Seasons Greetings

As the season and year draws to a close I can't help but reflect on the year and the most recent happenings. Seems like this year, for us, has been full of ups and downs. And is ending with an up. I can't deny the wonderful blessings my family has received as the result of the prayers and pleadings to the Lord made by us and our family and friends. I can't emphasize how truly blessed we are. This holiday season has been the most spiritual for me EVER. I can casually say that I felt the true meaning of Christmas. But I REALLY felt it. Every fiber in my being was touched by the miracles of this life. Christmas week started off with an amazing sacrament service full of music. I spent most of it in tears (from anxiety for leading the choir for the first time and the overwhelming feelings of the spirit) Later in the day I decided I'd follow through with a prompting I had had earlier in the month to volunteer to help a family in need this year. It was such a joyous service I had the opportunity to partake in. I spent a day and a half of shopping and trying to be open to the spirit as to what the family needed. I don't know if I succeeded in my gifts to them, but the feelings I had will never be forgotten. As we have struggled with various trials and tribulations this year (and the last couple)-it has been engraved into my head the real importances of life. And that is our family. We had the opportunity to have 5 family gatherings in 4 days. We spent Christmas Eve and Day with my parents, Christmas morning with Cody's mom's side and Saturday and Sunday with Cody's Dad's family. I might later recall this Christmas as my favorite ever.

So, on with the pictures.....

There is a crappy picture of the kids' loot.

Them playing with the bat cave Santa brought.
Opening presents




Asa's beloved cowboy suit that he's been asking for. (Coen got one too)

Christmas with Neels
Christmas with Shults'....And my dad sporting one of the kids' hats.


My neices reactions to the doll blankets they got


my kids loving the art easel they got from my parents

I hope everyone has had a great holiday so far and has a safe new years! Goodbye 2009 and Hello 2010!

Meeting Santa

Asa so far has been able to meet Santa twice to tell him what he wanted. He was so excited to see him. this first one is a neighborhood donation drive put on by one of my neighbors. Asa told him he wanted a cowboy suit. i have no idea where that came from. But that's what he wants.
Today we went to the Anthony family party (Tammy's mother's side). Here is Asa with Meema waiting for his turn with Santa.
And here come Santa and Mrs Clause!
Coen absolutely HATED it! I was hoping it would be Asa's turn before Coen's, but no such luck. I was also trying to get him geared up for sitting with Santa and how he gets a toy. He was not having it. But I made him and now have a picture of how much hated it.
Notice Asa's face in the background as Coen opens the present.
Again. I think Asa is more excited than Coen. So funny.
Asa was once again super excited to see Santa. He told him that he wants a cowboy suit and a gun. I don't know where he comes up with this stuff, but he's sticking to the cowboy suit!
He just ripped open the package to find a Hulk action figure. SOO exciting to him. He likes to take his shirt of in the house and say he's Hulk. Now Coen does it too.
Yay for Hulk-and Santa who gave it to him!

Birthday Party!

Last week we celebrated Asa's 4th birthday. He wanted a Batman Birthday, so I decided I'd give this home made cake thing another try. It went much better...Note to self: start baking the cake about noon for a 7pm party in order to give it ample time to cool so it can be decorated. This was a super simple cake to make though. When I was surfing the web for cake ideas Asa was sitting next to me and we came across a Robin cake. He really wanted that one, but I forced him to have the batman one because I wanted to HA! He was super excited none the less.

Asa came away with some pretty good presents that included this batman helicopter, a coat, a couple outfits, handheld game, RC car, action figures, and other things that I can't recall at this time. It was a good time!

Family Pictures round two

We did pictures with the other side.  Here are a few of my favorites.  

A new skill

Anyone who has known me my whole life knows that my life has always revolved around being creative. I was always spending my time in lah lah land making up stories, drawing or playing with sculpy. Somewhere along the line during my jr high and high school + years I lost this part of me.  About 2 years ago, just after Coen was born, it came back.  And over time I've been spending my time redeveloping my lost creativity, and learning new skills. One of these new skills happens to be sewing/quilting. A couple of months ago we got twin beds for the boys and that sparked a wild hair to make blankets for the kids' new beds.  It only took me about 6 weeks from start to finish to construct and quilt two twin sized quilts. It was so fun!  So here they are.  I am going to make some pillows, but haven't had a chance to yet. 

Here is an up close on the quilting.  Not the best picture, but you get the idea.
Please scroll down for our halloween fun :)

Halloween 2009

Our Halloween festivities started off Thursday when we took Asa up the Heber Creeper's Haunted Canyon.  Coen was supposed to go, but he started his day off with a cough, so Grandma Kathy kept him home.  We thought it was going to be freezing cold.  When we got there we found out the train cars are actually heated! Oh well.  Next time we will know. Asa thought the train was so fun.  He loved watching out the window and I think he was a little scared.

On Friday we had a halloween costume party to go to.  Cody and I are dressed up as the Joker and his girl friend Harley Quinn, and the boys are Batman and Robin.  Asa has been obsessed with batman for quite some time.  I think he was more excited than anyone that Cody and I were dressed in theme.  I still can't believe I went out in public in a unitard! Oh, the things we do for our kids!
Cody took Saturday off (big shocker, he never takes a day off) and we decided we'd head to corn belly's. Asa and Coen had a great time.  Not pictured is the scary monster we went inside.  The boys hated every second of it.  Asa is still afraid of it and last night he thought every weird noise was the monster coming to get us. Cody and I are still laughing about it.  Mean parents I know. They rode the cow train....
...played in the corn kernels....
....and of course the corn maze that was so trampled we only walked around a little bit just to make the boys feel like we'd done everything.
Then of course trick or treating.  The weather was actually decent.  We hit more houses than we ever have. Asa was pretty excited to go out, aside from being scared that the monster would find us out and about.  Coen would say trick or treat and then thank everyone for the candy.  Here's our little Robin
And Batman

HAPPY BIRTHDAY

Today is the day that my dearest turns 28. It's amazing to think that we've been together nearly half our lives. I can't imagine my life with out him. He is most definitely my bestest friend. We started dating just after he turned 17. It's been so magnificent to witness his amazingness first hand. He has got to be the hardest most dedicated person I've ever known. He puts his mind to succeeding in something and doesn't stop till he does. He's a huge example to me in that regard.

This is the Cody I met, always riding his motorcycle.

Crazy Kyle Busch Fan

Wonderful husband, who I know would do anything for me.

A great example

A supporting Daddy

Who likes to have fun

Who also probably won't even know I made a blog post just for his birthday. he thinks birthday's are just another day, and thinks they are over rated.

Happy Birthday Babe. I love you.