HaPpY NeW YeAR!! =)

I usually do a lil review of the years adventures, so here it goes... Minus the pictures this year!! I'm too lazy for that!

 

 

This year we have had some pretty fun, excited, scary, and big adventures!!

 

One of James & I's favorites was our cruise, then our families favorite was DISNEYLAND! We did lots of camping late summer early fall & it was a BLAST!!

 

Then I quit my job (SCARY!!) But got a new one that I LOVE!! for a GREAT company!! This just goes to show that "sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together!!" That's part of a favorite quote of mine & I find it to be very true!!

 

Then James & I finally bought a "REAL" bike.... Harley BABY!! =) LOVE IT!

 

Then last but not least we moved out of James parents into our own lil place that we are learning to LOVE!! & I am learning that bigger & better isn't always BEST!! It's not my 1st pick but it has everything we need & we are HAPPY!!

 

I am always excited to start a new year, I'm always up for a fresh start!! So here's to 2013

Bring it on!!

 

We don't have any big adventures planned, but I'll get workin on that!! =)

 

 

HaPpY NeW YeaR!!! =)

It looks like...

 

Santa found us!! =) Here are just a few pics of Christmas morning @ our house...

 

 

Mads was in heaven with her new 1D t-shirt!! =)

Kobe LOVED his new Lego set!!

 

After we did our thing we headed to Gp. & Gm Hales' to talk to Eric =) The kids were both way excited to hear from him. He is doing good & will be home next year @ this time. YaY!!

 

After that we headed to see my sweet gm. Kent, & then to my parents for our traditional ham & funeral potatoes!! YuMmM!!

 

We had a great time with family & friends & are looking forward to 2013!! =)

Well...

I just thought I'd give ya'll a lil update. On Sunday I got called to be a R.S. teacher, YIKES!! I'm a lil nervous, I might have been born & raised in the church but I don't feel like I know the gospel all that well & especially not well enough to teach. I have only ever taught Sunbeams & that was easy, cause they never knew if I was prepared or just reading it out of the book that day! =) lol We have only went to church in our new ward 3 times, so I was totally not expecting this...

 

So I guess here is to a new adventure!!

My handsome lil man....

 

 

Kobe went to gm.Delorise's on Thursday last week & him & grandpa helped her make sugar cookies... She sent Kobe home with all the fixings to decorate his cookies for Santa!! Friday was just a half day so he skipped school & hung out with his daddy-o! When I got home from work he got out all his business & got his cookies all done. His hair is a lil wild & crazy!! But other than that I think he is one handsome lil man & I love him to pieces!! Makes me smile inside & out!! =)

 

 

 

 

 

 

This pictures just makes me SMILE!! =)

 

 

I guess Mads is getting too old for this kind of stuff kind of bitter...sweet! But

 I sure do love that girl!! She had her 1st school dance on Friday & it was a hit!! I went to work early so I didn't even think to get a pic of her all dressed up. But she looked like a lil diva!!

Christmas Eve (Eve)

On the Sunday (12/23) my mom did the Kent family Christmas party, so that all the kids could be there. She always has the kids dress up in the nativity while she reads a lil Christmas story.... Mads thought she was too old to dress up this year but was a good sport & help with Zack & the star, Zack was so dang cute!!

 Look @ this sweet little thing!! He is so dang cute, I could eat him!!

 

 

Kobe Man

       

 

The whole clan =)

After Gp. & Gma's we headed home so the kids could open their Christmas Eve presents. The anxiety was killing Kobe!
This year I switch it up & got them slippers instead of p.j.'s & they both got a new book & a new pillow with some pretty awesome pillow cases!! =)

 

The BIG city.... NO Dad's allowed!!

This last weekend Jerian invited me & my kids to go stay in Salt Lake & go to the lights & do a lil shopping!! :) It's been a few years sense we have done this, so I was all about it!! Our hubby's had to work so it was just us & the kids. Cade was going out of town so I invited Jacki & her kids to join us. Angie joined us as well, and we had a FUN weekend!! :)

 

  

 

Jacki & her kids @ Temple Saquare

 

My 2 cute kids, that I love & adore!! :)

Maddi, Me, Emry, Jacki, Asher & Kobe

 

 

 

Shay, Kobe, Maddi & Triston

 

 

Shay & Kobe enjoying all the food they could eat @ Tucanos!! YuM!! Kobe had his mouth full of chicken hearts, lets just say it wasn't as good as he thought it would be!! :) LoL

 Kobe hooking arms with Shay making sure they stayed safe & stayed together. I think this is the last time we will see them hooking arms or holding hands. They are getting way too cool for that!! :)

Before we left we were supposed to meet up with Jerian & the kids to put together these little care packages for the kids to hand out to people we saw down town that were less fortunate than they are. Our schedules never matched up so Jerian & her kids put them together for us. I LOVE this idea!!

