The Bennett's

Bluffdale Bronx 2010

2011-01-12T22:58:00.001-08:00

Click here to view this photo book larger

Listen to jtbennett2002@hotmail.coms Playlist

2010-07-22T10:33:00.001-07:00

I am a HORRIBLE blogger!!!

2010-06-11T15:05:00.000-07:00

So as most of you probably already now, I am horrible at keeping up my blog. Life just gets so crazy & it's hard to keep up on these kind of things. So I'm pulling a classic Tana and I've updated the last 5 months of blogging in one day, so once again, there's an overload of posts on my blog today!!! I would say that I'm going to be better, but I think I've already used that statement when it comes to blogging the maximum number of times allowed!! Oh well, ENJOY!

Horsin' Around

2010-06-11T12:52:00.000-07:00

A lot of our time this spring has been spent Horsin' around, except for now it's the kids hitting the rodeos & not Jake, but I think Jake has more fun watching the kids anyways! We took both of the kids to the Little Buckaroo Rodeo series in Tooele this spring. They have a lot of fun events for all different ages of kids & we've had a lot of fun. We've also tried to take them to as many kids shows as possible. Hallie has been riding so good this year & I'm so proud of her. Her confidence has really boomed & she is loving it. When I ask her what she wants to do on my days off for fun, instead of saying "go to the park, or swimming" she now says "go ride Marshmallow at the arena". Last night we took Hallie to the kids district show in South Jordan (Hazen is still too little to ride in this show). She did such a good job, she won 2 first place trophies & 7 ribbons. Her horse Marshmallow is coming along so nice & we love, love, love her!! I have to give Jake a TON of credit. He broke Marshmallow & has done all of the training on her, he's an amazing horseman!! I love you babe & appreciate all your sacrifices for our family!!

Peyton, Bridger, Wyatt & Hallie @ the District Kids Show
Hallie & Marshmallow

Hallie & Peyton

Tate, Bridger, Wyatt, Peyton, Hazen & Hallie showing off thier prizes!

Hallie was sooo excited!!

More happy faces!!

Jake helping Hallie get her rope ready. I love this picture, it's priceless!

This picture & most of the rest to follow were from the Kids Show that our riding club put on in May. Jake & I were helping with running this show & timing the events, so I didn't take a single picture @ their show, so all of these pictures were taken by either Codi, or my good friend Brandy. Thank goodness for them or I wouldn't have any pictures of this fun show. Brandy takes professional pictures @ a lot of the rodeo events & she does such a great job!! You can see more of her work @ Bigfinishphotos.com

Hallie in the dummy roping

Hallie tied for 2nd & 3rd in the dummy roping. She looks pretty happy here, but was actually pretty upset that her 3 year old brother beat her!

AHHH, he is sooo dang cute!!

Love the facial expressions on this one!

Hazen won the age 7 & under dummy roping, he was the only kid to catch both times. He won his FIRST BUCKLE, and as you can see, he couldn't have been prouder or happier. Jake was a proud daddy as well & neither of them could stop smiling. Hazen wears his buckle everywhere & is showing it off constantly. He's definitely a little cowboy!

Hazen on the flag race

REEEEACH!!

Hallie did the flag race for the first time by herself & she did such a great job. I couldn't believe she made the stretch on her tall "Smarshmellow", way to go Hallie!! Stickin the flag in the bucket

Hazen making his way home from the 3rd barrell

Hazen & Skeeter

I picked this picture to post because of the look on Hazen's face, I love that you can see him laughing, he's having so much fun, he loves the bouncy trot!!

Hallie & Marshmallow in the barrels

Hallie & Jake warming up their horses together. This is one of my favorite pictures ever. It will be one that we love & hang on to for years. Thanks soooo much Brandy, you're amazing!!

Codi took this picture, I would never think to take a picture like this & it's soo dang cute. These are Hazen's cute little feet, he loves his spurs. He's been wearing them to every rodeo he goes to for the last 2 years. It started out he just wanted to match daddy, he used to take 1 off when Jake would steer wrestle so that they were matching. Now he's needing them for his own "real deal" so we've adapted to a 2 spur system!

Cutest buddies ever!! Kyler & Hazen

Handsome Little Hazen!!

Hallie showing off her poses @ the Little Buckaroo Rodeo in Tooele this spring.

Memorial Weekend 2010

2010-06-11T12:05:00.000-07:00

Over the Memorial holiday weekend we went camping to Red Creek with a bunch of the family & friends. We did a little fishing, played horse shoes, rode 4-wheelers, shot skeet, and had a lot of R & R, and as usual, we had a blast. The kids had so much fun & were in the dirt constantly.

Hallie Dance-TDC, Spring 2010

2010-06-11T10:54:00.000-07:00

This year Hallie danced with Tiffany Dance Company (TDC). She was on a competition team for the first time & absolutely loved it!! There were so many extra practices for the competition teams & I was really worried Hallie would get burned out, but she never complained & would get so excited for every practice & competition. I am so proud of the good job she did. She improved so much throughout the year & I have enjoyed the experience & all the extra mommy/daughter time we've had. I love watching her, she is in the youngest of the competition classes & it's so cute watching these little girls try to be so big so they can impress the "older girls". On the way home from her final recital this past Monday, she told me (in the voice of about a 15 year old) "mom, thanks so much for letting me dance this year & driving me everywhere, I really appreciate it & I love dance so much." I really don't think there's anyway she would really think that whole line up on her own, so I've come to conclude that she must have heard one of the older girls saying something like that to thier mom. Wherever it came from it was really cute & made the craziness of this whole dance year 100% worth it!! I love you so much Hallie & we're so proud of you!!

Hallie & her friend Sierra, they loved their trophies!!
Hallie & Raelee
Sierra & Hallie

Sierra, Hallie, & Zarley

Doing her cute "Monkey" dance

More of the Monkey's!!

