Caleb Arrow of Light

Caleb has worked hard in cub scouts and was able to receive his Arrow of Light. 

Great job Caleb!  We are proud of you.  Now on to more scouting and lots of merit badges.

Spring Break Visit to California To Grandma & Grandpa Smiths 2013

We drove to California to spend spring break week with Grandma & Grandpa Smith.  The kids and I left early on Easter sunday and then came home the foloowoing Saturday.  We had a wonderful week of relaxing by their pool and enjoying their warm weather. (Compared to our cold weather we were still having).  We enjoyed all the family dinners that we were able to have.  It's nice to have my 2 brothers live there and be able to visit with them and their families when I go home.  We are so blessed to have such a close family that likes to get together and do things with one another.  I had the opportunity to go to the temple one morning to do sealings and go through a session.  It was such a neat experience to be ther and see my Dad working as a sealer in the temple.  I loved that I was able to take the time and do a session with my Mom.  We don't get to go to the temple together very often and I enjoyed that. 

The boys took their bikes and went on a bike ride with Grandpa and then went for ice cream after. 

Lots of fun with the cousins.

The boys braved the cold water and swam, but the girls and I just sat by the pool and read our books.

Easter

The tradition of decorating eggs!

We left Easter morning for Spring break in California.  I guess we were in such a hurry to leave that morning that we didn't get a picture of any of the kids with their easter baskets!  They did have to search the house again for their hidden baskets.  

Mallory Birthday

Mallory turned 14 this year!  Time is going by way to fast for me as a mother.  I hate to see my kids growing up so fast.  She was so excited to turn 14 so she could move into the MiaMaids.  Mallory has the most unique and fun personality.  She is always smiling and willing to help.  

Happy Birthday Mallory!  We love you!

Heidi Sweethearts Dance 2013

The weekend of sweethearts was a little crazy for our family.  I was out of town on a little getaway with some girlfriends, so Jon was in charge of the kids for the weekend.  Mallory had a volleyball tournament in Salt Lake on Friday and Saturday.  Since it was a girls choice dance Heidi invited her group to have dinner at our house, so the stress was pretty high for Jon and Heidi to get everything ready with me gone.  They did an amazing job cleaning the house, setting the table, buying all the food and then having it all ready when the couples arrived.  I was pretty impressed they pulled it all off.  Jon even went back and forth to Salt Lake with Mallory all day Friday and Saturday.

She looked so beautiful!  Wish I could have been here to see her.  But her Dad did well with helping getting her ready!

Heidi and her date Cole Rayfield

Wintertime at the Cabin

We finally found a weekend when we could go to the cabin.  It seems like we are getting busier and busier each year and don't make it to the cabin as often as we would like.  It is so beautiful and relaxing once we get there.  We had a great weekend playing in the snow.  We took some fun snowmobile rides to Mesa Falls and Bishops Mountain.  

Christmas 2012

We were so excited to have the Christmas break and have Brianna home with us for a few weeks.  We had a great time just relaxing and spending time together as a family.  Jon had to work but we did as much as we could when he was off.   We spent a couple days skiing at Beaver mountain and played in our backyard with the snowmobiles. 

Christmas Eve tradition of taking a family picture!  It is so painful every year but I insist on getting a picture.  There are always lots of tears by some and a little arguing by others, but we do eventually get a family picture!

The annual trip to the mall to sit on Santa's lap!

The reading of the Nativity

Christmas Eve Pajamas

The kids haven't grown too old to all sleep in one room on Christmas Eve.  They love to all smash in together.  Jack wasn't too happy when the pictures were being taken (not sure what happened with him).

Chrismtas Morning waiting patiently for Dad to let each one come up to see what Santa had left for them.

 

We even got Jon to go bowling with us.  We bowl about once a year at Christmas!

Playing in the snow in our backyard

Our poor pool was covered completely with snow!

Thanksgiving

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving at our house this year.  I think it is the first time we have really been home without a lot of family to join us.  We had Grandma Robison here for the weekend and it was nice to see her again.  She has moved from Idaho Falls so we don't get to see her as much as we would like.  It was fun for the kids to play games with her and for us to get to visit with her.  We had a nice relaxing day with lots of food!

We had enough food to feed a lot of people!  

Halloween

The kids once again figured out what faces they wanted on their pumpkins and then after they cleaned them all out Jon got the jigsaw and cut them out.  It is a great way to carve pumpkins!  They turned out so cute again.  Each unique in its own way!

All dressed up ready for trick or treating!

We once again got roped into helping with the Pumpkin Walk.  Jon took over for our family and did a great job again on his character.  Our scene was Madagascar and he did the giraffe.  It turned out so cute!  Jon keeps telling them each year that this is it and he isn't helping again, but he does such a great job they won't listen to him!  He has such a creative mind and knows just how to get the characters done.  This one was a little harder this year but it turned out great!

Teaching Jack To Ride The Motorcycle

We spent the weekend at the cabin and while we were there Jack wanted to learn to ride the motorcycle.  It is always fun to watch Jon teach one of the kids how to ride them.  He runs alongside them giving them instructions.  Jack did really well and was riding around the cabin by the time the weekend was over.