Highlights of 2009

Here are a few pictures of the memories we made in 2009. It seemed to be a CrAzY year and we are looking forward to 2010!

We hope all is well with you & your families and hope you all have a HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Christmas Day

Well I think Santa found us.... and both the kids were HAPPY with what they got, Santa did a good job this year:)

Kobe hasn't been very pleased the last 2 years, but he was all smiles this year. I just have to say that kid has an imagination, and I love the cute little things he comes up with. When I asked the kids what they wanted this year for Christmas Maddi was dead set on a pink D.S. which she got:) and Kobe said he wanted Star Wars Lego's ... but they had to be Star Wars the Clone Wars last Clone Trooper and each set sold separately! I said WOW!! I think you have watched one too many commercials:) LOL Well Santa brought him just what he wanted and each set came separately!!

We usually go to my Gm. Kent's Christmas morning for breakfast, but this year we did things a little different I cooked us our own little breakfast & we enjoyed hanging out together as a family and playing w/ all our new things. After awhile we headed up to visit Gm. Kent and then to my parents for gifts & lunch. And then we finished the night up by visiting Gp. & Gm. Hales.

Carson & Kobe opening their gifts from Gp. Rick & Gm. Lynn
The girls @ Gp. Rick's and Gm. Lynn's

Gp. Kennard & the kids

Gm. Lorise & the kids

We had already had our Hales family Christmas party earlier this month, but Gm. still had a gift for each of the kids to open. She had made them these cute aprons for them to wear @ her house when they help her cook.
Then here's a pic of me & my man @ the end of the day. We had a great day spending it with family & friends:)

We hope you all had a Merry Christmas and we are looking forward to 2010!!

Christmas Eve @ our house

So after we are done @ my parents house, we come home and let the kids open a few presents. Which is always jammies and either a movie or a book, something for us to do that night as a family. This year it was Monsters vs. Aliens & Bob's Big Break. I had got the kids both a new jog suit & I let them open that as well.

This year Madddi & Kobe had a present for both James & I to open. They had wrapped them by them selves & had bows & tags on them, they looked so cute. Grandma Lorise had helped both of them stitch these pillow cases, they did a great job! I love gifts like these:)

Christmas Eve with......

the Kent fam.

So as usually we all gathered @ Gp. Rick & Gm. Lynn's on Christmas Eve. We had our traditional "cheese sandwiches" and chips & dips along w/ a bunch of other junk foods. Then Gm. Lynn helped all the kids get dressed up for the nativity. This is a fun tradition my mom has done every year, even when we were kids. Maddi was Marry this year & Kobe was a Wise Men. Baby Em was baby Jesus. They all looked so cute! Addie May wasn't to sure about it all, so she is holding a stuffed Santa for a little comfort:) Kati's kids were w/ their dad this year so the group is a little smaller.

After all the kids are dressed up we all go down stairs and my moms reads a small story about the birth of Jesus, and then we all sign a Christmas song . My mom does a great job in helping the little kids understand the true meaning of Christmas & this is probably my favorite tradition.

Addie May all dressed up... her daddy sure does love his girls:)

2 little sheep.... Mags & Syd

Me and baby Em

And of course "my girls" I love these 2 little girls so much!! I love going to my parents so I can see their sweet little faces. I love listening to their cute little voices, and they are the best of friends. But I must say they are both trying a little to hard to smile pretty for the camera... at least in this pic. :)

Maddi's school project

Well I guess I'm a little behind & I also forgot I had taken these pictures. But on Monday the 21st Maddi had her first big project for the 4th grade. She had brought home a paper w/ a bunch of different people on it all of whom had something to do w/ settling Utah. She picked Brigham Young, and each student had to do a poster, showing different highlights & then they had a "wax museum" for all the parents to come & listen to.

I must say my lil Sister Sue did an AMAZING job!! All the kids did really well, but Maddi worked really hard & memorized her little speech, which I thought was very impressive. But then again I'm her mother so of course I'd think that.

James & I had fun going & watching all the students. Kami is in Maddi's class and also did hers on Brigham Young, she did a very good job as well:)


But I must say that I think a lot of the homework/projects my kids bring home are more work for James & I. I think these teachers must think we have all the time in the world, it kinda makes me frustrated!! But then again it's good quality time w/ the fam. :)

Merry Christmas....

