Starting over!

Wow it has been a few years... oops. The last few days I have really been thinking about my blog and how much I haven't written down. I thought eh... who needs a blog when I have Facebook and Instagram. they are all fantastic (kinda) but here on my long lost blog I want to write things that will help us remember what our life was really like.
So a little update:
Robin has been going to school to become and RN he graduated May of this year. He worked so hard, RN school and a full time job all so I can stay home with our kids. He got a job at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC) and has been working there for the last few months. We are getting used to his shifts, 4 weeks days , 4 weeks nights. Nights are so hard, not only for him but for me too. I don't really like to sleep alone, I have heard it will get better.
Kenidee is 10 and in 5th grade!! FIFTH! I still can't believe it. She is so tall, she is going to pass me up soon. She loves to tease me that she is going to be in middle school next year. To be honest it makes me sick. I don't want her to grow up, but she isn't listening! Kenidee started clogging this year with in Instep clogging. So far she LOVES it! She never walks anywhere, she is tapping/ clogging everywhere we go. Kenidee also played softball this last spring.... well sort of she went to all the practices and was loving it. right before her first game she fell off a bike and broke her elbow. She was in a very cute pink cast for three weeks then with strict orders to not play soft ball or anything else for three more weeks. Kenidee went to EVERY game, but two (robins graduation and she was throwing up another time.) She cheered on her team and picked up bats. I was so proud of her. I told her she didn't have to keep going, but she said to me "I'm on a team, I can't let my team down." proud  mommy moment right there.
Bennett is in 2nd grade and 7 years old. Our school district is doing a language immersion program. He is learning Spanish in school, and has been since kindergarten. it is amazing to see what he knows and what he understands. He has told me what people are saying in stores that have been speaking Spanish. He has told me that he doesn't want to know english and just wants to speak Spanish.  Bennett is super funny and loves the attention he gets from his silliness. He is a ladies man and has figured out all women can not resist his dimple.
He is playing flag football this fall and is really starting to understand the game. It's hard for me to watch and hear Robin give him pointers like push that kid till the whistle blows. In my head I'm saying "no we don't push" this is reversing everything I have spent 7 years teaching him.
Bennett also started playing the fiddle in January, he is doing really good and is loving learning new songs. He is quite the performer. He will also be getting baptized in December!
Eli my little kindergartener! I had so many mixed emotions sending him to school. I was going to be alone for a few hours every morning. this had the potential for me to get all the things done I never would get done. So far I'm still trying to figure that out.
Eli is also in the language immersion program. This is his first year  learning Spanish. He walks around singing Spanish songs all day. Bennett used to do the same thing. Eli is for sure the youngest and the baby. I may spoil him a little. oops. He loves to be with me. Almost every morning he comes into my room and  I ask him how was your sleep? he just says nuggle? and I move over for a little Eli snuggle time. I know one day this will stop so for now I don't mind at all our morning snuggles.
this is Eli's first fall playing flag football. Oh is it interesting. He just wants to be with me or on my lap.... I may have created a monster. When I'm not at practice or when Robin is at a game with us he is a whole different person. He stays out on the field and does his best. On his first game Robin wasn't able to come watch it, he was working. Eli was done playing and decided it would be so much easier if he just did a log roll down the field to the huddle. oh gosh! I have THAT kid, but I LOVE THAT kid will all my heart.
As for me? Well, I'm trying to be a good mom. I fall short but I hope I fall short in the things that maybe don't matter as much. Everyday I learn new things about being a wife and mother. Its hard not to compare myself with all the wonderful women around me. Being a mother is the hardest thing I have everyone and in the same breath the most rewarding thing I have ever done.

Christmas Day!

Christmas Day! 2011

I can not believe that I only took about 6 pictures on Christmas day! What kind of mom am I?  I guess my camera needed a break from Christmas eve.

I love Christmas!  I love that my kids are getting older and are more fun to watch them get excited and having a hard time sleeping.  Kenidee was so excited to put out milk and cookies for Santa and Reindeer food outside on the porch and sidewalk.

As a Christmas tradition we have to wait till everyone is awake and we all go into the living room together.  That is such a hard thing to do, really and it never gets any easier. After we get done opening gifts from each other we go to Grandma Shauna's and Papa's for what ends up being Brunch.  Then we exchange presents with our family. I love watching how excited my kids are to give to their cousins, and grandparents.

