2014

2014 has been good to us so far. I attended and graduated from cosmetology school full-time. While there I experimented with my hair like many students, dyed it all kinds of colors, and chopped my long pretty hair off. I'm in the process of growing it back out currently.I also have a couple tattoos since last you saw me, ya I know....*gasp*. The kids had lots of Dad time while I was in school. We took a family trip to Magic Mtn and another one when Kurts' brother Lukes' family came to visit. Alaina had a fun dance recital back in june where she performed Carwash for Jazz, and Candle in the Water for Ballet. They did 3 different shows this year so it was a bit crazy doing three nights in a row.They also did a Monster High dance performance around Halloween at the school and the zombie walk. Speaking of zombie walk, it was our first year attending completely last minute. Its a fair/walk they do here in town and most people dress up. I pulled together some zombie makeup for Emmitt, Alaina, and Hailey (alainas friend). The kids won scariest makeup at the fair!! (Cosmo skills paying off) We spent Haloween up in Utah this year with Larkies family. It was a lot of fun and we are grateful for their hospitality. Alaina was baptized while up there as well. We recently moved into a bigger home here in Frazier Park that we are loving! And I am awaiting my state board exam to start my cosmetology career, and in the meantime am still teaching fitness classes at the local dance studio. Kurts' business is doing well and he's keeping busy. The kids are finishing up their soccer year, and Alaina is preparing for her dance studios Christmas show. Maddox started T-K this year and is getting super smart and too big for my liking. Emmitt excelled in soccer this year and is ready to start baseball in the next couple of months. Thats the gist of the year thus far for you, and stay tuned for more family updates.

MIA for 3 years!

It has been an entire three years since I last wrote a post, let alone looked at this blog. CRAZY! Thats quite a long time and a whole lot of catching up to do. Lets just say, clearly, a lot has happened since 2011. I attended and graduated from beauty school. My kids are now a whole 3 years older and wiser. We've gone through quite a rough roller coaster ride but despite it all....we are still standing. I'm going to do my best to get back to blogging, so get ready for the return of our little families handprints. :)

Florida- Part 2

We stayed in a really nice resort in Kissimmee, FL- close to Orlando, to visit with Kurts brother Jake and his family. We met up with them that evening and had dinner at Chick-Fil-A. We discussed plans for the following days, which included visiting Disney World. We were all super excited for that part of our trip and were really grateful to Jake and his family for helping us make that happen. The following day we drove to DisneyWorlds Hollywood Studios! The kids were so psyched!

We saw some really fun shows at Hollywood Studios like, Voyage of the Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Indiana Jones Stunt Show, and Fantasmic. We also enjoyed the Toy Story Mania ride, Muppet Vision 3d, and the Tower of Terror. I went on Tower of Terror with Emmitt and Alaina, I have been on the ride before but not with my kids. It was so funny to see their reactions, Emmitt had his hands up from the get go and as soon as we dropped his hand clenched the bar. Alaina was screaming and a little scared but she did really good and at the end she kept saying how crazy it was in this really funny voice.

Waiting outside of Muppet Vision, this fountain was really cute too bad you can't really see the Muppet Sculpture in it.

Muppet Security anyone?

Two, of the three handsome men in my life.

The highlight of our Hollywood Studio trip was meeting Mickey and the Fantasmic Show!

Maddox is the biggest ham for the camera, I just love it! Anytime I had my camera out he was ready with a great big smile and "cheese". With a face like this how can you resist?

Hollywood Studios was a long and very fun filled day, we all hit the sack and readied ourselves for another disney world park...

Off to Florida- Part 1

Once again, a much overdue post! Our family vacation to Florida and Georgia, a few weeks before thanksgiving. We had so much fun and did so many exciting things. So here we go!

Our flight out was a red eye so we didn't feel the need for our children to be gussied up as you can see. ha ha. The flight went surprisingly well. The kids slept the whole time, Kurt and I, on the other hand not so much. Our seats were in the row right in front of the emergency exits so they would not recline. It was an uncomfortable flight. When we arrived in Florida the next morning, we had a bit of an issue with the rental car company. We had to wait around for a couple hours to figure out what to do and Jake came and rescued us. The kids were grumpy and hungry. Maddox was still pretty sleepy, he passed out on Kurt while we were waiting, eyes somewhat still open.

