Dalen turns 1!!!!!!!

Hard to believe it, but on Dec. 12 our baby boy turned 1!!! Our theme was fire trucks. I found the cutest idea to make fire trucks with graham

crackers, oreos and candy. And of course Dalen had to have a cake, so we made him his own fire truck cake. The frosting in the picture looks pink, but I promise it was red. When it came time to open presents he wasn't a very happy kid. Everybody bought toys that make lots of noise and so every present he opened he wanted to play with instead of opening the next one, but we finally made it through all the presents.

I can't believe that it has already been a year since he was born, but I love how much fun he is right now. Happy Birthday Dalen!!! We love you!

Rylee Turns 4!!!!!

The big day has finally come and gone. Can anyone guess who the guest of honor was????

That's right, Tinkerbell! I think the brown haired version is much cuter, but that's just my opinion!

I was very happy with how the cake turned out. It was a lot easier than I thought it was going to be. Rylee loved it.

We had such a good time. When I asked her if she had a good party she told me "Momma, this was the very bestest birthday party ever". Happy Birthday Baby Girl!!!!!!

Parties, Parties, Parties

Wow!!! What a crazy week this has been. We started our week with George's grandmas birthday on Sunday night. Then it was off to Billings Monday. Tuesday was the ornament exchange. Wednesday, the ward Christmas party. Tonight was our little Rylee's 4th birthday and tomorrow is George's Christmas party for work. I would like to think that things can settle down now, but next week we have something every night.

The ornament exchange turned out pretty good, I think. I had fun and it seemed like everyone else did too. We are really hoping to make it an annual event so if anyone has some good suggestions on what to do next year please let us know. Here are a few pics of some of those who joined us and some of the decorations.

And of course it wouldn't be a ward Christmas party without Santa!!!! Can you guess which one of our angels doesn't want Santa to bring us toys?

Dad's Response

Well, I wasn't sure how the whole fake birthday party for my dad was going to go over, but apparently it went over great in his eyes. He tried to go in and leave a comment, but said that it rejected it both times and he doesn't know why so he asked if I would please leave his comment for everyone so here it is:
Sissy,Wow...now you went and done it. You made your old dad shed some tears! I can honestly say this was the nicest birthday present I ever received in my whole life. You tell me I have taught you to do good things for people,which is an awesome compliment. I only wish I could have done more for you and Jordan as you were growing up, but you grew up sooo fast. But as I grow older...I find more and more that the gifts you give do not have to be monetary or material. The important gifts you give and receive are those that you can pass on to make you a a better person or make someone else a better person. The creativity and time you took to put together my 'birthday party' with your precious angels...planning the video, baking and frosting the cake, singing happy birthday without me being there, and most importantly, setting the example for your children, make me very proud to be your dad and I consider that gift to be priceless. Your kids see you taking care of missionaries, spending time with the kids teaching them important life lessons, helping them to understand reality, but then showing them that no matter what, everything can be 'ok' in the world, sets the stage for their positive development to be good citizens in this crazy world and it makes your dad want to be a better father, grand father (papa), husband and community member, too. Thank you for my awesome birthday present and for the wonderful words you wrote in your blog. I am proud of you as a daughter, as a mother, and as a wife to George. Thanks for being a wonderful part of my life. I love you, Sissy, as I love your whole family! All my love, Dad

Thanks for making my eyes squirt some tears dad!!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAPA!!!!!

