Merry Christmas

So, it has been a while since I have updated my blog! But I got new pictures taken of the family and I thought I would put them on here! This year has been a good one for our family. We have been very blessed.

Tyler is almost 10 now (Jan. 7). He is in 4th grade and doing really well. He is taking piano lessons, Karate, and scouts. He is singing in the school choir and the 4th graders are learning how to play the recorder. He is a very busy kid and always makes time to play with his friends!

Dakota is 7 and will turn 8 on Jan. 25. She is a big helper around here and is a second mom to the other kids! She loves to read, is taking dance lessons and piano lessons. She is doing awesome in school and has even been learning some sign language with me!

Paris is 6 now and is so sweet. She is my one child who doesn't mind doing chores. Anything she can help me with she will! She loves first grade and has lots of friends. She is also taking dance lessons and is in the same class with Dakota (which is good for me!)

Savannah is 4! She is in preschool this year and can't wait for kindergarten. She gets so bored at home with me and Garrett and can't wait for the other kids to get home from school every day! She wants to be a big helper but never wants to do anything I ask her to do! She loves to sing and dance and read books! She has an elephant memory and recites all day long the poems she learns at school! I have to ask her to stop talking b/c my ears get tired! :)

Then there is Garrett! He is 3 and what more needs to be said! He has a great little personality but is totally exhausting! He is a very busy child and gets into everything. He loves to explore his world especially if it is in Dakota and Tyler's rooms. They have such fun things that he loves to "look" at! My life would be very boring without this child!

Rich is still working at Metalcraft and enjoys his job! He is in the Elder's Quorum presidency in our ward. He has really been into reading lately and getting back into shape! It has been fun to have an exercise partner although I can't get him to run with me yet!

As for me, I am home with the kids and am never bored! I love being home with them. I am now a den leader over the bears with Tyler! This has been an adjustment for me and I'm still trying to figure it all out. I am taking sign language classes with a friend and I am loving it!

I am so grateful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I'm grateful for my Savior and his love for me and my family! We have been blessed greatly and I am so glad that my family gets to be together forever. We love you all and wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Labor Day 2010

Labor Day in Parowan is always fun. This is the iron county fair so there is lots to do. This year Dakota and Paris danced in the parade. They did so good. They were like # 74 in the parade and they were very patient waiting their turn.

For the past couple of years, we have been going to Yankee Resevior after the parade for lunch and a little hiking with our friends, James and Ali Threet and their family. We always look forward to this and the kids love it.

School Starts

So it's a little late, but that's okay. Here are the kids on their first day of school.

Tyler and Dakota on their first day of school. They are attending Enoch Elementary this year and they are loving it.

Dakota at her desk in Mrs. Carney's class.

Tyler at his desk in Mrs. Johnson's class.

Paris' first day of Kindergarten. She really enjoys school. She is attending all day kindergarten until the first of the year and then they will reassess her! She loves it.

Savannah's first day of Preschool. She lives for school time with Mrs. Brenda.

Catch up

So it has been a few months since I've updated my blog. We had a long summer full of lots of fun things. We went to the beach, had a fun family reunion, Rich's dad got married, we went to the mountain with friends, then school started and everything got extra crazy. With 5 kids life can be busy. So I'm just going to add a few pictures of the summer stuff.

My awesome sisters-in-law. We had a great girls weekend playing at Bryce Canyon and Brian Head!

The 4th of July parade in Parowan. That is Grandma Cheryl walking in the parade in Red.

Playing in the mountains with some good friends.

We picked a great day to go for a picnic. There was a big thunderstorm with hail. Luckily we were under the shelter!!

The kids by the fire, trying to warm up. We had a great time playing in the rain!!!

10 years

So Rich and I celebrated our 10 year anniversary on June 10th. I can't believe how time flies. Rich surprised me with a trip to Las Vegas. He was so sweet and tried to take us back to our wedding day. He booked us a room at the hotel we stayed at the night of our wedding, Alexis Park Resort. Then we went to the temple. He also took me to see Phantom of the Opera and that was really good. We had a nice relaxing weekend. My brother and his wife, who are living with us, stayed with our kids. So nice of them because my kiddos are a handful. This was the first time Rich and I have been away together since we had Tyler. I'm grateful for my husband and for all he does for me. We have had a great 10 years and are excited to see what the next 10 bring us. (we forgot the camera so there are no pictures!)

Gulf Shores Alabama

So our family ventured to Alabama for a week with my family. We had a great time. The car ride was really long (about 36 hrs one way), but we survived. I gave each of the kids a roll of quarters and took them away one at a time when they were not behaving well. They did so good. Then we spent the week on the beach. It was so beautiful and we weren't ready to come home. Thanks mom for the condo and the fun times. Here are some pictures from our trip.

Paris Preschool and Dance

Paris' Preschool Graduation! We are so proud of her!

She will be a great kindergartener.

Grandpa H and Grandma Cheryl came to watch.

Her teacher is Mrs. Brenda.

So for dance pictures their hair had to be curly. Paris has natural curl but I thought I would use curlers, because that is what dancers do right?


Well, these are the results we got!

And then this!

Finally, after spending time with the curling iron this is what we got!

She is so cute!

This is her First Dance Recital on May 24th, 2010.

Before make up.

After Make up. This is her tap dance costume.


Her ballet costume.

This is her tap dance!