They had candy canes & mints, tooth brushes & paste, kleenex, jerky, granola bar, hand warmers, wipes, a water bottle & a few other items.

 

Kobe & Shay getting ready to pass out their bags. It was so awesome to see the kids doing this AWESOME act of service!! Kobe even got a few tears in his eyes, he said he just felt so bad for them. It was amazing to see how different each person reacted. Some said thank you & you could see they truly needed it & others just took the bag & still asked for money. One guy even gave it back & said he really didn't need it. It was very interesting!! But I thought it was awesome & it brought a few tears to my eyes as well, LOVED it!!

 

 

 

We hope you all have a MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

 

ONLY 6 DAYS!! :) Yikes... I'm so EXCITED!!

Here's what I've been up to....

 

 

Becki, Jacki & I have been trying to master candy making!! Our grandma Kent always made the BEST candy, and it always looked like a pro dipped them. Us girls have struggled with getting ours to look like a pro's. :) We have been doing this for the last 3 years & this year I think is the BEST one yet!! We didn't waste near as much as last year, we finally got the thermometer figured out & mastered the caramel making!! And Jacki & Becki made the BEST batch of fondant so far...YaY!! I just thought it would be fun to post a lil photo to show off our almost pro candy making skills!! :)

 

 

 

 

P.S. Even when  it looks like poo, it stills taste dang good!! :) LoL

It's being to look a LOT like.....

CHRISTMAS!!

 

I was just going to put up a lil tree I had gotten last year that was perfect for the "pad" (a.k.a James parents basement). But when I told my kids they wanted to get a REAL tree!! At our old house I always did 2 fake trees, a kids one down & a more "fancy" one upstairs.... The last 2 years @ our house we just did one REAL tree upstairs & my kids LOVED it!! So last week we went & got a REAL tree. James worked last weekend so the kids & I decorated it. It was fun!! Kobe loves Christmas music so Mads got that goin for us & we gotter done!!

 

This year I'm kinda having a hard time getting in the "spirit" so I haven't put up/out any other decorations, so hopefully I can get that done this weekend.... Here is a lil photo of our tree. It's not my favorite, but it does the job!! =)

 

 

Last night was our ward party & Santa was there... Well neither of my kids wanted to sit on Santa's lap. Kinda made me sad, they are both getting too big! Kobe said he did at first but then once we got in line he changed his mind. :'( Kinda sad to think I will have a teenager next month & my baby boy will be there before I know it. I pulled Kobe aside & asked if he still believed in Santa & he said YES!! LoL I've always told my kids that if they don't believe they don't receive....

 

I'm kinda sad but in away I guess it's good, cause I'd rather they know & focus on the true meaning of Christmas!!

 

I use to not get very excited about Christmas, but sense my kids have been old enough to realize what's going on I LOVE it!! I think I get more excited than they do!! I hate waiting to give them there gifts... I am such a sucker like that, yesterday I let Maddi wear one of the shirts I got her... LoL

 

ONLY  17 MORE DAYS!!!

 

 

 

Space Derby....

Last night was the Space Derby for Scout's. James went with Kobe & I was with Mads so I didn't get to see how he did. :'(

 

 

Kobe & James painted his orange & black, it looked pretty cool. Kobe said it really didn't go that good, but he had fun & that's what matters!

 

 

 

 

 

Good Job Son! :)

My sweet baby girl...

 

Last night was Y.W. in Excellents in our new ward as well as the 5th ward. My kids both have had hard time leaving 5th ward (James & I included). They have been so AMAZING & good to us! Maddi decided she wanted to go to 5th wards, which made sense to me. This is the ward that's showed her what Y.W. is. They had a few girls  talk & then a slide show of a few of the activities, girls camp & the temple celebration & the back ground music was to the One Direction song Your Insecure, it was so cute!!

 

This is a pic of what Maddi displayed...

 

 

We said our goodbyes to all of the girls & leaders, we are so sad to be leaving this ward. Maddi actually cried the night our Garland ward came to welcome us, they asked us to fill out a paper to transfer our records & she started crying & said mom don't do it!! She has grown so much & learned so much from all of her leaders & the girls have been excellent for her. I appreciate all they have done.

