Decisions Decisions.....

Right now I am in a pickle!

I am having a very hard time deciding whether or not

to put Druw in Kindergarten, yes I know my baby is old enough to be a Kindergartner...  don't remind me too crazy to think about.. anyways we're on the fence as to whether we should enroll him and let him go this year or hold him back and put him in next year.

His Birthday is in July so he'd either be the oldest or the youngest in his class,

depending on which route we take.

Truthfully, up until now we have had our minds made up and it was without question, set in stone that we'd hole him back, but now I find myself questioning if that's what we really should do.

We have our reasons, our pros and cons for both but right now i'm stuck!

Here are just some of our pros for holding him back:

-For a boy we think a year older makes a huge difference in:

-Sports

-Maturity (Dating)

-Academics

 - Maybe he'd be more likely to get scholarships

-He wouldn't have a year to goof off after HS, so possibly more likely to go on a Mission

-Nate was is also a July birthday and he wasn't held back so he was the youngest in his class and he hated it for lots of reasons. (so you know where his mind is mostly made up)

Here are some reasons why we'd like him to go this year:

-He'd be in the same grade a 3 of his cousins

-He's right on target socially and developmentally to go, so we'd be afraid he'd get bored if we held him back.

-In HS he wouldn't drive/date til his Junior year rather than his Sophomore (so his buddies won't rely on him to drive them everywhere haha and dating, well that says it for itself :)

-He would be able to get a years worth of college in before (hopefully) he goes on his mission.

-I've talked to people who have been held back and they said they always felt "stupid" or something was wrong with them, and that's the last thing I want Druw feeling.

So like I said that's just to name a "few" of our pros and cons.

I know we probably are thinking too much into it and we should just go with the flow, because really a year ahead or a year behind, he's going to have his hard times and his ups and downs regardless.

As long as we teach him as best we can here in our home about values, principles, and right from wrong and most importantly that we love him that's really all we can do.  

we need to trust in him and be there for him 110 percent.

I would just like to hear any feedback from my fellow bloggers who have been in the same situation, or know someone who has been. I trust, value and will  apprecitate your thoughts and comments,

so please....tell me whatcha' think!!! :)

Thanks!

January in a nutshell.....

JANUARY WAS FULL OF FUN!!

Here is a breakdown for ya....

CABIN RETREAT

My parents seriously rocked it this year for our Christmas gifts

by renting outthis AMAZING cabin for the whole family. 

Some activities at the cabin included....



A Grand kid sleepover with Grandma and Grandpa....

(who by the way had their own separate cabin which allowed us grown-ups to stay up late in the other cabin playing games, talking and snacking without kid interruption....thanks Mom and Dad :)

 ....we played out in the snow....

 ...we went tubing....

...we went snow mobiling.....

... we played LOTS of foose ball tournaments....

(this thing seriously kept the kids occupied for HOURS....I've gotta get one:).....

 We had such a great time all together at the cabin... there is nothing better then spending quality time and building memories with the one you love and care about most!

Thanks Mom and Dad for a PRICELESS Christmas gift!!!

Some other fun things that we've done in January.....

 Snowball fights... even if we're inside it still can be trouble haha....

(McKynlee was watching Nate and Druw play out in the snow with her face pinned up against the screen, and Nate threw a snowball at her through the window and snow landed all over her head it was HILARIOUS!!!)

 ....More fun in the snow....

Some other exciting news....

I was able to put a little itsy bitsy pony tail in McKnlees hair. haha

(if she's anything like me she wont get an actual head of hair til she's like two so she'll just look like a little cute little boy with big blue eyes in girl clothes. I just won't be mean like my Mom was to me by dressing me in a red shirt with blue overalls and calling me Dennis the Mennis haha :)

Other events in January:

-I celebrated the big 25 birthday

(other January Birthdays... Scott, Justin, Jayda, Mike, Ryan, Nick)

-I got signed up for a 6 week boot camp (which so far I'm loving by the way)

-Nate got hired on FULL TIME at Mega Diamond (He's such a hard workin man, I love him so much)

-McKynlee is walking like crazy and has been since 12/18/2010, she's such a busy body

- I started a Scripture reading challenge and so far have stuck to it 100%

January was a GREAT month but I'm looking forward to an even greater February!!!



ReaL TaLk.....

2010 has come and gone... Thank goodness!

Not saying it was a horrible year but it wasn't a fabulous one either.... just somewhere in between. 

