Saturday, December 19, 2009

School Program

One of the best things about my job is my bosses complete understanding that while I do need a job and work for him that my family and especially my kids come first and he doesn't try to make me feel guilt about it. So when I told him about there upcoming Christmas programs I didn't even have to beg to take the some time off to go!

This also happened to fall on best dress day, so they all were wearing ties and Christmas dresses, it was really cute!





They are officially out of school for the rest of the year. Yea for them...hard on Cory and I.

Hope your Christmas shopping is almost done, cause there are only 6 days left!!

Sunday, December 13, 2009

Party!!

Yesterday was our ward Christmas party...If you have not heard we LOVE our ward. The day we moved in, New Years Eve mind you, we had more neighbors on our door step, ready to help than we had ever even meet in our other wards.

Cory was going through an in active moment at this point. I credit the people in this ward and the spirit in this ward 100% for him coming back. He is the motivator some weeks, that gets us to church, which is a huge switch in our marriage. The weeks that he has to work on Sunday, he definitely gets a little down.

So with that said, I felt this ward was pretty amazing and we have all said we will never be able to leave this ward.

Yesterdays Christmas party was no exception to the incredibleness of this ward. First, it was in morning instead of the evening. We sigined up to bring breakfast casseroles, I made a yummy creme brulee ala Rosie. There were so many, hashbrown ones, quiches, crumbles, yummy! And there was Shirley's bakery cinnamon rolls, these are the next best thing to my moms. OJ, Milk and hot chocolate rounded out the meal.

We had been told "special guests" would be visiting. So we went fully expecting the nativity scene to be wandering around. The last ward we were in did not allow Santa Clause to come. I think that the nativity is beautiful and very spiritual, but also know that for a kid, nothing replaces Santa clause.

Not only did Santa come, but the special guests were Scrounge, The Grinch and Mrs Clause.

Santa was the first to arrive. Gunner really could have cared less, Gavin hide and Taya had a little thrill before she went back to her breakfast. But when the Grinch was announced all three of them were out of their seats and screaming with excitement, "The Grinch! The Grinch!" Taya then jumped out of her chair, ran to the front and threw herself into The Grinch's arms!


I mean this guy was in full Grinch costume. And he had the walk down, the attitude and the anti Christmas spirit and all! I was a little frightened! That's kids for you!






Now Gavin has never been a fan of Santa:
Exhibit A

Just over two years, screaming at the top of his lungs!

Exhibit B

Age 5: This is the next time he would even consider Santa and this is the best picture I have of him with the The Man. But he is fighting tears hear

and Exhibit C


Age 6: Standing as far as he can be from Santa, but still remain in the picture.

So it should have come as no surprise yesterday when he would not get any closer than this

to Santa. And notice how thrilled he is with the idea of sitting on his lap!

So why then when the Grinch took a turn in Santa's chair did I find Gavin like this?


Gunner was a whole nother story. He has figured out Santa. Plus he was sitting by his little "girlfriend" So when I said I want picture of all three of you with Santa, so I can frame it (my tradition I have one from every year since Gunner was a baby, but most of them are just these two

cause of Gavins little phobia) he rolled his eyes and acted all put out about it. But when the time came he really was excited



This is Taya and he friend Jaylynn


and this is her at one of the little craft stations that were set up for the kids

If I were going to give this picture a title I would call it "visions of sugar plums"! The funny part was once she was done, she took all the candy off gave it to me and would only eat the marshmallows and the pretzels. Weird kid, who doesn't like candy or frosting for that matter!

Only a one more week of school for them and they are done for the year. They have a half day on Friday. They are more than a little excited about it! Now if only I were done Christmas shopping.........

Monday, November 30, 2009

Happy Dance!

I am doing a little dance right now! As you all know I have been trying to lose some weight not only to help with the prediabetes I was recently diagnosed with but also so I can make Cory by me the designer jeans he promised if I get down to my goal weight. So far I have lost 40 lbs. I went back on the diet on Tuesday, but did not expect much with the holiday and pie - really because of the pie. So I was fully prepared for disappointment this morning when I got on the scale - but I have lost 5 more lbs! Bringing the total to 45 lbs.

