Birthday Parties

These are all pictures from the birthday parties that the kids have been invited to. We got to watch the kids run around and jump on trampolines at a gymnastics birthday party. We then got to chase our kids around an indoor bounce house play place for a birthday party. We had lots of fun. I didn't get the best pictures due to the fact the my camera does not take motion photos very well, but you get the gist of it.

We unfortunately had to miss other birthday parties. If only there was enough time to be able to make everyone's birthday parties we would have tons more pictures to show.

A New Look, A New Attitude

I finally came to the conclusion that I was sick of my long hair. I was tired of trying to figure out what I wanted to do with it, tired of doing it, and just plain tired of my old tired look. My wonderful husband got me a gift card for Christmas from a local salon to help with my endeavor of getting my hair cut. This is the best cut I have ever gotten. No more cheapo places to get my hair cut. I will be returning to the salon from now on to get my hair cut.

Snow Daze

Our recent adventures took us up into the mountains just below Pine Crest to take in some snow fun. It took a little longer to get to the snow due to the fact that we were having to pick up snow clothes and boots for the kids. Note to self when the snow clothes come out buy them up fast, don't wait until the night before to hunt in every store for what is needed. We had fun in the snow, but Madeline is still not keen on the stuff. We will attempt the snow again next year. Maybe she will enjoy it then.

Daddy and Cameron

Mommy and Madeline

Madeline hating the snow

Cameron loving the snow

My Dad's Take on Christmas Morning (Oh Dad Column if it was still in the paper)

The perfect gift

worth waiting for



By Roger W. Hoskins

Words Worth Remembering



In the winter of 1959, all I wanted for Christmas was an NHL Hockey Night in Canada game. It was all I wanted in 1960 and 1961, too. One wintery day in 1959, I had spent an afternoon of bliss playing with my neighbor David Best and his game.

From then on I was a hockey junkie and the only fix was the game itself. But kids wanting Christmas presents is a slippery slope. Having previously begged the same season for a six-finger baseball glove, Fort Apache action set, electric football, I realized it was my own fault when Santa couldn’t pull my miracle out of his bag.

So I spent that Christmas launching Cape Canaveral missiles across the basement sky. The only thing missing was the rocket’s red glare. But I had a work around. The smallest two missiles could fit into the mouth of my replica civil war cannon. The cannon went off with just a little less noise than the real McCoy. It used paste, a drop of water and a spark to send quivers of thundering joy down young spines. But the science of past and present was stopped dead in its tracks before a second test fire could be lit. The first blast brought Dad down the steps and he confiscated the cannon and secret paste.

My sister and I played Sorry for rest of the day. Sorry was the game Uncle Frank gave us on three consecutive Christmases. That wasn’t a mistake, really, because we needed replacement parts each summer. The stiff cards also made excellent motor sounding additions to bikes when attached near the spokes with clothes pins.

The second year I got the football game but it was the wrong one. I wanted Cadaco Foto-electric and my parents brought home the kind where vibrating players inched across the board. I had asked for football so it was my own fault for not providing a picture. The third year I struck gold by only asking for one thing and one thing only.

At last, my pop and I were playing for the “all-time, big-time, full-time” hockey championship. My father was adept at a center pass and rush and beat me handily the first month. Then I started winning a few, usually 10-9, but I’ll never be sure that Dad didn’t let me win.

That hockey game in my 10th year was my top gun, my Red-Ryder, lever action bb gun with a compass in the stock. And it was something my pop really seemed to like. If he didn’t he never let on. Christmas has evolved for me over the years. No I want to be Santa and save Christmas for people I love. The first time my wife and I played secret Santa for friends, some of the joy disappeared when we weren’t even suspected of the good deed. It shouldn’t matter but when friends round up the suspects, you’d like to be somewhere on the list.

As a 57-year-old grandpa, now I watch for the moment when I can step in and save Christmas and I no longer mind if no one suspects.

My grandchildren have given me the best Christmas I could ever hope for.

