Christmas Festivities

There are several things we enjoyed this year during the month of December. It started off with Lacey performing at several events with the Ucon Elementary School choir. They performed at Snake River Landing, a live Ucon Community Nativity at Giles & Johnson’s car lot and did a performance for family and friends. It is always cold standing out there waiting for them to perform, but they put on a pretty good show for being elementary kids. These kids voluntarily get up early twice a week to be at the school at 7:15 am to practice for a month! There was about 90 kids who performed this year.

Kelly got to play Santa this year! A neighbor called at the last minute and asked him if he would be willing to do it for a family party. I told her he would. I just didn’t tell him that it wasn’t for kids, but adults, until he was ready to go. The suit was a little snug so I had to drive him. I sat in the driveway and watched as flash after flash went off. How I wished I could have been a fly on the wall! He had a good time joking with them. I knew he would have fun.

Next, was Alexia’s orchestra concert. She was advanced enough that her teacher asked her to perform with the 8th grade kids. She was only given three days to practice the pieces. She did pretty awesome! She is looking forward to their Spring concert where they get to perform movie based songs.

We went to Utah for Jenson’s baptism (my nephew) and while we were there we went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. We try to go every year if we can since this is where Kelly and I got engaged and it is such an awesome sight to see! We were told not to even try to drive downtown because the Elizabeth Smart trial had just ended and there was still a lot of national press in town and there was a BYU ballgame that night. We drove anyway and were still able to park right by Temple Square. It was still early though and the lights were due to be turned on for an hour and a half. We walked around and went to see the new Deseret Book and other new buildings around Temple Square. It has changed SOOOOO much since I went to college. It doesn’t even feel like the same place. The kids really wanted to go on top of the highest building, so we asked to be taken to the top of the Conference Center. They were kind enough to let us stay on top to see the lights turn on. I guess it was the first time they have ever allowed people up there that late. It was pretty amazing being able to look down onto Temple Square. We were so lucky to be able to see the lights from this advantage point.

This year we decided to hold off and not have our usual Christmas Eve family party so that Lorinda and Brandon could stay at their own homes for Christmas. They will join us on New Year’s Eve and we will have our party then. I decided it was time to start our own little family traditions. We took the kids sledding to the Sand Dunes in St. Anthony. Kelly and I haven’t been sledding there since we were engaged. It was perfect weather…not too cold and not windy! So unusual for Idaho. We got some great pictures of the kids.

I hope you enjoy this slideshow!

24 Hour Holiday Blitz

This Thanksgiving weekend was the best ever!  It was the first time in over 20 years that I had been together with all three of my sisters for Thanksgiving.  We had dinner at mom and dad's house as soon as Lorinda and Ezra arrived from Utah.  Last week we got pounded with snow and wind and so it was not the best traveling weather.  We normally have a nice sit down meal, but due to there being 28 of us, there weren't enough chairs for everyone to sit down and eat so we had it buffet style and on paper plates--less dishes to wash!  After dinner, we all sat down and scoured the ads for Black Friday.  At about 10:30 p.m. Thursday, we started our shopping spree....I can't believe it, but we shopped for over 12 hours!  If I had been by myself, there is no way I would have stayed up all night and stood in lines for an hour.  But, it was fun being together with Serena, Lorinda and Danielle.  Plus, I got all my Christmas shopping done in ONE NIGHT.  How awesome is that?!  I got home around 11:30 a.m., did a few things, and went to sleep until 4:00 p.m.  I stayed locked in my bedroom and got most all the gifts wrapped.  Now, I don't have to worry about getting anything other than stocking stuffers.  On Saturday, we got together and had our own Sister's Super Saturday.  We made Christmas Countdown blocks.  THANKS SERENA, LORINDA AND DANIELLE!!  Love ya

Alexia's 13th Birthday

There are two things that Alexia is passionate about--changing here hair, and gymnastics.  She told us that for her birthday she wanted her hair done professionally.  So, I called my hairstylists--Mallory at Generations.  Mallory is so awesome!  She is kind of hard to get because she recently got married and moved to Pocatello so she only comes to Idaho Falls to serve her customers here twice a month.  She was able to get us in just a few days after I called her and Alexia was absolutely beaming when she was done.  I think she likes Mallory now too!  She did get to have two of her friends over to spend the night and a few other things.