Cory, I hope you are prepared to work some over time here soon, cause designer jeans ain't cheap!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Too funny not to post..

Nana: Gavin what do you want for your birthday dinner?
Gavin: Ribs (with no hesitation)
Nana: Okay, what about for dessert?
Gavin: A wedding cake!
Nana: A wedding cake?!?!
Gavin: Yes, with flames on it.
Nana: With flames?!!?
Gavin: Yes and chocolate, lots of chocolate.

Have fun with that mom!

Sunday, November 1, 2009

What a weekend!

I must say I am a little glad it is over! Don't get me wrong...it was a blast...but I am TIRED! And day light savings did not help much.

First I have felt pretty lousy since Thursday. I am not one to complain alot, but this one knocked me out of commission all day Thursday and a good chunk of Friday. At this point I am grateful that I have a very understanding boss. I love my job! (If you think I am sucking up, my boss is not a follower of this blog...so there!)

So setting that a side, the big part of the weekend was Gavin's baptism.

Isn't he a cutie! I am so proud of him!! The man next to him is pretty cute too! This was Saturday afternoon. Yes, Halloween. I told Gavin at least he will always remember what day he was baptized on.


We live in a very child filled neighborhood. I had seven bags of candy. Yea we went through that by 8:00. I also had about 4 dozen little toys, yep, gone. And two boxes of fruit snacks later the kids stopped coming. It was alot of fun. We have never lived in this kind of a neighborhood. We had one neighbor putting on a continuous magic show, another had a witch that was flying around his house and his yard was full of tombstones and he was dressed as Frankenstein rocking out to music. Our bishop had a disco going on is garage. Another neighbor had a full buffet of nachos, hot dogs and hot chocolate. I didn't think our house looked to bad either.

We had a lot of people that would pose their kids on the porch and then take pictures. It was a real kick.

This year Gunner went out trick or treating with his friends. This is the first year he has gone without a adult. I will admit I had a hard time with it! I wanted Cory to trail him, but he said that might look a little scary to some other observant parent. (Probably true) But I was a wreck the whole time he was gone!



Taya and Gavin went with friends and parents from the ward. Yea, we totally pond our kids off on some one else!


What a fun, busy day!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

Gavy, it's your birthday!



Today our sweet middle child turns 8!

So keeping with tradition here are eight things about Gavin!

1. Gavin has had a mind of his own since he was in the womb. He was breech, so the doctors tried to turn him (much more painful and harder than it sounds!) He immediately turned back. I was scheduled for a c section and was told if I went into labor to get to the hospital immediately. The night before the c section, Gavin decided he wanted to come and I went into labor. On the way to the hospital we got pulled over for speeding, but got out of the ticket. The DR stopped the labor and kept me over night, he was delivered the next morning.
2. Gavin looks just like and acts just like his Uncle Levi.
3. Gavin's favorite words (I am not proud to say) include butt, poop and fart.
4. He loves to camp and fish.
5. When he was 3 he developed a deep fear of water. He has not ever really over come it, all though he does a good job suppressing it.
6. Gavins has a double calic at the back of his head, great for faux hawks, not so great for Sunday hair.
7. His middle name is Jason. He was named after his Uncle Jason, who passed away.
8. Gavin is my most social child. He loves to ruff house and play sports.

Gavin will be baptized this Saturday. I am so proud of him!! Happy birthday Gavy!! We love you!!

Saturday, October 24, 2009

Gone but Not Forgotten


Today our sweet little baby would have been 12. It is hard for me to wrap my head around the idea that we would have a 12 year old. October 24th is always a hard day for Cory and I. It always brings up the what ifs and if onlys. It is also on this day that I am most grateful for the knowledge we as an LDS family have of an eternal family. I know that I will get to see Shaylee again and I know that Cory and I will get the chance to raise her! Like it says on her headstone, "Born still to us, but alive to God".

Shaylee we love you! Happy Birthday angel!

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Mom, have you seen the Sand Dunes?




