Bryson's School Party

Bryson's class was making gingerbread houses for their party. I talked to his teacher on Monday and she said she has enough parents but I was welcome to come and watch. So I planned on that, which she said went from 1:30 - 2:30. So I had arranged for Darren to come home to watch the kids so I could go over to the school at about 2:00, As I approached his room it seemed quiet to me. Sure enough, the party was over, the houses were made and all the kids were on the floor intently listening to a story. I had missed it, i didn't get a picture of him at all, I couldn't even get the teachers attention to see if I could talk to Bryson for a minute to make sure he wasn't sad.upset I hadn't made it as we had talked about. So I left and went back home, I made a point to go meet him outside his door to help carry his house over to the car in the snow, that seemed to have made him happy. I was so worn down by the end of my run around day that I didn't even think about taking a piture of it at home. Bryson had fun anyway and his gingerbread house was really cute.

Preston's School Party

I MADE it... barely! Preston didn't really have a arranged school party, but we were invited as parents to come observe all week. So I went on Tuesday which was his last day before winter break, it also happened to be another snowie day. I had forgotten to pick up a treat for him to give to his friends the night before while I was at the store and by the time school started I hadn't gotten ready yet. No problem I thought, I have time to go home, shower, go tot eh store and make it back to school for Preston. I pulled in the parking lot at 10:45.. it has just been one of those mornings. Running into the school and through the halls, I plop on the floor of his class room and frantically start to take pictures the last 10 minutes of class. I did get to hear him sing a song and it that was really cute.

Who comes around on a stary night? Santa comes around on a stary night.

Must be Santa, Must be Santa, Must be Santa, Santa Claus

Weston in the background looking like a gansta. Still singing, and loving it. Miss Sherry is in the Santa hat, she is an amazing teacher and we will miss her when Preston goes into Kindergarten next year.

Willis Family Dinner - FEAST!

We usually have a large dinner on Christmas Eve, however with the new marriages/engagements and Kevin's family not coming up my mother moved it to the Saturday before Christmas. I say Feast and boy what feast it was! My mother knows how to put on a great spread. The food was amazing. Kevin's family flew up for the day and flew back out Sunday morning, Kami and Kyle drove down and the rest of us made our small gaunt over the hills to Grandma's house. It was so nice to have everyone together for just a few short hours and be able to talk and have the kids play. My kids don't see Kevin's family very often, we call them the "Willis Cousins" although Kory's kids would also qualify for that name. I think that it is easier then remembering all their names.

I love my mother's tables! I want this ability to decorate like her. This easily could have gone in Better Homes and Gardens or put Martha's mouth wide open!

Another View, Thanks Mom for setting the mood for the holidays!

Why is he not sleeping?

I put Westie down for a nap today - about an hour later he started talking, knowing full well that he hadn't gone to sleep yet I let him talk for about 20 more minutes and finally I gave up! I went into his room to take him out of bed - AND ...

This is what I found, a completely naked baby smiling with Joy that he has not only figured out how to take his shirt, pants and diaper off he has also emptied what was left of his bottle on his bed, AND then emptied the other portion of his bottle with peeing all over his bed! Oh happy mother moment number 5,489! As he stood up to get out of the crib he thought he should mark his territory one last time, yep! Pee on the crib bumper which now has to get dry cleaned. Oh how I love this child,he can frustrate me to the core and melt my heart all in the same minute. I simply started to laugh, in fact giggle. What else could I do, he was grinning from ear to ear - needless to say, I don't think he will be having a nap today.

More Snow Fun

Another fun snow day... it is the first thing my older boys ask when the roads are snow packed is if we can go out sledding, And Yes! we can! Weston was awake for this one and if you think for one minute he is going to sit aside while the big boys go riding think again.

Coming down the street to pick up Weston

All the boys ready for their ride!

Preston, he just loves the snow

Weston, you would think he'd want to go inside to get warm? No! he screamed and screamed when I took him in. His face was freezing, but he wanted to stay out.

UTAH byu GAME

For those that don't know, Darren and I started up a Mascot company back in June of this year, we cater to corporate companies to who we supply the mascot and they can utilize us for tradeshows, business meetings, Events and others, mainly we are a unique advertising technique. Check us out at majesticmascots.com
Each year our ward puts on a UTAH/byu Breakfast on the day of the game. So this year we thought we would bring our mascots dressed as Swoop and Cosmo... it was a huge success. I took a ton of pictures, most of which I am not going to post and they aren't pics of my family. It was a really fun morning.

The boys eating their pancakes

It KILLED Darren to have to wear the byu shirt, That is our Elders quorum pres. a HUGE byu fan

This is our home teacher and RS pres, also a couple we considers our friends. They call themselves a house divided as Steve went to the Y and Laurie to the U... at least one of them got it right!

Swoop with Laurie

Brett getting mushed by Swoop and Cosmo

Westie and Cosmo (daddy)

The mascots got the "bug" so we decided to go later that day down to Gateway and walk around. We thought at the time it was a good idea, didn't think it through so well... We were there for about 5 minutes getting swarmed by fans wanting their picture taken and the bike cop showed up and asked that we leave as we didn't have a permit. Next year we will have a permit. So these are their pictures in the parking garage!

Who is really Number 1??? The U of course, sorry huney you had to wear blue for this one :(

ThanksGiving

I forgot my camera! I wanted to take pics of my family and my mom's amazing dinner spread and I forgot my camera. So instead this will be a picturless blog about our Thanksgiving 2009. We started the day out at breakfast at Grandma and Grandpa Stecks, they were going to Darren's brothers for dinner so this way we still get to spend time with them. The rest of the day we spent relaxing and chillin' at home till it was time for dinner at my moms. As always she had an amazing dinner. Everyone was thereat some point in the evening; Kevin and Lynda made it up from Arizona, Jessica (my niece) made it home from college, Kyle and Kami arrived from Logan and the rest of us live within 20 minutes. Kory and Mandy came up for desert, however we had taken our tired kids home by then. The day was wonderful and a great time to reflect on things that I am grateful for.
1. My Husband and the man that he is, I am happy to have him be my best friend.
2. Bryson, he is so amazing and such a sweet boy
3. Preston, His unique personality keeps me going.
4. Weston, who always keeps us happy in the home with his YaYa talk.
5. I am thankful we have a job during this economy.
6. For my Home and cars that give me safety and security.
7. For my testimony in my Savior
8. For my Mom and Dad, and Darren's Parents
9. To live in the United States and not have to ever know what daily warfare is.
10. To live in Utah, an all around good state.
Thank you to everyone in my life that makes it so much easier on the bad days, and that much more enjoyable on the good days. Hope you all had a great Thanksgiving day too.