Soccer, Swimming, and such!

Well, as usual, things have been pretty crazy around here. We've signed Jacob up for soccer, so between practice and the games, that has added to the usual chaos. We've only had 2 games so far, but he's slowly figuring out the game. It's been fun watching him, especially with my love of soccer! Plus, I put Jacob and Kiersten in swimming lessons while Jacob is off track for 3 weeks. They are both loving it! Last year Jacob was a little reserved and cautious with swimming, and this year he must have grown fins and gills, because he is a little fish! He's diving and trying to swim using strokes and kicking, it's awesome! Kiersten is still nervous about getting her head wet, but other than that, she is loving it! And hey, what do you expect, she's not even three yet! Other happenings around here have included me and Kiersten going to see my sister Tammy graduate with her Masters of Education. Yeah Tammy! James has been taking a CERT (Community Emergency Response Training) class. He's been having a lot of fun with that. We did find out that Jacob got accepted into the Chinese Immersion Program at his school for this coming fall. They are having a week long summer camp for all the kids that got accepted to kind of introduce the program before school actually starts. So that should be fun. Other than that, it's just the usual (work, craft projects, my soccer games, Bunco, church activities, date nights, family nights, etc.) I can't seem to keep up on anything around my house! It's my own doing though. I just like to do everything, and there just isn't enough time in the day to do EVERYTHING! At least I'm no bored! :) Anyway, that's it in a nut shell. Enjoy a couple pics!


Jacob playing soccer (he's the silver one kicking the ball!)

Kiersten going down the crocodile slide for swimming lessons

Jacob practicing the back float for swimming lessons

My sister Tammy graduating!

WoW!

Has it really been since January when I last posted? Holy Crap! Where does the time go! Well, what have I been up to you might ask. In truth...a lot! My life is super busy, between work, family get-togethers, soccer, etc. my life is just super full. I love it though, it just doesn't leave much blogging time! :) Anyway, I'll try to touch on the major happenings (although I'm sure I'll forget something).

The biggest event that pops into my head was my little boy turning 6! I still can't believe it! I swear he was just born yesterday! Anyway, he had a great birthday. He got a nice new bike and helmet, tons of transformers, some clothes, etc. We split it up this year and did seperate friend and family parties. It worked out well. My house just isn't big enough for all of it, especially as he makes more and more friend. Our family is big enough! Anyway, needless to say he was spoiled. And loved it! We took him to Jumping Jacks with a bunch of his cousins in the evening, which completely wore them all out. It was so fun!


(Jacob with his new bike--he couldn't wait and rode it around the basement)

Other things we've been up to include my neice's baptism, a superbowl party/ a neice's birthday celebration, Valentine's Day, saying farewell to a nephew leaving on his mission, helping my mom with a yard sale in preperation of selling her house, going to a triple birthday party for 3 of my sisters kids (it was a fun swimming party), going to a friends birthday party (Yeah Chuck-E-Cheese), and currently, I've got the worst cold I've had all year and spent this past weekend in bed. I told you life is crazy!

In other randomness, I've applied to have Jacob in a Chinese Immersion Program at his school (We sure hope he gets in), I've signed him up for soccer, which should start the middle of April, we're slowly working at potty-training Kiersten, had fun baby announcements from family and friends, and tried to enjoy whatever time is left as much as possible. Anyway, I've got to get some sleep so I can shake this silly cold. I really will try and do better! Goodnight!

Happenings of late

As usual, I have been super busy, and my blog has suffered the consequences. Oops! I keep saying I'm going to do better, and yet somehow, it just doesn't happen. Anyway, there really hasn't been anything major to report lately. I'm still recovering from the holidays and trying to get my life back in order. I have done a few fun things though. A couple of weeks ago my sister came up for a fun girls weekend. We did some shopping, scrapbooking, yapping...you know, the usual girls stuff! :) It was way fun! I love spending time with my sister. She's one of my best friends! Then this past weekend we decided we've been way too cooped up in the house lately (I am not a winter person) so we took the kids to check out a place called "Jumpin' Jacks". It's a place with a bunch of those big blowup slides and bounce house things. The kids had a blast! We spent about 2 1/2 hours there, and the kids were so exhasted by the time we left. It was totally worth the $9 (total for all of us)! We will probably be doing that again sometime. Other than that, I've had a few of my usual things: soccer, bunco, church stuff, etc. I enjoy my sanity nights (kid free evenings) and have really enjoyed getting back into soccer, meeting new friends at bunco, and feeling the spirit with church activities. I really enjoy my life (chaos and all) and am looking forward to more adventures soon!

Christmas Vacation!

Well, this whole christmas break has been very action packed! First off, my mom got remarried on December 19th to Mac McCoy. She is so happy and basically on cloud nine! The wedding was really nice, and it was fun getting to know new family.

(the wedding ceremony)


December 22, we had a family christmas party with some of James' family. They really spoil us rotten! They made all the grandkids each a bookshelf, on top of some fun toys. I got a nice gift card to a spa (that I can't wait to go use). James got more power tools to add to his collection. It was really nice hanging out and chatting while the kids all ran around together.

