Happy Belated Birthday

Saturday was Jason's birthday. He had been traveling with work the week prior so it was very nice to have him home. I thought we had a great day and spent most of it just being with each other. The kids loved having him home.....and so did I of course. We tried to get as much dad time as possible since he had to leave Monday morning for another week of travel.

We started the day with a big breakfast of pancakes, eggs, sausage, and strawberries. Opened presents he got some new clothes, and we played lots of wii, and went on a bike ride with Tanner riding without training wheels! Went to the park, and made yummy fish tacos for dinner. I had the hardest time trying to get him to tell me what he wanted me to fix....so I just decided to choose something and if he didn't like it too bad. But they turned out so good and we finished the night with some angel food cake and strawberries.

Happy Birthday J! Love you!!

We had a visitor!

I went to take Tanner to preschool Monday and when I went to get Paige out of the car I found this....

and this......

As I started looking around my van a little closer I found a lot more evidence that I had a little visitor in my car and started stressing out. I immediatley called Jason for some advice, and he told me to put some traps in the car. And I took out the mats and bleached them, took all the carseats apart and they were washed in the sanitizing cycle, and washed all the surfaces down with clorox wipes.....which wasn't smart due to the fact I still had a little critter running around. So Monday night I put about 8 traps in and around the car and then went to bed. This morning I went out hesitantly to the car and thought I would find a mouse or some type of rodent in the trap. But all I found was a trap with the corner chewed off. Little stinker.....so he wanted to play with me huh. Well I wasn't in the mood so a quick vaccum and strict instructions to the kids not to touch anything in the car we headed to Target to find some real traps. Mission accomplished we got home I removed the seats from the car (didn't want anymore mouse excrement on them). And let the car sit in the garage.

Tonight I decided to be brave and check on the car......mind you I had a tennis racket with me and low and behold I found this......

I couldn't kill this poor creature so I had a friend do it. Now I just hope he didn't have any friends! And it looks as if my schedule will be full tomorrow as I will be sanitizing my car once more.

Zoo

Yesterday we went to the Wildlife Zoo with Tanner's preschool class. We had a really good time, I brought Kylie and Paige with us and they really enjoyed themselves. We had fun looking at all the animals we especially enjoyed the bird feeding, with birds landing on my head, and looking at the giraffes and the fish. I even talked Tanner into touching a star fish. We had a great day and I loved being able to spend it with the kids.

We got home and put Paige down for a nap and we played Wii until Kylie was almost asleep on the couch I couldn't have that otherwise she wouldn't go to bed so we headed to the park. It was so nice the kids had a great time playing and it was fun to go out in the fresh air.

We had a great day.....just glad we are all clean now!

Big Girl

Paige's hair is now long enough to put in piggies!

Beware of the Cactus

We have gotten back to Arizona and have settled back into our normal routine. Last week I was able to hike or run 4 out of the 5 days it had been awhile since I excercised and it felt great. Speaking of hiking I went hiking with Erin and Rachel Thursday morning and when we go it is still dark. We were hiking and talking not a good combination for me when I happened to run into one of these...

I know it doesn't look to bad but without the leaves....I will spare you the photo but lets just say I have a nice (ugly) bruise on my upper thigh and some scratches on my hand and leg. It might be a good idea if I watched where I was walking from here on out! Now my only problem is these next 2 weeks I have to be motivated myself because I won't be able to work out with my friends. So far not so good...still have a week and a half to redeem myself.

I have now decided that the weather is really nice and instead of being angry decided to enjoy it. I love being able to have the kids play outside and have the windows open and not have the heater or air conditioner on for a while. I will enjoy it while it lasts.

We had a great weekend on Friday night Jason and I actually went on a date. It was fun to get out of my mommy clothes and look decent and we met some friends and went and saw The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It was a long movie and not one of my favorites afterward we went to Texas Roadhouse and had a nice dinner. Saturday we had dance, and let the kids play with friends while we did some yardwork, and then had a barbeque. It was a relaxing perfect day. Sunday we made it to church at 8:30, and then had a nice relaxing day. We watched the Cardinals win, and then went for a walk. Then we had another bbq, what a great weekend!

I love snow

I never thought that living in Arizona would make me so homesick for Utah. Don't get me wrong I love my friends, and love the life that we have there but I miss my seasons. It is the worst starting in the fall when the weather is still in the 100's or high 90's. There is something about the fall the crispness in the air the changing leaves. That is when I really start missing Utah. Then Thanksgiving comes around and it is still warm enough to swim it just doesn't seem right. After Thanksgiving as we all know is Christmas. I can put up my decorations, bake, buy gifts, listen to lots of music....but it just isn't Christmas without some cold weather and snow. We didn't have any snow for Christmas...as we were in California with Jason's parents. We had rain and that is better than weather in the 60's, but then after Christmas we headed to Utah for my sister's wedding and we had 2 days of just snow. I loved it the kids loved it Jason wasn't there he was in Maryland (hence our 2 week trip to Utah). I even got Paige to walk around in it for a bit. It did take some convincing, she wasn't so sure what the white stuff getting on her coat was but eventually decided that it was okay.

