Christmas day!

Wow I can't beleive that Christmas came and went by soooo fast this year! I look forward to it for so long and then it is just over so fast!!! We had a great time. We love living close enough to family that we can spend time with them, but then still go home to have Christmas day at our house. It really is great. We have traditions each year that usually stay the same. On Christmas Eve we go out to my parents house for dinner, present exchange and if time permits (which it didn't this year) we go see the lights in Preston. My kids were just to excited to get home and in bed so Santa could come. Unfortunately it was a whirl wind getting to my parents this year and I totally spaced grabbing the camera...so Christmas Eve pictures...I have to get from someone else. Oh well. Once we came home we got all of the kids in bed and then waited for the magic to begin. Isn't Christmas fun! When we woke up.....or when Camden woke us all up at 6:30 (this was the funnest year so far with him. He was so excited he could hardly stand it!) We all went downstairs to see if Santa had come.....
.....he had!!

Camden was jumping up and down with excitement!

Carter slept a little longer than Camden, but when he made it downstairs he was already in his Santa hat ready to see what he had been given! Myah was just fascinated with all of the wrapping paper and commotion. She gave herself the gift of crawling on Christmas Eve, so I think the novelty of getting around was the greatest pass time!
Darin's mom came and stayed overnight with us. It was fun to have her there! (on a side note, these pictures are all in our basement....that was Darin and my gift to each other...finishing our basement. It isn't quite finished, but we are almost there hurray!!!)

Later, after a breakfast of creme-brulee french toast (sooooo yummy!), we opened up our presents upstairs that we had for one another. The boys just ripped through presents like a tornado and left the house looking like one had really hit!

Camden and Carter weren't really interested in getting there pictures taken, but they did hug each other with excitement when they opened up a present together...isn't it great how presents can bring two brothers together! (sigh)This was the best smile I could get from Camden. He didn't want to look at the camera. He was focused only on unwrapping gifts!Camden drew Myah's name and was very insistent on buying her a doll. He said we didn't have any and she really needed one. He really wanted to get her a barbie doll, but I told him she wasn't quite big enough for that yet! As you can see, she loved it!After we got ready for the day we headed to Darin's mom's for lunch. Dan and Allison came with Dallin and Saylor. I realized I didn't take many pictures except for some of Myah and Saylor. They were much better posers than their brothers so I thought I would add one of them!
For those of you who have read my blog for a while might remember back in April, Dan and Allison were blessed with little Saylor through adoption. As she has grown, it is amazing at how much she really looks like her mom and dad and I don't think anyone would question that her and Myah are cousins.....in fact I often hear comments on how much they look alike! I think they are going to be great little friends! What a fun Christmas we had! Not to mention the next day was spent with the rest of Darin's family! I just hope I was able to get my kids to understand the real meaning of Christmas and they will always remember that the only gift that matters is the one that the Savior gave to us. What a miraculous gift we each have been given. Merry Christmas to you all !

Do you like the snow?

So it has been snowing here...and snowing....and snowing! I love the snow and it was perfect for Christmas, but I think we need a snow blower! Darin and I are pooped from shoveling! Luckily the day we received a good 12" or so our great neighbor came down with his 4-wheeler and got us out of a very heavy situation. Just so you know Jake....Carter would now like to be a snow-plower when he grows up. He found it very fascinating! The best part of the snow.....also the worst......we got all new tires and rims for our van. Thanks to our fabulous snow removal system in our town (which I will leave nameless) I spun out my van when pulling into our cul-de-sac on one of those stormy days, smashed into the curb and popped one of our wonderful run-flat tires. They are great until you have to replace one ($$$$$), so hence we got rid of all run-flat tires and rims and replaced them with all new less expensive ones so if this happens again in the future we won't be out so much $$$$$. Merry Christmas to us! Don't you love when you get to buy unexpected gifts for yourself....especially at Christmas time!

View out our front door...And out the back...

Suday best!

Next time I will know that if we have 1:00 church we should take our pictures BEFORE church....lesson learned!

Camden's Kindergarten debut!

Camden had his first Kindergarten program for Christmas this year. He was so funny!! I have never seen a kid more embarrassed in my life!!! He was front and center....not a good place for someone with stage fright! He would not even look at me. Everyone was singing to their parents and this was Camden. Turned sideways unable to look at anyone in the audience. I got him to look at me for a minute and then he hurried and shut his eyes and looked at the ground. I think little Evan next to him was thinking "dude, what is your deal!!!" and the kid on the other side of him was just happy...I think he was one of Santa's elves spying on all of the other children!

Finally by the end I got him to smile....which is another story itself. He would all of a sudden just start posing like he was in a photo shoot. So there are all of the kids singing and Camden is just completely posed for a picture. I haven't laughed that hard in a while!It was a cute program. Afterwards when I was talking to his teacher she just said "I had NO idea he would be so nervous up there. I would never have guessed that about him!" Well that makes two of us!!! Way to go Camden! And if you asked Camden he would just smile and say "I just have a little bit of stage fwight."

