Well, I'm finally giving into the pressure of updating my blog! It has been a while! I started and completed an entire semester of school (15 credit hours) and got my second 4.0! Yeah Why couldn't I be this good earlier on? I have the summer off, so I haven't been as busy, but I have slacked in the blogging.

This spring we spent a lot of time snowmobiling! It has been a blast. Morgan sold his PSP and put the money towards his Dad's old sled to be his own and Joe bought a new one. We went up to our cabin and anywhere else. Hanna accidentally drove over and broke one of the helmets. Gracie's just in it for the ride.
Hanna had a Birthday in Feb. She turned 9! She is such a great kid! We had a High School Musical PJ party! The kids had a ball. Hanna loves anything High School Musical, Webkinz, Jonas Bro's and pre teen anything else!

We took Gracie to Kmart on a date! She's found she likes the toys in the front almost as well as Lagoon!! She is such a funny and fun kid! Life is good, we're keeping busy. Morgan in baseball, Hanna in soccer and all of them in swimming lessons! Joe just rebid his shift and is working doubles again!! yipee (two days of 16 hour days and one regular 8)! He loves this because it gives him 4 days off a week. We can't complain! We are blessed with much! Until next time!

I haven't been so good at keeping up this spring. I guess 15 credit hours does that to you. But now I'm done for the semester and loving it! Life has been pretty routine since I last wrote. I have a few fun pictures to share. Morgan started baseball and plays catcher. He's a little "stud", or so he thinks. Its fun to watch them dive into things they love. Hanna just started the spring season of soccer. She is really quite good and loves it as well. She's also miss social. Gracie, well, isn't quite involved in sports yet, but she is 3 going on 16. She is taking off all the time (without my knowledge) and running to kids houses in the neighborhood. Some are her age, but the majority are older and so kind to let her "hang" with them. She is a so funny. She has quite the sense of humor.

We took the family to Hawaii the Middle of May! It was a wonderful trip. We spent more time on the beach than ever. Gracie finally loved the sand! Almost four, it's about time! We body surfed and leisured the majority of our trip. We did go to the Dole plantation! We ate the best pinapple whipped sundae in a Pinapple shell! It was awesome! We ended up in a two bedroom suite! We felt spoiled! It may be difficult to go back to the traditional room! The weather was perfect, the food was great and the company wonderful! It's funny, that no matter where you go with kids, as long as there is a pool they don't care where you are!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year as we roll into 2009. Life has been busy crazy over the holidays. Neil & Carma celebrated their 60th Wedding Anniversary with a small intimate dinner with family at our house. Kayla and James (Niece & Honey) announced their engagement. It was a great addition to the evening.
We went to Phil & Mer's for Christmas Eve and Neil & Carma's for Christmas Day.
We went a saw Santa at the Mall to the dismay of Gracie. She was asked several times what she wanted Santa to bring. Her standard reply was, "no want Santa to come, Mommy give me presents." After much convincing she finally conceded to see Santa. I think she actually suctioned her hands and feet to me. After peeling her off and setting her on Santa's lap, I told her to tell him what she wanted. She whispered in my ear, "A kitchen and a pink dolly." I told her to tell Santa, and with obvious fear and nervousness she blurted out, "I want a chicken and a folly." She then leaped off his lap and into the arms of her Daddy. We were all in hysterics.
We've had the opportunity to spend a lot of time at the cabin over the holidays. We took the snowmobiles up and spent a day with Phil & Mer and a day with Aaron and Penny. Morgan and Hanna had more fun running around the cabin on the snowmobiles than anyone. They got stuck a lot and a few times on purpose just to make Joe laugh.
We went to a fun New Years Party at Pete & Cathy's house. There was cheese fondue (my personal favorite), wii games, karoke, and toddler entertainment. We had a great time at the party house bringing in the new year. 2008 has been a great year and I look forward to 2009. Until I write again, ciao.

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year as we move into 2009. I can't believe the Holidays are over. I wish they could last all through the winter season. Christmas was wonderful! Neil & Carma had their 60th Wedding Anniversary! Wow, I am so impressed. We've done so much in this short month. A party at our house for their 60th Wedding, Christmas Eve at my parents house and Christmas Day at Joe's. We saw Santa at the mall. Gracie wasn't too excited about Santa this year. We all kept asking what she wanted Santa to bring her and her constant reply was, "no want Santa to come, Mommy give me presents." After much effort in convincing her otherwise we made it to see Santa. I think she actually suctioned her hands and feet to me. I could barely pry her away to sit on his lap. I told her to tell Santa what she wanted and she whispered into my ear, "A kitchen and a pink dolly." I encouraged her to turn to Santa and tell him. In all her fear and nervousness she blurted out, " I want chicken and a folly." She then jumped off his lap and bee lined it to Joe. We were all in hysterics.
We've spent a lot of time up at the cabin these past few weeks. I've had 2 1/2 weeks off and Joe had some extra vacation that needed using up. We took the snowmobiles up. Morgan and Hanna glued their behinds to the sleds. They are a little too much like their Daddy. It was so much fun. Phil & Mer came up for a day and spent time snowmobiling. Phil was about like Hanna & Morgan. He wasn't excited at first, but then didn't want to stop. Then today Aaron & Penny came up. We just played around the cabin.
This holiday season has been filled with a lot of family time which I love. We went to a New Years Party at Pete & Cathy's house. There was FONDUE (my personal favorite), wii games and Kareoke. The toddlers were having fun jumping over or on Grandpa. All has been well, and school starts again for myself and the kiddos on Monday:(! Til the next time, ciao!

