Island Park!

We spent the week after Christmas in Island Park. We rented a cabin in the Shotgun area. We ate a lot of good food, played in the snow, played games, rode snowmachines, and had fun together. My cousin Shawna and Shannon and their kids, My Aunt Barb and My parents came up for a few days too. It was a blast to have them there. The kids really had a good time. This has become one of my kids favorite traditions that we do every Winter. Houston, Stetson, Me, Travis and JoAnna.

JoAnna - after getting white washed by her brothers. She loved it. ha ha.

The boys got a snow board from their Grandpa Terry. They loved trying them out while we were in Island Park. I think they are pretty handsome boys!

Houston!

Trav and Houston wanted me to get a pic of them jumping. But as you can see, they are mainly crashing! It was great.

Travis!

Travis, JoAnna, Stetson, Houston and Scott

Stetson loved being outside in the snow. The cold didn't bother him at all. His favorite was going on the snowmachine with Scott. He fits into our family perfectly. In this pic he's yelling at his brothers as they go down the hill. He thought it was great.

Houston, Scott and Stetson going down the hill on the sleigh.

JoAnna's 6th Birthday!

Trisha spoiled JoAnna and Piper at her salon. I think going here was Jo's favorite birthday gift.

JoAnna had a big smile on the whole time we were there. Every now and then the girls would burst out clapping out of pure joy. It was soooo cute!

The girls got full pedicures, their nails painted and their hair done up in curles and glitter. Every girls dream.

JoAnna and Piper had such a great time. Trish gave them each cookie, cocktail and gift cups filled with cute socks, files and lip gloss. Aren't the beautiful!

We celebrated JoAnn's birthday while we were in Island Park. We made a princess sprinkle cake and had a great time. I can't believe she's 6!

Christmas Time!

My parents gave JoAnna a new doll that she just loves. Maybe she'll leave Stetson alone for a while (you'll understand when you reach the bottom of this post.) It was a wonderful Christmas.

These are the creations that the big boys built. Houston's is a Lava Roller Coaster and Trav's is a Douple Farris Wheel. They are sooo cool!

Stetson got this Rocking horse, which I knew he would just LOVE. But no - he was scared to death of it and wouldn't go near it for a week. Houston and Jo finally got him to sit on it, but not for too long.

The boys also got a new KNEX building set that they were pretty excited about. They mainly like building it with their Dad. And I think Scott likes building it with them just as much or more.

Stetson loved it all. He was so much fun this year. He just went from one thing to the next as fast as he could. His favorite things are his books and hot wheel cars.

Christmas morning was wonderful. My parents came over at 6:00 a.m. to open gifts with us. My kids were so excited to see what Santa brought them. Trav and Houston each got a rip stick and JoAnna got a beautiful Christmas dress and craft stuff.

After the big family party, we came home and all the kids got to open their Christmas PJs. This is also the time we read about the birth of Baby Jesus out of the Scriptures. It is so important to me for my children to know and understand the true reason we have Christmas. We are truly blessed.

Christmas Eve is always one of my favorite things about Christmas. We went to Jeremy and Lacey's house for a yummy dinner, program and gifts. It's always a little crazy with 20 kids, but most of all a lot of fun. Jana made each kid a t-shirt with the number of grandchild they are. It was such a cute idea. It wasn't so easy getting them all sat down for a picture (I think I got them all.)

A couple days before Christmas, my Mom and I got together and baked goodies for some friends and neighbors. We always end up doing more than we should and it tunred into a marithon!!! My kitchen was a dissaster and we were exhausted, BUT - we had fun and it helped us get into the Christmas Spirit.

JoAnna loves to dress-up Stetson. He is her own play doll. At least he's a good sport about it (most of the time. ha ha)

Happy Birthday Dad! My Mom planned a BIG surprise party for my Dad's 60th birthday. We had great food and great friends stop by throughout the evening to wish him a happy day. I think my Dad was pretty surprised! Your the best Dad! We Love ya! Nov. 10.

Happy Halloween! Houston, Stetson, JoAnna and Travis. The boys were outlaws from the wild west and JoAnna was a witch.

Travis and Stets.

Houston

JoAnna

Me and My Mom - All dressed up and ready to have a wickedly good time. We had a big neighborhood Halloween party. A big Family Halloween party and I had all my young women over to my house for a fall party. By the time October was over, I was all halloweened out! We did have a great time and we got good use out of our costumes.

We went to SLC for the weekend w/ my parents. We had a great time. We went to Gardner's Village, and they were having their big witch celebration. The Witch below caught Houston and tried to cast a spell on him - I think it worked, because he is smiling for this picture (which is very rare.)

This is our favorite time in the fall - When we get to harvest our pumpkins. Our harvest was very small this year, but the kids were able to find a favorite pumpkin of their very own.

Jaxson, Zac and Houston. We celebrated Zac's birthday at Ross Park rock climbing. All the cousins and adults had a great time.

Houston

Travis

Alex, Hannah, Miley and JoAnna

Stetson - loving his ice cream cone. I think he got more on his face than in his mouth. But he was happy.

On October 15, Stetson had to go in for a minor surgery. When he was in recovery, his heart went out of control. His heart was beating 220 + beats/minuet. The doctors could not get it to slow down. They tried a couple different methods to try and shock the heart into a regular pattern (methods that were traumatic to watch!) We were then admitted to the pediatric ICU and we stayed there for 2 days. He was put on a beta blocker that finally slowed his heart down. We had wonderful doctors and nurses. It was a very crazy and emotional experience for Scott and I. There is nothing worse than to see your child in pain. After many tests and consulting with Dr. Williams from Primary Children's Hospital, we found that Stetson has a heart condition called "Wolf Parkinson White Syndrome." He basically has an extra valve in his heart. He will be monitored until he's ten years old, at which time he'll have more tests and possibly surgery. I'm so glad we know what it is and how to deal with it. I'm thankful for all the prayers in his behalf. We have been blessed. Stetson is our little angel.

Here are a just a few of my favorite family pics that my friend, Emily, took of my kids. I think they tuned out great! Stetson 1 Houston, Jo, Trav & Stests

JoAnna 5

Stets

Houston 9

JoAnna

Travis