HIGHLIGHTS OF 2008

I thought it would be fun to do a slide show of some of our favorite memories in 2008, and a few of my favorite pics. We had a wonderful year, and made lots of good memories with our family and friends:) THANKS for being apart of our lives!

We hope all is well with you and your families and you have a very

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

sleigh riding

Chris and Stacy and their family made a surprise Christmas visit:) And since We got the BEST snow storm ever, We thought We'd take advantage of it and take the kids sleigh riding. We scouted out a few different hills out west and ended up going out to Dewyvillie to the Norr's farm. Kobe was so excited to go with his dad on his snowmobile, he was grinning from ear to ear. At first I think he was a little nervous to go down the hill, so he just stayed with James and helped give rides back up the hill. And of course Maddi is always a little whimpy:) so the first few times down her & I went together. KC brought his trailer it worked out nice so We could go in and defrost a little. The Anderson's aren't used to this cold UTAH weather. Jerian brought her Coco-Motion and made up some nice warm coco:) The kids were having a blast, I love sleigh riding myself:) towards the end Kobe braved the hill and so did the BIG boys they are all kids at heart:) LOL

It was 5 o'clock by the time We finished up, and We were all starved so We stopped at the Crossroads for dinner. YUM! Then We took the kids home and got them settled and us adults went hot tubing at Crystal:) It was so freezing cold, but it was so nice and relaxing:)

THANKS GUYS FOR SUCH A FUN DAY:)

MY CELEBRITY LOOK A LIKES:)

LOL not REALLY!

As I posted earlier my sisters and I were getting a little crazy with the photos on Christmas Eve. We were cracking ourselves up:) LOL We kept posing and posing trying to get the "perfect" photo. We were having a ball:) As you all know everyone thinks We all look just a like. So We took a bunch of pictures and then We'd zoom in on them and compare our facial features. We don't think We look that much a like not enough to get mistaken for each other. (which happens quite often) We have came to the conclusion that our mouths and chins are the only things that look the same, other than that We resemble each other, but it's not like We've been cloned:) LOL

without glasses

a few with glasses

our 4th sister (our mother)

We are by far from being celebrities! But I love all these guys more than anything in the world. We have our differences, but I know I can always count on these girls! I LOVE YOU ALL!!

People often mistake our mother as our sister too. They are CrAzY! I guess that's good for her or really bad for us, she either looks really young or We look old:)

SO WHAT DO YOU THINK? DO WE REALLY LOOK THAT MUCH ALIKE?

CHRISTMAS DAY

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM OUR HOUSE TO OURS!

Well I think Santa found us! I think the highlight of the morning was the Wii, James said there was no way We were ever going to get one. But I guess Santa fooled him:) LOL Maddi was screaming to the top of her lungs and Kobe said Santa ROCKS!

Those are some pretty cheesy grins:)

WOW! I look so thrilled:)

LOOK Santa even brought baby Diesel a new shirt! The kids were so happy they are always asking if we can get him clothes. But I'm to cheap, thank goodness for Santa:)

After We get all done with seeing what Santa has left, and opening gifts at our house We head up north. First stop @ 10 a.m. is Gm. Kent's for her famous Christmas breakfast, she has done this for years. I look forward to it every year, but it's not James' favorite. We are crammed in her little house like a bunch of sardines, it does get a little congested. But hey the more the merrier right? It's all you can eat and then some! Then after breakfast We exchange gifts and the BEST gift of all is Grandma's plate of her homemade candy YUM!

The kids and James were a little preoccupied by the Wii and it was snowing like CrAzY so we didn't quit make it in time for breakfast. Grandma loves her family more than anything! Every year she gives a little speech about how she knows that it's way over crowded, and that We could change the time and place of the get together so We could have more room. But as you can tell We have opted out, it just wouldn't be the same.

Then back to Gp. Rick's and Gm. Lynn's for more presents and food!

