Welcome 2008!

Wow...here we are already into a new year. 2007 went quickly and unfortunately it wasn't the best year for us as far as automobiles go. It seemed like everything came down at once which cost us lots of $$$. However, we just have to keep reminding ourselves that it could've been much worse. We are looking forward to a new year and some exciting things going on. My New Year's resolution is the same it's always been and maybe this year I will be able to feel like I've accomplished it. That is PATIENCE with my kids and treating them better.

I hope everybody has a great 2008 and best of luck with all of your resolutions!


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*whew*

Well, it has now been a couple of days since the chaos of Christmas Day. I'm relieved and sad at the same time. I hate to see it come to an end because I love the season so much yet, it's nice to have it over and done with.

The kids were all so excited and had a great Christmas. Santa definitely came and even left a special family gift with a very nice letter for the kids. Actually the gift was addressed to the kids but Chet and I have been having fun with it too. It was the Dance Dance Revolution game and pads for the PS2. FUN GAME! It's nice because you get a good work out with it too.

Anyway, for those of you who were not and are not able to see what the kids got I thought I'd post some pictures of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. I only wish that their piles still looked as neat as they did when Santa left them! My least favorite thing about Christmas is the mess and clutter...Ugh! We hope everybody had a wonderful Christmas!

Makayla reading a "I Believe in Santa Claus" on Christmas Eve.

Kylee read a story about the Christmas symbols.

Christmas Eve after opening new jammy's

Talon's pile from Santa.

Hunter's pile.

Christmas morning almost down the stairs to see what Santa brought!

Chet and Kylee playing DDR.

Future COWBOYS!!!

Christmas morning!

Kylee's pile.

Makayla's pile.

I failed to mention what Chet and I got each other. He went over board as usual and got me my Cricut machine for scrapbooking...so awesome! And a bottle of my new favorite perfume "Juicy Courture", some furry boots (remember I mentioned a had a boot fetish?) the movie"Hairspray"and some clothes. I got him a book he wanted by Nikki Sixx, Guitar Hero 3, an air pistol, some clothes and shoes as well as some cologne. It was a great Christmas for all!

Myspace Christmas Graphics


Myspace Christmas Graphics

Hot Chocolate Anyone?

*Whew*...can I just tell you how happy I am to be done with the whole Christmas shopping scene! Chet and I finished up yesterday so that we wouldn't be out in the craziness this weekend. It's been nice to relax and not stress about the last few days before Christmas. It's also been so nice to not have to work retail (or at all) this Christmas Season. I have really enjoyed the extra time with my family this year and do not miss the extra stress that comes with working retail at Christmas time.We decided to kick off the weekend with some sledding with Cody and his kids and his cute girlfriend, Jessica, and her kids! Now if you want some great, steep hills go to the Riverbend park in Riverton. The hills are great! Although, it is quite the work out climbing back up those steep hills...dragging along sleds and little ones to boot. The kids had a riot and didn't seem to mind the climb as much as us old fogies! It was definitely bitter cold but after hiking up those hills a few times it makes you work up a sweat for sure. My poor little kids have grown out of their snow boots so we had to improvise a little...okay, A LOT! Makayla had to make due with red duct tape holding the sole of her boot to the rest of it and Talon, poor guy, had to wear his sister's old black boots. They had stars all over the top of them but, mind you, there was no way they were seen because his snow suit covered them up nicely. When he found out he had to wear Kylee's old ones the first thing out of his mouth was, "Aaww, Uncle Cody's going to see them!". I reassured him that nobody would ever know. He just said, "Pleeeaaase don't tell Uncle Cody!"...haha poor kid had the look of fear on his face knowing the ruthless teasing that would come if his Uncle Cody found out he was wearing girl's boots! Luckily, Cody didn't even notice. Time to go snow boot shopping!!! If anybody finds any good sales on them please let me know.

Jessica, Brock and Jade
(Cody and I went to school with Jessica and she is the cutest, sweetest person you'll ever know! We're so happy to see him with her.)

Half & Half

I just have to laugh at the funny things Hunter comes up with. The mind of a child is quite entertaining. He hates being called a baby but knows he's not quite a "big kid" yet. So, he has come up with his own little version of what a toddler is. He will always let you know or correct you if you call him otherwise that he is "half baby and half kid"! I can't think of a better description for his age group than that right there. Way to think Hunter!

Christmas Tag

Here is a fun Christmas tag/survey!

1. Wrapping paper or gift bag? Wrapping...it's too hard to feel the shape of the present and try to guess what it is when it's in a gift bag!

2. Real tree or artificial? I like the smell and the tradition of real...but convenience wise...artificial all the way!

3. When do you put the tree up? Usually the weekend after Thanksgiving. (If I have my way!)

4. When do you take the tree down? Week of New Years.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes, especially homemade.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? My giant, brown teddy bear named...surprise, "Teddy"! He was my best friend for many, many years.

7. Do you have a Nativity scene? yes...several

8. Hardest person to buy for? My parents (in-laws included)

9. Easiest person to buy for? My kiddo's

10. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? Nothing stands out.

11. Mail or e-mail Christmas cards? Mail

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? All the classics from when I was little and watched them on tv (Rudolph, Santa Claus is coming to town, Charlie Brown Christmas et newer ones like Christmas Vacation, A Christmas Story and Polar Express

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? When I have money!

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? Possibly, but nothing major, maybe just neighbor/ Christmas Pixie gifts. (ditto)

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas. Homemade candy and treats.

16 Clear lights or colored on the tree? Clear

17. Favorite Christmas song? Josh Groben and Celine Dion's "O Holy Night", "Believe", "When Christmas Comes to Town" mostly. hmmm...I really love them all b/c I love Christmas....especially the ones that remind me of when I was a little kid.

