One Last Time-

Here I am, sitting alone at my desk, and I am thinking of everything that I am most grateful for, and I know that this year is over with just 6 minutes to spare. So, I would like to thank all of you for checking our blog in 2007, and please come back in 2008 and check it again. We love it when you keep up with the little, but fun things we do in our lives, and hope that you have enjoyed 2007 as much as we have. We have had a lot of ups and downs happen over the year, but realize that we have been blessed very much, and are grateful to our Father in Heaven for these blessings. We love you all, Good Bye old, and Hello new.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

More Snow!!! (YEA)

Ellie keeps insisting that I post more pictures of the snow we received this morning. She wants you all to know we have enough to share, just in case you don't have some and would like to barrow a bit of ours. (what a good girl I have) : ) This one below is me standing on my front porch looking over at the park. It almost felt like a bit of a blizzard. The kids thought it was awesome, all I could think was

(I have to drive to church in this snow storm). YIKES... ha ha

What a sweet husband I have. He got out and started shoveling the sidewalk just as soon as the snow calmed down a bit. It is a city rule that sidewalks stay cleaned to the best of your ability.

This is our neighbor Mark and his son Chase. He has been such a good guy, and has plowed our drive every time it snows. He also does the streets around our neighborhood. Thanks Matt : )

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow..

It has been snowing on and off since Christmas Day. Yesterday and today it snowed the most. Ray and I sure are glad that we gave in and bought the kids snow suits for Christmas. They have had a blast paying in the snow, making snow angels, attempting the challenge of getting frosty to stand, and the great snow ball fight. What a great way to start off the new year, (with a white cleansing). : ) We will take all that we are given.

Ellie's Page

Ellie asked me if she could create her own page for everyone to see, and I told her that is what this page was for. So, she asked if she could make it cute her own way. With her direction and opinion, this is the page that was made. She is happy with herself, and so we will leave it up at least until the new year. :)

~GOOFY KIDS~

My kids were pretty excited about today being Christmas Eve. They got quite goofy, and it was amazing how they were on their best behavior almost all day, and even nice to each other. It's funny how the tongue almost always comes out for pictures when your being goofy.

In this picture Ellie kept telling Jake she was going to lick him. He was laughing almost uncontrollably, and kept shouting (sissy you given me goosies on my legs and arms. Stop it)

One Tired Boy...

I took Jake outside this morning to play in the snow. He was all bundled up and had a blast. But then he decided he was cold and wanted to come in for some warm chocolate milk. After he warmed up he sat on the couch to watch a cartoon, and fell asleep. He was not about to take off his coat, scarf, hat and gloves. Isn't he such a cutie. He has had so much fun playing in the snow this winter. : )

Before and After...

K, so I know you have all seen these pictures of Ellie in the orange shirt, but they are the only ones I could find that showed just how long her hair really was. So we will call this her BEFORE.

And now here is my sweet little Ellie's AFTER, with the story behind the hair cut. We had to make a quick trip to Southern Utah due to my mom getting very sick and having to under go emergency surgery. Well, on Sunday I went to visit mom in the Hospital with Stephanie, and I left the kids with Ray at dad's house. Well, when I got home I found that Brandi, who has been begging us to let her cut Ellie's hair. Well when I got home, Brandi was there, and she had cut it. But, a bit much shorter than I had hoped. I said it could be cut but not above the shoulders, and not in an A-Line cut. (I am just not real fond of the A-Line, and am not quite sure how to style this type of hair). Anyway, the hair style is growing on me, and I figure since there is not much I can do about it, I will just be happy with it until it grows out agiain. :)

Anyway here are the cute after pictures I took tonight.

Happy Birthday Alex...

I have been thinking a lot about a very special little boy today, and although I am posting this late, it doesn't mean that he hasn't been on my mind all day. I love, and miss you Alex. You will always be my first great nephew, and the memories I have of time spent with you will always hold a very special place in my heart. I LOVE AND MISS YOU...

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY ALEX!!!!

All I want for Christmas is....

We went to see Santa at Rays work, and the kids were really excited.
They hired him to come in and visit with just the employees families,

and my kids got to spend lots of one on one time with him.

