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Sunday, December 29, 2013

New Years at the Cabin

This year New Years was in the middle of the 
week and made it a little tricky for planning so
the family went to the cabin the weekend before
New Years to celebrate.
We took the kids skis and let them practice.
Owen did not like it much and it took Riley a bit
to enjoy it like the year before.  There was not much
snow and a few rocks you had to dodge.  Paige
zoomed down the hill and Riley went slow
and worked on her technique. Brandon worked with
Sierra and Owen.   Owen did not want to stand up
and Sierra loved it and after a few times down the 
hill with Brandon she was able to go down herself. 
Paige 


Riley


Sierra 


Owen


Grandpa pulled us up the hill after skiing or sledding
down.  Owen, Josh and Bailee went along for the
ride. 

Riley and Paige liked getting pulled up the hill.
Honestly though getting pulled up the hill on a 
snow board is trickier then you think.  
I caught an edge and landed in rocks.  It did not
feel too good! 




In the cozy warm cabin we read books, played
the iPads, put together puzzles, ate yummy food,
made forts, watched movies, played games and
loved every minute of it.   
Oh, and not to mention go for 4 wheeler rides.  
Which of course the men did for hours! 



For our annual tradition Grandma brought up
poppers and noise makes for the kids to have a
pre new years count down celebration!
I think the kids are the only ones who like 
the noise makers!  


Standing in the loft and letting the confetti rain down
is something we now do every year.  


I love this picture of Sierra helping Tate and Owen 
get the air hockey puck from the middle 
when it got stuck.
Their short little arms can barely reach to play. 


On sunday before we went to church Bob dedicated
the cabin.  He shard his thoughts and told us all
why he and Lisa built the cabin and how important
family is, specifically talking to the grandkids and how
they all are more important then any of the things 
we enjoy at the cabin and even the cabin it self. 

It was a touching moment to hear Bob and Lisa
tell us about the love they have for family
and the importance of it.  

I am so impressed with Brandon's parents
how they know by living their lives according
to the way the Lord wants true happiness is felt.  


I'm so grateful to be apart of a 
Christ centered family.  




On the actually day of New Years Eve as a family
went out to eat at the Brick Oven.  It's not our favorite
place but we all like pizza and it's one of the few
restaurants Brandon and I have taken the kids 
out to eat.  We still hesitate doing that.  After dinner 
we stayed home as a family and played games and had
 a count down in the front yard a couple of hours before 
midnight banging pans.  Our goal was to be
as loud as we could.  My kids could not make it to
midnight and that is one of the other reasons we
did the count down before ten. 



Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Christmas Day 2013

Christmas morning began as it usually does.  But
not as early as the last year.  Thank goodness!
We told the girls to call my cell phone when 
they woke up.  My phone rang around 7:00 am.
The girls were all a wake down stairs and 
ecstatic!  Owen however was completely asleep 
still.  I really did not want to wake him because I
wanted him to be happy during the day.  So I told
the girls to watch some T.V. for a bit.  They did
and called us again around 7:45 and could not
stand it anymore.  So I woke up Owen
and it took him a minute to wake up.  But he
was still excited.  The girls climbed on our
bed to show us everything that was left in their
stocking.  


Then to continue the tradition on both sides of the
family we let the kids go in to the living room
youngest to oldest.  And I'm so disappointed that
I forgot to snap a picture of the living room
before it got destroyed.  



The kids had fun giving each other gifts they and
picked out and paid for themselves.   Later
Both Grand Parents came over to share in the 
excitement with the kids.  




Later that day we went to Brandon's parents
house to exchange more gifts.



We left to see my dad for a bit before heading to
Kami's to be with my family for dinner.
After dinner we snuggled on the couches and
floor with blankets, hot chocolate and popcorn
to watch a movie on the big screen at Kami's 
house.  We left  her house at the end of a long day 
completely exhausted but happy!

It was a wonderful Christmas! 



Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Christmas Eve

For Christmas Eve we celebrated at Brandon's 
parents house.  It was a wonderful night spent
with wonderful people.  
We ate a yummy dinner, relaxed, watched a play (done
by the kids), shared our thoughts about our Savior and Family,
sang Christmas songs while the kids rang the bells, watched
my girls play their piano songs, and ended the night 
eating treats dipped in the chocolate fountain. 
It was a wonderful night! 


The kids put on a play all
by themselves.  They got all dressed up in Grandma's 
dress up clothes and acted out the Nativity story. 


The kids loved the chocolate fountain.   

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Christmas Sunday

That is what we call it. 
 "Christmas Sunday", the Sunday 
before Christmas. 