 

After we got in bed James was looking on fb & said... Hey did you see this? And he shows me this post Maddi had posted after we got home. I was crying!! She is ONLY 12!! I am so AMAZED by her, she is truly an example to me. I never remember feeling like this when I was her age, or even having a testimony.

 

Maddi Hales

13 hours ago via mobile

UR INSECURE DON'T KNOW WHAT FOR!!!!:) 5th ward young women's I don't know what I would do with out u guys!! U have changed my life for ever! I love each and every one of u so much!!:) we have laughed together cried together been through a lot together!!:) From the first day I went to young women's to all the days at girls camp to the temple celebration till tonight I thought u guys were a little b...

it different and you guys changed me to be a little bit different also.......... Ok we r a lot different from any other young women's group I know!!:) I just want all of guys to know how thankful I was to be able to meet you guys! How thankful I am to have some different friends that I can trust outside of my normal life!! I want to thank my leaders for always being there when I need them the most!!! I will miss u guys and are crazy weird out of control one direction infected Tuesday night at young women's! And u guys can come kidnap me when ever u want!! And please still invite me to ur guys' walks at night I still want to be apart of u guys!!! I love u all and thanks for the awesome crazy weird amazingly fun times with u!!

 

Could you die? Maybe it's just cause she is my daughter, but I find this post amazing!!

 

I am so proud of you Maddi! You were sent to me for a reason & I love your example & the love you have for the gospel. Remember to always say your prayers & to C.T.R & continue to treat others the way you would want to be treated!! And most importantly these things & your family are what truly matter.  I LOVE YOU MADISON JANE!!

FaMiLY FuN!!

Yesterday James & I got invited to go to the Aggie's game with MaCade & Jacki. I'm not really a fan of football, but it's slowly growing on me. I've never been to any pro or collage games & I must say it was pretty awesome!! Thanks for the invite :)

 

After the game we meet up with the rest of the fam @ the Jump Zone! It was pretty awesome, I was the only "cool" adult that jumped & I pretty much enjoyed myself. :)

 

 

 

First of all....

HaPpY BiRThDaY to the most A-MaZiNG hubby ever!!

Thanks for all you do for me & our lil fam. You truly are a blessing to me. ILU2TM&B :)


Then to all of our family & friends
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

 

                                         

 

.

A few random notes from me....

This is mostly venting/ journaling for my own good, I use this as a journal so don't mind me...

As you all know we were hoping for a job in Arizona & over the last year & a half we have been living with James parents. Well things haven't mapped out so we decided we needed to find our own place. As most of you know I'm really not a fan of "Tree-town" and surrounding areas, so I'm pretty much bummed!! But I also feel that if moving was the right thing for us it would have happened by now. So we are moving up & on & I hope that something better is in store...

So now for the house hunt, as I have posted before we (mostly me) have been scouting houses for the last year. I would love to move to Brigham, Perry, or even Cache Valley which wouldn't make sense for both of us to drive. But I pretty much wish to MOVE ANY WHERE but Northern Box Elder County!! But my kids & hubby don't feel the same so I'm pretty much out voted! :'( I personally love our community & the safeness that I feel here. But (this is no secret) I STRUGGLE with worrying way too much about what others think. So living in a small town really isn't my cup of tea. Everyone always knows your business way better than you do & are always quick to judge, it kinda bugs! I am guilty of doing these same things & part of it I realize is human nature but I try really hard to look from the other side of the fence. Such is life, I guess...

Over the years we have had a few set backs & job changes as "most" people do. Things just aren't like they use to be for us. I am having a really hard time accepting the things that have happened in the past & brought me to this point in my life. I hope & pray that each day will get better & some time soon something good will come from all the trails & "downs" we have had. Sometimes I just have to ask myself WHY? Why isn't life easy? Why do I have to worry so much? Why do I care what others think? Why am I given the trials that I have had? Why isn't life like I thought it would be... fancy cars, big house, no worries, basically why isn't life the fairytale it is pro trade to be? I don't have the answers to these questions & most days I drive myself not to mention my hubby CRAZY asking so many questions wishing I knew!!

All I can do is try to learn from the past & make the future better. :) There are a few things that I can say I have learned....

One... That the most important things in life aren't "things". In the end & when it comes right down to it, it doesn't matter how big & fancy your house is, what kind of car you drive & how much $$$ you have. Your FAMILY is the only "thing" that matters. I am still learning this concept, but I do know you can have just has much if not more fun without all of these "things".

