Christmas Day

When I was a little girl my sister and I would wake up at 5 or 6 in the morning on Christmas day to open our presents. There was one year when we woke up at 4 in the morning and my mom told us to go back to sleep for at least another hour or so. We were so excited to see what Santa brought us. I thought my girls would wake up super early because they wanted to see what Santa brought them, no not the case. Brandon woke up at 7:30 and then I got up after. The girls heard Brandon and they came in our room. I had to wake up Brock, which I really hate doing cause I like for him to sleep in as much as possible so he's not so grumpy. After I get his diaper changed we head downstairs to see what Santa brought them. Jazmin for some odd reason wanted a guitar and so at the last minute Brandon stopped by toys r us to get one for her. She was super excited to get her guitar. Mariah wanted Pixo girls (have no clue what the heck those are but good thing she showed me a picture of them) and we got Brock a basketball hoop and something Brandon grabbed at Cabela's. We had a good Christmas and we even broke down and bought a wii as our family Christmas gift. We headed up north and stopped at my mom's to eat delicious tamales that she always makes for Christmas. I seriously had like 6 of those suckers. LOVE THEM! Afterwords we went to Brandon's parents house to open gifts there and eat some more. Seriously by the time we came back from Christmas weekend I had gained like 7 pounds! I did nothing but eat and eat and eat. Oh well that's what new year's resolutions are for right to hit the gym and lose weight. It was a good Christmas and a good year for us. We were able to go to Hawaii this year and be able to go to Island Park again with Brandon's family and enjoy one another. This coming year seems to look good for us so far and I can't wait to tell you what's in store for us really really soon. Until then Happy New Year's everyone.

Christmas Eve

I figured I better get up some pictures and a post of how our Christmas Eve and Christmas went before we head into the new year. So here goes. On Christmas Eve Brandon went out in the early morning to go coyote hunting with some guy friends and then I met him in Salt Lake so that we could swap cars so that I could hurry and run to some stores to get a few things that I needed for Christmas. I cannot believe how many people save Christmas Eve to go shopping. All the good stuff is all picked over! When I got back home we decided to take the kids to a movie. The kids wanted to go sledding but it was really cold and Brandon said that I and some other friends of ours made him a wimp when it comes to the cold. He use to be down for going sledding but not any more. I told Brandon we should either see the chipmunks or the princess and the frog and chose the chipmunks. I was a little nervous cause this would be Brock's first movie we have ever taken him to and I wasn't too sure how he would take it. Well the only seats the had available were the very front row and I told Brandon to get them since we were already there and I wanted to do a matinee. So we get our snacks and make our way to the front. Brock was so good he just sat on my lap and ate his popcorn and drank his drink. I was thinking we might be able to make it through the movie if he is being this good for the previews. The minute the movie started he gets off my lap and wants to go back in forth from me to brandon to the girls. Brock loved popcorn, a little too much, because he would get popcorn from our bucket and eat it but it would miss his mouth so he would eat it off the ground. Then he spilled his drink all over dragged his blanket around and at times we do a little dance. He would lay on the ground with his blanket and eat the popcorn off the floor like a dog, yes on all fours, he would dump the popcorn in his drink cup, drink was gone, and drink his popcorn. I finally had to get him and stand in the back of the theater towards the end of the movie. It wasn't too bad because he didn't scream or cry he was just having way too much fun eating popcorn off the ground. I'm super glad we got those seats cause if it were anywhere else I have no clue how he would do. He would probably be going up and down the stairs. For dinner we have came up with our own Christmas eve dinner tradition to go out to an Asian place to eat at. We did that a couple of years ago on Christmas eve and it reminded us of A Christmas Story and thought it would be fun to keep that going. So we headed into town and decided to try out a new Japanese hibachi grill that just opened in Lehi. It was great cause we were the only ones in there and Brandon knew the cook from another restaurant he use to work at and he gave us a free appetizer. The place was good and I hope it does well in Lehi. When we got home the kids opened their pajamas and off to bed the went. It was a good Christmas Eve and I was happy that I finally got to have a Christmas Eve at our house this year.

Brock before the movie. So good but wasn't able to get a after picture to see the big mess he made.


Opening his Christmas Eve present


Opening Christmas Eve present


Yay jammies!

