Almost forgot....

My baby girl turned eight on Dec 7!

I'm already dreading the time when she'll get married. I think it's realistic to worry about already since I know how fast the last eight years have passed!

Some things don't change though. She still....

got lots of presents.....

ate yummy cupcakes with friends and family....

shared her birthday party with her brothers (all matching shirts, might I add)....

got big bear hugs from Daddy....

got a sweet (sweaty- since I just got home from the gym) hug from Mom...

And, new this year: Dinner with a few friends at Tepanyaki. Yummy!

She is so excited to be baptized in January. I really can't believe how old all of my kids are getting. They are all such good kids. Jason and I feel very lucky to be blessed with such a great family- extended and immediate. Thanks to everyone who has helped support our family throughout the years. My kids have benefited so much from your love and examples!

Still saving the day!

Me and my Dad. We both grew into our good looks! :)

Graduation from RHS!

Dad after he shoveled during a snow storm (snow piled on his eyebrows!). It cracked me up when he walked in the house. He had to take his glasses off because they completely fogged up when he walked in!

Jason and I got locked out of our house (long story). I called my Mom to see if she had our house key. She had one!

I bawled for a half hour when I picked the keys up from her and realized that it was on my Dad's set of keys. I can still picture him holding his keys. Dumb stuff like that sets me off and I cry, cry, cry. I miss him so much!

Happy Thanks-birthday!

We went to Las Vegas this year for Thanksgiving. Cayden's football team was playing in a tournament down there.

Thanksgiving day was also Taylor's birthday. Like his shirt? I made him wear it all day long!

He got a new coat and an iPod touch for his birthday.

Lucky!

Cayden left his shoes in the car after changing into his football gear the day before. This allowed him to get a piggy-back ride from his buff Mom. Dad was down at the tables with Grandma. Those two encourage each other's gambling weakness.

Hanging out in the lobby waiting for Grandma and Dad... Again!

Thanksgiving buffet at the Rio. Yummy! Our friends, the Chugg's came down from St George to watch Cayden's games and eat some delicious food. Fun times!

What's a trip to Vegas without a stop at the M&M factory!

Cayden's birthday was Monday. We got home late on Sunday night from Vegas. This was him opening presents before school!

He got army dog tags with his name engraved on them, and army tanks/ guns/ guys.

He loved it!

Hannah gave him the book Why is the Sea Salty? He humored her and acted like he loved it. I think she found it in her closet and it was a last minute thing.

It's the thought that counts, right?

it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

I sent the kids to school and went in to take a shower. Before I could get in, I started to hear some weird noises. I thought maybe the wind....

But then it was definite: Loud stomps on the RoOf.

Santa?

I ran to the window,

through open the blinds,

and what to my wondering eye should appear ?

A Ben Lomond Landscape truck and five workers putting lights on my house!

Yippee!

Some of you might wonder why Jason doesn't install our Christmas lights. My obvious answer to that: Have you seen the pitch of our roof?

Fabulous Football

Cayden's team had their award banquet last night.

The trophy's rocked!

Cayden got the award for the "fastest runner." He set a goal at the first of the season to always come in first place at every practice . He did it!

I liked the story the coach told with it:

Coach explained to the boys that even though Cayden is fast, it isn't something that he was just born with. He works at it constantly. He recalled one practice where Cayden had pushed himself so hard to come in first place during ladders that he went over to the fence and threw up afterwards.

I'm so proud of him for all of his talent and hardwork! Love ya, bud!

Diet

I'm getting chubby. It's a sad, sad fact.

I've known it for a while, but ever since the nurse said,

"Oh, you carry your weight well,"

when she was checking me in for my appointment, I can't get it out of my mind.

This picture is from about a month ago.

First (note to self): curly hair not my thing.

Second: Chubby.

I don't want any more pics like this in our family album.

The picture below is of me weigh 20 lbs lighter (notice how young Cayden is in the background?).

I want this. I am doing it!

I'm letting this out into the blogging world only because I need to be held accountable. If people know I'm dieting, hopefully I'll stick with it. AND, I need recipes. High protein, low fat, low carb. If you have any yummy ones, send them my way. Thanks and wish me luck!

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basketball

Girls basketball is funny, especially when my hubby is coaching.

I tried to warn him that girls aren't the same as boys. He wanted to coach anyway.

Jason couldn't believe that the girls were doing one-handed cartwheels while he was explaining how to "post up and guard their man." He doesn't understand why they don't focus when he is showing them how to dribble and use the backboard on their shots. This is all unreal to him.

Where's the competitive edge?

Let them fight for one cute boy's attention, then you'll see it.

Until then, everyone is having fun!