A CHRISTMAS FAVORITE

Last night the Slade Family(minus my oldest brother and his family) went to Temple Square to see the Christmas lights. I feel like the Christmas season isn't complete until you do that, it is one of my favorite things to do. We all went to dinner before, then went and saw the lights, and then my little family got hot chocolate after. It was a perfect evening. Everyone was happy (including the kids) and we had a lot of fun!

Sorry my camera isn't a professional one and I am definitely not a professional so take that into consideration when you see the pictures:)

Jordyn looks like a little boy because she is wearing hand me downs from her brothers. A very cute girly coat is on her Christmas list to Santa. Don't get me wrong she was still adorable in her "Christmas Story" pose and her curls coming out of her hat.

SOME CATCH UP

So I have not done a post in a couple of months because I lost my card reader and was hoping to find it. I finally gave up and went and bought another one. Life has been crazy! I am now realizing what other moms are talking about when they say there just isn't enough hours in the day to get everything done. With two kids now in school with opposite schedules and trying to fit in a nap schedule as well my days are so hectic. I have been doing the basic mom things, trying to keep my house from looking like a tornado hit it 24/7 , dealing with bills and very difficult debt collectors, putting our house up for sale, welcoming three new nieces into the family(I am so happy for all of them but very excited it is not me), trying to do my best to be a happy positive person, helping others where and when I can, and working on my Christmas shopping to name a few things. NEEDLESS TO SAY I HAVE BEEN BUSY!!! I did want to do some catch up pictures though so the next few post are mainly for me and my memories, and for you all to see what we have been up to.

HAPPY VETERANS DAY TO MY #1 VETERAN

On Veterans day I got the opportunity to go up to our State Capitol. My father was one of the main fundraisers to get the Vietnam Memorial built. This Memorial Day he was asked to speak at the re dedication. I am very Proud of my father's service in the military. He has been asked on several occasions to speak and I try to go as much as I can because I enjoy it so much. He has served our country for many years and has done his very best to do everything that he can to make this a better country. My Father was drafted into Vietnam just a couple of months after returning home from his mission. Then he was out of the military for around ten years and decided to go back in. One out of many reasons he returned was that he wanted to teach the new soldiers going out what he learn being at war so that there lives may be saved. I feel a great sense of Patriotic Pride for this country and for the men and women who fight to maintain our freedoms. My Father as instilled upon me a great love and respect for what we all have living in the United States of America. I love him very much and will always be proud of his service and example. Happy Veterans Day Dad!

THE GOINGS ON OF ASHTON

I thought that Ashton was past this stage but I was wrong. I had my first child to give themselves a hair cut pretty isn't it. The good thing about boys is we just shaved his head. The day that Jordyn does it to her beautiful locks I think I may cry.

At Ashton's school they had a fundraiser. They kids were asked to sale cookies to raise money for the school. So we ask the grandparents, some aunt and uncles, and of course we bought a few. The total amount sold was only eight boxes of cookies but, Ashton ended up being one of the top twenty kids that sold the most. For a reward the Principal let the top twenty kids get into a money machine and try to catch as much money as they could. Ashton was able to catch three dollars ( I don't think he quite got the concept). Hey but he was thrilled and when he got out the Principal gave him another seven dollars. He didn't want anyone going home with less than ten. It was so fun to watch and Ashton was so excited!!! I was so proud.

Goodbye To Warmer Days:(

I know this is a few weeks ago but, I wanted to enjoy the memories of what is was like before the cold:)

This was our last run for the Icecream man for the year. We heard the bell and Ashton made a ran for it because he was on the next street over and barely caught him and made him wait for the rest of us to catch up. They love the icecream man! He gave Jordyn a free push pop and she loved it if you couldn't tell.

What is it with mud and boys! Whenever they can my boys will get water and make mud puddles. This time they decided to smear it all over each other so when they were done I made them spray each other down with the hose before they could come in the house. Yea they really fought me on they idea.

I just love the fall!!!! The weather is perfect, the kids enjoy jumping in the leaves as I rake them together, the beautiful colors, the crunch of the leaves under my feet, and all the harvest that comes from our garden yum.

HALLOWEEN 2009

Yeah Halloween is sooo fun! We always go to a few houses with my best friend and her kids ( don't we all look so cute together?). We got a great variety a cheerleader, a pink cheetah, the grim reaper, a cowboy, superman, luke skywalker, and my brave friends tribute to Michael Jackson. I love the picture of Jordyn her cheer tutu won't even fit in her stroller.

