White Christmas?

I know there is snow in alot of places right now, but for us to have alot of snow, like about 6 inches, and for it to last for a few days is something pretty exciting! My kids love the snow! Cody has spent from the time he gets home from school until after dark the past two days playing in the snow. Bailey and Drey have taken their turns out there too. I love snow, okay not driving in it, but it really makes it feel like Christmas time to me! Maybe we will have a white Christmas after all! Also Thanks Jude for taking in us stranded travelers! It was fun to stay!

Getting Our Christmas Tree!

We went out on Thanksgiving weekend to get our Christmas trees. Despite getting stuck, we found two perfect trees and had a little fun in the snow.

Thanksgiving!

I love Thanksgiving! Good food, good company what's not to love?! All of my family except for the 3 oldest grandsons were together at my mom's, that made 27 people and it was so much fun. I am not sure if this is normal or not but we always end up with tons of pies, this year was no exception with thirteen pies.

What I've Learned Wednesday: Trash Again?

I know that I have posted about trash before but I guess I have trashy issues! Anyway, last night I get home from work at 10:30 p.m. and pull up to find that my trash can is tipped over and the entire contents are in my driveway, mind you it is trash day today so it is was totally full. I go in the house hoping to enlist Brandon on the clean up effort but he is already in bed, out cold. So I am in this alone. Well some animal, and I have my suspicions, has ripped through the entire contents and not one trash bag is left intact. Gross!! So I look in Brandon's truck for some gloves or a shovel, none to be found, but I did find a pair of Cody's socks, so armed with his socks on my hand I start to dig in. Can I just say we have some disgusting trash at my house! Now this un-named animal was not after the left over birthday cake or the raw chicken, no his motive was to find and rip open all the dirty diapers, and I do have two kids in diapers, so there were plenty for the picking. So fifteen disgusting minutes later I finish my grueling task. (and yes the socks got thrown away!)

So what have I learned? Well in situations like this all you can do is laugh. And thats what I did. Every time I was forced to pick up something unspeakable I just laughed, every time the automatic lights would turn off and I would have to wave my arms, with socks on my hands, to get the light back on I would just laugh! Thanks to my sister who reminded me about Elder Wirthlin's conference talk called "Come What May And Love It", I really was able to just laugh. If you haven't heard or read this talk you should, I love it. I am using it for my VT lesson this month.

Sage's First Birthday

This is for you Mom!

Happy Birthday Sage!

Yummy! This stuff is great!

She even shared some of her cupcake with Drey

My little Sage turned one! I can not believe how the year has flown by. She has been such a fun little girl, we just love having her in our family! Her favorites: her daddy and siblings, silky blankets, fruit, rice cereal, any food she can beg off of her family, her siblings, cupboards, hanging out under the table.
She says: mom, dad, Dreyden, Bailey, cheese, ut-oh, no, bye, she is starting to repeat things we say.

We decided this year that we would have a slumber party for Bailey's birthday. We have always had the rule of no sleep overs, just late nights but I really wanted to have a sleepover for her. It was so fun, and there are just so many sweet, good girls her age. She really has great friends! The party was fun and the girls had a good time. Brandon took Cody and Drey to the movie and that was so helpful! So here are a few pics from the big party.

Playing a wild game of "Do You Love Your Neighbor"

Showing off the T-shirts they made

Writing Birthday notes for Bailey

Devil's Rock Garden

Washing up after a fun day of sand, sand and more sand!

Awe, sweet! Berkley and Dreyden

These pictures are from Devil's Rock Garden. That place is so amazing. The rock formations are so cool. When I was little this is where my family spent almost every Easter. It was fun to take my kids there. They loved climbing and exploring.
Chris and Kelli Dawn

Brinley and Bailey

Dreyden

Jaden and Cody

The Cousins

What I've Learned Wednesday:Happy Birthday Brandon

Happy Birthday Brandon! This weekend Brandon had a 30 something birthday! We spent the day in the car, really all day traveling with the kids, sounds fun huh?! We were supposed to spend the night at Tim and Steff's and she had made him a chocolate cake complete with a horse and horse shoes, it was great, the only thing is we didn't make it to their house. We felt pretty lousy, but it had been a long day in the car and we opted to shorten our drive and go to Cedar.






So what have I learned besides it is not a great idea to trap 4 kids in the car for hours on end? Well I have learned alot about Brandon over the years:
He is funny, determined, strong, smart, loves adventure, great with kids, calm (he lets me be the one to get up tight!), athletic, good provider, hard worker, terrific dad and husband!
He likes hunting, fishing, wakeboarding, camping, snowskiing, wrestling, basketball, paintball, BYU Football, his family, horses, roping, I could go on and on he has alot of interest and will try pretty much anything once.
Happy Birthday Brandon!!!! Love Ya, you are the best!

