The People We Love

Brad Brad is such a great guy! He is for sure one of the greatest that I know! He is so kind and so understanding! There has been countless times when I have just needed someone to talk to and he has been there for me. He always listens to what I have to say and he always gives me really good advice. I always feel like a better person after being around him!

He is also a great grandpa! AKA Beaver! Both the boys love him so much-he always makes them smile!

He also makes the best salsa in the whole wide world! And brownies and chicken and pork roast! I love his cooking! He also is very talented with photography! And he lets me use his very nice camera when I want to feel cool! Brad is a very busy guy with work and his calling in the Bishopric-but he always makes time to be with family and to take care of their needs!

Thanks for all that you have done for us Brad! We love you so much!
Oh and I must mention Rook-he is a great and worthy opponent!

Fun in War

There have been some boys in our ward that like to leave little pranks at our house while we are away...they left so many flyer's for the ward Christmas party that we had to get them back. So we gathered them all up and filled 2 boxes of them. Then we wrapped them and delivered it on their doorsteps, saying that the gift was from the other! It was a success! Even though they gave us all those flyer's, they have no idea they are from us! (Says their parents)

Merry Christmas to Nate and Lance (AKA Nance)

This is what we come home to...

Ginger Bread Houses

This was Grandpa Keith's 2nd annual gingerbread house event! It was really fun! We decided to do an actual village.

Shane and Me with our grocery store (patterned after Bowman's)

Ben and Lindsay's School House

The greatest Tashi and her Church!

Kara and her Movie Theatre

Keith with his bank!

Thanks Keith! We had so much fun! We love you so much!

Candy Making Day!

Every year for Christmas we make our own chocolates! This is a huge tradition for us! My Grandma has been dipping chocolates for 50 years!! This was my first time actually being there in all the action. I'm not allowed to dip because my Grandma says that I have warm hands, and that will make the chocolate not set up. So I just ran around doing anything I could! But I learned that this tradition is a whole lot of work! I couldn't believe all the tiny details that needed to be met! It made me appreciate even more all those years that my Grandma has put into her favorite hobby! And now she is 83 years old and she is still dedicated! It was a lot of fun! I love you Grandma!

Mom, Aunt Julie and me sampling some chocolate!

Here she is-Grandma the Great!

Chase liked the chocolate too!

Jamie and Angie making sure the chocolates are perfect!

Amber, Mom, Michelle, and Julie

To Be Thankful For

Kara and I have been running since June-trying to build our endurance! On Thanksgiving we ran our first 10k. It was a great feeling to run the whole time and to be running along side someone that you do have so much gratitude for! Also, to have great family members to cheer you on and to be waiting for you! I am grateful for my boys, Shane, and my in-laws!

Brody making my sign!
Finishing the race on Thanksgiving Day

What great cheerleaders

Look at Chase-he is so cute! (So is Grandma!)

We did it! Next time-the 1/2 marathon!

Happy Birthday Shane

It was Shane's Birthday this past weekend! Happy Birthday! We had bonus night for my work on the date of his actual birthday, so we partied the night before! We had a birthday party for him and his younger brother Corey! Happy Birthday to both! It was themed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

At Bonus Night

The Birthday Boys

Brody enjoying the party!

Our little ninja crew!

The Things Brody Says

Brody always says things that are so hilarious! And somethings that are so sweet! The other day he just came up to me and gave me a big hug and said, "Mom, you make my heart so happy!" It made me want to cry. At this time of year, when we reflect on the things we are grateful for, I most definitely am grateful to be a mom. There is nothing else in this world that compares to hearing a little child tell you how happy you make them. I love both my little guys so much. They add more to my life than anything else. They have made me who I am today-and I feel like that is a good thing! And without a doubt, Brody and Chase make my heart so happy too!

Halloween Pals!

Halloween was a blast! Trunk or Treat was so much fun! We got to park next to our good friends the Cowans and then visit a little with others in our neighborhood!

