January Overview

We didn't have a hole lot going on this past month. January is usually pretty boring, a time to re-coop from the holidays, set new goals, organize CEI at work and relax. But here are a few things that did go on....



Weston still won't walk unless he is holding onto someone/thing. He is sturdy enough and will stand alone, but hasn't gotten more that 4 or so steps. We keep waiting, but then again we are okay with him not walking yet.

Weston learned how to pull apart and climb into the dish washer... now he does it every time we do the dishes.

Preston dressed up like Mommy, with my glasses and headband. He is the meaning of Punk, but I sure love him to pieces.

Stike an awesome pose! The first Friday of every month is Spirit day at school. This month was missed matched day.

Bryson was pretty excited about looking funny and not matching. I didn't see very many kids dressed up when I picked him up at school, but he didn't care.

Every time it snows significantly, Darren get the four wheeler out and pulls the kids around on the snow covered streets. This is his ice fishing JetSled, that is about 5 feet long. This night I put Weston in and went with them. They all really liked it. It is a lot funner this year, last year I was 9 month pregnant going around with the boys trying to stay up with no ab muscle control.

Bryson went Night Ice Fishing with Daddy and spent most of the time playing his DS...

Darren up at Strawberry Ice Fishing with our neighbors. I miss going with him.Rich and Braydon caught the only fish for the night.

Tuff finally accepted that Taz isn't going anywhere and have become friends. They play fight eachother, it is fun to watch how gentle Tuff really is with him.

Happy 30th Birthday!

Well it finally happened, Darren can now say he has a 30 year old wife. It doesn't make us any closer in age, but somehow 30 seems far older than 29. My birthday was "unique" this year to say the least. Darren took the boys to get cake and ice cream the night before my birthday, and they sang and celebrated a night early. Why? well, Darren had to get a test done on my birthday that required him to fast so no going out to breakfast or lunch or dinner on my actual birthday. My actual birthday was calm, my office at work was decorated. Darren and I headed off to the hospital around 2:00 for his testing. He was really cute at the hospital, making sure that all the nurses knew it was my birthday. I think I had 10 people wish me a happy birthday. He felt really bad that this had to take place on my birthday. Good news is that the test came back clear. My mom had the kids so we did get some alone time, however Darren was only about 20% coherant after the drugs they gave him. So off to bed he went and I went to pick up boys. Wow! 30 years old, married for 10 years, have 3 beautiful boys. I may not be doing anything right, but I feel very lucky and blessed to have my family.

My 30" balloon :)
Here is my awesome cake, the boys were really excited to sing

Me getting ready to blow out the candles. Bryson was in charge of the camera!

Here is my present, long story... it arrived late which only added to Darren feeling bad that he couldn't do anything for my birthday not even a gift. I wasn't too worried. It arrived on Friday and I was shocked, it was the last thing on my list cus it is way too much money. He go me all these additional lenses, flashes, filters, 2 8G memory cards ect... I must have 15 extra parts. I am going to have to sign up for a class to know how to use this thing for all the capabilities that it has. But I am excited to take the really crisp clear pics of my kids and life.

Darren took me out to my favorite steak house - Flemmings down at Gateway. It is so yummy, honestly the best steak you'll ever eat. Then we went to "He's just not that into you" on the opening night. I think Darren was 1 of 20 guys in the entire theater, thanks babe for being such a trooper. It is a really cute show, a must see date night!

Happy New Year - 2009 Baby!!

Happy New Year !!! Bryson understands that new year is here... for Preston it is simply another reason to run around and screem. Have to say that we fudged the time and celebrated early. This year we didn't go over to our friends as usual, we have just been going and going that it was nice to just stay home as a family. We did take the boys to Marley and Me and they liked that, not what I was expecting but they liked it.




Confetti - isn't it so much fun!

Weston really didn't care about it, but the popping of the confetti scared him

Here is the nameless dog... we are horrible about picking names... for anything

Darren spent most of the night outside trying to get the puppy to go potty!

2008 brought us such wonderful new adventures...

-I was released from YW beehive advisor

-Weston was born on February 1st... not a girl. Surprise!

-Kari got her divorce finalize, she looks happy for the first time in years.

-Bryson went to first grade, "it was a long day mom".

-Preston started preschool on his 4th birthday

-Weston hit all his mile stones on time, mostly ahead of schedule

-Darren and I celebrated our 9th year of being married and 11th year together as a couple.

-We both had birthdays, but we don't need to talk about that.

-Got put in as Secretary in RS presidency

-Managed to have another year with NO emergency room visits

-Got another dog, what were we thinking

Another year has slipped away, life goes by too fast. I wouldn't change a thing, I love my family. Our boys make life so much more entertaining. Here is to more adventures in 2009

Preston's Finger Injury

We were out running errands the night after Christmas, Preston had just been trying both of our energy used to keep him alive. He crawled under the shopping cart and was told and told to keep hims hands up... he didn't and the cart came to an abrubt stop...

Hard to see but his entire nail is riped from his skin...

He was NOT happy about it. I can understand... it looked horrible.

I called the doctor the next morning and he said to take off the nail, we did it while he was sleeping. This is grose I know, but you can see that it riped out from his cuticle.

I honestly don't know if he will ever get a nail back there... but it will get better I am sure.

Christmas Morning - it's finally here...

Christmas morning started out on our bed - all three boys and us... I love that! We gave the boys their big unexpected surprise then. Santa had given it to us while they were still asleep as he couldn't leave it under the tree. When we brought out this little puppy - their faces were so confused. They warmed up to the idea, never thought you'd have to get little boys to warm up to a puppy. When it all came down to it, it wasn't on their list and that is what they wanted to go see if they got what was on their list.

Weston loved the dog, spent the most time with him.

Bryson is overwhelmed...

Preston and his Wall-E transformer

Oh the Ninetendo DS... that is all they wanted!

The aftermath of the morning...

Darren, Me and Weston up at my moms that afternoon.

Christmas Eve!

Christmas Eve is always tradition for us, as I am sure it is for most of you. We spend the day together as a family, mainly at home recouping from the stressful work week prior to Christmas. We start our evening out with a full course meal at my Moms....



Her table is always perfect, and beautiful. The food is always great, perfectly cooked prime rib and lobster. Good soup and salad to start us off and more food that we can ever eat. Thanks mom for always making Christmas Eve such a wonderful event.


It was late when we got home from my moms so we sent Weston to bed fast, I didn't get a chance to get any pictures with him. We did get a few minutes in to open new PJ's and slippers, the boys were so excited about blanket sleepers - they'd been asking for them each time they saw them in the stores. We then read Was the night before Christmas as a family, talked about Christmas again to the boys and how it really is about the birth of Christ and not presents. Then we set out cookies and milk, wrote thank you letters to Santa, and off to bed the boys went.

This is what Santa left the boys! I think they will be so excited in the morning... off to bed.

Zoo Lights

Took the boys up to the Zoo for their light display. We have an annual pass and thought that it would be a free event... it wasn't. But we couldn't tell them no when we were at the gate all bundled up. We hadn't ever been, none of the animals were out... but still fun to see all the lights and animation.

Weston was not really happy about being in the cold. We made it quick!

Me and the boys at the Asian Highlands

Preston and I at the carousel.

Bryson on the carousel, he is in the red coat

Preston by the spider

Bryson and Preston by the train!