Christmas 2011

I am finally getting around to posting what the kids got for Christmas. It was a nice Christmas although very different. Our hearts were sad as we celebrated without some key members of our family this year. They were in our thoughts but most certainly missed.

This is Hunter's

Cashy's

Makayla's

Kylee's

Talon's

The family got a PS3 with lots of games and some extra controllers. The Christmas break was fun playing with the games and getting our groove on with the dance ones.... well, watching Chet get his groove on anyway! :)

May Your Christmas Be...

I am normally not a Christmas letter writer. However, there have been so many big things that have happened this year I debated on whether or not I should write one to send with our Christmas Cards this year.

I know there are some people who do not like the long Christmas letter thing & those who do. So, I decided that instead of sending one out to everyone with our cards this year, I would save a tree and do a Christmas e-letter.

This year has been a roller coaster of events, both good and bad. Some of the good...

We had some BIG birthdays in our family this year!

Chet turned the big 4-0. We had a wonderful time surprising him with a big party with lots of good food and treats. I don't know that he will say that turning 40 was a good thing but it sure was a BIG thing!

Kylee turned Sweet 16 in August and has enjoyed the dating scene so far. She has passed her driving test and is working on getting her hours so she can get her license. I am VERY scared at this thought and would just like to send a warning out.... If you see a red Ford Escort with boxing gloves dangling from the mirror, stay clear of it if you do not want to die! haha. Another tid bit on Kylee that was exciting is she made the JV Cheer team at BHS last spring! She loves cheer and is working hard hoping to achieve her goal of making the Varsity team next year.

Our sweet Makayla turned 13 in September and is enjoying her 7th grade year at Middle School. She has two honors classes (English & Math) and was still able to achieve a 4.0 the first quarter! She loves dance and is growing into a beautiful young lady!

Talon turned 10 (double digits!) and is enjoying the guitar, football and basketball. He had the opportunity to have his dad coach him in football on the A team and they had a fun season! They made it to playoffs but lost in the first round. He has improved so much in his skills and put his whole heart into every game. I could not have been more proud of him!

Hunter did not have a huge birthday...that will come in the next few months...but he is 7 and is enjoying being a little boy! He is all jokes and has his dads teasing personality. He is a pretty fun kid to have around.

Our little Cashy is now two and makes us laugh daily! The cute things he says and does make the tantrums and hard days worth it! I am so glad that we decided to have another baby. It was not something we were really excited about at first. In fact, it took a miscarriage to help us realize how much we did want one. Honestly, I cannot imagine what our family would be like without him.

As for myself I am working hard trying to figure out how to balance life as a wife, mom, Primary President, room mom, etc...etc... (nothing to exciting!)

Last May we took the kids (except for Cash) on a fun 7 day Mexican Riviera cruise. It was the funnest family vacation we have ever taken and we are all still looking back on it with fond memories! It sucked our savings dry, but it was worth every penny. I am SO happy we were able to do something like that with the kids!!!

We have also experienced some trials this year. We lost Chet's dear Sister, Tammy, in March. It has been very hard and we miss her a lot, especially this time of year. We have also seen those we care about struggle with trials, which have affected our lives as well. I try to remain faithful through it all and I do realize that with these trials have come blessings. I do feel so blessed to have the family and support that we have. We lean on each other, we strengthen each other and we grow together. We will certainly miss those who cannot be here to celebrate Christmas with us. Whether it is because they are across the miles, on the other side of the veil or for other reasons. They are in our hearts always and their void will be felt. This also goes for the wonderful friends in our lives who have showed us how much they care through these difficult times. We love and appreciate you all!!! May The Lord bless all of you and your families this Christmas Season and this coming New Year.

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY 2012!!!

A First for Everything

I knew this day would come, I just didn't realize how fast. I feel like the last 16 years has gone by in a blink...my first born, my first baby girl, has gone on her first date.

Kylee went to her first dance on Saturday, November 12th. Bingham Ball. The poor girl had some struggles at first finding a date. She asked a friend of hers on the night after Homecoming. Mind you, Homecoming was back in September...TWO months before Bingham Ball. Well, apparently another girl beat her to it. So, within the same week she asked another boy. Again, another girl beat her to it by 2 hours! She was sad and discouraged. Finally she found another boy to ask and he said "YES!".



