New Year's Cabin Trip

     Corey's family really is unusual in that we can cram ourselves together into a cabin meant for a third of the people we put in it, look forward to it every year, manage to have a wonderful time, and still like each other by the end...amazing. 

 

     This is how mornings begin at the cabin....snug-a-bug. 



 

The days are filled with outdoor fun in the snow (thank goodness that it snowed!!!). 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     The grande finale is our New Years feast....ooooooohhhhhhh, ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh. 

Happy 2015!!!

Happy Christmas!!

 

      A Christmas Elf delivered our tree to us this year....sweet elves..trying to inspire Corey to have a little more Christmas cheer. 

 



 

Our annual Christmas Eve family nativity. 

 

The line-up pre-present opening. 

 

 

The view on Christmas morning.  We were so very thankful that it snowed on Christmas....it would have made their gifts much less exciting had it not. 

 

Yay for snow!!!



Ward Christmas Party

         

     We had the best Santa at our ward party this year!!  I just loved he and Mrs. Clause.  Our ward party is always a wonderful way to kick off the Christmas season, by spending time with the neighbors & friends we love. 

Happy 40th Jared!!

 

     Corey's older brother Jared turned 40 this month.  He occasionally comes in town for work so when we found out he'd be here a few days before his big day we organized a Part-A.  Our house was a good meeting place so we hosted and enjoyed celebrating and teasing Jar about being 40.  Happy Happy Birthday Jar!!  We love you!

First Snow

 

    Got to love the first snow storm of the season.  I'm so glad they got out and enjoyed it since snow was so scarce this winter!!

Happy Halloween!

 

      Avery &  Brecken had a very fun Halloween program.  They sang about ten different songs...super cute.  Avery is, of course, Elsa and Brecken is Bumblebee the transformer.  

 



 

     I've struggled a little knowing when to tell my kids they can't trick-or-treat anymore.  I love seeing the young men and women on Halloween so for now it's not yet.  Keaton was "goth" and McKay made his own knight costume, creative child.  

 

     McKay & Keaton met up with a fun group of neighborhood kids, Breck & Avery went with Corey along with Tate & his buddy AJ.  Tate is a ware wolf. 

 



 

     After trick-or-treating all the kids came over to sort their candy and watch a show.  I couldn't get a decent picture, but I LOVED having everyone at our house.  Plus our friends Ty & Sunny came over and hung out which was a super fun perk of having their kids over.  Happy happy Halloween!!



Backyard Visitor

Isn't he gorgeous?!  We enjoyed watching him from our back windows. 

Lake Mead

     Every year over UEA, fall break, whatever they call it these days...we go to Lake Mead.  It's a great chance to grab a little bit of summer before it all ends.  We started this trip in St. George where the kids found a cool leopard gecko outside the condo. 

This was a cool picture of Corey's early morning bike ride with his parents. 

          And then we're off!!  It's always a blast on the boat!  So fun to see the kids play in the water. 

 



     Even Grandma & Grandpa got in on the tube action.  Pretty impressive!!

 

 Taking a break and going for  a swim.  We found a bunch of cool rocks.  So fun to see how amazing the world is through a child's eyes. 

      Stan didn't go swimming, but he was up for an end-of-day ski.  Not bad!! 

 

Goblin Valley

      This Fall our good friends the Larkin's planned a fun camping trip to Goblin Valley.  We left after work on Wednesday night and had a crazy time finding our friends in the dark, but eventually found them in this awesome camping spot.  It was set up with sandstone fire pit, benches and a table.  It was pretty awesome.  The kids even outfitted it with a toilet which Avery made use of with no care for privacy or exposure.  The camping spot was close to a little canyon that made it perfect for kids to explore on their own while not going too far away. 
     The next afternoon our friends the Reese's and Balls Families joined us and we went on an adventurous hike.

 

 

Sandstone always makes such great pictures. 

 

 



     The next day we spent in Goblin Valley.  I've never been and it was a pretty cool place!  It was so fun to watch the kids climb and explore.  I'm always amazed at the diversity of our state and thankful to our Heavenly Father for creating such beauty for us to enjoy. 

 

 

          Brian & Natalie   Kevin & Brittany   Us   Darren & Amy

 

     Thanks Larkin's for planning such a fun trip!!

Cross Country

 

 

     This fall McKay & Keaton participated in their middle school cross country team.  It was a cool experience for them both.  They both pushed themselves and grew as runners.  It was really fun to watch.  This is their first meet.  

 

  Strong to the finish!   

 

 

Go Draper Park Middle!!

Flooded

     One day as I was leaving to pick up McKay from school I noticed water seeping out under the road right by my side yard.  There was a crack in the road and it was bubbling up so I called the water company and went to pick up Mac.    The guys came out and were checking things out and it really started coming and then there was a pop (that I could hear while inside my home) and the 24 inch water pipe burst. 

 

     It's pretty crazy to see 2 inches of water covering the road in front of your home.  We were fortunate that our house sits up higher on our lot.  Our neighbors were not so fortunate and had water running like a huge river through their yards and sheds.  Luckily the inside of everyone's homes stayed dry. 

 

They got the water turned off and it receded pretty quickly. 

 

 

Everyone came over to check it out, teenagers seeing how deep the water was by wading in it.

 

 

The 24inch water pipe burst open.

 

 

     Our water company was wonderful to work with.  They had a crew removing all the mud on our lawn by hand to preserve our grass.  Then they actually had a big vacuum machine to get as much as possible.  Now you'd never know anything happened.