San Diego! (catch up time!)

Darin and I had a great trip to San Diego. It was one of the funnest trips we have been on. It was hard to leave Myah (I knew my boys would be fine!) because she is still so little and we are still quite attached (literally), but we both survived and it was good to have a break from my job! We did a lot of fun things. We stayed in a little beach rental on Mission Beach. It was a quaint little house. The parking was a little scary (very small garage...good thing we rented a compact..it was a mazda 3 however...our new envy!) but just what we needed to get away. One of my favorite things about where we stayed was breakfast our first morning. Since we had no food we walked down to a little restaurant just a block away called The Mission Cafe. It was so yummy! We had blackberry banana pancakes and rosemary potatoes. Rachel Ray...if you are reading it is a definite must for $40 a day! After our morning breakfast we went hiking on the Torrey Pines Reserve! Absolutely breathtaking!
Torrey Pines is also home to a famous golf course, so we had to get a picture! It was one of the most pretty golf courses that I have ever seen!Later that night we went to Coronado. It is a little island off of San Diego. It was also beautiful. We had a fun dinner that night....I tried some fish...swordfish....suprisingly very yummy!

The next day we thought we would venture to the Happiest place on earth....Disneyland. How much happier could parents of three be going to Disneyland without a stroller, tired kids or spending money on overpriced toys. There was no complaining and no taking turns on the adult rides while one of us stayed with the kids. It was sooooo much fun!!! That being said, I really really really want to take my kids there. They would have a blast!They had an amazing firework show that night. They lit the castle up....this picture doesn't give it justice, it was incredible!Then next day was Sat. and we officially celebrated our anniversary of 8 years. We got all dressed up and drove to Balboa Park and had lunch at the Prada....Very fun! Afterwards we went and saw the musical "The Grinch who stole Christmas". It was really cute!

Afterwards we were able to go to the San Diego temple. I had never been inside of that temple before and it is just about as amazing on the inside that it is on the outside. With all of the golden spiral staircases I felt like a real Cinderella and was being escorted by my own prince charming. It was a really neat evening, a tradition I hope we always keep!The next morning it was back to reality. Our day was long (we had a layover in Denver), we got home that evening and I was really looking forward to seeing my kids. Going away always makes you realize how much you love being a parent. It was a great trip though and I love spending time with my wonderful husband....my best friend!

HAPPY 30TH BIRTHDAY JOANNA!!

Darin here. I know this is a couple of days late, but I figure better late than never. I'm not much of a blogger, but I like to mess around on the blogwaves every now and then. So, with that, I'd like to wish my amazing, unbelievably gorgeous, magnetically attractive, and last but not least, hot and sexy wife, a super happy 30th birthday!! I have to brag to all of you blogreaders that Joanna is the absolute best wife of all time. What an incredible woman I get to have at my side forever and ever. Such a lucky man that I am. I have known Joanna for over half of her life now and I have enjoyed every bit of it. I'm very grateful for Joanna and all that she does for myself and our three little squirts. I know it would probably be easier and more enjoyable at times for her to be out working, but I am infinitely grateful to her for being home Camden, Carter, and Myah. Joanna, you will always be the love of my life. You inspire me to be the best that I can be. Thank you for you. The best part about me will always be you!! I love you and look forward to enjoying the next 30 years with you!

It's been eight great years!

Well I just wanted to quickly post a great big "I LOVE YOU" out to my cute husband! Today is our 8th wedding anniversary and we just pulled in about an hour ago from a four day long trip to San Diego! (another post for another day!) Thank you for a wonderful trip and for convincing me to come completely childless (yes I left Myah and thankfully we both survived!). Anyway we had such a wonderful time and it was so great just being together and remembering why we fell in love all of those years ago. Darin you are truly my one and only....you always have been and you always will be! Thank you for all that you do and for putting up with me all of these years! Hopefully there will be many more to come! Despite any of the hard times, it really has been a great eight years! I sure love you!

elf yourself

If you need a good laugh, click here

Thank you Myah!

Thank you for the first 12 hour stretch of uninterrupted sleep in 8 months! Your mother thanks you! Next time I will try to go to bed before 1 a.m. so I can really appreciate it!

