Our Christmas Tree Adventure

Ever since Josh and I have been married I have wanted a real Christmas tree and finally this year we were able to get one. We packed up the boys and headed up the mountain to find our perfect tree! The boys were so excited! They had so much fun tromping in the snow! It was their first chance to make angels and throw snowballs. It was pretty deep but they loved it! Josh also had a pretty good time. He threw the chains on the truck and made tracks in two feet of powder! Caden, Hyrum, and Ty just laughed!

Caden picked out our tree! It is a great tree! Caden and Hyrum each had a turn cutting the tree down. I think they were really sad it was harder than they thought! We tied it to the truck and enjoyed a wonderful sunset on our way down the canyon. It was a splendid time together as a family!

Thanks babe for taking us!

What are you thankful for?

I asked this question to both Caden and Hyrum, and their response was the same. Families.. especially their Grandmas! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving, and was able to spend lots of time with both the Roberts and the Chambers families. We had Thanksgiving dinner at Grandma Roberts! It was wonderful to spend time with everyone! The boys especially loved playing with their cousins! I am grateful that we are close enough we can see our families often. I wish Josh would have been able to be with us! Maybe next year!

Lincoln, Hyrum, Aunt Crystal, Eden, Carly and Caden

I am grateful for many many things! I am grateful for the family that Josh and I are blessed with. I think that since the move, the boys as well as myself, have really come to appreciate our family and everything they have done for us. I know that adding Caden and Hyrum to our little family would have never been possible if it wasn't for the support of both the Roberts and the Chambers. We have been shown incredible love and service! I am grateful for the Savior, for the love he is so willing to give! I am grateful for repentance, and that we can continually learn, and improve ourselves. I am grateful for Josh, for his willingness to work and support our family. For his drive to always improve our situation. For being a good father, and always trying to be better! I am thankful for Caden, Hyrum, and Ty. I need their simple happiness in my life! Their wonder at simple things, their sweet love and acceptance of everyone and everything. I am grateful that I am able to be a mother! I am grateful for my friends and the gym! (They keep me sane!)

leaves are fallin!

The boys loved playing in the leaves! Caden started raking while Josh and I were cleaning out the garage. So I missed the big pile jumping.. they were pretty much worn out and cold by the time I got my camera out. (As you can see from Ty's face.) I loved playing in the leaves growing up, and so it was fun to see the boys enjoy it as well. It made me happy!

Caden's Everlasting Birthday!

We were visiting Ogden the weekend of Caden's birthday. So he was able to celebrate it with everyone. Which I think he thoroughly enjoyed! We had a party at the Roberts..

The big 6!

Grandma, Rachel, Grandpa, Chelsa, Cami, and the boys

Chels, Caden, Cami

Then later that day we celebrated at the Chambers. Caden shares the same birthday with his Aunt Adrianne. He loves it! He is always so excited to celebrate with Adrianne. She turned 9 this year.

Caden, Adrianne, Ty

Grandpa Chambers and Caden. So happy!

Hyrum, Addie (neighbor), Caden, Ty

Finally, we had a little birthday party at home. Here he is wearing his birthday crown from school. He wore that crown for days. I just love kids, and how the little things seem the most important!

Happy Birthday Caden! We love you bud!

- learning to dance -

The last and final event of Adam and Amber's wedding was an open house in Taylor. The boys had a great time destroying the nursery room and playing on the piano in the primary room. It was so nice to catch up with our old friends! We enjoyed spending time with family, and ate delish cheesecake!

Grandpa and Ty

The kids couldn't wait to be finished with pictures... freedom!

We love our cousins!

Josh is teaching the kids how to dance. So sweet!

For those of you who don't know, Josh is quite the dancer. He took ballroom dance in high school, and I think he secretly fell in love with it. He often pulls me in and dances with me whenever we have the chance. While we were waiting for things to start, this is what Josh did. We started dancing and soon the kids wanted to join. Josh gave them a quick lesson. It was very cute!

Carly and Caden

I wish I knew what he was thinking!

After the long night, some of us ended back at my parents house. It was a blast! Thanks for all the good times!

Pumpkins and Popcorn Balls!

Adam and Amber came to see us on Halloween, and joined us in all the festivities (lucky us!)

First on the list; pumpkin carving. All Caden wanted to do for weeks was carve a pumpkin. Well, I didn't want to take on three kids and pumpkin carving alone. So I made the boys wait until Saturday when Josh, Adam, and Amber would be here to help us. Unfortunately, I also waited on buying a pumpkin, and apparently if you don't buy your pumpkins early in Vernal, there won't be any left! So after our futile search for pumpkins, we ended back home.

Second; popcorn balls. I was really sad that we wouldn't be able to spend Halloween in Ogden this year. (This is new for us, not spending every holiday with the Roberts or Chambers.) So I wanted to do something fun, something nostalgic. I decided we would make Grandma Buck's popcorn balls. I loved it! And I think the other's did as well. It was a sticky mess! (Thank goodness, Josh and Adam did all the dirty work!) But it was fun and the kids loved eating them.

Third; trunk or treat! We ended up going to my great uncle Lynn's ward trunk or treat. It was really great of him to invite us, and I didn't have to cook dinner so it was a definite win-win. The boys really seemed to enjoy it. It was perfect timing, we just finished visiting all the trunks right as the storm blew in. Then we enjoyed watching a movie at home til bedtime! It was great!

Love love it!

Seriously could not get a decent picture with everyone!

Josh with the boys before the mini spook-alley.

This has been my favorite Halloween! It was just good quality time as a family, and it was really nice to have Adam and Amber with us! Oh.. and don't forget the popcorn balls!

