Getting Older

So I recently turned another year older and it seriously hit me that I needed to be a responsible mom and my first priority should be my family. Now this is strange because that is me and has been me for that last six years. I love to play and party with family and friends and would love to have my children stay home from school and play with me all day on birthdays and holidays. However I had this feeling that I shouldn't do that anymore and that it should now become just another day to run kids to school, dance, mutual and everything else. I talked to Scott about it and he says that its fine and that I can continue to do it the way I have. It feels so weird to continue to get older, at least for me, when I have six children ranging from ages 3-15. I love to watch them do things and get older, and other times I want to freeze them right where they are and keep them at that age. So inevitably if they grow up I guess so must I. However I will never want to stop playing with family and friends, and will continue to think that birthdays are another party day where you don't have to do any work and can play from sun up to sun down. I will teach this to my children and hopefully they can have great childhood memories like I did. And so here is to so many more birthdays to come and to have many more parties and yes, to get another year older every year! Bring it on!!!

Up and down and up and down

We have gone sledding three times this year and plan on going every weekend!!! Boston and Ty hate to leave and are so independent that they carry their own sled up the hill and then slide down on their own. They don't want any help either. These are pictures of New Years Eve. Ty also loves his picture taken. This is him waiting to go down and Boston pushing himself to go down the hill. McKentri and Grandma go down together a lot. McKentri is a little more reserved where as Boston and Ty have no fear.
This is Kylie snowboarding down the hill. I think that its an awesome picture of her with the sky and all.
After sledding we went to my mom's and pulled people on sleds and snowboards behind the four wheelers (thanks to Ben my dad's friend) This is Kylie being pulled by Sterling. She biffed it a lot. Later Colette and I were pulling Brigham on a snowboard and hit sheer powder. We were of course in the middle of a turn and therefore we rolled. We flew about 15-20 feet and landed no where near the four wheeler. I have a really bad whiplash but thankfully to my brother Nathan was wearing a helmet. Colette says her back hurts but isn't sure if its from that or sledding down Happy Hollow. (very steep hills that our family loves) After all this our family can't wait until the next trip!!!

CHRISTMAS PARTY'S

For Christmas this year I wanted our family to do homemade gifts and it turned into such a success!!! I let them all pick what they wanted to make and they did it basically all by themselves (except the little ones!) Dallin made Katelynn a purse and it was way cute! McKentri made Aaliyah a pair of pajamas and a matching pair for her doll. The were Care Bear pj's and we have been told that Aaliyah put them on her Care Bear.
Kylie made Sahara a stuffed dog. It is Hot pink and made of fleece. She did awesome. Kylie said that if it becomes Sahara's favorite she would feel way special.
Scott and I had Jim and Shanon. We unfortunately were not able to make our gift, but hopefully Jim and Shanon enjoyed the pajamas and dvd player!
Boston had Avery and got her a leap doll that speaks in spanish and english. We had to stop making gifts because we had to move up the party for some family members who were going out of town. The party was a huge success!!! Josh mad Hayze a spear out of wood at my Dad's garage and Ty made Kimball a treasure map for the boy who says he's a pirate.
On my Mom's side of the family we all love Christmas and love to give gifts to those we love. Its a big tradition to take a picture of those who are giving and recieving hugging. We have a picture of every gift exchange and as much as our family grows and changes that is one thing that stays the same. I love all my family and think that my Grandma has done an amazing job with the children she has raised and the ability to keep our family so close together. Thank you Grandma and Merry Christmas!!!