Sledding

MERRY CHRISTMAS
Christmas this year was at my parents house and since it was the "off" year for family coming home, they were the only ones there which made it really nice to focus on the kids. What a fun Christmas morning it was. After the kids punched through the wrapping paper blocking the entryway, they looked over what Santa brought and then we had traditional Cinnamon rolls and hot chocolate (thanks to mom!) Of course since Ashtynn seems bothered by cinnamon and hot chocolate when I eat it, I had to forgo the traditional breakfast and eat the "special" rolls mom made for me and juice. The rest of the morning was fun as we watched the kids open presents and get excited about everything. We love Christmas around here, as I know most people do. What a special holiday to celebrate the birth of our Savior and watch our children who are so close to Him in every way.

Our little Christmas Ashtynn Elf

Tyler and the kids enjoying breakfast, although anxious to get back to the presents.

Elise and Reagan did a great job passing out the presents.

Quote of the morning: Mollie upon opening the pillowcase Grandma Morgan made for her: "I got a pillowcase, What the heck!"

Girls and dolls, that's what it's all about.

Reagan was in 7th heaven with his new Chemistry set, he played for hours with this.

SLEDDING
We finally got a little snow today and decided to make good use of it. Check it out!

I love the Sunday before Christmas, I love Christmas dresses and Christmas bows and I love the talks and musical numbers on Christmas Sunday, but most of all I love my family on Christmas Sunday... just because!

She's Three, I can't believe it!

Mollie turned 3 on December 12th, and I can't believe it. First of all, she is such a peanut, so little, she can't be 3, but she is. As my dad says, she is 3 going on 16. I adore Mollie, she makes me happy in every way. She is incredibly sensitive, loves little babies and little kids (even if her cousin Zander is convinced she is out to get him with her over-zealous hugs), she is smart, fun and loves life!

For her birthday we did some fun stuff, luckily it was on a Saturday so Tyler was around to help or I am not sure anything would have happened. We made gingerbread houses with all the kids, including her cousin Kya...

we had a Fancy Nancy Tea Party, hosted by Elise...

Elise made jam pinwheels, frilly toothpick hors d'oeuvres, and "Jus de Pomme"

We had homemade pizza for dinner, at Mollie's request (the girl can out-eat everyone but Tyler when it comes to Pizza). Then we had cake and ice cream with grandparents, aunts and uncles and opened presents. When I asked what kind of cake she wanted she said, "Pink". I asked no what flavor, "Pink" what design? "Pink" so she had a pink cake. (I can't believe I didn't get a picture, it was really cute and really pink)

The girl is set when it comes to dolls!

I have to add her potty training success: the girl is a rock star. We started her, anticipating the "&^%&*()*" we went through potty training Elise, but no, she pretty much was potty trained within a week, no diapers or pull ups at all, not even at nap time or through the night, she blew us away. I am very grateful for her on that one!

So happy birthday my little Mollie, we love you!

4 Kids

Life with 4 kids has proven to be much more of an adjustment than I realized. Don't get me wrong, I knew it wasn't going to be easy, but wow! However, through all of the adjustments and insanity, I have to step back sometimes and realize how blessed I am. I love my kids. They all have such fun personalities, energy that seems to never end, and a love of life and learning and I couldn't be happier with them. The other day I came into the living room and Elise and Mollie were sitting on the couch watching a movie all cuddled up together. I love that my kids are friends. We let them have a sleepover in the living room over thanksgiving and they were all so cute, I had to add Ashtynn to the picture. Anyway, nothing really big happening, but I wanted to add a few more pictures, I certainly don't do this enough.
And here is Ashtynn smiling and happy, she has the cutest smile ever, she smiles from head to toe and gets so excited, it is fun!

And last of all, I wanted to post my completed mother's bracelet, I am so excited, I got Ashtynn's birthstone added and so now it is perfect!

Ah, Reagan

It's time to post about one of my favorite people, my son Reagan. Reagan is such an awesome kid and as I was reviewing recent posts I realize I have not posted enough about him. He is so creative and talented. This item sitting next to him is his latest invention. He was challenged by his science teacher to create something from recyclable items that solves a problem. Well, apparently his problem was that megaphones don't work for people sitting on the side of the person speaking, so he made a megaphone out of recycled juice cartons, bottles, and toilet paper rolls that will allow people on both sides, and above or below the speaker to hear. He even chose the paper to decorate it and then he mod podged it. Very cool, he was excited to turn it in today.