Now, let me back up and tell you about the dress. What a steal I got on this one! Kylee and I were at the mall back in June and I had heard that Macey's has good sales on dresses after season. So, we decided to take a look. When we saw this on the hanger I noticed the tag was marked $170 and beneath that was the sale price.....drum roll please..... $15!!!! She wasn't impressed with the color or the style but I told her that for $15 she was trying it on! Once she did, we both fell in love with it. She already had the shrug from last Christmas so we decided to try it with the dress when we got home. There you have it! She looks gorgeous doesn't she? I, personally, think the shrug completely made the dress.

Now, to the day of the dance. Every mother looks forward to these things, I think. I know I did. I was so excited to be able to help her get ready for her first dance & her first date. So, when the time came...as I was running around getting her boutonniere, washing my car to pick up her date in etc. I talked to her on the phone and told her I would be home soon to help her. However, she made it very clear that she did not want or need my help. I was heartbroken. I cried. Anyway, avoiding the drama and arguments that followed, I will just say that it was not what I had always hoped it would be like. She is my first daughter, this was her first dance & first date and I feel like she took that from me. I felt very unappreciated b/c of everything I had done to make sure she had what she needed, running myself all over, let alone buying her dress, her shoes, her jewelry... I even took all of the pictures so they all could save $50 and not have to buy them at the dance. You get the idea.

My sweet little Makayla. Oh, I don't know what I would do without that girl. After Kylee left for her dance Makayla came into my room and sat on the bed with me. She told me how pretty she thought Ky looked and then she leaned her head on my shoulder and said, "When I go to my first dance you can do my hair and makeup." Okay, let the tears begin. She is my angel.

I don't know how dad handled it... he didn't say much, but I could tell he was beaming with pride when he saw her. He definitely is her biggest fan.



Family came over to see how pretty she looked and to wish her luck! I love how supportive our family is! I cannot express how much I love them all.



We picked up her date, who was so kind to her, and met the rest of the group at her friend's house and took pictures. Then they went to Temppanyaki for dinner and the dance was held downtown by the Gateway.





Here are just a few more fun pictures of her in her dress and with her date.










*sigh* my baby girl is all growed up!

A Few of My Favorite Things

It has been so long since I have blogged. I have so much to catch up on and it becomes overwhelming when I think of everything I want to post, all that has been happening, some of my feelings and then...I just don't do it because it IS so overwhelming.

SO, I am just going to take a minute and document some of my favorite things of each of my kids.

They are growing up so fast and changing so much and my memory is getting worse and worse. I don't want to forget these little things that I have come to hold so dear to my heart.

I am going in reverse order here and starting from youngest to oldest.

My favorite things about Cash Don @ 2 years:



~ Our morning routine of bringing him into my room with his chocolate milk and "nuggling" in my bed while he watches his favorite shows: Bubble Guppies, Team Umizoomie, Dora, Diego and Spongebob. (I try to limit them to educational ones)

~ The way he pronounces Hunter's name "Toto" and sometimes "Toto Jay" & Kayla's "Ka wah"

~ Hearing him sing and dance to his favorite songs, "We Will Rock You" & "YMCA"

~ The way he ALWAYS refers to himself in the third person. "Get me my Cashy's deedee (blanket)", "Dat Cashy's (whatever)" etc.

~ He knows his letters A-Z on sight recognition, numbers 1-10, colors and shapes and will always quiz me on them. "mom, what color is dat?, what letter is dat?....when you give him the right answer he says, "Yeah! Dat yellow" etc. just so happy that you got it right!

~ He calls me "Kim" when he's not getting my attention by calling me "Mom". Not that I like it when he calls me "Kim", I just think it's really funny that he figured it out...especially when I didn't know he even knew my name.


~ Watching him use his imagination and play with cars, trains and airplanes using sounds and motions. His imagination is expanding and it is so fun to watch him play!
~ He thinks he is one of the kids and will follow his brother's around everywhere doing what they do. Especially if it involves video games. The two older boys will be laying on the floor or beds playing their DS's and Cash will be right along with them playing Hunter's old Gameboy. SO CUTE!

~ His cute little high voice and the way he talks...as well as his giggles.