Gratitude

The past few weeks I have been feeling a little more sentimental. I guess it probably has to do with this time of year and reflecting on what really matters most in life. Also, it would be fair to say that I have been reminded of how easily we take life for granted and how fast it could be taken away. This month marks 24 years since Darin's dad was killed in a helicopter crash in the Bingham Copper mines. I try to imagine what it would be like to get a phone call telling me my husband was gone and I would have to raise my family on my own. I pray that is something I never will have to face, but hope it will always be a reminder to cherish every day here with my family. I am sure Darin's dad would love to play with and love his 18 grandchildren and I know that Darin would give anything to have a father to confide in and get advice from. But aren't we so grateful for families and for the strong unit that is tied together forever! I am somewhat of a blog hopper (I like that phrase better than blog stalker!) and in the past few months I have come across blogs of so many people that I don't know (some that I do), but whose stories have touched my heart. From babies struggling with cancer to mom's who are trying to make it on their own after the loss of their husband. Disease, accidents, pain and sorrow are all around us. I am touched by those who stand strong in the face of adversity and help each of us to become stronger and help us all to reflect on what we hold most dear in our own lives. One story I have become very touched by can be found here. This blog is written by a young mom of 4. She is totally in love with her husband and her children and writes about it. Well about 3 months ago her and her husband were in a plane crash and both were covered in burns. Amazingly enough she and her husband are both slowly recovering after months of sedation and surgeries. Her sister re-posts old blog posts and you can read more about their situation. Anyway she seems to be an amazing person, and while I have no idea why this was a trial she was asked to endure, I have been completely touched by her story and have been inspired to be a better person. Many times I have read in peoples blogs that we need to keep it more "real". That we shouldn't pretend to have a life that isn't what it is. While I agree with that to a point, I feel that blogging should inspire us to be better. To lift each other when we might feel down and encourage us to be a happier people. So with that in mind don't think for a second that my life is perfect....it so is not! My kids fight like cats and dogs, my house is often a mess, I seem to throw together meals at the last minute with so many intentions to do better, my baby still wakes up in the night and I feed her to go back to sleep even though she is 8 months old, Darin and I do not always see eye to eye and yes, I tend to yell more than I should. I blog about those things on occasion, but it really isn't the stuff that I want to remember the most. And since my time is limited to how often I can sit down and write a post, I am going to attempt to write about something I will want to look back and read again someday! These are just a few of the many things I am grateful for in my life right now!

My family: we are a crazy bunch of characters. We laugh, cry, act crazy and even yell at each other (don't all families!) I am grateful fore each of the four other lives that share their everyday lives with me. I can't imagine living a moment without any one of them!

Laughter: I am grateful for laughter. There isn't a better remedy for anything, than laughter. Finding the good in each situation will help us get through the hardest of times.

My boys: I am so thankful for my boys. They all keep me on my toes. From the wrestling to the goofiness to the sport playing and even the destruction they can cause I love my boys! I love watching the interaction of Father to Son. It is precious, especially for Darin!

Kissing chubby cheeks: I am thankful to get to kiss those little cheeks all day long. I wish I could just bottle them up, because I know that these days are fleeting ones. So in the mean time I am just going to keep on kissing!
Siblings: I am grateful for siblings! I am grateful that my kids have each other and that they will be able to be friends for years to come. I look forward to watching them interact with one another and helping each other grow. I am thankful for my own siblings and the friendships that I have with them. I am thankful for the siblings I have gained through my marriage and the marriages of my brother and sisters. They are friends I will have for life!
The journey: I am thankful for the journey of life. I loved Pres. Monson's talk at the April conference on finding "joy in the journey". We have already been through a lot together as a family and I know we have a LOT more to go through, but I hope to find joy in each day and live life to the fullest!
Camden: I am thankful for Camden's infectious smile. For his contagious laugh (except for when he is laughing about something he isn't suppose to be laughing about!). I am thankful for his sensitive spirit and for his willingness to help around the house (most of the time!). I am thankful that he came to our home first and will be able to be a leader for his younger siblings. Thank you Camden for being my most favorite 5 year old I know!

Carter: I am thankful for Carter's funny personality. For the silly things he comes up with, to tell us about. I am thankful for his willingness to try new things (except for food!) and his ability to melt your heart every time those squinty little eyes smile. I am grateful for his ability to love everyone around him and makes sure they know by becoming completely hysterical when it is time to go home! He has always been my best snuggler and if I ever need a hug, he is the one I go to!

