Last Snow Trip- Cedar City- Woods Ranch

It was such a wonderful family day! This is by far our favorite sledding spot! You can take your sled as high or stay as low as you'd like. The pink arrow is where Cambria is. Some other people start their sleds way up by the trees.

I have no idea what kind of bird this is. Is it a turkey or a pheasant? I don't know but there were at least two dozen of them on the roadside. They were pretty big.

My two favorite boys!

These are some of my favorite shots from the trip:

Meet Winter Angel, the snowman. She had lolly pops for eyes. They were too yummy to resist!

Bubby's first taste of snow . . .

He liked it so much he went back for seconds, and thirds, and fourths . . . well, you get the idea!

Cambria climbed the "big" snow mountain!

Love this shot!

and this one too!

I love great family days!

Good-bye ugly . . .Hello Beautiful!

Hello Beautiful!

Good-bye ugly! Slowly but surely we get to do little home improvement projects- I still haven't finished painting my living room!

Isn't my little Bubba looking so grown up!

what he is doing:

Climbing on everything- Help

folding his arms for prayer

screaming to go on daily walks

Loves to "use" the remote and "talk" on the phone

Loves to put key in key holes

Loves to spend time outside in the garage with his car (it's pink)

burping loudly and laughing

coloring

patting himself on the belly and saying "Bu- Bah!"

Conflicting things happened in January. The water in my hose froze and the leaves finally decided to change color and fall. It is not often that we rake leaves in January.

Candi and Toshia tagged me along time ago. This is for you two:

6 Random things about myself:

1. I don't like to walk on cement with bare feet.

2. I like shopping for maternity clothes better than real clothes.

3. I always put the parking brake on

4. I make lists for EVERYTHING

5. I want to own a b&b someday

6. I spill a lot.

Firsts: For Toshia

First date:

HS Homecoming

First dance:

The same

First hand holding:

Don't remember - I do remember the first time I held hands with Kai though in Waikiki.

First Kiss:

At the end of my street with R. C.

First time cutting hair:

A guy I was dating in Hawaii- it looked horrible, he dumped me

First night at college:

It was BYUH, I kept telling myself 4 1/2 months wasn't that long to be away from home, then I saw my tiny white dorm room and I changed my mind.

First name I chose for my child:

Cambria Ke'ilani

What was the first thing you did when graduated HS:

All night grad party at the school

First thing you did when you graduated college:

I really don't remember

Were you ever:

Picked first in gym:

yes

First in your class academically:

no

First on the scene of a crime:

no

First at scene of accident:

Not first, but the first one to provide first aid

I tag anyone who wants to play.

Seen and Heard

Kiera: Mom, do you know how bees die, it's when humans clap their hands together like that (shows me hand clap)
Mom: Oh, yes . . .
Kiera: you know how bees cry? Like this: buh-zz-zz-zz, buh-zz-zz-zz
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Kiera: Mom, Grammy says she has lots of earthplakes! (Grammy denies having said this)
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Kai: Cool! Cambria qualifies for reduced lunch! I wonder if teachers can qualify too!
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Kiera: Mom, why do you call dad honey?
Mom: Because he's my honey.
Kiera: Because he's like a food? I guess some food wear shirts
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Kiera: Oh, what's that stinky smell?
Cambria: It's not me! . . . Okay, it is me.
Kiera: Cambria, you're a stinky girl!
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Cambria: Mom, Today we had a dissembly! (assembly)
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Kiera: (after having watched a shoe go down the storm drain while playing in the water the rains left) Mom! Call the police! Now we really have an emergency!
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Cambria: I just want money because Dad always wants money!
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Cambria: Tomorrow should we write a story about Dad and Bubba? It could be called 'The wise man and his dad.'
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Kiera: You are the best mommy in the world, except when you are mad, then you are not the best mommy in the world.
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Cambria: (she thought her new friend had moved) Mom, I think Cassidy moved to her new lair.
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Kiera: Mom, I'm pretty sure I want my hair to be green.
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While I was rocking Bubba to sleep:
Kiera: Mom, I have a booger.
Mom: Go get a Kleenex.
Kiera: Ok, but I can't I have boogers all on me.
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Cambria: Mom, someone is on the manswering sheen!
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Mom: This sticker is old.
Kiera: (sweetly) Well, Gigi is old so you need to give her old things.
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Cambria: Maybe we can make a sale of all our old clothes and everyone can come buy them.
Kiera: Tutu (Kai's grandma) is old.We should give her all our old clothes.
Cambria: What?
Mom: Repeats Kiera
Cambria: Oh, my clothes are way too small for Tutu!
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We were so close to getting a puppy and changed our minds
Cambria: Said sadly as we were walking into Target "Thanks to you and Dad, I don't have a dog."
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Cambria: Remember when we had dinner at Gigi's and Candi's?
Mom: Yes.
Cambria: And we got to drink out of glass cups? (something I don't allow)
Mom: Yes.
Cambria: That was SO cool!
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Cambria: How do you get so old?
Mom: Birthdays. You know, every time you have a birthday, you get older.
Cambria: Oh, Maybe you can get older on your next birthday.
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Cambria: I kind of love that little boy we met at the park. He gave me flowers. It was kind of romantic.
Kiera: Yeah, he gave me rocks. I love rocks!
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Cambria: What if we were fish and the fisherman's hook caught us right here (points to her tongue)
Mom: Then I guess they would fry us up and eat us!
Kiera: Guys, that can't even happen because we are human!
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Cambria: Maybe Bubba doesn't know where he is.
Kiera: (pats him gently on the head) Here you are Bubba (points with her finger) you are right here.
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Kiera near tears because she accidentally popped her big sisters balloon. Cambria hugged her and said "That's okay, you are still my sister even though you popped my balloon."
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Cambria: I didn't want to hurt your feelings.
Mom: What do you mean?
Cambria: You know, hurt your feelings, crush your spirits, dash your hopes, you know hurt your feelings.
Mom: Oh, you didn't hurt my feelings.
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Mom: Kiera, close your eyes and go to sleep!
Kiera: I am but my eyes are playing hop scotch!
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Kiera: Mom, can you please butter my toothbrush (put toothpaste on)
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Cambria: (drinking a 7up- she hates soda) Mom! Hurry I need water, this drink has fire in it!
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This is the winner:
I will withhold the name to save embarrassment:
Taking daughter to the bathroom last night at Cafe Rio- see her dirty undies:
Mom: Oh, that is so gross!
Daughter: What?
Mom: Your panties!
Daughter: I did not put chocolate down there!
Mom: That is not chocolate!
Daughter: what is it?
Mom: It's poop!
Daughter: No.It. Is. Not! (offended)

