9 years ago today....

...Our sweet little Skyler was born. He has been such a blessing to our family.

He makes us laugh. He makes us cry (happy tears), he is very sensitive to the spirit, smart, loves to make voice impressions, loves harry potter books and movies, loves legos, being with his family, and playing with friends. The past 9 years have been tons of fun. Love ya Sky!

Skyler at our family party, yay for Harry Potter legos!

We went bowling for his friends party, They had a blast.

I tried to get a serious picture, not one! I didn't even ask them

to pose goofy, this is just how they were the entire time!

Then back to our house for cupcakes and ice cream.

We missed you Aiden and Kyler!

Halloween 2010

I think like having Halloween on a Sunday. It spread the festivities over a three day period.

Friday was the school party and costume parade. Saturday was filled with carving pumpkins, making sugar cookies, and then trick-or-treating. Sunday was just a nice relaxing day with a nice family dinner. (I did decorate the table all halloweenish).

The only one I don't have pictures of is Logan. She and her roommate Mare were Mario and Luigi. Hopefully she will post their fun pictures on her blog. All my girls made their own costumes. Ya, they are pretty amazing!

Here are a few pictures of our weekend of fun.

Little bumble bee Mia

The Addis Family as bees and bee keeper, Nicole made all of their costumes.

Army Man Skyler and Mia

Kelsey with her skeleton shirt that she and Nicole made.

Skyler posing

Chaz,Skyler,Mia,Nicole, and Kelsey

Mia and Skyler

The finished pumpkins

Mark and Skyler

Skyler ready for the parade at school

Skyler's third grade, has been learning about economics. They had to make some products to sell, then sell them at school. He (with a little help from mom and sisters), made pinwheels and bookmarks. He had a lot of fun, but was a little bummed when he found out the money they earned, went to their classroom fund for field trips.

Fall Fun

I love The Fall Season. The weather starts to cool down, and it is the start of the holiday season. I took this past week off work, and enjoyed some time with my family. A few of our traditions this time of year were captured in pictures, so here goes... we went to our family cabin for an evening of dinner and games.

Mare-Kels-Logan

Skyler- Sharon

Nicole-Mia-Chaz

Kelsey -Riley

Mark-Skyler

Mark and Skyler at Cascade Springs

Skyler and Sharon and Cascade Springs

Mark-Sharon-Skyler, every conference weekend, in between sessions we drive up Provo Canyon to enjoy the fall leaves.

Nicole-Kelsey-Mia and Logan at the witches festival at gardners Village

Mia at Gardners Village

Kels-Nicole-Mia-Skyler-Logan-Sharon

Me and Skyler spent Some time on Sat. at Cornbellys

Skyler climbed the rock wall

We went on a hayride...(I have no idea who that random guy is.)

Skyler

Which way do we go? We even tried the corn maze.

It was a beautiful week to be off work.

Family Vacation

We loaded up the car, and headed up north to Jackson Hole, WY. and Yellowstone. Mark, Skyler and I drove up and Chaz, Nicole, and Mia met us up there. Chaz and Skyler had never been there, so we were excited to show them what it was all about up there. I can sum it all up in one word...AMAZING!

It had been about 13 years since we had taken the girls there. So Mark and I were pretty stoked to go there also, not to mention Nicole who was so excited, she had her list of animals she wanted to see. The weather was perfect, the scenery beautiful, and the animals... we saw everything we wanted, except a bear.

Here are a few pictures of our trip.

The famous arch in Jackson

view of Tetons

Mark and Skyler, Alpine slide

Sharon and Skyler waiting at the top of slide

One of the Bull Moose we saw

Lewis Falls, Yellowstone

Tetons, See that tallest peak? my Brother Andy

Hiked to the top of that. CRAZY!

Old Faithful, and a few of the Buffalo we saw.

Moose just chillin

Castle Guyser

Nicole, Chaz and a very tired Mia

Jenny Lake in the Tetons.

Every Heart Beats True, for the RED, WHITE and BLUE...

I just love the 4th of July. I don't think I have missed the parade in Provo in 40 something years. Even when we lived in Nevada, we would make sure we came back to visit for all the festivities.

I look forward to it even more now that I have my own little family to enjoy it all with.

My sister Diane always comes here from San Diego and spends the week, and my brother Andy from Idaho comes for all the festivities. It has been non-stop fun for the past week. It always includes; dinner at Mama Chus, shopping, lunch, late nights up talking, as well as the 4th events which included hiking to Stewart Falls, Stadium of Fire which by the way, was amazing with Carrie Underwood. Parade eve party at my brother in laws office in Provo. His office is near the parade route, so the kids 12 and older "sleep" on the parade route to save our spot, while the younger ones sleep in the office. Nicole and Chaz (with Mia in the stroller), ran the 10K freedom run, and Riley ran the 5K. The rest of join the kids for the parade. After the parade we head on over to my sister and brother in laws house to BQ, Swim, Eat snow cones, and enjoy each others company. It is a party that is anticipated by all every year.

Here are some pictures of the festivities.

Skyler at Stewart Falls. It is a four mile round trip hike.

Stewart Falls

Me, Skyler, Chaz with Mia in the pack, Nicole and Logan

Nicole Chaz and Mia

Some of the cousins

Hard to see, but thats Carrie Underwood.

260 Boy Scouts all received their Eagle scout award there at the Stadium.

My nephew Alex was one of them.

My sister Melinda got to go on stage with him.

Logan, Marianne, Riley, Kelsey

Melinda, Jackson, Skyler, Brandon, Drew

Jackson, Skyler and Drew, waiting for the parade to start

Mia

Logan and Mia

Riley and Kelsey

Mia loves her grandpa

Skyler

Mark, Skyler and Me

Mark and Skyler at the pool party

Logan and Kelsey

Skyler, Mia, Chaz and Nicole

Mia

Nicole and Mia

Riley and Kelsey

Logan, chillin by the pool with her snowcone.

I just love everything about this day. I love this beautiful country that we live in. I am so grateful to be in America where I can enjoy the freedoms we have. I am grateful for those service men and women that serve our country. I am proud to be an American, and proud to fly our countries flag.