Jazz Baby

Hallie's 2009-2010 TDC, dance class!!!

DiSnEyLaNd 2010!!!

2010-03-13T08:57:00.000-08:00

We spent the past week in DISNEYLAND!!! It was kindof a last minute trip, we started talking about going a few weeks ago & then decided to go for sure about 2 weeks before. We went this time with just our little family & we had so much fun. The kids were at perfect ages, they couldn't stop smiling, it was seriously magical. When we left Hazen just cried, he wanted to live @ the hotel in Disneyland & never go home, each day since we've gotten home he asks when we can go back to the Disneyland hotel & ride the rides!! We can't wait to go back!!

Listen to jtbennett2002@hotmail.coms Playlist

2010-02-27T20:20:00.001-08:00

Lake Powell Labor Day Weekend 2009!

2009-10-16T09:14:00.000-07:00

The kids helping get the boat ready to go, grandma asked if they were excited, I think you can see they definitely were!

Me, Jake & Hazen

Hallie, me & Jake

The boys sleeping in the boat
Kyler, Hallie & Hazen

Me & Hallie

The boat sure does rock the kiddos to sleep!

Jake catching some air on the kneeboard, he landed a few accross the full wake, but I didn't get those ones on camera!

Everyone just chillin in Annie's cove, one of our favorite spots in Powell!

Me & my cousin Kyle cliff jumping

Hallie loved jumping off the back of the boat!

Hazen & mommy swimming!

TwInNeRs!!

Hazen & Craig

Tired after a fun & sunny day in Powell!

Jake

Hallie & Craig

Hazen & me

Hallie, Hunter & Hazen

Captian Al!

Grandma & boys

Me & Kurt

Kendall & Kallie

Our little fish, Hallie

Hallie

Hallie, Hazen & me!

Me & Jake

My cousins Olivia & Jordan

"Cool" Hazen

Hallie & Grandma swimming

Daddies & there boys, this is the boys first ride ever on the tube or on anything behind the boat, Kyler loved, it but it wasn't Hazen's favorite @ first, but he was lovin it by the end of the weekend!

The boys playin in the sand

Gettin muddy!

Hallie's 5th B-day

2009-10-10T08:15:00.001-07:00

Yeah, I'm really bad at keeping up on this blog. I'm finally posting pic's from Hallie's 5th birthday! (Just 2 months behind!)........Hallie is such a wonderful little girl & brings so much happiness into our lives. She's been such a great helper lately & I'm loving that! She is the best big sister, she is so good to Hazen, she's like his little 2nd mom! She is so full of personality & we love just watching her entertain us with all of her singing, dancing and of course talking! We love you so much Hallie, Happy Birthday! Hallie's Birthday Waffles!

This pic is on the morning of her birthday. On our birthdays

ever year, my mom would make us waffles with b-day candles,

so this is a tradition that I've kept going with my kids!

During the day on her b-day Grandma treated us all to pedicures & lunch @ Olive Garden

Uncle Cragie had the day off so he came with us too & watched the boys

while the girls got their pedi's!

The rowdy boys....this is the best pic I could get....little stinkers!

On the evening of Hallie's B-day we took her bowling. I didn't know for sure how she & Hazen would like it, but they loved it, we had so much fun!

This year we did a friends party for the first time. Her B-day is usually scortching hot, so we had a pool party...but it rained. I think it was the only day the whole month of Aug. that rained, but of course it was on the day of the party. So we quickly moved the party inside & the older kids (Karson & Kathryn) entertained the younger kids in the basement with relay races. The good think with kids is they're very easily entertained as long as they have the company of other kids!

We had the family over the Sunday after her b-day for cake & ice cream!

Beaver Camping Trip July 2009

2009-08-25T12:17:00.000-07:00

Hallie letting blondie eat some of the fresh grass after she took him

down to the pond to let him drink!

Jake, Blondie, & Hallie

Karson & Hazen

Karson, Trent, Kendall, Jake, Trevor & Hallie ........

This was Hallie's first mountain ride ever on the horses & Jake said that

both she & Blondie did awesome!!

Me & Kallie on top of "Delano". Delano is the 2nd highest peak in Utah.

The mailbox is for people who have visited to leave notes, messages, ect. Kallie

wrote in the notebook for us, stating each of us that were there, the date & that we rode up on horseback!! It is so beautiful up there!!

Jake & I on one of the horseback rides we took during the trip!

At the campfire!!

Making smore's!

Hazen w/ his grandpa!!

Braxton, Karson & Hazen playing guns...too bad Kyler was sleeping, this is such a cute pic!

Kyler & Hazen playing trucks in the dirt!

My dad & Hazen, Jake & Hallie, & Kendall & Kyler

We've been a little busy!

2009-07-10T13:51:00.000-07:00

To say that we've been busy the last couple of months would be a total understatement. Hallie was in softball, dance & pre-school this year & Jake & I have been busy with riding club, rodeos, roping, barrel jackpots & lots of camping trips. I'm still working part-time, 3 days a week & Jake has had his busiest work year ever (which we're so thankful for)! So needless to say, my blog has really gotten neglected. We have had so many fun things to post, but I just haven't had the time to sit down & post them. BUT, that's about all I have done all day today, & I am FINALLY caught up on my blogging. So I'm sorry to hit you with a bunch of posts all @ once, but here they are. I hope you enjoy!!

2009-07-10T13:38:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday I was going to take the kids to the pool & then my brother Kendall told me about this new pond in Herriman that he helped build, so we decided to check it out & it was so much fun. My brother Craig went with me to help out with the kids & my friend Nicole & her girls along with some of her family came as well. The pond was so much better than going to the pool. It has a sandy beach that the kids had so much fun digging & playing in & of course they loved the water.

