Happy Belated Thanksgiving!

We were so crazy busy trying to get stuff packed for our entire day long drive down to AZ that I never got to wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving. We had a great day yesterday and got to spend time with my family and Josh's family. We ate entirely too much and are not looking forward to the long drive back on Sunday. Wednesday we got up at 4am, did some last minute packing and left the house at 5:20am. Many hours later, kids movies later, and lots of bathroom breaks, we finally arrived at my brother's house just before 6pm for my neice's birthday party. Then we headed to my Mom and Dad's to spend the night and we began the Thanksgiving feasts. After my parent's we went to Josh's parent's and hung out for a while. I had a non thinking moment when I dressed my boys that morning because they were dressed in nice off white pants and button down shirts only to find mud in Grandma and Grandpas backyard =) Luckily Grandma Van Vleet has a really fun bathtub and is also really good at getting stains out =) Thanks Grandma!!!! I'd post some pictures but I'm at my husbands lap top and not sure I want to mess with that right now...I'll post them later.
We finally got to our house for some good sleep and then Nathan decided he wasn't going to let us sleep through the night....grrrrrr. Oh well, who needs sleep right? Aparently Josh does, because he's napping at the moment =) LOL.
All morning while Josh was playing soccer with some buddies he has not seen in years, I decided to decorate for Christmas. Even though we won't be in this house to enjoy the decorations (maybe my brother in law will enjoy them for all of us) =), I didn't want to come home on Christmas eve to no tree or decorations =( so this way we'll come home and it will already be Christmasy for us =). This is the first year I've had my tree up the day after Thanksgiving...it's amazing what I can do when I have a deadline =) LOL.
I am grateful for so much... but most importantly, my Savior, The Gospel, My husband, My boys, mine and Josh's families, Our health, Josh's job, new experiences, friends.... the list goes on and on. I just feel extremely blessed and I'm so Happy.

Blog Security or Scam?

So I got pretty concerned today. I was changing my list of friends and trying to update them so I could see when they last posted instead of wasting time fishing through their blogs just to find out they haven’t posted in FOREVER =). I discovered that my friends with private blogs (or maybe it's some other setting) won't let me add them to that list. Anyways, it got me thinking about security (which I constantly think about anyway). I have gone back and forth for a very long time about making my blog private and always decide not to because of the hassle of it all for me and my friends. I'm usually a very paranoid person when it come to the safety of my family, but I am learning slowly that it is not a good life to always live in fear. Certain things yes, but for the most part I am trying really hard not to worry so much and just be careful without being so paranoid. This is why of course I never give details and try to stay pretty vague.

Basically today I almost added a tracker (I guess that's what you call it). Where it tracks who has visited your blog. I would think that most people who add that do it for safety reasons because they want to know who's been reading their information. Well I was disturbed to find that the one I almost added for the very reason of security actually broadcasts your information out there and encourages random people to visit your blog!!!! ........What?!!!!....... Yeah that's what I thought! The one I'm talking about is http://feedjit.com/ they actually list your last post and rank it to relevance, popularity, and location (using their own formula) and drive people to your site. So I typed in my home town and I actually saw some of my friend’s latest posts on there advertised to the whole world to see, even found people I didn't know had a blog. Can you say SCARY?!!!!!! I almost added this tracker thingy without even reading about it and now I am Soooooo glad I didn’t. So if you get enticed to add some cool thing to track who is viewing your blog, don't use that one!!!!! And please read up on it first, because some don't have your security in mind.

That's all, just be careful! =)

My punk of a husband

So, the last post was done by Josh while I was taking a Sunday afternoon nap. Stinker! I was so tempted to delete it because I get embarrassed pretty easy, but the more I thought about it I decided not to. Only because I love a good laugh even at the occasional expense of my friends and family, so I should be a good sport and let them laugh at me =). I don't mind laughing at myself, so it's all good =). Plus my husband finally took the time to post something on this blog and I don't want to discourage it, so I'll let him have his fun and just assume this won't be the first time there will be something embarrassing about me, so stay tuned I guess, this could get interesting ;).
....and yes I was coloring...I'm a kid at heart what can I say =)

Silly

I love this woman! -Josh

My Birthday

I am on a blogging kick. I tend to do that.... blog like crazy one day and then take a weeks break and do it all over again =) This is the last one for today =)

Veteran's day was my Birthday (I love having my b-day on that holiday). So far getting older does not bother me in the least, I know quite a few people that had a bit of a hard time with birthdays past 25, but so far I am doing great and still loving it =) (we'll see what I say when I turn 30 =) I think I'll be fine, but who knows right?).

Not only did I get phone calls from all my siblings and parents, but tons of birthday wishes from my friends on Facebook and from my friends in the Mom’s club. I felt so special =) So thanks everyone!!! You’re awesome!

I woke up in the morning to "artwork"

on 4 of my walls, courteous of my stinker Nathan.