Christmas Party

On Monday I started wrapping presents and I was so proud of myself. I figured better get that done so I don't stay up late on Christmas eve wrapping presents. As I finished wrapping the few that I brought in my room I realized I still had a lot more to wrap, blah. I am determined though to bake some scrumptious Christmas goodies and give away to some friends and neighbors. I will try but I'm not going to promise anything.

We went up north last weekend for the Petersen Christmas party and we stayed at my mom's house. On Saturday morning I woke up early and headed to Honeyville to meet a friend so that we could go on a run. I told my friend that I would call her whenever I'm up and we would arrange a time to run together outside. What a day to run outside I tell ya. It was cold and foggy. The whole way to Honeyville I kept my eye out for any animals because I didn't want to hit a deer or whatever happens to hop out in the middle of the highway. As I am driving to Honeyville I started going down old memory lane. It had been forever since I drove the highway and couldn't believe how many new houses have been built out there. I get to my friends house and we head out running and I was FREEZING. My face was that is. As we are talking and running I look over at my friend and was thinking to myself wow she is starting to get a little gray. A 1/2 mile or so later it got a lot whiter and I told her I thought she was going gray and realized it was from the fog. She thought the same thing with me too cause she say a little white on my hair. After we ran 6 miles our front of our head was covered in white, eyelashes and eyebrows were white too. Who runs in the cold and fog, apparently Joanna and I do. It was fun and I'm glad that I have someone to run with during the cold season to keep me motivated. I will see her early in the morning the day after Christmas for another 6 mile run, and it will be a lot colder then that it was that day.

After I had showered and somewhat thawed myself out we headed to the Petersen Christmas party. It was fun we ate a lot and Santa came to visit. I was excited for Brock to see Santa cause I wanted to see his reaction and he did great. He didn't look at Santa in the eye but he sat on his lap and Santa asked him if he wanted a truck he nodded yes and then Santa asked him if he wanted candy and he nodded yes got his candy and orange and off he went. No screaming no crying. What a little trooper.







On Sunday we went to Uncle Curt's house in Clearfield and hung out with Aunt Sheree and Bruce and other family. It was fun being able to visit with Sheree since we don't see her too often. When it hit 5pm we all went to temple square and walked around to see the lights. Brock was so excited to see the lights and I was proud of my little kiddos being tough and bearing the cold weather. It was pretty cold and by the time we went home Jazmin started to cry cause her hands were cold and Brock's poor little wrist were cold because his coat would show a little skin.








Sorry this post was pretty long but I finally got a lot of pictures up. Enjoy and I hope that everyone has a very merry christmas.

Yay pictures

Get ready for some pictures. I have finally posted some up and there is lots more to come so be prepared. Brock is soo funny he loves to get my ipod and put the earphones in his ears and he will start dancing. So I thought that I would put this picture of him up. When we first got our first snowstorm I had to run to the store to get some snow gear for Brock because I knew that he would want to go play in it. When we got home I had to chase him around the house to get his snowsuit on and his boots. He was crying so bad because he didn't want them on but as you can see in the end he loved it. He cried when I brought him back in the house. The last picture is of Mariah and her dance. This year was suppose to be Nutcracker but Misty decided not to do it so instead they put on a little showcase. We got to go and watch the things that they learn and a little dance. It was cute. Mariah is soo little compared to all the other girls in her class. That's it for now watch out for more pictures soon.


Brock pretending to listen to jazmin's shuffle



First time out playing in snow







Mariah's dance performance

The chaos that is called Christmas

I thought by having my Christmas shopping done way before December came around that it would take a lot of stress off and that I can enjoy Christmas time and the Christmas spirit-wrong! I haven't wrapped any presents yet, I haven't baked any goodies for neighbors and friends, and my tree keeps getting redecorated by mister Brock. I've decided not to do neighbor gifts this year just simply because I don't feel like it this year and I haven't started baking anything. I may change my mind at the last minute cause I seem to do that. I really need to make time to wrap presents but I'm afraid to because I'm afraid Brock will start ripping the paper off. I'm getting frustrated how many ornaments I keep finding on the ground or when I go to vacuum hooks are getting swallowed up the vacuum. Even with getting everything done so early I just still feel like it's chaos but I should say not too bad. I don't know I feel like this year isn't so cheery. I guess of things that have happened the past month or so, but the new year will be here soon and all that we have dealt with will now be in the past. Next year is going to bring up some exciting new things for us and I can't wait. I really need to start posting pictures up. So hopefully I will get around to that, because we all know that we want to see pictures instead of reading right.