Second... In hard times & over the years you find out who your true friends are & what they value in life. In hard times it's normal to vent, that's what friends are for. Don't just give up on that friend help pull them through. Not all people have the same out look on life (religion, faith, morals, etc.), same amount of $$, same trials or hard times. But we are all human & we need to support each other & be there for each other, not try to out do each other. We all have feelings... I feel like I have lost a few really good friends over the years because of these things & it breaks my heart to think that at that time I & they didn't have time to help or listen to each other & just gave up & focused more on "things". I apologize to those friends & hope that I can be that friend that I needed back then to someone in my future...

SORRY I guess I just really needed to get the above off my chest...
Any how back to the house hunt, we have looked @ LOTS of houses over the last few weeks in this good ole valley & so far I only ME haven't found anything that I am totally CRAZY about. But James & the kids have found the PERFECT house for us in Garland!! It was the first house we looked @ with a realtor & it is actually the nicest one we have seen so far. We got offered to rent it through the winter with an option to buy, so we moved into it a few weeks ago. I'm not in love, mostly because it has NO kitchen, it does but it is so small!! And secondly because I struggle with worrying about what others think. Kobe says he was 99 point 99% sure this was the house for us the 1st time we looked @ it. I can't say I feel the same, so we will continue to hunt!! Who knows maybe Kobe will be right & James will be HAPPY!!

Whatever happens in the future, I just have to remember that I HAVE the only "things" that matter & that's my sweet little family...
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Spooks & Spurs

Connor & Newlin put on another year of Spooks & Spurs & it was a hit!! I think we had more people this year than the last few years. My kids LOVE going and helping and we had fun dressing up.

 

 

Mads as a "nerd", Show Bob as a "clown", & Kobe as a "ho-bo"

 

Kati & Clint

Whitlee as a "hippie" Shaylee as a "pink crayon" Trevyn as a "hippie" & Syd as a "diva"

 

James & I

 

 

Newlin, he was ROCKIN IT!! :) LoL

Caleb had to work so this is a picture of his sweet lil kids the night before @ the trick or treating up town. We all met @ Midland Square & went trick or treating with all our cousin friends.



 

 

Bubba & Brazen rode & dressed up as Thing 1 & Thing 2 :)

Me as a "clown" and Jenni as "Cruella Deville"

 It was a fun night with my crazy family!! HaPpY HaLlOwEeN!!

BRACES.... and

 

GLASSES!!

 

All in the same year... YIKES!!

I guess this means my baby girl is getting all grown up. Makes me kinda sad, in just a few months I will have a teenager. Mads got braces back on August 23rd & she got glasses yesterday...

 

James took her to get her braces, so I didn't get a pic so I guess this is a 2 for 1 cause you can see them in this pic too...

 

I LOVE this girl so much!! And I'm so glad I get to be her mom!! She says she likes me she just thinks I'm CRAZY!! She's pretty damn sassy... But I guess what they say is true, that you always end up with a child just like you. She is just like her mama in the sassy department, but other than that she is like her daddy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here is a pic a few days before the glasses...

I love you sis!



Thriller...

Last Friday Me & Mads went for a lil G.N.O with the Va-dels... We rode over with the Belew's and had a lil date night, we meet up with the Va-dels for dinner @ the Olive Garden...

Then we split & did a lil shopping & meet back up with them for the show. It wasn't anything I thought it was gong to be. I thought it was gonna be more like a play. But it was more dancing, it was pretty awesome!! I had lots of fun with my girls...

 

 

 

Mads and Shay were pretty scared of theses girls.... I hope they don't come get em:) LoL

My sweet boy....

So last night after I got off work Kobe & I were driving to the grocery store...

I said:  How was your day son?

K: good

I: How was your scouts?

K: Good we went to the corn maze :)

K: Did you go to the gym today?

I: Ya, I have to cuz I'm way too fat!!

K: No you're not mom, you are perfect just the way you are...

I: Thanks son that was so nice of you to say that to your mama :)


I thought that was so sweet of my boy!! Made me smile inside & out!!

Elk Hunting.... & a few other random things! :)

This last weekend we all went elk hunting.... Yep that's right even ME!!

Ok Me & Mads didn't hunt but we went along for one last camping trip, good food & awesome company! I'm kinda bummed cause I didn't take my camera, so no pics.... But it was an awesome weekend & I  just had to write down a few things...