On Friday we went to Cherry Creek, which is near sand mountain with some friends from the neighborhood.
I have not been there since I was pregnant with Gunner. So yea it has been a few years.

I think this was our last camp out of the year though, cause it was cold that night!! We could not get Taya on the four wheeler for nothing! She is a little scared ever since Rob's.


So she took pictures, here is a nice one of her toes...



The next few weeks should be filled with fun! We have Gavin's Birthday coming cup. Along with a school party, a ward party, his birthday party and his baptism. It will be fun!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Hula Hoopin' queen!

Isn't she cute!?! I can't believe how big big she is, I still think of her as my little baby until I see her doing things like this. Okay the blog is private, hopefully no one has problems getting in. If you hear of any email me at coryshilokids@netzero.com.

Friday, October 2, 2009

Going private...

In addition to this blog I also do a craft blog. I do the craft blog to share ideas with other people. But I have noticed that the more hits I get to the craft blog, the more hits I get this, our family blog. I am not apposed to family, friends and even people I don't know so well checking out this, the family, blog. But I feel, in order to monitor who is viewing the family blog and our day to day going on, that it needs to become a private blog.
This will only affect the family blog and Gunner's blog (even though he has not blogged in several months, I hope that at some point, he may decide he wants to start blogging again.)
The craft blog will remain public.
If you want to be able to view this(the family)and Gunners blog still, please leave a comment or email me.
I will officially make the switch in one week (October 10th) to private.
If you are on the list of blogs at right, you will automatically be added to the people who can access our family blog.

Sunday, September 27, 2009

2009 Family Photos


You know any post that starts out with this pic is going to be good!


My sister in law Lyndsy, is a very talented photographer. Check out her blog, Pickle Head Photograph

She was sweet enough to take some photos of the family for me.



I have not had a really good shot of the three kids all together in a long time. So I asked her for one of the three kids.


I asked for a family shot for this years Christmas card.


A shot of Taya in both regular clothes...


and in her Tinkerbell outfit...


and a daddys girl shot.


Then I wanted one of Gunner...


and of him in his Scout uniform for a shadow box I am doing with all the mothers pins I have from him....(in the first one he is actually rolling his eyes, but it worked out good!!)



And then Gavin I needed a really good one for his 8th birthday / Baptism...


I needed one with me and the hottie man!!


I saw this same concept and loved it...luck me Lyndsy duplicated it so well!! A version of this may end up on the Christmas card...






I love this in sephia too!

I am not telling which one will end up on the card it is a suprise....okay I really just can't decide!

Thank you Lyndsy! I LOVE these! You did a great job. I know that we did not get any great ones of your family. So tell me when and I would love to come push the button for you...and get some cute ones of you guys!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Finally got me some Rob's Pictures

...Starlee went all the way to St George to pick them up for me!
Here are some of my favorites



This is Gunner, waiting....waiting...waiting...for a fish.
This is Isabella, my three year old niece that Cory is cradling. Taya wanted nothing to do with shooting the gun, but Bella sure did!


This is the actual lake, Rob's Reservoir. My family has been going there since my great grandfather. We would meet up with all my cousins, aunts, uncles and grandparents. I remember hearing the trucks way off in the distance and knowing that one of my cousins was almost there. We went up, rain or shine every year. My sisters were barely a few months old and we still went up! Levi caught the biggest fish on this trip. It was sure pretty with its unusual yellow coloring.

Cory and Gavin on the four wheeler.
Love this! So sweet! Momma and son.
This is the old mill. My dad said it use to be a grain mill along, long time ago. I always remember it as meaning we were almost to the base of the mountain. When I was little, it was not chained or fenced, so we would go in and explore. My grandpa would stop there every year to get himself some fresh watercress. It is now chained, locked and fenced with no trespassing signs posted all over it. Vandals were coming in and tagging it or taking the old barn wood. It sure is pretty and spooky at the same time. Wait until you see what we do with some pictures of this on the craft blog!
My sweet little nephew, Arbor who is almost two. This is actually pretty clean.







Teisha, I love your camera!