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. 

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! 

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.   

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!  

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. 

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. 

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. 

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.  

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! 

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!

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.