My lil man was so EXCITED!! This was his 1st time to go hunting & he LOVED it!! He loves being outside & he loves hanging with his daddy-o!! Not to mention he thinks Bryce is the bomb!! :)  I do think he was a lil bummed cause no one got anything & I don't think he really knew that hunting meant walking up & down hills & mountains. He was one tired lil man!!

James & Kobe left Thursday after school & me & Mads headed up with Jerian after school & work on Friday. It was a lil too cold for me, but me & Mads had fun snuggin up while the guys were out hunting. On Sunday us girls took a lil walk & it ended up being a WORKOUT! It was down hill so the walk back to camp was all UP HILL!! Yikes.... It was even harder cause we all took turns carrying Tyler up the hill so Jody could have a lil rest. It was a lil rough, but after we were done we felt AWESOME!

 

I love just being away & not having any phones, computers or TV's bugging me!! It's always so nice & relaxing not to mention I don't even have to worry about my hair & make-up cause my friends & family love me for me!! :) LoL

 

I'm kinda sad to see our camping season come to an end... I don't love the cold or winter & I absolutely HATE frosty windows!! But I'm afraid we are headed that way.... :'(

I do love the fall leaves, taco soup,(which we are having for dinner tonight!!) & snuggin with my babe & kiddos, so I guess that gives me something to SMILE about!! :)

 

Randomness.... Here's just a few random things that have been going on & that have been running through my lil mind.

 

Life is just life!! Nothing too exciting going on, we are still on the house hunt! I LOVE my job!! I have no clue how I landed it, but it's pretty AWESOME!! I feel so blessed to work for a "real" company where my boss treats me with respect & is so down to earth!! LOVE IT!!

 

Last week we all pulled weeds for the LAST time!! (we hope it's the last time). We (James & I) decided that this will be the last year we help/work for Yard Dawgs.... It's kind of bitter sweet.... I love being outside, I LOVE teaching my kids that things don't come FREE and we work for what we want/need. But it's too hard to work our regular jobs, chase kids & keep things up @ home. I am very grateful for my dad & his example of hard work & for always helping us make ends meet. I am grateful that we have had this lil side job to fall back on & to let my kids have the opportunity to work. We have tried to teach the kids about being responsible, accountable & taking pride in the work you do. I hope that they will realize this as they get older. We've had lots of sad faces & complaining when I say it's time to go pull weeds/mow.... But each time, I've explained why we do it!! :)      Thanks Dad!

 

James will continue to help til the end of the season & then I think he is gonna become our "house wife" on his days off!! I'll love coming home to all the laundry folded & put away...             THANKS in advance babe!! :)

 

Mads is still dancing & LOVING it!! She just got called to be the secretary in the Beehives, and she is super excited about that. :)

P doesn't have much going on through the winter, but I'm sure he will find something to keep him busy.

 

Lately there isn't a day that goes by I don't think about my grandpa, I miss him like crazy!! I just think how could I get this job so close to Corinne & him not be here. We are missing out on lots of lunch dates. :'(

 

HAPPY FALL!!

 

 

 

 

Fall...

We have been super busy lately with football, school, dance, camping & just every day life... It's been awhile sense James & I have been on a date so when we came home from camping on Sunday, he said he wanted to take me on a ride on the bike so we could see the fall leaves. We went Tuesday night & it was AWESOME!!

 

I love Ogden canyon, being with my babe, and I love the fall leaves, it was a great lil date!!

 

P.S. We got a new bike & I must say I'm in LOVE!!:) HARLEY BABY!!

Are YOU ready for some....

 FOOTBALL!!

 

P did so awesome this year & was able to get in on some really good plays. He usually played defense as the left guard. He really got into the game this year & LOVED it!! I even started learning the game a lil better & have to say that I have a love/hate relationship for the game.

 

I love seeing my son improve & learn & I especially love seeing the excitement on his face when he knows he has done well or tackled someone, LOVE it!! :) But I hate that we have to get to the games an hour early & that football takes up so much time with practices EVERY night for 2months!! It's a huge commitment, something I don't really love... I'd have to say that I'm glad it's over and I'm super proud of my boy!

 

 

Isn't he the cutest lil football player... I just LOVE him!!

Makes me sad to see him growing up so fast...

Harvest of Faith

Maddi got to be in the Brigham City Temple celebration on Saturday. She loved it!! At first she wasn't gonna do it but I am glad she changed her mind. James & I went to watch her Saturday evening & it was AMAZING!!

 

 

 Maddi with a bunch of the girls from our ward :)