I just discovered that I can do this.

Next year we'll send xmas cards . . . I promise

Traditions are something that knit a family together. No matter how great or small, traditions form binding ties. They create memories that last a life time.

My Father died when I was nine years old. He was never a candidate for the father of the year award, but I loved him in spite of his faults and in between his moments of unmentionable episodes he had moments of wonder and glory. He made us laugh. He was funny and charming and he loved us desperately. One of our traditions comes from a gift he gave me when I was four. It cost less than $5.oo at the local grocery store and was given to me (so I'm told) after a particularly bad illness. I still remember requesting it.

It is a very unassuming and very used (taped back together in many places) paper doll nativity set. We have used it to reenact Christ's birth every Christmas Eve for 26 years. We even have a script with music (my mom plays the guitar and we sing in all the appropriate spots). My children love the set as much as I did when I first got it. I'll bet my dad never thought it would survive the week when he bought it for me so many years ago. It only feels like Christmas to me once we have done this.

Four generation picture.

Christmas day is when madness ensues. We opened presents at my mom's house, then headed to my Grandma Jan's house for dinner part one and more presents, them we headed to my Aunt Wendy's house for presents and dinner part 2. Exhausting.
Look at the pure joy on Bubby's face!

I had two cousins get engaged this holiday season as well. Candi and Jonathan and Matt and Katie! We could not be more excited! I love weddings! I already love both of the people Candi and Matt have chosen to share their lives with! Congratualtions you four!

Climbing on top of this bed was one of Bubby's favorite things. He has become a full fledged climber. Heaven help us.

These new red shoes were a favorite part of the trip for me.

Usually this would be the end of our busy festivities, but my cousin Kirstie, was married on the 26Th. I was really sad that we were unable to go through the temple with her when she received her endowments (all of our babysitters live in Nevada) and even sadder when we were unable to witness her sealing. I love sealings. They make me feel renewed in devotion for my husband and there is nothing like witnessing a new couple become a forever family. She is the only cousin I have been unable to see sealed. She and her new husband are so in love- it is almost a tangible feeling when you are near them.

We did get to attend their reception and it was really quite amazing. He husband's family's house is really quite large (I've heard 15,000 square ft) I think it was more than half of my mom's street block - and them there were the grounds. Really quite beautiful. The reception was outside in a tent and it was almost warm inside of it. The celebration was merry and full of life and wonderful people.

My girls love to see brides. They become meek and shy, like a lower class citizen would as they stood in awe of a queen. Kiera kept asking me, "mom, when is the white girl going to come see us?" Kirstie was kind enough to make them each feel special and pose for a picture with them. I don't think she knew how much that meant to them. Thanks Kirstie!

Kiera REALLY enjoyed the dessert.

Kirstie and Bradley.

When we left i told Kai (jokingly) that seeing that house made me realize that at some point in life you realize that the dreams you had as a child of wealth and all that it comes with it need to be altered. Teachers don't really make a lot of money. He sighed and said, "Yep, Ryan is our only hope." Ryan who was in the car with us laughed of course. We promised if he struck it rich and let us come live with him, we would cook and clean and do all the menial chores so that he could live a blissfully delightful existence. At this point, his girlfriend, Hayley, who was in the car with us also agreed to marry him in his state of wealth. It was funny. They are still in high school.

Hayley sat next to Bubba on the car ride home. I am so glad for this because he was too shy to cry with her so near. If he would have been alone I am sure he would have wailed until he fell asleep. Once he warmed up to her, he took off his left shoe (like he does every chance he gets) and hit her with it continually until we got home.

After the wedding events were over, life calmed down a bit. We were able to spend quality family time together that didn't involve driving. It involved a few days at the park, one at the children's museum, one at Chuck E. Cheese' and lots of lazy afternoons in the back yard on the play set or in the sandbox. We even got to play a few grown up games when the kiddos went to sleep. Well, one game called Apples to Apples. It was hilarious because instead of being quite and stealthy like the game demands, we ended up trying to convince the judge why they should choose our card.

Bubby loving his uncle Ryan.

This is not a great picture, but it is a great memory of what we do before we sleep. Taking a picture of Kiera with a normal smile is like trying to pin a wave upon the sand (does anyone know that movie/song reference???)

Once we got home, we opened the presents that we didn't take with us to California. It was like the Christmas that wouldn't end.

Half of the power in our house has been off. We had an electrician come to fix it twice and he can't figure out what was going wrong. It is working now and I hope it stays that way because we are tired of going to the bathroom by candlelight.