2nd Dose

Today I had an appointment to take the kids to get their 2nd dose of the lovely H1N1 shot. I told Mariah that we had to check Jazmin out of school early and told her we that everyone was getting shots. She freaked out and I told her that after we get shots I would let them pick out a $5 toy at the story. She was ok with that so I figured it should go fine, right, wrong. For some reason Mariah thought we were going to the Dr.'s office to get shots and when she saw the health department building she started to freak out. She instantly knew she was getting the H1N1 shot. I take my papers to the nurse and after checking me in we head into the room. She started to cry as the nurse waits to put us in a line. It was horrible. The child hasn't gotten poked yet and she is just crying away. When our turn is up I tell the nurse that I need some help with one cause she kicks and screams. She asked me which one I need help with and I told her the one that is crying. We have Jazmin go first and she freaked a little but not too much. Mariah is up and I am holding her head (she is sitting on my lap) one nurse is holding her arms and the other nurse puts her body into Mariah so she doesn't kick and pokes her. Mariah lets out this HUGE scream and everyone is just staring at me. Brock is next and he is so easy. I hold him and they poke him in the leg. The girls got theirs in the arm. He tensed his little leg so I'm sure it hurt him a lot more this time than last. He cries for like 2 seconds and is done. I am just glad that I don't have to take all 3 of them to get shots. It is so hard to take 3 children all by youself when I have one that is running around everywhere, one screaming her head off, and the other is just doing nothing to help me out. Thank goodness that is all done and over with.

Life is like a box of chocolates....

I never really thought that life would be like a box of chocolates. You have sooo many choices to chose from and you want to make sure that the one you picked is a good choice. That little saying has struck home with me the last few weeks. Brandon has started a new job and he is loving it. He loves his floor manager and how professional this floor is compared to the last floor. I knew that Brandon would make a good decision and I told him that I feel good with this job and I feel like something good is heading our way. It's soo crazy cause new opportunities keep popping up to Brandon and some are good, some are bad, and some just plain scary. I trust that my husband will look out for what is best for our family but it's also scary because what if you pick the chocolate and it is not very tasty, but what if you pick the most delicious chocolate you have every had in your life. It has been such a rough road the last couple of week with everything that we have had to deal with and I know that in the end it will all work out for the best. I love my husband and I love how he will do anything for us and make sure that we are in a good place. Sorry if this post sounds a little confusing I don't want to say too much because I feel like there are some things that I need to keep quite and not say yet. Maybe someday I will be able to share my feelings and what is going on but right now I don't feel like it's the time to say. Don't worry everyone things are excellent with me and Brandon. I love my husband and my family and I am glad that I have them.

New Beginning

It has been since a crazy last few weeks for us I don't know where to start. I guess all the craziness began 2 weeks ago I would have to say when we found out the Brandon's company was relocating to California. When we heard this news it was a shocker because we never thought that MOA (Mentoring of America) would ever leave Utah. I started to panic because we are heading into the holiday and my husband was out of a job what are we going to do? Brandon's plan was to go out to California and talk to the owner and see what kind of deal they can give Brandon. We would move to California only if the owners would pay for moving expense and give Brandon some kind of living allowance in order for him to pay rent in California plus we would still have our home and our bills in Utah. He would go to California for a month while I stayed here and have the girls finish up school until Christmas Break. I wasn't to thrilled about California cause it's soo far from family but was willing to do whatever my husband thought would be best for us. Plus I would totally love to leave Utah weather and enjoy some of California's weather. Brandon was told that the last day of MOA would be the end of November so he started networking trying to find other jobs here in Utah if the deal in California would not go. Meanwhile, I would have moments of panicking and bawling my eyes out (it's only natural),but I knew that everything would be ok. I would call up my friend, whose husband works with my husband and they live in our neighborhood, and we would just cry to one another. Our friends have dealt with this same situation a year ago this same time so she was happy someone else was going through this same situation with her. It did help because instead of stressing our husbands out we would cry to one another. The California thing didn't happen but that's ok cause Brandon ended up talking to different companies and by the time the week of Thanksgiving came he had 3 companies he had to choose from. We were set on going with this one that all of his friends from work had gone to but then a company called him up and offered him a good offer. Then on Tuesday morning (the day we were heading up North for Thanksgiving) he gets another call from a different company wanting to meet with him and giving him a great offer as well. In the end he decided to go with the first company that called him up and he starts tomorrow. We feel really good about this decision and I truly believe that this whole situation was a blessing. He has work for MOA for such a long time and work his way up but now he will work in Draper and he will prove to this new company what he is all about. I really do appreciate everyone that has called us to see how we are doing and everyone's concerns about us it's been truly amazing. I do think that in the end people that have been honest and true will be surely blessed. This will sure make me appreciate how much my husband puts into providing for us and how hard he will fight in order for us to have the things we have and to have a good Christmas. It was really hard for me to tell the girls why we had to pull them out of Cheer but they understood and I told them it will just be a little break. I hope that my kids will be grateful for the things they have and things they get to do. I also hope that they will be grateful for their dad and how hard he works for us. Happy Holidays everyone!

