his school and so this is the hairdo he picked! He was THRILLED when it was time to go to school just so that he could show all of his friends. I LOVE the fact that he is not afraid of being himself and just loves having fun with life! Way to go Kory...you are AWESOME and I love ya!!!!

Summer vacation is over for the boys...

The boys are officially BACK IN SCHOOL! What better way to start the school year, but with some new clothes, underwear, socks and shoes! Don't they look handsome???

Here we all are waiting for the bus to arrive....

Here's the bus! I must admit that I was a little sad seeing them leave. I tend to think that we have a LOVE/HATE relationship...we struggle when we are together at times, but when we are apart, we miss each other...or at least I HOPE they are missing me too! I can't wait until they come home and tell me ALL ABOUT their first day as a 2nd and 4th grader! (Wow, they are getting so old!)"Look at Mom, so I can see your cute little faces one last time before you leave!"

It really has been some time since I have blogged! WOW! I feel like we have been so super busy with enjoying our summer. We have been boating, four wheeling, bike riding, running, exercising...and you know, the usual summertime stuff. Just today, I was thinking...where did August go? I know we still have a week left of it, but I just can not believe that the kids go back to school in two days! (YIPPEE!!!!!)

We are all doing really great right now. Clint is busy with work and has been picking up some really great side jobs, which really has helped with getting the kids ready for school...with clothes, supplies, socks and undies (you know, the usual!). I have actually been busy myself! I of course am ALWAYS busy with the kids...especially trying to find my little escape artist (Rachel) at least once a week, but my work has also picked up this month...which is really great too! Brock is so ready for school to begin...he says that he isn't, but his attitude says otherwise! He has really taken interest the past couple of weeks in Clint's R/C trucks and has actually taken two trucks that were broken, combined them and made one AWESOME truck that actually runs! I can't believe how mechanically smart he already is...that DEFINITELY comes from Clint! Kory just lost one of his two front teeth and the other is not too far behind. He is ECSTATIC about school starting again...he really does LOVE school and can't wait to see all of his friends! Rachel...well, what can I say about her? A couple of weeks ago we had an episode where she cut her hair! Luckily, I was able to take her to my friend, which is a stylist and she was able to fix it and it looks SUPER cute now! She is still my little messy girl, always pulling EVERYTHING out of her closet so that she can change SEVERAL times every day. I am pretty sure she has OCD and it is something that she will hopefully grow out of.

So...I know that is a short plug into what we have all been doing, but it is late...and I just really wanted to do this blog so that you could all have something to look at other than me and Misty's birthday pics! he he. Oh...and I thought I would add some pictures from the past month. Sorry I don't have many...SOMEONE (eh hem, Rachel, eh hem) lost my camera's battery charger, so I have been without a camera...which is driving me NUTS! However...enjoy!

(Notice Tex snuggled up to Kory?) I have loved watching the kids become SO attached to my new little doggie! It seems that they are never anywhere without him! So cute!We really have enjoyed going boating this year! I LOVE doing things as a family and this has really made some great memories that I will always treasure!I just couldn't leave this one out! Here is my little Rachel...being creative with the scissors? I guess every girl has to have their turn with the them, I just hope this will be Rachel's last!

Happy Birthday!!!!!

Happy Birthday to my Beautiful Big Sis....Misty!!!!And....Thanks to all of my family for making my day special too! Kellie showed up this morning with some YUMMY (non-fat, lol) donuts for breakfast and my Mom & Sky came and decorated my front lawn for my B-day, so so sweet! I LOVE you guys!!!!!I have to say that yesterday I was in a total panic of not wanting the day to end...because it would mean that today I would be the big 3-0, however...I am doing great and think that 30 is gonna be okay! The fact that I have my sweet sweet hubby to wish me a very Happy Birthday this morning and all three of my kids saying "Happy Birthday Mommy" makes it all the better! (Now if my little doggie would show the same sweetness it would be that much better...for some reason he is defying me today and it is kind of cute! hehe)

**UPDATE**

I just HAD to add that my day really was SO wonderful...thanks to my WONDERFUL Mother, again! Not only did she spoil us all with lunch at Chili's restaurant, but added a bonus by taking us all to Costco and telling us to each fill a cart with groceries for our birthday presents...can you say "WOW!"? I had such a great time today with my Mom and Sisters and am now ready for bed....seriously, it is only 7:00 PM, but I am EXHAUSTED!!!!

The Newest Member of the Family....'Tex'

I always said that I would have my LAST child by the time I turned 30....well, my birthday IS on Wednesday...and so, here he is!!!!!!

Isn't he SOOOOOOOO cute???? And COMPLETELY pain-free! His name is 'Tex' and the kids LOVE him! He has the SWEETEST personality! He LOVES to snuggle and LOVES the kids and SERIOUSLY we have YET to hear the little guy bark! So many have told me that Yorkies are barkers...so maybe in time we will see some action, but for now we are just enjoying our VERY mild and loving little doggie! AWWWWWWWWW!

HOT summer day

Today was HOT!!!! And what better way to enjoy...than to get out the Bonzai slide, right? Even though the water was ice cold, the kids still had a great time! I thought it was pretty cute that they came up with the idea to take the tube down with them...how creative!

Oh, and let's not forget my little miss princess that felt that the water was too cold, so she decided to hang out on the swing instead and listen to her princess music on her MP3 player...what a cutie!

Scout Camp

I just had to post this photo of my BIG nine year old boy going to his very first Cub Scout Day Camp (lunch in right hand & money in left hand)! (Man, do I feel old?) He was such a trooper this morning, having to wake up at 6:00 AM and all...but I am sure he is having a blast and I can't wait until he gets back!

Just one of the boys!

Lately, Rachel has been noticing just how COOL her big brothers really are. She has been dressing up in their clothes and doing some of the manly things they do!

A couple of weeks ago, when it was pouring rain outside, the boys decided that they wanted to go out and jump into some water puddles. It occurred to me that I didn't know where Rachel was, so I went searching the house for my sneaky little girl. I happened to be in her room and looked out the window and much to my surprise was THREE little kids...all in *BOYS* swim shorts, no shirts....jumping in the puddles. Yes...two of them were Brock & Kory...and the third was Rachel! I couldn't help but giggle...after all she did look really cute, playing with her brothers! Here are some pictures that day, after they had jumped in the puddles (unfortunately I didn't get pictures of that because once I had my camera...they moved onto something else! Darn!). They had a GREAT time that day just playing in the rain, jumping in puddles and making water balloons! (Note: I made Rachel put her shirt back on for the photos!)

After playing outside, the kids were cold and so they changed into some warm clothes...this is what they all picked out for Rachel to wear! CUTE!

I am so glad that Rachel looks up to her older brothers and even more grateful that deep down inside she is STILL my little princess!

Happy Birthday Brock!

Today is Brock's #9 Birthday....WOW! (Does that make me old? sheesh!) Brock is definitely the MOST energetic kid I have EVER seen, but also the most tender one too! I love this little guy with all my heart and am grateful for the awesome little guy he is turning in to!