4th of July 2009

2009-07-10T12:55:00.000-07:00

Our 4th of July weekend mainly consisted of rodeos (which we have no pictures of). Jake rode in Tooele on Friday night, Salina Saturday morning & Mt. Pleasant Saturday night, so in between the rodeos we met up with Jake's family who was camping up Manti canyon. We just stayed for the day & when it was time to leave for the rodeo, Hallie was so upset to be leaving her cousins & grandma & grandpa. She melted grandma's heart & grandma offered to keep Hallie for the night & then Kallie & Kendall brought her home. She had a blast riding on the back of Karson's 4-wheeler & fishing. Uncle Brent helped her catch a fish!! We have such an awesome family, we had a really fun weekend & appreciate all the love & support of our family! Happy 4th!

Herriman Parade, June 09'

2009-07-10T12:15:00.000-07:00

Braxton, Jaden, Hallie & Hazen @ the parade
Hallie getting a piece of candy

Hazen getting candy

This is the float for the Dance Co. that Hallie dances with

Hazen

Braxton & Hallie waiting for the parade to start

Muttin Bustin @ Herriman Rodeo June 09'

2009-07-10T11:34:00.001-07:00

At the Herriman rodeo in June, Hallie rode in the Muttin Bustin. Hazen was entered to ride too & was so excited until we got behind the buckin' chutes & then he started crying " I don't want to ride, I'm too little". So it was just Hallie that rode. She wasn't too excited about the mud, but still rode & she did such a good job. My camera wasn't working, so my friend Nicole took these pic's for me, thanks so much Nicole, they turned out so good.

Maverick's Kids Show (June 09')

2009-07-10T10:35:00.000-07:00

The riding club that Jake & I ride in, The Maverick's, put on a kids horse show this year in June, that our kids & Karson rode it. It was so much fun & the kids did so well. It was all 3 of the kids first horse show & they were all so brave & we're so proud of them! This is Hallie riding Skeeter through the barrels. She was really brave, she is still pretty timid while riding the big horses & usually wants us to lead, but I think watching all of the other kids at the show gave her a good boost of confidence. She rode a lot by herself throughout the show & even broke into a trot!! She even managed to give the crowd a cute little wave on her way home as they were all cheering for her. We think she might be on her way to queening, needless to say, Jake's not too excited about that!

Jake leading Hazen on Blondie through the barrels

Karson doing the barrels on Skeeter

Jake & Hallie after her pole run!

Hallie on the flag race... she did sooo good!!

Karson & Kendall just finishing the flag race!

Grandpa Al, Kyler, Grandma, Kendall, Craig, Kallie, Karson & Hazen

Karson & Kendall

Kylie, Hallie, Karson & Kendall

Wyatt & Karson

Karson & Hazen

I got the awesome job of running the concessions for the show... (lucky me j/k) so here's me & April selling our hearts out!!

Kylie & Hallie, our little helpers! (I think they spent more money @ the concessions than they collected!)

Me, Hallie & Skeeter

Hallie, Jake & Blondie

Hallie on Skeeter

Hazen on Blondie

Karson on Blondie & Kendall

Hallie & Kylie on Skeeter

Hazen, Me & Hallie with their ribbons after the show!!

Memorial Weekend

2009-07-10T09:41:00.000-07:00

Over the memorial weekend we went camping to Red Creek. We had so much fun, we rode 4-wheelers, went fishing, played horse shoes, shot skeet, played cards, ate a lot of good food & of course had some late night camp fire fun!! There was a bunch of us that went, I started to name everyone, but it was making for a really long post, so you can see them all in the pic's!! Mandi, Brent, Hallie, Taegan, Shayne, Raylee & Peyton

The girls pulling silly faces!

Kyler & Hazen, cheesing @ the campfire!

The gang shooting skeet

More skeet.....Trevor, Jake & my dad!

Bradyn, Cindy, Me, Kallie & Hazen watching horseshoes

Jake & me

Our handsome & always happy little Hazen

Jake, Kyler & Hazen..... Jake doesn't look the happiest in this pic, probably because it was seriously his 15th 4-wheeler ride with the boys that day!

Hazen, Kyler, Trevor & Kathryn.... the boys found another sucker to take them on never-ending rides.... You're awesome uncle Trevor!!

Taking care of a little dirty business while riding the gator!

Jake getting the girls all set to fish!

(Jake, Raylee, Hallie, & Preslie)

Jake helping Hazen fish & cute little Kyler watching

Taegan, Hallie & Preslie

Hallie & Hazen

Hazen with his newest fascination, ROOT BEER, he thinks he's so big when he has his own little can of root beer, so dang cute!

This is the funniest picture ever, you have to look close, but Hazen apparently is done with his root beer & chucks it, just as I'm taking a picture, you can see it's just about to bing Kyler right in the forehead... and it does. It can be funny cause Kyler's such a tough little guy & it didn't even phase him, no tears @ all!

Best little buddies....love it!!

Preslie, Hazen, Taegan, & Peyton.....petting Peyton's fish, you can tell by their faces they're afraid any second it going to come alive & get them!!

Kasyn, Taegan, Preslie, Hallie & Hazen

The kids had a BLAST on this trip & they were going non stop... Thanks fam & friends, it was a great trip!!

A BUSY SPRING!!

2009-07-10T09:03:00.000-07:00

Hallie @ her Pre-school Graduation in May!

Hallie, Me, & Hazen

Grandma & Hallie

Berkley, Kenna, & Hallie Ballie!

Hallie with Teacher Grandma, she's going to miss her & Teacher Heather so much! Thanks for everything!

Hallie played softball for the first time this year. It was so much fun. She was on a team with several of her cousins & friends. Shane & Hadley (Jake's cousins) were their coaches & they did such a good job with all of these rowdy little girls!

Hallie playing first base & Jake helping her out.

