Enjoying the Season

It seems like forever since my last post. These last couple of weeks have been awesome. I love everything about Christmas. I love the excitement in our home at this time of year. I love teaching my kids about the true meaning of Christmas. This year was especially perfect with our little family project. It brought the spirit in our home and filled us with gratitude for all we have. My kids have great big hearts and I am so grateful for that. It seems that this year I feel truly blessed to have all my family home and healthy. We have enjoyed time playing new games and cuddled up watching movies. I am grateful for all these simple things. Even though our decorations are put away I hope that we can be giving all year long. I look forward to the new year and making goals...there are so many things to improve on, it is hard to choose what should go to the top of the list.
Here are three of the six pictures I took...I know should have taken more...but nobody would stay still and Jason always has the video camera going. I never even got one of Hailey!

Seymore Family Christmas Party

Every Year Jason's Uncle Craig and his wife Camille have a family Christmas party. We always love going. This year there was a very special visitor who came...

Here is the whole gang waiting for our super fun guest...except for Presley and Stetson. I have a picture with them but Stetson is looking down and Presley is screaming for her Mom. This is the best one we could get.



Brenden knows Santa's big secret but was willing to play along...He just looks so grown up.


I think that Hailey was a little nervous, she would not even tell him what she wanted.


Rylie was so EXCITED when Santa pulled her gift from his bag that she practically tackled him. She was just beaming with pure excitement.


Kenzie went last, and to be honest was afraid of Santa. Then when she saw everyone else go and that he had baggies full of goodies, she gave it a try. Then we could not get her down...she was just gonna sit there and enjoy.

Sleeping Princess and Gingerbread houses

Kenzie has not been feeling well and she got to stay up and watch some TV with Me and Jason...she did not make it too long. I just love this picture...



This week for family night we built some gingerbread houses. Rylie loved every second of it..she kept saying this is Fantastic. Kenzie ate more than she put on, and Hailey thought she needed more frosting. Brenden was not that thrilled with whole thing, it just was not worth the effort. But, all and all it was fun to watch them.




Most of the time if Kenzie is not in a swimsuit she is in her panties.She changes countless times a day, but it never seems to be into anything that covers her up. So if you stop by beware, she even answers the door like that.

Crazy Busy Week = long PoST

Last week for FHE we went to Dustin and Lindsey's. It was a lot of fun and the kids loved making some Smores..

Lindsey and the girls..they absolutely adore her.

Brenden with Griffin

Hailey, Kenzie, Molly and Rex...


Thanksgiving
We love to go to Prescott to Jason's Uncle Brian's house for Thanksgiving. It was really cold this year...which made the 4 wheeler rides freezing. Brian and Dustin were troopers and still took the kids. They love the horses and chickens(which had real eggs)...according to Rylie. Brenden was where the dogs were which is pretty normal. He is always saying if I am not going to give him a brother I should at least buy him a dog. Maybe someday...



Heber Trip
After Thanksgiving I drove to Heber with the kids. Jason had to work and STUDY so he could not come. We hated being there without him...but we still had a blast. We went bowling and enjoyed the company of Papa and Grandma. Some other highlights were..riding the 4 wheeler(it was freezing), actually needing a fire, hot chocolate in the mornings, seeing Tiffany and her family and of course Dairy Queen. Thanks to Grandma and Papa for everything.

Hailey must feel like some kinda Gangster in that hat....



Birthday Cake????

Tonight at dinner we were talking about the real meaning of Christmas and I am explaining to Rylie that we want to celebrate the birth of Christ. And our conversation went like this...
Rylie...Is it Jesus's birthday??
Me...Yep..
Rylie...Can we make him a cake?
Me...I think that is a great idea.
Jason comes home from school and she tells him we are going to make Jesus a cake and he is going to come over to eat it with us.
Jason...Rylie, do you know where Jesus lives?
Rylie...Yes, he lives at the temple, so he can come over for cake. I am so excited cause I miss him so much.
Jason...Jesus lives in heaven and he can't just come here for cake.
Me..I am sure he will like it if we make him a cake and eat it all together.
Rylie..But I want him to come over for cake!...she stormed off to her room, mad..of course.