(the kids standing by some of the shelves in their PJ's)

For most of Christmas Vacation this year, we decided to go out to San Jose and visit some of James' family. It was so much fun! We stayed with James' cousin Sylvia and her husband John (and stole his sister Kristina's room - THANKS!). The kids had so much fun getting to know each other (since most of them had never met). It was a really nice vacation. All of James' step-mom's family gets together and does a big Cuban dinner for christmas eve. I have discovered I love Cuban food (except Yucca - it is yuck-a)! Santa even found us for christmas morning. The kids had fun opening their presents. Jacob was very happy Santa brought him his transformer and scarf that he had asked for. Kiersten was overwhelmed with her little doctor play kit. It was just so cute! Too bad they couldn't try out the new sled (considering it was pretty much springtime weather the whole time we were there with not a snowflake in sight!).

(James and the kids on christmas morning)

(Us with James' dad~Ken, step-mom~Silvia, and sister~Kristina after a wonderful Cuban dinner)

While we were out in California, Sylvia and John took us hiking up to a local area called Castle Rock. The kids loved it! It was nice getting some fresh air and excercise, and the kids had fun climbing in all the 'pockets' of the rock.

(Thomas, Jacob, John, Kiersten, and Elise in a 'pocket')

Also, while we were out in California, we took James' parents with us to "Christmas in the Park" in downtown San Jose. All the christmas trees and decorations were gorgeous, and the kids had fun on a few carnival rides.

(Silvia James, Kiersten and Jacob in front of a giant tree)

We had a lot of fun while we were out there (especially since we don't get to see them all near enough)! On our way back home, we stopped in Reno for a few nights. It was a change of pace and broke up the long drive home. The kids had fun swimming in the heated outdoor pool. The pool was nice, but it was like 20 degrees outside, so you had to make a mad dash to get in and out, and while you were in the pool, it was so steamy you could hardly see someone 5 feet from you! It was kind of funny!

Once we were back home, we quickly threw together a New Year's Party/James' 40th Birthday Party and had fun spending the evening with some friends. The next morning (the 1st) we packed up again and headed to St. George. We dropped the kids off at my brother's house in Cedar City (thanks again Shanae and Kevin for watching the kids!) and enjoyed a relaxing 2 nights with some friends. It's nice having just adult time now and again! Anyway, now we're home and trying to get back to reality. Let's just say it's been a rough week so far, but it was all totally worth it!

Halloween!

Well, another Halloween come and gone. This year was one of my favorites, for several reasons: good weather, the kids were both old enough to totally get it, and nobody was sick! This year Jacob was Bumblebee (the transformer, not the insect!) and Kiersten was a monkey. They were both soooooo cute! And boy did hey love trick-or-treating! My sister and her family made it up in time to go trick-or-treating with us, so that was fun! The kids made out like bandits with the candy though! I don't know what to do with it all! Anyway, after trick-or-treating, we came back and had pumpkin shaped pizza (thank you Papa Murphy) and rootbeer floats. We set the kids up watching "Monsters vs. Aliens" while we watched "I Am Legend". The kids totally passed out with exhaustion. It was adorable! It really was an awesome Halloween! Anyway, enjoy the pics!

Bumblebee and my little Monkey

All passed out watching "Monsters vs. Aliens"

The stash!

The Pumkin Patch!

Last weekend we met up with some of my family down in Richfield for our annual pumpkin patch trip. It was a perfect weekend for it. The weather was not too hot, not too cold. The kids had a blast! We got a ton of pumpkins and gourds. It's such a fun tradition! Anyway, here are some pics. Enjoy!


The kids on the train


The kids on the hay wagon with their pumpkins


Kiersten getting her pumpkin


another train ride

Loved the Goats!

Interesting title for a blog ( I know), but I did love the goats! This past weekend I went hiking with some friends up Mount Timpanogas. It was an all day hike, and honestly I wouldn't of made it as far as I did without my friends dragging me. Anyway, it was gorgeous! I really wished I was a little more in shape. I highly understimated myself, but I survived! There were so many pretty waterfalls, a gorgeous lake, and stunning views of Utah Valley and Utah Lake! But my favorite part was the mountain goats. Near the top, there were heards of mountain goats! On the way up they were just laying around on the snow and in the shade of the cliffs,which was awesome. They were right next to the trail, and didn't even budge! But on the way down, they had decided to move. We got to watch these goats navigate the cliffs so amazingly! They just didn't seem like they could move that gracefully and carefully. They literally just hopped down a jagged cliff! Even the baby goats! It was seriously one of the most amazing things I had ever seen! And regrettably the pictures don't do it justice! The views and scenery had already made the hike wonderful, but the goats put it over the top! I was in awe! Anyway, hope you enjoy the pics, and if you ever want to tackle a brutal all day hike, I highly recommend this one!

(me overlooking Utah Valley and Utah Lake)


(a pretty little fall near Emerald Lake)


(a goat navigating the rugged cliff)

(another goat walking down a rock slide area)

(a beautiful waterfall!)