A look back at 2008

I am cheating this year with our christmas cards. It has just been one of those months where I decided this was the best I could do. Live has been great for us. I can not believe the year is almost over.



JoAnn started school this year and is loving it. She will turn six in February and she can't wait. She is absolutely amazing about being mom's big helper. It has been hard having her gone during the day, but as soon as she is home, she wants to do what I do. She is already reading some books and loves to sound out words and spell anything she can.



Jay will be four next month and is so excited to finally get to be in Primary. He is not my big helper around the house and love to be a protective big brother to Savanna. He is definately ALL BOY and love anything messy, dirty, or anything his dad is doing.



Savanna is now 21 months and has become our little spit fire. She is so much fun and loves to be the center of attention. She is definately strong willed and it is amazing how much she is understanding. She is not talking in full sentences and suprising me every day. She is also my cuddle bug and can't seem to get enough of dad or mom.



Alan is still working for Auto Owners. We are so grateful with the economy that he has a job, but we still would love to get up north. Alan is an amazing dad and husband and the kids adore him. As soon as he walks in the door, mom is no longer important. Alan started school up again last semester and between school, work, and his calling (2nd Counselor in the Elder's Quorum) he has definatetly been busy. Somehow he still finds time to cook Sunday dinners and help around the house!


I am loving my life. My kids definately keep me busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I am still with the Young Women and wouldn't want any other calling. I also started school up this last semester and was amazed how much I enjoyed learning again. I was able to do all my classes online and should be able to for the next two semesters. I am hoping to get into the nursing program in the fall...we will see what life has in store for us.


We are so blessed and grateful to be together during this time of year. We will get to spend Christmas in St. Johns and my kids are praying for snow! MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Family Pics

We were able to go to Thatcher for Thanksgiving and while we were there my brother, David, took our family pictures. These are just a few. I swear I have the cutest kids. :)

Football and Halloween

That goes from one of my favorite things to my least favorite thing ever. I am not a Halloween fan at all! We were able to go to Alan's brother, Travis', game last Saturday. The weather was perfect and travis did amazing. Then we had a Laurel/Priest activity that everyone went as famous couples through history. Alan was so good to dress up with me and my friend Kaci was great to outfit us. I do have to say it was nice to get all dressed up fancy. I mean, how many times to mom's get to do that? Tonight was our ward trunk or treat. I forgot the camera there, and so we had to take these when we got home. You will notice it was a little hot and JoAnn's clown make didn't really stay on that great :)

Happy 30th Alan

I just wanted to say happy birthday to Alan and let him know how grateful I am for all he does...These are only 30 of the reason I love him.
1. He notices the little things
2. He is so good to compliment me
3. He doesn't hesitate to tell someone else how great they are
4. He would rather be home than anywhere else
5. His biggest goal is to be able to serve others
6. He is always striving to do the best he can and...
7. He makes me want to be a better person
8. I love the way he turns into a little kid when he starts to play with them
9. I love that when a kids starts to cry, Alan makes it his goal to get them happy again.
10. He is always working to try to better himself
11. He loves to learn
12. I love the way he will dance with me and our kids anytime
13. I love when he tries to calm me down when I get anxious
14. I love when he gently reminds me to do better
15. He is so protective of me
16. He just wants me to be happy and does all he can to cheer me up
17. I love that if he hads the kids I don't have to worry that I am going to come home to a messy house
18. I know that the kids are always safe and happy when they are with dad
19. I love the way are kids adore him and ask every day..."When is Daddy coming home?"
20. I love the smile that he gets when his kids say his name
21. I love the pride he takes in making his home beautiful
22. I love when he just tells me to sit down and then pampers me
23. I appreciate that his dad taught him to respect your wife and Alan listened :)
24. I love that he makes every Sunday dinner
25. I love that he never complains about my crazy schedule
26. He is the most amazing man I know
27. He is the HOTTEST!!!
28. He is my other half...my one true love
29. He is the best dad and the most amazing husband
30. HE IS MY LIFE

I Love you Alan! Thank you for just being you and letting me be me!!

THE FIVE

I am back. We are finally moved in and feeling settled. (And for those of you who don't know what I am talking about...we moved about a week and a half ago. Just down the street, but we are way excited. I will post pics later) I got tagged awhile ago and thought I should do this, so here it goes........

The Five

Ten years ago I:
1. was working at EA GLASS
2. was loving finally being able to drive and date...more driving than dating :)
3. was loving my junior year and being able to go to FRIDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL!!
4. was trying to hang out with Mary Ann as much as possible, and loving that she brought so many college kids over to the house
5. was hiding my car, (The GREMLIN) as far away from the high school as possible and planning to get a new car ASAP

The Five things on today's "to do" list:
1. Clean the bathrooms
2. Wait for the Cable guy...I can't miss Prison Break tonight!
3. Clean up outside
4. Prepare the FHE lesson
5. Make Thank you cards for everyone who helped out in last night's fireside

Five snacks I enjoy:
1. Peaches-right now fresh from UTAH!
2. Pretzels w/melted cheddar over the top
3. Nelson's Frozen Custard (Can you call that a snack?)
4. Strawberries, or any fruit really
5. Any time I can actually enjoy a snack, I will eat whatever I can :)

Five things I would do if I were a millionaire:
1. Go to Paris, or any where for that manner!
2. Go to DisneyLand and Sea World-for the first time.
3. Go to a third world country and help in relief funds
4. Be a part of Extreme Home Makeover (I love that show)
5. Get out of Debt, then get my YELLOW JEEP

Five places I have lived:
1. Flagstaff, Arizona
2. St. Johns, Arizona
3. Thatcher, Arizona
4. Mesa, Arizona
5. Coolidge, Arizona (Can you tell I don't get out very much?)

Five jobs I have had:
1. Cleaning Houses (not recommended)
2. CSR at the UPS Store
3. Everything you can be at EA GLASS
4. Bank teller at Bank of America
5. Piano Teacher

Mud Bogging

Because of the long weekend we were back in Thatcher to get to be with family. On Monday my brother Tom brought two four wheelers over to my mom's for everyone to ride. He found some fun mud holes and we decided to go mud bogging. It was really my first time as you can tell with my clothes. By the time we were done we were covered head to toe, but it was a blast. We even got my mom to do it!!


Okay...I got stuck!!

Go Me! I was the only one to get stuck and the only one to almost flip. I was so sure I was going to face plant right in the mud.

I jumped off to try and help, but all it needed was 4-wheel drive :o

And look how clean I stayed! Do you like my new mud shoes? Pretty fashionable right!

This was the biggest mud hole and it was a blast!

Can you see how clean I am?

It was alway great when we finally made it out of the mud hole :)

Mom brought her golf cart and went through once then just watched with Maci and Savanna.

Good Luck Levi!!

My little brother Levi flew out with my parents early this morning for the MTC. He will report tomorrow and will be in the MTC for only 3 weeks. He then goes straight to Melbourne, Austrailia. I am so excited for him and so grateful for the example he is setting for all of us. This is on Sunday right before his farewell. He did amazing and it was so fun to have all 10 kids there. We got family pictures and I will post those a little later!