I am ready to go home just because we have been away for 3 weeks. But I am already dreading the weather since it is in the 70's. Let me explain I know what is coming...yes the 70's are nice now for those who are freezing, but I will have months and months of hot hot hot weather. That is why I am dreading the 70's and why I am in absolute heaven in the snow!

Kylie

The other night I went to check on the kids and couldn't find Kylie. I didn't panick too much becuase we are upstairs and I didn't think she could sneak by me....so I started looking around the room and found her here......

I have found her asleep in many wierd places but under the bed!? How uncomfortable is that? I tried to get a better picture but she moved and smacked her head so I got her out and put her on her air mattress. She stayed there for a while then decided to join me in my bed. (that only happens when Jason is gone....we wished anyway!)

So long.....farewell

Farewell 2008 and hello 2009. We had a fun new years eve everyone came over (except the newlyweds of course!) and we had yummy leftover soup from the wedding and played a game, and exchanged sister Christmas gifts. We had Amy's family this year and got them some books, some winter gear, and Amy some jeans, Andrea had us and they went way overboard! Jason got the Tiger Woods PGA game for the Wii, Tanner, Kylie, and Paige get to go to Build a Bear, and Andrea got me some cool stuff to start scrapbooking again. I am really excited....maybe it will motivate me to start again! We had a good time and enjoyed each other's company. We got the kids to bed around 11:30 and went outside with Grandma Startup and watched the fireworks. It would have been perfect except the neighbors house was in the way. We just got to see the tall ones but it was still fun. I think this is the first time I have stayed up till 12 for a few years. Kim and I took Grandma home and then we had a Mario Kart tournament. I don't remember who won but we had a good time. I think we finally made it to bed around 1:30ish.

Emma and Kylie

Trent and AidenHunter

Jason and Paige
Parker
Kenzie

Lynzee and Mike




We actually slept in and the kids did too it was great. We got up and got ready to go sledding. We hadn't had any new snow but we wanted to do one last activity before Trent had to head back to Texas. So off to Rock Canyon park we went and it was so icey that we could slide down the hill without the sled.



Taylor the work horse...that is the way to get up the hill!
Tanner and Carter

Paige and Mom


Brevin


Tanner was fearless, and he totally was loving it. Kylie not so much she went down the hill one or two times and then wanted to go to grandma's. She finally decided that the playground was much more fun and stayed there the rest of the time. Paige didn't really have too much fun, although I think she enjoyed sliding down the hill with me.

We almost made it without any injuries but leave it to Tanner. He was going down the hill and hit the jump and went sideways off the sled and slid across the ice on his face. I was at the bottom of the hill with Paige and couldn't carry him. He was so brave and only cried a little....even when we cleaned it off. He even went down 2 more times with me. I was so proud of how brave he was....although I probably shouldn't have gone down the last time because we hit a jump caught some air and landed hard. Lets just say my back side is really feeling it now! But his face is doing really well now, the swelling has gone down and it is just scabbed over. He tells me that if he eats his veggies it will be better tomorrow.

We had a great 2008 and hopefully 2009 will be just as memorable. Happy New Year!!

Lori and Ryan

We cut our trip to California short so that we could be at my youngest sisters wedding. I can't believe that she is married! She was married December 30th at 8:20 am in the Salt Lake Temple. It was at beautiful day it started out early....I was up at 4:30 am (which made for a short night since I went to bed about 1:00) and we got everyone out the door and to Salt Lake in time for her 8:20 sealing. Although I didn't buy any winter shoes and I wore my sisters that ended up being too big which made for a long day because my feet were killing me! This was the first time that I have been back to the SLC temple since Jason and I were married and it brought back so many memories. How special it was to be there and be with all my sisters and their husbands, my grandparents, my parents, and my aunts and uncles, I am sure grandpa Startup was there with us as well. It was a day that I won't soon forget!

We got the kids who did amazingly well, and then went outside for pictures. It was so cold but after the pictures were done I took my shoes off since I couldn't walk in them anyway and went to the Joseph Smith Memorial builing and waited there for the luncheon. I had to warm up my feet after walking without shoes right?! We had a great lunch and then headed back to Provo to get ready for the reception. The reception was gorgeous. Usually when you have a reception at the church cultural hall it looks like the gym. The gym was totally transformed and it was amazing! My mom did a great job everything was beautiful as always. We enjoyed visiting with friends and relatives, watching the kids run around with cousins, and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.

Lori looked gorgeous and I am so grateful to have been able to be a part of her special day! Love you tons Lori, and welcome Ryan.