The other night he called me into his room to show me something. I was laughing so hard as I walked in to his room to find him on his head, in his underwear (because that is how he sleeps so it saves time when he needs to get ready for school in the morning (his words)) reading his book. I wanted to get video of it, so I made him get dressed, thus the comment in the video about his shirt. But I was quite impressed, I guess he is making reading fun! He loves to read.
He also loves to play football and played on his first football team this year. They were the Colts and did quite well. Sadly, I can not find any of the pictures I took of his games, I'll have to work on that. He plays everyday with his friends at recess, but more than that he loves to play with Tyler. It's pretty fun to watch.

I love this kid! He makes me happy!

Anytime Fitness

From my sister Paula:

I am so excited about this. Carl and I moved here to Twin Falls for a couple reasons. Family was a big draw here, but we also wanted...Ok really its me...I have always wanted to own a fitness center. I have a big passion for fitness, I think it is so important to stay active in your life and so here we are. We are so close to opening our gym, I can taste it.

So BIG ANNOUNCEMENT:

MEMBERSHIPS ARE AVAILABLE!

We are starting memberships sales on 16 November 2009 at our great location in Lynwood Shopping Center (right next to Sakura, on Blue Lakes).

Come in and see us...I will be there to greet you and take care of your fitness needs.

Also, in light (I mean dark), of the "New Moon" release...

(Ya baby)

Anytime Fitness is having a Membership Kickoff Event on the 19th of November 2009. The first 10 people to come in and sign up for memberships, are getting tickets to the New Moon release (here in Twin Falls)....wish I could send you to LA.

We will also have a couple drawings for fun prizes including more tickets to New Moon.

Ok, so here's what you do: Come down to the gym (Lynwood on Blue Lakes), at 9:00 am until 10 pm...just in time to get ready for the premiere (with our 24/7 access, we never sleep either) and be one of the first 10 people to get a chance to get those tickets. Come sink your teeth into fitness and sign up for your health....we love good blood.

Ashtynn is 3 months old

Sorry, I don't have a picture with her eyes open, but she has been fussy today and I really don't want to wake her

She woke up and was really quite happy, yay!

Today Ashtynn turns 3 months old and I can not believe how quickly the time has flown, and yet how long ago it seems she was born. I know a weird dichotomy of thought, but it is true. I took her in for her 2 month appointment about a week ago, (If that isn't telling as to how well I am functioning with 4 kids, LOL). Anyway, we have another tall one here. I can't remember all the numbers, but she is 90th% in height, she weighed 12 pounds 1 oz, putting her in the 50th% in weight (so we got the eating thing figured out, apparently) and like her 3 older siblings she has a tiny head, in the 20th%. I now have 1/2 my volleyball team, we'll have to recruit a few backrow defensive players, but with my 3 girls, we have a middle blocker (Elise), a setter (Mollie) and my outside hitter (Ashtynn). What more could I ask for?

Last night, my mom was holding her and got her giggling, so I tried to capture a few moments, but by the time, I go my camera rolling, the belly laughs were done, and we got a few polite giggles, but it is cute just the same.

Happy Halloween!

About 5 years ago while Tyler and I were living in Pocatello, we hosted a Halloween party and invited some of my family to come and join us. Melanie, Jim and their kids, Dad and Mom, and Paula came and we had so much fun! We had a scavenger hunt, went Trunk-or-Treating at the church, ate pizza and had a lot of fun visiting! We talked about doing it again sometime, but until this year, it hadn't happened. With Halloween on a Saturday this year, Melanie decided she wanted to host a Halloween party at her home in Kaysville, so we went down there and had such a great time! We drove down Saturday, had dinner, sent the kids Trick-or-Treating with the dads, played games and got to spend some quality time with the family. EJ and Ashley, Mark and Jacque, Mom and Dad, and my family were all there. We missed Paula, Carrie, and Rachel and their families.
Here is the crew, Reagan, Elise, Mollie, my sister Melanie, her daughters Jenna and Alyssa

"It's me, Mario!" Reagan was so excited to be Mario this year, and he was awesome!