There was one night that Jake was working late & wasn't able to make it to Hallie's game, so he told me when we were on our way there not to let Hallie play first base. I asked why & he said because she doesn't pay attention to the ball because she's too busy visiting with the girls from the other team. I guess the week before anytime a girl from the other team would get on first base Hallie would ask her her name & if she wanted to be friends & then just continue to chit chat (I have no idea where she gets that from...haha)! She's definitely our little social bug!

Hallie, Raylee, Jaci & Hadley

The team playing the field...notice the girl crawling down the first base line...aaah T-ball with 4 yr. olds is sooo entertaining!!

So it was really sad that Hazen wasn't in any sports yet this year, technichally he isn't old enough yet, but I think he would've been ready. After each game we would let him put on a helmet & hit the ball off of the Tee. He really thought he was on the team & whenever we talked about going to Hallie's T-ball games, he would say, "me too mom, I'm playing T-ball too". We will have a lot of fun with him next year!

Hallie learned how to ride her bike with no training wheels this spring!!! I came home from work one night & there she was riding her bike all over the driveway with no training wheels. Of course daddy was the trainer, he has way more patients for that kind of stuff than mommy!! Our house isn't really bike riding friendly, we live on a very busy road with no sidewalks, so the following day I took the kids to one of Herriman's bike trails & let Hallie spread her wings & she did awesome!!

Hazen & Kyler on their scooter's

Kyler & Hazen

Field-trip to Wheeler Farm

2009-06-30T21:53:00.000-07:00

These pic's are from Hallie's last Pre-school fieldtrip EVER!! This is she & Berkley (one of her very best friends) on the hay ride around Wheeler Farm.

Hallie, Berkley, Dyson & Preslie looking @ the baby calves!

Hallie & Berk!

Looking @ something, rabbits I think!

Petting the sheep

Hallie & Berley...again!

Hallie loved the baby chick's

Berkely, Hallie, Jace, Dyson, & Preslie learing about milking cows!

Hallie feeding the ducks!

Me & My Hallie Ballie (that's what all the kids in her class call her)

Berkely, Hallie & Kenna.....once the tour of the farm was over, Hallie's teachers (Heather & Grandma) had cookies & drinks for everyone!!

Hallie's Dance Competition @ Lagoon! (May 09')

2009-06-30T21:25:00.000-07:00

Peyton, Hallie & Brett...... They are waiting for their turn to do their dance!!

Hallie & Jake... I LOVE this pic!!

On stage getting set to dance!!

Jake, Hallie, & I after Hallie danced. We were SO proud of her, she did such a good job..... Go Hallie!!

Hazen & Hallie

We had so much family come & watch Hallie. We have such an awesome family that's alway sooo supportive. We love you guys & thanks so much! (not everyone that came is in the pic's cause they were off riding the rides & I couldn't sucker them in to waiting around after the dance for any picture taking...haha)

Grandma & Grandpa Bennett with Hallie!

After she danced, we stayed @ the park for most of the day let the kids ride the rides, they had a blast!!

Hazen REALLY was enjoying this ride!

Hallie & Peyton

Hazen & Kyler

Grandma, Hazen, Hallie & Jake on the train!

Hazen & Grandpa

Kallie, Kyler & Kendall

EaStEr 2009!!

2009-06-30T10:15:00.000-07:00

(Hallie, Hazen & Grandpa)

Every year on the Saturday before Easter, my Grandma Thomas has a big easter egg hunt @ the farm for all of the grandkids. We always have a campfire & roast hot dogs. We don't always make it to the annual Easter Egg hunt, because we usually try to go camping on Easter weekend, but this year because of the bad weather we were able to make it!! It was a lot of fun, the kids had a blast & it was great seeing all of my family!

Hazen, once again, with grandpa on the tractor! He skipped the easter egg hunt to go plow the field with my dad. I told him if he didn't stay for the easter egg hunt that he wouldn't get any candy & that he couldn't cry later when he didn't have any candy & he still insisted on going with grandpa. He didn't say one word or ask for a piece of candy all day!!

Kyler.....so cute!

Kendall helping Kyler & Hallie find eggs

Hallie finding an egg

Hallie with all of her eggs!!

Me with some of my cousins, Shawn & Tiffany & my little brother Kurt!

Kendall, Kallie, Kurt & Jake

Kendall & Kallie...they LOVE me taking their picture!!

The boys playing on the 4-wheeler

These pic's were taken @ my mom's house. She had us over for a little easter egg hunt & to color eggs the Friday before Easter! We had so much fun!!

Karson, Dylan & Hallie

Grandma helping Kyler & Hazen color eggs

Cheese!!

Kyler coloring his eggs

Hazen spotted an egg!!

Hallie looking for eggs!

Dylan, Hazen, Grandma, Kyler, Rylie, Hallie & Karson

Riding @ The Arena (March 09')

2009-06-26T11:03:00.000-07:00

Jake & Hallie on Skeeter

Jake, Hazen, & Blondie

Hallie following Jake through the barrell pattern

Jake & Skeeter, Hallie & Blondie

Hallie & Blondie

Me leading Hazen & Blondie through the barrels!

Fun @ the Farm (March 09')!!

2009-06-26T10:34:00.000-07:00

This is one of my dad's new calves that was born the first part of the year. My dad named him Norman after the calve in one of his favorite shows "City Slickers". Norman's mom wouldn't feed him, so my dad had to bottle feed him 3 times a day. We took the kids to the farm a few months back & let them feed Norman & as you can see, they LoVeD it!!
Hallie feeding Norman
Jake helping Hazen feed Norman
Hallie & Hazen playing on the haystack.
HuG's!!
We LOVE grandpa's Tractor!!
My dad, Hallie & Hazen going for a tractor ride. My kids can't get enough of going to the farm. They love rides on the tractor the most!! Grandpa is the best & they love him spoiling them with never ending tractor rides! As you can see, a little ride around the farm just isn't enough to satisfy Hazen, he wanted to do the real thing, so my dad took him with him to plow one of the new fields!