Happy Birthday Bailey

Bailey's 10th Birthday!
I am a buttercream pro, but I decided to try a fondant cake, it was fun to do but it took me forever.


Time for cake!Blowing out the candles.

What a cute girl!

She was pretty excited to get the new Tinkerbell movie and soundtrak.

She waited until her Dad was home to open presents, and after her favorite dinner, fettuccine alfredo!

What I've Learned Wednesday:Happy Birthday Bailey

I can't believe it, my little girl just turned 10. Where has the time gone?! I am so lucky to be Bailey's mom. She is such an amazing person and I love her so much. She tries so hard to be the best she can be and is always trying to do what is right. She is a great example to me. So what have I learned? Well over the past ten years I have learned about Bailey:
She is sweet, kind, thoughtful, unselfish, caring, smart, crafty, great with little kids, a peacemaker and beautiful.

She likes reading, writing stories, making things, hanging with her friends, dancing, singing, her siblings (most of the time!), going on daddy-daughter-dates, icecream, fettuccine alfredo with broccoli, visiting grandparents and cousins.

She doesn't like salad, any condiments, (yes one of my children doesn't like kethup), spiders or bugs, going for rides in the car.

Happy Halloween!

Little Red Ridinghood and her hero the Woodcutter

Emily the witch and Bailey the Scarecrow

Hillbilly Cody and Frankenstein Brennan

Dreyden the Dragon and Sage the Pirate

I love Halloween! This year was so fun, full of parties, homemade sugar cookies, trick or treating, homemade cinnamon rolls and a big pot of chili!

Tagged By Holly

Rules are:
First state who tagged you.
Then answer your 7 weirdest/quirkiest things about yourself
Tag 7 people
Leave a message on those that you tag blog so they know they are tagged.

1. I often dream about putting on mascara.

2. I love ketchup! I eat it on things like pizza and tacos. Brandon tells people that I even eat it on cereal but that is not true!

3. I have mental issues with meat. I want to like fish and deer meat but it totally grosses me out. I don't like steak or anything that is better still "pink". I even get grossed out by chicken when I am cooking and then I can't eat it for a while.

4. I shake my shoes before I put them on. In kindergarten I had a stinkbug in my shoe at school and ever since I check for bugs or spiders.

5. When I lay down in bed I have to have everything perfectly straight, sheets, pillow, blankets and they have to be tucked just right around me. (sorry Dawn!)

6. I worry about saying something stupid. I worry about conversations that I have with people and wonder if they think I said something dumb.

7. When I cook I get one ingredient out at a time and then put it away, and if I spill on the counter I wipe it up before I continue.

7 people I tag, Jodi, Dawn, Mom, Mike, Nicole, Davis Family, Colette

What I've Learned Wednesday:The Last Lecture

Last night I went to my book club, the book we had read was "The Last Lecture" by Randy Pausch. He died in July after a battle with cancer. He wrote this book after he was diagnosed and knew he would not make it. I recommend this book to anyone. It is a quick read. We had a great discussion and it really made me think about how short life is and what a gift each day is.

So what have I learned? It is amazing the affect that one person can have on so many lives. I wonder what kind of impressions am I leaving with people, especially my children.

Husband Tag

Husband Tag!!



1. Where did you meet your husband? We were both working at Albertson's as teenagers.


2. How long did you date before you got married? About five months before his mission and 4 months after.


3. How long have you been married? 12 1/2 years.

4. What does he do to surprise you? He surprised me with a trip to Hawaii.

5. What is your favorite feature of his? His shoulders and smile.

6.What is your favorite quality? He is a great dad. He is very well rounded, he can do many things from training horses to triathalons. He will try anything once, (okay that last one scares me sometimes!).

7. Does he have a nickname for you? Kel.

8. What is his favorite food? Steak.

9. What is his favorite sport? He likes alot of sports, basketball, football, wrestling, ultimate fighting.

10. When and where did you first kiss? On my front porch, after our first date.


11. What is your favorite thing to do as a couple? I can't say it!


12.Do you have children? Yes, 2 girls and 2 boys.

13. Does he have any hidden talents? Many, he is very athletic and he is also a great motivator.


14. How old is he? He will turn 34 next week.

15. Who said I love you first? He did.


16. What is his favorite music? Country, rock, pop, pretty much all music.


17. What do you admire most about him? I love that he doesn't talk bad about people and he gets along with anyone.


18. What is his favorite color? Red and Blue.


19. Will he read this? Eventually.


20. People I tag. Nicole H., Jodi M., Shellie S. and Jill A.

Take the Quiz and Share Your Results!

