Joy in the Journey

Christmas 2008

2009-01-16T09:44:00.003-07:00

We had such a fun time at home for Christmas. All of us were there (except Jacob on his mission). We hung out, visited, ate, shoveled snow, skiied (downhill and cross-country), went to church, celebrated Gram's b-day, built snow forts, watched home movies...

Can I just tell you that I have the most amazing family in the world? I don't know how I was so blessed to be born into such a wonderful family; but I can tell you that I am eternally grateful.

Thanks Dad and Mom for your love, support and generosity with my family.

Thanks Sue, Shalee and Rhett for your love, support and generosity with my family.

My life and the lives of my family are more beautiful because of you.

Grandma LaRee's 85th Birthday Celebration. Isn't she beautiful? It was so great being with many cousins, aunts and uncles, friends. I love my Grandma so much! She has been so supportive and loving to me and my family.

CHRISTMAS 2008

LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

Christmas Eve 2008

2009-01-16T09:12:00.005-07:00

A few days before Christmas Dawson, Danielle and Braden asked if I could take them to the bank. Then they needed a ride to target. When the item they were looking for was sold out, they begged me to take them to the other Target across town. After their purchase, they came out with a big grin on their faces. They could hardly contain their excitement! They insisted we open their gift on Christmas Eve. To our surprise, they had bought us a camcorder. They had secret meetings, discussed their finances, and decided on this expensive gift. $158.00 to be exact--I saw the receipt. It was the most special gift we have ever received!

We have great kids.

What would Christmas be without one of our kids being sick? Don't know yet. Puke and diarrhea with little ones is not fun. It's not fun with big kids. Or Dad and Mom. It knocked us off, one by one. The laundry was stacked high. The house stunk.

It went on from Dec. 24th thru Jan. 8th.

Our Yurt Adventure

2008-12-15T10:20:00.010-07:00

Ski slopes weren't open yet, so we pulled out the sleds.

We had such a blast!!!

As we were slowly driving home down the mountain, the roads were extremely slick. Drew lost control of our suburban around a bend in the road. We came a few feet from hitting an oncoming car and spun around 180 degrees stopping 1 foot from the edge of a steep slope. You could have heard a pin drop, we were all so frightened.

We are very grateful for the protection that was sent down from Heaven for us that day, and every day.

HAPPY 9TH BIRTHDAY, BRADEN!

2008-12-14T16:39:00.005-07:00

What would our family do without you Braden? You have brought so much joy and happiness into our home. Your smiles and laughs are contagious! You are the spice that makes our lives so much more flavorful and exciting. Your generous heart is bursting with so much love! When you share your testimony of our Savior, it is so sincere and beautiful.

I wonder what you are going to do when you grow up...the sky is the limit with your keen mind. Oh, the places that you will go! How am I so blessed to be able to guide you into adulthood?

Or, are you guiding me?

Mine, All Mine!!

2008-12-14T15:59:00.004-07:00

Mommy's kisses are for ME!

Now That is Talent!

2008-12-09T21:39:00.003-07:00

I don't care how they practice, just as long as they practice!

2008-12-08T22:53:00.001-07:00

2008-12-08T22:39:00.000-07:00

Thanksgiving 2008

2008-12-04T23:28:00.008-07:00

What could be better?

Awesome Family, Delicious Food, Great Friends, Lots of Laughs, Treasured Memories.

Nothing.

The End.

In the mountains, cutting our Christmas Trees with Cousins. This will be our greatest tree EVER!

Just a NON-competetive FRIENDLY game of football. ; )

Love/Hate

2008-11-26T10:58:00.008-07:00

The relationship Gabe (and Mom) has with our new puppy, Sunny.

Drew's caption: "It's a dog-eat-dog world and I am wearing Milk-Bone underwear!"

I Wear My Sunglasses at Night...

2008-11-24T20:37:00.001-07:00

...and during the day, and watching a movie, and in the tub.

Gabe, our Shades Dude.

Pay Day

2008-11-21T09:04:00.003-07:00

I don't want you to take this wrong. I know that Heavenly Father sent 6 amazing little spirits into our home. They had their talents and gifts before they ever became part of our family. They were created and existed long before I ever knew them or had any influence over them.

However, I just might be doing something right.

I went to parent teacher conferences last night and received wonderful reports. Of course I was thrilled to see all of the A's and E's for excellent. What made my heart sing, however, were the reports I received of their character: Respectful, kind, helpful, well-mannered, delightful, a joy to teach.

I don't receive paychecks or promotions as defined by worldly standards. Sometimes in the frustrations that come from raising 6 children I wonder if I am doing any good at all. More times than I care to admit. No accolades are received for the Blood, Sweat and Tears that go into piano practicing and homework supervision, very limited screen time, chore delegation with follow up...the list goes on and on. Family Home Evening lessons seem, at times, as part of a circus act.

Yet, I must be doing something right.

Ready, Set, BLAST OFF!!!

2008-11-20T09:47:00.008-07:00

Finished product. BEAUTIFUL!

Summer's getting her FIRST tooth pulled out. Dad is pulling on one side of the floss, Braden on the other.

Great teamwork, I would say!

Family Night Fun!

2008-11-20T08:57:00.007-07:00

We earned enough quarters to pay for a fabulous night of bowling. Way to go kids! We had a fun family night and celebrated Danielle's birthday to boot.

No sibling rivalry here! Dawson and Danielle didn't mind at all that their younger brother cleaned their plows.

OK, so my 3 yr. old beat me bowling...

Drew impressing his woman.

Danielle and Gabe knocking 'em down.

HAPPY 11th DANIELLE!

