Christmas is almost here and I am so excited!

Traditions!
Some things I want to start with my kids this year:

I want to learn to make my moms amazing candy!
I want to make a cookie house and decorate it!
Go find a tree to cut down, decorate it with my kids and listen to fun music. I think the tree is for kids and I don't think it should be perfect with all the same decorations. I want a variety of fun even homemade decorations that they will remember.
I want my kids to know and understand the true meaning of Christmas. I want to make it a tradition to see a live Nativity and to read the same Christmas Story every year on Christmas Eve. (Anyone have any good stories or fun craft ideas?)
I want to do chocolate fondue on Christmas eve!
I want to find a Santa to come visit on Christmas eve. (Anyone know a Santa that does house visits?)
I have been collecting Children Christmas books and want to collect more. I am going to put them in a basket in front of my tree wrapped. Every night before bed let them unwrap one for bed time stories. I wrapped them last year:)
I am going make a SPECIAL Christmas Pillow cases for my kids to sleep on this month so they have sweet Christmas dreams. haha I know it sounds silly but I think my kids would love it.
I am going to buy my kids an ornament for the tree, put the date on it.
I am only giving my kids three gifts! Like the 3 wise men. A toy, a book and something to wear. I am not stressed at all about Christmas. I can focus on others more. hurray!
I want to do a Christmas Count down
I am going to do the 12 days of Christmas.
Feel free to leave a comment on some fun family traditions. I just want to make memories for my children that they will hopefully never forget.
I love the holidays!!

Late, Late, Late and Late Entry

Thought it is about time to catch up on everything... or I should say most things. I am very late on some of them but oh well.

Zac and I had a great 5 year anniversary. We went to Zion and hiked for the day. It was beautiful and we had a great time. It was nice to get away for the day and spend time together. Kristy watched the kids for us so that was nice.








Easton Started Preschool officially this year in September. He loves it so much. He goes to SuperStartpreschool and loves his teacher Mrs. Nobis. He has 13 kids in his class and he already has friends that he talks about everyday. He is super friendly. Everytime I drop him off he calls every kid by name and says hi to them. He is so social, asking them how they are doing and what they have been up to? He just cracks me up. He also has to give Jax a hug and kiss bye. He always tells him... "Love you Jax, you have fun with mom and be good for mom okay" I love it. He is so adorable. I sure hope he is good in class and hope he listens to Mrs. Nobis. He has learned so much already. I am very impressed.

For Halloween this year both Jax and Easton were cowboys riding a horse. If anyone asked them what they were going to be they would answer " I am going to be a horse" haha. I thought that was so cute. They were super cute and they had a great time trick-o-treating. I worked on halloween so my sweet sister got them ready and took them around her neighborhood and then when I got off work I took them to a few houses. I laughed so hard when I took them around and figured out that thier costumes were switched. I didn't tell Kristy that there were different sizes. haha. Jax had the bigger horse and he really struggled walking around. Kristy mentioned to me that Jax got really tired and had a hard time with his horse. Eastons horse, the legs were short in front and he really got around fast. haha. I laughed and laughed. It was so funny

Making cookies is always a must at halloween:) I was planning on taking them around to friends but didn't. We ate all of them! No wonder I have gained a couple inches:( But they sure were good!

Carving pumkins and the boys really didn't know what to think about the slimey goowy mess inside them. They didn't want anything to do with putting their hands inside.

We went to Staheli farms and visited the pumkin patch. What a great place to go as a family. They had fun games, food, a petting zoo and a corn maze. Great time. Wish Zac could have been there with us. Kids loved it

Horse swing. Easton and Jax stayed on this swing for so long. They loved it so much I think they would still be on it now if I didn't make them get off.

Enjoying the fall weather. I love love love when the leaves start changing. Its the most beautiful time of the year. We took a drive up to Kolob and loved every minute of it!

Jax loving life

Even Troy Joined us for the day. He is so fun. We sure love him. He was teething and not feeling the greatest but he sure was a good sport.
Two buds... I just had to have a picture in this amazing field. I just loved the dead grass effect.. Haha... Zac just laughed and said "Its dead grass, why do you want a picture of dead grass?" I love the way it looked with my two beautiful boys standing in the middle of it.
Easton

Jax and Easton loved looking at the fun leaves. They gathered a bunch to take home with us:)

Zac sure has had a great time Duck Hunting this year. He was very excited to have killed two wood ducks. We are getting them mounted. I guess they are really rare around here. I am excited because he is excited:) The kids loved seeing his ducks

Jax wanted to "Hold it" He wants to "Hold" Everything. Zac let him hold the drake they shot. He carried it everywhere... funny boy

Shirley is proud too

Zac took my camera out and took some pics of some ducks! Wow huh! He did a great job. I think he could enter this pic into a contest and win. I love it

We went up to visit Grandma and Grandpa Fotheringham and I just loved this picture of my kids with grandma.

One CUTE boy!!

I enjoyed every minute of taking pictures of this little boy!! Troy is a doll as my Grandma Fotheringham would say. I have to say that he is a stud muffin! He is going to have the girls chasing him once he old enough to date. I truly love him so much. I get so excited to watch him and see his little personality change. He is so full of personality. He was smacking kiss noises at me today after kissing him. I am so glad that I have Kristy and Troy in my life. Kristy is so amazing and she brightens my world. Love you Kristy and I hope you like the way the pictures turned out. I love them and thank you for letting me practice on Troy. My first real photo shoot!!