HALLOWEEN 2010

Lacey--our last Trick or Treater

The clean, bare fridge

What did you do for Halloween 2010?  For me, it started by doing something truly frightening!!  Cleaning out the fridge....I should just ban leftovers!  Really, what's the sense.  Nobody eats them and they just sit in there and take up room and go moldy until somebody (me) cleans it out.  Kelly and Tyler have been gone for four days on a Steelhead Fishing trip to Salmon with Uncle Shawn and Grandpa Madsen.  I hope they had a good time and didn't freeze too badly.  I was planning on taking the girls down to Utah to spend Halloween at Lorinda's house again.  We did that last year since Emmie and Ella were being blessed.  Everyone had so much fun spending time with all their cousins and it was a safe place to just turn the kids loose trick or treating.  However, Lacey came down with the stomach flu Tuesday, night and Lorinda has a sinus infection and a double ear infection.  Therefore, no trip to Utah.  I am not sure why, but I didn't feel like making the trip anyway.  Maybe something would have happened to us.  Who knows?  I am just trying to follow what I feel is right.
This afternoon, Alexia got to go with the cheerleaders from Rocky Mountain Middle School and read to kids at Barnes & Noble for an hour.  Lacey and I wandered around the mall.  I am very proud of Alexia.  She is very good at standing up for the right!  Several of the girls (keep in mind they are only 12-14 years old) decided they wanted frapacino's from the coffee shop in Barnes and Noble.  One of the girls even offered to buy Alexia one.  She stood up to them all and told them she won't drink coffee.  I couldn't believe 12-14 year olds are already drinking it!

It was supposed to be raining and pretty cold, but it turned out to be a calm, beautiful night for our Community Trunk or Treat.  The kids walk around the parking lot in a circle filling their bags, buckets, pillowcases, whatever..and then we all have hot chocolate to warm us up.

This is the closest picture I could get of Alexia.  She is visiting with one of our very favorite neighbors, Marie Jordan

 It's a fun time to visit with neighbors, friends and family! Next, we're off to Grandparents houses for more goodies and to see what the nieces and nephews have dressed up as and to see what loot they have brought in. The kids all run around the house, obviously on a sugar high! They stripped off their costumes and played. My sister, Danielle, declared that Peyton is going as a naked cowboy next year because he complains about the layers of clothing and how hot and uncomfortable they are.  I can't wait to see that Danielle!

The BIG Kahuna!

As of Thursday, Alexia is now The Big Kahuna at Rocky Mountain Middle School!  She was so excited Thursday when I picked her up from school.  She told me that Mr. Moeller has a basket shooting contest in his class.  There are several points from different areas in the class that are worth so many points.  The biggest one of all is "The Big Kahuna".  Supposedly, no girl has ever made that shot, and not too many boys have either.  She gracefully shot the ball 'of tape' into the air, over the back of the couch, rolled it down the back and it dropped straight into the narrow garbage 'bucket'.  Everyone shouted in praise and gave her high five.  Of course, she also won the challenge for her class teammates.  Then, as she walked down the halls, kids were yelling, "Alexia made the Big Kahuna!" and giving her high fives.  To hear her tell the story, you would have thought she won the big Title Tournament.

I'll strenthen thee, help thee, cause thee to stand.

I learned so much at church today.  I cried pretty much the whole 3 hours.  Lately, I have been feeling pretty much like I am just going through the motions of life without really living it.  In a sense you could say I was feeling "past feeling".  I have felt physically and spiritually week.  Today, despite of the usual crying and fighting before church, it was a good day.  I was touched by the testimonies that were born by John and Dena Price.  Their family has been through so much this past year, but they are so strong and faithful!  In Sunday school we learned about Jesus Christ through Isaiah.  In Isaiah 40 we learned that Heavenly Father "giveth power to the faint; and increaseth their strength.  He will renew my strength; mount up wings as eagles; and help me to run and not be weary; walk and not faint".  I have always loved the hymn "How Firm a Foundation" but I guess I haven't contemplated it for a while.  There are answers in that hymn for me... 
"Fear not, I am with thee, be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give the aid.  I'll strengthen thee, help thee, and cause thee to stand, upheld by my righteous, omnipotent hand". 
 I have known these things, and been promised these blessings for a long time, I had just forgotten them.  Lastly, in Relief Society we learned about having faith.  Faith involves doing all we can to bring about the things we hope and pray for.  President Kimball said "that many of us want to have health and strength without keeping the health laws.  We want to have prosperity without paying our tithes.  We want to be close to the Lord, but don't want to fast and pray.  We want to have rain and to have peace in the land without observing the Sabbath as a holy day and without keeping the other commandments of the Lord."  Everything just meshed together so beautifully.  It is through small and simple things that great things come about.  I need to recommit myself to doing the small things that Heavenly Father has asked us to do.

