So what are all your plans for Christmas? What about Christmas break with the kids out of school? I am really wanting to do some fun things with the kids while Nikoli is out of school. If you have any fun ideas, I would love to hear them. What are your favorite family traditions? I don't know that I have made any tradition all that concrete. When I was very young, my family would act out the Nativity on Christmas eve. I would generally get to be Mary. That was fine until Baby Jesus went from being played by a doll to my little brother! Who wants to be their little brothers mother?! Then we would all open one gift. Christmas morning was for all the other gift exchanges and Mom would always make a huge breakfast. Then the family dinner at whoever's house. It was fun. I am the 6th of 7 children, so when all the older siblings moved out we ran out of actors for the whole scene and that tradition kind of dwindled. Now I have my own family and I really want some concrete traditions for the kids to look forward to as children and reflect on as adults. Please share any of your favorite traditions.

Merry Christmas!

Catch Up

Hey! Remember us? Here I am again doing a blog. Can you believe it? Someday I will be on top of this just like the rest of you, some who seem to blog everyday! But for now, this is what you get! Here are a few Halloween pics. Aren't they cute? Nikoli was Iron Man, Zion was a Fairy Princess (I am proud to say I made her costume) and Elijah was the cutest little bumble bee I have ever seen.

Obviously, lots of time has passed since all this, so I'll try to catch ya'll up on the missing parts.




My sweetie pie didn't seem to mind his costume at all. Funny because he usually protests anything out of the ordinary

OK, so no new pics, but I finally have a computer again. Yippee!!!!! My sweet, curious, busy baby boy enjoyed the flashing power button on my old/new computer just a little too much. The boy fried my motherboard! And the computers, too! Ha ha. Hopefully I will be able to salvage some pictures as most of my pics were no where but on the computer that has recently passed. R.I.P. Hey, if any of you have pictures that I have sent you in emails, will you please email them back to me?

So, the race is on. Thanksgiving morning will be my first official marathon (if you could call it that). As some of you already know, Monica and I are training to run in a half marathon next Sept. We are going to try out our running legs in a 5k run on Thanksgiving. I think it should be fun. I had considered foregoing the 5k to play flag football with Steve and the guys from elders quorum, but Steve is really supportive of this marathon thing and he has encouraged me to do the 5k. I will listen to my husband . . . if only just this once. So, Monica . . . Here we gooooooooo.

The kids are doing awesome as usual. Nikoli's still keeping me on my toes, and brainy as ever. Zion is still gorgeous and sweet with the perfect amount of spunk mixed in, and Elijah, oh, Elijah . . . I always tell him it's a good thing he's so dang cute or he'd be in trouble all the time! Between playing in the toilet, climbing on tables, chairs, desks, and destroying computers, he has just enough time to wrap us around his chubby little finger! The boy has such an amazing personality! I can't believe how quick he is, in every way! I am so glad we have him. Just like the others.

Steve is busy as usual. He has been working a LOT, but that's a good thing. He plays a lot of soccer, too. He's still Dad of the decade around here! The kids love when he comes home. He is so good about playing with them and just being a great daddy.

Hopefully the lack of pics hasn't made this post too unbelievably boring! Take care, everyone! Later Alligators!

Grandpa Staten

Last night my Grandpa Staten passed away. He had been diagnosed with pancreatic and liver cancer about 5 weeks ago. It was very aggressive. The picture with he, Zion and Elijah was taken only 4 weeks ago. He left us around 7:00. We will miss him immensely, but we are happy that he is now comfortable. He had been in so much pain. We miss you Grandpa!

7 Interesting things about me

You know, I don't know that I'm the most interesting person in the world, but since my cuz tagged me to do this . . . here is my best shot! Oh, I see the rules are that they are to be weird or random facts. That should be easier.

*1* I have double vision.

*2* When I was 4 years old my ENTIRE family was hospitalized from carbon monoxide poisoning.

*3* When I was around the same age I was boating with my family and our boat stopped working in the middle of Henry's Lake when a massive storm rolled in. Our boat almost capsized (at least we all felt that way). I now have a fear of swimming in lakes, rivers, or any other natural water spot. I don't know if this has anything to do with it, but the fear is real!

*4* I think the worst part about cooking meals is coming up with what to make!

*5* I don't think I cry enough. Not that I don't have reason to, I just can't seem to do it! Sometimes, but it's pretty rare.

*6* Believe it or not, my friend Monica and I are training to run a 1/2 marathon (13.2 mi.) that takes place next September.

*7* I prefer Hillary Clinton over Sarah Palin (in politics). Sorry mom.

Ok, now . . . Jeanne, Monica, Jessie, Summer, Viki, Tauni and Shannon TAG, YOU'RE IT!!!

Happy Anniversary to us!

No, Nikoli's not brushing his teeth with dynamite, he just put his tongue in jail! Ok, I'll stop killing you with my humor. He lost his third tooth. No tooth fairy though. He had that one figured out a couple years ago.

Hip, hip, Hooray!