I can't believe Christmas is tomorrow! WOW!! I am so unprepared, I'm sitting here thinking of all the gifts I still need to go get. If you know me this is VERY unusual. I am usually ready by Thanksgiving. But I have been working 7 days a week for the last month, and Christmas has been the last thing on my mind. As I posted below we haven't put up much Christmas, and have had to skip a few of our Christmas traditions. We took a few family pictures for Christmas cards & I didn't even go get them made. This year has just been CRAZY!!

Here's a little run down of what we've been up to.....Last Friday we took the kids to do a little shopping & out to eat @ Chilli's (thanks to Kenna & fam.) This last Sunday we all went to church together, which was a first in a long time. The kids sang for the Christmas program & did a wonderful job. Then that night we past out a few neighbor gifts & rode around Tremonton listening to Christmas music & looking @ all the lights. James & I have went to a few dinner parties with our friends, which is always a good time:) The kids have been going to there favorite place on earth more than ever this last month........Grandpa & Grandma Hales'. They spent the night last night & have been helping Grandma make cookies for Santa. James is out doing what he loves best......SNOWMOBILING!! and here I sit thinking of all I need to do in a quite house all to myself:)

I haven't had time to blog or check in on all my friends & family, but have been thinking of all of you. But I think I must of sat down to blog for a reason. I was looking to the side of my blog looking @ all the friends & family who have updated & thinking oh man I'll never catch up on my blog "stalking". So I just read a few and I came across the sweetest little story on Holly's blog. It really made me stop to think what this time of year is about. As I sit hear listening to Silent Night on CMT, I have tears rolling down my face. It's so easy to get wrapped up in the world & all the gifts. But what truly matters is Christ, I am so thankful for this time of year & for our Savior. I hope we will all be able to focus on the true meaning of Christmas.


And last but not least
MERRY CHRISTMAS
from our house to yours!!

Ginger Bread.....

Every year we buy a little ginger bread kit to make a ginger bread house. But this year Kobe saw a train kit, so we bought that instead. The kids & James had fun putting it together :)

Christmas Village

Well let's just say the last few months have been crazy! I usually put our trees & all our Christmas decor up the Saturday or Sunday after Thanksgiving. Well I just barely got up our tree down stairs Sunday, or maybe I should say Maddi & Kobe got it up:) lol I got them started & they pretty much did it all by themselves, & it looks GREAT! James & I thought it would be fun to buy a real tree this year for up stairs..... well I guess it was a pretty good thought and that's about as far as it got! I told the kids we are just going to have the 1 tree this year, cause Christmas is almost here & I don't wanna bother putting up another tree for only a few weeks. I put up my nativity, and that's about all the Christmas we have out, no lights outside NOTHING!! Pretty sad huh? But it will get us by, I'm glad my kids are being good sports and I will do better next year!

Any how...... I have felt like the worst mother working all these long hours & so many days in a row, but there is not much I can do about it. So I just roll w/ it and am grateful for my in-laws & hubby who are so willing to help!

I guess I must be tired so sorry for the rambling.... Jerian & I usually take our kids & go stay in SLC & go to the lights. But do to work that is not gonna happen this year, and my kids & I usually go to the Ping-Pong Drop & see Santa, but Maddi & Kobe were both @ sleep overs so that didn't happen this year either. MY...MY....MY can you say SLACKER!! I feel terrible, but yesterday I had a doctors appointment in Ogden so James & I took the kids to Christmas Village & to see Santa..... OH THANK GOODNESS!! Now I don't feel so bad, they got to see a few lights & tell Santa what they want.

On a side note Kobe says Santa is NOT real!! Hmmm..... he better think again or Santa might not come:) James & I reassured him he is REAL! lol:)


Here's a few pictures of us enjoying a little family time.....while FREEZING our bums off!! It was only 5 YES I said 5 degrees outside. OMGOODNESS, it was cold!

Maddi took this picture of James & I, I guess I had my camera zoomed in a little to much and chopped off James' head:) lol And you can tell I'm froze, my dang nose is BRIGHT red!

So I guess I have broken just about every tradition this year, I hope things are different next year:)

photo shoot....

