St George Vacation

We had a great time hiking at Red Cliffs with our family and Hillary and her kids. Here is Charlie carrying some precious cargo over the little waterfall.

The kids found a little hiding spot in this old tree.

Brode braving the rope all by himself.

All my boys above the little waterfalls.

The Boys!

monkeys in a row

Teague being a good boy in the pack!

Our family on a cool ledge with Brode acting cool!

Teague on the car ride. He was a real trooper especially when he gets to eat a sucker!

Peyton and Brode in the car! Are we there yet?

A day at VAIL

We stopped in for a little skiing/snowboarding at Vail on our way to St. George to see our family. Brode has some skiing experience from the last few years but this was his first time on a board. He picked it up like a champ. By the fourth time down the hill he was going full force all by himself. Carving and cruising down full speed. We were very proud to say the least!

Teague getting warmed up in the lodge.

The whole fam! As you can see Charlie and I didnt ski. This trip was all about the kiddos and with the awesome magic carpet we could walk up and down with them. Teague is out cold on Charlie's shoulder!

Here is Brode riding all by himself and Peyton walking down along side him. I didn't get a shot of Peyton on her skiis due to the fact that Charlie had a sleeping baby and I couldn't hold her and the camera. She did great. This was her first time on skiis. and she loved it and laughed the whole time. She didn't quite get the hang of the "PIZZA" to slow her down but she loved going full speed down the hill as I ran to catch her! WHEW...what a workout!

Here is Teague walking around Vail with me! What a silly kid!

Vroom Vroom!

Just some shots of the beautiful weather we had last week and the fun time Brode and Teague had riding around in the neighbors little race car. What cuties!

Teaguers first time out

Teague has been having a little trouble with his temper lately. Oh wait I mean since birth! Well I finally decided that since he is one, he is old enought to sit in time out. He sat there obediently and cried for a few minutes. He knew he was in trouble and didn't even consider getting down! It was extremely funny and I had to hide my laughter as I stood by.

The other day I pulled teague out of the tub and left Peyton in while I got him dressed. Then I went to get Peytons clothes, and came back to find this! Fully clothed. Diaper onesie, shirt, pants and a big smile. Irresistible moment for a picture.

Teague is 1!

He could not wait to get this cake in his mouth!

I made two cakes so we could have enough for guests! And leftovers!

Teague loves cars so we went with the homeade race car cake!

Happy birthday litte beegie smalls! Teague turned one last week and we had a great time cleebrasting with our dear friends Frank and Toni. Teague wasn't interested in anything but the cake the whole night. He was a little angry during dinner and wouldnt eat anything but as soon as we put that cake on his tray he went crazy. I really can't beleive he is growing up so fast. It seems to get faster with each one! Teague is such a fun adventurous kid and so entertaining. We love you Teaguer!

Christmas 2008

Teague was more interested in Peytons present then his own!

Brode couldn't wait to put this skate ramp together. He asked Santa for a skatepark in his back yard, but this will have to do!

Peyton got exactly what she wanted!

We had a great Christmas this year in Arizona with Grandma and Grandpa Jewkes. The weather was decent enough to go swimming and spend time outside. I enjoyed a massage, Charlie played golf and the kids played with their cousins all day every day! I finally got to go see Twilight with all my sisters. The kids had a blast running around with dart guns outside, and best of all we all came down with some nasty stomach bug that Teague brought along to share. Merry Christmas everyone! We flew home late Christmas night and Santa made a day late visit to our home the next morning.

Brode's Christmas Piano Recital

Brode played in his first ever recital this month and really did a spectacular job. He was so excited and focused. He played We Three Kings, and he did so great. I have it on video but I am having trouble getting it to load so I will put up a couple of pictures for your viewing pleasure. I am so proud of his hard work and his willingness to humor me and take piano lessons. I am insistent that each of my children will play the piano until they are familiar enough with notes to read music well. Then at that point they will be free to choose an instumnet of their choice. Lets see if I can enforce this. So far so good!

Preschool Reindeer

Peyton had a spectacular preschool program for Christmas. They sang songs using props they made themselves. Peyton was so funny to watch in her own little school environment. She is so quiet and polite at school. Not quite what we are used to.

Snow day

This is Teagues first time out in the snow. At first He didn't really get the point of all these confining clothes and cold white stuff.

Brode tries out a snowboard for the first time. He has been on the slopes on skiis but I think he is ready for the board now!

A lone little guy in the snow.

little climber

This is where we found Teague as I was making breakfast last week. What a crazy kid!

Giving Thanks

This year we decided NOT to travel for the BIG feast. We stayed here close to home and spent thanksgiving day with our wonderful friends Frank and Toni. It was a great time and some really great food. But most of all Thanksgiving has brought me to thinking about all the things that my family is blessed with. We have hit a fairly humbling time in our lives as many people have in this economic slump. This has pushed me to realize how blessed we truly are. I love that our Father in Heaven gives us reminders just when they are needed. I have really come to view this unemployment as a blessing in our lives as we have pulled close together as a family and are spending countless hours together working, playing, and just going through daily stuff. I have recently (usually while jogging on my eliptical trainer) sat and thought about how lucky I am to have a husband who I have always been able to depend on for our every need. I have such faith in him that I know that things are going to work out for the better for us. I know that he would not accept anything less. He is my best friend. We really do have fun together and get along so well. I have been so blessed to have a man who is so dedicated to the gospel. We both can come together and believe in our cause, for our children and for each other. I was talking to my youngest sister who is single and dating and it made me think about what qualities you should seek in a man to marry. There is only really one that comes to mind when I think of what is truly important. It is a testimony of our church. It is believing together. I truly believe that if you have this then all the other stuff falls into the background. I am so grateful to have a husband that strives for all the things that I strive for ...and is super macho and hot, (because he came home from the turkey bowl with a big cut under his eye and a black eye), but not to macho to ask our heavenly father for help and to believe that he guides our family in all that we need and want in our lives.

I Walk Alone!!!

Our little man is growing up sooooooo fast!! I can't believe he is starting to walk. Enjoy the video.

Halloween 2008

Here is our Little dinosaur

Who slept through the ward Trunk or treat on dads shoulder

Here is our Princess Aurora

and last but not least....IRONMAN

Here is our spooky haunted house pumpkin carving.

We had a great Halloween this year. The kids trecked the neighborhood till 9:00 and got tons of candy. We had an awesome ward Trunk or Treat, chili cook off . It was a super busy day and alot of family fun!

Peytons pumpkin patch preschool field trip

Peyton got to go to a pumpkin patch for her preschool halloween field trip. There was a straw maze, a haunted house and a playground. She had a great time with her friends and her Grandma Freddie who was in town for the fun event. Peyton was an extrmely cute Pirate for the event although she changed her costume preference for the rest of the Halloween celebrations.

Sassy Pirate

Having lucnch in the sunshine