DiSnEyLaNd!!!

2009-02-24T17:19:00.000-08:00

2009-02-02T20:29:00.001-08:00

So, I've had some technical problems with my computer/camera.(I'm not sure which one was the problem!!) I couldn't get my pictures to download onto my computer, so finally when we got home from Disneyland, then I was able to take some time to sit down & finally get my pic's to transfer, so lucky for all of you blog stalkers, I'm hitting you with a bunch of posts all @ once!!! Hope you enjoy the new slides!! Disneyland pic's are in the works!!

NeW yEaR's 09'!!!

2009-02-02T19:50:00.000-08:00

More of Our 2008 Christmas

2009-02-02T19:48:00.001-08:00

Christmas @ Dad's (Sun. Dec. 21st)

2008-12-22T19:34:00.000-08:00

Hallie's Christmas Dance Recital

2008-12-21T14:56:00.000-08:00

Hallie's Christmas dance recital was this past Tuesday. They each had their own little "spotlight" to show off individually some of the teqniques they've been practicing this year. Then they did their group dance afterwards. All of the girls did such a good job!! We were so proud of all of them!

Halllie & her dance class, including 3 of her best friends (& cousins) Preslie, Peyton, & Brett!!

We didn't get a picture of Hallie doing the splits during her little spotlight routine, so she showed off for us a little more afterwards!!

The Fam!!

Grandma & Hallie

Hallie & Daddy, Uncle Kurt, & Grandpa Al

Hallie's Fieldtrip to Sweet's Candy Factory!

2008-12-21T14:42:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday I went with Hallie on her pre-school fieldtrip to the Sweet's Candy Factory. We got to walk throughout the whole factory & see how they make all of the different candies. The kids had a lot of fun!!

Hallie, Berkley, & Bridger

Move over Pumpkins, it's time for Christmas!!

2008-11-29T14:43:00.001-08:00

This morning we took our pumpkins to the farm & used them as target practice!! The kids love shooting the guns & anytime they get to go to the farm, they have a blast!! Hallie showing off her gun!!

Me & Jake

After the pumpkins were destroyed, Jake & I shot some clay pidgeons!!

We had a really fun time doing this, I think we will make it a tradition each year now. It beats just throwing the old pumkins in the garbage can!!

The Light Parade

2008-11-29T14:30:00.001-08:00

Last night we went to the Spanish Fork Light Parade. It was a lot of fun. Here's a pic of some of the kids; Abby, Jaden, Kathryn, Hallie, & Braxton!

Cinderella's Carriage, this was Hallie's Favorite part!!

The little kids spent most of the time on grandma & grandpa's lap wrapped up in their blankets, smart, cause I thought it was freezing!!

The Train

Hazen

Kyler

TWILIGHT!!!!

2008-11-29T14:06:00.000-08:00

So, once again, I'm a little delayed on my posting, but last Thursday I went to the 12:01 am showing of TWILIGHT!! Before the movie, a few of us went to dinner @ Olive Garden, (Nicole, Cindy, our waiter, whom we named Edward, Me, & Valynn).
This is the four of us anxiously waiting for the movie to start. I absolutely loved the movie. I was worried @ first with the actors they picked, but the chemistry between all of them was awesome & I really liked the movie. I can't wait to see it again. It was such a fun girls night, thanks girls for making it so much fun!!

Family Pictures

2008-11-09T19:31:00.000-08:00

We had family pictures taken a few weeks ago. As some of you already know, I had them taken with my brothers too, but that's what we're giving our parents for Christmas, so I didn't post any yet of my brothers or Kallie & Kendall's family because I don't want to ruin the surprise, but I don't think I can wait until Christmas, so we're going to give the pictures to them early, so hopefully I can post the rest in a few weeks!!

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2008-11-09T16:35:00.000-08:00

So, life has been really crazy the last few weeks & I've been really bad about keeping up on my blog. We've done a couple of fun things over the last few weeks, that I've wanted to post & I'm barely getting around to it. So here are a few new, but outdated posts! Better late than never, right? Enjoy!!

HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL 3!!!

2008-11-09T16:27:00.000-08:00

Hallie LOVES High School Musical, so on the opening weekend of H.S. Musical 3, me & a bunch of friends had a girls day with all of the little girls & went & saw the movie. It was so much fun, Hallie loved it! Hallie & I getting ready for the movie to start!

Me, Hallie, & Aunt Kallie after the movie!!

2008-11-09T16:26:00.001-08:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

Golfing!!

2008-10-22T21:28:00.001-07:00

On Sunday Afternoon Jake & I went golfing with 2 of his brothers. It was such a nice afternoon & we had such a fun time!! Isn't this such a cute picture of Jake!!
Trent, Jake, & Trevor

Okay, these boys are a bunch of goof balls, they were goofing around the whole time! I honestly don't know how their poor mom survived all 5 of them, j/k!! Do you see that there are 2 balls in this picture, hmm.... I wonder where the other one is coming from....Trevor????

Okay, so I have got to be the worst putter ever! I did okay teeing off, I could get to the green in about 2-3 strokes, so I thought that was pretty good for not golfing in 4+ years, but as soon as I would get out the putter it was all down hill, ohhhh, I was sooo frustrated, but it was still fun!! I did make par 1 time & I had to do a little jump up & down. I'm sure I embarrassed Jake!!

We had a good time just the 2 of us, (no offense Hallie & Hazen, we love you munchkins to death), but it was good to just have some fun time together. Kallie & Kendall watched the kids for us. They are so good to us, thanks so much you guys, we don't know what we'd do without you!!