Happy 49th Birthday Dad!! I didn't know what to get you for your birthday so we thought we would throw you a party so here it is. Even though you weren't here to enjoy it with us we very much enjoyed it. YUM! I thought it would be fun for the kids to sing to you since we don't ever get to be there on your birthday, so here's a video. George is working nights so he didn't get to enjoy the party, but he says happy birthday and he loves you.
I
I don't know if you remember the book you gave me a couple of years ago for Christmas, Why a Daughter needs a Dad, but for my part of your present I thought I would pick a few things out of that book that pertain to us. Some I have included explanations or memories dealing with the reason and some need no explanation.
Reasons Why a Daughter Needs a Dad
1. To teach her the joy of serving others. I can remember many times going with you to take cookies and cards to veterans or being there with you doing the Veteran's Olympics. I don't think that I will ever forget the feelings I had when being there in those moments.
2. To help her find her way in life. You have always been supportive of the decisions that I have made. Not all of them have been the best decisions, but you stood by and let me make my own mistakes while still being there to let me know it was going to be okay.
3. To teach her how to work. I am thankful that I learned how to be a hard worker from you.
4. To always have time to give her hugs and kisses!
5. To teach her that she can forgive more than once. This one has probably been the hardest lesson that you have taught me, but probably the most important lesson in life that I needed to learn.
6. To learn that when he says it will be okay soon, it will. It is no secret that over the last few years I wasn't sure that things would ever be okay, but through it all you have kept telling me that it will. Through all the ups and downs of the last several years I have finally realized that it is okay. When I needed to cry, you told me it was okay. When we would laugh, you'd say "See sis, everything is going to be okay". I now realize that in the end and with time, everything will be okay.
Thank you dad for all the wonderful things you have taught me!!! I love you!

Memories of Missionaries Past

As many of you know WE LOVE MISSIONARIES! I am so thankful for missionaries and the work that they do. I have always been a member, but my husband and his brother and sister are converts. I love being involved with the missionaries and I am always thankful when they asked me to go with them. One of my most favorite things is to be able to watch how people change as they learn of the gospel. As I was going through pictures saved on the computer tonight I came across some pictures that put a HUGE smile on my face. We have loved all the missionaries that we have gotten to know, but we have been lucky enough to remain very close friends with 3 of them. Clark, Lambert and Nakken is what we will forever call them by, although it is now legal to call them Craig, Scotty and Tanner. We were lucky enough to have these 3 guys there to share two very special days with us, the day me and George went through the temple for the first time and the day that we were sealed as a family. I am so thankful to have you guys in our lives! We love you!

Halloween

Halloween. What a day. I don't ever remember

Halloween being one of my favorite holidays,

but now that I have kids it is starting to become

one of my favorite. Our day started out like

normal, up at 6 to get ready for school and work.

I ended the work day early and

went to Abby's party at school.

After school it was off to Girl

Scouts for Abby while I went to

pick up Rylee and Dalen. Once

we all got home we decorated

cupcakes. What a sticky mess!!!

My favorite were the mummy

cupcakes, which George informed

me looked nothing like mummies,

but I think we gave it a heck of a shot. Then the real

fun began. Running around the house like a bunch of

lunatics trying to find all pieces to all costumes, getting hair curled, getting dressed and of course make-up! After all the craziness it was off trick or treating. The girls were done after about 3 blocks. Dalen didn't even make it around the block before he crashed. After all was said and done the kids had more fun

handing out candy and eating

chicken noodle soup after we got home. Then the grand finale, Uncle John and Aunt Bonnie's house. It has become a tradition the last few years that everyone goes out to their house to hang out and get a healthy treat! This year everyone got a pomegranate. YUM! What a fun filled, but exhausting day! Can't

wait to do it all over again next

year.

My Brother the Missionary!

Thought you all might like to see some pictures of my baby brother Jordan! For those of you who don't know he just left recently to Brazil to serve his mission. Sounds like he is having a blast so far. He is the one with the thumbs up. They found the rat in their bathroom. YUCK!!!!

More Fun!!!

Just some more fall fun!!! We made a haunted gingerbread house. Not the easiest thing to make, but we managed. Dalen found a little fun of his own with a chocolate muffin one of the girls left out. YUM YUM!

Our Little Pumpkins

Hi everyone!!!! Thought it might be fun to

start a blog to keep in touch with everyone. It seems like

it has been a long time since we have seen most of the family. I know some of you haven't even seen Dalen yet and with us being so far away and winter coming you probably won't see him anytime soon. I know there are some little ones that I haven't seen yet either so please feel free to send us some pictures. Here are some pictures of us tatooing our pumpkins last night. The kids are too little to help us carve so they have

so much fun doing the pumpkins this way instead.

We also had lots of fun at the

pumpkin patch and corn maze

with Papa, Michelle, and Mackenzie

in Idaho. Dalen stayed behind and spent some quality time with Grandma . Well we hope to see you all very soon!!!! We love you all!!!!