Family Pictures ... well kind of

We decided that we wanted to take some family pictures in the snow. This is how they turned out.

It might have helped if Austin wasn't sick and the wind wasn't blowing such a bitter cold breeze. Oh well, we'll try again later.

Christmas Fun

We had a great Christmas this year. We did so many things before Christmas that we were really in the Christmas mood when it finally did come.

We had a surprise visit from Santa during a Christmas party at Grandma and Grandpa Scooter's house.

Wyatt was even brave enough to sit on his lap. Although, he wasn't quite sure what to think of him.

Hayden sat on Santa's lap for the 1st time in 5 years.

As for Austin - he would have nothing to do with Santa this year.

Before the party we all went for a ride on a wagon pulled by this big work horse named "Dolly".

We were even able to make it to Temple Square.

It is too bad that Christmas comes and goes so fast. We love this time of year and the opportunity we have to spend it with our family.

Accomplishments

We have accomplished 2 big things so far this month. The first is Austin is now a "big boy" and not a "little boy" anymore. He was potty-trained in about 2 days. I gave him a little "incentive" as my friend calls them. Santa is going to bring him his own special "big boy" present. It worked what can I say. Now I wonder what kind of "incentive" I can use to help him stop whining?
Accomplishment #2 is that Hayden is reading. He has read 5 whole books by himself in the last week. I love watching him do it. He gets so excited when he sounds out the word and then all of the sudden something clicks and he figures out what it says. His face lights up and it is amazing to see. He is growing up so fast and I'm already missing my little Haydo Potato.
Sorry, there are no big accomplishments for Wyatt this week. He still keeps me running and on my toes. At least he didn't try to throw any socks in the toilet this week. Instead, he's determined to knock every last pine needle off of our tree. I love you Wy-zie!

I love to see the Temple at Christmas time

We do have 2 other children. They just refused to cooperate taking any more pictures. These are the only ones we got on our camera. I need to get the others from my sister-in-law.

Oh Yummo!

Our little Wyatt is so independent.

He refuses to let us feed him, no matter how messy!

He will find some way to get every last drop!

Even if it means drinking it!

The rest of the story...

So, if any of you have me on your facebook, you already heard part of this story. It started last night whenColby and the boys got the Christmas tree ready to bring into the house. I was shopping at Michael's (by myself) and loving every minute of it. When I got home, Hayden reported that they had found 2 dead mice in the garage. I began to question Colby about it. He then went on to tell me that they had actually found 3. I was so grateful that they were caught in our garage and not in our house. Well, later that night I reported that we had had problems with mice in our garage, but not in our house. I knew right then that I had just stuck my foot in my mouth. I always curse myself. So, this morning when I went downstairs to fix breakfast for Colby and I, I made sure to turn on the lights before I stepped on the floor. (I just had this feeling) Anyway, I saw nothing. As I was cooking at the stove I kept hearing this scratching noise behind it. I kept telling myself that it was just Colby upstairs that I could hear. Colby left for work and I thought nothing of it again. 2 hours later while I was getting ready to start doing the dishes while the boys ate their breakfast, out of the corner of my eye, I saw a furry thing run out from under the door of the pantry. I looked again and there it was - a mouse. I started screaming and jumped up on the cupboard and pulled my legs up under me. It ran into the living room and I thought - "what do I do"?!? I grabbed the phone and called Colby (it just happened to be within arms reach). I knew he would save me. As I was talking on the phone, it ran back into the pantry. I was screaming on the phone, and Colby was laughing at me and telling me to give the boys some hammers and let them get rid of it. I told him that he had to come and take care of it or I would be there in the same spot when he came home for lunch. The whole time the mouse is running around the kitchen because I keep screaming. Finally it ran behind the stove and did not come out. Colby made it home in record time (about 12 minutes). Although he has yet to catch our furry friend, he saved my day. We found a small space behind our stove that goes out into the garage. Colby set 3 different traps and put a dryer sheet up against the crack. We have not seen the mouse since. He had better stay out if he knows what is best for him. I am so grateful for my Knight-in-shining-armor. He knows his wife too well to not come to her rescue when she is a damsel in distress.

A great gift

I just watched a you tube video on one of my friends blogs. (Sorry I don't know how to put it on my own blog). It reminded me of one of the greatest gifts that my Heavenly Father has given me -the gift to create. Without this wonderful gift, I would not have my 3 little boys to fill my day with laughter, frustration, tears, joy, happiness, sympathy, love, and humilty. I am so thankful that my Heavenly Father has trusted me enough to allow me to have these 3 beautiful gifts.

One foot out the door

Well, after 11 days, I think our visitor has at least one foot out the door. It only took 3 doctor visits and 3 prescriptions of antibiotic to get him out of here. Hooray for good health and energy to do something besides lay around the house!