Cousins Lunch

2008-10-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

This past Saturday, I got together for lunch with a few of my cousins. We try to get together @ least twice a year, usually in the spring & fall, sometimes more. We've all grown up together & have always been close. Now that we're older & life's gotten busier, we just don't see each other as much as we'd like to. So, with life so busy, we have to plan time to get together, everyone isn't always able to make it, but we still just plan it a few times a year & always have so much fun. Last Saturday we just got soup & salad from Olive Garden & hung out @ Olivia's house & visited.
Sharla, Olivia, Ash, & Krysten

Sharla & Ash

Krysten & Olivia

Sharla, Me, Krysten, Olivia, & Ash, (this was the funnest part of the lunch, it took us about 15 pictures before we got all 5 of us in the picture, since we didn't have anyone there to take it for us, but at least we were all smiling!!)

Thanks so much to Ash for planning the day for all of us & for Olivia for hosting it, you guys are the best & I love you!!

2008-10-22T20:37:00.001-07:00

Make a Smilebox scrapbook

Another Day @ the Pumpkin Patch!

2008-10-17T10:39:00.000-07:00

Kyler, Hazen, Hallie, & Karson

I felt really bad that the last time we went to the pumpkin patch my sister in-law, Kallie & my nephews were out of town.Kallie & I have been talking that we really wanted to take them together. So we met there yesterday on my lunch hour & let the kids play.We took them to lunch @ Artic Circle afterwards & got their halloween flashlights!!

Hazen loving driving!!

Kyler driving the tractor

Best Buddies, running to the corn maze!

Hazen, me, & Hallie

Hallie, Karson, & Kyler

Kyler, Kallie, Karson (& Hazen in the background)

Amazed by the straw in the wheelbarrow!

Hazen & Kyler

Hazen

Kyler with his pumpkin!

Karson, Kyler, & Kallie

Karson was looking for the biggest pumpkin in the patch & I think he found it!! Hallie had to help him carry it to the wheelbarrow!!

Carrying it over the rows of pumpkins!!

Karson needed a rest after getting his pumpkin!

Mommy/Daughter Outing!!

2008-10-12T00:12:00.000-07:00

Hallie & I had a girls day together today. Jake is gone hunting & my mom offered to watch Hazen, so we took advantage & played!! We went to lunch @ Hallie's favorite restaurant, Olive Garden, & then went shopping!! We had so much fun together, it was good to just have our own one on one time together. She is getting soooo big & just gets just funner & funner!
Us @ lunch, isn't she adorable!!

Hallie was having so much fun with the camera, she kept wanting to do all different kinds of funny faces!

She loved these manicans @ Old Navy, she was so fascinated by them, it was kinda funny to watch!!

Here she is shaking "her" hand!!

An Afternoon @ the Pumpkin Patch

2008-10-09T20:25:00.000-07:00

Today after I picked Hallie up from pre-school, me & two of my friends, Tiffanie & Valynn, took our kids to this cute little pumkin patch that we've gone to the last couple of years. My dad farms the field right next to the pumpkin patch & a few years ago he told me about his friend that lived next to the field that he farmed that grew pumpkins. We've been getting our pumpkins there for the last few years, but it used to be them just selling pumpkins out of their field. Now they've turned it into a big festive "Pumpkin Patch" with tons of different pumpkins to pick from, a corn maze & a bunch of tractors for the kids to play on. It is sooo cute & the kids have so much fun!! It gets cuter & cuter every year!

The Kids on the Tractor

Hallie looking for the perfect pumpkin!

Hazen trying to pick this one up!!

The kids: Tate, Brett, Weston, Oakley, Hazen, Bridger, Preslie, & Hallie before they started through the corn maze.

Preslie, Oakely, & Hallie

Hazen LOVED the corn maze, he was running through it, just laughing the whole time!!! (We had to go through it 3 times)

Bridger, Preslie, Hallie, & Oakley

Oakley, Preslie, Hallie, & Brett

The whole gang!!

My sister in-law, Wendy, was there too with her kids & a bunch of her friends, so this is there little group too!

What a fun day!!

In Loving Memory of our Dakota

2008-10-04T08:35:00.001-07:00

In July Dakota's eye started getting a little red, it continued getting worse, so before we went out of town for the 24th of July holiday weekend, Jake took him into the vet. He said he couldn't see anything in the eye, & gave us some eye drops to help the redness. We gave him the eyedrops for a few weeks, but his eye started looking much worse. So we took him back in, they sedated him & took some x-rays & found that he had an untreatable tumor in his jaw, that had already spread past his eyes (which was causing a horrible looking red bulge in his eye) & was heading for his brain. He told us he would have about 6 weeks to live. His quality of life had already declined really rapidly, he wouldn't fetch anything because it hurt his mouth too much. For the past several weeks he has just literally layed on our kitchen floor or in his dog run & doesn't move all day. He quit eating last week & was shaking & twitching really bad. Sometimes you would hear him yelp if he hurt his mouth in anyway. So we made up our mind to take him in & have him put down last week, but I think Jake was really having a hard time with it. He was still really hoping for a miracle, that the tumor would just stop growing. So we decided to give it a few more days, then Jake got sick, so we had to put it off even longer. He quit drinking on Wednesday, so we decided it was time to take him in. We had him put down yesterday morning & I couldn't believe how hard it was. It's one thing to loose someone that you love, but it was so hard to have to make the decision to actually do it. We kept doubting whether or not it was the right thing, when we both new it was, we just didn't want to face it. The vet was really nice & confirmed that there was no way he would get any better & that we were doing the right thing.

We will miss Dakota so much, he was the first dog our kids have had & he couldn't have been more perfect! We love you!

Hazen & Dakota, July 07'

This is my favorite pictures of Dakota, becasue it's adorable & it shows how good he always was with the kids.

Jake, Dakota, & Me
This was taken on one of our many camping trips. Dakota has come with us on all of our camping trips. I think the main reason we would bring him was for him to fetch all of Jake's drinks, ha ha.