My 5-year-old grandson Cameron sold candy and whatever for the right to pick out one present for himself. He outsold the whole school so he had his choice of an impressive array. There were video games for his DS or playstation, sports equipment, musical instruments. The choices were enough to make an adult’s head spin. His father and mother tried to give him counsel but the final choice was left to him.

On Christmas Day he brought his cherished prize to share with the family. He wheeled up a blue bicycle and wearing a grin bigger than he was, Cameron gave his prize to his cousin Jacob, age 6. Cameron picked the bike because Jacob didn’t have one. He picked blue because that was Jacob’s favorite color.

And that’s the story of my most memorable Christmas, even better than the hockey game I once waited three years for.

Merry Christmas to all.

My Fav's of the Season

Here are some of my favorite photos that we took during the recent holiday activities. We really had an enjoyable time this year. The kids are at the age that they are mesmerized by all the holiday spirit, which makes it that much easier to get into the spirit of Christmas. The kids, I believe, got everything they could have ever wished for, and were not at all disappointed. And Cameron made my day, and his cousin Jacob's day, when he decided to give away the brand new bike he won at school to Jacob. The look on my nephew's face on Christmas day when we rolled in the bike and told him that it was his was great.

Another B-day

Today I celebrated birthday # 32. I can hardly believe it. I still feel like I should be in my 20's. I don't like my thirties. Which means I am really not going to like my 40's. But I can't stop time so I will just have to get used to the years coming and going.

It was a pretty good b-day. Went to church and was wished happy b-day by those who knew it was my b-day. Afterwards I headed out to my parents house for some nice warm soup, presents and cake and ice cream. When that was finished we headed out to the Christmas Lights, but to our dismay the rain settled in and we had to drive through and not get those great pictures of the kids with their big eyes looking at all the many lights. On the way home my poor little Madeline got sick and I got to finish my b-day by cleaning up a really yucky mess.

If it weren't for the mess, I think I would have had a much better b-day. Oh well, there is always next year to make up for this one.

When the House Goes Quiet...

I have now learned that when my house goes quiet my little munchkin is up to no good. And of course I have to get pictures of my little munchkin up to no good.

Madeline has turned into the typical girl and wants to do everything that mommy does, hence it was quiet in the house and Madeline decided to put on make-up all by herself. Here are the pics to go along with the mess she left me to clean up.

As The Leaves Fall

My dear sweet little boy Cameron has been bugging me for weeks to start raking the leaves in our yard so that he could have some fun in them. I had been putting it off because the leaves fall so late in our neighborhood that I wanted to wait for the tree to drop all the leaves so that I would not have to do the job twice.

Well I gave in to his constant pester and took advantage of Madeline being down for a nap to start raking in the fun for Cameron. Granted I did most of the work and he had most of the fun, but I got some amazing pictures of my big boy having some little boy fun. I did not however get any pics of our blond bombshell, she slept the afternoon away.

And we of course had to rake leaves twice because the tree had not dropped all the leaves the first time. But it was all worth it in the end.

Thanksgiving Weekend

It was a really enjoyable weekend. Got to spend time with the family. We went up with my family to the Christmas tree farm to hang out and watch everyone pick out their tree. We didn't get a tree at the tree farm. We are planning to get a tree come this Friday if all goes as planned. I hope everyone was able to have an enjoyable weekend also.

Another Fall Weekend

We had a fairly calm weekend this week. Friday I spent most of the day catching up on some of my cleaning and organizing. Saturday was a lot of fun. I got up and played b-ball with some other women from the stake. Came home had some lunch and hopped on the bikes to ride out in the nice weather.

Cameron has had some trouble learning to pedal his bicycle so we bought a little bike that attached to the back of Paul's bike. We are hoping that this little bike trailer will help him better with his coordination so that he might be able to ride his own bike on our little bike rides. He had a lot of fun riding it, but after about 35 minutes he had had enough of sitting on the little seat, so we set out to stop for a break at the park not far from our house.

