Christmas Cookies

Last weekend we were supposed to go to California to visit with my brother and his family, but things didn't work out. We had my mom come up instead and we made cookies.It was such a fun day. It brought back great memories of making Christmas treats with my family growing up. What a great tradition. Thanks momm.

Ryan enjoying a cookie.

Annalynn making cookies.

Beautiful

The other night I noticed this beautiful sunset. It was so breathtaking. In the daily activities...taking care of kids, cooking, cleaning, working, being a wife and mother I forget to take time to smell the roses. God has blessed us with so many blessings may we take the time to enjoy the little moments in our life.

Flooding

We have had a crazy few days here in town and surrounding areas.
There has been so much rain that all of the rivers and creeks have been full to capacity. Monday night we drove up to the resevior and it still had over 10 feet to the top of the dam. By Tuesday morning it was going over in full force. Unfortunatly it was to dark to get any pictures. But here are some pictures of around town. On Tuesday afternoon Rus was able to drive around with us and we looked at all of the creeks. Rustin took Tuesday off and helped sanbag. He was out at 6am sandbagging. He also took a couple hours off on Wed to help some more. It has been amazing to see the community pull together to help at this time of crisis. It also has brought back a lot of memmories the last time this happened. I was nearly due with Annalynn and Rustin was in California at tractor school.

Ward Party

Friday was our ward party. We had a nice dinner and then the Primary did a nice program. It was a great program about the symbols of Christmas. Annalynn was in the nativity and she was dressed up as a rabbit. It was so nice that the Primary Presidencey had costumes for every child in the primary. Santa also made an appearance. I am so glad that we don't have to go to the mall.


Here are the kids with Santa...he visited our ward party. Annalynn gave Santa a big hug and a kiss when she got on his lap. I was shocked that she would do that. Well not really. She is so loving and Santa is not a stranger right. I wish that I would have had my camera ready for that picture.

Exiting the stage after singing the song and doing the Nativity.

Here is a picture with Annalynn and two of her friends Alana and Haylee.

Decorating

Today we decorated the tree. I let the kids do a lot of it. It gives them so much joy and they have such hapy faces while doing it. I don't care that the tree is mostly decorated on the bottom. All that matters is that my children have a good time and make memories that they will remember forever.

Here he is in all his glory.

Look at that cheeser. He is so proud of his creative work.

Here is Ryan's decorating. I remember that Annalynn had a decorating spot just like this at his age. It is so cute how that do things.

The Tree

Last weekend we went out to Studhorse and got our Christmas tree. It is a great traditon that both Rustin and I had growing up and our kids love it. It is so great to be outdoors and see all of the deer and elk tracks in the snow. Smell the pine trees. And just enjoy being together.

Rustin cutting down the tree.
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Annalynn and her walking stick. My dad is out of work right now with a bad foot. He has to walk witha cane and the whole time Annalynn was saying look I have a hurt foot like grandpa and need a cane to walk. It was so cute.

Ryan enjoyed himself. He loves to pick up the snow and eat it no matter how much we tell him that he shouldn't do it. Boys will be boys I guess.

I can't believe that it Christmastime again. It just seems that I had all the stress from Rus's accident last year. I am so thankful that he is well and that has no lasting effects from his fall.

Things kids say!

The other day my son was in time out and he was trying numerous ways to get out. This is by far his best attempt at getting out of time out.
He said to me "Mom, I think that you should let me get out of time out and kick my butt instead."
My reply, "Ok get over here so I can do it."
He stands up and walks over to me turns around and says, "Ok, mom kick my butt."
I give him what he asked for and then he says "Mom that was not hard enough you better do it again."
I was laughing so hard that time out never got finished that day.

Halloween

We had 2 days with fun filled Halloween activities. Friday the Elementery had a Halloween Carnival sponsered by the PTA. The kids went with Rus and Gpa Barlow while I helped in the kitchen. They seemed to have fun. By the end of the night Ry's costume had quite the hammering, but still wearable for trick-or-treating.
Saturday we went to a funeral and then Rus and his friend cut up 3 deer. They started at 1pm and finnished about 6 just before we left to trick or treat. We went with Allie and just drove to a few houses since it was pretty cold. Here are the puppy and witch.

Red Ribbon Week

Last week at school they had Red Ribbon Week. The theme for week "Give drugs the Boot". They got a red elastic bracelet. Each day was filled with a great activity. Monday was red shirt day. Tuesday was boot day. Wednesday was pajama day. Thursday was cowboy day. Here is a picture of Annalynn dressed up as a cowboy. I love when I can reuse things. This is Ryan's costume from last Halloween. When I asked "A" what she learned during Red Ribbon Week she said, "We don't take things that hurt our body." Pretty good for a 5 year old I think.

Sand Dunes

So this morning we decided on the spur of the moment we decided to go to the White Sand Dunes. We also to my father-in-law and 2 cousisns with us. It was a lot of fun. Perfect temprature.