Notice the smirk behind the pout? Yeah, I'm pretty sure he didn't feel bad about what he had done, only that he had to help clean it off. Stinker

It's almost like he was saying Happy Bithday Mommy...
I drew you a picture..............
On the wall! Like it? =) LOL

The morning and early afternoon were hectic and crazy with cleaning (because we were having a babysitter) shopping for a magic eraser and microwavable food (because of Nathan’s mischievousness and because our oven and stove were not working) and trying to figure out what to wear because our Dryer had not been working for days….. Half our electricity went out a few days before and they were coming to fix it that day but we didn’t know when. I was also on the phone a lot with my sis trying to plan a trip together, and late for putting Nathan down for a nap. It was stressful and rushed but in the end believe it or not, it turned out perfect and one of the best birthdays I’ve had in a long time.

Josh surprised me with these beautiful flowers when he came home

After the babysitter arrived (who is the secretary at Josh’s office, who also put the flowers together for me) we went to the Salt Lake Temple. We were warned that day that the Temple would be packed and traffic crazy due to rush hour and construction so we had to plan on spending lots of time waiting and frustration. I prayed in advance that we wouldn’t get frustrated and it would be a good experience for us. It was amazing, we got there fast despite construction and not knowing the best way to go. We found an awesome parking spot, the session was not crowded at all and went very smoothly, and we were treated so kindly by everyone we saw.

It was so beautiful and I was excited to go there for the first time after many years of wanting to. I felt so much peace and love at the temple, I cannot even begin to describe it. We got to be an important part of the session and that was such a blessing. I was so glad Josh had suggested we do that for my Birthday, it truly was one of the best Birthdays I’ve had. Thanks Honey!

As we pulled into the garage we smelled fire and discovered the electrical company had come out and shut off the power without telling the babysitter =) Luckily she is very resourceful and found the logs I had bought the day before and started a fire so the boys weren’t scared. She told us when the lights came back on and the fire died, they wanted to do it again =) She had to tell them “no, camping is over” =) LOL The boys absolutely loved her and want her to come over again =)

I was pleasently surprised that I could have such a fabulous Birthday being so far from my family and friends, I am so glad. Thank you to everyone that made my day so special. I really do have the best family and friends a girl could ever hope for =)

Tyler's swim lessons

We signed Tyler up for a session of swim lessons at the community rec. center. They have more than a few indoor swimming pools including a kid’s splash area which we have already used a few times. The boys love going there and playing on all the fun toys they have. It’s nice to be here where it’s sometimes really cold and yet still be able to enjoy swimming. The best of both worlds I guess =) I’m spoiled I know =)He was originally in a class with a bunch of girls and a little boy, but he was a little advanced, so she moved him up to a class with one older boy who is more advanced. It's really nice that she did that because he gets much more swim time and is already saying he wants to do what the older boy does. So he has a great example to watch and goals to work towards.

Tyler with his teacher practicing his back float

Smiling at the end of his first day =)

Thinking of Grandparents

The boys are really into painting and drawing pictures for their grandmas and grandpas to mail to them. It’s so cute that they are constantly thinking of them and wanting to do things for them despite being so far away. We had to put a packet of artwork together and mail it to their grandparents and we already have more =)

Nathan painting for Grandpa

Tyler making a book for each of his grandmas

Nathan very focused on the book Grandma Bonnie got him before we left

(he looks kinda sad huh?) I thought it was so sweet, I had to take his picture.

I love that they are in this stage of making things for people. Last night our Bishop and a counselor was over visiting us and the boys were at the table painting. He brought over a painted toilet paper roll and decided to give it to bishop after Bishop said "That would look great on my desk, maybe it could hold pencils, what do you think?" Tyler was so excited that he wanted his piece of art! He immediately agreed and Bishop told him to come to his office on Sunday to see how good it looks on the desk. It was so cute. Tyler told him he wanted to make another one for his wife and he did this morning =) I can't even begin to describe how Tyler's face lit up at the Bishop's excitement over his gift. It was so adorable.
I remember doing the same thing as a kid. I made things for anyone I thought would enjoy them, and the happier they were about it, the more it made my day and encouraged me to do that for people even more. It's fun to know exactly how Tyler feels =)

Sledding with friends

On November 8th we decided to go sledding and called the Clark family to join us. Josh and Kyle served together in New Jersey on their missions and he lives here with his wife and two almost 3 boys. We had so much fun sledding with them.

Tyler loved going down the hill

I even took him down a couple times.

The first time, when we hit the jump, we flew about 4-5 feet. It was fun =)

Tyler wanted to go down with his friend =)

They had a blast......the parents almost had heartattacks =)

Nathan was not happy to be on the sled. The first time he went, he ended up face planting in the snow, which ruined it for him. He refused to go again, but his Daddy tricked him and took him down again anyway. This was his reaction.....=)

Nathan was ready to go home =) before he got tricked again =)


We had a great time and are so excited for the next!

