Jan.-March 2013 Catch up

Ok so the last few months have been soooooo crazy, busy, and stressful. I have had no time to blog anything so this post has a ton of pictures of things that have gone on over the last three months.

In January it was my Birthday the BIG 35 whoa! My Birthday was on a Monday so my husband and BFF threw me a small little party on the Saturday before. We ordered pizza and had three other couples over to play games and eat junk just like the old days. It was so much fun!!! Those are times when you get to feel like Sheree again and not only mom. I love being a mom but, once in a while it is good to think about me for just a short moment. Plus it was really fun because I won the first game and it wasn't because everyone let me :) Then on my actual B-day other than normal mom stuff I got to go out to eat with my Hubby and my parents. My mom took me shopping a couple of days before and she got me a couple of new dresses but, she wouldn't let me have them until my b-day so I got to open those and she made me favorite dessert also (eclairs). If you don't already know my Brother Joe's Birthday is the same day it was the HUGE 40 for him! I found out that no one was doing anything crazy for him so I tried to pull together a grim reaper person to go sing to him but it was to no avail. So I had to take the boring route. I got him one of his favorite treats and balloons and surprised him with them at wrestling practice with his boys. The next day he brought me an assortment of very YUMMY cupcakes. They were from Alisha's Cupcakes in Pleasant Grove on Main Street I highly recommend them!!!  Even though it meant I was another year older it was a Good BIRTHDAY!!!

  

The next B-day that we had was just a couple of weeks later and it was Ty's #7. He decided that he wanted to have a party at Lowe's Extreme Air Sports in Provo. We had a blast it is the perfect place to take a bunch of rowdy boys and let them just RUN! Reggie was a crack up he was doing things that older boys were too afraid to do like this trapeze. It is pretty high up but, even then it is all foam underneath some of the kids were afraid to do it but, not our little Reggie.  He was fighting to do it the only problem was that once he was swinging out he couldn't figure out that he should let go. It was Hilarious! Other parents around were watching and laughing at how brave he was. We all had a really good time. The bad news is that I only got a few pictures of my kids and then my battery died on my camera, so I didn't get any pictures of the friends or when they went to the party room to eat, open presents, sing happy birthday, and have cake. SORRY:(

On the day of his Birthday we gave him our gifts which was a movie that he wanted and some books. He loves to read right now and was very excited. Grandma and Grandpa Slade came over and they gave him this really gross toy that my boys have been asking for, for over a year. I have avoided giving to them but, then he got it anyway and he was freaking out. It is called Alien Autopsy it makes guts, eyeballs, lung bugs, and intestine fluids that are edible. EWWWW!!!  The funniest part was they made it the next day and thought it was so gross that even thought they have more powder to make things they said they don't want to do it anymore. It made me laugh :)



Ty is the best kid. He likes to read, do his homework, help around the house, do things that make others happy,  play Wii, ride his bike, and he is very sweet to his mother. Every time we go places as a family and I am dragging behind for some reason he is the only one that waits for me and walks with me or if we are leaving in seperate vehicles all the kids want to go with daddy but, Ty doesn't want me to be alone so he rides with me. He writes me notes all the time. Most the time they say the same thing but, it is so adorable. It usually says Dear mom, you are the best mom in the whole world, your are pretty and nice I love you from Ty. He just know how to warm his Mothers heart. Happy Birthday little boy we LOVE you!

On Ashton's eighth Birthday he was old enough to start the Boy Scouts and before he hit his ninth B-day he earned his WOLF badge. Congrats Ashton we are so Proud of you!!!

 I grew up riding snowmobiles but, through the last about nine years since I have had kids I haven't had a lot of chances to go plus my parents or brothers sleds have been out of commission for the last few years but, now they are up and running and my parents invited my family to go snowmobiling with them before all the snow melted. When you look around here there isn't much snow left but, we drove up to strawberry and wow there was plenty of snow there. There was a ton of snow and it was a gorgeous sunny day. It was a perfect day. We all had a lot of fun and no one was cold in fact we were wondering why we made hot cocoa and soup to eat. It tasted great though! This picture above is of BFF's and cousins Ella and Jordyn (don't you just love the bunny ears).


When the kids weren't on the snowmobiles they did some sledding.
             This is Ashton and Jordyn

 Me and Reggie (we couldn't get him off)

                                                            Grandpa and Jordyn

Grandma and Ella

                                                                     Ty, Cory, and Reggie

                                                                Reggie just wanted to eat the snow

I love this picture! Right by where we were camped out for the day there was a large, long hill. It was quite the walk. While they were waiting their turn for a ride the three little ones decided to trek up this huge hill to go sledding. It took them forever but they were very determined.