Then we head down to Grandma Lu's and Papa Bears for dinner and more gift giving and getting! it is so much fun, and so much noise! I love it.

I hope throughout the years I can teach my children how to give, and how important it is to remember our savior Jesus Christ not just on this day but everyday. I want my them to know that Christ is our brother, and the things He did on this earth were for us.  I want them to strive to be like Him, and to be kind and loving to others. I am so thankful for the knowledge I have of the Savior, and so thankful for parents who taught me to try to be like Him.

Chirstmas eve

Yep so it is Christmas in July.  I Love our families Christmas traditions. Starting with Christmas eve, we all go to Grandma LuLu's and Papa Bears. We have dinner, read the story of Christ birth, wide elephant gifts (this is a newer tradition.), and Santa comes to give us new Christmas p.j.'s.  I love spending time with the cousins that can  be there. We have made so many memories over the years. It is kind of fun to remember what is was like as a child and to see my children experiencing the same things.

Bennett was my little l helper frosting cookies to share at grandma Lu's.

We always have a little talent show. Usually the little kids sing, or play a little something on the piano.

The little kids exchange gifts and go and play with them while the adults get ready for Wide Elephant.

 I don't remember a year where we haven't laughed till we cried. I love this part of the night. there are a few gifts that seem to keep coming back every year.

 We all make our way down stairs to get ready for Santa. usually a child dresses up like Santa but not many small children come to Christmas eve anymore so we have to ask a brave adult to dress up like Santa ... this year it was.......ROBIN. If I do say so myself he was the BEST looking Santa I have EVER seen.

 Most of the kids loved him...

Santa and Eli

 Bennett was a little unsure but as long as he had his Knight hat on he was good to go.

 Rod LOVED him

 Eli loved eating the paper.

 Kenidee was not so sure. I had to force her to stand by him. Even after Robin pulled down his snowy white beard, she didn't want anything to do with him.

 I just couldn't contain myself anymore I had to plant a big ole' kiss on Santa! I really hope the Mrs. didn't mind.

All of the kids in matching jammas. kind of sad, when we were kids we filled up that whole front of the fire place. I love this tradition.

All of us "kids" in our matching Jammas. We will NEVER be to old for matching p.j.'s!
When grandma Lu would hold Eli he would suck on her pearls. I love that picture!

Uncle Rod Gives Kenidee what he calls a million kisses! She just laughs and laughs. She loves her uncle Rodney

meeting Santa!

We had a ward Christmas party and the REAL Santa came! I love him. He is dressed to the nines.

Bennett told him he wanted a real car, ya know not a toy a big car like moms.

 Best pic I could get of the kids in a hurry, the line was huge.

Kolby's Baptism

December 10, 2011 we all got to go to Logan Utah to see my nephew Kolby be baptised a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. It was a wonderful day the spirit was definitely felt. Kolby was a little nervous but this was something he wanted. My dad baptised and confirmed Kolby. It was a great day to teach  my children the importance of being baptised and being confirmed and receiving the Holy Ghost.

 Grandpa smootching Kolby! We were all so proud of Kolby. I think all of us would have done that to him if we could have gotten our hands on him.

Bennett turns 3

So Three years ago on December 1st it was the scariest day of my life. My baby boy was born by emergency C-section.Now Bennett is the funnest boy ever. He can make you so mad but with in seconds of flashing that smile and his huge dimple you forget why you were ever so mad at him.  He is an early riser and I love the mornings with him. He is the happiest and most cuddly boy ever. Bennett loves anything to do with cars wheels motors.oh and buttons. If he could be outside every second of the day he would be. I love this boy and I can not believe his is three!

On his birthday we just did a little family thing. We made our own pizza's! The kids love being able to make everything themselves.  

 Because we were going to do a big family party in a few days I took bennett to the store and let him pick out  a special treat. so he picked out loft house sugar cookies. He loved it.

 Then he got to open a few gifts from his grandma Juju and Papa skip.

 A few days later we had a big family party. He wanted a cars cake, I am not the best cake maker but he liked it and that is all that mattered.

christmas card 2011

This year I got a few cards out and more are still sitting at my house wishing they had a home. Oh well. Really it is Feb  and I am just posting this so... really not much of  a Surprise.