New Traditions

Our 19 year Christmas tradition of having a real tree was stopped and replaced with a beautiful tree I found at Ralph Jones the day after last Christmas. Between the cost, allergies, and only being able keep it in the house for maybe 3 weeks were the main reasons this time honored tradition was retired. We did miss the smell but a good Yankee candle filled that void. And kind words were uttered because this beautiful tree came prelit.

Instead of cookies, Santa was left with a cinnamon roll and a lovely letter from Devyn explaining to him why she needs a tv for her room and if it could be a flat screen with DVD player inside that would be wonderful.
I finally finished cross-stitching Trevor's stocking and it turned out so cute that I am sure it will take me another 2 years to finish the next one. Only 5 more to go.
Reindeer food is a big deal to the kids. There was a alot of glitter in this batch of food so I am sure that is how Santa found our house.
This was Avery's Christmas creation. She made the cake and decorated it with a little help from Trevor and Dev. Brett and I watched them put this masterpiece together, licking their fingers and then placing each candy in just the right place. It was a little to much for us, so we passed on trying this baby out.
These four hoodlums couldn't wait to pounce their way to the Christmas goodies. My kids have a great habit of sleeping in, it was after 8:00 a.m. before they even stirred. It took us a total of 45 minutes to open and totally ambush the living room with wrapping paper. It was an enjoyable and festive time.

It was supposed to be calm and clear......

We traveled to Utah on December 4th to spend Christmas with our families. The weather was supposed to be beautiful but you know I was listening to the weatherman in Nevada. Their big story is wind. This white stuff was delivered for our enjoyment along with a 17 degree high.
The boys prior to Aunt Anne cutting their hair. Now, Trevor can find his jacket instead of Aunt Jer's. That boy could not see and his neck pain will go away now that he won't have to throw his bangs to see.
The kids love playing games and of course posing for pictures in front of Grandma's tree.
We were able to open presents with everyone and enjoy watching cousins opening their gifts as well as grandma and grandpa.
After digging out our car we ventured to Clearfield for Brett's nephew's wedding. We left my parents house and it was pouring snow and we venture 6 miles away and its clear as a bell. Crazy!

This was the residue our poor car endured to get us home and out of that snow infested land. My poor van, as we drove down I-15 at 20 mph due to the black ice and blowing snow, cars were swerving everywhere. Brett layed on the horn and it just kept honking, it was frozen, or my car was pissed that we put her through so much turmoil. By the point of the mountain it finally stopped. We endured many finger gestures down I-15.


Our next worthy destination was more cousins in St. George. We could finally breathe, the sun was shining, there was none of the yuck on the ground. The kids ran and got their wiggles out to endure the ride to Vegas.
We ventured to see Santa so everyone could get their orders in for Christmas. Avery has grown so much over the last 3 months that Trevor had to sit on Santa's lap. He wasn't very happy.
The best thing that came out of our Utah trip was that 3 strong willed women talked me into a DVR. This beautiful piece of equipment was installed and we are enjoying recording shows that we always miss due to not being home. So thanks for the pep talk, now I won't miss my oc housewives, modern family, or any other smut that's out there. Thanks girls!!!!!

Are you In or are you Out?

"Are you in or Are you Out?" Those are the famous words that Heidi Klum says each week on "Project Runway." Avery's Project Runway 13th birthday party strutted its way into our house last month. Seven designers, staples, velcro, safety pins and belts were all put to use in designing their runway gems.

Food is a necessity for any designer so "Olive Garden" was the food of choice before the big sewing extravaganza started.
All articles of clothing came from a Target Clearance rack and they were all different styles. It was each designers job to completely change the outfit. These girls are used to wearing leo's all day so this was a difficult challenge. It was entertaining to say the least.
A red carpet experience occurred that next morning after breakfast. A lot of loud music and girls with the moves marched down the red plastic table cloths to show off their designs.
The girls had a great time and were glad that they were all gymnasts and not designers. Although, they liked wearing the clothes just not making them.
The party was a great time and who knows, maybe one of these talented young ladies we will someday see walking the red carpet in their designs. Happy 13th Ave!
While the girls were on the red carpet, Trevor was winning his fall ball championship game. Trevor was the tieing (Sp?) run on first and his friend got up with 2 outs in the last inning and hit a home run to win the game 3-2. Congrat's storm.

Well, gymnastics just keeps going and going and yes, that's our Devyn on the podium. She practices her "ladies, salute" form more than anything. She took second on vault with a 9.3. Her beam was great, she didn't fall, she just forgot the routine and did her own thing, for quite awhile, but hey she didn't fall.
She is very serious out there and loves every minute of it. Good job, Dev!

cupcakes, lunch & games

Our little cupcake turned 8 yesterday. We had a fun little party with decorating cupcakes, lunch and games. It's cute to hear little girls giggle all the time.
We haven't been in Texas for 5 years and she still in every picture does the "GO Longhorns" finger gesture. I guess it could be worse.
She claims that when she blew out the candle her wish didn't come true. She really needs a cell phone, because she needs to text, call people and take pictures. But she carried on through the day and the cell phone desire disappeared.
All of Devyn's little friends are so cute and bubbly. We filled our aprons with goodies and began the big task of decorating. Butterflies, flags, dogs, and a few self portraits were designed.
We had a mad game of polka dot bingo and went through a major package of smarties, more went into their mouths than on the bingo card.
Its great to turn eight so here are "8" great things about Dev.
1. She makes any occasion fun, whether it's St. Patricks day or someone else's birthday, she is just as excited as anyone.