       

I had a couple of random pictures that I just had to throw in because this post wasn't long enough (lol). I have seen on America's Funniest Home Videos a number of time kids falling asleep in their food or at the table but, I don't think I actually have had one do it until now. I didn't get lunch fast enough for him, it had to be postponed until after nap time. So cute!


Everyone of my kids loved to empty out my pan cupboard. It was their way of being with me while I cook dinner. This time Reggie and Jordyn decided to build a bed in it.

 

This face says it all (I'm not even sorry). It is nesquik powder they love to get into it. Now a days I can't leave Reggie alone for more than five minutes or something like this happens every time.


I figured I would put a picture of our dog in just for memory sake. This little girl is Piper.





In the last few months Jordyn and Ella started their first dance class. They are adorable!! They are learning two dances that they are going to perform in a recital in May. I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

In March Ashton celebrated his 9th B-day. He got to have a big friend party last year so this year we just partied as a family. He wanted to go to Nickelcaid so that is what we all did. We played games until we dropped and the boys played laser tag as well. We had a lot of fun but, next time we will not do it on a Saturday night it was crazy crowded. Once again I forgot to bring a camera to get the action.  I also forgot to get a picture for Ty but, at their school the day of the kids B-day they put their name on the Marquee. I lost the picture with his actual name:( Then he got some fun gifts from both grandparents. This is one of them, doesn't he look hard core (that is what he is going for anyway). 

He got a football also and he and dad were checking it out.

Instead of cake I made him his favorite which is Caramel Brownies. Hey if you can stick candles in it, it works right?

Last but not least of things over the last three months is EASTER. We do the traditional Easter Basket hunt when we first wake up and the trying to get some kind of breakfast in them other than Candy before church. I bet the teachers just love Easter Sunday, the kids must be nuts.

There must be a new Easter dress. Grandma Slade saw this dress and just loved it so she bought it for Jordyn. It was originally all white and I decided to add a splash of color to make not so baptism looking. She loves it, she feels like a princess in it, her favorite is when she twirls. It is really hard to not let her wear it throughout the week and to keep it nice for church. I guess you can't blame her she looks beautiful!


After church we all are invited to Grandpa and Grandma Slades for the traditional Easter Egg Hunt and coloring of eggs. Here is Ashton on the hunt.


Ty and his cousin Lindsey looking

Jordyn, Lindsey, and Caitlin found some!

Some eggs were missing and they are all stumped at where they went.

Reggie's attitude throughout the hunt. He wasn't feeling quite up to par.

Ella and Jordyn hunting


All the cheerleaders watching from the porch.

Aaaaa the egg is blue!!! After the egg hunt all the little ones colored eggs. You got to love Easter!

Christmas, Christmas, and more CHRISTMAS!

Just like everyone else the month of December was absolutely crazy. We had five Christmas parties to go to, three Birthday Parties, five sicknesses, and then all the Christmas shopping to do. It was stressful, crazy, and a ton of fun! The first party of the month was the ward party. There was good food, nativity, and company. The second one was a work party that they provided a dinner up at This Is The Place Park in Salt Lake. The third one we went to was my moms side of the family. Since my grandfathers passing this last year not all the Aunts and Uncles wanted to do the traditional party anymore they wanted to do their own traditions with their own families but, the rest of us party animals went forward another year. It was at a different location than it has been for twenty five plus years but, we tried to do some of the same traditions. We had some good sloppy joes, some caroling until Santa and Mrs. Claus came bearing gifts, and then the breaking of the pinata. I'll admit it wasn't the same without Grandpa and Grandma and all the rest of the family but, it was still good to see the other part of the family that we only see once a year or so. 

  Ty is finagling Santa

We finally got Jordyn on Santa's lap. It took a little bit because she was worried that he would think she was naughty for cutting her hair.

 Reggie just wanting to grab the present and run. Hey at least he isn't screaming like last year. My baby is growing up.

 A swing and a miss!

 Jordyn and Ella going over their stash from the pinata

 Get it Reg!!!

 The next party we went to was for the Russell clan.  We again had great food and company. We did the brother and sister gift exchange and told stories of our favorite Christmases. Oh what cute smiling faces:)

 Then the next one we did was The Slade party. We went up to Chuck'O'Rama in Draper and then we were all going to go up to Temple Square to see the lights but, it happened to be the start of a number of blizzards that night so we miss out on that. Instead we all decided to go to Thanksgiving point and do the drive through light thing. It was cute! We liked that at the end they did some pictures about what the true meaning of Christmas is about. Then we got to go see "Dasher and Dancer". Nice Rack huh?!