First Day of School 2010-2011

August 30, 2010 started a new school year for us.  This year marks a new stage in our life.  We now have kids in all three stages of school.  Tyler is a freshman at Bonneville High School, Alexia is in the 7th grade at Rocky Mountain Middle School, and Lacey is in the 5th grade at Ucon Elementary.  For the next two years, my kids will be on their own in their own schools.  Alexia can no longer make Lacey take her lunch money to school for her and get her homework for her.  They each are responsible for their own lunch and homework.
Our highway has also been reconstructed to a four lane highway instead of two, which has brought changes to the busing situation.  The kids are no longer allowed to cross the highway (THANKS GOODNESS).  They have to be picked up and dropped off on the same side of the road that they live on.
It was pouring rain that morning and I was so worried about the bus stop that I forgot to get any First Day of School pictures.  I will have to get some taken soon before they grow too much!

Funeral's

I took Alexia and Lacey to the funeral of Wanda Harris.  I was her visiting teacher for a while when they were in our ward and we became close friends with her only grandson, Nate Rasmussen, and his wife Brooke.  Nate and Brooke moved to Oregon about the same time that our ward was split and we were no longer in the same ward as the Harris's.  We have gone to visit Brooke and Nate once in Oregon and keep telling the kids we will go back and visit them again.  They have had to come back to Idaho four times for funerals!  Wanda's husband, Bud passed away in January and Brooke and Nate told us how sad they were that hardly anyone came to his funeral.  Wanda's funeral was on Saturday, so I decided ahead of time that I needed to go.  Kelly and Tyler were gone with the Teacher's and Priest to float Hoback Junction.
I didn't want to go through the line for the viewing so I just took the girls into the chapel and sat down to wait.  I didn't give it much thought that this was the first funeral the girls had ever been to.  About half way through the talks, Lacey turned to me and asked,"Mom, what is that long box up there?"  I just turned to her and told her it was the casket.  Then after a few more minutes she asked, "Is she in there?"  I told her "Yes" and didn't say much more. (I had been crying and continued to cry through the whole thing).  As I have thought about this over the last few days, I am glad I took them to a funeral of someone they weren't really connected to before they have to attend a funeral of a loved family member.  I know it is only a matter of time now before we will be having one of our own.  I know I have more explaining to do, but it helps just a little bit, knowing they kind of know what to expect. 
I hate funerals!  I was crying harder than the family members were and ended up with a headache because of it.  I guess I have been given the gift of being able to "mourn with those who mourn".

Lacey's tenth birthday continued

Lacey and Kalli Harris at Ross Park in Pocatello for her 10th birthday

This year Lacey really wanted a Pogo Stick. I still don't understand why, but she got it anyway.

Ten years goes by so fast--Lacey

In the NICU at Portneuf

I honestly can't believe how fast ten years goes by.  Today is Lacey's tenth birthday!  I can still remember the day she was born like it was just yesterday.  I was so close to her even before she was born.  We both fought so hard to get her here, and then she had to fight to stay here.  We know she has a special mission to perform here on this earth.  She will always be our angel baby.

ULTIMATE WATER PARTY

Ucon, Idaho StakeYoung Men/Young Women Annual Water Party

Our Stake knows how to throw a water party.  I couldn't believe it the first time I saw it!  They flood the field; and by flood I mean a couple of feet of water.

Alexia

They bring out a tank from Rain for Rent, a dunking booth, tubes, volleyball nets, almost anything you can think of doing in the water.

Tyler

Don't think for a second you don't want to get wet.  You will, whether or not you want to.  They even get inside the car wet if you aren't careful!

Under Construction

Old road next to new road--see that huge gap!

Blue Angels come to Idaho Falls

All six Blue Angels flying together

We finished off our week long vacation with the ultimate show---
THE BLUE ANGELS!!  The stealth bomber was supposed to fly over at 11:00, but made an early appearance at around 10:15.  We were able to see it as we were driving, but couldn't get any really good photos of it.  It was amazing!  You can hardly hear it and it is soooo thin.
We drove out along one of the county roads in Osgood that Kelly knew from growing up out there and parked to watch the show.  It was free--we didn't have to pay the $20 per person entry.  We had an awesome view, as we were just at the end of the runway.  The couples next to us were retired military personnel and they had someone that was directly at the airport relaying information to them.  The best part was that we didn't have to stand in line for hours and deal with the crowds.  It was estimated that there was over 38,000 people at the show.  We weren't prepared however with food and sunscreen.  I fried even though I tried to stay in the shade and covered up my bare arms with another shirt; and our bladders were pushed to the limits.  The kids really enjoyed it....and so did Kelly...he took over 200 photos.  No, I won't post them all.

Fat Albert

The stealth bomber

I found it fitting that the show was on July 24th--Pioneer Day.  I can't think of a more perfect way to celebrate our heritage and our freedom that our ancestors and military personnel have made so many sacrifices for.  THANK YOU IS NOT ENOUGH!  I love our country and especially living in the State of Idaho.  We are truly blessed.  