MY BEAUTIFUL BIRTHDAY GIRL

On October 13, 2008 we were blessed to have a precious little girl come into our family. She had her first Birthday yesterday. Time goes by so fast when you're crazy busy! I am so grateful to have a little girl I feel like we already have a special bond. She is so sweet, talkative, loves her brothers, has a laugh that is so innocent and adorable. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JORDYN WE LOVE YOU!!!!!

This is her in her new B-day outfit, full of cupcakes. Aunt Kathi got it for her so she would look special. Thanks Kathi!
Uncle Joe trying to get her to dive into her cake by showing her a finger full. Instead of diving in she just followed by example and took a small finger full off of his to taste.

Blowing out the candle. Grandpa Slade was the only brave soul that sat next to her while she dove in.

Getting braver.

Opening presents with dad and Ashton. Yes she is naked she was a little slimy after the cake so we had to strip her down.

Uncle Brandon, Aunt Marcie(who is due with her own bundle tomorrow), cousin Brynna on dads lap, and cousin Kollin whose big noggin got in the way. That is ok it has always been like an "Orange on a toothpick" but we still love him.

Dallin and Jacob(an honorary cousin for the night). Boy do they look like they are having a blast.

Kollin, Joe, Kathi, Great Grandpa, and Grandma Slade

Sweet baby girl enjoying some of her gifts on the way home. Her super cute and soft jammies, and her first baby doll.

The morning after looking a little hammered but, checking out her new toy walker.....

......slash rider.

And no Birthday is complete without a balloon!

SCHOOL DAYS

For Ty's first field trip he got to go to the Vineyard Pumpkin Patch and I tagged along. They got to see all kinds of things. We saw a huge pumpkin patch (probably why they call it that), all kinds of animals, lots of things to play on and in, a light alley, and in the end they got to take home their very own pumpkin that they got to pick out.

This is most of his class. There were one or two that were having a melt down and didn't want to be in the picture. Ty is on the far left if you can't find him.

This is part of the large play area they got to run around on. Mrs. Janae was taking turns going down the slide with some of the kids. She didn't fit as well as them though.

Ty and Lacy were being the King and Queen sitting on their thrown inside of this cute blue castle. The crazy mirrors were fun too.
This was not an easy rock wall to climb for the kids but, Ty did it like a pro I was so proud.

He may look cute but the sign said he bites!

"ewwww he stinks "

Mrs. Janae and all the kids were singing their scary Halloween song inside of the Great Pumpkin.

Could you guess this is the Great Pumpkin. Ahhh and it has eaten TY!!!



MY BOYS FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL

Alright so I know that this is long over due but it is more for me than anyone else. These are my boys on their first day of school. Both were smiling and happy, no tears except maybe a few from me. I love that they both weren't afraid neither of them are shy or reserved. Sometimes that makes me a little nervous but for this day I was a very proud mom. :)

Yeah Pre-school!

Mr. Smooth already

THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH!!!!!

About a month ago I saw an ad for the circus and I was hanging on to it to see if I could find a good time that I had a little extra money so I could get some tickets. That time never came:( But then one day as I heard the ad on the radio and was totally bummed thinking, not this time, I got a call from my BFF. She asked me if she got free tickets to the circus if that would be something that I would want to do. I totally freaked out, I was so excited and pretty much yelled HECK YEAH!!!! So on Friday night we were able to go to THE GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH. I thought this was the best part. I could not keep my eyes off this crazy man! He was in a cage with ten, yes count them, TEN TIGERS!!!! I was so enthralled to see these huge, ferocious, wild animals being so timid. He had this tiger hopping on his hind legs. Why that tiger was not noticing that he had a huge size advantage to that guy and that he could take him I will never understand.

This beautiful white tiger was jumping through his legs. If I was him I would be worried about my "family jewels".

Everyone loves the elephants! I think this act was one of the boys favorite.

This is the whole group. Cory was going to try to come but ended up getting stuck at work. We were sad he didn't make it, he would have loved it too. Great seats:)

Sorry for the blurrr. This was with my camera and it was not being nice but, I wanted to show you the double barrel shot gun that two women were shot out of. It was cool I would totally be up for trying something like that:)

This is the boys and their blinking clown noses that we got for a souvenir. Don't they look so cute. They thought that they were hilarious.

The show went until 10 O'clock so it goes without saying that the boys were a little pooped on the way home. I just love that he road all the way home with the nose on and blinking. Tiff and I were laughing so hard!

It was sooooo fun!!! There were horse, dog, elephant, zebra, and tiger tricks. Magic tricks, high wire acts, clowns, dancing, singing, trapeze artists, a disappearing elephant, and levitating parents to name a few things at the show. So THANK YOU Tiff for the invite and better yet THANK YOU to Tiff's bro-in-law for the tickets.