We have had a great summer so far, except for the fact that Tyler got laid off from his job, that is not cool, but it must mean something else is supposed to happen for our family. The kids went to Idaho for awhile and we decided to meet them up in Idaho and surprise them. THey we're so surprised to see us, my Mom told them the mail man had a special delivery and Alaria was sure TYler mailed me to idaho, but we drove up in the car instead of me being mailed, haha. We had a busy time in Idaho and now we are in Utah for a few days. We went swimming and white water rafting and to Lagoon. We even bounced back to Lagoon. It will be sad to go home. The kids will be so bored. Here are some pics of white water rafting

The kids had so much fun they even jumped off some cliffs, which I would've died if I'd been in the boat, but I guess that's why Dads are so fun.

Party weekend

well, we had the best weekend. We went to a place called Hinckle Family Fun Center. They have miniature golf and water bumper boats, a Huge Rock wall that Alaria climbed twice. We played laser tag and bumper cars and it has a huge arcade. I was playing a game and I won the jackpot and won 16,000 tickets. The kids got to pick several stuffed animals and Alaria got a collector's Barbie. Nick got a skatebaord, It took forever for them to pick beause they are used to picking the stuff down in the bottom of the glass case. It was funny. It was Nick's party. We had so much fun and I'm so mad I didnt take my camera.
Conference was also great. I love listening to it. I feel blessed for that. Just want to remember this weekend it was so much fun and I can't believe that easter is this Sunday. I have to get all of the stuff from the Easter Bunny. We will have fun.

Nick is 7

Nick my baby just turned 7. I can't believe how fast time flies. We are also in sports mode at our house. When we are not at a baseball game we are at Alaria's soccer games. She just finished a fun basketball season being the only girl on the team was her dream come true. Nick had his first baseball game and he was adorable. He played pitcher the whole game. And his proudest thing was that he got to keep the game ball. Here he is

So, now I'm an official 'Soccer Mom' You know it's a lot harder sitting on the sidelines watching your kids and keeping your mouth shut.haha I never  realized how involved you get. I've been so busy getting them everywhere. I'm excited that my Mom came to visit me for awhile. It's always so nice to have her here. well Ciao for now!

Happy Valentine's Day

Well we had a great Valentine's day. We got our new TV so, I am so happy about that. The kids had a great day and we made these great cards for them to take to school. Here they are

 The kids got some new threads for valentine's day. Alaria is the queen of Hearts. They had such a fun day. Alaria even got a singing telegram from a little boy in her class. He is also on her basketball team. It was so cute. I got soe chocolate and the new Breaking Dawn movie.

The funnest was our spontaneous trip we decided to take to Colorado Springs to see my in laws and my Brother. We had so much fun and it was so great to be there. I didn't want to come home to Albq. I wanted to stay so bad. Alaria was so sad she couldn't ride the horses because it snowed the last day we we're there. So, hopefully we'll get back soon to let her ride her horses that she loves. It was great to see my brother and his family. Can't wait to see them all again. It was a great Valentines day, week I have to say.

It died

Well out trusty ol TV died this week, and we have been shoved on our bed in our room watching shows together. It's torture because my son can't hold still to save his life. I have NO idea what we're going to do to our huge tv we have that is now deceased, bless it's soul. It's one of the old big screens that has a big back to it, but oh darn we have to buy a new TV with our tax returns just in time for the big game not that I care about the superbowl this year, but we can watch it in nice HD fashion with an LED OR LCD screen which will be cool. I am however bummed because now I can't get my camera now that I have wanted for 3 years. It's a hair expensive. I want to start my own Photography biz. I used to do it when I was in my early 20's before everything went digital, so I have a beautiful film camera, but I want a digitial, want want want. That's sad but true. Oh, well at least my kids won't be in my room with their sticky, crumbly, little hands that muck up the place. Our livingroom won't be deserted any longer, for tomorrow we get out new TV I'll take a picture and show how loverly it will be:) Sad that we can't live without a TV BTW.