18 Travel at Christmas or stay home? Staying home (except for the little rounds to see what everybody got).

19. Can you name all of Santa's reindeer? Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donder, Blitzen , but do you recall the most famous reindeer of all Rudolph (This question was easy...somebody already answered it.)

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A PRETTY star, (Don't ask Chet this question!)Our first Christmas together we were very poor so our tree was not the most beautifully decorated tree by any means. We bought this hideous, because it was cheap, gold tinsel star. He insists on putting it up every year and I would throw it away if it weren't the fact that it was our first star and has some sentimental value to it. Although, I'd be much happier if stayed in a box or cedar chest instead of on top of my tree!

21. Open the presents on Christmas Eve or Christmas? Christmas day, but we do my side and the traditional pj's on Christmas Eve.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year. CROWDS in every store and not being able to find a parking spot!

Tis the season!

Wow...it's been a while since I posted last. Such is the craziness of the Holidays. I decided to try and do some shopping last Saturday...BAD idea! It was so crazy. Not only were the stores packed but so were the parking lots and roads. I went to the shops in Jordan Landing and it took me 30 min. to get from the Old Navy parking lot out to 7200 S. so I could go down and get onto Bangeter. Yikes!

We've had a couple of Christmas parties. We had one on the Diamse side (my mom's) and had lots of fun. Of course our fun includes lots of karaoke and dancing in the living room to the likes of Justin Timberlake...haha. If you want to watch some good entertainment just go to a Filipino party!

We also had our traditional Fullmer Family talent show and caroling. The kids look forward to it every year, so do Chet and I for that matter. What great memories traditions like these leave with us forever. How blessed we are to have such great family and friends. To have opportunities to celebrate the Holidays with each other.

As far as the talent show, Kylee played "Believe" from the Polar Express and a little made up number she came up with on the piano. Talon and Makayla sang "Silent Night", Tal in Spanish first and then Makayla in English while Chet played it on the guitar. Afterwards, Chet played his guitar and SANG to us some Kenny Rogers, a song he so lovingly dedicated to me from G-N-R (Guns n Roses) and a little bit of Motley Crue. He's doing great on his guitar and has learned lots since taking lessons for a year. As far as our family news goes... Kylee auditioned for her 6th grade school musical "Seussical" and made it as a jungle animal in the cast. Also, there is a very good chance that Chet's work will be sending him back to Johannesburg, South Africa to work on a client there. He's been wanting to go back so bad since his mission there. What's even better is it will be all expense paid so that's GREAT! Justi wish I could go with him. Well...until next update... I wish you all good luck in finishing up your Christmas shopping and Holiday plans!

Winter Wonderland!

We had our first BIG snowfall on Sat. It started early in the morning and didn't stop until that evening. It was BEAUTIFUL outside! It's the image I dream of waking up to every Christmas morning. A soft blanket of white covered everything. You just have to appreciate the beauty that comes with the different seasons. My favorite thing about this kind of snowfall are the trees! How beautiful they all look as each branch and limp catch the falling snow. Each tree having it's own unique look just like the snowflakes that settle on them. It really is breathtaking....for me, anyway!

Poor Chet didn't have the plow on the lawn mower yet so he went out about 9:30am and I didn't see him until probably 5:00 that evening. He struggled with the battery, had to replace it, then couldn't get the plow on, a set of tire chains wasn't cooperating for him and then the tire fell of the rim all together at onetime as he was plowing our driveway as well as the neighbors. Poor guy was so sick by the time he came in. He wasn't feeling well before but this sure did him in.

I know most of you live here in Utah so this is mainly for those of you who don't and maybe live somewhere nice and warm, let say....oh, Southern California for example !!! The nice thing about being snowed in for a while (while Chet was working on our plow and driveway) was being able to start my new book, "Twilight" by Stephanie Meyer. I honestly could not put it down I was so obsessed! I strongly recommend it for anybody who likes to read and wants a good book. It's a very unique love story...and about vampires! (the good and bad kind) Try it out!

Ready....Aim....

FIRE!!!

Just to give you an idea by my railing and picnic table in the background just how fast it was coming down and sticking.

"Our Christmas Wish!"

Last Thursday Talon had his First Grade Christmas Program. They sang lots of songs and each class got up on the stage and did their own little song, poem or "something". Talon's teacher is teaching them Spanish and had the all tell individually what Christmas means to them first in English and then in Spanish.

Some of the kids said things like "presents", "building snowmen" but I was pleasantly surprised to hear most of them say something like "The birth of baby Jesus," "Jesus' birth" etc. I was actually shocked at first and Chet leaned over and said, "Can they say that?". It really got me thinking about how sad it is that we have to worry about stuff like that. How we are having issues with prayer and religion in schools. (and everywhere!) Even the saying "under God" in the pledge and "In God We Trust" on our currency is causing talk about needing to be removed.

Store vendors and being told to say "Happy Holidays" to their customers instead of "Merry Christmas"... I have decided I am so tired of being politically correct! Isn't that what has made America so beautiful is FREEDOM?! And freedom of SPEACH and religion. Yet, it seems that we are having to compromise our Christian beliefs and what we say to accommodate all of those who have immigrated here and don't believe in God and/or the people who just choose not to believe and take offense. *sigh* (Now that I've vented some)

I was just so grateful to those cute little First graders who said what Christmas means to them. It warmed my heart to hear those words come from their sweet little hearts and in a school program no less! How sweet little children are and if only we could keep that same sweet innocence as we grow into adults the world would be a much better place! The theme of their First grade program was "Our Christmas Wish" well, my Christmas wish would have to be...
May our hearts be as little children and may we have "Peace on Earth".

Merry Christmas!

Talon has such a funny little smile!