He really loves me!!

How could I ever doubt? Especially after getting these?

I love you sweetie!! Thanks for being my lover and my best friend.

What do you think??

I finally broke down and chopped Jaxon's hair off!! I was trying to grow it out for the shaggy look that's totally in now. And we made it really far- farther than I've ever been able to go before. But one day I was looking at his calick (is that how you spell that?) and how it made his hair part down in the front and lay weird, and I just couldn't handle it anymore, so I just cut it!

Before After

Then he looked so different and I thought, 'What have I done?' Did I make a mistake? Should I grow it back out again, or does he look better with shorter hair? He's handsome no matter what, but you know how we worry. I need your advise. I don't know what to do.

More like snow rabbits

Alan and I took Summer skiing again at The Canyons on Saturday !! I haven't been skiing in like two years. So it was really fun. I have never been a fabulous skier, but I love it anyway. I think I have never gone often enough in one season to really progress, but maybe this will be the year. We are going to try and go a few more times, but to Sundance, because The Canyons is not a great beginner resort(not many green runs). Summer had kindof a hard time, so we are headed to Sundance in a couple weeks. I can't wait. Granted my legs felt like jello and I could hardly walk for two days, but it was all worth it. That's why I call myself a 'snow rabbit' instead of a 'bunny' (I am not nearly as graceful as a beautiful bunny).

Anywho, it was an incredibly beautiful day up there. I am so grateful that we can do fun stuff like that as families. I love this season in my life.

Life Rocks!!

My little Ballerina

Well, we finally did it. We broke down and signed Hallie up for dance. She is constantly dancing with Summer's old ballet slippers and tries to teach herself the moves from Barbie and the Nutcracker and Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses. So we thought it was time. She was soooo excited for her first day and she asks just about everday if she has ballet class. She was very excited to try on her new dance clothes too!! Isn't she darling?

She has loved her class and I really love her teacher too. I am loving the studio also, because it is very low key, but they still have great teachers and amazing dancers there. Thanks for the referall Sandee! It was a perfect fit for Hallie.

Visiting Grandma

Alan's mom had knee replacement surgery at the end of January and we went up on Sunday afternoon to visit her. The kids had a lot of fun seeing how all her fancy gadgets work that make her knee bend. They got to push the buttons and see grandma walk with her walker. They loved taking pictures and puttin on grandmas glasses. We are glad grandma is doing better and look forward to when she has recovered from both knee surgeries.

Snow Bunnies

When Caro was here - Jamie and Alan took Summer and Christian skiing for their first time!! They went to Sundance and had a blast. There was lots of great snow and Sundance has tons of beginner runs. Summer loved it and apparently learned pretty fast. I was really nervous sending her up there, but Alan is a great teacher and she survived!

Thanks Clint - for the passes!!!

A room full of Kangaroo's???

My sister came to visit the weekend of Jan. 18th for Isaac's baby blessing (Elli's baby). And we went to the kangaroo zoo for an afternoon. It was loads of fun. The kids had a blast. Sandee and kids met us there too. It's a great place to take your kids in the middle of winter to break up the monotany. Kind of expensive though. It was $8 per kid for all day.

Anywho, that night when we got home Alan asked if we had fun at kangaroo zoo? And I told him that we had in fact had oodles of fun. Then he says something like, "So, was it just like a big building full of kangaroo's" - He was totally serious! I laughed so hard.

In his defense, if you didn't know it was a jumping place, what would you think when you heard Kangaroo Zoo? Who knows, maybe you would think the same thing - or not!

It was a good laugh.

My little Violinists

OK. So, I'm back. Let's just say I hate year end stuff, but I finally done and I can spend time doing what I love - aka - blogging!!


Well, I have to start at the beginning:

On Jan. 17th was Hallie and Jaxon's very first Violin Recital. Of course Summer was there too, but it was not her first time.

She played "The Monkey Song" (short & sweet). She was sooo brave!! Of course I have to go up with them to help, but maybe next time I won't need to - I hate pictures.

Jaxon was not as brave, but he did so good. He was totally crying and did not want to go up. But I bribed him with a toy and he did it (is that bad? - oh well). He played "Tucka-Tucka Twinkles" As he was playing his last two notes he looks at me and says "I Don't want to bow Mom!!" So, he didn't he just gave me a hug as everyone clapped and we sat down. Then he looks at me , crying, and says "Why did you make me do that mom?!" It was so funny. Even though he was so scared he actually did it. I really think he will be more brave next time. He is doing so good. He learns new things so quickly. We are so proud of Jaxon!!

Summer was amazing!! She played "Concerto in A minor 1st Movement" by Vivaldi. It was beautiful. She worked sooo hard to master that piece, and she did. She is doing so well right now. She works so hard and learns new pieces so quickly. Practicing really pays off!

Our neighbor, Carla Whetten accompanied her on the piano this time, and she was incredible. We were so grateful that she did that for us. I wish I could play. . .

Anywho, it was a fun recital, and I was so glad when it was over (I get so nervous for the kids that my stomach turns).

I love my Husband. . .