"Scooby Doo, where are you?" This is Elise as Daphne

Mollie was our little Thumbelina

Tyler was a stick figure, I was supposed to be one as well, but I left my black clothes at home, so he went solo on this one. It isn't as impressive inside the house, but when it was dark outside, it was the coolest costume. Those are glo-sticks, so all you could see in the dark are the glo-sticks and it was crazy. I tried so hard to get video and pictures of him, but my camera couldn't get it. I was so bummed, so just believe me, it was COOL!

Pre-costume Halloween clothes

Ashtynn is growing up so fast, almost 3 months old

Autumn in Idaho

This has been a really beautiful Autumn, the leaves are gorgeous, the weather has been great, knock on wood, and plain and simply I love Fall.
With that being said we have made a few attempts at enjoying it. The other night we took the kids to the CSI corn maze, this is the first year they made one and we decided to give it a shot. We let Reagan and Elise lead, Mollie was off in her own world hiding from the lions, (don't ask, we don't know), and Ashtynn was peacefully enjoying it while snoozing in Tyler's arms. After about 25 minutes of going in circles I decided it was time to go and started to head back toward the entrance. Oh no, that did not go over well with the boys, if we start a maze we are not ending at the beginning we will stay until we find the end, so we did, 20 minutes later. Not that big of a maze, but I'm pretty sure we saw it all. It was fun, and the kids loved it.

Since moving, we now attend church at 3:00 in the afternoon, which makes for very long mornings. It was a beautiful day this Sunday, so we decided to take a drive up through the South Hills and enjoy the foliage. Well, I think we were about 3 days too late. Most of the leaves had dropped, but we had fun and the kids enjoyed getting out of the house.

Notice the curlers in Elise's hair, too funny!

See, not much left, bummer, just missed it!

But we did see a lot of cows on the road, so I guess it was all worth it! HaHa

EJ and Ashley tie the Knot!

EJ and Ashley Morgan, what a gorgeous couple!

The weekend before last weekend, my little brother married Ashley in the Los Angeles temple. What an amazing weekend. When EJ first told us they were getting married and it was going to be in Los Angeles, we all wondered how everyone was going to make it, but believe it or not all six sisters were there and it was perfection. We were only missing 2 of the brothers in law. Carrie, Rachel and I brought our new babies, but all the rest of the kids stayed at home. (Thanks Rhett and Cassie for helping us out!)

All the Girls:
Jacque, Rachel, Paula, Ashley, Jessica (Ashley's sister), Jacque, Me and Melanie

My amazing parents!

Tyler, Ashtynn, Rachel, Ethan, Paula and I headed out of town Thursday evening for Los Angeles and drove through the night, well, Tyler drove through the night, the rest of us took cat naps here and there, I was so impressed with Tyler. We arrived at our hotel, the Westlake Hyatt (wow, that was a nice hotel, thanks Priceline!) and thankfully mom and dad were awake and ready to go, so we handed over the babies and slept for a couple of hours, before heading to the temple. The traffic was CRAZY, but we all made it there. Grandpa Morgan did the sealing, he has now married all 7 of us kids, Melanie: Logan Temple, Me: Idaho Falls temple, Carrie: Logan temple, Paula: Logan temple, Rachel: Salt Lake temple, Jacque: Salt Lake temple, and last of all EJ: Los Angeles temple.

Trevyn, Ethan, and Ashtynn

After the wedding we did pictures, and a luncheon, then headed back to the hotel and spent some fun family time hanging out. I was so excited that Saturday we didn't have any pans until the reception at 6:00 in the evening, so I got to sleep in. WOW! I forgot what that was like. It was so nice to have nothing to have to get up for. Tyler took care of Ashtyn for me, so I was able to. I love him!

We were not really wanting to head back in to LA and fight traffic so we stayed close to where the hotel was, and went to some outlet malls and to In 'n Out for lunch.

Had to In-N-Out Burger, and a big thanks to Tyler for letting me take this picture.

The reception was at Ashley's home in Moor Park, what a beautiful community and thankfully the fires were no longer burning or a threat to that area. Side Note: there were so many firefighters at the hotel we stayed in, sure appreciate all that they do! The food, decorations, cake, ambiance, setting and particularly the bride and groom were stunning!
I loved getting to sit at one table and visit with all of my sisters for the evening it was priceless.
Ashtynn was a dream, she was fun to have along and was really good the whole trip, including the 26 hours in the car. What a trooper.