Jake couldn't get enough of Santa, he talked, and talked, and talked his ear off. And he had to ask Santa what each item of clothing was, and where his deer were. :) Jake wanted to show everyone how pity our tree is, and let you know he did it himself. (not really, but he thinks so). This picture I added cause I thought it was so cute. Jake kept kissing Ray, and then saying thanks dad for take me to see Santa. (Over and over again) Now how precious is that??? :)
And this picture was just funny. Notice how many fingers Santa has up. He was asking Ellie if she was 3 years old. We quickly said nope she is 6, and both Santa and the old lady who was taking pictures said at the same time- Are you sure? Ray and I both said YUP... Ellie was not to impressed with him for a bit. He quickly apologized. ha ha

This is it...

I was telling Melanie that I had seen her baby online, and that he was such a cutie, and she was wondering what I was talking about. So, I told her that Rachel had a picture of Tra online. So I decided to put the picture on my blog so Mel could see it, since she couldn't get on Rachels.

So, this is the one I was telling you about. Aint it sweet? Ellie loves that smile :)

Candy Recipe Search...

Hello Family & Friends,
Ellie asked me this evening if we could make Christmas candies because her friends are making them with their moms. Well, this puts me on the spot because I don't bake goodies, EVER. So, this is where you all come in. If you visit my blog, and you have some extra time, would you be willing to give me your favorite Christmas candy recipe? I thank you in advance, and so does Ellie. And, I promise that if you leave the recipe we will give it a try, and Ellie will take some to school for her class to try... :) Thanks much.

Getting excited for Christmas

This morning Ellie woke up asking how many more days there was until Christmas. I quickly responded 18. She then gasped, and said holy cow that doesn't give me much time to finish my shopping does it (like she is this adult with a list full of gifts to buy on Christmas Eve). Anyway, when I asked her who she needed to buy gifts for she looked at me with this look like I was maybe a bit of an idiot, and then took a big breath and said--- Shaneal, Makenzie, Lizzy, Julia, Danielle, Hope, Taylee, Breely, Jade, Halena, Alexia, Naomi, Issa, Kyla, Weston, Sam, Leuban, Teagan, Nathan, Jared, and the list went on and on. I then preceded to explain to her that she could choose 6 friends to buy gifts for, and that she needed to be willing to earn money for the gifts she wants to buy. She wasn't to thrilled with the need to earn the money, but said she will do it cause she wants to buy the gifts, so wish her luck in earning the hundreds and hundreds of dollars as she put it, to buy these friends' gifts. Good Luck Ellie....

Ice Skating Fun...

Kortney, Ellie, Tyler, Ryan and Jake (the boy in front just got in the way of the picture) :)
Kelci posing big for a quick picture.
Aunt Terra and Tymber doing tricks on the ice.
There goes the James Family. LtoR
Naomi, John, Kenny, Tracey, and then Gloria in the light blue beeny cap.
Harlee all bundled up enjoying the day.

Ellie, happy she is standing on her own.






















Jake having fun with Whitney on the ice.
Jake posing for a picture with aunt Jackie
Uncle Pat, Ellie and Kortney, having fun out on the ice.
Ellie finally got the hang of it a little bit, and was able to get out there and skate on her own.


We went Ice Skating on Saturday with family from Southern Utah, then from there we went to dinner and then to Temple Square to see the Christmas Lights. Ellie and Jake absolutely loved every moment of the day, ( I take that back,) they enjoyed almost every moment of the day, they both cried when it was time to leave cousins behind, and head for home. Anyway, here are some pictures of my kids ice skating, and some pictures of them with their cousins. All in all it was a pretty fun day, spent with family. A day my kids will remember for a very long time. :)

More Pictures of my Kids

Here are a few more pictures I took of my kids. They are both sick right now, and were as grumpy as can be, but all in all the pictures turned out pretty ok.

This one I think is just fun. He discovered he has pockets in his suit coat.
Here is one of the two of them together, and both smiling. :)
Ellie loves this picture of herself, and wants to send it to Skyler. (haha)

Our little heart breaker. :)

New Pictures of my Kids

I took some pictures of my kids last night, and will attempt the process again today in search of the perfect picture to send out with our Christmas Letter. Anyway, here is a few from my first attempt.