7 yrs!

7 years ago I brought into this world my daughter Jazmin. I remember being so scared heading into the hospital to get induced and realizing that I was going to be a mom to a precious little thing. 7 years have gone by so fast and I have such a sweet little girl. She is such a good little helper and always is willing to learn new things. I remember when Mariah asked her what she wanted to be when she grows up and her answer was a Mom. I couldn't believe what I had just heard. It was the most precious thing ever. To know how much she looks up to me. If you ask her that question again it's different but that one answer will always be in my mind. Happy Birthday Jazmin and I hope that you have a wonderful birthday to always remember. We love you!

Tears in my eyes

After much consideration I decided that I needed to get the kids the H1N1 shot. My reasoning is because Brock is 19 months, and it would just break my heart for such a little guy to be that sick, Mariah has asthma, and there are sooo many kids out here getting sick with the swine flu. So I decided I better get it done but wanted to somehow avoid standing in the long lines. Sunday night my mom called me up and told me that the Health Department was giving away tickets for the shot at the Saratoga Springs Walmart at 8 a.m. on Monday. I got up and showered, told the girls to hurry get dress and brush their teeth and we were out. I saw a line and was like ugg I am not standing in a long line with 3 kids, but when I got to the end of the line it wasn't that bad. I stood in line for like 20 minutes and got my 3 tickets. My appointment was yesterday (Tuesday) at 2 p.m. I checked Jazmin out of school and headed towards Provo. I had no clue where the stinkin Health Department is located at in Provo so I turned to my nifty navigation system on my phone (it's a lifesaver). I was kind of in a panic because it was a little after 2 and I didn't know if they would turn me away but when I got there, there was a line. I have 3 kids and I have to wait in a stinkin long line! It wasn't that bad of a wait though. When we entered the room where they were giving the shots I wanted to cry. There were little kids getting their shots and they were crying. Mariah enters the room and she starts crying. As we are waiting for the people in front of us to get their shots Jazmin starts crying. I have 2 kids crying and Brock is just busy. It's our turn and I have to drag Jazmin to sit on my lap and cover her eyes. The nurse pokes her and she just screams. Mariah is next and I put her on my lap and she is screaming, kicking, thrashing her arms it was sad. The nurse pokes her and she lets out a loud scream. 2 down one to go it's Brock's turn now. I hold him and put his legs in between my thighs and poke. He whines for a bit and he is done. Brock whines and that is it while me girls are still crying. I tell you this little boy is one tough cookie! The girls said they would rather get sick than get a shot and I asked them do you want to miss a lot of school or not play with friends. They immediately answer back with they don't want to get anymore shots. Well sad news is I have to go through this whole ordeal in 4 weeks because they've got to go back to get their booster shot. Oh my I don't know if I can do it all over again. I just didn't want them to get sick and was more worried for Mariah and Brock because they are more high risk. Cross fingers it goes a little bit better next time.

Running Fool

So I have officially made running a favorite hobby of mine. I know I know that sounds just crazy but I absolutely love running! I can't believe I just said that. I love how you can just go running and burn off all sorts of steam. I know when I have something bothering me I can go running and I can feel good about myself physically and mentally. I don't think that I am ready to run a full marathon yet. I have made a goal that I would like to run one by the time I hit 40. I just don't have the time for all the training that goes with a full marathon. I hopefully want to run another 1/2 marathon next year so that I can be prepared for the next goal in my running series which, is Ragnar Wasatch Back! For those of you that don't know what that is it's where you get a team of 12 people and each runner runs 3 legs of a certain amount of distance. The race begins in Logan and ends in Park City! Yes that means we will be running 24 hours. It's not as bad as it sounds. Brandon mentioned that I wanted to run the Wasatch Back to our neighbors and they are trying to get a team together and asked if I would like to be in theirs. I would love to so hopefully they can register in time so that we can run it next June. I'm excited if I am able to run with them it will be a blast. I finally found something that I really really enjoying doing and something that my girls love to cheer me on for. So we will see how everything goes and hopefully no injuries and I can run my little heart out for this. I will keep you all posted.

