Happy Birthday Trenton

Happy Birthday to Trenton! What a big day for our 4 year old! We had a jam packed day full of toy shopping, party planning, Kangaroo Zoo, McDonald's, cake and presents. We started the day by going shopping to get balloons and party favors. After we went to the toy store because he got some birthday money from Great Grandma and Grandpa. He picked out a batman scooter and a batman toy car. He loves Batman! Trenton had many ideas of what he wanted to do for his birthday, but since money doesn't grow on trees he was only able to choose one. He decided he wanted to go to Kangaroo Zoo, which is an inflatable play place. He was able to invite one friend to join in the fun. The kids ran and played hard for 2 hours straight. They had a blast! In the evening Jimmy and I took Trenton out on a birthday date. We have started a tradition where Jimmy and I just taking the birthday boy out on their own. All the boys seem to enjoy this new tradition. However, Trenton was so pooped from playing at Kangaroo Zoo that he fell fast asleep on the drive over to McDonald's. McDonald's is the restaurant of choice for my kids. I gave Trenton several options of places to go, but he didn't get excited until I mentioned Mickey D's. What is it about that place!?! Anyway, he had a great time running and playing, again, at McDonald's. Afterward we came home for cake and presents. What a great day. We love our Birthday Boy!

Hill AFB

On December 30, 2008 I took the kids up to Ogden to visit a friend of mine. While we were there we took a trip to the Hill Air Force Base Aerospace Museum. WOW! It was so amazing. It was a perfect outing for 3 little boys. There were two big hangers full of airplanes. I know how much my Grandpa Carmen loves airplanes, so I thought of him a lot while we were there. It would have been fun to have him there to tell me all about the different planes. Spencer's favorite plane was the Blackbird, which is the fastest airplane in the world. Trenton liked when we were able to walk up inside a helicopter. There was a window taken out on the side of it and the kids decided that the window got "blown out" in battle. What imaginations! I think TJ had more fun running around then looking at any planes. He is just so full of energy. My friend has 2 boys and a little girl. One of her boys name is also Spencer, so while we were together we had to call my Spencer "Big Spencer" and hers "Little Spencer". There was a little bit of confusion with the two. It sure was fun to go experience this museum. It was Fascinating.

I'm a VIP

December 18, 2008 was a big day for a "Very Important Person" in our family. Spencer had his VIP day at school. Jimmy and I were invited to go to Spencer's class to share a little bit more about him. I made a poster all about Spencer which he shared with the class. We played a game of follow the leader. We thought of a list of things Spencer likes to do and acted them out, for example, playing football, hiking, shooting his bow and arrow, drawing, playing video games, having a snowball fight, and having a light saber duel. The kids enjoyed acting that out. Next Jimmy read the story "The Night Before Christmas" because Christmas is Spencer's favorite holiday. Finally, I made a memory game of Spencer's favorite things. On a poster I put pictures of some things Spencer likes then covered the pictures with a piece of paper with a number on it. The kids got to choose two numbers and if it was a match they won, if not they had to try again. They loved it. Then the class had question and answer time. At the very end Miss Gurney asked Jimmy and I to share a memory of Spencer. Jimmy shared about Spencer's nick name "Blackbird". When Spencer played soccer Jimmy would call him the Blackbird because he was so fast (the Blackbird is the fastest airplane in the world). I shared about the time when Spencer was 4 years old and we went to Disneyland, While we were there I took Spencer on The Tower of Terror. Spencer was terrified. But on the way home (driving from California to Utah), Spencer said to me, "Mom, I was thinking about it and the Tower of Terror is really not that scary, it's just an elevator that goes up and down". What 4 year old thinks about stuff like that. It was so funny. Spencer really is a great little guy. He's a VIP in our family!

Trenton's Christmas Program

Trenton is now attending Creative Kids Preschool. He is really enjoying it. A few weeks ago, on December 18, 2008, Ms. Nicole and his class put on a Christmas Program. He did a great job. He was required to memorize a part, his part was "M is for Mistletoe, watch where it hangs". We were so proud of him. His class also preformed several Christmas songs. I laughed out loud during Jingle Bells because all the kids were in their own little world, not singing together or on key. It was so cute. My favorite part of the program was when they recited and did actions to a poem called "Five Little Snowmen". Good Job Trenton! We love you.

Merry Christmas 2008

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! How time flies. We had a great holiday season. However, I feel that it goes by to fast. All the hype, time, and excitement for Christmas is finished in 20 minutes of high speed unwrapping. It is so much fun, but a lot of work! I've noticed how different Christmas is now that I have my own children, it is so much more magical. This year Santa did something special for the kids. He sent them on a scavenger hunt to find their final gift. The kids ran around the house looking for clues. The final clue led them back to the Christmas Tree where the gifts had magically appeared. It was a stormy day. We had a lot of snow, but we were lucky in the fact that everyone came to our house and we didn't have to travel in it. We had a nice time visiting family. We had Jimmy's family over for a Christmas lunch and Laurel's parents and Chris in the evening. The kids had a fun day playing with their cousins. We spent Christmas Eve at Grandma Cindy and Grandpa Steve's. Mom always out does herself, but we enjoy every minute. She always makes holidays extra special for the family. We were able to spend time with Chris and Crystal - and their kids, Grandma Donna and Noelle and Trent. We always have a good time when we are together. Chris made a family video which consisted of pictures taken throughout the year. At the end of the video he did a "gag reel" of some funny pictures of us. He is very talented and I enjoy getting the video. Plus we always end up having a good laugh!

I asked the kids what they liked about this last Christmas -


Spencer: Was excited to get "The Force Unleashed" light saber from Santa and his Star Wars Blaster.


Trenton: He loves the snow and Christmas. He loves to go sledding on our front yard. I guess that is one good thing about living in a hill. He received a monster truck track and a Star Wars Darth Vader ship.


TJ: Was more excited about his new Thomas the Train set then going on Santa's scavenger hunt. He got 2 train sets, he was in heaven!


This Holiday Season has been a fun and memorable one. Of course we will always remember our Savior Jesus Christ and his birth, which is the real reason we celebrate.