Christmas Traditions

We had a lesson in Relief Society(woman's group at church) all on traditions. One of our family Christmas traditions is to get together with the Leffues(my moms side) on Christmas Eve. We have Mexican food, lots of yummy treats, the kiddos put on the Nativity, Santa comes for a visit & then while the kiddos are playing with the toy they got from the big guy. The adults play the white elephant game, it's always a lot of fun! Oh and I can't forget the family pictures, even if it's crazy trying to do I'm so happy that part happens. It's always fun to see family and catch up!

Another tradition that my mom started a few years ago. At the beginning of December she has a big sleepover for all the grandkids. Christmas Jammie's, gingerbread houses, Christmas movies & lots goodies & fun! Some years they have visited the temple lights or helped decorate her tree. They love it & look forward to it every year. My kiddos are blessed to have so many wonderful people in their lives that love them so much!!!

Back row: Tatum, Kennedi, Carys, Landon and Kelsey

Front row: Cody, Sydney, Madison, Carter and Zachary

Christmas Parties!

This is a picture of my Grandpa and Grandma Daley(my Dad's parents) with some of the great grandkids. I think they are up to 30 with 4 on the way!!

Cody, Tatum and Kelsey
I'm so happy that my kiddos have cousins that they are so close with. I have so many wonderful memories with my cousins.

Carter and Landon

Best buds-can you tell?

Cody is the little kid magnet!

They always want him and I know why. He is so caring & loves playing with them.

He is a great babysitter.

Kennedi, Presley & Sydney

Kennedi can never make up her mind about which one is her best friend!

It’s been awhile!

On July 2nd our little family headed for Salt Lake City, Utah. We left at 5:30 am and drove straight through and the kiddos did great! Thank heavens for the tv & dvd player and plenty of snacks!! I took so many pictures that I had to download them on Mike’s computer so I only have the photos from the drive home. I will add the rest later.

We were lucky to have Kathy’s (family friend/Mike’s second mom) (my kiddos call her Aunt Kathy) house all to ourselves. Kathy was visiting family in California so we missed her. Now I’m going to try my hardest to remember all the fun things we did.

Friday July 3rd- Mike turned the BIG 40!!! I think I was having a harder time then him. In the morning we went to visit the Great Salt Lake but if you ask 2 of our kids they would say there was nothing great about it!! We had a picnic lunch and really enjoyed the beautiful weather.

We hung out at Mike’s friends house from high school Chad & his wife Darlene & their cute family. Mike’s high school is so old that they are knocking it down! They had a open house for everyone that went there. The whole trip was going down memory lane with Mike. It was fun seeing where Mike went to school & seeing his old neighborhood. We went to dinner with some of Mike’s friends & then went back to the school for fireworks! Pretty great to have fireworks just for his special day, well that is what the kids think.

Saturday- We had breakfast with Mike’s sister Shana & her kids Shea & Connor & her ex-husband Randy. We were going to go do something fun after breakfast but ended up hanging out at the house. The kids had so much fun playing with cousins & the adults got to chat. Later we went to a really fun park. There was a creek at the park which I thought was the greatest thing ever!!! Growing up in Arizona you have to drive at least an hour to get to a creek & here there is one right at the park. My kiddos loved it! They had all kinds of fun games set up & a very fun play ground.

Sunday- Today was a great day! We went to Temple Square and visited all the great things to see there. We saw the Joseph Smith movie & the older kids really enjoyed it. Shana & Connor came with us. Shea had to work so Randy drove back with her. After eating lunch we went to an aviary. Mike was surprised I agreed to go since I’m scared of birds-I’m such a baby! We had a fun day!

Monday- Mike took us around to where he went junior high & his old neighborhood. We packed a lunch and went Mill Creek Canyon it was beautiful! The kids once again played in the creek & Mike took them on a small hike. Our friends the Steele’s and Anderson’s were just getting into town so we met up with them for dinner.

Tuesday- We headed home but took it slow and spent a night in Kanab. We stopped at this cute place where Mike & kiddos learned how to fly fish. We got home Wednesday late afternoon & man was it HOT!!! We had a fun trip but it’s always nice to be home.

Turkey BBQ, Thanksgiving & Black Friday

A year after we moved in the boy scouts in our ward built a BBQ pit in our backyard. Every year the day before Thanksgiving the scouts have a fundraiser for their troop. Where they cook turkey's for Thanksgiving. They start preparing for this day months before. This year even Cody, Rhett and Beau were able to be apart of all the fun!! Of course since the pit is in our yard Cody has seen it be built and been a spectator every year but this year the cub scouts made signs and helped the day of. Even Carter got into all the work and Kennedi was scared that she might fall in. Later me and the kiddos headed over to PaPa Joe's birthday party.