Apple picking

I'm Back!!! I decided that blogging is so important because in a way it is journaling. I am so exc!ited to blog and print everything for family record. I love my life and my 3 boys. I love every momment in my life and for the great blessings I get to enjoy everyday. We went apple picking as a fam and it was increadible. I love that my boys enjoyed it so much and still talk about it. They loved climbing the ladder and picking them all by themselves. It was a beautiful day and I can't wait until next year to do it all over again. We made applesause and apple pie filling and it sure is YUmmY! Easton was my big helper... he pealed all apples while I sliced them... What an amazing 3 year old. Jax was a helper too but he enjoyed eating the apples more than anything. Love the memories!!!

5 year anniversary

Can't believe it has been 5 years sense Zac and I tied the knot and started our amazing family. I can't even tell you how blessed I am to have such an amazing husband and wonderful kids with him. We have definitely had our ups and downs but threw it all we are surviving and loving every minute of it. I have an amazing day planned for us tomorrow and can't wait to spend it with my lover! I will post pictures:)

Swimming lessons are over :(

Best BUddIES!!Jaxon can't wait for his turn. Constantly saying "my turn, my turn" In fact the kids always want the other one to go first when they first get there. Jaxon didn't even hesitate. He just jumped in. So proud of him! They are both staying in the water even when its not their turn. hurray!!

This was crazy. Jaxon hugged Easton and Easton lost his balance and fell back. They both went under water. It was a little scare for Jaxon. I rescued them quickly. Crazy kids. Always have to be on your toes with kids that love water so much.

Easton floating on his back by himself!!!!! yeah!!!! High five buddy!!

We sure had a great time with the kids in swimming lessons this year. I won't miss the drive everyday but it was well worth every penny. Both of the kids progressed so much and are both doing so well. Easton can float on his back and swim the length of pool by himself. Jaxon is no longer scared of the water and its hard to keep him out. He is at that scary phase where he thinks he can swim by himself but can't. We have to keep an eye on him constantly. I love the confidence that he has though. I am constantly telling them that they are the best swimmers. Now I need to buy a pass at a motel or something so they can keep practicing even threw the winter. I don't want them to forget and start all over next year. I love my boys so much. They bring me so much happiness. I can't believe how much they change and grow everyday. I LOVE THEM!!!!!

FAmilY TiME is memorable

We sure don't get a ton of time together as a family but we sure make the best of the time we do get together. I am so proud and grateful for my little family. My kids are always so fun and I am so proud the them. Zac sure is a hard worker and I am so grateful for him in my life. He sure knows how to build me up when I am sad. He makes me smile and laugh is a great father to our little guys. He is my rock and I am so proud of him and the person he is. Thank you Zac for the great family time that we have had lately. Tomorrow can't come fast enough. Tuesdays are Saturdays at our house. We actually get to sit down and enjoy a meal together and we usually do something fun as a family even if it is just lounging around and visiting.

We built a fire... (or I should say I built the fire. I took up my bow drill set and made the fire from my sticks. I haven't done that for along time. I was proud of myself,that I can still do it. Zac just laughed at me and thought I was weird. haha. maybe I am. But its a survival skill and someday I may need it. haha ) ...roasted hot dogs and marshmallows and ate smores (my favorite:))

Easton loved roasting his hot dog. Jax just sat back and watched. He didn't want to get close to the fire, thank goodness for that.

Me and my handsome boys

One of our favorite places to go is Pine Valley. I surprised Zac with a fishing license and we took the boys fishing. What a great time. Unfortunately we didn't catch any fish but we had a great time teaching the boys how to cast. Easton can almost do it on his own and Jaxon just had fun flinging the pole around and pretending to fish. so funny

My cute Jaxon
Zac sure had a great time with the boys!Shirley was so good. She stayed in this spot. So obedient. She is an excellent dog Easton enjoying the fishing experience

Zac's hunting grounds. He loves this area!! So beautiful

Jaxon kissing his friend Mr. Horny toad. He loved this littLe creature.
It was so small. Easton didn't want to hold it but kept it in his hat. Jaxon loved it and just wanted to hold it. Poor little horny toad got its taste for what humans are all about.

There is no greater joy than to spend new adventures with your kids. I loved it. This was so exciting to them and it was so fun to share it with them. I loved playing in the dirt and holding frogs too when I was little. It brought back many memories of my tomboy adventures with my big brother. haha

Easton sat in front with Dad and loved every minute of it. He was a big helper and looked for deer.

The kids took turns helping dad drive. So fun. Jax was so funny. He didn't want Dads hands on the steering wheel. He wanted to drive all by himself. He was crazy, driving us off the road and almost hitting trees, then he would laugh so hard. funny kid.

Jax and I road in the back together and we sure had a great time. He loves loves to go for a ride on the ranger. Every time you ask him "what should we do today?" He responds "Ranger, ride" Easton and him would spend all day driving around in it. Great investment for great family adventures!!

Team work

We didn't see too many deer. We were too loud and scared them all away. haha. But we sure had a great time.Because of my mom I love sunsets......I could stay up every night to enjoy a good sunset. Beautiful! Pictures don't ever do sunsets justice.

lOVE MY FAMILY!

THE END!