~ The way he loves to see churches and Temples and points them out continually. He also likes rainbows or things shaped like them.

~ His beautiful brown eyes! He can pretty much get what he wants just by looking at me with those babies!

My favorite things about Hunter Jay @ 7yrs:



~ The way he always loves to snuggle with me and will even ask to do so on many occasions. (Uh, does he even need to ask?)

~ The way he is such a good big brother to Cash. He will play with him, take him downstairs to play with him, help get him things he wants or needs, reads him stories...just AWESOME with him!

~ Watching the smile on his face appear when he is playing baseball and hits the ball!

~ His funny sense of humor! He really is a funny kid and is such a boy in the way he thinks and the things he does and says.

~ His giggle when he thinks he has done something funny, or when someone else has done something funny.

~ Playing "Bingo" with yellow cars on the road as we drive. (because of this game, Cash will randomly shout out "BINGO" when in the car. so cute!)

~ His speech impediment. He has trouble pronouncing his "R's" and I know it won't be cute when he's older, but it sure is cute now and I hate to have to correct it.

~ His sweet little heart and willingness to do anything I ask him...even if it's tickling my feet.

~ When he kisses me out of the blue and tells me he loves me! (which is often)

~ The fact that even though he is little in stature, he can hold his own and is pretty aggressive!

~ He is always begging to wrestle with his dad.

~ JUST HIM!!! He is such a sweet, good little boy and I have always had such a strong bond with him from the minute he was placed in my arms as a newborn baby.

My Favorite things about Talon Chet @ 10 yrs





~ His super cute freckles!

~ Listening to him play his guitar and getting better and better at it.

~ Watching him improve in football.

~ His cute smile when you compliment him on something. He gets kind of shy and will just flash his big smile and say thank you.

~ The way he races to open the door for me before we enter/exit a building.

~ His huge heart and willingness to do anything to make you happy. He is such a sweet boy and such a good kid.

~ Watching him hang with his dad watching concerts and getting into the same music his dad likes.

~ Hearing him talk sports with his dad, cousin and friends!!! I seriously love having little boys. They are so different than girls and I find myself continually intrigued by the things they say & do.

~ The way he makes sure his hair is perfect before going to school. He is quite the ladies man! :)

~ His sick sense of humor and the way he finds humor in other people getting hurt! (strange kid)

~ Also his big brown eyes and long eyelashes!

Makayla "Sue" @ 13 yrs




~ Her sweet, SWEET spirit!

~ Her desire to continually do what's right!

~ Her "motherly" personality. She takes care of her younger brothers so well, especially Cash. Continually taking care of him, getting him things and helping him even if I am around. All without being asked.

~ Her beautiful smile and the way her eyes sparkle when she does.

~ She will do nice things for me without being asked: Making cookies, doing the dishes, getting Cash dressed for me, mopping the floor... etc!

~ Her long, thick and beautiful hair.

~ She is very selfless. Often sacrificing things she wants to do or things she wants so that you can do or have what you want.

~ Watching her dance.

~ Her ability to save money... the girl has almost $300!!!

~ Her DIMPLES!!! She is my only child that really has any type of dimples at all. They are something I love and especially wanted my kids to have since their dad has AWESOME dimples!

~ The way she takes pride in her grades. It is very important to her to get good grades and she strives for those straight A's!

~ She is just a girly girl and has always loved "girly" things!

~ I really could go on and on about her...What can I say, everything about her is my favorite... she is just a sweet and special girl!

My Favorite things about Kylee "Fu" @ 16 yrs:





~ Her beautiful, big brown eyes and LONG eyelashes!

~ Watching chick flicks on my bed just she and I or going to movies that Chet doesn't want to go see with me. It's nice having somebody to hang out with and glad she doesn't mind doing things with me.

~ Her funny personality and sense of humor. She keeps things fun and interesting.

~ The way she confides in me with things going on with friends and boys.

~ Our discussions about boys she likes or boys who like her.

~ Our drives alone in the car when we talk about whatever!

~ Jamming out to the radio in the car when we're going somewhere, singing at the top of our lungs and dancing (as much as one can while sitting in a car). Sometimes I would love to know what the people in the cars next to us are thinking!

~ Watching her cheer and love it just like I did.