Roaring Springs

Summer Vacation Part 2

Alexia with Emma in the Little Splash Mountain kiddie pool.

Waiting in line for the Mammoth Canyon family ride.

While on vacation in Boise we took the kids to what has become their favorite water park--Roaring Springs.  We went there for the first time last year and they absolutely loved it.  I had wished then that I had a camera to take pictures.  This year I made sure I took a camera.  Not wanting to get our good camera ruined (there is a lot of water flying around there) I opted for a one time use camera.  Although the pictures aren't the greatest quality, I was able to capture a little bit of the fun.  We were able to have Andy, Kayla, Emma and Quinten go with us this time.  Emma didn't quite like the water unless she was splashing it on Alexia and Lacey.  Quinten on the other had loved the water!  I think this is quickly becoming a yearly tradition.

In Lane 1 is Lacey, she got a good head start.  In Lane 2 is Andy, and in Lane 3, coming down fast to win the race is Kelly.

Lacey in the White Water Bay wave pool.

Do you see anyone you recognize?  That's Kelly right in the center.

The end of Mammoth Canyon--They  got some major waves, almost rolled the tube. Wish I could have gotten pictures inside the ride.

The END

Alexia and Lacey had so much fun floating down Birch Creek. We would take them upstream on the 4-wheeler, drop them off, and down they went. The only thing that would stop them was a fisherman here and there. It was fast moving, but not too deep.

Alexia and Lacey floating down Birch Creek.  Don't they look like happy, sweet sisters! (Why can't they act this way at home?)

Why does she always think she needs to shake as soon as she comes out of the water?

Susy--her swimming has improved so much!

Susy just laying around.

Susy thoroghly enjoyed herself too. She spent her time either laying around sleeping or swimming in the water.  What a dog's life!

At the entrance to the old copper mine up past Skull Canyon.

You can't beat Grandpa Carpenter at Blonco!  He's the champ...

Grandpa Carpenter was a great host! He was always up for a game of blonco, fishing the streams, and was our guide up to the abandoned cave. For 87 years old, he is in excellent shape!

Summer Vacation--Part 1--Camping at Birch Creek

Alexia showing Tyler how it's done at Meadow Lake.

Lacey jumping the creek with her fish in hand.

We spent the first three days of our vacation camping out at Birch Creek with Great Grandpa Carpenter. We spent our days fishing the creeks, exploring old abandoned mines, playing in the creek and playing blongo. It was a lot of fun and a time I'm sure the kids will always remember (especially since it was spent with Great Grandpa Carpenter!) The drive on the four wheelers up to the abandoned mine was a little scary at times, but Tyler and Alexia did awesome navigating the trails. NO INJURIES!
We also had the chance to fish at Meadow Lake. I couldn't believe how many people were camping WAY UP THERE; but I can see why they were; it was beautiful. Still had snow in July. We packed up Monday morning, drove home, unloaded and re-loaded for Part 2 of our Vacation; to Boise.

First Camping Trip of 2010

We took our first camping trip of 2010 the weekend of May 14-16. The weather was absolutely perfect!! I couldn't believe how many campers there were. We were lucky to even get a spot. Some things we learned on this camping trip:

1. ALWAYS MAKE SURE YOUR FIRE IS COMPLETELY OUT!! COVER WITH WATER, DIRT, ETC. The people before us obviously didn't know this. All it took was a little kindling and a breeze and BAM the fire lit itself.

The fire that started itself.  No match required!

2. My girls are avid fishermen. They didn't learn this from me! Lacey caught the first and second fish. Alexia, however, caught more snags than anything. She manged to lose the top half of her fishing pole half way out in the river while trying to get un-snagged. Luckily, Kelly is an expert at handling situations like this and was able to not only get back the top of the pole, but also got the whole line, worm and all back.

Lacey caught the first fish before we even had camp set up.

Alexia looking at the other end of Kelly's fishing pole out in the middle of the stream.

3. Lacey STILL HATES riding on 4 wheeler trails. See, Kelly had the girls on the 4 wheeler with him a couple of years ago when they went on what was marked as an ATV trail...they soon found out it was mis-marked. It was barely wide enough for a motorcycle and they ended up rolling the 4 wheeler. Kelly knew this was going to happen and had them get off BEFORE it rolled. Lacey is still terrified. I took the girls and went up Stinking Springs ATV trail. When we got to the end of the trail, Lacey started pounding on my back and yelling and crying to stop and turn around.

4. My absolute, most favorite thing about camping--NO FIGHTING! My kids don't fight while we are camping, but start right back up when we are within a mile of the house. I don't get it--maybe we should take to living in the camper.