I am still alive!

Wow, it's been forever since I have been here to blog. I've been bad and lazy about it. Got to keep it up for my journal purpose. I can't believe December left and now we are almost past january too. I have to just kind of mention Christmas I guess since it was sooo long ago now. It was so fun to be at home in Idaho with my family. I had a great time. We had a lot of fun and the kids had a blast. Before we got to idaho we stopped in Utah to see the lights at temple square and we met up with the Norton's and it was like Alaria and hailey never skipped a beat they just love each other and Nick and Freemen too. I love those guys and now they''ve added #5 Jack to their family since we saw them last. We took Hailey and Freemen with us to see the lights and the kids had so much fun.How i wish we lived near them the kids love and miss them and so do we! I love seeing my sis and her girls which I claim as my own too. Or, my own little sisters I guess. Loved seeing the newlyweds alot. The kids got to play with some Idaho friends and we got to see Tyler's brother Derick and Katie too. That was so great to get to see them a little bit, but the time always runs short it seems. I stayed and had some procedures done to help my ailments and they seemed to work so well, now if we can get the flu and colds to quit invading we'll be doing good. I love my fam and miss them. I was sad my brother couldn't be there with us, but that's life I guess but it doesn't mean i have to like it. Thanks goodness for my mother in law who came to stay with the kids for a week while I stayed behind in idaho to finish my medical procedures to fix my back and IC. Well here are a few pics of Christmas and New Years Eve. Love you fam!

Hailey and Alaria found Santa at trolley Square

Nick and Freemen

Alaria thinks she is soooo funny



pajama's Christmas Eve



Ha ha inside joke

New PS3

Nick and his Broncos, We all got new Bronco's gear this year:)

Alaria and her Santa gift

Court and Ryker

Axel and Chewy doing what they do best

Now here are a few of Alaria and Taylor her friend from Idaho and New Years

Taylor asked if I would do her hair like Alaria's, they are basketball and summer pals

My 2 fav newlyweds

New Years Dinner

The kids popping their silly pops all over grandma

Awww Court is Cute

Happy New Years Tyler

Time in Idaho was good. We miss it. I got to see lots of great friends and family that I miss so much. I was able to see one of my pops babsketball games that he coached. Went to my old high school and couldn't believe that I'm so far out of high school. It seems like yesterday. I sure love and miss my hometown. Oh well, maybe someday we'll get back there.

Chillarific weekend!

This weekend our lovely dirt patch of land called The City of Rio Rancho had a 30th anniversary party. This is funny because if you could see where we live in conjuction to Albuquerque and where the acutal city center is you would laugh I promise, It's cofusing, but they we did go and have a fun time. They had ice skating in the Star Center which is the building that holds concerts and big events. Like 2 years ago we saw the Dinosaur show here.  And they had a  big buffet of food, which we totally thought would be lame so we ate before, figures the kids weren't hungry around all of that free food, until it was time to leave and go get a spot for the parade of lights. Our local schools and some businesses put in floats and there are about 5 huge buildings that kind of make a circle. Hewlett Packard well Tyler works then the Star Center, The new University of New Mexico hopspital, which will bring a lot of jobs this way is almost done. Then,there is the City Center which is where we went to see santa. Then there in a few annex buildings for the Univerity of New Mexico. Which is nice. Now, all we need is a gas station and a grocery store, that would rock. But right between these building is a sort of dip a valley of sorts where they had about 8 Hot air balloons and they did a glow with some fireworks. It turned out to be pretty fun actually the kids loved it of course. Here are a few pics of our good time.

Ice Skating

This is some Ice hockey teams Mascot?

There are some of the balloons they started putting up, while we waited for the parade to start. I was happy the kids got to see a glow because we didn't make it to the Balloon fiesta this year.

i took so many pics trying to get them glowing all at once, too hard but that is Daddy's work building behing them.