P.S. Capitalization just for Miriam and Chels!

our adventures en route to billings

our speedy road trip began as we headed to ogden to drop off the kids at the in-laws! thank goodness for grandparents! the boys couldn't have been more excited to spend the weekend away from me and josh! they had been counting down the days.

after a quick visit to the auto mechanic, josh and i headed up to west yellowstone. it was a beautiful drive, and so quiet! west yellowstone was pretty much closed by the time we arrived, but we did explore the candy shop, and had dinner at the geyser! it was so fun to just relax and enjoy each other's company. we haven't had a date night since we moved out to vernal, so we really enjoyed it just being the two of us!

me and josh on our "date night"

in the morning we enjoyed breakfast at the hotel. we bought the smallest cup of juice known to man! josh, being who he is, expressed his opinion. now normally, i am embarrassed when josh shares his blunt side, but since the waitress agreed, it was quite entertaining! then, as we were leaving we were asked if we were on our honeymoon. it was a charming breakfast!

after breakfast, we headed out to billings. josh decided he was sick of driving, and wanted to catch a ride. suddenly the thermostat to the engine broke (or something like that!) thankfully we were close to big sky, mt and found a mechanic. double thankfully, crystal and brent were just behind us, and we were able to squeeze in their car. and we all made it to the temple on time!

on the way to the temple

the billings, mt temple is beautiful! it was so nice to be there with adam and amber!

here are some of the fam at the temple

in the morning josh and i started back to utah, while the rest of the family headed to the reception. i was sad to miss the montana celebration, but it was nice to be back in time for the chambers halloween party! the boys didn't really seem to care we showed up, but josh and i enjoyed the food! thanks miriam for letting us enjoy our little get away!

girls just want to have fun!

the roberts girls had a grand time at chili's for ambers shower. it was so nice to chat and get to know amber better. and burn those extra calories by laughing! special thanks to brent, ryan, adam, and grandpa for watching the kids!

snowbird :)

i took the boys and had a sleepover with grandma and grandpa roberts at the condo in snowbird. it was beautiful! chilly, but i loved the autumn leaves among the evergreens. it was quite the adventure! mapquest was misleading, and then hyrum got carsick. once we got settled, and some laundry started, grandpa and i took the boys and headed to the playground.

ty and grandpa enjoying the swinging chairs!

ty... he is laughing!

love this picture!

i didn't get many pictures, cause i headed back to the condo with hyrum. later we walked around, but ty was so cranky... and i left my camera in the room. i am sad i didn't get more pictures! it was beautiful, and such a fun night! the boys loved it. we ate popcorn and watched home alone. i don't think i have seen grandpa laugh so hard at a movie before. the boys thought it was pretty funny too! we had a long and intersting night, but it was worth it! thanks grandma and grandpa!

officially a soccer mom!

caden played soccer this summer, and loved it! caden especially liked the defense, he thought trying to kick the ball away so they couldn't score was the best! he loved cheering for the sharks, and getting the treats after the games. he loved the treats so much, he told me i needed to sign hyrum up so hyrum could get treats too! caden loved his coach, in fact, he told me just the other day he wanted to be a soccer coach.

caden's first game, throwing the ball in

some sweet action!

hyrum and ty didn't particularly enjoy sitting through all of caden's games. they want to play! ty ran out onto the field several times trying to join the action. they would also borrow the coach's extra balls and kick them around. i told hyrum i would sign him up next year, so we will see how juggling two superstars will work. hopefully josh will have a better schedule next year so he can come see the games. his days off were in the middle of the week, so he didn't make it to any. but he always asked caden how the games went.

making friends

caden after his last game!

they gave ribbons and pizza after the last game, what more could a 5 year old ask for!

caden did awesome! i was so proud of him for doing so well. he was a good sport, and loved playing with the different kids. it was a great experience for him. being a soccer mom also taught me a lot. i learned i am exactly like my mother when it comes to my kids playing sports... i cheer to loud, and am way competitive!

four!

grandma and grandpa roberts surprised hyrum and came out for his birthday! it was so fun to have someone to celebrate it with! josh had to go to work before the the grandparents came so we had a pre-dinner party with dad. i tried to get a good picture with him but he was really sleepy!

hyrum was so excited to get this motorcycle.. and loved it! it has little support wheels that allow it to pop wheelies! which is cool right? well caden decided to name them "training wheels" and it quickly became ty's motorcycle! stinking kids!

later.. when grandma and grandpa were here

grandpa is so good... he even colors in the lines!

the chambers came out the following weekend. it was fun we opened presents. then packed a dinner and had a picnic at the park. it was really fun! the boys loved having their aunts, uncle and grandma sleepover! i didn't get very many pictures.. sorry.

hyrum with chad and adrianne

ty and chad at the park

i am happy to say that hyrum has stopped asking for birthday presents! although he did chastise amber for not making it to his birthday party!

hyrum loves going to preschool! he is always so happy when i pick him up! and he loves telling/showing what he learned. he loves mrs. kirsten (he even told her!) and has learned so much. he is writing his name, and he works on his "homework" while caden does his. while he loves school, he misses playing with his brothers just as much. hyrum always asks ty if he had fun at the rec center, or if caden had a good day.

hyrum loves his family. he is always asking if he can see josh (whether or not josh is sleeping.) he loves calling his grandma's and aunts! he always want to talk to them, especially if he is sad. hyrum is such a good brother! he talks to ty as a grown up would, giving him choices, and calling him sweety! he certainly has an attitude, but he is quick to forgive and always gives hugs and kisses!