Happy 17th Anniversary!!!

Can it really have been so long that we have been married? When we decided to get married we were both students and not making much money. Brett's dad was a little worried and said, "You can't live on love alone." Well we haven't, we've added great memories in those 17 years we added 4 children, 1 big dog, lived in 4 different states (some more than once), 7 apartments, 3 houses, many trips to lots of different places, only 3 trips to the emergency room, a few pounds to each of us, and we created a fabulous relationship with each other. Brett and I are different from each other in so many ways and have to laugh at most of them. For example, he stirs his hot chocolate slow and smooth while I prefer to do it fast and furiously. Oh well, we seem to live each day in our own way and somehow it works out at the end of the day.

SNOW DAY!?!

Hooray, it snowed!!!

It started snowing Monday morning with just little flakes on and off during the day. When the kids got off the bus there was more snow and it just kept coming down. Early evening it was announced that school would be on a 2 hour delay and we were all hoping that school would be cancelled. Sure enough school ended up being cancelled Tuesday morning. Snow days are the best! It is all about snowball fights, snowmen, snow angels and hot chocolate.

Yesterday in Denver my friend, Teri, said some of the buses couldn't run because it was so cold. Yet, school wasn't cancelled. Well, it only takes this amount of snow to get the schools closed down here in Albuquerque. What a fun day!

Very Cool Skateboard Cake!!!

Justin had a "WAY SICK" cake! Audrey made this cake and it turned out great. All the boys loved it, both the way it looked and tasted. Before we could light the candles Justin had all his friends hold the cake to see how heavy it was. This cake was definately the BOMB!!!

In the end, this was all that was left of the skateboard dude!!!

Justin Turns 12!!!

My Sweet Little Justin is 12!!!

Justin is 12 and I can't believe it!!! He is such a great kid (I wanted to use the word boy, but he seems to old for that word. He is the child that keeps us laughing, solves the arguments, has no fear (about anything), can create amazing oragami, jumps off our 6 foot high walls landing on the rocks in his bare feet (without feeling pain), will do what he wants without caving into peer-pressure (that can be good and bad), can turn anything into a game (grocery shopping is an adventure with him along), and he sees the good in everything.

Brandon and Justin will now be in Young Men's together. Brandon said he'll make sure Justin stays in line. I never had to wonder how Brandon would behave. With Justin, I wonder.

For his birthday he just had a few friends play lazer tag, eat pizza and yummy cake,

and then goof off!!!

We have such GREAT friends!

As Brett left for early morning basketball, this is what he saw!!! Thankfully he
didn't call me at 6:15 in the morning. He waited until about 8:30. He know I love sleep!

There was no question in our minds as to one of the culprits. We found out later there were actually 2 disfunctional families involved. I really hope they aren't feeling too at ease at home in their warm houses. Because, as far as we know, the score has not been settled...............................

Acutually, we have loved having such fun friends, even if we sit on opposite

sides when BYU and UTAH are concerened. We are glad they haven't forgotten

about us since they kicked us into a new ward that we love just as much.

Where do they get this stuff?

We all know things get done faster
and in the right way don't we?
Well, I'm trying to have my kids help out more with things other than their regular chores. Well, when you ask a 14 year old to crush some Oreo cookies, this is what you might get!!!

At first I was a little mad because I couldn't image why he would think that would be okay with me. Then I had to laugh for a few reasons: 1. Braondon didn't complain when I asked him to help. 2. All the Oreo's stayed in the bag. 3. Bouncing a basketball on the bag actually did a better job than my more traditional way of using a rolling pin. Who would have guessed?

Technology!?!?!

Okay, so I was able to get my pictures from my memory card, but the card isn't working in my camera!?! At least I have the pictures, and they are saved on a disk! Brandon had a great season. He has played soccer since he was 5 so making the basketball team the last 2 year in middle school has been pretty cool.




Our sweet little Kelsey loves everything about whatever she is doing. Coach Petersen told the team that when they are on defense to get their guns out and point one at the person you are guarding and one at the basket. As you can see she does as she is told. Her guns were pulled the entire game. Her team is made up of 3rd and 4th grade kids. You'd never guess that she is one of the older kids based on how tall she is or isn't.

Technology!?!?!?

AUGH!!! I was downloading pictures from my camera and decided I didn't want to wait that long so I pulled my memory card out and I think I lost 483 pictures from my card!!! Daneille said, "Why did you have so many pictures on your camera?" Thanks Danielle. Lesson learned. So I had some great pictures of both Kelsey and Brandon playing, but I've turned into a mom that doesn't know how to work with modern technology. Thanks for good friends who have taken pictures of Brandon playing.

The Circe of Life

Brandon's basketball season is coming to an end with just 2 games left, but Kelsey's just started. While at Brandon's games Brett and I laugh at how the coach and some parents think the game is a life altering event. Kelsey's games are simply entertaining. Kelsey went from being on a pre-team gymnastics class to rookie basketball player. She was awesome on defense, both while a defender and while she was on offense. Like I said she is a rookie. She loved every minute of the game and every day of the week leading up to the game.