Lets just say I'm reeeeeeaaaaalllly looking forward to 2011!

It just feels like it's going to be a great year for me and my family.

I love a "New Beginning" a "Fresh Start".... and that's why I love the New Year.

Although I believe that our "tomorrows' are what we make them to be,

and that eveyday really is the same, regardless is it's June 1st or January 1st.

I just think it's easier for me personally,

 to fill alot more PUMPED UP about life when a New Year begins

Here is why.

New goals are set.

New challenges are made.

Change seems so much easier to make than it did just a few weeks ago. (Funny how that is right?)

Confidence in accomplishing things that usually seem so far out reach, now seem reasonible. 

I just LOVE the feeling that a New Year brings!

Nate and I have set some personal and family goals that I feel confidnet we will acheive.

That's the word i'm looking for.....

the start of  a New Year gives you a NEW feeling of CONFIDENCE!!! :)

SO.... what are some of your goals you'd like to accomplish this year????

(If you write them down or tell someone, they are more likely to happen... :)

So here it goes....... here is me.... getting real......

"REAL TALK"

One (personal) goal i'm really hoping to accomplish this year is

loosing weight, feeling healthy and getting into shape!!!

I've never really ever felt fat ( I HATE that word btw.... I think it's mean...) but i've also never ever felt skinny or "little".

I know I never will be little, I'm 5'8" big boned and proud of it :)...... but I would like to feel skinny and a little bit better about myself and I know that that is possible by good healthy changes.

It's so easy to get caught up with what we, or should I say with what the world thinks is attractive.

Really, how boring would it be if we were all the same????

5'7", 110 lbs,Tan, Long Blonde Hair, Big Boobs Tight little booty.... you get the image i'm getting at right???

Well here is what I  have to say.......

SCREW THAT!
If we would all just LOVE and ACCECPT eachother rather than

CRITIZE and JUDGE (again 100% guilty) think of how much happier not only we would feel but how much better of a place this world would be.     

I feel so lucky and blessed to have the Mom, Mother in Law, Sisters and Sister inlaws (both sides:) that I do. They are all amazing and I love them so much.

 I've never once felt judged or critiqued by any of them. If anything it's the complete opposite!

So..... onto my WEIGHT LOSS GOAL......

My Mom, sisters and sister in laws (Eyre) all share that same goal as I do as wanting to get fit.

So we have decided to put together our own little group it's called....

H.E.O.O.P.

Help Each Other Out Program :)

We have come up with some GREAT ideas to help motivate and encourage eachother.

Like:

-Workout and Weigh-in Wednesdays .

-Goals set and posted in our PRIVATE BINDER. :)

-Healthy recipe exchanges

and much more......

The funnest part about the whole thing is that once a girl reaches her goal,

 we'll have a Girls Night Out of her choice, to celebrate!!!!

What a great SUPPORT GROUP!!!!

I'm super excited for this, and can't wait to get started!!!

So...... if you have any WORKOUT TIPS or SKINNY SECERETS (haha :)  you wanna share,

please feel free to send them my way!!!! :)

I hope 2011 will be a GREAT YEAR for us all!!!!



OnE WeeK LaTe.... BuT BeTTeR LaTe ThAn NeVeR!

 Last week on December 16, 2010 our little baby girl celebrated her

 FIRST BIRTHDAY!!!

It's hard to believe it's been a whole year

and she's now ONE!! where did that time go?

It really feels like it was just yesterday that I was

in the hospital anxiously awaitng her arrival!

I remember the first time I saw her...I was instanly IN LOVE!

She was PERFECT in every way!

 ONE YEAR AGO....

I remember just staring and admiring her

for hours and hours while I had that 'alone time' with her in the hospital.

I felt so BLESSED to be her Mom!

The love I felt for her was

AUTOMATIC and UNCONDTIONAL

The MOTHER DAUGHTER BOND I had with her came so naturally.

It really was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!

 

ONE YEAR AGO.... 

This guy who appears to be a little

'rough around the edges' was tunred into

quite the SOFTY!

He was WRAPPED

around her little finger instanly.

The way he snuggled and kissed her minutes after she was born was adorable!

I really don't think there is anything sweeter than seeing a Daddy bond with his Daughter.

ONE YEAR AGO....

This SWEET LITTLE ANGEL made

this little man  a BIG BROTHER!

A very proud one at that!

He too was INSTANTLY in love with her.