Myah: I am thankful for Myah and her amazingly sweet spirit. I am not sure if there is another baby out there who smiles as much as Myah. She just finds joy in EVERYTHING. She is so happy and content and thinks her brothers are hilarious (only occasionally do they push her buttons!). I am thankful she chose to come after her two brothers, because now I can go even more crazy with girl stuff because I had to wait so long! I am grateful for her ability to bring all of us back to reality when life gets a little crazy. If I ever need a smile all I have to do is look at my little miss Myah and she is waiting with a grin from ear to ear!
Darin: I am thankful for Darin. My sweetheart for almost 14 years! Yikes can you believe it has been that long since we were sophomores in high school! Darin has always been my rock. When I first meet him, he just made me want to be better. He has always been a great example to me. He works hard, is always trying to be better and is great at admitting when he is wrong (which is a lot because I am usually right...haha). We have been through so many ups and downs together and I am so thankful to have him by my side. I love him more than he knows and am grateful everyday to be his wife! (ok, occasionally I am not as grateful as I should be, but I said everyday not every second!!!) I love you Darin!
Life: Even though life gets hectic and crazy, I am so thankful each day for my life. I am grateful I have the opportunity to be a wife and mother. I am grateful for all of my friends and family that teach me so much each day! Each of us have different blessings and struggles and no two people are the same. I think if all of us had the same trials, we wouldn't be able to learn from each other and help each other to grow. I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father and Savior that have made it possible to live together as families forever. I don't think I could live in this world without that knowledge. I am just thankful for this time of year and realize that all of us, if we look hard enough will see that we are so blessed! So lets show our gratitude to the one who loves us all!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

(OK, that was deep. I didn't realize I would be quite that sentimental and hope that doesn't mean I will be kicking the bucket anytime soon.....yea that is my crazy thinking coming out! By the way our pictures were taken last weekend. If you are interested in the photographer check her out here. I didn't post my favorite family picture because I am using it for Christmas cards and didn't want to spoil them!)

Pickin Apples

My neighbor told us about an apple orchard down the street that lets you go and pick apples and just pay for them by the bushel. She invited us to come with them one afternoon and pick apples. The boys had fun, I had fun, and now we have a load of apples in the garage that my kids eat as though it is candy! It was a fun little adventure! Thank you Jones's! Here is Kaden, Kirsten and Camden snacking on apples. I am not quite sure how many apples they ate that afternoon! Luckily I don't remember any sick tummies!

Cater helping me pick apples!

Camden and Kaden were a pretty good team!

These two are inseparable little buddies! I am not sure what Camden would do if you guys ever moved! Sometimes, when Camden gets into trouble he will ask if he can just go live with Kaden instead. That or he asks if we could trade Carter for Kaden. He doesn't really understand why that just wouldn't work! It is kind of strange because I grew up without any neighbors at all.(Unless a half a mile down the road is considered a neighbor!) It is fun to watch my kids have soo many friends to play with by just walking out the front door! We LOVE our neighbors!

Happy Halloween.....a little late!

Well, Halloween came and went again this year. It was fun, but kind of a long week. We all came down with a pretty bad cold, and it was me who happened to be suffering on Halloween day! So I was somewhat of a slacker as far as making it an incredible "Halloween to remember", but I did my best. We went to Papa Murphy's and got a Jack-O-Lantern pizza (which I have started having as a tradition, I don't really feel like cooking on Halloween so it works out well). Darin got off of a work a little early and we went to Camden's school for a Halloween carnival. It was fun but sooooooooo crowded. None of us like to be that crowded, so after about 30 min. my boys were just asking to go home and go trick-or-treating. Darin and I were happy that they were done and they had a blast trick-or-treating! I mean really, what kid doesn't like getting a bag full of candy! I was amazed, however, that we talked Camden into selling us his candy for $5. Carter on the other hand, just said "no thank you". They were definitely on a sugar buzz for a while, but I have to admit so was I! Even when I don't feel well, I can't say no to sugar! It was a fun Halloween and the kids loved dressing up!

Camden wanted to be Batman this year. He hasn't ever seen the show, but he thinks he is cool and for some reason, thinks he is a scary growling monster...little boys...you gotta love them!


My little, fluffy, tutu wearing, butterfly fairy something. Okay, I just got as much fluffy girly stuff as I could find and somehow turned it into a costume of sorts!



My lightning McQueen vampire....he got the teeth at preschool and just had to add them to his costume!


Here we are at the Halloween carnival. I couldn't get everyone to look at me at the same time, but I do love the look on Carter's face. Oh by the way...Dwight from "The Office" showed up for this picture!

What a frightening looking family!

The 10 Club

So my cute neighbors, despite being cute have started a really great club. It is called the 10 club. Each month we meet and whoever can, donates $10 and then we decide together what charity, family or person could benefit from the money that month. It is just something little that we hope can make a big difference! Anyone is welcome to come, because of course the more people we have involved the more money we can raise! If anyone is interested please contact me or check out http://www.cachevalley10club.blogspot.com/ Also if anyone is interested in learning how to start their own chapter of the 10 club that would be great! We hope to start a wave of people wanting to help in their own communities! For the month of Dec. we are hoping to have our own Big Give. We will each be donating our $10 (the rule is, that is all we can donate) but I am asking for any of you out there to donate $10 to add to mine. Even if I only got a few of you to help that would increase the total a LOT! If anyone....and I mean ANYONE out their would like to help please let me know. If you are interested please contact me at chase.family@msn.com and I can give you more details. Lets help others in our community have a little brighter Christmas this year....after all it's only $10 to us, but it's worth a million to those we can help!