 Reggie, Ella, and Jordyn we giving us all a little performance on the stage they had set up. Loved it!

 Every once in a while you got to get a picture that isn't about the kids. It always reminds me what a cute couple we are:)!

 The Sunday before Christmas Grandpa and Grandma Russell came over bringing their gifts to the kids. This is what they gave Jordyn. It wiggles it's ear and tail to a tune of "Hot Stuff". As you can see Jordyn found it totally hilarious.

 They then brought the boys wood truck and tractor that had a do it yourself paint kit. It was a fun project!

 Christmas eve we did some of our yearly things. We made fudge for the neighbors and the two little ones helped me make peanut butter cookies for my Best Friend (they are her favorite) and for Santa.  They always love getting the beaters after.

Then when I make the Christmas Eve goodies Cory helps the kids make a gingerbread house. They think it is so fun and I love that it gets dad involved. Then before bedtime we read the Christmas story from the scriptures and we watched a short little video on lds.org that they had about Christs life. We then talked about all the things at Christmas time like the candy canes, presents, the angel or star on the tree, etc. and how they all tie in to Christ, his birth and his life. Then of course they got to open their one gift and then off to bed for the Big Man to come.

Christmas Morning!!!!!!!!

 Jordyn rockin' her new bike

 Reggie liking his new toy so much that he is drooling chocolate from treats in his stocking

Cory thrilled with his gift and I do have to mention that this is the first year that he didn't return anything. Yea!

 Ashton and his stash

 Ty Checking out his stocking. Then after the raid is over we get ready and go to G-pa and G-ma Slades for the best breakfast and another fun gift exchange. Then home in the evening to take a deep breath and pass out because we made it through one more year.

It was a wonderful season for us and I hope it was to all of you as well.  Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Hoping that this year will help us reach our goals, good health, family unity, love, and answers to our prayers.

My worst fear has come true!

It is something that every family goes through but, when it happened to us I was truly hoping for the best. Instead I got almost the worst. I know I am being kind of silly but, it has happened my beautiful little girl decided to cut all her hair off.  Make fun all you want but, I totally cried. My sweet Jordyn was known by her hair. We couldn't go out in public without at least one person telling her how pretty her hair is. I think the part that breaks my heart the most is that I am pretty sure that her gorgeous ringlets that she has had from birth I will never see again:( 

 We went from this......

 and this.....

 to this. This is the mug shot right after she did it. Now after frantically finding someone on a Sunday to fix it we now have this......

 She even tried it on a doll and about a week later on herself again. I caught her in time so that there wasn't much more damage. She has now been told by not only myself but, by Aunts and Uncles what will happen if she does it again. For example Uncle Joe told her that she won't get any more treats when she knocks on his door to say HI after school and there were others. Mine wasn't so nice, so I am hoping it will happen no more.

Yep it is all gone!!! It has broke our hearts but, she is still my beautiful little princess.  I decided after now two weeks I must let it go and stop frowning when I see it because we had a Ward Christmas party last night and she didn't want to sit on Santa's lap because she was afraid that he would see her hair and put her on the naughty list. I told her she is beautiful and that he will love her. So she went and asked for finger nail polish! OYE!!!

We will survive!!

I tease Cory a little bit lately that if the world goes to crap and we have to revert back to hunting our food that we would starve, because he has gone fishing a number of times with the boys and has yet to catch anything. Also, Cory's good friend talked him into to going hunting this season. The first hunt was for an Elk (bull) and he didn't bring anything home that time either. So just to get him riled up I tell him he has to pick his game up so we don't starve. Then he went on the deer hunt and called me on his way home telling me how disappointed he was and didn't want to hear me giving him a hard time. When he got home he asked one of the boys to go out to the back of his truck and get something out of it and they found a stinky, dead deer in the back! My kids thought that it was the coolest thing and Cory and Dan was bouncing around and saying in your face to me.  They may of had to shave a little hair off the ears to measure the horns to make it legal but, hey they got something and I am so proud. Cory was so ecstatic and we got some yummy jerky out of it so it was a successful trip. Now in January they are going to try and get a Elk (cow). So I am crossing my fingers!

They hiked in a bit so they had to lug the deer quite a ways back to the truck. This picture makes me laugh:)