He ADORES her in every way!  

 So now after ONE YEAR this

"LITTLE DIVA"

has only gotten more and more FUN,

and all the LOVE for her has only gotten stronger!

There has never been a dull moment, everyday she's doing something new. She has quite the personality and is always making us laugh!

She has brought so much JOYinto our lives! 

We LOVE you so much McKynlee!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!

Being a Mom.....

brings the ultimate HAPPINESS and JOY into my life! :)

No "HOOD" is better than "MOTHER-HOOD!!" :)

"This is HaLLoWeeN HaLLoWeeN HaLLoWeeN!!"

The week of Halloween was filled with lots of fun festivities for our family!

Here's just a few....

ANNUAL FAMILY HAUNTED HOME EVENING

We (well 3 of us) dressed up as Vampires...

we had to add a little light and sweetness to our group so

McKynlee was a cute little Angel!

SCOTT FIA TRE and CLAYTON CJ KATE KAITLIN and MIKALIA TEVITA

JOHN and LO (announcing they've got a BUN IN THE OVEN:)
NICK and SHERI (Voted best costume @ the party)

KEV and EM
MOM and DAD AKA
DARTH VADOR and YODA
(They were by far the biggest hit of the night,
the kids couldn't get enough of them!)
All the cute cousins eating their yummy PBandJ with their Kool-aids in the fun decorated kids room.
Yoda(Grandma) and McKynlee
So here are what my kids looked like to begin the night....... ....and here is what they looked like on the car ride home!!
They were out....
Scott and Fia sure know how to throw a party!
Thanks guys for a great night!

DRUWS PRESCHOOL HALLOWEEN PARTY

Vampire Druw with Butterfly Mrs Morgan

Cute cousins and best buddies!

I was able to a be a PARENT HELPER for the party.

It was so much fun listening to the kids sing their fun Halloween songs,

play fun games at different stations around the room,

and watching them decorate and devour their sugar cookies and soda!

I'm so glad I was able to be there!

CARVING PUMPKINS

This was McKynlees first time experiencing carving pumpkins...

She LOVED it!

What can I say my girl like to get messy! :)

My camera died and I didn't have my charger so Iwasn't able to take pictures of

the final product of the carved pumpkins but McKynlees was a Cat

Druws was a Warewolf, mine was a Pumpkin cat and moon

and Nates was the Atlanta Braves logo.

They turned out awesome!

HALLOWEEN DAY

Druw was DARTH VADOR

McKynlee was a cute little KITTY CAT

DARTH VADOR + KITTY CAT= two cute kids!!! :)

The kids waiting anxiously to go out Trick or Treating....
...The kids attempting to go out Trick or Treating but

the adults unsure of those mean looking storm clouds SO....

We decide to turn around get some umbrellas and the second we stepped back into the garage it was an instant HAIL down pour! It was CRAZZZZZYYY!!!

(I tried to upload the video I took of it but I was having trouble)

So we just came back to my house hung out then waited for the storm to pass then took the kids out QUICKLY around the block!

(ADULT) ALICE inWONDERLAND SCAVENGAR HUNT

(Unfortunately I didn't have my camera.... but this was so much fun!!!)

We went in a group of 6....

Nate and I were Tweedle Dee and Tweedle Dum

(not hard to guess who was who right??....

Hey.... be nice...

I know what you were thinking...

Nate really IS alot smarter than he portrays himself to be.. he he :)

Josh was Cheshire the Cat and Jen was the beautiful Queen of Hearts

Lindsey was Alice and Eddie was the Mad Hatter

We looked so freakin' awesome! (Pictures to come)

(Hint Hint: JEN I SO NEED COPIES OF YOUR PICTURES :)

There were clues set up all around Provo and Orem

at different places like Fat Cats, Beam Musem Orem City Center etc...
Our team rocked the house and we won the whole thing!

There were twenty teams competing which came out to be close to 100 people.

It was a BLAST

Can't wait to do it againg next year!!

What a GREAT October!!!

Now looking forward to an even greater November because.....

I have SO much to be THANKFUL for!
. .

WiTcHeS NiGhT OuT

Every October we get a group of WITCHES together and go to

WITCHES NIGHT OUT!!!

If you've never been your missing out!

It's SO much fun!

Of course it's tradition that we always hit up

Texas Road House for dinner first!

Thanks for a GREEEEEAAAT time Girlies!!!

Can't wait to do it again next year!!!