Sledding Party

We had some friends over and went sledding at the Sid Butte, then we came home and built a fire to cook lil smokies. Getting to the Butte was a challenge! We had 2 snowmobiles and a whole slug of tubes, sleds, and people. Ryan decided to take the tractor up there, you know the snow is deep when the tractor almost gets stuck 3 times(but we made it!) We had a fun time! I want to have another party soon!

Teresa, Cody, Kelsey, Kaylia, & Addie (lt. to rt.)

Around the fire back at the house

Aleigha turns TWO

Thanks Aunt Viv for the cute cake! Thank you for all the nice gifts family.

Ryan went snowmobiling on Aleigha's birthday so Heather, Colleen, Addie, Porter, Raygn, Aleigha, Kyler & I went swimming at 1000 springs in Hagerman. They have two diving boards...one that is really high but Raygn got right up there and jumped off 3 times, a log that spinns, that is really fun to try getting up on, a slide, kiddie pool, a basketball hoop, and lots of warm water! Then on the way home we stopped at Papa Kelsey's and got some pizza! Happy Birthday Aleigha I love you so much!

Grandpa and Grandma Robertson came out on Christmas and brought Aleigha her Birthday present early. THANK YOU!

CHRISTMAS 2008

Christmas morning Ryan and I decided that we didn't want the kids just riping open their presents and being done, so we decided that first we would have them do a little service. They went to Matt's, Chanchez's, Armondo's & then our house and shoveled sidewalks. We ate breakfast and then read the Christmas story from the bible and then opened presents. I thought it was very nice.

Our kids didn't get up early, but Addie (with Grandpa Kent, who had been prepping her all week) woke up at 3:00a.m. She said she was going to lay in bed and wait for 30 min. well when she thought that 30 mins. had passed, she looked at her alarm clock and only 2mins. had past! No one woke up until 8:00 so we even got to sleep in! I love Christmas and the spirit of it, the chance we have to remember why we give gifts and what Heavenly Father gave us. What was the 1st gift of Christmas?

Basketball

Dolly Power, Teresa Smith, Aynsley Weber, Me, Lindsay Shaw, Laura Dilworth, (Leslie Reiz & Hazen Weber) went to the school to play ball this morning and get a good workout in! Ryan wanted to come watch he said it would be halirous to watch because I haven't played for...I can't remember but it has been awhile. It was a lot of fun and an Awesome workout.

Snow

It snowed!! I went with Ryan to clean out our driveway and Logan & Heather's. I'm not sure what we would do if we didn't have a loader and tractors? Stay home for a month maybe! We made a stop to the MAN SHED ~ tools, sleds, more tools, parts...such a man thing!

Our new branch!

Well I guess it's kind of old news now but our ward has been split, only we don't have quite enough to make 2 wards so there is one ward and one branch. We are in the branch. I was called as the Primary President in Oct. and re-called 2 weeks ago. Ryan got called as the Elders quorum President. Our neighbor Mike Telford is the branch President-he is so good-we had our first branch council this morning and it was good I think he will be just what we need. We are all going to be doing a lot more, more growth for all of us! I am excited for the new change but do miss friends in the ward that we really don't see that much anymore. I will have to go to more basketball games and school things I guess!

Annual Gillette Chritmas party

Winter Wonderland

I love these trees! Everytime we have frost I want to take family pictures...we have a problem of all being together when there is frost though! It's SO PRETTY and white and clean and wintery! Oh yes that is a picture of my 3 tree Christmas tree. It's tradition that we cut down our tree, so they are pretty ugly and not very full but it's a fun time and I thought that the decorations helped!

December 15th Birthdays

A surprise Birthday lunch for Viv! I called a bunch of her friends and a few family members and we met at the Upper Crust in Heyburn. yum! She thought that it was just going to be Char, her and I. I arranged for a babysitter and a chauffeur for her kids to and from (kindergarten and pre-school) ~ THANKS GRANDPA HANKS ~ and we went to lunch! It was my first planning of a surprise party...wow lots of work and lots of secrets! Now I can appreciate what Viv has done for me a few times. HAPPY BIRTHDAY VIV I LOVE YOU! Thanks family and friends who came to be a part of this special day for Viv.




Then tonight we went to Logan and Heather's house for a birthday party for Case. HAPPY BIRTHDAY CASE! He turned 4 today and had lots of family and friends to hang out with. Heather made a Deigo cake that was so cute. (all these Aunts that do fancy cake and my poor kids that have to have the hard candy frosting things you just plop on the frosting!) Thanks for feeding us dinner and letting us be a part of Case's birthday.

School Christmas play

This year instead of just haveing the kids sing songs for the Christmas program they put on Ebenezer Scrooge. It was so cute, the kids had a lot of fun. Addie was part of the poor family, Porter was a caroler, and Raygn (and Kyler) were ghost/gobblins. The main part was Dajae Hollingstead, she was AWESOME!! Then Santa came afterwards and the kids got to sit on his lap...since we already did we didn't fight the crowds! Good job kids it was very fun to watch.

What is all that white stuff?

I know it hasn't snowed since October...and there is still only a skiff but look at it SNOW!! Aleigha didn't want to shut the door(even though it was cold.) I had to add the pictures from Saturday when she came with me to a baptism. ~ she looked so cute-thanks Grandma for making the skirt, we love it!