This year for Thanksgiving we went over to my Aunt & Uncles house. It was such a fun day! The weather was so nice and they got a new play set so the kids were very entertained. After a yummy lunch a few of us started playing Phase 10, I forgot how long that game can last!! It was so much fun! Then us girls studied the ads for Black Friday. We ended up going to Toys R' Us at midnight I couldn't believe the line at midnight! It was Paige, Bridget, Mom, Stacey, Marisol and I. Not a great move on our part because they trick you into buying stuff because only certain things are on sale at midnight the rest at 5am.

Paige and I took Bridget home because she had to work in the morning. Then Paige and I grabbed food and the others went to Arizona Mills. I heard it was crazy over there! Paige and I got to Kohl's at 2am and were 3rd in line YEAH!!! It was so cold not a fan! We enlisted Steven to help us he came to our rescue so we could get everything we wanted. Great deals!! We got everything and were out of there so quick.

Next we met up with the others at Walmart. Wow, it was pretty crazy! So many wonderful deals!! It was fun! Steven and Paige headed to Kmart for bikes and then we met up with them. Well for my first experience with Black Friday was great and I will be doing it again for sure. It feels so great to be so close to being done with Christmas shopping. Only a few negatives mom got yelled at for being in a very grumpy lady's way and I only broke glass from one frame. I leaned over this lady's cart to grab a DVD and I broke her frame. I felt so stupid and very grateful she was so understanding! Thank goodness it wasn't the lady who yelled at mom, who knows what she would have done. I came home and crashed on the couch until Mike sent me to bed. What a sweet hubby for keeping everything under control so I could sleep.

Happy Thanksgiving!

So much updating

Grandpa & Grandma Daley

Dustin, Bridget, Mike & Me

Steven & Carson

Jack & Kelli
On Friday we had so much fun at my Aunt Xan & Uncle Dave's very posh loft at Kierland Commons. Sorry about the pictures I need to figure out how to turn them. I had to put my pictures on a disc just so I can put pictures on my blog again!

Steven & Landon had a birthday on Friday, we had a cake at Xan & Dave's place for Steven. We wanted to play Rock Band but we could not figure out how to put it together! Well not me but, I watched-hee hee!!
We had so much fun seeing everyone. Us girls have already started planning a slumber party!!!
Thanks Xan & Dave

Memory Lane MOnday

Paige, Brooke, Jack and Bridget
(I think Paige & I were 12 years old)

Kelsey 9, Cody 8, Tatum 6, Sydney 4, Kennedi 3, Carter 3 & Landon 2

Growing up I have so many wonderful memories of spending time up at my Grandpa & Grandma Leffue's cabin. We loved playing at a creek close by. We would go up in the summer for a week and play with cousins, go fishing with Grandpa, read & work on math (not my favorite) but after we would go for walks to the little store & get yummy treats! We loved playing kick the can & building forts. At night we would stay up late and play lots of fun games.
Now that I have my own little family I want my kiddos to make their own memories of going up to the cabin & having lots of fun with their cousins. We brought two blow up boats & headed to the creek for some fun. Well at first all the kids were freaking out and didn't seem to like it much. Paige & I were determined to have our kiddos to love the creek as much as we did. So, we moved locations and it was great even the cry babies got in the water. We had a picnic and the kids had fun going down the waterfall in the boats. The littles loved throwing rocks & Carter loved climbing the rocks. The trip was a BIG success and they couldn't wait to go back.

He's home!

We just got home from picking Mike up at the airport. He went to Alaska to visit some of his family for a week. We are happy to have him home! The pictures Mike took are very limited so this is what you get. They went fishing on Dan's (Mike's brother) boat. He brought lots of fish home so guess what we are having for dinner!?
I can't wait to take the whole family next year.

Top Ten Tuesday!

I figured this would be a good way for me to catch up on blogging that I have missed out on!
So here goes on some of the things I have wanted to blog about.
*It's gonna be a LONG one sorry!!

#10 If you read my blog much then you know Kelsey's grandma is staying with us for most of the summer. I was worried that she was going to be bored not to worry she has a busy life. She has made friends with our neighbor they sew, go to church activities, and lots of shopping! Lupita AKA: Tita has been a HUGE help every time I turn around the dishes are done, she has been doing almost all the laundry & watches the kiddos for us. You would think I could get more stuff done with all her help. What's my deal!
#9 I'm so happy that my summer flowers and plants are doing so well. I usually kill my plants within a few weeks but not this year. I'm so proud of myself-yeah for me!!!

#8 I'm so grateful that Mike loves to garden and is always working on getting some yummy veggies! Here is a picture of our some of our first vegetables for the summer. I can't wait to make Emily's great salsa with our tomatoes.