Halloween at last

We had a great Halloween this year. We spent the morning at cousin Danica's baptism and luncheon. Then, we went trick-or-treating to Grandma and Grandpa Scooter's on the way home.


Here's out little stinker with Grandma Casper.

It was hard to get all 3 boys to pose together for a good shot.

Hayden was an army guy or the"army" as he put it.

Austin was a fireman and proud of it.

We just had to get a rear shot of our little skunk.

Unwelcome Visitor

An unwelcome visitor came our way on Friday afternoon. He brought some unfavorable gifts with him - fevers, body aches, runny noses, headaches, yucky tummies, a cough and congestion. The last of the 5 finally met her fate yesterday afternoon. So, we are now on quarentine until our sympotms subside and our unwelcome visitor decides it's time to go.

Some of my genes

I'm so excited that Austin just may have recieved some of my genes too. He was so excited to see it snowing. Although he thinks when there is snow, it has to be Christmas too. This morning he was jumping up and down and chanting..."It's snowing! It's snowing!" I love the snow. I love to walk in it, go for drives in it (as long as Colby's the one driving), throw it, roll in it, go snowmobiling in it, and I especially love to just watch it snow. Who could not love the way that it makes everything look so clean and crisp!

To big to need his mom.

Hayden's school was giving the H1N1 flu shot today at school to all the students. I told him that I would come and be there with him. He told me that he could do it by himself. I asked him if he was sure, and he was nice enough to say that if I really wanted to come, I could come, but he could do it by himself. Next he'll start telling me that he can do his own laundry and make his own meals. Maybe that's not such a bad thing!

Trying to improve...

On my attempts to blog more often. So, here goes... Austi and Haydo went to the doctor yesterday for their yearly check-ups. Haydo is in the 50% - yeah Haydo! Austi is in the 5% -yeah Austi you're on the charts! They were both so brave and Hayden even gave Dr. M a picture he colored just for him. We're glad are boys are healthy and growing up way too fast.

October Fun!

So my pictures are a little messed up in order. Oh well! We had so much fun this last month.
It snowed on our Jack-O-Lanterns and Wyatt got to play in the snow for the 1st time.


Our fun Jack-O-Lanterns. The boys loved it. Wyatt even ate it! Yuck, raw pumpkin.

Here we are getting ready to carve. Don't I look so thrilled. Here's Colby thinking he is a kid again. Wyatt doesn't care who's pulling him around- as long as he gets to ride.

We went to the AWHC trick or treating and Austin got some scarey teeth. Here's Hayden trying out his roping skills.

Wyatt and Colby going down the super slide. Austin posing for a shot while painting his pumpkin.

Stay tuned for pictures of Halloween. Eventually I'll get them on my computer.

Onion Harvest 2009

6 years and 3 newborn babies later- It's onion harvest time for 2009.
The boys taking a break with cousin Draker. They are throwing dirt clods in the field. If you look closely you can see the dump truck and onion loader in the background.

Wyatt even learned how to throw dirt with his dad.


How many grandkids can you fit in a truck? I think there were 4 at this time riding with Grandma and Grandpa Scooter at this time. It's too bad there aren't any bench seats.

The future onion workers in training.

Grandma Junie and her future onion harvest crew. She's never missed fixing a lunch for the crew yet. We love you Grandma June.

Hayden drinking a root beer at lunch break.

Wyatt throwing rocks.

Austin enjoying his yummy lunch that Grandma June made him.

Come party with me 'cause I'm turning three!

Austin went to Joy School on his birthday
and this is the cool crown that his teacher made him.

His boating birthday cake. Oh the adventures of our Austi boy.
You have to know Austin very well to get how fitting his cake is.

Say cheese birthday boy! He loved his crown so much that he wore it all day.

Our big 3 year old. Happy Birthday Austi Hooter!

Our boys and their toys

They get so frustrated that this little battery powered 4 wheeler doesn't have the power to haul all 3 of them around. There is no way that they will get their Dad to buy them a real one though. Any guesses on Wyatt has a helmet on? He has a tendency to forget to hang on.

Future repair man?

Last month as I took out a load of laundry and put it on my bed, I left the dryer door open. When I went back to shut it --- this is what I found. Wyatt had climbed inside with his hammer. Apparently he is sick of the clanking noise it makes when running, and decided to take the repairs into his own hands.

One more Bear Lake trip

To end our summer of fun, we spent one last weekend
at Bear Lake. We rode these fun bikes and the boys loved
it ( of course they didn't have to peddle them).


Austin drove Grandpa's boat.

Hayden rode on the tube. (sorry this was the best shot that I got. He even fell off, but then got back on and rode the tube back to shore. This was a big thing for Haydo since he loves the water as much as his mom does.

Wyatt got to be the flagger and even fell asleep on the job.

We have had the best summer and hate to see it end. We

have a fun fall planned though with Hayden in KG and

Austin and Mommy doing Joy School. I wonder what Wyatt's

going to do?