On Sunday we had a little photo shoot over @ my parents house. Jacki put it all together & took every one's pictures for our Christmas cards, here are a few pics she & I took w/ my camera. Some of them are a little blurry & dark......but I guess that's what you get when its FREEZING cold outside & you are in a rush:)


My parents w/ all their grand-kids, but the newest addition. They have 15 grand-kids WOW!! I can't believe it, I still remember living @ home w/ all my brothers & sisters. It just seems crazy to think we all have our own little families now!

I guess there are actually 16 grand-kids counting Payton,(Chuck's son) he is also missing from the picture.

2 handsome boys, and 1 pretty little lady..... Kobe, Carson & baby Em

My sweet lil Maddi Jane, w/ Addie May

We don't get to my parents very often, but I sure love it when we do so I can see all my cute nieces & nephews:)

The newest member....

of the Kent clan.....

Clancy Dan Kent

He was born Thursday December 3rd, and weighed 7lbs. 12 oz. He is one handsome little man:)

Better Late......

Than NEVER!!

So as you can tell I've been a little behind in my blogging. I have been working tons as I posted below. But I figured I better catch things up cause it's better late than never. And I mostly blog for myself cause I feel like it's a good way to express myself as well as journal.

Life is CRAZY but GREAT!! I don't love working all these hours and being away from my kiddies, but I am grateful to have a job. So I guess you can't always have your cake & eat it too.
We haven't been up to much, just school & work, nothing to exciting! But I love this time of year and being able to spend time w/ friends & family. And I so love the spirit that is all around us.

Hope all is well w/ all of you:)

P.S.
We did add one more little babe to the Kent clan this last week and I will post a pic. of the handsome lil man a little later:)

BlAcK FrIdAY........

So I normally go shopping w/ a few friends on Friday morning, but this year I had to work Friday night. And I have been workin 7 days a week and about 14 day stretches before I get a day off. So I thought I would just stay home & spend time w/ my lil family. But then we (James & I) got the BEST offer ever, to go w/ KC & Jerian to Park City and shop the outlets starting @ mid-night Thursday night. WOW!! I thought Friday mornings were bad @ Wal-mart, well the outlets topped Wal-mart by far!! We left the guys @ the hotel & headed to the outlets @ about 11:30, it was CRAZY!! There were cars every where & we had to park about 1/2 mile away & walk down to the outlets....okay we actually slid to the outlets on a lil snow hill:) LOL I guess you just had to be there, Jerian & I were laughing so hard:) It was the BEST shopping EVER!! and we shopped & shopped, the bad part was walking up hill back to the car w/ all of our bags, my arms were sore the next day. But it was well worth the pain:) And a little side note, it was FREEZING!! We got back to the hotel about 8a.m. & freshened up & got the men up & headed to SLC for lunch & a little more shoppin!

Jerian & I right before we left, we were both all smiles and couldn't wait to get on our way!!

James & KC being lazy and chillin while we did our thing:)

I love shopping but it's even better when you get good deals & find what you are looking for:) :) and what makes it ever better is hanging w/ my man & my Miss:)

Thanks Miss for the invite, we had the BEST time... love ya!

Thanksgiving

This year we spent Thanksgiving w/ the Hales clan. We had lots of good food & enjoyed hanging out w/ the family:)

Maddi & Kobe had spent the day @ grandma's on Wednesday & helped her make the pies & get things ready! They both had lots of fun & sure love their grammy!

HaPpY BiRtHDaY.........

JaMeS!!

So I just wanted to let my hubby know how much I love him & appreciate all he does for us. He is amazing and my life wouldn't be complete with out him. I hope you have a HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!!

side note: pecan pie is James' fav. so we have pie & ice cream instead of cake:) and once again my kids are in their jammies:)

Cents of Style

Kati (my sister) & I are having a Cents of Style open house, this Thursday Nov. 12th from 6 to 8 p.m. @ my house.

It's an accessories party: boots, shoes, hats, jewelry, and purses. It's really cute stuff & the best part is it's all $15 or less. Come see what they have!!