I some times buy dresses for the girls
for Christmas but mostly just for Easter 
however I saw these dresses and I love the
color and the price was fantastic and
they had all my girls sizes.  So I could not
resist!  My girls loved them to!
We always take our family picture before 
church on the Sunday before Christmas.

My girls are so beautiful! 




Owen had a matching tie from last year so
that worked well.  Owen smiled pretty darn
good I thought!  

Saturday, December 21, 2013

Christmas Piano Recital

Paige and Riley had their Christmas Piano Recital. 

Paige played three songs.  Once of which was a duet
with her teacher, Connie.


Riley played two songs.  One was a duet with her teacher. 

Thursday, December 19, 2013

Gardner Christmas Party

This year for the Gardner Christmas party it was
a little more low key.  Not everyone came at the
same time so it lowered the craziness level!
Great Grandpa and Grandma Gardner every 
year get everyone presents for children, grand
children and great grand children.  They are so
generous and kind.  

Owen got some power ranger action figures and
gave Grandma and Grandpa hugs.  He was 
excited! 

Riley got a new Dress.  Paige got new jeans.
And Sierra got the new Barbie Mariposa doll. 


We always have it at Aunt Ann's house and all
bring something to contribute to the wonderful 
dinner we have. 

Saturday, December 14, 2013

School Christmas Concerts

The girls School had their Christmas music concert. 
We went early to get a good seat which I did.  It
was the second row.  However it ended up being
not such a good seat.  There were too many kids
that you could not see Paige the entire time and 
Sierra was in the front but stuck behind a girl that
was a foot taller then her.  And poor Riley was also
stuck behind someone.  But the kids had fun singing
their songs for us and got to wear their Pajamas
for the concert. 



 A couple days later the school's show choir that
Riley is a part of got to do two performances.  One
in Layton at the conference center and another
at Farmington Station.  It was cold outside but
fun for the kids.  Grandma and Grandpa came
to the Farmington performance.  Afterward we
walked around with some friends and checked out
the candy store. 

Monday, December 9, 2013

Winter Discoveries

While the kids were playing in the snow they all discovered
large ice sickles.   They thought they were so cool!  
It kept them busy for a while.  

Friday, December 6, 2013

Riley's Birthday Party


Riley had a Friend Birthday Party a few days after
her Birthday.  She wanted to play laser tag with her friends
so we had the party at the Syracuse Family Fun Center.

The girls played laser tag, miniature golf, arcade games,
bounced on the bounce slides, ate brownies and snacks
and had a good time!  Riley was nice enough to let her
siblings tag along.
Paige, Riley, Whitney, Bri, Aliya, Ashlyn, Hallie, Sydnee, Analey, Hailey and Sierra



The girls figured out which game gave them the 
most tickets! 









Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Riley's 10th Birthday

For Riley's Birthday Dinner which we had the night
before she picked French Dip Sandwiches.  
One of her new favorites. 


On her Birthday she wore her new shirt.  I usually
take a picture at home of my kids on their birthday
but we were running a bit behind and so she
got her picture taken right before she ran into
school. 


Riley got to have a special moment in class to talk 
about herself and I brought in a treat of Riley's 
choice to share with the class.  She wanted 
ice cream. 


Later that night Family came over to celebrate her
Birthday.  She was very excited to get a new
desk that actually was mine when I was little.
I repainted it to match the colors of her room. 



Aunt Kami and Uncle Mikel with cousin Emery


Grandpa and Grandma Gardner


Two of Riley's Aunts, Katie and Rachael


Great Grandpa and Grandma Gardner 



Riley does not like frosting and chocolate cake.  
So in stead of doing a white cake with no 
frosting she wanted Brownies and ice cream. 



Two of Riley's Uncles, Spencer and Jeff



HAPPY BIRTHDAY
Riley!

We love you!

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Thanks Giving

For Thanks Giving this year we went to Idaho to spend the day
with my family.  Four out of the six siblings and their families 
were there.  Kami and Skyla both announced that they were 
expecting.  Both due in June a week apart.  We are all
so excited!  
We had a fabulous meal and of course on my mom's best China.


After we ate we went shooting.  We shot John's guns and
 did a little shot gun shooting at clay pigeons.  


The kids took their turn shooting but were more
interested in driving the four wheeler.  



 Brandon, Michael, Mikel-in the red, Karissa and John 


The sun set was gorgeous but you can't quite tell in 
the picture.  But I love my hubby anyway! 



The next Morning the kids went with Grandpa to feed the 
cows.   They love riding in the back of the truck while the
cows grap the hay off the back where they are standing.  


And of course went for a ride on the tracker.   


We later caught up with Michael and Skyla and went bowling.