What I've Learned Wednesday: Happy Birthday Jodi

Yesterday was my best friend Jodi's birthday! Happy Birthday! I can't believe that it has been over 16 years since we met. I guess that means we really are in our thirties. Crazy! Well 2 husbands and 8 kids later (between us of course) here we are living in two different states! So here is a few things I have learned about Jodi over the past decade and a half she is:
a loyal friend
remembers everyones birthdays and phone numbers from forever ago
thoughtful
creative, has her own vinyl lettering business
great mom to four beautiful kids
loves the video camera, Haha
can use cookie dough for fake vomit, don't ask
farm wife
doesn't like mayo, or cheesey things, alfredo, milk
good cook
doesn't like to be infront of alot of people, like speaking in church!
is in the Relief Society
beautiful person!
I am lucky to have Jodi for a friend! Love ya!

Also I have learned that Sage isn't allowed to have crayons anymore, and thankgoodness for the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser!

What I've Learned Wednesday: Late Night Laundry

Last night before I went to bed I put yet another load of laundry in, it was after 1:00 in the morning. Now this isn't typical for me it has just been one of those weeks. Anyway when I was doing it I couldn't help but remember when I was first dating Brandon and his mom was up past midnight doing laundry and I was thinking "why would she want to be doing laundry this late?" Now of course I realize she didn't "want" to be doing laundry at that time of night! She was busy raising 6 boys and a girl. I also remember my mom getting up really early in the morning to get things accomplished. At the time I didn't understand the sacrafices that parents go through for their kids (beginning with pregnancy right!) But you know when you get older and married and eventually a parent you see things differently. I just want to tell my parents and Brandon's how grateful I am for all their selfless sacrafices on our behalf. We are so lucky! And now as a parent I would do anything for my kids!

So what have I learned? All the sacrafices we make are so worth the hugs and kisses, the smiles of happy kids and occasional thank yous we get!

Also I learned if it is garbage pickup day and you hear the truck coming down the road, you can run out frantically in your pajamas and wave at the nice garbage man and he will wait for you to bring your trash out to the curb!

Oh "Deer"

What are the Stubbs up to now? When Brandon brought this deer home it was 11:30 p.m. and we had to carry it to the back yard and put it in the shed. I couldn't help but laugh and wonder if any of the neighbors were watching. Here we are in the dark night, trying to be quiet and carring this "body", wrapped in plastic, out of the back of the truck to the back yard. "Ethel you better call the police, the Stubbs are up to something again!"


Brandon and the deer he took off Cedar Mountain during the muzzle loader hunt. Nice deer!

The kids were so excited to see the deer. They couldn't wait for their dad to get home with it. Cody just wished he would have been there when Brandon got it. He wants so bad to be just like his dad. He told me that he is going to ask Santa for a BB gun this year, since we won't get him one until he is 9 or 10. I told him I was going to write Santa a letter and tell him his mom said NO! He is only 7, am I a mean mom? What do you all think? How old for a BB gun?

What I've Learned Wednesday: Kids and Buttons

This morning I took the two little ones to go feed the horses and run a couple of errands. We fed the baby horse (pics coming soon)and Drey wanted to sit up front and since we just had to drive up the lane to the other horses, I told him he could. I put him in the front seat and shut the door. As I am walking around the truck I hear the doors lock. Great, the car is running and Drey and Sage are inside. He just looks up at me with the biggest smile, he was so proud to be pushing buttons in the truck, every button except the unlock one. He finally pushed the window button and I was able to unlock the door. What is it with kids and buttons?!

I loved listening to General Conference this weekend. It is always just what I need. I especially like Pres. Monson's talk about not worrying so much and enjoying life and the moment. He said something like (definitely not a direct quote sorry) when we spend our time thinking about what will happen tomorrow all we end up with is a bunch of wasted yesterdays. It made me remember how precious each and every day is no matter how hectic and crazy. I am trying to remember to slow down and enjoy my kids who are growing up so fast. I love each one of them so much and value the family time and individual time we get to spend together. Brandon and I both try to spend individual time with each of the kids, they look forward to it.

So what have I learned? 1st definitely do not put your two year old in the car alone while it is running, too many tempting buttons! 2nd never take all four kids to the store at bedtime and shop a case lot sale. What was I thinking? 3rd do not stay up until 1:30 a.m. canning tomatoes the headache the next day is not worth it! 4th slow down and enjoy the moment and make time for icecream!

Yesterday was an extra busy day and I didn't get to my tomatoes so when I got home from work at 10:30 p.m. I decided what the heck I'll can them now. Duh!