~ Watching her tumble, listening to her play the piano & seeing her artwork after she spends time to draw something. She is a very talented girl and can do just about anything she tries. I have always admired that about her...even from the time she was a very little girl.

~ I feel like we are growing closer and love that! We still have many arguments but I love hanging out with her and having alone time with her.

~ Texting random things or quotes from movies back and forth for no reason at all.

~ The fact that we are the same size and can wear the same clothes! My wardrobe has just expanded considerably...OH YEAH!!!!

I love ALL of my children so very much and I feel so honored, privileged and blessed to be their mom. I still ask myself what I did to deserve them, but I'm glad Heavenly Father saw fit to send them to me anyway!

The Chillens

Summer 2011

Kylee ~ 16
Makayla ~ 13
Talon ~ 10
Hunter ~ 7
Cash ~ 2

It's Official!

I have TWO teenage daughters in the house!

Oh my... should I be scared? Maybe just a little. :)



My cute, sweet Makayla turned 13. What a beautiful girl she is inside and out! Maybe I don't need to be scared with her after all. Scared for the hormones? Maybe. Scared that she will lose her sweet personality? Not so much. Scared that I will have to beat the boys off her? Most definitely YES!!!

She is such a peacemaker and very selfless. She continually thinks of others and will help with Cash and Hunter without even being asked. She is such a sweet girl and I don't know what I would do without her.



She also got flowers from her cute dad. I certainly did well in choosing my guy! :)

She got some clothes, an MP3 player and some of her favorite jeans.



Can't you tell that she is just so excited about them???





She shares her birthday with her cute Aunt Shareen...who is also celebrating a BIG birthday today, if you couldn't tell by the candles on HER cake! :) Makayla is her mini-me in so many ways...if I didn't know better, she should've gone to Shareen's family instead of ours. How THANKFUL I am that Shareen decided to be done having kids!



Happy 13th Birthday to my beautiful, sweet Makayla "Sue". We love you so very much!

New Schools, New Year!

Can it really be possible? Can I REALLY have a sophomore in High School??? I guess technically, YES. Does it feel like I am old enough? NO. I honestly feel like was just there myself. Not just High School in general, but MY High School at that. I couldn't be happier that she is going to Bingham, it is just weird to think that now my own children are there...already!

At any rate, GO MINERS!!!

Kylee was really nervous about all of it. After school she said it didn't go very well. She got lost, but that was not the worst of it. She said she had a contact that was irritating her eye and it got all red, puffy and watery. And because that eye was watery, the other one started to tear up too...so she looked like a little Sophomore who was crying because she was lost....HOW HORRIBLE!!! haha

Then throw in the fact that Makayla started 7th grade at SoJo Middle School....WHAT?! How in the heck did that happen? Can my sweet, little Makayla really be in Middle School already? Oh, how I hate those middle school years.... I just pray and hope and pray some more that it won't ruin her! She is my sweet, angel girl and we all know how rough these years are for teenagers, especially girls.

She was excited about it and not quite as nervous as she was before. She didn't get shoved around too much but was amazed at how crowded the halls were. Most definitely different than what she is used to at the elementary school. I am so proud of her. She was placed in 8th grade Honors Math and honors English. She's a little nervous about the math, but I know she will do great...they wouldn't have placed her there if she didn't test well enough for it.

Talon and Hunter actually started school a couple of weeks ago, but I wanted to wait until the girls started so I could just do ONE post...since we all know how good I have been at blogging lately.

Talon is in 5th grade and his teacher's name is Mrs. Whittaker (not sure how to spell it). Hunter is in 2nd grade with Miss Vargo.

(not sure what is going on with Talon's little "hip pop" thing... I blame it on having older sisters!)

It has been a very emotional couple of weeks for me. The thought of Kylee turning 16 and going to High School, Kayla going into 7th grade and then thinking of Talon...how he only has 2 years left of elementary before he is there too. DANG, why do the years have to go by so fast? Why can't I keep them little forever? When people say it goes by in a blink of an eye...well, they weren't kidding! It really feels that way.

So, here I sit...having a pity party. I am just SO thankful that I still have a two year old at home. At least he makes me feel a little young still. I'm holding on to him with everything that I have and soaking up every minute I have with him!