Johnny its your birthday! (sort of)

I think I should win the worst sister of the year award! This is the second year being late getting Johnny's birthday wish out to him! But, you know what they say...better late than never!
To wish Johnny a happy birthday I have asked everyone a favorite memory or something they love about Johnny and here are the answers:

Dad Says: "I remember fishing at Piute Lake with him...the fetcher caught the biggest fish, it was like 4lbs! He may not catch the most, but he always catches the biggest"

Mom Says: "The first time I met Johnny I made potty pudding....and yet he still married Teisha."

Cory Says: "He saved me from a boring family reunion. He brought his awesome remote control car and let me drive it...and still likes me even though I wrecked it."

Shilo Says: "Johnny has helped me with so many computer things...and is great to vent to"

Levi Says: "He and Teisha came out and stayed really late helping us frame our house, even though it was cold and I am sure they were tired"

Lyndsy Says: "I get to talk nerd with him."

Teisha (His Wife) Says: "He spoils me and is such an awesome daddy. The first time he told me he loved me, I was laying by him and had just fallen asleep. He said you know Teisha I love you, I have never said that to anyone!"

Star Says: "When he was living with us or even know, when he visits, he is willing to take me anywhere or just do anything...he is really generous."

Gunner Says: "He has taught me a lot about computers."

Gavin Says: "He buys me donuts"

Taya Says: "He does lots of stuff on the computer."

Happy (late) Birthday Johnny!

Have I mentioned I am not ready for this....

Yup, I got kicked out of my family room Thursday night.
Gunner had a friend sleep over, since they had no school. Well I guess he talks about his "girlfriend" quite a bit at school, cause the first thing that his friend wanted to was see Rachel. So off they go to her house. Me and Taya at just settled into watch some girly girl show and in walks Gunner, Gavin, the sleep over friend, Rachel and her friend. Yea, they wanted to hang out and just watch a movie or something. And could you please go up stairs mom!

Yea...I am not ready for this!!

Tales from a 2nd grade class clown...

So Gavin is too smart for his own good! I have been told by his past three teachers that they have to have extra activities (think word searches, mazes, etc) ready for Gavin. Because he is often the first one done with his assignment but if he does not have something to occupy that smart little brain of his, then he will distract his classmates! Poor teachers, they really should be made saints!

Here are a few examples of his work that I have pulled out of his back pack in the last two weeks. Maybe this will give you an idea of what poor Mrs Bischel is dealing with this year.

Assignment one: draw a volcano and label the various parts of it.

Gavin's completed assignment: Top word "Mane vane" , second word down "Volcano" Bottom left words "alot of lava" top right words, pointing to a stick figure man "running person that isn't safe". When I asked Gavin what this was his answer was "The parts of a volcano" didn't know that a stick figure and a lot of lava were really a scientific part of a volcano!
Assignment two: Read the story of the Emperors new clothes and complete the work sheet.

Question one: How would you feel if you were tricked like the emperor? Gavins answer: I would feel mad and embarrassed. Good answer!
Question two: Would you punish those who tricked you? Why or Why not? Gavin's original answer: I would pee on them! The scribble on the side originally was the teachers answer Really?!? But after I told a few people about this Gavin stole it off my table and changed the answer to I would make them smell my stinky socks and scribbled out the teachers comment Better answer?!?

Assignment three: A spelling/phonics test

Gavin was given a large sheet of paper to write this on. Yet all ten of his words are contained in a area about 3/4 inch by 3/4 of inch. As you can see the teacher has suggested he write a little larger! Her writing is the same size most people write in, if that gives you an idea of how small his writing was!

It is really hard for me to reprimand or suggest that was not a good idea, when I am smirking and giggling the whole time! Well, at least, the assignments are done right?

Christmas Fun

I have been fairly neglectful of updating this blog and my craft blog, but the holidays really took me away...but it was well worth it, cause we had such a nice time!

It makes a world of difference working for the boss I have. Last year I worked through both holidays and could not take any extra time off. This year my boss gave me as much time as I could afford off. Which was not as much as I wanted, bills still have to be paid ya know?

Christmas Eve was so nice! This is the first year I have had Christmas Eve off and Cory was off too! So we took the kids to see Alvin and the Chipmunks. I think at one point I turned to Cory and said put me out of my misery! But the kids loved it and the look on Tayas face with her sweet grin, made the torture of the lame movie okay. Then we went home and passed out neighbor gifts. We joined my family at sizzler for dinner,

which is our tradition not to make our poor mommy cook twice. When we got home we let the kids open there Christmas PJs then we watched A Christmas story.

Once the kids were in bed we had to wait forever! Taya did not go to sleep until well after 12.

I think the kids got what they were after! Gunner asked for a telescope and Santa must have known Cory and I are to stupid to figure out a basic telescope, cause he got a really nice computer guided one. Now if it would just warm up a bit so that he can use it!

Taya asked for a pink DS, which she got. But she seemed most excited about the a hamster cage connect tunnel that she got. And loves the ZU ZU pet that she got a few days later.

Gavin also asked for a DSI. He loves playing with all the neighbor kids online with it. He was excited by all the beef jerky that he got too!

Cory spoiled me!! He bought a really pretty heart pendant the kids picked out for me. It is done with a several colors of stones so it looks like a rainbow. Love it! and he got me a new skillet, I have needed a new one for a while now!






New years Eve was fun too! We used the gift my parents got us, a gift certificate to Outback. We went with our friends, Chad and Danelle and then hung out at our house playing games. Discovered a good one we had in the closet, sequence, if you have never played it, give it a try, it is so addicting!!

The next day Cory and Gavin went rabbit hunting with his brothers. Gunner, Taya and I went and saw the new Princess movie. It is really cute! Even Gunner seemed to enjoy it.

I hope everyone else had a nice holiday. Now in the words of Soul II Soul "Back to life Back to Realty!"

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!!

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.........

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!