This year Gp. Rick had to work (he works for the county so he had to plow). We kept waiting and waiting for him, but he called and said to go ahead without him, the snow just wouldn't let up. Grandpa's favorite part is giving gifts, he always has some kind of surprise for us. This year it was a popcorn machine, popcorn is one of Grandpa's favorites. The kids thought it was GREAT! Mom, Becki, Jacki and Maddi put it together and then served up some HOT fresh popcorn:)

Finally, We are off to Gp. and Gm. Hales for MORE food and presents:) WOW! Maddi and Kobe love their gp. and gm. so much, they are always so eager to visit! They are one in a million, I don't know what We'd do without them!

NOW, We are home at last! The kids are having fun playing with all their new stuff. And our poor daddy is out shoveling our driveway. And as you can tell I've been posting our days events:)

hope all is well with you and your families!

CHRISTMAS EVE

Every year go to my mom & dad's for a little Christmas Eve party. Mom has all the kids dress up in little nativity costumes she has put together. Then she reads a little story and always has a movie for us to watch, that helps us remember the "true" meaning of Christmas. We have done this for years, I absolutely love it! The kids look forward to dressing up. Baby Jesus is usually the smallest grandchild which would be Addie this year. But Caleb & Julie are down south with her family this year, so mom just wrapped up a baby doll. Then mom has each of the granddaughters take turns being Mary each year, this year it was Trevyn's turn. Then everyone else just fills in, Maddi was the angel this year and Kobe was a shepard.

We always bring treats to share, and then mom & dad always fix the famous "cheese sandwiches" they are so delicious! I loving being with my family and just being our CrAzY selves. This year We enjoyed having a photo shot, as you can tell.(LOTS of pictures) Dad was getting a little upset with all the photos:) LOL

When Grandma Udy was alive her and Grandpa would come up Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. The Falk's always lived in Texas so they didn't have anyone else to visit, We had them all to ourselves! Grandma loved this time of year, wrapping all the gifts just beautifully. I love and miss her so much, she was always so sweet. I always thought of her as more of a friend than a Grandma, she always just seemed to fit in with us "girls". You could call her and talk for hours. There isn't a Christmas that goes by that I don't think about her and wish she was with us. I LOVE YOU GRAM! So any how.... Now that Gp. is married he and Ann just come up on Christmas Eve so they have Christmas Day to be with her family. We used to just do gifts on Christmas Day, but since We welcomed Gm. Ann into the family things have changed a bit. We all give our gifts to Gp. and Ann and then every year Gp. gives each of us even the great-grand kids a little money. This year the great-grand kids got a 2 and a 10. (in Kobe's term) Both my kids were so excited, now they can add it to their stash.

Then We head out, and stop at James' parents for a bit. Then We are off to our house to open our new P.J's and get things ready for Santa. As you can tell Kobe is a little upset, he was in hopes for a new toy. He says he hates "stinky" clothes and it's always clothes:( MAYBE SANTA WON'T BE VISITING KOBE THIS YEAR! After a good long talk I think his dad got him squared away with a NEW attitude:)

I THINK WE ARE READY!

This year as the kids were getting the cookies and carrots ready. I was opening a gift from the Newcomb's, it was the perfect gift for the moment. A plate for Santa's cookies and one for the carrots for his reindeer and a mug for his milk. The kids loved it! THANKS DARCIE!

After We had everything all ready, We were off to James and I's bed to snug up and read a Christmas story. (a new book from New and Kesia's family) THANKS GUYS!

DO YOU THINK HE WILL FIND US???

Just a few things....

Both the kids are gone, James is out doing what he loves BEST! (snowmobiling) I'm home alone and could get some major business done! It's just not like me to leave things til the last minute. But I still need to wrap a few gifts and take a few around and my house is in desperate need of a good cleaning. So instead of getting things done, I sit my butt here and blog and google a few random things.

This year I just feel like I am in another world, I'm usually up tight and full of anxiety. Not just at this time of year but I've been this way my whole life. And lately I just feel like I'm on a vacation and I don't have a care in the world:) I must say I LOVE IT! So I continue on with what my hubby says I do BEST blog! LOL

So any how... As you can tell Jacki has taught me how to do a slide show:) YIPPEE! So LUCKY you, no more long strips of pictures:) THANKS JACK!