I know it's way too early. Valentines is more than a month away, but I have to say how much I love and appreciate my husband. He is an amazing person and I am so thankful everyday that he is in my life.

You couldn't ask for a better best friend.

On Tuesday night I went and saw "P.S. I Love You" with a friend and I absolutely loved it. It was one of those movies that really gets you thinking. I left the movie being so grateful to have a husband to share my life with. And it made me realize that I am not thankful enough, kind enough, understanding enough, and I just plain don't put out enough! My husband is so amazing and I look up to him so much. He deserves so much more than I have been giving him. Not that I've been awful (at least I hope not), but it just made me feel like I could do better. He's worth it - he's worth so much more than I have been giving him.

So, like many other of my friendly bloggers have been doing out there in blogger world, I am making a list - a list of the things that I love about my man:

• The way he makes me laugh


• That he likes to snuggle as much as I do


• He always encourages me to be a better person


• He is a great example


• He is my best friend


• I love that he has a motorcycle (so sexy)


• I love that he has so many hobbies (really easy to shop for)


• I love that he likes surprises


• He is such a hard worker


• I love that after ten years we still have so much fun together


• He plays with the kids every night - they love their daddy time!


• I love that he is so money conscious (one of us has to be...)


• He always tries to make me happy


• He lets me go on as many girls nights as I need/want


• He is sooo patient with me


• He probably understands me more than I understand myself


• He upholds his priesthood


• He likes to take me skiing even though I really suck
• The way he smiles when he sees me


• He gets us to church every Sunday


• That he likes my family


• He is my ROCK and I don't know what I would do without him

I love this man so much. I think that when you get married you don't think that you could ever be more in love than you are at that moment, but I love him more now than I ever have and I love him more and more each day. I love you so much sweetie!!

Rockin' New Years Eve

Literally, we had a rockin' new years. We rocked out on "Rock Band" all night long (well actually only until 3 am, but close enough). It was a way fun night. We went to our friends house - James and Stacey Crossley - they are so funny. And Matt and Ali Bawden came too. It was a great night with our friends. The kids played on the Wii, while we rocked out.

If any of you have not played Rock Band, you really should. It is sooo fun. We rang in the new year rockin' out to some song. It was a great time.

Thank you Crossley's for a Rockin' New Years Eve.

Christmas Mornin'

We had such an incredible Holiday season. I was very sad to see it go. So sad, in fact, that I just barely took my tree down last weekend. I love the holidays and did not want it to end. We spent Christmas Eve at Abu and Papa's house with all the kids cousins (most of them anyway - we really missed the Townsends this year). They had sooo much fun. And they really enjoyed their gifts from Abu and Papa this year too.

Christmas morning started off as it usually does, with wrapping paper covering the entry to the Living Room (a tradition started by Grandma Lorrie). So once everyone was awake the kids ran through it to see all their presents. The first thing everyone saw was Jaxon's new golf club set. He was sooo stinkin' excited. He loooves to go golfing with daddy and now he has his own real clubs (does that mean he can't go for free anymore?). Anyway, Summer got Guitar Hero I & II. She was freakin' excited - as you can tell-, and little Miss Hallie got the Polly Pockets she has been waiting years and years for (at least it seemed like years and years). It was a wonderful Christmas morning.

After breakfast we got ready and headed over to Grandma and Grandpa's house. Where we were greeted with more wrapping paper to run through. We spent the day with Alan's brothers and Sister. And aside from my sever allergic reaction to the cat - followed by being knocked out from allergy meds - It was really fun. We played lots of Guitar Hero and the family favorite - Pounce. Later that night Ben and Jen came and slept over. We watched a movie - pirates maybe. Anyway we had a great time with them, we always do. . .

I love the holidays - the smell of my Christmas Trimmings candle - spending time with family. I am sad to see it end, but I'm sure it will come around faster than I think this next year.

Christmas Program

Hallie and Jaxon go to the best preschool ever - at least I think so- and every year they have a Christmas program at BYU (they go to Learning Dynamics). I also sent Summer there and I love it. They teach the kids to read before kindergarten and they have amazing teachers. Both of them have perfect teachers for their personalities. Jaxon has Mrs. Mulliner who thinks he's great and loves to see him come out of his shell and miss Hallie has Mrs. Schaack who is the most darling teacher. She absolutely loves Hallie and Hallie loves her too. Hallie likes to bring her pictures that she colored for her all the time. She is so sweet. I only wish she was teaching 4 year olds next year, but that's OK. Hallie is excited to be in Mrs. Mulliner's class too.

(Jaxon and McCoy)

Anywho, the program was soo cute this year. It's so fun seeing all these little kids waving to their parents from the stage. I was so proud of them. Jaxon had a speaking part to do with his best buddy McCoy and I was worried he would get too shy - he is my shy one- but he actually did it and I was a proud Mama. Hallie was so cute sitting right on the front row doing all the actions. It might have seemed like a lame program to some, but to a proud mom it was the cutest program in the world. I love my little Irish twins. They keep me on my toes and I just love the ages they are at right now. They are so much fun.