Well, life has been the same for the most part since I last updated you all. There was, of course, Halloween and school continues on. I can hardly wait until December 2nd! Then I have a full month off! School hasn't been horrible, I'm just looking forward to finishing. We took the kids to Boo at the Zoo and to the Dunes! If it weren't for Joe's motivation I don't know if we'd make it to many places! We also took the kids to San Diego last weekend to use our season passes we've only used once! It was a whirlwind trip. We didn't plan the best because the U of U was playing San Diego State and the flights were a bit full, so we ended up flying into LAX and renting a car to drive 1 1/2 hours to SD! We took the kids straight to Sea World and I went back to the hotel to check in. Met them back at Sea World and had a pretty good time. Morgan, Hanna and I went on the Roller Coaster (forgot the name) so many times, we were soaked by the end. It was a perfect day to go. Absolutely no lines or congestion. We went back to the pool, where the kids had a ball. Got up the next morning, swam of course, took the car back to SD drop-off and flew home! Joe and I are still recovering! I'm too old for such turn arounds. Well, this week is T-giving and, yes, I've already trimmed the tree and decorated the house for Christmas. Morgan and Hanna brought up all the decorations last Sunday and Gma & Gpa were gracious enough to help decorate the tree (I'm pretty bad with that part). Joe has us cocooned with all the blinds shut. He hates when we do this, but I think deep down he really loves it. I do love the holiday season. We went to my parents last night for the "Big Game (U vs BYU)! One tip I suggest: Never put BYU die hard fans in a room with U fans! The tension is too much to bear and if you are not completely vested you are pulled in half! After the delightful/horrible game we drove past Pete/Cathy's house to view the Christmas light event! The music and lights certainly added to the festive season! I'm so glad they put the energy into making my kids Christmas memories so I don't have to . It's quite the show and if you have time you need to take your kids by and see it! We also gathered things together for the Sub for Santa we're doing this Christmas! I am so excited about this I can hardly sleep! We have been assigned a refugee family with 7 children from Africa! Both my family and Joe's family are involved. I didn't realize this could be so much fun! I think if I put as much time into school as I do with this I may find it fun as well? nah Well life is good and I am blessed with a wonderful supportive and healthy family. I must be going, but will hopefully update soon! Ciao

Well, It's once again time for my monthly blogging. This past month has been kinda crazy. We did do a couple of fun things this past month. We went to the state fair. The kids look forward to this every year, I wish I could say the same. I love the Davis County fair cuz it's small and quaint. The SL County fair is getting so big, but the fam loves it still the same. Morgan & Hanna took Gracie on the big giant slide for the first time this year. Gracie was so funny. Her expression clearly was fear, but she tried to be big for sissy and bro. She is such a hoot. We also went to the Corn Belly Maze at Thanksgiving point. It was a lot of fun. We went in the maze and had to finally take the "emergency exit". Joe and my natural ability to discern direction once again fell short. We were laughing so hard. The big hit there as well was all the slides. Gracie was in pig heaven!! My Dad just had his surgery this week as well. He finally had the gallbladder out and is doing very well. He's just happy to be home. Morgan is playing football once again. He's quite a good little player and is obsessed with it. He plays, watches it on TV, goes to all the local games and is an avid Cowboys fan. It is quite a consuming sport. 3x per week practices for 2 hours and every saturday 1hr practice before the game. I love to watch football as well. Hanna deciding to give dancing up this year for soccer. She is quite the athlete as well. Their team was undefeated and she made several goals, even one for the other team! ugh. She has decided to continue on in sports and maybe next year gymnastics. She's a great kid and I'm happy she's found her passion. Gracie is my little buddy. When my Dad had surgery she wanted to go on the train so she and I took Frontrunner and trax to IMC. She loved it. She made friends with everyone, even the conductor. She is in a playgroup with her little buddy Andrea. She loves being social and hanging out with Hanna and her friends. Her favorite though is to go shopping. She loves going to the orange store with Daddy or the little cart store with Mommy. Joe has had a rough fall compared to those in the past. He loves hunting and fishing and has had to sacrifice his trips for Grandpa's hospitalizations and my school. Hopefully next year he can resume the outdoor activities. We are going to the Sand Dunes today for our UEA getaway. We planned on going to San Diego, but all the flights were overbooked. Oh well. Morgan and Hanna have been wanting to go to the Dunes. Gracie however hates sand so we'll see how she does. Life is good and I am blessed. Until next month, ciao!

Life has been crazy these past few weeks. My Dad has been hospitalized for septic shock! He nearly died, but even the doctors said, "It just wasn't his time!" They said they'd never seen anyone so septic and survive. He is a miracle and we are so thankful he is still around.
Morgan, Hanna and I all started school this past Monday (Aug 25th). It just happened to be Gracie's birthday! We had a wonderfully fun Luau Party for her the friday before. We had a tiki pinata, tiki slush, Hawaiian Haystacks and beautifully decorated Hula Girl Cake (compliments of Cathy). The kids played the limbo, in the pools and water games. They all had a blast. It was great but I have been doing homework ever since! What was I thinking? I keep telling myself, only 2 more semesters! Morgan has Mrs. Martin for fourth grade this year. She is the sister of President Monson and an excellent teacher. Hanna has Mrs. Francom who adores her. I think it will be a good year. On the first day of school Gracie and I walked Morgan and Hanna to their classes. Hanna and Autumn had one desk between them and Gracie naturally tried to occupy it. When I tugged and finally released her grip from the desk, she was in tears! Sad thing is she won't be starting Kindergarten for 3 more years, ouch!
We took the kids to Kennecott Copper Mine (Joe's idea) for one last hurrah before school started. It was interesting, but not like Lagoon or The Alpine slide, sorry Joe. Well, it's definitley early and almost time for me to go into work. Life is on the up and we are all finally doing well. Until the next sleepless night, ciao!