Tubing

Brent's family and my family all went tubing outside of Greer. We had a BLAST!

(to see the pictures better click on the collage)

Mommy falls asleep

Ella was busy enjoying her sippie. So I thought it would be fun to lay on her lap for a change. Before I knew it I had fallen asleep and so had Ella. Poor little thing I wonder how long it took for her to get sensation back in her legs.

It's snowing!

This is a rare treat for my kids. The snow was fun for then to try to catch on thier tounges and play with.

Trip home to Eagar

Elk in Nutrioso
The trip to Eagar was so beautiful. The kids loved seeing the snow and feeling the cool weather.

When we woke up in the morning there were elk in my parents front yard. Everyday or night we saw these elk. One night I was getting in the suburban and the security light went on that was on the corner of my moms house. Next I heard hooves running. Sure enough as I went to leave elk. They were so close to the house and so much fun for the kids to look at. My parents love to see them but do not appreciate the damage the elk have done to their house.

Christmas Morning

Christmas Eve

My sister gave us this magic Santa key a long time ago. Only Santa can use it to get into our house. He has to use the key because we do not have a chimney.
The kids spotted Santa! Better get to bed so he can come to our house.

New pajamas on Christmas Eve.

Santa came to our Christmas party!

Ella asked for a baby
Weston asked for a PSP

Wyatt threw me a loop and asked for a 22 gun!?!?
What happened to the bike???

Trett asked for a Phoenix Suns jersey

Ashtyn asked for a pink DS

Gingerbread Houses

When I was younger my family made real gingerbread houses. This was a fun tradition that I wanted to continue with my own family. One year we decided to do the graham cracker houses instead and it was a big hit because everyone got to do their own their way. Little Ella fell asleep early that night. Wyatt told her they could share.

Merry Christmas Friends and Family!

I loved being with little Ella as she recognized she was playing in the snow. She is still talking about it. She says, "I eat it snow, it cold!" To see the sparkle in her eyes not only when we played in the snow but when talk about Santa and baby Jesus. She BELIEVES! This is what I love so much about families Christmas and our Heavenly Fathers plan. Being a mother is truly the best gift. Also being part of a family is so comforting. I will always be GRATEFUL for Christ and love to celebrate his birth and share his message with those around me and my family. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Decorating the Chritmas tree

Playing in the snow at Alpine

Getting THE Christmas tree

Brent found the cutest tree. This is starting to be one of my most favorite traditions. Christmas, snow, hot chocolate and family.

Wylie gets sick

Poor little Wylie. He got really sick the night before we went home. Thank you Aunt Tonya and Uncle Bill for all the LOVE and help.

We had decided to head home early because Wyatt and Ella were not feeling well. Our family, Brent's sisters, their families and Grandpa and Grandma wanted to get a live tree for Christmas. Since some of us were heading home we decided to look in Alpine. At a spot we had gotten a tree with everyone last time we got together for Thanksgiving. When we got there there was snow! My kids rarely see snow and we were excited! With Wyatt being so sick I just let him sleep in the back of the suburban. He woke up and came outside for just a short while. Then sat in the suburban and dozed off and on. I tried to get his picture but he kept telling me, "I don't want my picture taken. Then later on the next morning the other kids were talking about the tree. Wyatt said we didn't get a tree. We showed him the tree we got. He was so sick poor little guy!

Thanksgiving at Grandpa and Grandma Wiltbanks house

Grandpa Wiltbank and Brent decided to take most of the kids hiking. The kids had a great time and came back tired and hungry.

Thanksgiving

I just wanted to take a few moments and tell all of you how thankful our family is to have all of you in our lives. You truely are blessings in our lives. With so many things happening in this world it is such a comfort to know that there are sweet people in our lives. Thank you for all that you do and continue to do for our family! We are truely blessed!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY RUGER!!!

Trip to Tucson

Brent and I had been talking about going to Tucson or to Mesa for some time. We rarely go and take the kids. Usually we go to the temple but do not take the kids. The kids do not have school today, Monday or Tuesday for Veterans day. Brent decided to take the day off and spend it at home. Before I knew it we were off to Tucson. The kids were thrilled. Now I am not kidding when I say we rarely take them with us. Usually if I am nursing a baby that is the only child that comes. So this was BIG for the kids. We went out to lunch at the Olive Garden and the kids had a lot of fun! They loved the food and behaved very well. I have to say I have never seen Ella eat so much. More mamma more mamma is all I heard. Then we were off to the mall. Weston remembers the mall but no one else. The escalator was the big thrill and Yes we rode it just for fun a few times. Seems a bit odd that they never had been to the mall. They were very excited and we had a good time.

Watch out there is a new cowboy in town and he just turned six!

Trett wanted cowboy stuff for his birthday. I think he makes a cute cowboy!

Trett's birthday

A string of money from Aunt Tonya and Aunt Allison. Grandpa Bill and Grandma Marion also sent a card with money. Grandpa Jerold and Grandma Cheryl got him a star wars game for the wii. Thanks everyone!

I am not a cake decorator by any means. This cake was probably THE WORST cake I have ever tried to make. Poor Trett. I thought that since Trett loved money so much this treasure chest cake would be fun. I told him to imagine the chest had been buried for a VERY long time. Something funny happened.....

I had left to run a few errands and came back to Wyatt running to the truck and saying there had been an accident with the cake. I thought the poor cake what more could happen to it? He took me to the cake and said one of the ring pop jewels had broke. I said how strange that the ring pop would just break. Good thing he was there when it happened. I finally got out of him that he just touched it and a piece had stuck to his finger and broke off. He left the broken piece on the plate. I just laughed. He ran to play and I started preparing for dinner. When I noticed a glue stick with chocolate frosting on the lid and a very small piece of a sucker next to it. Later i asked him if he tried to glue the broken piece back onto the ring pop. He said he had. Too bad he didn't know licking it would have done the trick!

Ella in curlers

Halloween costumes

Here is the whole gang
Ella was a princess. I got out her dress up Cinderella dress and she refused to wear it. I asked her well what are you going to be? She said a princess. I got out more dress ups and she refused to put them on. Frustrated and running out of time I asked her what are you wearing? She pulled out this dress. We put it on sprayed in sparkles and put on a tiara. I thought great we are all dressed and ready to go. Then she came out of her room wearing a pair of jeans. At this point I just go with it. She is lucky she was born last. A few years ago I probably would have held her down and made her wear what I thought was good. Things have changed. Super CUTE!

Wyatt was our cowboy. That must be his outlaw face. (Stinker!)

Trett was a basketball player. This picture was taken late into the evening. He played hard and ate lots of candy. He wasn't sure what he wanted to be. First he was going to be a cowboy. Wyatt thought that would be dumb to have two cowboys. Then he thought he would be ninja. He wears that ninja costume all the time and I think the last two years. When he found out he had to take it to school and put it on in the bathroom he decided he would be a basketball player and then change into the ninja costume later that evening. By the time evening came he still wasn't sure. When we left for trunk or treat he was a basketball player.

Ashtyn was a rock star

Weston was an ASU Sun Devil. Go ASU!