With the weekend came a change in my church calling. I had been in Young Women's for just over 2 years and today I was released from the Young Women's organization and called as the First Counselor in the Ward Relief Society Presidency. I can't tell you that I was surprised by this move because I had the impression about three weeks ago that something like this was coming. The Lord is preparing me for something in the future. I am excited and nervous at the same time, considering I have never spent and extended period of time in Relief Society. I was always called to the Primary or Young Womens organizations for callings. I am looking forward to my calling because it will be a learning experience for me and will prepare me for my next calling.

Birthday Party

We had Madeline's birthday party on Saturday. It started out rough for her, but it got better in the end. Here are some pics of her special day.

And Then She Turned 2

Today is the day that we celebrate our little Madeline's birth. Saturday is her big birthday party with all her cousins and friends, but today she got to spend the afternoon with her family at John's Incredible Pizza, and feel like the special little girl that she is. Although she is not little by any means nor did she start out little, she was a wonderful blessing on a bright Sunday afternoon 2 years ago.

If I could sum up my little girl in a phrase it would be "she keeps going and going and going". She really is a bundle of joy, laughter and non-stop entertainment. She loves to be chased around the house by her big brother Cameron, scared as she is running past our many hiding places, and spend as much time as she can outside. I let her get away with more because she is my little girl and I don't want her to grow up too fast. She has the most beautiful blue eyes and bright blond hair, has a stubborn disposition like her daddy, but makes up for it when she smiles.

I don't know what I would do with out her. She was my little angel from above, but can be a little devil. She can always make you laugh no matter how bad you are feeling. She is definitely going to be a handful in the coming years, but at least she will keep me on my toes.

Happy Halloween!!!!

This year was all about Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Having kids gives us an excuse to dress up as a theme. We are still in discussion about next years theme, but are leaning toward The Three Little Pigs.

An Exciting Weekend

It has been an exciting weekend for our little man. We are one week shy of the end of Cameron's first year playing soccer. This poor guy has wanted to score a goal during his games since the first week, and on Saturday he finally accomplished his goal. He scored the very first goal of the game. His coach was so excited for him and Cameron was so excited, his coach had him run off the field to give Mom a great big hug (made me melt). You couldn't wipe the smile off his face for the remaining of the game. I am so glad he was able to do what he set out to do.




I also got a rare opportunity to spend away from the husband and kids to spend a girls night out at our local "Color Me Mine", painting a ceramic snowman. It was so nice to get away for just 3 hours and talk about girl stuff. I think this is probably going to be my newest hobby. We are already talking about going again next month. Especially since on Saturday's it is their pajama party day and only charge you $2 to sit and paint, but you still have to pay for the individual ceramic pieces that you paint. My snowman will be completely finished on Wed. after it has been glossed. I can hardly wait.

A New Tradition

With our brand new bed able to handle more bodies, I thought that I would start a new tradition with the kids. So now on Thursdays, Madeline gets to pick a movie and we watch it in bed. Usually consists of Dora the Explorer or a Disney DVD that has a lot of music in it. Cameron has school so he doesn't get to participate on Thursday. Cameron gets to pick a movie on Fridays. I am trying to give the kids more one on one time so that when they are older they don't feel as if they were jipped in some way. I had to snap a pic of the kids during one of our movie bedtime parties.

I'm Loved

Today was one of those days that I knew I was going to be extra tired. I was up early to get Cameron off to school and Madeline to grandma's house before 8:30 am. Then it was off to work for me until about 5:15 pm (alot of you out there can relate to this even if you don't work outside the home). Paul had said that he had to work late so I picked the kids up and grandma's and was racking my brain as to what to make us for dinner (we had waffles and sausage). I don't care for long days at work and no help after work with the kids. But today Paul surprised me by not having to work late and showing up with flowers and a very sweet card. It is not often that my husband buys me flowers. I can count about six times, seven if you count today, that my husband has bought me flowers. So it is a rare occurrence that I receive them, but I love surprises like these. Maybe next time it will be a trip to Hawaii (I can wish can't I).

Lots of Soccer, Lots of Parties

It has been a busy last couple of weeks. We have had lots of soccer games, school parties, birthday parties, and fun little outings. Here are just a few of the pics of our adventures over the past two weeks.