It's been a while!

I have been out of the blogging world lately. We've been around, just busy and out of town. Busy getting things ready for Christmas a week early because we left for Mexico on the 18th. And hanging out with friends and fam.

All is well, nice to have the kids around more than normal for Christmas break, (usually nice, sometimes not so nice). Today Lexie texted me, "MOMMY, the eggs I ate for breakfast this morning expired on the 19th! I am going to get sick and throw up." And this afternoon Cooper says to us all in the car, (while rubbing his chin with his hand) "I wish I had a beard." Sometimes they crack me up.

Anyways, here are a few picks of the last month or so.

Thanksgiving with some of Bens side of the family (kids table)


Hiking in Red Rock with Cousins from Utah


Kelly, me, and Kara @ RedRock for the weekend


Christmas on the beach just south of Cancun with cousins and a drunk Santa, kids thought it was hillarious


I guess in Mexico they have some famous wrestlers that wear masks. . . these are my kids in them


My babies

MAGIC MOUNTAIN, COOPS B-DAY

This weekend we took the fam to Magic Mountain for Coopers birthday. He loves roller coasters and has never been there, where I think they have some of the best! It wasn't even crowded and the weather was great--o.k., it could have been 85 instead of 65, but that's probably just me. I hadn't been there since I was in high school, and they've added some cool rides in those 5 or 6 years. (btw, X2 was CRAZY SICK!) Oh--I have a GREAT video of the last 2 pictures, if I can figure out how to post it I will!

Trick-Or-Treat

Other than the fact that I ate WAY TOO MUCH halloween candy, halloween was great. We went to Grandma & Grandpa Lunds house in Alpine, Utah. It is the perfect setting for halloween and the kids get to play and trick-or-treat with cousins. The weather was perfect!

Sadie was an incredible clown, Lexie was some creepy, expression-less white thing, and Cooper was . . . . . bleeding.

I SO LOVE little boys

You know those times where for some reason something makes an impression on you? For example--years ago I was doing laundry and insiding things out, pulling sleeves through, etc. I came to a pair of Coopers jeans and felt stuff in the pockets. I started emptying them out onto the top of the washer. The items in his pockets sitting on top of my washer in a pile made me appreciate having a little boy. I can't remember them exactly but they were things that he, a little boy, had collected throughout his day and it was touching. Anyways, the other day I was looking for him and found him pumping up his bike tire. O.K., not a big deal, I know. But it was just one of those moments. It was quiet and he was just a boy taking care of business. Who knows why, but it was another one of "those moments" for me. I said, "hold on, I'll be right back" and went and got the camera.

down sat., back sun.

I'm sure most of you know, my Mom and Dad are living in Brazil. They were back in the states so we made a VERY quick trip down to see them.

Kids with Grandma and Grandpa



Kids with cousins and great-grandma

Fishing? ummmmm (gulp), o.k.

Long story skipped, we ended up with 2 short days to take the kids fishing. I enjoy fishing about as much as I enjoy going to the dentist. But I can endure both. I guess it's not THAT horrible--because I like watching my kids fish, and usually the surroundings are pretty. But it's not something I get excited about. Plus I would feel bad if the whole fam is going and I just opt out, I mean that would be lame, right? So here is the quick trip in a quick list form:

1. Hook up the almost useless boat
2. Drive to where it's way too cold for me to be content
3. Put the almost useless boat on the windy lake, catch a couple fish
4. Check into a sub-par hotel
5. Eat an even more sub-par dinner (really what are you supposed to eat in Beaver!?)
6. Next day go up to the mountains and find a gorgeous river to let the kids fish.
7. Once everyone's hand are too numb to handle their poles, we leave

I know I sound like the biggest Dud don't I!? I actually didn't let on that I was as miserable as my re-cap sounds. What was an added bummer was the fact that the camera died when we got it out up on the mountain to take some pics, I actually would have enjoyed that! So I have a couple pics of the not-so-pretty lake and none of the very pretty river area--oh well.

Another Chocolate Sheet Cake

Lexie turned 12, I know--what is happening! Looking back through the years at her b-day pictures she has had the same cake EVERY YEAR! It's not because I only know how to make one cake, no no (I can make a lot!)--she wants the same thing every year. I have to say . . . it IS a very good cake, horrible for you, but good. I think she is becoming more and more beautiful. So here she is at 12. I LOVE YOU LEX MEX

Sicko

No, not the Michael Moore film (but it was good)--Sadie. So this is what Sade looks like when she is home sick. Poor thing, she has her first gymnastics meet of the season this weekend too. I highly doubt she will be participating! :(

2nd day of school . . . ?

I wasn't as on the ball as any great Mom would have been on the first day of school --(what of it!?) So here are pictures of my kids on the second day of school. The last picture is the first day of school 4 years ago! I wish I could go back!

"The Dam Tour"

We took the kids to do the Hoover Dam tour. (we've lived in Vegas 11 years and never done that . . . . . seriously?) Anyways, it was pretty cool. I would recommend it. My kids spent most of the time saying things like, "where are the dam bathrooms?" "I'm going to find the dam drinking fountain," "can we get any dam food to eat?" You get the idea. They came up with some good ones.

Some Catch-Up

Everyone has been busy, summer time busy! I'm not even going to begin to "re-cap." Just a few pics . . . . . (with a caption)

LEX AND HER COUSIN GAVIN


COOPER AS MICHAEL JACKSON IN HIS SCHOOLS DECADE SHOW. HE WAS EXCELLENT IN ALL HIS ROLES


KIDS ENJOYING ROOM SERVICE


COOPER, ME, & LEX


SADE, ME, & COOP


LEX, SADE, & SKY (their cousin) AFTER FINISHING A HILARIOUS "PLAY" THEY MADE UP, CALLED "THE OLD HAGS"

My Birthday Party

I should have posted these a while ago, I'm just getting to it! Summer is BUSY. My best friend in all the world (Kara, duh) threw a rock-n-roll birthday bash for me. I'm not getting any older though . . . . just so you know. It was a blast! Thanks to all involved!