Farewell..... my friends

I am not a dog person. I don't like to touch them because they are dirty. I don't like them to lick me because ewww.. we all know where that tongue has been. I don't like them to jump on me because they get their muddy paws on my clean clothes. I am not a dog person. But, Jared has always insisted we have a dog and I agree as long as I don't have to take care of it. But something happened... i began liking my dog. He followed my little boys everywhere they went, he got excited when i came out in the morning because he knew i was going running and he could come along. He ran happily by my side and i felt safe. He barked at night at all the bad guys. He was lost for 6 months, but still appeared in our back window as soon as he got free. He followed us to church, to school, to field day, and to grandma's house. My Echo had actually become my friend. We also had another dog, one of echo's puppy - named sayed or thriller, whichever you prefer. He was a beautiful puppy and turning out to be a great dog like echo. A few weeks ago they were killed and i had no idea how sad i would be. It broke my heart because I asked the boys the first thing they wanted to do when we got home and they all said "go play with echo!" but he wasn't there nor was our puppy. We found out later they had been bothering a horse and a foreman shot them.. so sad. So, here's my farewell to my dogs, you will be missed and never forgotten.
(Please keep this quiet from the boys, I have not told them).

Christmas Vacation

We had a wonderful christmas even though it was filled with a lot of changes! Here is the short story version of what we did.
Tried to take the annual christmas picture by the tree, BUT.... someone is missing?? Who could it be???
This guy, who turned from day to night from my sweet angel to my TERRIBLE, STUBORN, 2 year old who refuses to get in the picture.

Santa was good to us this year... the boys got all that they wanted even after CHANGING their lists at the last minute!!! (Good thing we were in El Paso). We had 4.. oops, i mean 5 very happy boys this year! (oh and a happy mama too)
The star wars force trainer, this thing is hillarious! They have to become a jedi knight and concentrate to move the ball in the tube. Look at Jamison's concentration!
Santa hid 4 bikes all around the house and suprised the boys!

He even surprised this little boy too!
Happy little "gamers"

GINGERBREAD HOUSE FUN
We also made a gingerbread house, hmmmm... i think they ate and messed more than they helped!

Whew, I was sure glad when that was over!

After christmas we headed out to a very COLD Utah to visit friends and family there! We had a great time visiting with aunts, uncles, cousins, grandpas, and grandmas.

Moab

Cocoa on a cold wintry day, thanks aunt trisha!


I think tanner and Logan look a lot alike in this picture!!

Love his cute smile here!
Thank you all who let us crash at your house, we had a great time !!