This picture was just taken a few weeks ago. Once Dakota started getting really sick, we let him sleep in the house, just on the kitchen floor next to the back door. He was so good, he would never move from that spot. Hallie has been really scared to sleep alone lately, I guess she's at the age where her mind starts thinking about monsters & all of that stuff. She kept asking us if Dakota could sleep in her room, Jake would have let him, but I'm the mean mom & said no because I didn't want dog hair all over the house. Well, on this particular night, Jake & I woke up to find both Dakota & Hallie on our bedroom floor. The only way Dakota would've left the kitchen would have been with some very heavy begging on Hallie's part. We let her get away with it for that night!

Camping in 2007

See what a good dog he was. He was always so good with the kids, they could lay on him, climb on him or whatever & he'd just lay there, Dakota, we're going to miss you so much!

This was taken on the Elk Hunt last year!

This picture was taken last fall, when Dakota ran off to the neighbors for a few days. We called the pound everyday to see if he'd been picked up, Jake was so upset, he thought for sure someone had stolen him. Kendall had just got back from South Dakota, hunting & he'd taken Dakota with him, so he still had Kendall's tags on him with his old phone #, so we finally figured that all out & the guy who had him brought him back, the kids were so excited to see him, they climbed all over him for hours!

A Not so Good Week!

2008-10-04T08:14:00.000-07:00

Jake on Tuesday after one of his tests!

We had an eventful time in our house this last week. It all started last Thurs. (9/25), Jake started not feeling well. At first he thought it was the flu or maybe food posioning, but it just kept getting worse. He had a sharp constant pain in his stomach, that moved up into his chest & really bad in his back, it just wouldn't let up. So by Saturday morning, we went to the E.R. They thought maybe it was his apendix & ran some blood tests & took a CT scan. They came back & told him that he couldn't be healthier & they couldn't see anything wrong. They sent him home & said it was probably just a bad case of the flu. Well, to make a really long story kinda short, we went back to the ER on Saturday night & again on Sunday night, because the pain was so intense. Both times they couldn't find anything wrong, so they set us up with a couple of specialists first thing on Monday morning. After seeing the specialists & running a bunch more tests, they found that his gallbladder was about to burst & needed to be removed. He also had a few things going on in his stomach as well that could've been contributing to some of his pain. They have several biopsies being done & they removed some tissue from his stomach as well. The surgery was finally done on Wednesday & he's starting to feel a lot better. It was really scary for us the first few days when they couldn't figure out what was wrong. So many scary scenarios start to run through your heads. We're just so grateful that it wasn't anything major & that we're all back @ home together again. Our poor kids were shuffled everywhere this week, while we were in the hospital. We appreciate all of the family so much, every single one of our parents & siblings helped out in one way or another for us & it really meant a lot to us. We have a wonderful family & we're so blessed!

2008-10-04T07:18:00.000-07:00

All About Me!!

* I am ...trying to get caught up on my blog!
* I think ... about too many things I can't control!
* I know ... I am very lucky to have all that I have.
* I want ...to teach my kids all the right stuff!
* I have ... so much to be thankful for, especially Jake & the kids!
* I miss ... my grandpa's.
* I fear... one of my kids being kidnapped.
* I hear ... Haylee's playlist.
* I smell ... a pumkin spice candle!
* I crave ... chocolate chip cookies!
* I cry ... when I think about my brothers!
* I search ... for the right ways to be a good mom!
* I wonder ... what's going to happen with our economy & how it's going to affect my family's future?
* I regret ... I have little regrets, but nothing big!
* I wish ... I would have played sports in High School.
* I love ... being with my family.
* I care ... about the influence I have on my kids & hope it's always good.
* I always ....bathe my kids every day!
* I worry ... about so many things in the future.
* I am not ... perfect, actually far from it, but that's okay!
* I remember ...when I was a kid & life seemed so much easier!
* I believe ... everything happens for a reason.
* I sing ... while driving, cleaning, & with Hallie!
* I don't always ...update my blog regularly, I am trying to be better .
* I argue ... with Jake about going hunting when he just had surgery!!
* I write ... on my grocery list!
* I lose ... my train of thought all the time!
* I listen ...to my playlist while cleaning & cooking.
* I don't understand ... why so much of the time we live for the future & don't enjoy right now!
* I can usually be found ... @ home, work, or running errands.
* I need ... to be cleaning.
* I forgot ... so much I can't remember!
* I am happy ... when I am with my family.

I TAG ****Hailey, Brandy, Nicole

Sunday September 14, 2008

2008-09-17T17:01:00.001-07:00

Karson, Kathyrn, & Hallie showing off their cake faces!!

(Sorry this picture is out of order, I accidently deleted it, but it's such a cute picture that I didn't want to leave it out & I'm still new to this whole blogging stuff, so for now it will stay here until I can figure out how to move it!!)

This past Sunday we celebrated Hazen, Karson, & Kathryn's Birthdays. It was a last minute little party, we have so many birthdays in the month of September, that we usually try to combine the kids party, but this year with everyone's crazy schedules, it ended up just being thrown together last minute, & I think it was one of the best parties, probably due to less stress!! Unfortunately we had the party during Hazen's nap time, so as you can see in this picture he's a little grumpy.

Sunday was my 27th birthday as well!! So my mom, being the awesome mom that she always is, made me my own special birthday treat, cream cheese filled cupcakes, yum, yum!!

About an hour after everyone else had the birthday cake, Hazen cheered up & just helped himself to the entire left over cake, after all it was his party!!

This was a huge glob of solid frosting, he was eating it like crazy, I was so worried he was going to be sick, but he took to it just fine!!

The highlight of the party for Hazen, without question, was the ride on grandpa's "vroom, vroom" better know as grandpa's newest toy, his Harley!! He absolutely loves riding anything, & we had a hard time keeping him off of it!!