2008-11-17T00:11:00.006-07:00

Love the presents!!
Talking to Aunt Shalee

Grandma Dayton and Birthday Girl

We love you Danielle!

Danielle, happy birthday sweetheart. How could we be so blessed to have you in our family? How could so much talent and so many smarts be in one 11 year old body? Oh, the places that you can go, kiddo. The sky is the limit! More than brains and talent is your kindness and compassion and your strong testimony. What more could a Mother want for her child than for him or her to have a strong testimony of Jesus Christ and His restored gospel, to reach their potential, to be happy, to be kind, to be honest, and to serve others?

Attack of the Killer Toothbrush

2008-11-17T00:04:00.004-07:00

BUSTED!!!

2008-11-16T23:51:00.002-07:00

Hmm...There appears to be a half-eaten Tootsie Roll
smack dab in the middle of your chest, Braden...

SUMMER-time Year Round

2008-11-16T23:41:00.006-07:00

Even when the days turn cold you brighten up my day, Summertime. Running up to your room as soon as you are home from school to change into your skirt (or your sister's skirt...)

Oh, the color! Oh, the fashion! I love you my little Summer girl.

Pocket Patrol

2008-11-16T23:31:00.002-07:00

This is from 7 days of emptying pockets before I did the laundry. Not too bad; at least no foreign currency (from two different countries) that is unexplainable. (Yes, that has happened).

Bye, Bye Gabe

2008-11-16T23:28:00.001-07:00

See you after pre-school. Love you and Miss you already.

Little Pieces of Heaven

2008-11-16T23:17:00.009-07:00

A beautiful Autumn day, warm sun filtering through the windows, listening to Bach and doing our puzzles with my lap the favorite seat in the house...

The only thing better than reading to my kids is them reading to each other.

The Leaning Tower of Laundry

2008-11-12T09:47:00.007-07:00

Why am I surprised when I open the laundry chute to see a tower of laundry looming overhead? Not to mention the 3 baskets below that are usually overflowing. It really is simple math: 8 people x 4 or so items of daily clothing=32 x 7 days=224 items of weekly dirty laundry. Gabe is a great laundry assistant--as he helps me put each piece of clothing into the washing machine, he says: "Daddy's!, Danielley's, Gracie's!, Brad-o's!..."

I am so grateful for the bodies that fill these clothes and that they are

mine to love.

Behold the Sweet Potato

2008-11-12T08:20:00.011-07:00

Don't get me wrong. My first and forever love is and will always be Summerco's Russets. My kids eat them like candy! It's the beta carotene boost they need every now and again. Introduce my love affair with the Sweet Potato (a.k.a Yam). I steam or zap 'em and put them in fruit smoothies, mac 'n cheese, spaghetti sauce, lasagna, pancake batter...ne'er a complaint. Now that is something to love.

Go, Hannah, Go!

2008-11-12T07:59:00.008-07:00

Is this the Best Family in the World, or what?! Hannah, thanks for working hard to get to the State Cross Country meet; giving us another reason to get together. We love you!

The Mighty Hunter

2008-11-09T18:28:00.009-07:00

So, the guy still has it. A 360 yard downhill running shot that hit the mark! A great time with buddy Scott and his horses. Elk in the freezer. Mighty Hunter pacified for a short time.

Halloween 2008

2008-11-09T18:02:00.007-07:00

This little piggy went trick-or-treating!

Well, we've got a super Spy Girl, Dash, Bob the Builder, and one very nice Witch. We were delighted to have Grandpa and Grandma, Aunt Suzy and Hannah here to join us in our traditional scary Halloween Feast and lots of trick-or-treating. We loved it! It was a perfect Halloween...beautiful weather, vibrant fall colors, good food and best of all...an AWESOME family.

Blessing # ??

2008-11-09T17:31:00.004-07:00

OK. This was an epic freak out for Dad & Mom. Right before Family Home Evening: Boys running+boy pushing+boy flying+wood shelf+boy's head=the mother of all goose eggs. We were so blessed that it wasn't worse and Gabe is doing fine. Count your blessings, name them one by one...

Gabriel Pre-School!

2008-11-09T17:20:00.004-07:00

Gabe goes to an early intervention pre-school to help with his speech and language. A big yellow school bus the size of Texas comes to our door step to pick Gabe up and drop him off. Tears the first day, but now he and Mom love it. He is so big!

Spud Harvest 2008

2008-11-09T16:55:00.006-07:00

Braden with Mom's spud truck "Big Red"

Summer and Uncle Rhett on the cross-over

Dawson and Micah working hard?!

Danielle and Summer working in the spud pit

Braden and Grandpa Gary

Braden with Mom who is giddy as a school girl behind the wheel of a spud truck. It is more therapeutic than a day at the spa!

2008-11-09T16:48:00.004-07:00

So this is how ya get the job done. Aren't those spuds pretty? Braden, Danielle and cousin Hannah are hard at work!

Go Dawson, Go!

2008-11-09T16:24:00.002-07:00

Dawson participated in 7th grade Cross Country this fall. The skinny kid with long legs is built to run!

Marissa Grace

2008-08-01T23:18:00.000-06:00

There are not enough hours in the day to love on this one!

Wind River Trip

2008-07-23T23:02:00.001-06:00

Danielle on "Doc". She loves horses and is a great rider!

Drew, Dawson, Danielle and Braden enjoyed a week long horse riding, hiking, fishing, cobbler eatin' extravaganza in the Wyoming Wind River Mountain Range.

Braden's Baptism!

2008-01-05T15:11:00.000-07:00

We are so proud of Braden's choice to be baptized! He is such a special boy.

Dairy Queen Tradition

2008-01-01T15:00:00.000-07:00

5o % off from Noon to Five. Need I say more?!