Then I must post about the BEST Christmas present I received last night! I had talked to Jerian earlier and she said she was so excited to give me my gift, and that it was almost put together. I was thinking I wonder what it is... She was sooo excited on the phone. So as We were getting ready I started talking to James and I said so I wonder what Jerian is going to give me, she said it was almost put together. I said she is not very crafty (no offense). He says well maybe you'll be surprised. I was like so you know what it is? He says I don't know, We're tight and We talk (meaning him and Jerian) I was like GREAT these two are up to something. Well KC & Jerian came to pick us up for dinner and she brings in our gifts and she has the hugest smile on her face, so I get to the bottom of the bag and my gift is all wrapped up. I opened it up and it was to my surprise that she is a little crafty:) LOL

Here is a picture of my gift

This summer We all went to TIM MCGRAW at Usana. It was a BLAST! I have never really been a fan of celebrities or thought any actors or singers were HOT. But Jerian is in LOVE LOVE with TIM! So over the years as We have went to concerts, I think I have grown to love TIM too. I must say he is not as hot as Keith Urban though:)

We had the BEST seats ever! James and KC were basically along for the ride, so We kinda left them hanging. I don't think they minded, cause the girls in front of them kept them well entertained:) Jerian & I went all the way up to the stage for the whole concert, It was so awesome! I was bound and determined to get a guitar pick,so I was totally flirting w/ one of the guitar players and I'll just say it paid off. Then at the end of the concert TIM was running along the front of the stage giving autographs. So We pulled out our tickets for him to sign, I was thinking there is no way he'll grab ours BUT he did. It was like so unreal! I LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF IT!

We always have so much fun together. We have been friends for years, it started clear back when We were first married. We used to live between them and Dave & Nena, We did lots of dinners together and went on several bike rides:) Those were the good old days. I love them just like they are family.

So I must say the picture doesn't do the gift justice. I'm so impressed that she came up with the idea, I think she is too. She said on the way home from dinner that she was so proud of herself cause she never thinks or does things like that. BUT I must say she has a heart of gold and has very many other GREAT qualities:) This is a gift I will treasure, it was one of the BEST dates We have had together. I LOVE YOU MISS!

One more thing! The reason James said they are tight and talk is cause she had him find my guitar pick and ticket. They make a GREAT team:) I had no clue!

FRIENDS

Last night We went to dinner @ the Copper Mill, with some of our friends. We always have such a good time together! (anyways I think so) I love this time of year being able to enjoy time with friends and family:) The kids both stayed w/ their cousins Maddi went to Kati's and Kobe went to Aunt B's. James and I were able to finish up a few last minute items and enjoy the evening together:)

COOKIES 4 SANTA

Today I was watching Newlin & Kesia's kids. So I thought it would be fun for the kids to make cookies for Santa. I called Jacki to see if she'd like to join us, and then thought it would be fun to have ALL the cousins come. So Jacki and I started things out by making and rolling out the dough, then we let the kids go WiLd! They had a ball, I was kinda going a little NUTTS at first. But after we got things going it turned out GREAT! I think Show-Bob and Sidy (Lance & Sydnee)looked like they had been in a war, they both had frosting clear up to their arm pits:) LOL

ONCE THERE WAS A SNOWMAN

After We got home today, the kids were dying to play in the snow. James and I both had haircuts so I told them they had to play in the back yard. Why We were getting our hair done, Maddi calls and says she needed us to hurry home so We could see their snowman. I told her We would be there in a bit and it wasn't like the snowman was going to grow legs and run away:) LOL
Well, needless to say the snowman was still here. They had him fixed so cute:) A few years ago the Belew's gave us a little can with all the clothes or should I say fixings for a snowman. They had got it out and tried using all the stuff, it had a carrot and a corn pipe (that's what Kobe called it I don't know if that's what it's called for sure??) and coal for the eyes. But Maddi said that the stuff was to BIG for their little snowman, so she had to make do with what she had. So he has 2 eyes and a nose made of coal:)

FHE

Well last night James said he wanted to take the kids to Hardware Ranch for FHE. I was planning on going to the lights @ Willard Bay. But I thought I better take him up on the offer, it's not like he plans FHE every week. LOL Not really We let the kids pick. It only stayed open til 4 so We went this morning. We had a good time, it was snowing like CrAzY! So as you can tell in the pictures We are the only CrAzY ones how braved the storm:) We had the whole wagon to ourselves:)

Thanks James for planning FHE, We all had a good time:)

A 1st FOR US

Every year our ward goes caroling. This year was a 1st for us, thanks to Bishop Zundel:) He made sure to come up to Primary today and tell all the kids to meet @ Meadow Park @ 6:30 and after We'd have hot chocolate. Well as he was talking Maddi looks over at me with the biggest eyes and then after she says please please can We go? So We all bundle up and joined our ward. We had a good time, and enjoy getting into the Christmas spirit.

