The Boys

Kimball and Tanner are not only brothers, but the best of buddies. You rarely see one without the other. They have their wrestling matches, and disagreements but like most boys it ends quickly. I love that they have eachother in the middle of all the girls. It is not uncommon for one to be mistaken for the other. At our house they are often referred to as "the boys". We love our boys! Hunting Trip over Thanksgiving with Dad

Merry Christmas!

We had such a fun Christmas this year. It was so nice to be home all day and just play and hang out. My parents and my sister and her family came over for dinner in the evening too. The kids all got pillow pets which they all love. I was hesitant to get them but it was such a fun gift and they were all so excited to each get their special pillow pet. They also got razor scooters and a few other fun gifts. It was so nice to get all the special treats from friends and cards and pictures. Now it is over and on to 2011! I am excited to see all that the new year will bring!

Turkey Trot 2010

I ran my first 10K on Thanksgiving day. I started running about six months ago, and when I first started I could not even run a quarter mile without walking. I worked up to be able to run a mile, then two and eventually the 10K. I never was a runner, I hated running in PE and it wasnt until just recently that I now enjoy it as much as you can enjoy running. I have a great support system to encourage me of family and friends. My next race is the Ragnar Relay in February with Jake and Laurie and Glade and some of their friends and family. I know a lot of people run but to me this a great accomplishment.

Makenna had been playing in the backyard with the others and apparently was ready to crash. Come on, do I get Mom of the year award or what! She is such a little bundle of fun and so busy. She really does go and go until she crashes. We love our little Makenna.

The other day I was driving the kids to school and I said "Guess what tomorrow is?" and Kimball says "Veterinarians Day!" Anyway, we had a great Veterans Day.

Halloween in Safford

We went to Safford over Halloween. Jake had a bike race that weekend so we made it a family adventure and all went. We took our trailer and parked it at my sister Amy's in laws house. She is staying there until they move next month. It was so neat to see the new temple as we drove into the valley. It was so pretty and our first time seeing it except for Sammi who went through with the youth. We got there on Friday and had lunch at an all you can eat pizza place with my sister and her kids and Jake's friend from work who lives there and his wife and kids. After we got Jake's race packet and the kids played with their cousins. Later after dinner Jake, Amy and I played speed scrabble and Amy totally whooped us. Amy's husband Brad is away training for his new job so it was fun to be there with Amy. I got up early the next morning and took Jake to the airport where the race start was. It was so neat to see all the racers and watch them excited as they took off. I went back and Amy and I went for a run in her neighborhood while the kids watched TV. We got a good run in and it was fun to run with Amy. Jake said to be at the finish line between 11:30 and 12:00. So we hurried there at 11:30 and I saw the pace car coming around the corner and I knew he was going to be in that group and sure enough Darnit! he was. We missed him by a few minutes! It was great to see him excited that he made good time. Way to go Jake! 104 miles.
Happy Halloween! We went to my sister's ward Trunk or Treat and then to a few houses on the way back. Lots of candy so the kids were happy. It was a fun trip to Safford.

Broken Arm Blues

Sammi broke her arm a few weeks ago now. I know I am behind, such is life. She was climbing up in her closet to get a bag of craft buttons for a school project and was hanging on the hanging clothes bar which gave way, and she landed on her arm. It is a crazy story because Jake and I were not home when it happened. I had run to the grocery store to get some Mayonaise for a potato salad I was making. I forgot to take my phone and when I tried to drive home I had a dead battery. Luckily I ran into my friend Melissa in the store so I got a ride home with her. Well Sammi had been trying to call me and I didnt have my phone and Jake was riding his bike home and didnt hear his so she called a friend in the ward and they came over as I was pulling in with Melissa. Our friend Dixie and her daughter Hannah stayed with the kids and fed them dinner while I took Sammi to the emergency room. Jake got home and got the news and called me. They put a splint on for a few days until the swelling went down and then she had a cast put on. Of course orange, her favorite color. She gets it off after Labor Day weekend. Yeah!

Beach

We go to the beach every summer with family and friends. Sammi was at girls camp so she didnt come this year. It was such nice weather and we all had campsites pretty close together. It was so nice to have our trailer and I always sleep really good at the beach, I think its the combination of the weather and the sounds of the waves. Love it! Jake was training for his triathalon while we were there so he got some good swimming, biking and running in. I went for a run on the beach a few mornings and it was so nice to be on the beach and getting some excercise in. There was plenty of sand fun, boogie boarding and exploring. Jake's parents will be back from there mission to go next year, we missed them! Tanner collecting water for the sand castle
Kimball, Bo, Katie, and Tessa

Makenna had some good naps on the beach

and fun in the sun

Rebecca and Lacie

Tessa and Rae

Rebecca covered up to her neck!

All the kids loved asking Tessa questions