You can check it out @: www.mycentsofstyle.com


If you are reading this you are invited, so bring a friend and come on over!!

sugar cookies

Yesterday we kinda just had a lazy day here @ our house. James had to work and I was just getting caught up on sleep, and a few other odds & ends. Maddi had stayed Friday night @ Hayden's and Kobe had stayed @ Kati's w/ Payton. So I had all morning to sleep & not feel guilty, and it was nice:)

After James got home we all went grocery shopping and while we were @ the store Kobe says I know what we can do! I said what? He said we can make turkey's cause it's almost Thanksgiving and then he said do you know how? I said sure do! He said you just put your hand on a paper & trace it & you don't draw any legs mom! & I said oh ok and you use your fingers for the feathers. He says can we do it when we get home, I said sure! Well why we were making dinner Kobe went down & got some paper & traced his hand & then he says now all we need is some frosting & a candy corn for it's nose. I'm like frosting? He says yeah I saw it on TV @ Payton's. I said well I don't have any candy corns & I don't know if we have frosting. He says well you can make it!! I said your right I can but I'll just run to the store & get some & I don't know about candy corns cause it's not really the season for candy corns (me thinking candy corns are a Halloween treat) and then James says this might be a project to do for FHE on Monday. Kobe was pretty upset:( but then he goes on to say we have to cut out his hand that he traced & put it on cookie dough. I'm like WHAT? He says yeah mom it's a turkey cookie. So now I'm thinking ok this makes a lil more sense to frost a cookie rather than a piece of paper:) Then he wants to know if we have cookie cutters, and I said NOPE!! And then he & Maddi wanted to know if I knew how to make cookies like grandma, I said yeah I have the recipe some where and by this time it is 7 pm and I am think we are going to be up all night making damn sugar cookies!! OMH!
Of course I was smiling on the inside:) ha ha ha

James & Kobe have both been sick and I thought what ever I can do to make my lil man happy! He was pretty excited about his lil project so I ran to the store & got candy corns, frosting and a cookie mix. And James helped them get their hands traced & cut out and we made sugar cookies and it turned out to be a fun night here @ home:)

Kobe wanted to make blue frosting and he said it was gonna be blue just like his daddy's snowmobile:) So here is James enjoying his "Ski-Doo" blue frosted cookie!

So now I need to clarify a few things....... The reason I look so lovely is do to a lazy day here @ home, no make-up, no bra, and no contacts or hair do.... gotta love it!! And then the kids had both just bathed and put on their pj's and pj's @ our house are old t-shirts of dads, so that is why they look so nicely dressed. Then I do know how to make sugar cookies and frosting from scratch, I've made them once or twice and they never turn out. I used to have cookie cutters, but ya see I have the most wonderful in-laws, and Delorise always has my kids down to make really yummy sugar cookies for almost every holiday. So I figure why bother! So I got rid of my cookies cutters and that is why w/ the left over dough we are using a cup to make circles:) But it all turned out and everyone was HAPPY!!

Both my kids wanted me to make it just like grandma.......Well I informed them that their dad learned many years ago that I can cook & bake but it's not "just like grandma" but it serves the same purpose:) I think they are a lil spoiled @ grandma's and James says she still does everything "old fashion" meaning from scratch and I said Yep!! and I do everything "new fashion" right out of a box! :) :)

LIfe.....

I just feel like everything happens so fast & things never slow down!! My work has been so super crazy & I think these night shifts are getting the best of me. I got sent home tonight cause we didn't have any work, which was nice. But I told my boss I wanna know we don't have work before I get there. I don't like getting all ready and getting my hair all washed and my make-up all on & then going to work & getting sent home. HELLO do they not realize I have better things to do & I don't like wasting my make-up!! And then I've slept all day......thus being the reason I am blogging/venting @ 1:00 A.M. and then to top it off we will have PLENTY of work come the weekend, thus giving me NO days off when my kiddies are home!! For the love that place drives me crazy!! But I am grateful to have a job and I like the extra hours this time of year, but they just don't get that I have a schedule & I don't like them jackin it up all the time. I never know if I'm comin or goin if I have work or no work.......you get the idea, I'm so bugged!!!

Then I just have to say I must be getting old! Last week I was talking w/ a kid @ work & I said Michael how old are you? He says 29, I said oh I thought you were my brother Caleb's age & he says ya I am and I said well he just turned 30. And he says well my b-day must be later than his and then he's like well how old are you? I said I'm 31 and he goes your NOT 31!! I was like yes I am, he says there's NO way!! I was totally offended!! I'm still so bugged....if you can't tell:) So I told him to go ask KC (my boss/family friend) and so he does, then he comes back and I said SO?? He says yep he says your 30 or 31, but he's not sure! I said SEE MICHAEL I am 31 what did you think I was 40!! He's like oh no, no, I just thought you were a lil older than that!! WHATEVER!! I'm sitting there thinking, what can I do to make myself look younger, I better call & check into BOTOX!! lol:) But then I'm thinking is it Botox that makes you look younger & smooths out the wrinkles???? I dunno, but I need something!