Hazen, Grandpa (Thomas), & Hallie on the Harley!!

Hallie, Kathryn, Jaden, & Braxton

I thought this picture was adorable! They aren't posing for this (besides the "cheese"), they were all just sitting on the grass hangin' out & I had to snap a picture!!

Hallie, Kathryn, & Karson

So, none of us wanted to take home the leftover cake, so the kids asked if they could dig into the rest of it, once again the "eat it like a piggy"!! The clean up was well worth it!!

Hallie & Karson in a "foot race"(burning off all the sugar they'd just consumed)!

Another Family Picture!!

Utah Marathon Relay/Kids K, Sept. 13, 2008

2008-09-17T17:01:00.000-07:00

Hallie crossing the finish line of her first race, Kids K run(1 mile)!!

I started my running journey shortly after I had Hazen & Hallie loves to run on the treadmill after I run, so every time I have a race she begs to come with me. The race I ran in on Saturday had a kids run also, so I was so excited to enter Hallie. Luckily I only told her the Thursday before because she wanted to wear her running clothes constantly the few days before the race.
This is Hallie after the race. I was so proud of her, she did such a good job!! A mile is a long ways for a little kid. She had to walk for some of it, she fell down twice & scraped up both of her knees, but she wanted to keep going & finish, you could tell she was so proud of herself. She was so dang cute!!

Raelee & Hallie showing off their medals!

My cousin Raelee ran in the Kids K race as well, she actually won the kids run, she did so awesome, WAY TO GO RAELEE!! Hallie loves Raelee so much & they had fun running together!

Preslie, Haylee, Me, Hallie, Sharla, & Raelee

Preslie also ran in the race with the girls, she did such a good job too. I was so sad I didn't get a picture of just the 3 little girls together, but here's the group of us!!

Here's a picture of the whole fam' on race day. It was so fun to have Jake & the kids there!!

2008 Marathon Relay Team: Me, Haylee, Whitney, Sharla, & Malissa

We had so much fun running together this year. This run is such a fun one, because they have a live band playing the whole time & you get to hang out together & cheer each other on. I loved it!! We each ran 1/5 of a marathon, which was 5.2 miles each & I think we all rocked!! I just have to say that Haylee did AWESOME, she just had a baby 2 months ago & she was incredible, not to mention she looks awesome. I'm so proud of you Haylee, I'm so glad you did it!!

Hazen's 2nd B-day(September 8, 2008)

2008-09-16T14:49:00.000-07:00

On Hazen's Birthday, we took him to Carl's Jr. for lunch & just let he, Hallie, & Kyler run around & play forever!!
They had so much fun, especially Hazen, it was like he knew it was his special day or something. He just kept running around & going down the slides like crazy!

Hallie, Hazen, & Kyler stopping to pose for me!!

This was taken on the evening of Hazen's Birthday. I made his favorite dinner & brownies. We just stayed @ home, our little family & opened his presents & played with all of his new stuff.

For his birthday, we bought him a bunch of boy stuff. I feel really bad, he's been playing with all of Hallie's little girly toys & we haven't had any little boy toys. So we got him a bunch of cowboy stuff, he's so into the cowboy boots & attire lately, he has to wear his cowboy boots everywhere, so half the time he's in his shorts & cowboy boots, we think it's adorable. It just makes Jake glow, he couldn't be prouder of his little cowboy!!

Hallie's 4th Birthday!!(Aug. 6, 2008)

2008-09-16T14:13:00.000-07:00

Growing up my mom would always make waffles on our birthdays with candles and it's a tradition I've carried on with my family, so this is Hallie on the morning of her 4th B-day with her waffles!!

We celebrated Hallie's Birthday @ our house in the backyard, we had a swimming party with all of the family & a few of our close friends!!

Kathryn, Jaden, & Hallie on Blondie!

We gave Hallie a pony for her birthday, the pony is Blondie & she is adorable, she's so calm & cute with all of the kids. Hallie loves her so much she goes out nearly every day & either rides her, brushes her, or she'll sit on the fence & just sing to her!!

Jake leading the kids around the backyard on Blondie!

The Family on Hallie's B-day!!

Hallie didn't get enough cake @ her party, so she wanted more later that evening, so Jake cut her a big piece & told her to "eat like a piggy" & she did!!

CAMPING TRIP ON BIG JOHN'S FLAT

2007-07-27T15:40:00.000-07:00

OUR FAMILY 2007
JAKE & TANA
KISSY, KISSY
HAZEN, ISN'T HE PRICELESS!
THE GIRLS BEING SILLY IN GRANDMA & GRANDPA'S TRAILER
HALLIE, BRAXTON, JADEN, & KARSON RIDING THE GATOR
PULLING SILLY FACES
KARSON TAKING HALLIE FOR A RIDE ON HIS MOTORCYCLE!

4TH OF JULY 2007

2007-07-27T15:10:00.000-07:00

Preslie, Hallie, Peyton, & Ryan
Riding the rides @ the Riverton Carnival
CHEESE!!
Hazen just hangin' out

Waiting for the FIREWORKS to start!!

Still waiting....., some of us are really tired!!

Lake Powell, May 2007

2007-07-27T14:54:00.000-07:00

Karson & Hallie fishing, this one is adorable!
Jake catching some air on the kneeboard!!

Jake, Tana, & Hallie on the wave runners, these were Hallie's favorite!
Karson & Hallie, aren't they cute!!
Cruisin' in the boat
Daddy & Hazen

Mommy & Hallie

Swimming @ Lehi Pool

2007-07-27T14:28:00.000-07:00

This was Hazen's first time swimming, as you can see he really enjoyed it!! Hallie was having too much fun to stop for the family snapshot!!

Hallie playing on the slide!
Hazen just hanging out in the pool swing.