2. She has a great sense of fashion, it may be a little to old for my taste but she likes clothes, shoes and accessories, but not mom's ideas.

3. Devyn is the google queen, you want to know something about anything, she googles.

4. She likes to race anyone, any age, adult included at recess. This is a pretty big deal to her. She likes to run fast.

5. Devyn is very photogenic. When we take a picture of the kids one of them has their eyes closed or something, not Devyn, every picture is perfect other than the Longhorn finger gestures.

6. Devyn is very stubborn. She is a rock of stubborness (is that a word ?) She will make you pay for hours for not getting giving into her.

7. She loves to dance. She is working on her floor routine for gym and sometimes she will just let it go and the music takes over. Her coaches will ask what was that? And then, after she lets it go she's back to business.

8. Devyn keeps us young, that's Brett and I. She's a bundle of yuppy, pink, adventurous, crazy at times, happy girl, we love what she brings to our family table and we are frightened for the years ahead, ( we are getting older and not as much energy and we think we may need alot for this one).

Happy b-day Dev!

Another teenager

Thirteen years ago today our little red head was born. She weighed in at 5'4" right on the due date. Due to Brett and I not finding out if she was a boy or girl we didn't have any names picked out and it was coming down to the wire. So, a Sandra Brown novel (Mirror Image) I was reading because for some reason I thought I would have time to read it in the hostpital (duh) but the heroine's name was Avery. We thought T.J. was a good baby, then Avery came along.
Avery loves her brothers and sister so much, she is constantly telling them what, where and how to do everything. Although, this comes in handy when your sister is in 7th grade and you are the new 6th grader in Junior High and someone bumps into you and your binder goes flying and breaks open, it's nice to have a fiesty, mean and bossy sister around taking charge and threatening anyone who doesn't help clean up. The above picture is one of the few that Avery has a dress on and a bow in her hair. We should probably blow this up because now it is only skirts and blouses for this girl.
Avery loves to dance and shake her groove thing. Finding great music is one of her favorite things to do. She provides all warm-up music for her gymnastics team. (That's where all my I-tune money goes).
If she wasn't a gymnast she would be a diver. Thank goodness our diving board is low to the ground she likes the high dive.
She's an honor society geek. Whatever she takes on, she tackles it completely and follows through with all that she does (except her room).
I can't believe we have another teenager in the house. Although we don't see her much, when she is home the house is alive with music, energy and a mess follows her around. We love you, girl. happy 13th

How things change

T.J. is turning 17 today. It seems like yesterday he was a roly poly little guy with the cutest dimples who smiled all the time. He still likes to smile occasionally but he isn't roly poly anymore. Things change as they get older here are just a few about T.J.


T.J. loved the tub when he was young, we had a big huge net that attached to the tub to hold all of his toys, it was his favorite part of his day. Now, he loves showers, for hours. There is never any hot water for the rest of us. Although there are not any toys in his shower (I don't think).
This little rocking horse was his favorite thing to play with, he would scoot it all over the house and ruin all of my walls. Now, he loves his mountain bike, the steeper the hill, the better. The little rocking horse wasn't as scary to watch him ride, the mountain bike, I'm a little scared.



T.J. now has traded his bat and 13 years of sitting in the bleachers with no shade and yelling at the umpires that the pitch was not high, or he was safe, strike 3 are you kidding me.

Now we sit in our comfortable chairs with umbrellas, watching matches that move quite quickly. There aren't any umpires to yell at (just your kid for calling something in that was clearly out). He gets to work on his Postal Worker tan, he doesn't have to cut his hair and the biggest bonus of switching sports, there are girls on the team.

T.J. has gone from driving the Barney car when he was 3 to driving his Toyot Forerunner (I know the "A" is missing from Toyota but if you see his car the "A" is missing on the back, it drives me crazy. If you drive around town you will notice, there are tons for Forerunner's without "A's". I think it may be a gang thing, who knows. If you have a spare "A" send it our way.)

I can't believe how time flies, it seems like just yesterday your dad and I were walking around our little neighborhood in Clovis, New Mexico at 2 a.m. trying to decide if the contractions were bad enough to go to the hospital. We had our little what to expect when your expecting manual out and we would read it under the street lamps. We finally decided that it was time and you were born 20 minutes later, with the biggest dimples and chubby legs. That was a great day. Happy "17th" tav.

19 years of my favorite things....

19 years ago today, Brett and I were married in this beautiful castle, it was a restaurant with a great victorian atmosphere. We were one of the first weddings to be held here. There was nothing around it but fields of wheat and a Junior High School about 2 block away. It must have been a sign that Brett and I were meant to be together because now next door is....
What a marvelous idea, your in the middle of your reception and you need a quick pick me up of a Route 44. And across the street is....




If you need a little red cart romance it's right there. My two favorite things. Oh wait 3 favorite things. I forgot my husband makes three, a match made in heaven. Happy Anniversary.