Halloween

So I have finally posted pictures up from September to October. I have been busy and lazy. It's a pain to put pictures on blogger I think that is.
For Halloween this year Brandon wanted to go up North so that grandma and grandpa could see the kids since Halloween landed on a Saturday. I really didn't want to go because I had bought all of the candy and didn't know what to do with it. I asked the girls what they wanted to do and they wanted to stay home and go trick or treating in our neighborhood. I told them that we were going up to see grandma and grandpa and staying out my mom's house. They were fine with it. Brock did an awesome job trick or treating. That little boy is a trooper I tell you. He wanted to be out in the cold and walk and hold his little bucket. He loved every minute of trick or treating. He loved the pumpkins and of course the candy. Brandon and I took the kids trunk or treating by my mom's house and some houses by her and went back to her house to get some jackets. I thought that I would leave Brock home with dad and grandpa and my mom and I took the girls out. We finished this cul da sac and low and behold here comes Brandon with my little fisherman. I was crying and pointing to the door after we left so Brandon took him. He did good. I'm proud of him. Here are some pictures.

Halloween Parade at School


Halloween Pictures with cousins and my dog dressed up too. She didn't like her bee outfit what so ever!

September Pictures

Living Planet Aquarium










Cheer






Kangaroo Zoo

I'm In!!!

So it's been a whole year since I've seen this great country musician and it's time to see him again. He will be coming to Utah and I am so planning on going! I've had really crappy seats and really good seats and been backstage 2! For this concert next summer I am paying money for good seats instead of the lawn, since it will be at the USANA. Oh this will be sooo fun I can't wait! I love going to a Tim concert. He puts on a good show and it's also a good girls night out. Oh I can't wait!

Yucky Blues

It's been awhile since I've last posted anything and that's my fault. I've been so busy and fighting with getting over the sickies at our house. So much has happened the past couple of weeks I don't know where to begin. I will first start off with Brandon's birthday Oct 9th. My cute hubby turned 29! I know he's getting old and he's got the grays to prove it. We got a babysitter and went out for his birthday. The original plan was that we were going to go to a haunted house but we have a few chickens in our group so we didn't go. We ended up going to Joe's Crab Shack for dinner and got to watch Brandon put on a sombrero ride a stick pony and gallop around the table. It was funny. I left my camera in the truck so no picture to show. Trust me it was funny. After dinner we ended up heading over to Fat Cats to go bowling. That's right no haunted house. It was way fun though. There were two couples that didn't go bowling so it was just me and Brandon and Erik and his girlfriend Kim. It was so fun and I beat Brandon at bowling! It was such a sweet victory since I've never ever have beaten him at bowling. Brandon had a good birthday. His team at work bought him a cake and sang to him and then the compliance girls decorated his truck. It was good that he had a good day since that week started off bad with a couple of his friends quitting. Next year for his 30th I'm planning a huge fiesta for him!

All of us have been fighting a nasty cold so that has been horrible for the past 2 weeks! It started off with Mariah and her croup. Then Jazmin got strep and the next day I took Brock into the doctor and he had a sinus infection. I had been feeling pretty crap for a week and figured I had a sinus infection also and I did. The kids seem to be getting better but me! I cannot get over this stinkin' cough. I have major headaches and it feels like someone has beaten my body with a bat. I feel pretty crappy! I'm going to head back to the doctor and get on something else cause I am done feeling like poo.

Brandon went elk and deer hunting. He didn't get his elk but he did get his deer. I must say I'm not impressed with it. I will show pictures later and you will see why. We went to Hee-Haw farms and the kids loved it, especially Brock. He had a blast throwing the hay around on the hay ride. I think he would have loved living on a farm just because he loves animals and being outside.

Well I think I have everything wrapped up all in a nutshell. I need to get some pictures up though. It's such a pain sometimes but goal this week is to post pictures up.

Family Pictures

Here are a few of our family pictures that we took. Not too much of Brock because he was being such a little stinker.