New Year

 = New Church clothes!

One of Elliot's first words was "porta-potty"!
How many points is that worth?
The boys were playing Nan's game and Elliot liked the sound of it I guess.

We always have to remind our Boys to say Thank yous in their prayers. So we were all tickled when Rowdy sincerely Thanked H.F. that dinosaurs weren't alive so they wouldn't eat us.

 & Ezra is thankful for "Super-Why"

 

yeah and we aren't even messing with resolutions to eat healthier....

mmmm creme brulee french toast

This is how our New years morning started out. Then we were off to church. It was so nice having my Mom around. I was so glad we were able to snag her for that extra week

Once a minion always a minion

This is his "mad face"

He does have his moments.

After Christmas Sale!

Guess who is going to have the craziest fun yard next year?!Elliot was so excited an waving when these guys were blowing up but then when she really saw Dora she got kinda frieked. It was pretty funny

 

The boys always get crazy excited to help put stuff up in the attic. They love the pull down stairs, plus its just so cool to see our house from up there

Released

I was realeased from YW today.

Its going to be tuff not seeing my girls as often

My family has totally been sustained as I have been serving with the YW. We have been witnesses of many many small miracles.

It has been inspiring to be around this group of girls. I feel like I have learned so much and had so many special experiences, and seen these girls grow up. So many of my sweet Mia Maids when I came into YW are now graduating! The girls have also reached out to me and my kids and offered so much service and love and friendship. It is so neat to have seen so many them be converted and change for good. but then there is also the heartache for those who are struggling to make good choices or having trials in their lives. I just love them. All of them. so it hurts to go. YW has been a big chunk of my life for the past couple years. and I have enjoyed most of it. I am thankful for the chance I had to share my testimony with them. I know its time for them to learn from others now. 

So now I go, from probably the most social calling in church into Primary. Its going to be a shock. but at least Livee will be there to help me through it :) 

I will go and do.

Thanks for your goodness Justin Ward girls.

My door is always open.

papa yaya week

Here are a few more photos of papayaya week..

Yaya's cool cookie cutters..10 stars make a christmas tree!

Went to Cabela's to see the fish feeding. 

Elliot cracked me up. Propping her feet right up and chillin' with the fish

Then we fed our own fish

 

 

The Fam came to my Friday night indoor game. 

We ended up playing the hardest team ever so that was a little embarassing. but my mom ended up staying one more week so we got to redeem ourselves.

 

Elliot discovered this shoe game all by her self. She cracks us up stealing everyone's shoes, crawling around with them on her hands.

 

We ate some good food too while Papa and Yaya were here. mmmm. Anyway my Dad tried to take mom home on Saturday morning, but my sweet husband told me to sneak away and see how much it would be to fly her home after a week. So we did that and my poor Dad had to drive back to CA alone. Work was a factor though. Thanks for letting us snag her...even though it was probably even harder to say goodbye.

The most Exciting NEw YeArs EveR!!

Camera 1. 

Shortly after camera 1 we played flashlight tag and the Carmacks came over and played with us. Then the wind started picking up so we put water on our fire and went inside. We played games and ate yummy food and were having a good time.....

 Camera 2

Then we look outside through the blinds an hour later and realize our backyard is on Fire! A coal we didn't see flew into the woodpile and spread onto our dead grass and was inches away from our dry old fence. Thank goodness Cody didn't pick those green weeds! We got the hose & stamped & dumped & got it out quickly. We went straight inside and offered a family prayer of thanks. Whew Thank you Heavenly Father.

 And then we partied on.

Miles told us his Chubby story

 & Elliot Decided to Walk!

 She had to get it in before the year was out! Yay! Elliot!

 

The boys put together Cody's paper airplane launcher and we had a contest

 Then at midnight we stuffed our faces with 12 grapes, well... Cody stuffed my face. and then we made some noise!!

 

Happy New Year Everyone!! 

2012 Here we come

BYU Bowl game

Wow! Letti helped us get hooked up with the Sorensen's family tickets because they couldn't make it to the BYU Bowl game at SMU. 

It was the Armed forces Bowl so they had the whole fly by and smoke jumpers and armed forces moments. It was so neat. This was basically my first college football game. I went to one in San Diego but I can barely remember it was so long ago. It was Amazing.

 The game was super exciting. and it was really fun seeing Danny and his cousin out there doing awesome and we were in the family section so everybody was super passionate..especially the Ogletrees sitting right in front of us

 

and the whole Dallas mission...

 who got sat right in front of the cheerleaders

 Somehow this combo ended up on my lap

 The weather the game and the company were amazing. That's Jill Stewart and my Dad, who were cracking me up all game. Thanks a gazillion to my Mom for watching the grandchildren.

 and the Gandys from our ward

yeah Cody and I totally wore the wrong color blue. which happened to be the Okies team color. oops.

The Cougs pulled through to win in the last 4 minutes. It was super exciting.

Thank you very very much Sorensens and Letti. That was neat

Great Wolf

Yaya and Papa treated us to the Great Wolf Lodge. Its so fun (and embarrassing) to go swimming in the middle of winter :) We had a great time.

We couldn't help imagining next year fun with Locke & Katie family

My Dad called Ezra the lone wolf because he could have the best time all by himself if he wanted to.

Elliot's little hand-me down bathing suit was so cute on her.

 

She has sprouted! Look how long she is

Ezra looooved these little shoot'em up jet skis

 

and surprised us by waiting in line so patiently for the mini water slides.

 

Rowdy had a blast and even passed the general eyeball height test and onto a bigger water slide with his Papa and Dad. unfortunately the later lifeguard was a stickler for the above the line policy and so they waited a long time in line fer nuthin', but Rowdy had a blast he was everywhere. He is such a good boy. I have no doubt he was polite in all his adventures. Its nice to be able to have that kind of trust in a 4 years old.

 

We just stayed one night but had 2 days at the water park. 

Thank you Papa and Yaya for the fun.

Christmas part deux feat. Yaya & Papa

My Mom and Dad got here on the eve of the 26th. It was like Christmas!! They even brought Rowdy's requested hand puppets for Elliot. It was so nice to see them and get some QT

but then we always get so spoiled its even harder to let them go back home

Elliot adored Yaya. If Yaya wasn't holding her she would crawl through the house calling her

Aunt Katie MADE Elliot's hat!! Isn't it so cool?! It looks so professional. The top is a little flower stemmy bud. It is adorable and Elliot totally leaves it on! Thanks Aunt Katie.

We had lots of fun trips to the parks W Papa & Yaya

Rowdy has a style all his own :) 

I love that he is so independent in getting himself ready

Elliot loves trying to ride Bikes w her bros. She just scoots along