Fun with Grammy and Grampy

We were lucky to go to an early Thanksgiving dinner with Grammy and Grampy this year. The kids love going over there and playing with their cousins. Tera and Aaron, Ashley and Forrest and Lindsey were there. It was so great to see them all and catch up. I spent so much time at thier home growing up and I love to go there whenever I can. I was sad that Jerry was out of town...cause I really wanted to see her and her sweet baby girl. This family has always been so good to me and I have so much love and respect for all of them. It was great to see Tera...and her kids. They have grown so much...and are so cute.

All the kids playing with sparklers, and of course Hailey and Kennedy giving their best pose...




Kenzie used almost all of the sprinkles...by the time she was done her whole plate was covered. I love the chocolate up Wyatt's nose...such a boy.

Brenden and Rylie decorating cookies....

Stole this from my friend Emily

I am going to send Christmas cards out this year even if they are less than perfect. My friend Emily posted on how hard it is to get good pictures of her kids. So I thought if I posted a few of the ones we took this year...it will make our cards look better. And everyone would appreciate how hard it was to get that less then perfect picture!


And here is the best one that we got>>>> even is Rylie's headband is falling off!

Rylie's Dance Recital

I love this picture. Grandma and Papa love getting all my girls flowers. Rylie picked these out all by herself and she now has them in her room. A great big thanks to Grandma and Nan for driving all the way here to watch a 3 minute performance. Everyone knows that Rylie and Grandma Patti are like two peas in a pod, so it meant the world to her. I was a little worried that she might get stage fright(since that morning she swore she was not going and she would not get on that stage), but she did great. We were so proud of her. Once again I amazed at how fast my kids are growing, it just seems unfair, why can't they stay little just a while longer???

Rylie giving her very best pose...she just cracks me up!

Some really cute spectators!


Rylie with her friends Siera and Anna...good job girls!

This is why we call her Mess!

Yesterday I could not find Kenzie, that means it could be two things....either she is into something or SHE IS INTO SOMETHING! This time it was my lipstick AGAIN. It does not matter where I hide it she can find it.


Tonight while everyone else was playing Rock Band Kenzie and Rylie were playing dress up. You have to LOVE this wig....

This is almost 2 years ago...Same wig!

And she is not the only one who thinks it is funny!!!! This is an old picture..Brenden would die if he knew I put this one here, he is just too cool for that now.

The really scary thing about this wig is I truly have no idea where is came from.

SpOOky FuN!!!

We had a great Halloween. We went to the Herberts and ate some yummy homemade soup and other goodies. We passed out candy there and walked around the neighborhood. The kids loved the haunted house..(thanks Fisher Family). Rylie went in all by herself and I thought for sure she would come out scared to death..but she was all grins. What a big girl! Kenzie loved the whole process, especially getting to ride with Saydie in the stroller and having Mike push her around. I was glad when she figured out that she did not have to eat her candy right away, but she would not let anyone help her with her bag. Brenden did not stay in his costume long...playing football was way more important. All and all it was a fun night...so THANKS to the Herberts for inviting us over.



Rylie is a Barbie Kitty Witch, Kenzie is a ladybug, Hailey is SuperGirl, and Brenden is a Werewolf.

Please pray for baby BREE!

Some friends in our ward, Justin and Kari Cook, have a 7 month old baby girl, Bree, who was just diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. When I heard this my heart was filled with sadness for them. I cannot imagine what they must be feeling. This baby is so sweet and she is always happy. If you want to see some pictures of her you can click on Justin and Kari's name under my friends list. Our ward had a fast for her and they do have some good news...it is in the intermediate stages. This is treatable and she is starting chemotherapy today. Please keep this sweet family and their precious baby girl in your prayers. I believe with all my heart that our Heavenly Father is mindful of these parents and that Bree will be surrounded by his constant love.

What a week!!!

Last Thursday me and my gal pals from college went to dinner at Olive Garden. It was a blast as usual. My friend Zan is moving to Sacramento the end of this month, so it was like a see ya later dinner. Which was really sad. I love these girls. I wish that Tera lived here so she could go too. I do love that even though it has been 10 years(yah I know I am SO old)....every time we get together it is like we are still kickin it in our little pink house. Crazy how time flys! We are planning a trip to see her next May...a little road trip like the good old days(mexico). I am so excited. I have never left my family to do something like this...but I know it will be worth it, And I could use the break. Plus four of us turn 30..all about the same time..so we are gonna celebrate with lots of laughter(thanks to Marie) and lots of fun!