Ry and Annalynn took many trips to the top of the big hill. I did it once with them. Boy was it a big hill. I forgot how hard it is to climb in sand. The screw in my ankle didn't really like it either.

Ry and cousin Allie taking a stab at climbing.

Coming down is sure a lot more fun than going up.

Ry and his leaf. He loved this leaf.

Annalynn builing her sand castle.
We took a lunch and enjoyed a few hours just enjoying God's beautiful creations. During lunch we had a bee that wouldn't leave us alone he kept landing on my sandwich and Hunter's sandwich while we were eating it. What a crazy bee it was. So glad that I decided to go. It has been so long since I enjoyed a hike.

My last post kept giving me errors so here are the rest of the pictures from the trip. It was such a great trip. Althougth is was only for a few short hours it was wonderful. I was able to see my niece and nephew that were born since they moved.

A snapshot that one of the kids took in SL of my beautiful mom. I think it turned out so well, I am sure that she would say that it didn't turn out.

Lucie and Annalynn seemed to connect really well. Aren't they beauties!!!

I love this beautiful girl. Chillin at the park.

While in SL the kids wanted to ride the train so bad...Who could resist such a simple request especially since downtown it is free.
After the days activities were over my mom and dad took the kids to the hotel and I went to the Family History Library. I found a cemetery record for my great-great grandfather. Such a great find. I litarlly did the happy dance right there in the middle of the silence of the library. I didn't care I was so excited. We have since requested his death certificate hoping to find some more specific information and hopefully give us more information on the previous generation.

Cousins

A couple of weeks ago we had the opportunity to see my brother Jared and his family in Salt Lake. They came to look for doctors to intern with when school is over for Jared.
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Jake and Annalynn saying goodbye. I love this picture so much.

At the end of the day we got ice cream bars at Smith's for all of the kids. Here is a close up of Ryan enjoying his chocolate.

Even baby Will got to enjoy some. I loved this little guy so much. It was so fun to see the kids.

Jacob, Holly, Lucie, Annalynn and Ryan...what a photo opportunity.

Lucie and Ryan chillin in the shade at the park.
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We had a picnic at Sugarhouse park after we were done at the temple. There were some branches that had been cut off a tree that had not been picked up Jacob and Ryan loved playing in them.


We spent some time at Temple square. Annalynn was upset for some reason and wouldn't get in the picture. Some day she will regret it.

Kindergarten!!!

Annalynn started kindergarten last week. She loves it. I was very emotional when I dropped her off. Worried about her the whole time. When I came to pick her up she ran to me with a huge smile and started jabbering about her first day and wanted to read me the book that they made. She has a book that she has to pass off every day. Thus far she has been able to pass one off every day.

Ryan had to get into the action of picture taking and here is a silly shot of my beautiful kids.

When we went in for kindergarten testing Mrs. Snow, Annalynn's teacher gave her this person to decorate as her self. Annlynn picked out everything cut it and I glued it cause all I had was a hot glue gun. It looks as if I did it, but oh well. I didn't want her to burn herself.

Love this beautiful girl.

New cousin

Last week we got a new cousin. Victoria Lynn made an apperance in the beautiful world on Aug 16. Here is the kids enjoying a few moements with her. She is so adorable. Thanks Tonia for giving us a new cousin to play with.

Vacation!

We went to Salt Lake for my cousin's wedding August 13, 2010. Here are some pictures. The portable DVD player is the best invention. We took 6 movies and they watched all of them. It helps keep things more calm. I really don't just shove my kids in front of movies, but on trips I do. We also borrowed my in-law's GPS and that was nice to know exactly how to go. It was so nice to get away and spend some time with my family. My mom even was able to come with us.


My little fish. The hotel that we stayed at had a great pool with slides and lots of fun things to do. We spent a lot of time there.

We also went to Chucky E Cheese's this was Ryan's favorite thing to do. Annalynn wasn't to fond of it as it tipped a lot.

Annalynn got to make her own baby birth certificate at the "I Am A Child of God" display at the Church History Museum. She named her baby ballet. She loves dance.

Ryan loved playing bean bag toss. He was pretty good. I think that I am going to make a bean bag toss for him.

My beautiful family. I am so blessed. I am grateful that we are sealed together as a family forever.

My beautiful mommy talking to my grandpa McNabb.

I love the workmanship on the handels on the door. This is Brigham Young's house in Salt Lake City also known as the Beehive house.

Annalynn loved the wedding boquet of my cousin Miriam. She wanted a picture so badly that we took a snap shot. She already wants to be a mom and have a baby. Oh boy we are in trouble.

Falling Asleep

So here are a few snapshot of my children falling asleep in weird positions or ways.


One evening we went to Marv's for ice creams and here is a picture of Ryan falling asleep while eating his cone. We had some great videos, but they wouldn't transfer. It was seriously funny. He was eating and sleeping at the same time. He wouldn't even open his eyes and take a lick, but his head was bobbing up and down.

Annalynn on a trip to St. George.

We took a ride one Sunday afternoon and this is what happened in the back seat.

Yes she is seriously asleep. I think my kids just play so hard.