Festival of Trees

Addie played at the Festival of trees on Friday. She takes violin lessons from Elizabeth McFadden in Burley and LOVES IT. Jacey her friend was there with us and they both wanted a candy cane so they sat on Santa's lap...I think they were both a little scared still! Aleigha wasn't to sure about the whole thing, but we got some pictues now!

At the Salon

I went to get my haie done and Aleigha came with me! She wanted to put all the books in the microwave...and finally got it done, doesn't she look so proud of herself! Becky was getting her hair done too so we had a salon hair day together!

Thanksgiving

We went to Lehi, Utah for Thanksgiving this year. Don, Kristy, & their families were the only two who couldn't make it. There was turkey, ham, prime rib (I am not a fan but this was sooo good), and shrimp ~ that is just the meats! Salads, rolls, potatoes, pies, pecan bars, pumpkins rolls, pop, chips & dip, etc. Yes we all could have stayed a few more days and not ran out of food. It was sooo good and alot of fun. THANK YOU LONZ AND STACIE!

Becky's rolling her r's!

In Mexico one night we were all rolling our r's and here is a Becky tyring to do it~very funny!

Leaves

I am Thankful for all the leaves that my kids can play in! We have about 100 trees and most of them are leaf bearing trees....I do get sick of them, but right now I am grateful for the fun times we have in them!




Raygn & Porter want me to put-we (meaning them) have got about 50 riding lawn mower loads of leaves in a pile. "It's a lot!" Straight from their mouths! "I want to be a great kid."-From Raygn My kids like to help me blog so I will start asking them what to say! ATTENTION Loni: "What do you want for Christmas?"

Grandmother Hernandez

My Grandmother Hernandez came to visit, we took flowers out to the cemetery, cooked up a storm, (I didn't even get pictures of everything we made) and got to hang out with her. She is 86 years old and can't see very good, doesn't speak any English (well about as much Spanish as I speak) so we laugh a lot and call Lonz, Cory, or Maria to interpret. I love her so much I'm glad that she comes to see us every year.
It is so good to spend time with her learning how to cook some Mexican dishes!! -now I just need to do it more often!
I love you Grandmother!

Alonzo and Stacie's wedding

Here are some pictures of the wedding! We are happy to have Stacie and Shelby as part of our family! The wedding was on the 8th at Sundance resort up Provo canyon. Our whole family was there and it was fun to get to be with everyone. I love my family very much and I am very greatful to have been blest with such a great family. Everything we have been through has made us who we are and brought us close together. I think my dad deserves a lot of the credit for the huge role he has played in our lives. We miss mom but know that she is still watching over us and loves us. Lonz had a couple of pictures hung up of her and I thought they were very cute. (I need a copy Lonz)! Way to go Lonz and Stac we love you!

Mexico Trip

Oh were should I begin...oh yeah at the beginning! My brother Lonz got married on Saturday so Ryan and I had to post pone leaving a day, we flew in on Sunday our 12Anniversary! We went on a zip line tour, 4-wheelers and speed boats (yes we got to drive them our selves and I thought that Ryan was for sure going to throw us both out), visited the ruins at Tulum, went shopping in Playa Del Carmen, played in the ocean, snorkeled, para sailed, kayaked, played ping pong, rode the tandem bikes, played beach and water volleyball, danced, went treasure hunting (on the beach), got a couples massage, and ate too much!
My in-laws took the 5 kids that are married and their spouse to the El Dorado Royale resort in Playa Del Carmen. THANK YOU PAUL AND BECKY ! That was really fun being around everyone for the week. We each did our own thing and then at night we would usually meet and watch the entertainment. One night Jeff and I were part of the entertainment! This place was soooo nice.
I really had a great time and loved spending all that time with my Husband. We celebrated our Anniversary and his birthday there! Ryan even took dance lessons one day with me! That was really fun. Lots of memories where made! We had a great time. THANKS TERESA for watching our kids while we were gone.

Happy Anniversary

Ryan and I will be married for 12 years on the 9th. So we are both 18 in this picture Ryan turned 19 the day after our wedding! We will be celebrating our anniv. and his B-day in Mexico!
12 years seems so long ago. I don't know what I would do without my dear husband. I love Ryan so much and everyone says it but I MEAN it I do love him more now. I depend on him, I need him, did I mention that I love him? I am so glad that we were sealed 11 years ago in the Manti temple and know that we can be together forever. We have changed and grown in these last 12 years, most good, some well...you know age, hair falling out, weight, & wrinkles! I just want Ryan to know that I am happy that I have him to be my companion, I love you Ryan! Happy Anniversary I hope to have many more good years with you still!

Ryan helping

The story of Ryan helping with bills! We had talked about paying all the bills before our trip, but Ryan couldn't stand the mess on his desk so he wanted to pay them this morning. He put a whole bunch of checks into the printer and it printed them at an angle (not sure why I do it every month and it works fine...)-We decided that they would work and then when he put them in the envelopes you couldn't see the company name, so he TORE the envelope so you could see it! It looks like a mouse ate the envelope! These are our Farm bills. THAT'S FUNNY CRAP!!

Aleigha's purse

Her favorite Halloween treat! THE PURSE -THANK YOU GRANDMA!!

working on getting the sippy cup in the purse

This morning we had a little fight just getting in the shower withOUT the purse...don't worry the shower was a short one!/