We got things squared away and drove to my Pop and Nana's house in Spring Hill. We stayed with them for a couple days. My parents were also there visiting so I got a chance to see my Dad and his siblings catching up. We played in the cold pool, visited my Aunt Dawns home and played with her kids, and visited my Uncle Glynns home. Alaina loved playing with her Jude cousins. My Aunt Dawns daughter is about her age, her name is Emma and Alaina and her were two peas in a pod. Alaina loved running around barefoot, swinging in the tree swings, climbing in the trees, and accidentally getting a little too familiar with the fish in the pond.

Maddox feeling out the cold pool at Pops.

Alaina decided to take a different approach- there goes our little fish!

Checking out some old pictures of my Pop in the marine corp.

Who needs a surfboard when you have Daddy?

Kurt and Maddox passed out in a very awkward and cute position.

My Uncle Glynn, Pop, Aunt Dawn, and my Dad. After we spent some time at my Aunt Dawns we went to my Uncle Glynns house for a bar-b-que. They made a huge spread of delicious food, and we all gabbed and laughed. I especially enjoyed chatting with my cousin Jessie, my Aunt Cindy, and my Mom. Kurt loved getting to spend some time with my dad and my uncle. My uncle gave him a nice Pasco County Sheriffs baseball cap.

My cousin Jessie's daughter, Makayla and I- she is so stinkin cute!

Rubbin their heads for good luck, ya know kind of like Buddha? lol

These girls had so much fun together, dancing to Justin Bieber and playing at the park.

Kurt had told me the night or so before this was taken that he wanted to get a picture of him with my Dad and his brother so he could be like, "Yaaa these are my boyz!" The moment my Mom took this I told him he got his wish, and told them all the story, lol

My Aunt Cindy, me, and my cousin Jessie.

The kids devouring their ice cream.

My cousin Jessie and I- my Mom made a comment that we'd be trouble if we live closer to eachother. My response: "We still could be." Jessie says, "Texas better watch out! That's the halfway point." ha ha ha.

My Uncle Glynn is so much like my dad in his mannerisms and even the way he talks. It was really fun to see them together.

This trip was really fun and I feel like I got to know my Dads side of the family even more. It was hard to leave. I am grateful for the chance I had to see my dad with his siblings again, and to spend some more time with my Pop and Nana. So it was a sad goodbye and we were off to Orlando for the next leg of our trip.

Our Halloween 2011

We spent our Halloween down in Valencia ith our good friends the Gunsons. They had a small gathering of people and a whole lot of delicious mexican food. We took the kids trick or treating, ate, gabbed, and watched A Nightmare Before Christmas. It was a great night! Poor Maddox kept having coughing fits but he was such a trooper and he definitely got the most loot of the kids for the night. People kept commenting on how adorable he was, he was really working the magic to get the loot. ha ha.

Little Supergirl making her candy necklace.

My buddy Chase in part of his bum outfit.

Senora Jenna Muy bonita!

Me in my nerd getup, ya I rocked it! lol.

Door to door building our stash

Thor: such a little heartbreaker!

Steve and little Chasey poo.

Well we're off to Florida and Georgia folks so no posts till Nov 18th-ish......happy blogging!

School Halloween Parade

The school did a halloween costume parade, so Kurt and I took Maddox to the school to watch. Alaina was waving at everyone like she was the queen of the parade!

Kayden and Alaina- such cute girls! It's so nice to have old friends up here!

Emmitt and his teacher Mrs. Hon

Alaina and her teacher Mrs. Penner

Best Friends!

Student of the Month & Beary

My little Alaina won student of the month for October! Each month the kids are taught a character trait that they should encompass throughout their lives. The trait for October was Respect. So Alaina won for showing respect. :) She got a certificate for a free meal at Dennys with her award. I'm so proud of my baby.

This cute guy with Maddox is Beary. Beary comes home with students who have been kind and helpful in Mrs. Penners kindergarten class. Alaina brought him home, but as you can see Maddox has claimed ownership. Maddox LOVES Beary! He kept hugging him and making this cute "awww" sound.

I think he's found his new bestfriend, too bad Beary has to go home to Mrs. Penner.