#7 Kennedi and Presley had so much fun the day playing with their baby dolls. It was so cute and really reminded me of when Paige, Bridget and I would play together! The other night Cody, Lupita and I went to Goodwill and I was so excited to find this cute baby doll for only 99 cents! I'm happy because Baby Alive AKA: Lexi will hopefully help me show the twins how this whole thing works.
I have kinda started to potty train the twins but they are not interested & I have to bribe them to even try. Wish me luck!
#6 Playing with cousins and more dress up!
Carter and Kennedi pretty much live in the dress up clothes.
The cousins awhile back all played with the kitchen stuff pretty much all day! I love that they all get along great and are always wanting to play with one another. Kelsey and Tatum went up north with Tatum grandparents for some fun. The girls were so excited for all the fun!!! On Friday we went swimming at Paige's and Jack came over too. It was so fun and the kids were so excited because Paige, Jack and I all got in and played with all the kiddos.



#5 Kelsey and Cody's really good friend got two horses. After church last week we stopped by to see them. Kelsey is a horse lover so she has been ecstatic about this. Mallory called her when they got the first so happy and then called her again when they got their second one for name ideas! I'm so grateful for all my kids good friends!!

#4 We have been playing some of family favorite games! The flour in the face and Kick the can.

Beau and Cody

#3 Do you remember this? Well this is what I have done to it. . .

What do you think? I think it's a little too Pepito but I figured in about 6 months it will need to be repainted because of all the kiddos!

#2 I have cleaned all my tile and grout in my kitchen, entry and powder room. I hate my tile because even when you mop your floors the grout gets so gross so I did my yearly scrub down. Man it sure feels great!

#1 Here are some of my favorite summer shows! One of my clients recommended Army Wives and I just watched it last night & I'm already hooked! My other favorites are The next Food Network Star and Design Star. Oh and I'm so excited because Burn Notice will be back on in July.

Catch up time!!!

I know I wrote about some of this stuff already but I wanted to add some pictures. Carter and Kennedi had a water day for preschool. They loved it and they really played together great! Kennedi didn't want her treat so of course Carter was so sweet and ate it for her. What a nice brother hee hee! Things have not changed from when he was a baby. Carter used to steal Kennedi's bottles!
This was on the last day of school! Funny how when they are young they love school and can't wait to go. They had a graduation for them and a small program. They did great with all the cute songs! You could hear Carter VERY WELL, he's just so LOUD!

I love the look on Kennedi's face in this picture. It looks like she's thinking what am I doing with this silly hat on?!
I made these for the teacher gifts and made cookies for the bus drivers! I'm a HUGE Dancing with the Stars fan. Here is Carter and Kennedi showing off some of their own moves! They love dancing with each other. I was so happy that Kristi won! YEAH!!! I saved the last show so I can watch the dances whenever I want.

On Wednesday right before scouts I mean seriously 20 minutes before, I got so sick! My scout partner sent me to bed because I was so white & looked like I was going to pass out. I was in bed for 3 days!!!! I had not been that sick in a very long time. Once I finally started feeling better I had so much energy and started cleaning & organizing things. I took 3 more bags of stuff to DI. I really can't believe how much stuff we have.

Mike, Cody & Kelsey left on Friday for the goat show. This is Kelsey's 3rd year (I think) to show the goats. The plan was for them to go and then Lu pita (Kelsey's grandma) Carter, Kennedi and I to headed up on Sunday for the day. Well Saturday Lu pita had the twins all day while I worked. When I got home she went right to bed because she wasn't feeling good. Poor grandma, she totally got what I had. She didn't leave her room for two days! Paige and her kiddos came over for a BBQ and to hang out since both of our hubby's were out of town. We had so much fun playing, doing crafts and watching movies. I'm so happy you guys came over! They ended up spending the night which was so fun!! Everyone of the kids woke up at some point in the night and Paige's girls were wide awake in the middle of the night. Me and the kiddos & grandma were planning on leaving early but with her being sick & having a rough night we skipped the trip. I was sad because I really wanted to see Kelsey, there is always next year!
We went over to my parents for dinner and I think Lu pita was happy to have the quiet house all to herself! I love summer because we can stay late at my parents. Usually I'm always trying to plan the timing so we have enough time. And, I'm the one in our family with the oldest kiddos so everyone else always shows up late and we have to leave when all the fun is starting.
When we got to mom & dad's, Mom, Jack, Steven and Kellie were playing Dr. Mario. It's an oldie but a goodie! Us girls love it and can get addicted!!! So, we ended up staying late playing, it was so much fun. I love hanging out with my family!!!

During the goat show Isabelle had her babies! Short stack and Bell, I love what my kiddos come up with for names. Kelsey did so good and all the work she put into training with the goats payed off. She placed 4th with Snowflake and got Reserve Grand Champion with Trixie. We are so proud of you, Kels we love you!!!