Some mysterious Monster and Me!

Jack, Chase, Lance, ? and Brody
(YM in the ward)
(the ? is really Nate)


Corbin and Gabe

Pac Man, a bat, and Cpt. Hook

The People We Love

Matt

This is my brother Mattie! I love this kid to death! He is considered one of my bestest friends! We can tell each other anything and everything! Matt has always been so kind to let me tag along with him to so many things! He is the goofiest person that I know and we love being around him!
He is so good to Brody and Chase! He is such a great example to them both and they both love him so much! Matt is always playing with them-especially anything sports! (He is the biggest Jazz fan I have ever met!)
He is also very close to Shane! I love their relationship-it's like they are actually brothers! Shane really only constantly talks to two people on a daily basis which is of course me and then Matt! They nonstop talk about everything Jazz and all the other sports facts in between! I have always felt it so special that these two get along so well!
Thanks Matt for all that you have been to us! I have always known that I have been deeply blessed because you have been my brother and friend! No one can ever take your place! You are so much apart of me! Thanks for being one of the greatest blessings in mine and my family's lives!

Happy Halloween!

Captain Hook and Peter Pan wish everyone a Spooky Halloween!

Chase's first haircut

This little guy is growing up way too fast! I couldn't believe it was time for his first haircut! With Brody I waited forever to give him his first hair cut-it was so hard for me becuase it's a huge sign that they are just growing up too fast! Chase did very well to sit there while Grandma Bingham made him look handsome! Thanks Grandma Bingham-we love you!

Making Cookies

On my last day off Brody, Chase and I decided to make cookies to take to our neighbors for a Halloween treat! We had a lot of fun, but as you can tell-we got carried away with the flour!

Hay Ride

It was the Saunder's family Halloween Party! We had so much fun! We went on a hay ride and then were able to pick out our own pumpkins! It was a Halloween dress up party-but Brody didn't last long as Captain Hook! Chase is Peter Pan, I am Wendy and Shane is Smee (we didn't get his costume done in time).

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Chase Is 6 Months!

I cannot believe how fast the time has gone! I really thought that having a second little baby would help me stop, relax and enjoy it more...i have enjoyed it-every minute-but I didn't think he would grow up so darn fast! It makes me so sad-I can't even remember him as a newborn. How precious time is! You just blink and the next thing you know, they are 3 (like Brody)!

This is him today! 6 Months old! He has the cutest smile and biggest blue eyes! I love this little boy! He brings so much to my life! I am so glad that he is apart of my family! More so, I feel so privileged to be his mommy (same to you Brody! I love both my boys!)

(Slobber Mouth)

The People We Love

Corey

This is Shane's brother, Corey. As a family we love him so much! He is such a good brother to us and a wonderful uncle to our boys. I know that Brody loves him a ton (even though he calls him his favorite aunt)!

I remember the first time that I met Corey, it was at the airport when he returned home from his mission. It took awhile to get to know him, he was in "missionary mode" for a long time! I remember when I went with him to go get some pizza for dinner and that was the first time I realized how funny he was and how great he was to hang around! Since then he has come to mean more to me than just a brother-in-law. He is a friend, and a really good one too! Plus I consider him to be as close to me as my own brother!

I also know that Shane loves and appreciates his relationship with him. They are only a year apart in age, so they have been around each other for a long time! They are good friends and they have alot of fun together! They are a wonderful example to my little boys of how brothers should be towards one another!

My boys do love him too! Corey was there for alot of the time with Brody growing up, always playing blocks, and basketball! Plus he has even let Brody play with his Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! He lives farther away now, so Chase doesn't see him as much as Brody did, but anytime Corey is around, he is the one willing to hold the little guy!

Thanks so much Corey! We love you!

Reflection of Brody

I found these pictures of Brody! He has to be around 9 Months old! Look at him! He has grown up so much!