2015 Already!!!

So I'm not really good at keeping up with this blog. I know. Life gets busy, but really I just get lazy!! It's so much easier to snap a picture with my phone and upload it to Facebook. And since Grandma is now on Facebook I find that I just don't need to blog! Sorry Aunt Michelle!! I will try to be better!

So a little update on us. Garrett is on nights again. Starting tonight actually. This go around he will work every other Sunday night, and every Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday night. So he will get to see more of his kids and hopefully it helps this night shift rotation go smoother. He's still a supervisor and is amazing at what he does! I hear quite a bit how much of a difference he is making and I am proud of him for taking a job he was unsure of and making a difference!! He's also gotten into the kids activities more. They love their video games and Garrett has made an effort to be involved in what they like to do. It makes me happy to see them bond over anything and he is so good with both them! And we plan on more outings with him on his days off!!

Madison is doing great in 3rd grade. The challenge of it all is a little much for her at times, but with the help of her AWESOME teacher she is getting it all. She loves math and is working on Division!! What!! Sometimes I have to look up what she is working on on Google to be able to help her! She is enjoying dance and really liked that she was able to have a say in her dance routine and outfit this year. She is very creative and is working on her lines, trying to get the flow of it all. She loves playing with her friends and her brother. She is still her sweet self and is very caring to the younger neighbors!

Austin....boy has he changed!! His teacher just loves him!! He is doing great in school as well. And like sister he loves math and is not a fan of reading!! He passed off his 100 sight words and received a stuffed animal from his teacher. We are working on reading and he is doing great. He can sound out his letter to form words. He loves his video games and is still obsessed with Super Mario. We limit his time of course but thats his thing. He has a few friends on the street he plays with but doesn't like when there are too many kids. Not sure how to fix that but for now I'm happy knowing that my kids know what they do and do not like. They both are really good about listening to their "gut" in situations and that is something I/we will always listen to!

As for me I'm holding down the fort. I do the cooking/cleaning/carpooling/crafting craziness around here. I enjoy taking care of the family and that's enough to keep me completely busy!! I volunteer in each kids classroom and I am the room mom for Madison's class. I help with the class parties and help the teacher make copies and whatever else they need me to do. Some days I think I need more and I think about getting Miles a puppy friend, but then I wake up and realize that is pure crazy!!

Life is good now and we are looking forward to a big change this year. We are moving into a bigger house that we are building!! We will still be in Eagle Mountain and the kids will still be in their same school. We are very excited for what this change will bring to our family and can't wait to have a place to store our trailer and have extra space for our family when they come to visit!! We also have two big trips coming up this year. One to Nebraska/Colorado in May and the other to Colorado to camp in July. We are looking forward to both and can't wait to see all our family. There are people in Nebraska and Colorado that haven't even met Garrett!!

So that's all for now. I will try and post monthly and be more specific on how life is over here. Be prepared for LOTS of house news!!

December 2014

oh December already!!! I cannot believe how fast 2014 went!! We were busy this month, with kids Christmas parties and all the festivities that go with Christmas!!
-Ginger bread houses times 2!!
-Santa on the firetruck....put on by our wonderful city!!
-Garrett's work party.
-Aunt Traci and Uncle Phil visit.
-Santa at Scheels!!!
-Sing in at the school for both kids!!
-Christmas parties for both kids!
-Dance recital for both kids!! They have a blast! and both do so good performing in front of a lot people!
-Christmas!
-Trip to Elko. Had a great time visiting with everyone!!
-Sledding in freezing cold temperatures!!
-New Years Eve Celebrations....friends, food, drinks, and Chinese Lanterns!!

What a fantastic year!!! Here's to 2015!!

November 2014

November....
-croup!! Not fun....especially around Austin's birthday!
-Austin turns 6!! What a difference a year makes!!
-Thanksgiving. Spent here. Madison helped with the pecan pie. Austin helped with the sweet potatoes. Had a very special day, just us four!
-Austin got his first cavity. He had it filled, only using laughing gas, and he did great! So proud of him!!

I'm sure there is lots more but all I can remember for now!

October 2014

October was a busy month. It was also bittersweet. I lost my Uncle Billy, and was able to go to Colorado to see my extended family. It was so sad to loose him at a young age. He has two young daughters and a beautiful wife that he leaves behind. My sister, my brother, and I flew into Denver and had a good, but sad trip. Makes me want to visit all the time, under better circumstances of course!!
We did a lot of Cornbelly trips since we bought a season pass this year. It was soooooo worth it and I plan to do it again this year!!
The boys, (Garrett and his brother), went hunting for elk. They didn't get one but Garrett was able to shot at one. They had a great time and are counting down the days they can do it again!! This year will be in Colorado.
Gosh....how could I forget Soccer!!! Feels like we played it all year long!! Well we kinda did. We did spring soccer and fall soccer this year. It was the first for spring soccer in the city and it wasn't as organized as fall. Plus we got our favorite coach for Fall Soccer so it was by far our favorite!!
Power outage while Garrett was gone. Austin slept through it but Madison freaked out!! Sure made for a fun game of Yahtzee though!! (which she won BTW)
The kids did the parade again this year for their dance group. Madison was able to walk this time and made it all the way through. I too helped out and walked with the kids.
Halloween!! and trick or treating!! Very fun and very exhausting!!

September 2014

September, not as busy but made some great memories!!
-Went to the Utah State Fair with our neighbor/friends, the Buckinghams!! So fun with those guys. The kids got to see baby animals and ride some fun rides, oh and ate some YUMMY food!!
-Picture day
-Pirate day for Austin
-Bowling with the neighbors/friends!!

August 2014

August was packed with so many fun things!!
-Austin learned to ride his bike with no training wheels!! It only took a few tries in the backyard then he was off riding with the rest of the kids!
-Rain, Rain, Rain!! We enjoyed some puddle jumping!!
-Crawdad fishing at Strawberry Res. It was loads of fun. We tired chicken wings on a rope, threw it into the water, waited a bit, then the boys pulled the string in while I stood in the water scooping the crawdads with a big net. I would also scoop the "runaways" with my hands while the kids grabbed them and put them into the cooler. It was a good time til they would brush up against my legs and creep me out!! And I was soooo sore the next day from all the scooping!! Next time, a net with smaller holes!
-Camping trips to Current Creek Res. where the boys will hunt. We went up there a few times, exploring the area and taking some great pictures! Some of my favorite pictures I took this year were up there!
-First day of School!! Madison 3rd grade, Austin Kindergarten!
-New truck!
-11 year anniversary!!
-Ice bucket challenges for all of us!!

Great end to the Summer!!