Christmas

We are super excited for Christmas this year.  We are visiting grandma and grandpa Stevens in California.  This is the first year that we have traveled for Christmas and it's kind of fun...this time!  The kids are excited for Santa although Malekai is really scared about the whole thing I think he'll realize it's not so bad Christmas morning when he opens his gifts!

I am going to miss Ashley this year with her being in the MTC and all but it sounds like she's doing really good so I guess I can't be mad!  Sure love and miss her already.  I am super glad to have Ryan back home but it's not like it matters cause he's basically busy with girlfriends and such so I never see him anyway (except when he watches my kids around 11:30 p.m. so I can go visit patients in the ER!) I love him for that!

I hope everyone has a good Christmas. I really do love this time of year becuase I really get to remember my Savior and feel his love for me.  I am so grateful for his atonement and plan of salvation.  I am grateful for my knowledge of it and for daily learning opportunities that help me to grow and become closer to Him.  Like the song "I Need Thee Every Hour", I truely do need my Savior in my life -always- and I am so grateful that I know He will always be there. 

Merry Christmas All!

Like Riding a Bike!

I was really nervous about volleyball but it didn't take long to be right back in the swing of things.  It was so much fun and our team is much better than I expected.  YEA!  I LOVE VOLLEYBALL!

In a Month's Time...

In a month's time...Aylee started kindergarten and had her 6th birthday.  She loves it and honestly, it's really nice for me too.  Malekai turned three years old and is now conviced he needs to go to school too. 

I am finishing up my softball league. It was a lot of fun and our team actually did pretty well!  We won games...that's better than usual!  I am excited to start playing volleyball in a couple weeks.  It will be interesting.  I don't think any of our team members have played since high school and not to age ourselves but that was a LONG time ago! I don't plan on winning much but it will be fun regardless!

Aylee First Day of Kindergarten!

Aylee started school and had her sixth birthday

My first attempt at making cool cakes.
(They are ballet slipplers)

Malekai turned 3!

Second attempt...haha at least I tried!

How cute are these boys?
Damon, Malekai and cousin Alo

As the boys get older I am having so much fun with them.  They are funny kids for sure.  I love being able to do things with them and I love, love, love, when they play together.  Of course there are times I am pulling my hair out becuase they just want to pester each other but that is to be expected.  It is so fun having cousins around that they can play with as well. 

Who taught these boys to put plastic bags on thier heads??

 I really do need to keep a close watch on these boys though cause if I don't...well you see! They really do keep me on my toes!

This makes life worth while!!!

So after all is said and done I am glad I can take a step back to really see how great life is.  "By small and simple things..."

Playing Catch-UP

So after my resovle to do better and write more in my blog aka online journal I am making my second post nine months later! Wow!

School started for us all again but this year Aylee is in Kindergarten! What a Milestone.  She loves it so far and is doing great.  She loves Wednesdays because they get to have PE and go to the computer lab. 

Malekai is sad he can't go to school with her. He also misses her when she is gone and constantly asks "when's Aylee coming back?"  Cute.

Damon is my possesive son on more accounts than one.  He can't share his mommy, his favorite books, his stuffed dogs, his toy trucks or toy cars.  What a punk! He has to take them everywhere too.

We are so excited for the arrival of our new niece/cousin.  Cecillia La'laai (spelled something like that)! She is an adorable little girl but now all Aylee can talk about, dream about, and tell others about is how she wishes her mom was pregnant.  To that all I can say is...keep dreaming!

After the half marathon that I ran (in January..refer to last post) I finished with blood seeping out of the top of my shoe and blisters covering my feet I vowed to never run again.  After losing three toenails, a result of that race, and five months later I put on my running shoes again and have been trying to get back in the swing of things.  I've done a couple 5K's but nothing too serious.

I've had a lot of fun playing in volleyball tournament and softball leagues.  I can't seem to get enough but what ever happened to church ball?  Our ward/stake is slacking big time!

Summer was busy as all get out.  There was something every weekend whether it be the lake, vacation, or yardwork we just couldn't seem to keep things in order around our house.  Thankfully school is back in and makes us have some kind of structure to our lives!

That's all for now. Can't make any promises as to when the next post might be cause as we know it sometimes takes months...nine of them to be exact! Hopefully pictures will come soon

New Year

Hmmm...it's already January.  Where does time go?  We have had a lot of fun the past few months.  Aylee turned 5, Malekai 2, and Damon 1.  It's crazy how fast your babies grow up.  We had a lot of fun over the holidays with family and friends and not to mention Santa Clause!  Good Times.

School started again for Andrew and I so we are back to our crazy lives.  I have been running for about six months now and will be running this Saturday in the St. George Half Marathon (it used to be the Painters Half).  It should be interesting, haha.  I'm not expecting an amazing time or anything just want to be able to have events that hold me accountable to running consistently.  Next up is the Marathon in October..wahh wish me luck on that one!  I of course will do races up til then but nothing more than 10K's at a time.

Aylee is going to play soccer this year and is absolutely excited about it.  I remember soccer at that age and I don't think its much of a spectator sport!  I keep telling myself it will be fun to go watch anyway!

Malekai thinks he has to eat yogurt all day long.  He's now climbing up the shelves in the fridge trying to get it by himself.  I'm just waiting for the whole shelf of food/milk/etc to come tumbling down.  Can't you see it?  That would make for a happy mom..

Damon is one now and pretty close to walking.  I keep waiting for the day.  I am getting quite the biceps from hauling that chunk of a boy around all day long!  He really is a funny boy.  Always has a funny face or wooing smile to keep us laughing!

That all for now.  hopefully will have more soon!