This is the City Center building where they turned on all the lights at once. Here you can see on the ground a lot of glowing orangeish lights on the ground, well it's tradition in Albq. to put on top of the buildings and line the streets with brown paper bags with sand in them and that holds it down, then they put a candle in it to light it up. It looks really cool and they had these all over the place. On the sidewalk between where Nick and Alaria sat there was a bag by him and one by her and I bet you can guess that surprisingly Nick's light went out. I saw it and just laughed. I'm surprised he didn't blow out more than that one candle. Crazy Boy!



A UNM Float



Another cool float passing by us.

We had a lot of fun watching the parade. We cheered really loud when Nick and Alaria's school float came by, and our high school, Cleveleand high won the AAAAA Championship game for the football team! Then we went into the CIty Center and we got to see Santa.

Ah Santa

santa told Nick," Wow, that's a big order" Alaria rolled er eyes at Nick

Naughty or Nice? That is the question



So, srangely enough the funniest part of the night for me came after we left Santa and met up with Sponge Bob and some of his friends. I did not know that Winnie the pooh was sponge Bobs best friends. The funniest [art was outside when one of the PLUSHIES, I think it was Eugene from the Backyardigans had a mishap with the bags of fire all over the ground. He stomped right on one and chaos ensued. I heard elmo yelling get off the bad you're on fire, so he had to run to a little snow pile and put out the fire on his leg, but all the PLUSHIES we're following and running around like crazy it was funny.

That is so funny to me

These paper bags filled with sand and a candle we're everywhere, for decoration up and down the whole city center. And exactly what mr Plushie stepped in creating mass plushie outbreak haha.

4 of many of the Plushies let the kids dance with them until sad little Backyardigan in the back caught on fire. haha I know that sounds horriboe and mean, but it really was a funny sight, and no one was hurt!

We had a great time, it was fun. Good to spend all that time with the kids!

Christmas Time is Definitely here!!!

Well here in Albuquerque we don't usually see the white powder of SNOW. Well we got nailed with quite the winter storm the other day. It hasn't snowed that much here in years and it is freezing. That is the one thing I like about Albq is the weather. Sheesh But it was fun for the kids to get all bundled up as we got their gear out to go play in the snow. It does remind me of home and make me a little homesick as I type here I think of Colorado and Idaho, my 2 homes that I love and it's not a secret I want to go back to either one. But the kids had fun and now on my Birthday the kids are out of school, what a great present to have them here all day being bored, haha. At least they get to play in the snow. As I am another year older I hope to find myself next year a lot more healthy. Very motivated in a serious excercise plan and ready to run that 10k I've always swore I'd run in, don't know why I'd torture my psyche with that goal, but there it is. More spiritual and a better mother than I am today. There we have it, Here we come 35, yes I said it, through tears, but I did. Well let me live this year happy and healthy! Here are some funny pics of the snowfight.

Awww such cute footsteps

that should be illegal here

Ouch Alaria 1 - Nick 0 right in the face too

Snow angels maybe, that's as far as i'll go with the angels thing

They are getting to the Rocks of our beautiful yard

She should play baseball

Add caption

Still friends

I finally got the Christmas stuff up. We don't have a ton yet, but we're growing. Here is some of the stuff we had fun decorating all together!

This is a set my Mom bought me for my Birthday right after I got married

The day we got the Christmas stuff up I had a baby shower for a really good friend of mine, Melanie Lindell. This was on Saturday and she went in yesterday and had her beautiful baby girl Raegan. Beautiful little baby with huge eyes. So excited for them. Although I have to say i was hoping she'd have it a few hours later so, we could share a Birthday, but wouldn't want Mel to be in more pain than she needs to be.

I made a dorky little cupcake tower, it pales to what the professionals do, but i didn't have much time or maybe I could've gone crazy on the decorating end of things

Madison and her mom Melanie Lindell, so cute

Well, I'm not sure how much more will happen before we go to Idaho for christmas, hopefully things are pretty chill. Alaria is supposed to be tested for the gifted program sometime in the next few weeks, we finally got a notice from the school. She also has her first Basketball game this Saturday, so that will definitely be on here:)