Emily(with Kensly), Zan, Marie, Me and Alene

Then we moved this past weekend! My Dad came to help, and then Jason and I got to take him to dinner. Thanks to Dustin for watching the kids....And a big thanks to my Dad. Then Sunday Jason and Dustin had to go to Tucson to get our of our appliances.

Then Tuesday we were getting ready for Brenden's game and he says "Mom I don't think that I can catch cause I hurt my wrist at school playing football"...he has been home for hours and I am just noticing that his wrist is swollen...great mom I know. Anyways he decided to play and told me that he thought that he just jammed it. It bothered him all game but he did have one heck of a hit. Then the next morning he was complaining that it was really hurting so I taped it up for him. By 10am the school was calling saying he needed to come home. I took him to see the doctor, who thought for sure it was broke! We went to get xrays....no fracture! Just a really good sprain. So, no baseball or anything active for at least one week. Here is the proof!





Now this morning he is home with PINK EYE...does it ever stop???


Also, wanted to thank my friend Nicole...she took my girls to dance and let them play for a while at her house and brought me lunch. It was great to stop cleaning, unpacking and getting everything organized for a little while.

And...my Mom has been here helping me clean my old house, thank goodness for her. So Thanks MOM!

MEXICO!!!

So we are home safe and sound from our trip to Rocky point. We had a blast. The weather was kinda crazy(everything thing from really hot, to really cold, to super windy), but the water was great and we enjoyed all our family. Jason, and the kids and I stayed in one house with Pappa Ray, Grandma Patti, Nan, Dustin and Lindsey. Next door to us was Jason's Uncle Steve and his family. We took over 300 pictures so I tried to pick the best ones...so hard to choose though.

Brenden waiting to eat at Flavio's..a family tradition to eat here.. I swear I hardly saw this kid in Mexico. He was with Randy, Nate and Stephen all of the time.


Here is Hailey waiting for a BIG WaVe to come...on most days in Rocky Point the water is calm and snorkling is great..but this year we had waves taller than 6ft.


Rylie with her favorite person in the whole wide world, Grandma Patti. AND Yes she picked out those pink goggles all by herself.


Kenzie looking so COOL in her glasses that Grandma bought her....


Some of our favorite things to do here..ride the banana boat(this time it was a whale), and dig for sand dollars.




Yes, Hailey is crying...she was scared but was the first one to ask to go again. Both Kenzie and Rylie cried....they did not like it like everyone else. Lindsey and I are in the boat taking pictures and video.

Hailey showing off one of the many sand dollars she found.


Brenden and Jason spending time together late at night...and Brenden loving every second he gets to stay up.


Here are Pappa and Dustin...I call them twinners because I have never met two people more alike.


Jason having fun relaxing(no school, yipee) with Kenzie.


Hailey and Rylie with Pappa and Grandma, and Lindsey walking down from the house in the backround.


Me holding my very tired baby girl...and yep I am going on like three days without any makeup(Sorry)...


Nan and Kenzie in their PJ's...of course Nan's hair is perfect and Kenzie's well...it's a mess like usual!


Dustin and Lindsey...aren't they so SwEEt.


So one night we decided to have a family campout on the back porch. Jason and Dustin moved the matress from our bed outside and Brenden, Rylie, and Hailey are sleeping on the outside chairs. It was beautiful. You could hear the ocean and the stars were amazing...UNTIL we got woke up getting slammed with sand and wind. We had to move everything back inside. Dustin helped and he stayed up for a little while and saw this huge storm out on the ocean. He said it looked like a huge ball of lightening over the water. A piece of hurricane Norbert??? Maybe, but Grandma Patti definitily thought we were doomed. The house sounded like it was gonna come crashing down. The kids slept right through it...when we tried to get Brenden inside he came in and we found him on the kitchen floor like THIS::::





All said and done we had a great time. I love watching the kids on the beach...there is just something magical about it. I want to post some pictures of last year with this year...I can't believe how much my kids have grown. Those to come...sometime!