First Snow

I'm a little slow at posting this, but these are pictures from our first snow on November 5th. It surprised us by snowing all day long. The boys had a blast playing in it in our backyard and it was surprisingly deep.

Nathan showing me his snowball

He kept throwing snowballs at me when I was trying to get pictures

and he thought he was so hilarious =)

They both attacked me whenever I was near them =)

Just chillin....literally =)

This is the beautiful view from our back yard

here he goes again =)

Tyler would shake the trees to make it snow harder on him =)

The beautiful view from our side yard

We had a great day in the snow. It stuck on the ground for a few days and was so beautiful. Tyler said he likes Utah better because it snows here =) LOL. There's no snow on the ground right now, but it has rained for the past couple days and it has snowed on the mountains near our house. There are thick clouds in the sky and the boys get so excited when they see them and say "those are snow clouds! it's going to snow tomorrow I think" =) They can't wait for it to start coming down again =)

Real Salt Lake Playoff game

So Josh got some tickets to one of the Real Salt Lake play off games! He was so excited as most of you could imagine :). Of course Tyler and Nathan (especially Nathan) were very excited too. For days before the game Nathan kept asking if we were going to a soccer game everytime we left the house =). So on Saturday November 1st we headed to the stadium 2 hours early for some $1 hotdogs and some fun =).

Nathan was mad that we interupted him kicking his soccer ball around to take a picture.

Josh scored us a couple t-shirts, a soccer ball, and a hat. It pays being tall and having long arms when prizes get thrown out into a group =) LOL

Nathan was excited to meet the Real team mascot, but Tyler refused and stayed far back with me =) LOL

Nathan begged for popcorn and hung tight to it =)

Tyler and I ended up sitting in front of Josh and Nathan because for some odd reason we were given seat 9,14,15,16. We didn't worry too much assuming 10, 11,12,13 wouldn't mind moving down one seat so a family could sit together. I was completely wrong. The guy and his wife in seats 10 & 11 refused, claiming the goal would obstruct their view (which they were already behind anyway) Like one seat makes a big difference. I wanted to say "last I checked, you could see through the net, what's the big deal?). I was pretty angry that they wouldn't move down one seat for a family to be able to sit together, but I didn't say anything. Basically we paid for them to have leg room and not feel claustrophobic while we were cramped on everyside trying to fit 4 people in 3 tiny seats. Not fun.....

Luckily our patience paid off and a little while into the game we realized nobody was going to be sitting in front of us, so Tyler and I hopped down to the front row. Score! leg room at last! It all worked out. Meanwhile the rude dude continued being rude and yelling harsh things and used some language I would have perfered my boys not hear. I felt like hitting him........ I kinda wish I had the guts to.....but what example would that be setting? Sure would have been great to see the shock on his face if a girl were to hit him after all the things he had said =) LOL. Just kidding, I would never be able to do that no matter how much I'd like to =). It's just sad when you see people being so un-christlike and you're pretty sure they "believe" the same things you do. Breaks my heart. Anyway, It was a great lesson for me, because now I know if I'm ever put in those shoes I will be way more compassionate than if we hadn't experienced that.

I kept telling Josh we needed to let Tyler go sit in that seat and let him act however he wanted to. I was pretty sure that would have changed his mind about moving down for us =) LOL (Tyler was pretty wound up and crazy at the game) I'm pretty sure that plan would have worked, but as much as I wanted to try it, I didn't want Tyler anywhere near him (worried rudeness was contagious I guess) =) LOL Gratefully it all worked out and a good lesson was learned :) I just needed to rant and rave a bit :) LOL

The game against Chivas USA was pretty uneventful at first. There were a lot of "almost goals" through out the whole game but no actaul goals until the last minute of the game.


It was very exciting that last minute of the game and we were SO happy the team Real won!

Real...Salt Lake!!! Real ...Salt Lake!!! (you must chant that to sound good)

We had a blast!

Nathan sleeps with the soccer ball his Daddy won for him and carries it around almost all day :)
Tyler thought it was great to be able to yell and not get into trouble for it. Everytime the crowd yelled, so did he =) The crowd was yelling for the team......and he was just yelling to yell =) LOL

Trick or Treat!

I was so sad, all my pictures of the cute kiddos trick or treating ended up being blurry except for these two. :( We spent Halloween with our good friends Jenelle and Dannon and their girls. The kids had a blast going house to house getting candy. We thought for sure Nathan would be too shy and not want to do it, but he was so pumped about the whole thing. He was the one racing from house to house and would shout "trick or Treat" and he always said "Thank you!" or yelled "Happy Halloween!" as he would run from the door. He was hilarious!

Tyler (Harry Potter), Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Nathan (Vampire)
(This picture was changed ot of respect for a friend....like it? =)LOL yea, we're pretty creative)

Candy, Candy, Candy :)

These were the vampire teeth Nathan was suposed to wear with his costume, but when the time came, he refused :(. Isn't he cute? It was so funny to hear him talk with those things in. We got him to sing Twinkle Twinkle and his ABC's :) LOL so funny!