I know James will be reading this, so don't worry honey I haven't called to check on Botox. I'll just work my booty a lil harder @ the gym, and hope it has some kind of affect:)

Well now back to the reason I thought I started this post.....I told you above that I felt a lil crazy & I guess you'd say I am getting old! I can't remember anything & I told James my give a damn is busted!! I just don't care like I use too, I don't know why but I have really let things go! Thank goodness my hubby is here to pick up my slack & do our laundry!! And don't worry it's not as bad as I make it sound, I'd still eat off my floor if I had too:) And I have definitely saw a few houses that were a lot worse off than mine!

Maybe it's age...maybe it's working nights....maybe it's the cold/dark weather....

I just don't know!!

But any how other than a CRAZY mother running or should I say living @ this household life is GREAT!! and I'm so grateful for all my friends & family!! And I think the main reason for this post was just for me.... I just needed to vent!

Then I just wanted to say..... Lately I've been really wishing my grandma was here. Today I needed a few things in Logan, and kept thinking if only my lil gram was here. She would be running to Logan sometime this week just to see what was on sale:) & she would be able to pick up the few things I need. I love & miss her so much and there isn't a day that goes by that I don't think about her:)

And one more thing, I still plan on making our blog private. But I'm not sure how to do that and I need to set up an appointment w/ Jacki:) lol And I also need a few extra minutes in my life/day to do this cause I think I have to hand type in every one's email addresses and for the time being I do not have time to do so:) So please hold.......and check back soon private or not!

TRICK-OR-TREAT

or should I say HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!!

Well we did things a lil different this year, our friends invited us over to a Halloween party. But the kids still wanted to go trunk-or-treating w/ our ward, so we got started a lil early & headed to Fielding first. We went to grandma Kent's first, so we could get one of her famous homemade sugar cookies. Then up to my mom & dad's & Newlin & Connor's houses, but due to time we didn't make it to Aunt B's or to Uncle Calebs and Kati's kids were w/ their dad and things just didn't really go as I thought they would.......well wait I really hadn't planned things out like I should have, and I didn't get to see any of my nieces or nephews all dressed up, I was kinda bummed. But there's always next year & we had fun changing things up a bit:]

Just a side note.....we usually all meet @ mom's so we can see everyone all dressed up & get a picture of all the "cousin friends" :)

So any how I guess you could say I'm just a lil crazy these days, I didn't even take a picture of my kids til we were @ my parent's house. This is so not me! I usually have a million pictures taken before we even get out the door. But any how here we have..........

Maddi as a doctor/nurse (which ever you'd prefer)

and Kobe Man as BUMBLE BEE the Transformer

Now for the party.......Jody & Amy planned and had the BEST Halloween party! They went all out and had it decorated so cute!! The kids thought it was awesome!! We had homemade soup & root beer & it was ExCeLlEnT!!





They had a pinata and a doughnut eating contest (idk if that's what you call it) and it was lots of fun!!

Here's Kobers going for his big bite!

and of course then the "moms" had to try, and I must say it's not as easy as it looks:]



Kobe, Zeb and Kaylee

Then after the party we made it back to the church & the kids had fun trunk-or-treating. Then we headed south to Gp. Udy & Ann's and then came back to Gp. & Gm. Hales. WOW!! what a busy day, we got home pretty early and were in bed by nine. We had to be up bright & early cause baby Emry was blessed Sunday morning.

P.S. I failed to mention the kids spent Friday night over @ gp. & gm. Hales' and on Saturday morning before they came home they made sugar cookies w/ gp. & gm.

It was the cutest thing ever we were driving over to Wellsville and Maddi & Kobe were talking about making the cookies & frosting them. And they were saying what colors they used & I asked if Eric came & they said no just grandma & us. Kobe says and Grandpa did a lil too, and he did a good job! He didn't even sake that much...huh Sis (asking for Maddi's approval) So cute! I love both my kids so much, they always bring a smile to my face:)