I totally did this for my kids, I have a terrible singing voice and I hate being cold:) They both thought it was GREAT!

I SAID I WAS A WHIMP!

So as I posted down below, I'm kind of a whimp when it comes to saying NO to my kids. So on our little weekend as We were shopping they would keep asking for this and that. I was like it's almost Christmas, and if you don't STOP I'm going to call Santa and tell him not to bring you any toys. (this is mostly Kobe who does all the begging) Kobe starts crying, I say do you think Santa wants to bring toys to kids who ball, and bug their mom or to kids who are good and happy? He says good! So later he keeps it up, so I have us stop and I pull them together and I say listen up! It's almost Christmas and you don't need EVERYTHING! you better quit asking, you think I'm being rude and I'm not you balling all the time makes me upset and it's frustrating! You both need to STOP and be grateful for what you do have! They say okay, and We continue on to the next store.

Maddi had said early as We were looking she really wanted a new purse. She had saw a purse at Clarie's it was $18, I said to you want me to buy it and you can pay me back with your money? She says NO that would take almost all of my money, so I said lets wait. So We get to Khol's and We head over to the purses, cause I REALLY need a new one! I have been eyeing a purse their for 2 months its $55 it was on sale for $35, BUT I can't bring myself to pay that much. I usually try to get them for $20 or less. (SORRY for adding my 2 cents) So I start looking at the clearance ones and I see this cute little purse for $12 I say Maddi do you like this one? She says yes can I get it? I say you're sure you like it better than the one at Clarie's, she said yes, so I say go ahead and get it. THEN she says I think I need a new wallet, cause my other wallet doesn't really match this purse so I end up letting her get a wallet too! (I'm so NUTTS!)

SO while We are looking at the wallets Kobe thinks he needs one, I say these are for girls lets go look by the boy ones. So We get over to the men's and they have these gift sets with a wallet and a swiss army knife. He goes YEAH! this is what I really want, cause Branson and Carson have a knife and I want one too. They were 20 bucks, so I say lets wait and go to Wal-mart and you can get a wallet or a knife. He says a knife, cause he can use it to cut sticks:) LOL And not to mention he thinks the Bywater boys are the BOMB! So I'm sure that's the main reason he wants the knife so he can be like them just as he likes to be a cowboy just like them:) So We stop at Walmart and get him a knife.

Earlier I told him I wasn't sure if he could get a knife cause he was only 6 and I thought that was to little. But I would check with his dad to see what he thought, he said I can just get it and not let him see:) I said NO that's not being honest son! So I called James & he said that would be okay, and I told him he could discuss how and when to use it.

SO WHAT CAN I SAY I'M A WHIMP! I told them that the purse & knife were their Christmas presents from me:)

So here is Maddi posing with her NEW gift! The BIG smile is cause she just counted her $ and has 52 dollars. And it's almost her birthday, and she will be gettin more $. She says maybe like in the 60's.

WELL, can I just say that the talk about the knife must have went in one ear and out the other:) I was blogging and Kobe comes over and says look what I found! I say what is it a string? I look at it a little closer and I say it's dog hair! He says YEAH, I found it on Diesel he needs a hair cut:) I said Kobe, you don't cut the dogs hair! (I first have him pose for the 1st photo) So then he runs up stairs and comes back down with a cup and says it's an E-speremint (experiment), when you put the dog hair in the cup with water and salt the dog hair turns white! It really does mom LOOK!

Here he is with his new knife in one hand and what he found in the other!

The E-speremint! SORRY you can't really see, and to tell the truth I didn't really look! BUT it REALLY does turn white, just ask him:) LOL

So then he had to put on his snow clothes and go out side to cut a stick! (the real purpose for the knife) And now he is trying to cut a toy fishing pole. Let's just say I think all of his things will be ruined!

OUR WEEKEND GETAWAY:)

1st of all SORRY for the long strip of pics. for those of you who know, know I haven't mastered the slide show thing yet. Maybe I can have Jacki show me, sometime in the next 2wks. since I'm off work:) I also loaded the pics. from finish to start,YEP I'm kind of a dork:) ENJOY!!

This weekend James had to work and KC isn't big on "the lights", so Jerian and I took the kids to Temple Square to see the lights and shopping at the Gateway. We had a bLaSt!

Here are the kids @ Gateway, I just had bought Kobe this little vest and I thought he looked like a little hottie! He found this snowball and he was in HEAVEN! Maddi is trying to give him bunny ears, but you can't quite see them. What a bunch of silly kids:)
We went to DICK'S sporting goods, and Kobe saw the rock wall, he says I REALLY want to do that mom. I was like NO! (I was thinking it would cost a fortune) But We went down stairs and I was looking at it (cause I'm kinda a whimp (SP?) and don't like to say NO!) and I saw a price sheet it was 3 bucks! I was like so do you want to do it? He's like YEAH! So I went up front to pay, and if you signed up for some customer points card it was ONLY 2 bucks! I was like WHAT a DEAL! So here are Kobe and Triston climbing the wall. Kobe's arms gave up pretty early but Trist made it all the way to the top. GOOD JOB BOYS!

Here are Maddi and Shay posing while We watched the boys. Jerian braided their hair the same, so We were trying to get them to show it off.

We stayed at Little America, in the front lobby they had this HUGE gingerbread house. I thought it was so AWESOME! So I had the kids get a pic.

Here We all are at Temple Square. I didn't bring a hat, but had on a hoddie so I pulled that over my head cause it was snowing like crazy.

We ate at the Navoo Cafe inside the Joseph Smith Memorial Building it was so delicious! I have to tell a cute little story about my little Maddi. As We were getting our food, the kids asked if they could pick a dessert and I said yes. So Maddi is over looking at the pies and says mom come here, so I went over and she says I really want to get some pie BUT look it says coffee I said no honey it says cafe:) cause this is called Navoo Cafe she says Oh! I said that's a good girl though. I thought it was so sweet that she notice and is always trying to make good choices and set us strait when We slip! I LOVE YOU SIS!

We meet up with Jon & Alisha Rowley and their family and walked with them around Temple Square. While We waited for them We took a few pics. and looked around.

I think both my kids had an eye opener this weekend. As We were sitting inside the Joseph Smith Building a homeless man walked in and sat down across from us. Maddi was so nervous she says mom (with tears in her eyes) MOM! that man keeps looking at us, and I think he is going to hurt us, like shoot us. I said no honey it's okay We are in a BIG city and there are a lot of different kinds of people, & We are at the Temple grounds and it's just like being in Heavenly Fathers house and He will protect us. She felt better after that, then later she said I think that man was homeless he only had socks on, he didn't even have any shoes. We later saw a few different people on the corners asking for money. I don't think my kids really knew that people really don't have homes or food to eat. I'm grateful that they got to experience this and I hope I explained the importance of giving and not judging so that they understood. A few weeks a go I took Maddi to Kent's to donate her old coat, I later told her that, that is where her coat went is to someone like that.

Even Santa was @ Temple Square:)

We left Friday after school, and the roads were a mess! We thought rather than fight the traffic We would just park @ the hotel and ride TRAX down town. Here We are enjoying the ride:)
The kids said that the BEST part was playing in the pool at the hotel. And Kobe HATES shopping and going to all the stores:( I said I hate a lot of things too, but We just have to buck up and do it!

I'm glad that We have such good friends, that We like to call "OUR FAMILY" And We can always go and have a good time! THANKS GUYS:)

BUT I must say the worst part was our drive home, We dropped Jerian and her kids off in Ogden to meet up with her mom. And as We headed north the freeway was at a stand still, there had been a few accidents and it took us 2 HOURS to get from Ogden to Wal-mart in Brigham. WHAT A FREAKIN JOKE!

Over all We had a good time, and can't wait for the BIG day!